Chapter 2857: Clues
Even if the chances of Aeternus laying a trap for Lu Yin in the Decaying Diablo Universe were 10,000 to 1, if it happened, it would be a disaster for the Origin Universe. If Lu Yin wanted to go save the Merchant Exchange, he had to leave Lu Tianyi behind and take other Progenitors with him. Fortunately, Big Sis had already broken through and regained the incredible strength of Progenitor Yōu Ming.
In addition to that, if Lu Yin received word from the Endless Frontier that the Great Sovereign and the other rulers of the various member universes of the Sixverse a.s.sociation had launched an attack, the Aeternals would not have the spare forces to plot against Lu Yin and the Origin Universe. If they were capable of doing so, then there would be no need for them to lay an ambush, as they could simply wipe out the entire Origin Universe. If the Aeternals had that kind of strength, why would they bother with schemes and plots?
"Xiaoxuan, are you sure that you want to go to the Endless Frontier?" Lu Tianyi asked.
Lu Yin nodded. "Ancestor, 30 trillion star essence is waiting for me. I don’t want to let this opportunity slip by."
Lu Tianyi laughed. "My Lu family"s cultivation truly does consume more resources than others. It"s fine if you go. The battle that the Great Sovereign and the others are about to fight will be large enough to keep the Aeternals occupied. If Sovereign Shao Yin is in the Decaying Diablo Universe, then you can take advantage of the situation. This would be the best time to make a move, as Aeternus will be feeling the pressure, and Ancestor will create an advantage that will allow you to sweep through the Decaying Diablo Universe and benefit from the battle."
Lu Yin smiled. "That"s what I was thinking."
Lu Tianyi’s smile disappeared. "However, do not grow careless. I can"t go, but Progenitor Yōu Ming can."
Lu Yin nodded. If not for the fact that he had the support of a truly powerful Progenitor or two, such as Big Sis, he knew that he would suffer when going to the Endless Frontier. Big Sis’s breakthrough had come at the perfect time, and Lu Yin wanted to showcase the power of Origin Universe to the Sixverse a.s.sociation.
The Merchant Exchange had not asked the Sixverse a.s.sociation for help, but rather the Origin Universe. This was the acknowledgement of the outside powers.
What Lu Yin needed to do at this moment was wait for news from the Endless Frontier of the impending a.s.sault.
After more than ten days pa.s.sed, Bi Lan arrived, delivering 5 trillion star essence as a demonstration of the Merchant Exchange"s sincerity.
This was a truly impressive show of sincerity.
In the past, the wealthiest group that Lu Yin had interacted with was the Mavis family. They had been known as the Lu family"s purse, but even so, it was impossible for them to offer 30 trillion star essence to ask a favor from Lu Yin.
Of course, the two groups were not on the same level at all. The Mavis family had fallen from their former glory, and they were limited to the resources of just the Fifth Mainland. On the other hand, the Merchant Exchange had the ability to oversee the economy of the entire Sixverse a.s.sociation, and they were ruthless in collecting their commissions. How much money had they acc.u.mulated? Lu Yin could not even begin to guess.
They were willing to offer Lu Yin 30 trillion star essence for his a.s.sistance, but there was no way that this amount would harm the Merchant Exchange’s profits in the least. Lu Yin was developing a growing interest in the Merchant Exchange.
...
In the Cyclic Universe, a wooden pole blocked a city gate. There was a sign hanging from the pole: “All who look at me are cowards.” The sign belonged to Snack Sage. He had grown restless, so he had traveled to this city and started provoking people. Many were infuriated into competing with him, only to suffer disastrously.
Just outside the city gates, another pole appeared, and this one was also holding up a sign: “Bai Qian"s Ninth Grandpa.” On the back was another message: “Fortune telling—Believe it or not.” Xuan Jiu had arrived.
There were two signs at the city gates, one inside and the other outside.
Xuan Jiu and Snack Sage’s eyes met, and they both looked at the other’s sign. What was this?
Xuan Jiu observed Snack Sage’s powerful physique, as well as his big mouth that he was constantly stuffing full of food at a frenzied rate. The man’s face clearly belonged to an idiot.
Xuan Jiu turned around and walked away. Just a glance was enough to tell that this person had no brain, and Xuan Jiu did not want to get into trouble.
"Stop!" Snack Sage shouted.
Xuan Jiu picked up his pace.
