Chapter 2856: A Request For Help
After the humans were all gone, Zhong Pan rose back to his feet. The Red Eyes Transformation slowly faded. Blackless God glanced over and said, "You will have plenty of opportunities to fight him again. Next time, use the Red Eyes Transformation immediately, or else you’ll die."
Zhong Pan gave no answer, though his breathing grew heavier.
Upon returning to the Heavens Sect, Lu Tianyi returned to the Perennial World. Before leaving, he specifically warned Lu Yin to never underestimate the Seven Skygods.
Lu Yin asked his ancestor if he was confident about saving Progenitor Ku, but Lu Tianyi could not give an answer.
Lu Yin felt rather frustrated. The fight against Zhong Pan had prevented him from seeing the moment when the summoned god of Progenitor Ku had attacked Blackless God. Given Progenitor Ku's ability to instantly defeat Undying God, Lu Yin had no idea what sort of outcome would occur if the Progenitor faced off against Blackless God.
Having retrieved the pearl, Lu Yin asked Destina and the others who cultivated Destiny’s power to determine the location of the last pearl.
The people worked together to perform a divination and ultimately determined that the last pearl was in a parallel universe.
Lu Yin immediately thought of Bai Xian'er, as he could not think of anyone else who might have that pearl.
With that thought, Lu Yin took Destina to the Cyclic Universe and asked her to perform the divination again in that universe.
Surprisingly, the final pearl was not in the Cyclic Universe.
Lu Yin naturally assumed that Bai Xian'er was not in the universe either, so he tried to contact her.
"Brother Xiaoxuan, I didn't expect you to call me." Bai Xian'er's voice immediately came through from the communication crystal.
Lu Yin ended the call. Bai Xian'er was in the Cyclic Universe, but the pearl was not. This meant that she did not have the final pearl.
Elsewhere in the Cyclic Universe, Bai Xian'er was stunned. Lu Yin had called her, which had surprised her. She had thought that he was reaching out because of what had happened with the four ruling powers. At the moment, aside from the members of the White Dragon Clan and the Xia family, everyone else in the Perennial World who had been part of the four ruling powers had been sent to protect the 100,000 currents. Bai Xian’er had already learned about this, but she was powerless to intervene.
Lu Yin had called her, but he had not spoken a word. What did that mean? Could he have wanted to see if Bai Xian’er was dead after he triggered Destiny?
No matter how smart Bai Xian'er might be, she could not make any sense of Lu Yin’s actions.
Lu Yin had no plans to check the other parallel universes to search for the pearl. He could not go through them one by one. After all, the parallel universes that composed the Sixverse Association was nowhere close to all of the parallel universes in existence. How was he supposed to find the pearl?
The only option was to temporarily give up.
He might be able to get an answer from Zhao Ran in the future, even though no one knew the girl’s true identity.
The Sixverse Association and the Origin Universe both entered a quiet period for a time.
Sovereign Ninth Lotus visited the Heavens Sect once. Speaking on behalf of the Great Sovereign, she asked the Origin Universe to send out at least half of its Progenitors to help protect the Sixverse Association.
However, Lu Yin refused. He answered by saying that, if Nutjob Lu was not delivered to the Lu family, the Origin Universe would ignore the Great Sovereign’s requests.
Lu Yin's response infuriated Sovereign Lotus, but there was nothing that she could do about it.
The Origin Universe had a greater number of peak powerhouses than even the Cyclic Universe, and it was impossible for the Great Sovereign to start a war against Lu Yuan. The only option was to abandon the matter.
Before the woman left, Lu Yin made a request for the Cyclic Universe to also return Bai Wangyuan and Wang Fan to the Origin Universe. Sovereign Lotus reprimanded Lu Yin for being too arrogant, but Lu Yin just laughed.
He was not the slightest bit concerned about the Great Sovereign.
Two months passed, and during this period, the various powers in Lu Yin’s heart continued to stream up into the sky above the continent of fatesand. The 380,000 stars that he had simulated with the Cosmic Art filled that sky, and Lu Yin was eagerly awaiting the moment when all of the powers in his universe finished transforming into stars. At that time, how powerful would his power become?
During these two months, one person caught Lu Yin's attention. It was the young man named Tuo Lin.
Tuo Lin was from the Cyclic Universe, but despite having absolutely no cultivation whatsoever, he wanted to become Lu Yin’s disciple.
This was already rather strange, but what really caught Lu Yin's attention was that he had seen this same young man at the Great Sovereign's Tea Ceremony.
