Chapter 57: Provoking in secret

“This is the current map of the Heaven’s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, showing the distribution of blessed lands held by each race.”

“Humanity remains the strongest. Although it’s clear that the other races are forming alliances, we have too many powerful cultivators to be intimidated. The non-human races are far from united.”

“According to this distribution map, humans occupy forty-five percent of the blessed lands. The Buddhist Sect holds fifteen percent, the god clan ten percent, demon clan ten percent, devil clan ten percent. The ghost clan holds a uniquely situated area—only the ghost and spirit clans can make use of it, and they share ten percent between them.”

Inside the main war tent.

Shangguan Wuchang wore a faint smile as ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) he explained the current state of the various factions to the assembled powerhouses.

Shangguan Huanling, ever since entering, had distanced herself from the majority of the human cultivators. She had barely shown her face at all.

Shangguan Wuchang didn’t pay his younger sister any mind.

He had originally planned to use this opportunity to kill Shangguan Huanling. But for some reason, over the past six months, she seemed to have become a completely different person—treating him with respect and affection.

So, for now, Shangguan Wuchang had shelved that plan.

The many experts looked over the distribution map, nodding one after another.

That humanity had managed to seize forty-five percent of all blessed lands in one go—this was indeed an outrageous feat.

But precisely because they held so many blessed lands, human cultivators were experiencing rapid growth in power, more than worthy of their title as Heaven’s Chosen.

“What’s this location here? Why is it blank?” a cultivator from the Yi Jie Sect asked, pointing at the map.

Shangguan Wuchang had anticipated someone would ask about that spot.

“That area is surrounded by Buddhist sect territory. Strictly speaking, it’s still under the influence of the human race, but the individual there is extremely strong.”

“According to our spies, the place is called the Dao Comprehension Tree—some heavenly treasure that helps cultivators comprehend the Dao. It’s currently occupied by one person. That person is immensely powerful. There are corpses of Buddhist disciples lying outside the tree, but the Buddhist sect has made no move for revenge. That tells you everything.”

The moment Shangguan Wuchang said this, the tent erupted in shocked voices.

“Is that true?”

Everyone understood the temperament of Buddhist cultivators. They were their own breed.

And because of their unique ideology—though most Buddhist disciples were of the human race—they were gradually no longer considered part of humanity proper.

“It’s definitely true.”

“Judging by the robes, the person is a disciple of Grand Dao Sect.”

Of course Shangguan Wuchang knew about Lu Ye. Before Shangguan Huanling had entered the Heaven’s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, she had specifically told him—don’t provoke Lu Ye.

She’d even said that if she provoked him, she’d get beaten to death.

Now it seemed Lu Ye really was that formidable—one man suppressing the entire Buddhist sect into silence.

But cultivation wasn’t all about fighting and killing.

The Dao Comprehension Tree... he had his eye on it. How could such a treasure possibly be monopolized by just one person?

“He’s from our sect?” Ding Yuqing of Grand Dao Sect blinked in surprise.

“Name is Lu Ye.”

That name...

Not only Ding Yuqing—many others recognized it too. They’d run into him when they’d first arrived.

Back then, he’d seemed like an impatient brat, and everyone figured someone with that temperament wouldn’t last long in the Heaven’s Chosen Ancient Battlefield.

But now? The guy had run off alone to the Dao Comprehension Tree, slaughtered a bunch of Buddhist cultivators, and was still alive and well—single-handedly occupying the tree.

“That really is a disciple of our Grand Dao Sect. Not bad. Truly not bad,” Ding Yuqing said with a smile forming on her face.

“Since the Dao Comprehension Tree is held by a human, can we count it among the human faction’s blessed lands?” Shangguan Wuchang asked.

Ding Yuqing’s brows rose slightly.

She wasn’t an idiot. In just a moment, she understood what Shangguan Wuchang was implying.

“I don’t think that’s necessary. He’s cultivating alone beneath the Dao Comprehension Tree, and he’s never made use of the lands we’ve claimed. There’s no need for us to pressure him into handing over the tree,” Ding Yuqing replied.

Shangguan Wuchang’s expression remained gentle.

“It’s not like I’m asking him to give it up. The Dao Comprehension Tree isn’t something only one person can use—it can support multiple cultivators in comprehending the Dao. That way, he can continue his cultivation, and he can also make use of the other blessed lands humanity holds. Wouldn’t that be a win-win?”

At this moment, Ding Yuqing was unflinchingly assertive.

“There’s no need for all these roundabout words. If you want to comprehend the Dao, you can go there yourself. You make it sound so pleasant, but if Lu Ye refuses to share the Dao Comprehension Tree, doesn’t that turn the blame back on him?”

“So I say—if there’s something you want to do, go do it yourself. No need to drag others into it. It’s not like everyone here’s brain-dead. Who can’t see through what you’re really trying to say?”

“I also think the Dao Comprehension Tree should be shared,” someone else chimed in. “I want to comprehend the Dao, but I don’t want to create conflict with Grand Dao Sect. If he insists on keeping it to himself, should I fight him or not?”

This time, it was a cultivator from the Yin-Yang Law Sect who spoke.

“There’s some truth to that. The Dao Comprehension Tree is indeed a rare treasure, a tremendous opportunity. It makes sense that it should be shared by the human race to fully realize its value.”

Another cultivator from the Yin-Yang Law Sect added his voice.

“I disagree. This is something that can be negotiated, but no one should be forced,” said a representative of the Mountain-River Pagoda Sect.

Although the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty had long been at odds with the Supreme Empire, they too coveted the mystical powers of the Dao Comprehension Tree and expressed agreement with Shangguan Wuchang’s stance.

Some agreed. Others did not.

“We should at least go and ask. I also don’t think the Dao Comprehension Tree should be hoarded by one person.”

Just then, a young man who had remained silent up until now suddenly spoke.

The moment he opened his mouth, everyone turned to look at him.

Because of his strength—and his identity.

Gu Qingtian of the Eternal Sect.

Even in the Heaven’s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, the Eternal Sect had little interest in participation. Few of them had come.

This was because the Eternal Sect had its own unique cultivation methods. The resources they received from above were more than sufficient for their needs.

Still, they had sent people this time.

The first batch—those under twenty—hadn’t come. The second batch—under sixty—had sent two.

One man and one woman. The man was Gu Qingtian. The woman, Lu Qingyan.

“What if he refuses?” Ding Yuqing asked.

Gu Qingtian gave a faint smile.

“Simple. I’ll just beat him until he agrees.”

Ding Yuqing instantly erupted in fury. “You would use your seniority to bully the young?”

Lu Qingyan also smiled faintly.

“This fellow cultivator occupies the Dao Comprehension Tree alone and has suppressed the entire Buddhist Sect into silence. If we were truly to clash with him, would it really count as bullying the young?”

“Of course, if you don’t like the sound of that—then allow me to rephrase.”

Lu Qingyan’s expression gradually turned cold.

“We are bullying the young. So what? What will your Grand Dao Sect do about it?”

“You’ll be too busy getting your ass handed to you to care!”

A sharp cry rang out from outside the tent. A crimson figure came hurtling in like a storm, slamming a technique seal toward Lu Qingyan.

Lu Qingyan gave a cold snort. Light bloomed in front of her—one leaf split into two, then four, then eight...

Countless faint silver-white leaves formed a shimmering shield.

Boom!

The technique seal struck the shield with tremendous force.

Lu Qingyan’s expression changed slightly. Her body retreated rapidly, exiting the tent.

“What incredible strength!”