Chapter 2579: Attitude
Sage Yuan demonstrated the same arrogance as before as he stood before Lu Yin. "Lu Xiaoxuan, you will soon learn the proper attitude with which you should address me. You shouldn't dismiss the Cyclic Universe so lightly.”
Lu Yin sat down, unfazed. "So what? Should I serve my enemies tea and bow to them? You should be grateful that I haven't already told you to get lost."
Sage Yuan remained impassive. "You should have brought Xia Shenji back, as I told you last time."
Lu Yin scoffed. "And like I told you last time, get lost."
Progenitor Long frowned. "Lu Xiaoxuan, our guest deserves your respect. Don't embarrass our Origin Universe."
Lu Yin looked at the Progenitor. "Just how do you think the Sixverse Association views our Origin Universe?"
He waved his hand, and a dozen people suddenly fell out from a tear in the void. They were the students from the Sixverse Academy that he had captured. "Why don't you ask these people what they think of our Origin Universe? Or do you already know?"
Progenitor Long looked troubled. He was only all too aware of the Sixverse Association’s attitude towards the Origin Universe; they wished to see the Origin Universe devolve into a primitive and chaotic hellscape and be torn apart by internal conflicts, or even be completely annihilated by Aeternus.
If not for Aeternus, the Sixverse Association would have likely already openly attacked the Origin Universe.
Sage Yuan responded with a cold laugh. "You’re a sharp-tongued little brat. I didn't come here to discuss anything with you. Since you clearly know why I came and haven’t attacked me yet, then does that mean that you're willing to accept my terms?"
Lu Yin's expression hardened. "When faced with shameless people, what else can you do? What do you want? You'd better not overstep yourself!"
Sage Yuan clasped his hands behind his back. "Send support to the Three Monarchs Universe."
Lu Yin was not surprised by the request. "Fine, but return my people first."
"Impossible."
"I've already accepted your conditions."
"Your people will live well, but they can never return to you."
Lu Yin gave the matter a bit of thought and then said, "My people will join the Sixverse Academy then."
Sage Yuan arched a brow. "Are you trying to negotiate terms with me?"
Lu Yin locked eyes with the man. "What if I am?"
Sage Yuan scrutinized Lu Yin. This was their third time meeting each other. During both of their previous meetings, Sage Yuan had been attacked by the youth. This had led to him forming an impression that Lu Yin would rather be a shattered piece of jade than a complete tile. Sage Yuan believed that the only thing preventing Lu Yin from another violent display was the hostages that the Cyclic Universe had acquired.
The young man’s true thoughts were indiscernible to Sage Yuan.
Even so, that did not matter. As long as Lu Yin was able to support the Three Monarchs Universe, the four ruling powers would have an opportunity to invade the Fifth Mainland.
"Agreed," Sage Yuan replied, his tone icy.
“They will be given the same opportunities as everyone else," Lu Yin continued.
Sage Yuan responded in a cold voice, "Once they join the Sixverse Academy, their origins will no longer matter. At the very least, I can promise you that the academy itself will not mistreat them."
"That's all I’m asking for," Lu Yin replied before casually tossing the twelve students over to Sage Yuan. "I don’t have any interest in touching this trash."
"What about their Lotus Artifacts?" asked Sage Yuan.
Lu Yin nonchalantly answered, "I don't know about those."
Sage Yuan's face twitched. "Do you realize that those were gifts from Sovereign Nine Lotus?"
"I don't know about those," Lu Yin repeated.
Sage Yuan took a deep breath and nodded. "Very well. I hope that you don't regret this."
Lu Yin snorted. He had already been threatened with the Great Sovereign himself, so why would he fear Sovereign Nine Lotus? Even if he did return the Lotus Artifacts, would it cause the Cyclic Universe's attitude toward him to improve at all?
"Our deal is done. Now scram," Lu Yin said dismissively.
Progenitor Long clenched his teeth in frustration. He had never been so humiliated in all his years as a Progenitor, being shooed away multiple times.
Sage Yuan's eyes glittered with a chilling light. "Lu Xiaoxuan, if I were you, I would make sure to clearly grasp my situation. The Lu family has already paid for their crimes; don't continue down this path. If you provoke the Cyclic Universe into taking action against you, it won’t end with something as simple as banishment."
