Chapter 2434: Changing The Situation  

In the Lower Realm, Xia Shenji's clone heaved and vomited mouthfuls of crimson blood even as more blood oozed from his skin. He looked as though he had just been fished out from a pool of blood. "Hurry! Xia Shenji can sense our location, which means that he should be on his way."

Liu Shaoge helped Xia Shenji's clone stand up, and then they fled along a route that they had prepared beforehand.

Their path traced the position of the Python Ancestor's body high above them. They were using the Python Ancestor's aura to deter Xia Shenji and impede his ability to track them.

"Was it worth it?" Liu Shaoge asked as he looked at Xia Shenji's clone. For the first time, there was a hint of surprise in Liu Shaoge’s eyes as he looked at the man.

The clone grinned, even as blood dripped from his mouth. The excessive amounts of blood gave the man a ferocious and vicious appearance. "An injury this severe is something I can recover from only after a hundred years of seclusion. In exchange, I can extract a promise, so of course it's worth it."

Liu Shaoge's voice fell low. "You already knew?"

"That you were still in contact with Lu Xiaoxuan? Young man, you are clearly underestimating me. It's not a bad thing to replace the old generation with the new, but don't forget—we are not the old generation. Progenitors will never become outdated. When Lu Xiaoxuan tracked us down, I already knew that something was wrong. Why would Lu Xiaoxuan chase after me? Is it just because I am one of Xia Shenji's clones? Furthermore, why have you been so cautious? You take everything step by step, and you even try to factor in Lu Xiaoxuan’s thoughts so that he can't catch up. No matter how I look at things, it looks like you two are playing a game with each other.”

"If it is a game, then there must be some sort of wager on the line, and that wager must be me. The only reason why such a game can be played is that you have always been in contact with Lu Yin," Xia Shenji's clone enunciated slowly and carefully as he deliberately laid out his reasoning.

He was injured so heavily that he needed assistance to even move. If Liu Shaoge intended to do any harm to the man, he was already too weak to offer any resistance, but the man continued to chat away.

Liu Shaoge praised, "I have to admit that Senior is smarter, stronger, and more ruthless than I had imagined."

Xia Shenji's clone sneered, but almost instantly, his head snapped up. Both men froze for a moment. "Let's go. It's Xia Shenji. If not for the Python Ancestor's aura, he would have already pinpointed my location.”

"You used me to communicate with Lu Yin and offered to injure Xia Shenji in exchange for a promise that he will help you deal with Xia Shenji in the future. Senior, do you really trust him?" Liu Shaoge asked.

This interaction had also taken place after Lu Yin arrived in the Perennial World and made his way to Seed Garden. He had been inspired to confer Nong Yi, and at about the same time, Liu Shaoge had contacted Lu Yin to offer a deal with Xia Shenji's clone.

.

Xia Shenji's clone looked upwards while gasping for breath. He gestured for Liu Shaoge to set him down and then leaned back against the Mother Tree’s roots. "The Lu family’s banishment was a gamble that the four ruling powers took. They won that round. This time, it's my turn to gamble, and I’m betting that the Lu family will be able to turn the tables."

He looked at Liu Shaoge as he continued, ?to say"I know that you have a grudge against Lu Xiaoxuan…"

Liu Shaoge interrupted the man with a laugh. "I don’t have any grudge against him! I'm just one of the many people in this dark forest."

Xia Shenji's clone stared at Liu Shaoge for a long moment. "It’s possible that one day in the future, you'll also have a place in this part of the universe."

Liu Shaoge smiled faintly. "Only time will tell. With Xia Shenji's injury, the Perennial World won't fall into chaos for the moment. Senior, you not only helped Lu Yin so that you could obtain his promise, but also because you believe that the four ruling powers will win if war erupts. You’re helping yourself as well, not just Lu Yin."

Xia Shenji's clone closed his eyes, no longer responding.

***

In the Middle Realm, not far from Seed Garden, Lu Yin watched as his Investiture of the Gods slowly drifted down. There was now an image that looked identical to Nong Yi on the surface of the scroll.

