The next day, Lu Yin was summoned alone to meet with Gong Ling alone.
“Alliance Leader Lu, I neglected you yesterday,” Gong Ling courteously apologized to Lu Yin as soon as they met.
Lu Yin respectfully replied, “Where are these words coming from, Senior?”
Gong Ling studied Lu Yin. “Alliance Leader Lu is not even thirty this year, correct?”
Lu Yin nodded.
“How young and promising. When I was as old as Alliance Leader Lu, I could not even dream of competing for a position in the Top 100 Rankings. Alliance Leader Lu has already gained so many accolades, and given ten more years, perhaps all of the eastern weaves will be under the authority of Alliance Leader Lu.” Gong Ling smiled.
Lu Yin’s eyes flashed. “Senior is exaggerating your praise. My success stems not from any special abilities that I may have. Rather, it is because I have various friends who have given me help. That, combined with certain external threats, has all contributed to how I developed into the me of today.”
Gong Ling was curious. “External threats? Is Alliance Leader Lu referring to the Astral Beast Domain?”
Lu Yin looked at the older man. “Has Sect Leader ever heard of the Sixth Mainland?”
Gong Ling’s expression changed, and he blurted out, “How do you know about that?”
Lu Yin’s gaze turned deep. “I’m more curious as to how Sect Leader knows about it.”
The secret of the Sixth Mainland had long since been concealed by the Hall of Honor, and few powers, even in the Innerverse, were aware of it. He had asked Gong Ling to casually probe the man, as there were a terrifying amount of hidden rune lines at Neo-Vestige Sect. If Gong Ling did not know about the Sixth Mainland, then Lu Yin would have simply avoided the topic. However, since Gong Ling was indeed aware of it, Lu Yin instantly became even more apprehensive towards Neo-Vestige Sect’s foundations.
Gong Ling and Lu Yin exchanged looks as each tried to gleam something from the other’s eyes. However, it was a pity that Lu Yin’s eyes were too deep. Since he had experienced too many things, Gong Ling could not determine anything from them.
“Alliance Leader Lu, I’ll get straight to the point. My Neo-Vestige Sect has records concerning the Sixth Mainland. After all, our sect was founded ages ago, and we are also privy to certain secrets regarding the ancient war. Alliance Leader Lu is very young, so where did you learn about the existence of the Sixth Mainland?” Gong Ling asked.
Lu Yin smiled slightly as he said, “The Hall of Honor.”
Gong Ling frowned. “In that case, the rumors circulating around outside are not false. So Alliance Leader Lu has long since obtained support from the Hall of Honor?”
Lu Yin did not admit or deny that statement, and he calmly said, “The Sixth Mainland is a great threat to us. Everyone knows about the Astral Beast Domain’s attack on Ironblood Weave. Elder Lohar said that their attack stopped because the Sixth Mainland invaded the Astral Beast Domain. However, just the Astral Beast Domain alone may not necessarily be enough to fend off the Sixth Mainland. Thus, the Outerverse must integrate all its forces, as a fragmented Outerverse is too frail.”
Gong Ling was in favor of this opinion. “The Outerverse is actually not that weak, but it’s simply too scattered.”
Lu Yin looked at the older man. “Since Senior agrees with Junior’s thoughts, then why not join the Great Eastern Alliance and prepare to defend against the future threat? The other weaves are not clear of the threat that the Sixth Mainland presents, but Senior should know it very well. Senior should also be aware that a divided Outerverse will absolutely not be able to resist the Sixth Mainland.”
Gong Ling smiled. “The Sixth Mainland’s threat is just your side of the story. I cannot possibly toss aside so many years of Neo-Vestige Sect’s traditions just based on a few of your sentences.”
“Is Senior talking about the tradition of being isolated?” Lu Yin asked a rhetorical question.
Gong Ling smiled. “Alliance Leader Lu saved Little Peach, and Neo-Vestige Sect is grateful for that. Thus, those five arrows are a gift of thanks from my Neo-Vestige Sect. However, I also have my own gift of thanks.”