Lu Yin chuckled. "How many times have you threatened me?"
Sage Yuan's expression fell.
"And have I ever shown any hint of fear?" Lu Yin continued.
Sage Yuan huffed in dissatisfaction before turning to leave.
Lu Yin spoke up again. "Did you receive the message that I sent you?"
Sage Yuan hesitated, "Do you wish to repay a blood debt with blood? Fine. Come to the Great Sovereign's tea ceremony and challenge me there. No one will interfere, and I’ll give you a fair chance to decide your fate. Of course, you need to get there first."
With that, the man disappeared.
Progenitor Long spoke up, his voice solemn. "As Sage Yuan just told you, you need to send aid to the Three Monarchs Universe. Any further resistance is meaningless. Lu Xiaoxuan, you're no longer facing the four ruling powers, but rather the Sixverse Association. That is six powerful universes."
Ice entered Lu Yin's voice as he responded, "For Long Xi's sake, I'll give you one more reminder. Once Aeternus is eliminated, you’ll be looking at the same future as Progenitor Liu."
Progenitor Long frowned. "There’s no need for such threats. Do you intend to help the Three Monarchs Universe yourself, or will you send Arch-Elder Zen?"
"Arch-Elder Zen," Lu Yin replied without hesitation.
"If he goes, who will protect Shenwu Continent for you?"
"That’s my business. If you guys want to try to open that passageway again, go for it.”
Progenitor Long finally left, having achieved his goal. Once Arch-Elder Zen was gone, the Fifth Mainland would only have Lu Xiaoxuan to protect it. Things seemed to be about to revert to how they had been originally. The treaty between the four ruling powers and Lu Xiaoxuan was still in place, but the recent addition of the Sixverse Association provided them with more room to maneuver. Additionally, Lu Xiaoxuan still needed to protect Shenwu Continent.
Lu Xiaoxuan would not be able to endure for much longer.
Upon seeing Progenitor Long leaving, Wang Wen approached him. "Now that we've given the Sixverse Association back the hostages that we captured, their guard should be lowered. They might try to toy with us like a cat with a mouse. To them, we are toys that they can manipulate at will, but to you, you might as well be dancing on the edge of a knife. Even though we are hidden and they are exposed, the gap in strength between us is too large."
"I know," Lu Yin responded casually, "The four ruling powers want to use the Sixverse Association as their blade against me. If I hadn't captured Monarch Mu, the Three Monarchs Universe would've been the first to come after me, but for now, I can restrain the Third Monarchs Dimension and even deal with the others.
"The Transcendent Universe is developing a terrifying cultivation technology. If they succeed, they could potentially unbalance the entire Sixverse Association."
"Do you want to move against the Transcendent Universe now?" Wang Wen asked in surprise. It was too early, given his original plans.
"They brought it upon themselves. Which of our people would be the most suitable for cooperating with the Transcendent Universe?" Lu Yin asked.
"The Technocracy?" Wang Wen suggested.
Lu Yin shook his head. "The Transcendent Universe far surpasses the Technocracy in almost every aspect. Forcing the Technocracy to work with the Transcendent Universe will only make them look down on us, and we'll be pushed into a passive position."
"Who else do we have?" Wang Wen asked, feeling confused. With the Fifth Mainland almost completely under the Heavens Sect's control, if the Technocracy was not an option, then was Lu Yin intending to use the Astral Beast Domain?
Lu Yin looked south. "Gods' Origin."
The moment Zi Jing had given the list of materials to Lu Yin, his first thought had been of Gods' Origin. To begin with, the members of Gods' Origin referred to themselves as gods and were incredibly arrogant, believing themselves to be superior to all others. This attitude would likely reassure the Transcendent Universe in two ways. First, it would show that Gods' Origin most likely would not scheme against the Transcendent Universe, and secondly, it would show that Gods' Origin was unwilling to submit to the Heavens Sect.
Finally, Gods' Origin's derived their power from Truesight. They wielded a unique power that could even be described as magical. After all, they were able to create something from nothing. This was in no way inferior to the abilities of the Transcendent Universe.
