Chapter 2358: Forced To Meet

Lu Yin responded in an earnest tone, "If you aren’t a surviving vassal of the Lu family, then why would you have helped me back then? You helped me just like Adventure King. He was later on targeted by the four ruling powers, and he nearly died. This junior has been very worried about your safety. I’ve reached an agreement with the four ruling powers and am able to protect all of the surviving vassals of my Lu family, which means that as long as you admit to being one, no one will harm you, Senior. Not even Shenwu's Sky. This junior will even speak to Shenwu's Sky on your behalf."

Grandmaster Qiu Ling became quite anxious. "Don't joke around, Lu Xiaoxuan! I was never one of the Lu family’s vassals."

"But you helped this junior. This junior is definitely not an ungrateful person!" Lu Yin protested loudly.

Grandmaster Qiu Ling was speechless. She wanted to say that she had not helped him by choice, but only because she had been ordered to do so by the Aeternals! However, she would never say such a thing out loud even if it killed her.

If Lu Yin told Shenwu's Sky that Qiu Ling had helped him escape from the Higher Realm after fleeing from Dragon Mountain, she would be in grave trouble. Even worse, such a disruption could ruin Aeternus’s plans for Lu Yin, and it was even possible that the four ruling powers might find out that Grandmaster Qiu Ling was a Redback!

As long as she maintained a close relationship with the four ruling powers, no one would look into her matters, but if she became one of their enemies, there was no telling what might come to light.

"Lu Xiaoxuan, you really have misunderstood the entire situation. I was truly never a vassal of the Lu family." Grandmaster Qiu Ling could not find a way to explain things, which was incredibly frustrating for her.

Lu Yin internally grinned at the woman’s desperation, but he revealed a solemn expression over the call. "This junior can’t believe that."

"What would convince you?" Grandmaster Qiu Ling angrily demanded.

Lu Yin thought for a while. "Let's meet face to face. Something like this can only be properly explained in person."

"No. What will I do if someone finds out about me meeting with you and tells Shenwu's Sky?" Grandmaster Qiu Ling instantly refused.

Lu Yin replied, "This junior already knows that you were a vassal of the Lu family and that you don't want to reveal your old loyalties. Don't worry, this junior will make everything clear to Shenwu's Sky so that you will be safe."

He then moved to end the call.

Grandmaster Qiu Ling became desperate. "Wait! Alright, fine. Let’s meet up. Where do you want to meet? Where are you right now?"

Lu Yin answered, "This junior is on the fourth array base. If you don’t want to be seen with me, Senior, then you can choose a secret place for us to meet."

Grandmaster Qiu Ling had been backed into a corner. How was it possible that, decades after helping this person, he was dragging her down because of it? She had to give him a justifiable reason for her past actions, or else her relationship with Shenwu's Sky would be completely ruined the moment they learned that she had helped Lu Xiaoxuan escape during his first visit to the Perennial World.

The more that Grandmaster Qiu Ling considered her current situation, the more frustrated she felt. She had not felt so cornered in many, many years.

Finally, the two agreed to meet in a hidden location on the rear battlefield. It was a location on the Mother Tree itself, and it was at the border between the second and third array bases.

This location was not unfamiliar to Lu Yin, as it was the location that Grandmaster Qiu Ling had been in when Lu Yin had Possessed her.

After agreeing to the location of their meeting, Lu Yin rushed over. He could not wait to Possess the woman once again and extract all of her lockbreaking knowledge and experience.

At the same time, Grandmaster Qiu Ling was racking her brain, trying to come up with a solution for the issue she faced. She could not simply stay silent, as that would not resolve anything at all. She needed to give an explanation, but how was she supposed to provide a reasonable explanation for her actions?

Both people’s minds were fully occupied as they headed towards the meeting location.

***

Far away, in the Higher Realm, a group of people had gathered in the mountain valley beneath the Wang family’s floating mainland. All of the top youths from each of the four ruling powers were present, including Long Tian, Wang Su, Wang Yi, Xia Shenfei, and many more. They were being sent to the Fifth Mainland to obtain the inheritances that were kept in the Tower of the Fifth. Bai Qi was going to lead them all there.

They were all waiting for Bai Qi at the moment. The Semi-Progenitor had just left the rear battlefield and was rushing towards the valley.

"Wang Su, out of all of us, you’re the only one to have actually visited the Forsaken Land. Does the Tower of the Fifth really have that many worthwhile inheritances?" Long Tian asked.

Everyone else immediately focused on Wang Su and Wang Yi.

There was an indifferent expression on Wang Su's face. Due to practicing the Supremacy secret technique, he had a rather unique demeanor. "There are some there, but not others."