Snack Sage’s eyebrows rose, and he grabbed his wooden pole and threw it out. The pole pa.s.sed by Xuan Jiu and stabbed into the ground, blocking the old man’s path. It had nearly stabbed Xuan Jiu. He grew furious, and he whirled around to yell, "Who is carelessly throwing things around? What if that had hit Grandpa Jiu? I wish you and your family a long and happy life!"
The nearby people gave the old man odd looks. Was that a blessing or a curse?
Snack Sage shoved his way through the crowd and approached Xuan Jiu, staring at the old man with large eyes.
Xuan Jiu was briefly intimidated, but then he sneered. "Little Brother, it’s clear to see from just a glance how the vital task of saving mankind will one day fall upon you. There’s no doubt. One day, you will punch Lu Xiaoxuan into the sky and kick the Cyclic Universe’s Junior Sovereign. Little Brother, the future belongs to you."
Snack Sage’s eyebrows climbed high as he stared at Xuan Jiu. The young man again looked at the sign. "Are you Bai Qian"s Grandpa Jiu?"
Xuan Jiu"s face twitched. "Yes."
"What is your name?"
"Xuan Jiu."
Snack Sage"s eyes flared, and he stared at Xuan Jiu with much greater intensity. "What did you just say your name is?"
Xuan Jiu felt confused. "Xuan Jiu. What"s wrong, Little Brother?"
"You don"t deserve it!" Snack Sage grabbed Xuan Jiu and threw him away.
Xuan Jiu shrieked as he tumbled through the sky. Just who had he gotten involved with?
Snack Sage snorted contemptuously. This old man dared to use the same surname as Xuan Qi, but he lacked the strength to be worthy of it. What trash.
Xuan Jiu fell into a distant river with a splash. There was a small boat quietly drifting along the river, and sweet laughter rang from it.
"Miss, someone fell into the river."
"Pick them up. Master has said that it’s best to do a good deed every day."
"Yes."
Xuan Jiu cursed as he popped back up to the surface of the river. He glared at the direction that he had flown from. I don’t deserve it? Why not? Is there something special about the name ‘Xuan Jiu?’
At this moment, a pole descended in front of Xuan Jiu. It was held by the boatman. "Come on up. Our lady is kind-hearted, and she asked me to save your life."
Xuan Jiu"s eyes lit up. A lady? That meant that he had the chance to have a wonderful life. Over the years, he had lost count of how many young ladies and n.o.ble women he had helped divine their future, especially those who were interested in learning about their love life. Thinking of this, the old man smiled. "Thank you, Madam. I wonder, may I meet you?”
The boatman glared down at the old man. "How dare you ask to meet our lady!"
"Let him in." A pleasant voice called out from the cabin, as well as a bit more laughter.
The boatman bowed. "My lady is kind-hearted. Meeting her will be the greatest blessing of your entire life, so cherish this moment."
The man then raised his pole and lifted Xuan Jiu onto the boat.
The old man wrung out his clothes to dry them, and then said in as dignified a manner as he could, "Please lead the way."
The boatman let out a small snort, feeling that this old man was quite pathetic.
Soon, Xuan Jiu was led into the cabin. He was met by the sight of several young women smiling and chatting. One was playing the piano, though there was no sound. It appeared as if she was contemplating something.
When Xuan Jiu entered, the women turned to look at him.
He coughed, looked up to face the women. "I, Xuan Jiu, was brought low by a cheater. Many thanks for rescuing me."
The happy expression of the women disappeared the moment the name Xuan Jiu was mentioned. The woman playing the piano instantly looked up to stare at the old man. "What did you just say your name is?"
Xuan Jiu blinked, suddenly having a bad premonition.
"Sister, he said that his name is Xuan Jiu."
"What connection do you have to Xuan Qi?"
"Sister, look, he carries a sign that says ‘Bai Qian"s Grandpa Jiu" written on it. I understand that Bai Qian has some sort of connection to Xuan Qi. I heard someone mention that she was able to rise to power in the Transcendent Universe because Xuan Qi framed He Ran as a spy, which caused her to disappear.”
"This old man must be related to Xuan Qi. There’s no other reason for such a coincidence. Xuan Qi and Xuan Jiu. Well, Xuan Qi has already been exposed, so who does Xuan Jiu want to deceive by showing up?"
Xuan Jiu felt terribly confused. Who was Xuan Qi? Xuan Jiu had not been in the Cyclic Universe for very long, and he had not met any important individuals, so he had not heard of many matters. However, his instincts were screaming that he was in grave trouble, and he was desperate to explain himself.