Across from Lu Yin, Nong Yi's eyes were filled with awe as he stared at the Investiture of the Gods. He did not feel any different from before. Where there was light, there were shadows. The golden light from the Investiture of the Gods had created a shadow, and those shadows had become Nong Yi’s silhouette.

"Do you feel any different?" Nong Yi asked Lu Yin.

Lu Yin stored his Investiture of the Gods. "I don't feel any different, Senior. Let's go talk to Bai Wangyuan and the others." He then took out Zenith Mountain and released the jiao. The beast roared as Lu Yin stepped onto it.

Nong Yi exclaimed, "This jiao never ceases to amaze me. I can never understand how you managed to tame it."

"Let's go, Senior. We shouldn't keep the Celestial Frost Sect waiting," Lu Yin called out.

Nong Yi's body flickered, and he next appeared atop the jiao's head.

With another ferocious roar, the jiao charged toward the Higher Realm while unleashing the might of a Progenitor.

In the Celestial Frost Sect in the Higher Realm, Bai Wangyuan's expression fell. They had just felt the jiao's power sweep through the Perennial World. Lu Xiaoxuan was truly back already.

In the valley beneath the Wang family's floating continent, Progenitor Long's face twisted into a grimace when he sensed the jiao's aura. The beast’s presence meant that the Progenitor really had sensed the Investiture of the Gods a moment ago. Lu Xiaoxuan had arrived for real.

Beside the man, Bai Sheng asked in confusion, "How did Lu Xiaoxuan get here?"

Progenitor Long frowned and stepped forward. It had to have been Jupiter.

It was no secret that Jupiter could transport a person into the Perennial World, but no one had managed to pull it off before. Lu Yin's arrival finally confirmed that it was possible.

With his presence, the situation was bound to change.

In the Dominion Realm, Progenitor Smoke calmly watched as everything played out. She would take no sides in this conflict. If she were forced to choose a side, she would side with humanity.

Regardless of one’s realm or cultivation level, there would always be grudges and enmities. She was not a member of the Lu family and had no desire to rule over the Fifth Mainland, much less get involved in others’ enmities and grudges. All she would do was watch.

The jiao and Progenitor Long arrived in the Celestial Frost Sect at nearly the same time.

They actually ran into each other just outside the Celestial Frost Sect, and Progenitor Long was shocked to see Nong Yi. "Nong Yi? Why are you with Lu Xiaoxuan? Wait, he conferred you?"

Nong Yi’s cold eyes swept past Progenitor Long as he entered the Celestial Frost Sect along with the jiao.

Progenitor Long hurriedly followed them.

"Where's Xia Shenji?" Progenitor Long asked when he saw that only Bai Wangyuan and Wang Fan were present.

Wang Fan provided a brief explanation of Xia Shenji’s situation.

Progenitor Long's expression grew even worse than before. How could the situation have changed so quickly? Lu Xiaoxuan conferring Nong Yi meant that their opponents had gained not only Lu Xiaoxuan, but also a copy of Nong Yi. Given Xia Shenji’s heavy injuries, the four ruling powers were already down in numbers. How were they supposed to handle this changing situation?

The three Progenitors turned to look at Mu Xie’s group.

Mu Xie was surprised to see Lu Yin, and asked, "You managed to confer a Progenitor?"

Lu Yin smiled. "Yes."

Mu Xie nodded.

Specter Progenitor and Lu Yin stared at each other. This was the first time that the two were meeting in person. They both cultivated death energy, and the members of Specter Abyss had risked their lives to help Lu Yin escape from the Perennial World decades ago when he had been exposed while impersonating Long Qi.

However, things had changed greatly since that time.

When Lu Yin had been posing as Long Qi, he had been nothing more than an ant, someone who needed to be protected from the pursuing four ruling powers. Specter Abyss had been willing to protect him and support him in hopes that he would one day lead Specter Abyss to the peak. Or, perhaps, Specter Abyss would simply make use of him before tossing him aside after extracting everything of value from him.

However, things had completely changed since that time. With Lu Yin’s current power, Specter Abyss could no longer control him. Hence, they had stopped contacting him. Neither man had ever expected their first meeting to occur within the Celestial Frost Sect.