Aside from the Sixverse Association’s peak powerhouses, the only other group invited to attend the Tea Ceremonies were those who had performed exceptional achievements in the defense of humanity.
The young man appeared to be very young, and he also had no cultivation at all, which indicated that it was impossible for him to have accomplished anything of note. But despite that, he had been allowed to attend the Tea Ceremony. Lu Yin had taken note of the young man at that time, but with all that had happened at the Tea Ceremony, Tuo Lin had been forgotten.
Recently, on a whim, Lu Yin had released his domain to observe the Heavens Sect. He had then summoned Wu Da and asked the man to pay attention to Tuo Lin.
Wu Da grew excited. There were only a handful of people in the entire Origin Universe who were able to interact with Lu Yin. He was not the same person he had been in the past, and speaking to Lu Yin was an incredible stroke of luck for Wu Da.
He treated Lu Yin's words as a divine decree, and Wu Da’s eyes never left Tuo Lin. Occasionally, Wu Da would go and ask questions, trying to learn everything about the young man. The reporter had a hunch that things might be about to take off for the young man.
One day, Madam Nalan returned, and she asked to see Lu Yin.
Lu Yin hosted the woman on the mountain behind the Heavens Sect and asked Zhao Ran to brew some tea. "Is your training with the Merchant Exchange finished?"
Madam Nalan shook her head. "Not so quickly, but I have a mission here."
"Oh?" Lu Yin looked at Madam Nalan.
An eye appeared on the woman’s forehead. This was the Merchant Exchange’s emblem, and Lu Yin remembered that it was essentially a better version of a Void Wanderer.
It was a bizarre creature that would protect their user from even most Progenitors. Every member of the Merchant Exchange had such a creature, and this ensured their safety.
"Dao Monarch, this eye is the Merchant Exchange’s emblem, and it’s called a Decaying Diablo."
Lu Yin arched a brow. "A Decaying Diablo?"
This was not an unfamiliar name to him, as Yi Ren had used the same thing to escape in the Starfall Sea. However, the Decaying Diablo that Yi Ren had used had been utterly revolting, as the eye had been completely covered in tentacles.
"There is a strange parallel universe that is a part of the Endless Frontier. It’s called the Decaying Diablo Universe. There are no native humans in that universe, nor any astral beasts. There is only one species that live there, the Decaying Diablos. There are a variety of them as well.”
"The most common type is the Tentacled Diablo, but there are others, such as Stone Diablos, Blade Diablos, and many more. The Space Diablo is one of the most elite Decaying Diablos. The Merchant Exchange has acquired a large number of Space Diablos from that universe, and they are distributed to all of the Exchange’s members to ensure their safety throughout the Sixverse Association.
"At this moment, I am here to request the Dao Monarch’s help on behalf of the Merchant Exchange."
Lu Yin understood. Apparently, Yi Ren had been in possession of a tentacled Decaying Diablo, while the Merchant Exchange relied on Space Diablos. What a bizarre universe. "What sort of help are you requesting?"
Madam Nalan cautiously replied, "Something has happened in the Decaying Diablo Universe. Sovereign Shao Yin has entered the universe, leading the Aeternals in an attempt to take over total control of the universe. Because of this, the Merchant Exchange has sent me here to ask for help. This would be a transaction, and the Merchant Exchange can pay you 10 trillion star essences for your assistance."
Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Sovereign Shao Yin is in the Decaying Diablo Universe?"
Madam Nalan nodded. "Bi Lan asked me to tell you that Sovereign Shao Yin's Rotting the Heavenly Dao is a battle technique that he cultivated in the Decaying Diablo Universe. He has been stripped of his power by the Great Sovereign, and so he wants to re-cultivate Rotting the Heavenly Dao in the Decaying Diablo Universe.
"In the past, he belonged to the Cyclic Universe and thus had a good relationship with the Merchant Exchange, so there was no issue with him cultivating in that universe. However, everyone now knows that he is a spy of Aeternus. When he returned to the Decaying Diablo Universe, he immediately attacked the Merchant Exchange and tried to wipe us out entirely, or at least drive us from the Decaying Diablo Universe.
"The Merchant Exchange cannot lose that universe."
Lu Yin stood up and stared off into the distance, his hands clasped behind his back. Was Sovereign Shao Yin in the Decaying Diablo Universe?
Zhao Ran returned, having prepared some tea for the two people.
Madam Nalan casually sipped her tea. Zhao Ran was no stranger to the woman.
Zhao Ran eagerly stared at Lu Yin. This was her latest creation, and its taste was quite different.
Lu Yin sat back down and asked, "What is the most that the Merchant Exchange can pay?"