"What does that mean?" Xia Shenfei asked after taking a sip of wine.

Wang Su had no interest in saying anything further. Instead, Wang Yi answered. "The Forsaken Land was attacked by Aeternus twenty years ago, and Lu Yin disappeared at the same time. Twenty years passed before he reappeared, and during the time that he was gone, Semi-Progenitors did enter and explore the Tower of the Fifth. Most of the advertised inheritances are actually there, but there’s no inheritance from Progenitor Ku. Instead, there’s a qualification to receive the inheritance when it becomes available.

"Also, by accepting many of the inheritances that are in the Tower of the Fifth, you agree to acknowledge Lu Yin as a half-master."

Everyone headed for the Fifth Mainland had already been informed about the need to accept Lu Yin as a half-master, but that stipulation did not apply to ordinary inheritances. Also, the sole purpose of the people being sent to the Fifth Mainland was to take the Thirteen Swords, Extremes Must Be Reversed, and Inverse Step techniques. If acquiring such techniques meant being forced to acknowledge Lu Yin as a half-master, then so what?

The other inheritances available in the Tower of the Fifth were regarded as worthless, and no one would accept them if it required acknowledging Lu Yin as a half-master.

While Bai Wangyuan wanted to force Lu Yin to cancel the requirement to accept him as a half-master, there was no way that Lu Yin would agree to such a thing. After all, if he did retract the condition, then how would he be able to explain himself to the people from the Fifth and Sixth Mainlands?

For this reason, the Progenitor had not even brought the matter up with Lu Yin.

The gathered crowd all chatted with each other as they waited for Bai Qi to arrive.

Bai Qi was already on her way, and as she was traveling, she spoke with Bai Wangyuan and explained what had happened on the first array base of the rear battlefield.

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Bai Wangyuan had only interfered because he had sensed the power of the Rune Progenitor. It was impossible for any of the Progenitors to be constantly monitoring Lu Yin.

Bai Qi's report also informed the Progenitors of what had happened.

None of them cared about some ant like Qiao Er, but they were very interested in the matter of Lu Yin challenging Mu Shang and the possibility of the young man stealing the title of youngest Array Grandmaster in human history.

It was only then that the Progenitors remembered that Lu Yin was also a Realm Array Master. The fact that he had publicly challenged Mu Shang meant that Lu Xiaoxuan was confident about his chances against an Array Grandmaster.

This was something that made the four ruling powers’ Progenitors positively murderous.

A Progenitor who was also an Array Grandmaster was a terrifying combination. Much like Hui Wen, a Progenitor who was a Lockbreaker could achieve lockbreaking feats that defied what even Progenitors considered possible.

During the Daosource Sect era, none of them had ever contemplated a possibility that there would come a day when humanity relied on Hui Wen’s power of lockbreaking to defend them all. It had exceeded even Lu Tianyi’s imagination. Would Lu Xiaoxuan be the next Hui Wen? It was certainly not impossible.

Bai Wangyuan looked down at the rear battlefield. It would be perfect if Lu Xiaoxuan died during the upcoming challenge. He had been the one to initiate the challenge, which meant that whatever happened during the challenge would have absolutely nothing to do with the four ruling powers.

…

On the rear battlefield, Lu Yin had already arrived at the location where he had agreed to meet Grandmaster Qiu Ling. He glanced around and confirmed that it was the same location that the woman had been when Lu Yin had Possessed her.

A Champions’ Stage floated behind him. He glanced behind and then shrouded the entire area with the runes from the Champions’ Stage. He intended to make sure that Bai Wangyuan and the other Progenitors were not watching him.

Even if Lu Yin could not defeat those Progenitors, he could at least determine if anyone was watching him with the Progenitor-level runes available to him.

There was actually no one watching at the moment. To begin with, Bai Wangyuan and the others knew that they were not able to keep an eye on Lu Yin, and on top of that, the Dominion Realm was also a battlefield, just one for Progenitors. It was not easy for any of the Progenitors to see what was happening down below.

Wait.?Lu Yin suddenly wondered if Grandmaster Qiu Ling was responsible for the fact that no one was watching. There was no way that she would be willing to risk letting anyone from the four ruling powers observe her meeting with Lu Yin. Thus, it was possible that she had asked the Aeternals to keep Bai Wangyuan and the others in the Dominion Realm occupied for a while.

If that was true, then Lu Yin would have to laugh, as it would mean that Aeternus was helping him out a great deal. However, if Lu Yin’s suspicions were correct, then that also meant that there was a very good chance that the fourth base would be targeted as well. Lu Yin was well aware of the fact that Grandmaster Qiu Ling would do almost anything to not have a long conversation with him, and that meant that she needed something to pull Lu Yin away from their meeting.