"Specter Progenitor?" Lu Yin spoke first, looking at the man with the cold aura who stood in front of him. The intensity of the death energy emanating from the Progenitor was truly astonishing, and the quantity was similar to the sources of death energy that existed in the Fifth Mainland. The amount that Lu Yin was sensing right now should be enough for him to unleash a single attack through the God of Death’s left arm and scythe.

At the moment, Specter Progenitor had no idea what Lu Yin was thinking about. If he did, there was no way that he would be able to remain so relaxed. After all, a single attack of the God of Death’s arm and scythe would exhaust every last drop of the Progenitor’s death energy, which would essentially be the same as him giving away his inheritance.

"Lu Xiaoxuan, it’s been a long time," Specter Progenitor said, his eyes shining as though he were looking at a rare treasure.

Lu Yin replied, "It has been a long time. I promised to repay you for your past kindness, and I will do so when the opportunity arises."

Specter Progenitor did not reply, but instead turned to face Bai Wangyuan.

Lu Yin also said nothing further to Specter Progenitor, and he turned to face Bai Wangyuan and Wang Fan. He then asked, "So what now? Are you looking for a fight?" action

As he spoke, he waved a hand, and golden light erupted once more. This time, the light created a lifelike image of Nong Yi.

Everyone was amazed by the sight, aside from the two masters of the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas and Progenitor Long, who was even older than the two men. For most people, this was their first time seeing the Investiture of the Gods be used.

"This is my first time using the Investiture of the Gods, so please don’t blame me if I am unable to control it properly." Lu Yin’s voice was dripping with aggression.

Wang Fan replied in a deep voice, "Lu Xiaoxuan, a few days ago, you promised to not set foot back in the Perennial World. Are you already going back on your word?"

"A few days ago, Senior Liu Yue still lived, but now he's dead," Lu Yin retorted.

"The matter with Liu Yue has nothing to do with you," Bai Wangyuan replied.

Lu Yin sighed. "As a comrade who fought against Undying God with me, how can his death have nothing to do with me? Senior Liu specifically invited me to visit his Liu family for tea and to discuss swordsmanship. He also wanted to pass his All Swords Lead To One to me, as he felt that I was the most suitable successor. While he didn't have the time to teach me just yet, I must repay the favor that he showed me. How can you slander and kill him so casually?"

"What a load of nonsense! Liu Yue never drank tea, and why the hell would he pass the Liu family's All Swords Lead To One to you?" Bai Wangyuan shouted incredulously.

Lu Yin arched a brow. "Were you there when Senior Liu Yue spoke to me?"

Bai Wangyuan simply sputtered in response.

"Lu Xiaoxuan, stop trying to stir up trouble. We all know what kind of person Liu Yue was. You should quickly return to the Fifth Mainland. This matter has nothing to do with you," Wang Fan said.

Lu Yin gave him a look. "Wang Fan, send the statue of Senior Chong Yue to Seed Garden immediately."

Wang Fan was briefly stunned. "What?"

Lu Yin shouted in a righteous manner, "Senior Chong Yue had close ties to the Nong family and vowed to join them! After his passing, his statue should stand in Seed Garden."

Wang Fan turned to stare at Nong Yi.

Nong Yi looked at Lu Yin, wondering just when such a thing had happened. He had not been very familiar with Chong Yue.

"Lu Xiaoxuan, what’s this nonsense that you’re spouting?" Progenitor Long frowned.

Chong Yue had been an independent cultivator and a powerful Progenitor who had died in the Dominion Realm. However, only Wang Fan had been with him at the time of his death.

After Chong Yue's death, Wang Fan had erected a statue of him on the Wang family’s floating continent in order to lure other independent cultivators to join the Wang family. He had claimed that Chong Yue had instructed him to do so, but no one knew the specifics of exactly what had happened.

"How can you compare Senior Nong Yi's relationship with Senior Chong Yue to yours? Wang Fan, you shameless liar!" Lu Yin accused.

Wang Fan felt his veins throbbing. "Chong Yue was more than willing to join my Wang family! He said so himself."

"Who else heard him say that? You may as well admit that Senior Liu Yue invited me to drink tea and guide my swordsmanship!" Lu Yin retorted with righteous indignation.

Wang Fan yelled furiously in response…

Lu Yin refused to back down.