He was short on funds, and he had been thinking about how to accumulate enough of a fortune to be able to Possess the various peak powerhouses of the Sixverse Association. The Merchant Exchange was the best way to gather such a fund.
Lu Yin had even considered simply robbing the members of the Merchant Exchange, but after considering the implications, he had decided against it. His status made it difficult to take such actions, and there had to be a better way.
Before he could make any moves, the Merchant Exchange had opened their purse to Lu Yin.
Sovereign Shao Yin wanted to obliterate the Merchant Exchange, and the Merchant Exchange’s money was precisely what Lu Yin needed. The only problem was the Endless Frontier.
It was not that easy to push across the Endless Frontier, but with the presence of Ancestor Lu Tianyi and a group of Progenitors such as Arch-Elder Zen, it should not be too difficult.
Lu Yin did not believe that things would be so easy. After all, the Aeternals could still gather the Seven Skygods to lay an ambush in the Decaying Diablo Universe.
However, it was impossible for the Merchant Exchange to join forces with the Aeternals.
Madam Nalan bluntly replied, "30 trillion star essences from the Cyclic Universe."
Lu Yin was caught off guard. "An instant jump from 10 trillion to 30 trillion?"
Madam Nalan smiled. There was no need for her to offer any flattery, as just her demeanor and appearance was enough to make people swoon over her. "I am yours."
Lu Yin laughed. "The Merchant Exchange certainly understands me quite well, knowing how to entice me with money. However, 30 trillion is still not enough."
Madam Nalan nodded. "I'll go tell them."
Lu Yin tapped a finger on the table. "Don’t bother. This is your first mission from the Merchant Exchange, and we can’t let you fail at it."
Madam Nalan smiled at Lu Yin. "Dao Monarch, I don't need you to pay to keep my position."
A smile crept across Lu Yin’s face. "But I need your position to be secure."
Madam Nalan said nothing more, as she already understood what Lu Yin was planning. The Merchant Exchange was too wealthy, and that wealth was something that Lu Yin badly needed. But how could he take it? There is no point in trying to force Madam Nalan to take it up, as it would not be easy for anyone to take over the Merchant Exchange.
Lu Yin rubbed his cosmic ring. It still held Bi Rong's body within it. The higher Madam Nalan's position in the Merchant Exchange was, the more Lu Yin would understand the company. Corpse God wanted Lu Yin’s cosmic ring, which suggested that he wanted Bi Rong’s corpse. That body was a chess piece, so it was best to use it. Perhaps Lu Yin could trick Corpse God and kill him.
The Merchant Exchange, Corpse God, Bi Rong, money. The various details kept spinning in Lu Yin's mind. He needed to come up with a good plan.
At the moment, what Lu Yin wanted to do the most was deal with the issue of Sovereign Shao Yin. Additionally, Lu Yin wanted those 30 trillion star essences.
"Dao Monarch, aren't you worried that the Merchant Exchange might belong to Aeternus? What if they try to use the Decaying Diablo Universe to set an ambush for you?" Madam Nalan asked. It was impossible for her to know about the Merchant Exchange’s true intentions.
Lu Yin just sneered. "If the Aeternals are able to take me down, there’s no need for them to set an ambush for me in the Decaying Diablo Universe.
"Go back and tell the Merchant Exchange that I accept the 30 trillion star essences and that I will go to the Decaying Diablo Universe."
Madam Nalan nodded as she looked at Lu Yin. "Be careful."
Lu Yin hummed.
Zhao Ran watched as Madam Nalan left. The girl opened her mouth to mention that Madam Nalan had not finished her tea yet, but the woman left too quickly.
Right after that, Lu Yin also left.
Zhao Ran wilted. Her tea...
Lu Yin went to the Lu Sanctum. It would be best if either Ancestor Lu Yuan or Ancestor Lu Tianyi could go to the Endless Frontier with him.
However, once Lu Yin arrived, he learned that Ancestor Lu Yuan had left the Lu Sanctum.
"He left?" Lu Yin felt confused.
Lu Tianyi solemnly replied, "Ancestor has gone to the Sixverse Association. It's time to retaliate against Aeternus. The Great Sovereign is going to take the lead, and the rulers of all the member universes are going to attack the Aeternals and deal a vicious blow."
"When?" Lu Yin asked.
Lu Tianyi did not know the answer to that. "Just wait. As soon as they take action, news will arrive from the Endless Frontier."
With Lu Yuan gone, Lu Yin could not ask Lu Tianyi to accompany him, as that would place the Origin Universe at risk.