"Come on out, Senior." Lu Yin shot a smile in a specific direction.

Grandmaster Qiu Ling stepped out, warily looking at Lu Yin while feeling rather helpless. "You got here very quickly."

Lu Yin gave a genuine answer, "This junior can move as fast as a Semi-Progenitor, but I can also use some special methods to reach a Progenitor’s speed. Just a few days ago, this junior even fought against one of the Aeternals’ Seven Skygods, and it was even her true body. When I was still in the Fifth Mainland, Xia Shenji cooperated with Bai Sheng to attack me, but they were still forced back. This is part of the reason why the four ruling powers agreed to a truce with this junior. Senior, you don't need to worry about anything at all. This junior will definitely be able to protect you."

Grandmaster Qiu Ling was left speechless. Although jealousy was the motivation that had set her on her current path, it was a darkness that had always remained buried deep in her heart. In fact, Qiu Ling’s entire personality had changed somewhat after she became an Array Grandmaster, becoming a bit gentler and softer. She had formed closer bonds with some people, and time had eventually caused Qiu Ling to be a different person from her younger self. There were even times when she questioned whether she would turn to Aeternus again if she were given a second chance with her older personality. Would jealousy still drive her to such extremes?

Despite Qiu Ling’s improved personality, she could not help but get upset with him after hearing what he had to say. Was he incapable of comprehending what she was saying?

"I already told you, I was really never a vassal of the Lu family," Grandmaster Qiu Ling reiterated.

Lu Yin warily looked around. "Is there someone watching us? Don't worry, Senior. Even if one of those old freaks like Bai Wangyuan is watching you, you can admit the truth. Nothing will happen to you. This junior understands that you have been in the Perennial World alone for many years, enduring the humiliation, but this junior is here and can help you now."

Grandmaster Qiu Ling’s hands unconsciously clenched into fists before she forced them to relax. "Well, I will admit that I did help you back then, but that was only because I was given some favors by your Lu family long ago. Other than that, I have no connection with your Lu family. I don’t owe you anything, and you also don’t owe me anything. I’ll say it once more: I am absolutely not affiliated with the Lu family in any way.”

Lu Yin became agitated, and he stepped forward. "I don't believe it! Adventure King still hasn't come to me even now, and you also won't admit it. Did the four ruling powers do something to you?"

Seeming to have suddenly thought of something, Lu Yin continued to say, "Is that it? A restriction? The four ruling powers have placed restrictions and seals on many others, but you don’t have to worry! This junior can remove the four ruling powers’ restrictions. I already removed the restrictions that were placed on the members of Star Alliance!”

Grandmaster Qiu Ling felt terrified of Lu Yin. She did not know why she felt such fear, but as soon as Lu Yin approached her, she felt a terrible chill that caused her to instinctively want to keep her distance from Lu Yin.

Lu Yin abruptly froze in place, and various emotions flickered across his face as he looked at Grandmaster Qiu Ling. "Senior, are you on guard against me?"

Grandmaster Qiu Ling took a deep breath. "I already told you that I’m not one of the surviving vassals of the Lu family. I don’t want to have anything to do with you, especially since I am a part of Shenwu's Sky. I won’t do anything that will cause Progenitor Shenji to become upset with me."

Bitterness filled Lu Yin’s eyes as he stared at the woman, and then he laughed at himself. "So that's how it is? Right, you’re part of Shenwu's Sky now, so of course you wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me, the last member of the Lu family."

Grandmaster Qiu Ling let out a sigh of relief when she saw that Lu Yin did not continue moving forward. She glanced towards the fourth array base. It should be just about time now.

The moment that thought appeared, the power of a Progenitor swept across the five array bases.

Lu Yin’s head whipped around. "Not good! There’s an enemy Progenitor!"

He glanced back at Grandmaster Qiu Ling. He clearly wanted to say something more, but he eventually left without saying another word and looking terribly disappointed.

The moment Lu Yin left, E Chi appeared. Lu Yin had already summoned a champion and was racing back towards the fourth array base.

Grandmaster Qiu Ling heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that Lu Yin had summoned his Progenitor-level champion. This matter had finally been settled. She should really have never helped him to begin with, but who would have ever imagined that the youth would one day be allowed to openly roam about the Perennial World? It was something that still felt unbelievable.

She took a long look in the direction of the fourth array base before turning around and leaving. Suddenly, the woman froze. Her eyes went slack, and Lu Yin stepped out from the shadows behind the Array Grandmaster. He had already Possessed her.