Chapter 2207 - 2205: Your Excellency's Noble Character

In this state of bitter cultivation, Lu Ye could obtain a thread of Dao force almost every day. Such efficiency was inconceivable at the Beginner level, but for his own needs, what he gained from bitter cultivation was barely better than nothing.

With his current condition, to grind out a single Dao Bone, he would need four to five thousand units of Dao force. Relying only on bitter cultivation, it would probably take more than ten years just to improve his Power of the Path by one strand.

After several days like this, that Du Quan came again, heading straight to Lu Ye's side and cupping his fists in an overly casual manner: "Commander Lu, Lord Governor invites you!"

A few days ago, he had been humiliated over at the Crane Wings Camp. After returning, he embellished the story to Du Feng, saying how Lu Ye and the others were utterly arrogant, treating others as if they were nothing, and how they were strutting around, taking all the credit. Du Feng hadn't shown much reaction at the time, but Du Quan knew his temperament; he definitely wouldn't just let it go.

Sure enough, today Du Feng wanted to summon Lu Ye alone.

Lu Ye slowly opened his eyes, pondered slightly, then nodded: "Lead the way."

He rose and followed behind Du Quan, walking forward. At the side, Wang Xun and the others all frowned tightly, anxiety showing on their faces. But since Du Feng had sent for him, Lu Ye couldn't refuse. Their worry was useless.

There was a crude Governor's Residence within the stronghold, where Du Feng and his close confidants usually lived.

Du Quan led Lu Ye there and brought him into a great hall.

"My Lord, Commander Lu has arrived," Du Quan said with cupped fists.

Du Feng was seated there tasting tea. Hearing this, he raised his eyes, burst out laughing, and got up to stride over: "Our great hero has come, please, sit!"

Seeing this, Du Quan was a little dumbfounded. He knew his own governor's temper better than anyone. He had thought Du Feng would surely not show Lu Ye a pleasant face after summoning him this time, yet what was this situation now? He couldn't make sense of it.

"I greet My Lord!" Behind Du Quan, Lu Ye cupped his fists.

In just a few days, Du Feng's condition had clearly improved a lot, probably because the Dao force he had expended had been replenished. After all, he took twenty percent of all the spoils from the stronghold. Even though a Dao Fusion cultivator's needs were huge, it was enough for his recovery.

He had even regrown the arm that had been severed.

The Du Feng of today no longer had the miserable, wretched look of a few days ago; at least he finally resembled a Dao Fusion Governor.

His enthusiasm didn't just leave Du Quan at a loss; even Lu Ye was slightly surprised.

Once Lu Ye sat down, tea was immediately served.

Du Feng looked at Lu Ye with a squinting smile: "These past days, this Governor has been focused on healing and recuperation, and had no time to see you. Now that I do, Commander Lu truly proves extraordinary."

Lu Ye remained expressionless: "Lord Governor flatters me."

Du Feng waved his hand: "I speak from the heart!" He sighed. "To speak frankly, in the last great battle, though this Governor fought in blood, I was still no match for that Insect Race Dao Fusion. I even had an arm cut off and was gravely injured, nearly causing the stronghold to be breached."

As he spoke, he quietly observed Lu Ye's expression. To his disappointment, Lu Ye's eyes were lowered, nose to heart, his face as calm as dead water.

He immediately understood that some things should simply be said outright; winding around them was meaningless.

"The battle report for that last fight has already been submitted by this Governor to Huang Quan. I expect that in another two days, someone will come to verify the details. The Crane Wings Camp's merit in slaying that Dao Fusion has also been reported along with it. When the time comes, Huang Quan will surely grant rewards."

Lu Ye blinked and cupped his fists: "Many thanks for My Lord's kind words."

He understood inwardly: even if Du Feng wanted to falsify the battle record, it would only be falsification; there were some things he couldn't turn upside down. For example, that Insect Race Dao Fusion had been slain by the Crane Wings Camp!

There was no way he could steal that achievement for himself. After all, in that battle, so many cultivators had personally taken part.

"This is as it should be." Du Feng assumed a righteous posture. "This Governor never steals credit."

Mainly, it was that he couldn't. If Lu Ye and the others had no background, it would be one word from him to snatch the credit. But over these days, he had made some inquiries and learned that the Crane Wings Camp was directly under Zi Ying.

He had not had much contact with Zi Ying, but he had at least heard her name. With the Crane Wings Camp backed by Zi Ying, many things would be difficult to manipulate.

Not only that, Lu Ye himself seemed to have some connection with the Yan family, counted as a Family General of the Yan clan—one of those unruly Family Generals who didn't obey orders!

Furthermore, the Military Affairs Office appeared to value Lu Ye highly.

For all these reasons, Du Feng realized that this Crane Wings Camp commander who only had Beginner cultivation was not some soft persimmon he could pinch at will.

That was why he had specially summoned Lu Ye today, and hadn't even mentioned the matter of contributing Dao Bones as before.

Suddenly, he lowered his voice: "It's just that there are some things I hope Commander Lu understands. I, Du Feng, as the governor of this stronghold, bear the responsibility of protecting it. In that previous battle, my temporary departure from the battlefield was not fleeing, but a matter of necessity."

Lu Ye finally understood what he meant.

This Du Feng was probably worried that the people Huang Quan sent to verify the battle would dig up what had happened that day. No matter how you put it, a stronghold governor suspected of deserting in the face of the enemy was nothing to be proud of.

Although there were quite a few cultivators in the stronghold, they definitely wouldn't dare offend Du Feng, but Crane Wings Camp was different, which was why Du Feng had called Lu Ye over to exchange a few words.