Lu Yin had already infiltrated the Sixverse Association and learned about its member universes. He had also reached the point where he was able to fight against Progenitors, but he still felt that the cultivation and battle style of Truesight was completely unique in the megaverse. It would undoubtedly astonish the Transcendent Universe.
The only way to earn respect was through power.
God of Mirrors had never dreamed that Lu Yin would one day return to Gods' Origin.
Lu Yin was able to fight against Progenitors, and he could not gain much benefit from the ruins that belonged to Gods' Origin. Both of them wanted to enter Burial Garden and seek greater relics from the Rune Civilization that had been lost.
"Greetings, Dao Monarch." God of Mirrors bowed.
Other members of Gods' Origin similarly paid their respects.
Lu Yin stared at God of Mirrors. "You need to be more arrogant."
The man blinked, feeling completely perplexed. Arrogant?
...
Several days later, Arch-Elder Zen officially left to support the Three Monarchs Universe. He was led to the universe by Bai Sheng.
As soon as Arch-Elder Zen left, everyone assumed that the Fifth Mainland had lost its only true Progenitor. To everyone's surprise, Humility's Gate announced that they were setting up a branch in the Fifth Mainland, and Mu Xie, commander of Humility's Gate, personally arrived to oversee activities in the Fifth Mainland.
This was an even worse situation than if Arch-Elder Zen had stayed, as the Perennial World had lost a Progenitor, while the Fifth Mainland had suffered no loss at all.
The four ruling powers tried to stop Mu Xie from leaving, but their efforts were futile. He was not weaker than any of the four ruling powers’ Progenitors.
After Lu Yin completed making arrangements with Gods' Origin, he used a Lotus Artifact to return to the Sixverse Academy. After arriving in the Singularity Universe, he disappeared from where he had gone into seclusion, though no one could detect anything.
He felt his heart ache at the thought of consuming a Lotus Artifact just to make a trip.
He could not allow himself to continue on in this manner. He absolutely had to find the coordinate seal for the Singularity Universe. Otherwise, he would have to use a Lotus Artifact every time he made a trip to the Fifth Mainland, which not an expense that he could afford.
There was no doubt in his mind that Xu Xiangyin, Shi Jiao, and the other universe representatives had left energy traces on a coordinate seal in the academy. There was no other way for them to locate the small universe.
A few days after returning to the Sixverse Academy, Lu Yin went to find You Teng to request another meeting with He Ran.
You Teng was rather unwilling to facilitate a meeting between He Ran and Xuan Qi, but the man was also unable to refuse.
"Xuan Qi, are you aware of the Sixverse Association's feelings towards the Origin Universe?" You Teng abruptly asked, his tone calm and steady.
Lu Yin replied, "I participated in a student gathering before the trial that took place in the Origin Universe. From what I could learn there, there seems to be some bit of animosity."
You Teng explained, "It's not so much animosity as it is a grudge from an ancient era, and that grudge persists even today. It’s why the Sixverse Association holds such ill-will towards the Origin Universe. It has even led to some radicals calling for more aggressive action against that universe. However, with the looming threat of Aeternus, as well as how powerful the Heavens Sect once was, the Sixverse Association has decided to adopt a policy of non-interference when it comes to the Origin Universe."
Lu Yin listened attentively.
"This non-interference policy means that, no matter what happens to the Origin Universe, we will neither get involved in their affairs, nor will we reveal our existence. This is rather similar to their attitude toward us during the Heavens Sect era," You Teng continued as he recalled the past. "Aeternus is a formidable enemy, and while I hate to admit it, they're becoming increasingly difficult for us to contend with."
The man looked at Lu Yin. "The longer we wait, the harder Aeternus will be to deal with, as they grow stronger with each passing day. The chances of the Sixverse Association defeating Aeternus on our own are quite slim, and for that reason, the Origin Universe is an existence that cannot be ignored.”
"There is a chance for that universe to one day regain the splendor of the Heavens Sect era, which would provide humanity with the possibility to defeat Aeternus. Despite their current fractured state, the Origin Universe is still able to restrain some measure of Aeternus's power. In terms of pure strength, that place far surpasses the Three Monarchs Universe, which makes them an essential weapon in the war against Aeternus."
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