Unfortunately, before he could even speak, one of the women moved against him and struck Xuan Jiu hard. "Looking at his wretched appearance! He must have something to do with that Xuan Qi! Xuan Qi was disrespectful to Lotus Master’s disciples and caused senior sister to be sent to the Endless Frontier. Even worse, he made Master angry! Sisters, beat him!"
"Beat him!"
Xuan Jiu felt furious. He did not even understand who he had provoked, or what he had done to antagonize them so badly!
He was so frightened by the attacks of the young women that he immediately fled.
Fortunately, Xuan Jiu had spent many years roaming about the Fifth Mainland, and he had acquired a great deal of experience. While the young women were quite decent, they were not able to catch up to the fleeing old man.
"a.s.shole! Spread word that there is someone named Xuan Jiu and that he might be related to Xuan Qi. Have everyone keep an eye out for him. Don’t let the b.a.s.t.a.r.d deceive anyone!"
...
Elsewhere, Xuan Jiu"s appearance had successfully roused Snack Sage"s desire to compete with Lu Yin. Of course, Snack Sage was well aware that he was not Lu Yin"s opponent anymore. His recent breakthrough to the Semi-Progenitor realm and Infinity were far more than what Snack Sage could handle. Even so, Snack Sage dreamed of seeing that strength for himself. Despite receiving multiple warnings from Food Sage, Snack Sage simply could not help himself, and he headed out.
More than half a month later, Snack Sage arrived outside of the Heavens Sect. He was shocked by the sight of the behemoth that stretched out before him.
Was this the Heavens Sect? The greatest glory in human history? The closer Snack Sage got, the more majestic he felt the place was. It was a place of unmatched splendor.
Snack Sage felt as though he was being stared at by multiple peak powerhouses, and he was afraid to move closer.
Wu Da was also outside the Heavens Sect, still monitoring Tuo Lin. There were countless people waiting just outside the Heavens Sect. Some of them wanted to join the sect, while others were looking to visit friends. There were others who were simply visiting to show their respects. There were many visitors from the Sixverse a.s.sociation.
Too many people were curious about the Heavens Sect.
The Origin Universe had replaced the Three Monarchs Universe as a member of the Sixverse a.s.sociation, but if the two were compared, the Origin Universe was vastly more powerful. At present, even if the Great Sovereign was still invincible in everyone"s hearts, the Origin Universe had already replaced the Cyclic Universe and become the leader of the Sixverse a.s.sociation.
Snack Sage announced himself to the Heavens Sect. His ident.i.ty qualified him to meet with Lu Yin.
Lu Yin soon received word of his visitor. Snack Sage? Lu Yin waved a hand. "I don’t want to see him."
Snack Sage was still pestering Lu Yin to arm wrestle. How did he have the guts to challenge Lu Yin after his Semi-Progenitor breakthrough and his demonstration of pure strength? Where did Snack Sage’s confidence come from?
A short while later, the Second Nightking returned. "Dao Monarch, Snack Sage has asked your servant to inform you that he has a clue regarding the jiao’s location."
Lu Yin arched a brow. "Bring him over."
The jiao had escaped during the battle at the Tea Ceremony. Lu Yin had hurried back to the Heavens Sect without paying attention to the beast, and once the dust settled, the jiao had vanished entirely.
Ancestor Lu Yuan had even mentioned the jiao when he went to the Great Sovereign to demand that Nutjob Lu be given to the Lu family, but the Great Sovereign did not have the beast.
With the Great Sovereign’s ident.i.ty, regardless of how much she may want to acquire the jiao, she would not use deception to do so. She could not return the jiao, as she did not have it.
Lu Yin had no clues regarding where the jiao might have gone. The few people he had asked in the Sixverse a.s.sociation had not known anything either. The battle at the Tea Ceremony had been too intense, and the jiao had shrunk itself before escaping. No one would have noticed it leaving, unless they had been specifically paying attention to it.
Snack Sage was quickly led to Lu Yin, and his eyes lit up when he saw the Dao Monarch.
Lu Yin’s finger twitched, and an invisible force pressed down on Snack Sage. The man felt as though the sky was collapsing as he was forced down.
"Are you still determined to ask me to ??compete with you?"
Snack Sage gritted his teeth and used all of his strength to stubbornly raise his head. "I want to see your inner world! The first one you formed."
Lu Yin was not surprised. "My first inner world is called Infinity, referring to infinite strength. If you want to see it, you can. Where is the jiao?"