Sage of Humanity
Chapter 1046 - 1044 Tofu Lady

Among the Nine Provinces, there are quite a few cultivators at the True Lake Level 9 Realm. These people have immersed themselves in this realm for years, elevating their foundation to the utmost, reaching the standard for physical strength, yet they still find it difficult to break through to the Divine Sea.

Thus, not everyone with the opportunity to break through to the Divine Sea can fulfill their wish. Only a few can transform the strength of their mental consciousness, nurturing the soul body, and transforming it into mental consciousness.

Lu Ye had long since taken this step, but it was due to a fortuitous circumstance, a protection from his subconscious under the stimulation of an external force.

Because his physical strength was still at the True Lake Realm level, and his mental consciousness was sufficient to control it, his mental consciousness hadn't grown much. According to the Senior Brother, only when one's physical foundation reaches a point where it becomes difficult for the mental consciousness to manage it, the subconscious will seek change. Only then will the opportunity for advancing to the Divine Sea arise.

Therefore, what Lu Ye needs to do now is very simple: continue cultivation to constantly enhance his physical foundation.

"Of course, while increasing your physical strength, you also need to temper your mental consciousness... Only by progressing in tandem can you achieve the best results. However, Junior Brother, your situation is unique. Where others face barriers in advancing to the Divine Sea, your path will likely be smoother."

After all, having already nurtured the soul body, there are no obstacles to speak of. As long as the strength accumulates adequately, the advancement will happen naturally.

"How do I temper my mental consciousness?" Lu Ye humbly asked for guidance.

Feng Wujiang smiled slightly: "For the average True Lake Realm cultivator, the best method to temper mental consciousness is visualization."

"Visualization?"

"During serene cultivation, visualize the structure of certain objects in your mind, striving to recreate them as completely as possible. Initially visualize simpler things, and once you become proficient, increase the difficulty. This process consumes mental power during the visualization. As your mental focus becomes fatigued, let it recover slowly, and through repeated consumption and recovery, your mental consciousness can be tempered," Feng Wujiang explained, looking at Lu Ye, "Cultivators from big sects usually start preparing for this even by the True Lake Level 7 or earlier to lay a good foundation. Each sect has its visualization techniques, with their own strengths and weaknesses, which are part of the sect's heritage and cannot be generalized. If you were in the Nine Provinces, the sect master would likely teach you these methods."

Lu Ye nodded; in this regard, his situation was a bit unsatisfactory, primarily because his cultivation progress was too rapid.

He hadn't heard of such matters before, probably because the sect master and the Second Senior Sister thought his cultivation was too low to utilize it at the time, so they hadn't mentioned it, fearing it would disturb his mindset.

As it turned out, by the time he could use such techniques, Yu Daiwei had captured him, and he ended up in the Blood Refinement World.

Today, if not for hearing it from the Senior Brother, Lu Ye really wouldn't know about these secret techniques.

The Senior Brother shifted the topic, "Of course, that's for the average True Lake Realm tempering their mental consciousness. Since you already have mental consciousness, it's much simpler; just continuously consume your mental consciousness, then let it gradually recover." _{fr.eew eb novel..com}

"Can any auxiliary recovery items be used?" Lu Ye asked, "Like Soul Cleansing Water?"

If that's possible, the effect of tempering his mental consciousness would be countless times better than normal.

"It's best not to," Feng Wujiang shook his head, "This period is crucial for you, and any behavior that is like pulling up the seedlings to help them grow is discouraged. It's best to let things proceed naturally. There's still a year's time, and I believe you can do it, Junior Brother."

"A year?" Lu Ye was puzzled, "What will happen after a year?"

Feng Wujiang smiled, "You don't plan to stay here forever, do you? In a year, the Heaven's Augury Pillar will be activated."

Lu Ye's expression was invigorated, "Senior Brother, do you mean..."

Feng Wujiang said, "Your situation is different from ours. We've all reached the end of the road in our cultivation journey, and the Nine Provinces' Heaven's Augury sent us here. On one hand, it's to help save the human race here and plan for their future. On the other hand, it's probably also because leaving us in the Nine Provinces could cause disturbances."

Over the years, those qualified to be sent to the Blood Refinement World by the Nine Provinces' Heaven's Augury were always the top figures of their times. Having reached the pinnacle in their cultivation path, there was no further advancement. Keeping such individuals in the Nine Provinces could ultimately be a factor of unrest, so the Nine Provinces' Heaven's Augury sent them here to shine and contribute.

Lu Ye was the first to be sent here with True Lake Realm cultivation, and as an aid.

It was precisely because of his presence that the Righteous Blood Sacred Land could resist the Blood Race army's siege this time.

"It's uncertain, but I estimate you have a great chance of returning to the Nine Provinces."

"Senior Brother, you and the elders can't return?" Lu Ye asked.

Feng Wujiang shook his head, "I tried when the Heaven's Augury Pillar was activated before, but it was impossible to proceed."

Lu Ye steadied his mind and remarked, "I understand."

Advancing to the Divine Sea and returning to the Nine Provinces within a year are the tasks ahead.