Lu Yin was unsatisfied with his response. He could use force against other powers and weaves, but that was not possible with Neo-Vestige Sect. What’s more, Gong Ling was also aware of the Sixth Mainland, which made Lu Yin feel even less confident. Neo-Vestige Sect might also have more hidden strength than what he had seen so far. “Senior, Neo-Vestige Sect enjoys an amazing reputation in the Outerverse, and the moment it joins the Great Eastern Alliance, it will certainly spur numerous powers observing from the sidelines into joining as well. Integrating the full power of the Outerverse will provide incredible benefits for all of us. Does Senior want to casually watch on as we are swept away by a disaster?”
“Alliance Leader Lu wields great power in the Great Yu Empire, but if I asked you to bring the Great Yu Empire and the entire Great Eastern Alliance under Neo-Vestige Sect in order to defend against the Sixth Mainland’s invasion, would Alliance Leader Lu agree to it without hesitation?” Gong Ling retorted with a smile.
Lu Yin was stumped, but then he firmly answered, “If we were facing truly desperate circumstances and it had to be done, I would not hesitate.”
“That’s exactly it, and you said it well: only when facing truly desperate circumstances. However, the Outerverse is at peace for now, so where’s the necessity? I know about the Sixth Mainland, but the others who belong to Neo-Vestige Sect don’t. How could I convince them to join the Great Eastern Alliance? And furthermore, what benefits can your alliance offer to Neo-Vestige Sect for us to join? Everything that Neo-Vestige Sect needs can be obtained from Mordo Weave and Canopy Weave, so we simply don’t need any sort of support from other weaves,” Gong Ling explained.
Lu Yin fell into silence.
Gong Ling smiled and did not speak. He calmly sipped his tea as he watched Lu Yin with interest. This kid had actually wanted to use a few words to rope Neo-Vestige Sect in, but that was far too naive. Although, this kid actually knew about a top secret like the Sixth Mainland, and the Hall of Honor truly did favor him.
Unfortunately, the few weaves that had already joined the Great Eastern Alliance had been practically threatened into doing so by this youth, and Neo-Vestige Sect could not be intimidated by him. With the Outerverse isolated from the Innerverse, not even the Hall of Honor could intimidate Neo-Vestige Sect.
Lu Yin tapped his fingers on the table and looked up at Gong Ling. “Senior, for Neo-Vestige Sect, nothing should be more important than the bow and arrow, right?”
Gong Ling nodded. “That’s right. Our Neo-Vestige Sect seized control of Canopy Weave because they have many minerals there that can’t be found in Mordo Weave, and those minerals are all very suitable for forging bows and arrows.”
Lu Yin lips curled upwards. “If Junior can forge a better bow and arrow than Neo-Vestige Sect, and in huge quantities as well, then will Senior be willing to join the Great Eastern Alliance and cooperate with Junior?”
Gong Ling was stunned. “A better bow and arrow than my Neo-Vestige Sect? Alliance Leader Lu, you are truly underestimating my Neo-Vestige Sect. Ah, that’s right. You still haven’t been to Arrow Mountain. I agreed to give you five arrows, so I’ll take you there now for you to choose.”
The Sect Leader quickly stood up.
Lu Yin asked, “Could Senior be scared?”
Gong Ling was actually amused. “Alliance Leader Lu, my Neo-Vestige Sect’s history in forging bows and arrows is longer than your Great Yu Empire’s entire history. I’m trying to leave you some face and not put you in a bind, so please stop trying to get tangled up in your words.”
“How about this—let’s use the five arrows that Senior is giving Junior as a wager. If Junior can improve those five arrows to a higher level, then that should be enough to prove Junior’s ability,” Lu Yin said.
Gong Ling was intrigued. “Since Alliance Leader Lu is so determined, then fine. For the sake of Peach’s face, twenty weaves. If your Great Eastern Alliance can unite twenty weaves, then my Neo-Vestige Sect will join you.”
Lu Yin’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Gong Ling nodded and smiled. “Naturally. It looks like Alliance Leader Lu is very confident, but I want to remind you that all the eastern weaves combined total to less than twenty weaves.”
Lu Yin was indeed aware of that fact, and he also could not count Mordo Weave or Canopy Weave among those twenty. This meant that he would have to act against the central weaves in order to rope in Neo-Vestige Sect.
“No matter what, this is still an opportunity. Senior, let’s make an agreement: twenty weaves,” Lu Yin said firmly.
Gong Ling nodded. “Alright.”