Thoughts turned in his heart, and Lu Ye looked at him: "On that day, Lord Governor fought the enemy to the death. Not only was your body heavily injured, even your Dao force was completely exhausted, yet you still kept your subordinates in mind and risked your life to lure away that Insect Race Dao Fusion, creating a chance for us to escape. We naturally know that you were not fleeing in cowardice. Your righteousness, my lord, is truly worthy of our admiration."

Du Feng was stunned for quite a while after hearing this, then burst out laughing, raising a hand to pat Lu Ye's shoulder. "As expected, only Commander Lu can understand this humble governor's painstaking good intentions."

"Of course." Lu Ye nodded. "Before your retreat, my lord had already sent word to Crane Wings Camp, informing us that the enemy's Dao Fusion was already a spent arrow. Thanks to your bloody battle, my Crane Wings Camp had the opportunity to slay that Dao Fusion. Strictly speaking, it was Crane Wings Camp that took advantage of your efforts. In that battle, my lord should hold first merit!"

There was no benefit in offending a Dao Fusion; since that was the case, why not go along and offer a favor? It cost them nothing anyway.

These words made Du Feng all the more delighted; he had originally been slightly worried that Lu Ye might not understand things, but now it seemed he had been worrying over nothing.

So Crane Wings Camp also understood that killing that Dao Fusion was taking advantage of his efforts. That was only natural; this Commander Lu's heart was as clear as a bright mirror—how could he possibly fail to see the truth?

A few days ago, when Du Quan had come back and embellished the story, he had indeed harbored many complaints toward Crane Wings Camp and Lu Ye, but after today's conversation, those minor displeasures had all vanished like smoke. He only felt that this Commander Lu before him grew more pleasing to the eye the more he looked.

"What a pity!"

"What does my lord lament?" Lu Ye was puzzled.

Du Feng sighed. "It's a pity Commander Lu belongs to Fellow Daoist Zi Ying. If not for that, no matter what, Du would have to bring you under his command. Commander Lu is a true talent!"

"To receive my lord's high regard, I am deeply grateful!" Lu Ye cupped his fists.

After this bout of conversation, host and guest were both delighted.

When Du Feng, all smiles, escorted Lu Ye out, Du Quan, who was waiting outside, nearly had his eyeballs pop out. He couldn't figure out what on earth had happened—why did Lord Governor look like he was about to become sworn brothers with this Lu Ye?

A short while later, Lu Ye returned to Crane Wings Camp's station. A group of people hurriedly gathered around, gazing at him with concern, afraid their own commander had suffered a loss at Du Feng's hands.

A warm current flowed through Lu Ye's heart as he spoke: "It's fine. Lord Governor summoned me over just for a casual chat." He beckoned: "Wang Xun, come here."

Wang Xun hurried forward.

Lu Ye pulled him to one side and carefully instructed him.

Wang Xun's expression was extremely colorful.

Since they didn't want to offend Du Feng, they could only cooperate with him. In any case, the merit for killing that Dao Fusion would definitely be credited to Crane Wings Camp. All this cooperation merely spared Du Feng from some punishment; Crane Wings Camp wouldn't suffer any substantive loss.

Meanwhile, on Yinshuo Battle Planet, deep within the planet's core, the Insect Matriarch's bloated body lay across like a mountain of flesh, pure psyche fluctuations flowing around her.

Within the Divine Sea, a certain scene was playing over and over.

It was precisely the scene that Dao Fusion of the Insect Race saw before his death, the moment when he clashed head-on with Crane Wings Camp. It wasn't long, only about less than 5 breaths.

Before this brief scene stood a full, alluring figure, not clothed in a single stitch—this was the manifested soul body of the Insect Matriarch.

Compared to the ugliness of her true flesh body, this soul body could be called a peerless beauty of the mortal world, overflowing with charm. Anyone who saw her would be drawn in by that intoxicating allure.

A scene of less than 5 breaths—over these days, the Insect Matriarch had already watched it no fewer than a thousand times.

Yet she still couldn't quite figure out how a group at the Beginner cultivation could possibly slay a Dao Fusion!

"Could it be… he really burned out his oil and guttered his lamp?" Her delicate fingers tapped her red lips as she murmured to herself.

The Dao Fusion of the Insect Race who was cut down by Crane Wings Camp had been somewhat stronger than Du Feng, but only by a limited margin. A battle between these two Dao Fusions, in a short span, would inevitably be a situation of evenly matched forces.

Though Du Feng ended up beaten into retreat and gravely wounded, that Dao Fusion of the Insect Race should not have fared much better. If he had indeed been beaten until his oil was exhausted and lamp extinguished, then being taken advantage of by Crane Wings Camp would be a reasonable explanation.

Although she could watch that brief scene before the Insect Race Dao Fusion's death, she could only see it; she couldn't have any specific, personal sense of it.

After studying it these past days, she could only reach this conclusion, and the Insect Matriarch was somewhat helpless.

But it was undeniable that this Crane Wings Camp had played too great a role on the battlefield; at the Beginner level, they were simply an invincible existence.

For the Insect and Blood Races, this was no good news.

More than half a year ago, news had already spread from Blood Cloud Battle Planet: the human race had a hundred-man camp that had formed an array, rampaging across the battlefield. Blood Cloud Battle Planet's defeat was directly connected to this array.

In that battle, the Insect Race had even lost an Insect Matriarch. Fei Lian of the Blood Race, though he survived, also suffered no light injuries. In the end, Blood Cloud Battle Planet was broken, and to this day, that stretch of battlefield has not been retaken.

All these years, contention within Banlan stellar space had been fierce, yet the breaking of a battle planet was actually not a common occurrence. One could say that the loss of Blood Cloud Battle Planet was a major blow to the Insect and Blood Races.