Lu Ye feels quite confident about this. Throughout this cultivation journey, though fraught with dangers, the least of which, on the path of self-improvement, he hasn't faced too many hurdles. He has long accumulated a mentality and momentum to move forward unabated.

He believes it will be no exception this time.

After bidding farewell to Feng Wujiang, Lu Ye didn't rush into cultivation but took Dao Thirteen down the Sacred Mountain to wander and explore on the Sacred Island.

A year's time is still long; there's no need to rush. Moreover, he's just healed from his injuries, so it's not suitable to immediately enter a state of cultivation.

The entire Sacred Island is a huge gathering place for the human race, with no distinction between cultivators and ordinary people. They live together in harmony. Perhaps it's because they recently repelled the Blood Race army, the Sacred Island is filled with joy and excitement. The atmosphere is relaxed, and everywhere one can see scenes of lanterns and decorations.

On the streets, people are bustling shoulder to shoulder, with numerous shops lining both sides, filled with the breath of mundane human life.

This kind of scene is something Lu Ye rarely sees. Perhaps some cities in the Nine Provinces where ordinary people gather look like this, but since he embarked on the path of cultivation, he's rarely encountered such a large number of ordinary people, making him inevitably curious and intrigued.

As Lu Ye walked and looked around, he saw a candy hawker approaching, shouting loudly, with skewers of crystal-clear candied hawthorns stuck onto the straw target he carried.

Lu Ye stopped the vendor, asked about the price, and was just about to buy two skewers to try when he suddenly remembered he didn't have the local currency.

He didn't have any Spirit Stones or elixir pills either. Back when he advanced to the True Lake Level 8, he had already used up all his stored cultivation resources.

A lady selling tofu not far away then spoke up, "Give him two skewers of candied hawthorns, I'll pay for them."

Lu Ye turned his head to look upon hearing this, and his eyelids twitched.

A moment later, Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen each held a skewer of candied hawthorns, standing beside the tofu lady. Lu Ye still couldn't quite believe his eyes, "Senior, in these clothes, I almost didn't recognize you."

Lady Moon raised her hand and knocked him on the head, "Speak properly."

Lu Ye also knew he misspoke, mainly because he didn't expect to see Lady Moon here, dressed like this.

Previously, Lady Moon always wore sheer veils, her graceful figure tantalizingly visible, arousing one's bloodline. Now, she was wearing coarse cloth garments, with a square scarf on her head and sleeves rolled up to her elbows, looking every bit like a farmwoman.

"Senior, what are you doing here?" Lu Ye was truly puzzled.

"Selling tofu," Lady Moon replied matter-of-factly, "I have to make a living somehow."

Lu Ye couldn't help but laugh, thinking that the renowned seventh sect master of the Myriad Magic Sect in Leizhou, a peak Divine Sea Realm figure, came to the Blood Refinement World to sell tofu. If the disciples of the Myriad Magic Sect saw this, how would they react?

Moreover, a senior and powerful figure like Lady Moon wouldn't need mundane items to make a living, right?

Lu Ye realized she was just playing a game with life. Powerful figures' actions always seemed unfathomable.

"Can't I sell tofu?" Lady Moon glanced at him sideways.

"You can, you can!" Lu Ye wouldn't dare utter a single word of disagreement.

"I made a living selling tofu when I was young. Later, I was noticed by a cultivator from the Myriad Magic Sect and taken in as a disciple, and now I'm just returning to my old trade. What's there to be surprised about?" Lady Moon said, pointing across the street, "See that old man over there?"

Lu Ye looked in the direction she indicated and saw an old man dozing in the sun near a small shop. A few children gathered around him, poking his nose with dog-tail grass. He didn't open his eyes, just occasionally waved them away, causing the children to giggle quietly.

Beside the old man was a flag planted in the ground, with a large character for "fortune-telling" prominently displayed.

"He looks familiar..." Lu Ye said, thinking for a moment, wasn't he one of the seventy-plus senior figures?

"Is he... fortune-telling?" Lu Ye was speechless.

"Just a little hobby," Lady Moon chuckled, "For people like us, neither able to die nor finding life interesting, we can only find some amusements for ourselves."

"Senior, your words..." Lu Ye didn't know how to respond.

But perhaps it was true, the seniors still had longevity, but no path forward. For any cultivator who has spent their life pursuing higher realms, this is akin to torture.

If there truly was no path it's one thing, but the key is that every one of them can clearly sense that there is a path ahead, they just can't find it.

That's why they have no complaints that Nine Provinces Heaven's Augury sent them to this Blood Refinement World. At the very least, here they've found things they want to do, unlike back in the Nine Provinces, where they had to maintain the airs of seniority and hold their status.

"Is it tasty?" Lady Moon suddenly asked.

Lu Ye handed the half-eaten candied hawthorn skewer over, "Would you like to try it?"

Lady Moon rolled her eyes, "Hurry up and eat, then help me call out."

Lu Ye almost choked, struggling to swallow the candied hawthorn, "Senior, that's a bit much, isn't it? Two skewers of candied hawthorns don't cost much; I'll pay you back later."

"Less talking!"

A moment later, the crisp shout echoed at the tofu stall, "Selling tofu, fresh and tender tofu..."