They had agreed upon twenty weaves, but to Lu Yin, the more important detail was the bows and arrows. If he could truly forge a bow and arrow that was more powerful than Neo-Vestige Sect, then he would definitely be able to change their perception of him.
Arrow Mountain was the core of Neo-Vestige Sect, and it took up a considerable amount of space. Each arrow was embedded into the dark red soil, and they all emitted a sharp aura. The aura was so pervasive that there were even phantom images of arrows streaking across the sky from unknown locations.
With Gong Chou’s guidance, Lu Yin, Peach, Aden, the blind monk, and Meng Tianlong arrived at Arrow Mountain. Lu Yin looked at the rune lines that filled the sky and was astounded. It was obvious that this was the core of Neo-Vestige Sect, as each arrow in this place had been crafted from rare minerals and various treasures. Even if a commoner fired one of these arrows, they would be able to exhibit astounding power.
Nobody noticed that, as they approached Arrow Mountain, all of the arrows there trembled imperceptibly as a pair of murky eyes opened in the depths of the darkness.
As he looked at Arrow Mountain, Aden suddenly exclaimed, “So there’s actually a power in the Outerverse that is able to create so many powerful arrows. How impressive!”
Meng Tianlong seemed apprehensive, as this was Neo-Vestige Sect. If the disciples who had confronted them earlier had each taken a single arrow from this place, then their small group would have been in trouble. It also had to be mentioned that some of the arrows in this place contained various additional effects.
Gong Chou was pleased by the group’s reaction. When discussing arrows, their Neo-Vestige Sect would not admit inferiority to anyone else, and Arrow Mountain was their pride and joy.
Peach looked at Arrow Mountain with a reminiscent expression before pulling Lu Yin over and quietly telling him, “Let’s go inside. The ones on the edges aren’t that good.”
Lu Yin nodded and then took Peach with him as they walked further in.
Gong Chou’s lips twitched, and he felt as if his daughter had married out and left the fold.
On Arrow Mountain, each arrow was separated from the others by at least a thousand meters, and there were some that were even tens or hundreds of thousands of meters away from any other arrow. From Lu Yin’s perspective, some of the arrows’ rune lines shot up towards the sky, others radiated out in all directions, and still others shot underground.
He was not planning on blindly choosing an arrow. Instead, he was observing the rune lines.
Now, he was torn. If he chose arrows that were too valuable, it might cause Neo-Vestige Sect to become unhappy with him.
A whooshing sound was heard nearby, and an arrow trembled. A phantom image of an arrow shot through the void, and the entire arrow disappeared.
“This arrow has selected its own owner,” Gong Chou explained.
Lu Yin was surprised. “They have reached that high a level?”
Gong Chou smiled. “Everyone in my Neo-Vestige Sect can forge arrows, and the arrows can also sense arrow aura while someone is forging. Our cultivation has been passed on for many generations, and some arrows have been merged with specific arrow auras. Arrows that sense people with similar arrow auras may select an owner by themselves.”
Lu Yin understood. When a master forged arrows and left them on Arrow Mountain, that arrow might later sense an aura from an arrow from a passing disciple that resembled the arrow’s creator’s arrow aura. For the disciples, this was also a good way to choose the most suitable arrow, which was rather interesting.
This was the difference in foundations. There were so many arrows scattered across Arrow Mountain, and they represented the many generations of Neo-Vestige Sect disciples.
The group continued to walk towards the depths of Arrow Mountain, and they encountered quite a few disciples who were aimlessly wandering around, seemingly looking for arrows.
They also saw many people in tattered clothes who were walking about in a numb manner. These people were the slaves of Arrow Mountain. They waited on Arrow Mountain for people who were forging arrows to summon them, and then they would hurry over to assist in the forging process.
“Brother Gong, what happens if a disciple unintentionally obtains a powerful arrow?” Lu Yin asked.
Gong Chou replied, “That is something that depends whether or not they have the ability to obtain such an arrow.”
Coincidentally, in the distance, a Neo-Vestige Sect disciple cried out as his hands was charred; evidently, he had been burned. In front of him, there was an arrow that was flushed red, and its temperature was so high that it nearly distorted the void.
Peach’s eyes lit up. “Your Highness, that arrow isn’t bad.”
Lu Yin was curious, so he walked over.
