Aden forcefully shoved his thunder shield towards Sall Phoenix.
Sall Phoenix hollered at Lu Yin, “Junior, fight me if you are able!”
Lu Yin did not care about the taunt, as there was no longer any need for him to act. Repelling Sall Phoenix once was already enough. If he was truly to fight against Sall Phoenix, the cracks in his universal armor might not be able to withstand repeated attacks from the Enlighter. If the old fart gave his all, then his attacks would approach a power level of 300,000.
Yan Yan and Aden united with the support of the Backlash Pearl. Although they could not beat Sall Phoenix, they could hold him off for the moment.
Across the interstellar battlefield, close to 10,000 cultivators from the Dark Phoenix family had entered the fray, and at the same time, the Great Eastern Alliance’s Rapid Response Team also joined to reinforce the Allied Forces. The sudden influx of forces from both sides caused the battle to escalate drastically.
At this point in time, a sharp radiance appeared in the distance as countless arrows distorted space as they shot towards the cultivators from the Dark Phoenix family.
The experts from the Neo-Vestige Sect had arrived.
Peach was participating in this battle, so Neo-Vestige Sect could not rest comfortably if they left her alone.
With the intervention from the Neo-Vestige Sect, the battlefield changed completely, and the Dark Phoenix family no longer held the advantage.
When Wei Rong discovered that Neo-Vestige Sect had joined the battle, he immediately gave the order to withdraw.
On a battlefield, Neo-Vestige Sect’s members were superior even to the Dark Phoenix family. Their arrow techniques were truly astounding, and they were always executed with great precision. The strength of their attacks was mysteriously high, and they were not something that the Dark Phoenix family could compete with.
Sall Phoenix could only helplessly withdraw his forces.
Everyone who was focused on the war quickly realized that the scales had tipped heavily in Lu Yin’s favor.
Lu Yin waved a hand, and the Allied Forces again broke through the defensive perimeter and advanced toward the Wei family’s ancestral planet. He wanted to see if the Wei family would finally withdraw.
There were no Enlighters among Neo-Vestige Sect’s reinforcements this time, and only several Hunters had arrived, all led by Gong Chou.
Gong Chou’s expression when he met Lu Yin was very unfriendly. “Alliance Leader Lu, I want to take Little Peach back to Neo-Vestige Sect.”
Lu Yin agreed. “Sure thing. Just see if she’s willing.”
Gong Chou immediately contacted Peach, but he ended up being firmly rejected.
Gong Chou was thus helpless. “Alliance Leader Lu, please do us a favor and send Little Peach back to Neo-Vestige Sect.”
Lu Yin said quietly, “Brother Gong Chou, you know that this is a war and not some child’s game.”
Gong Chou was instantly forced into a difficult position. “Father ordered me to absolutely take Little Peach away. I ask that Alliance Leader Lu not make things difficult.”
“I’m not making things difficult. You can take Peach away yourself, but you can’t use force, as otherwise, that will be considered kidnapping,” Lu Yin replied.
Next to Gong Chou, a Hunter barked, “You, the one surnamed Lu, don’t go overboard! Do you really think that we don’t see you trying to use Little Peach to force our Neo-Vestige Sect into this war? Despicable!”
Gong Chou immediately made the Hunter shut up.
Lu Yin’s expression grew frigid. “Brother Gong Chou, I’ll show you some face this time and simply ignore this person’s words. However, there will not be a next time. Otherwise, even if it’s an expert from Neo-Vestige Sect, I will make that person’s life miserable.”
That Hunter still seemed to want to say something, but he was stopped by Gong Chou.
Lu Yin had climbed to such a position not only by way of schemes and trickery, but more so by his own strength. Without strength to support his schemes, Lu Yin would have died in the time since the Innerverse and Outerverse had been separated.
If they were still in Neo-Vestige Sect’s territory, they would not have even asked this youth. But outside, this person’s strength surpassed what even Neo-Vestige Sect could match, and even the Dark Phoenix family’s Enlighter had not been able to do anything to him. Unless the Arrow Mountain Elder personally intervened, Neo-Vestige Sect would not be able to do much to Lu Yin either.
“Alliance Leader Lu, the Great Eastern Alliance has many experts, and it even has powerhouses who can withstand Enlighters. There is no need for Little Peach to participate since she’s just a Cruiser,” Gong Chou protested.
Lu Yin indifferently answered, “I’ve already said that, as long as she’s willing, she can leave with you. I’m not forcing her to do anything.”
Gong Chou smiled bitterly. If Peach was willing, she would have long since left the battlefield, and there would have been no need for them to come to this warzone. Their main objective this time was to protect Peach, but it would be best if they could take her away to a safe place.
When Peach had appeared on the battlefield, it was as if the Great Eastern Alliance had drawn Neo-Vestige Sect into the war.
When Neo-Vestige Sect took action, Lu Yin had been very happy. But even if Neo-Vestige Sect had not made a move, he had other methods to take care of the Wei family with, and Neo-Vestige Sect’s help could only be considered as icing on the cake.
Sall Phoenix had wanted to join the battle on multiple occasions, but each time, he was stopped by Wei Rong, as it was meaningless to drag out the fight at this time.
“Those two Hunters can’t stop me, and it won’t take me long to take care of them all,” Sall Phoenix said, irked.
In a respectful voice, Wei Rong responded, “Senior can naturally take care of them, but taking care of Lu Yin is very difficult. If Senior is willing, Junior would like to ask Senior to deal with the Allied Forces.”
Sall Phoenix frowned. “You want me to attack his soldiers?”
“Yes. Without the soldiers, the Great Eastern Alliance will not be able to defeat us, no matter how strong their experts might be,” Wei Rong answered.
Sall Phoenix thought about it and agreed. It was too difficult to take care of Lu Yin and the other experts. However, it would be trivial for him to deal with regular troops, as just a single blaze would be enough.
But before he could make a move, the Allied Forces launched their own attack with Aden, Yan Yan and the powerhouses from Neo-Vestige Sect spearheading the assault. Meanwhile, Lu Yin constantly updated Aden with Sall Phoenix’s location in order to prevent Sall Phoenix from annihilating the soldiers. If Wei Rong could think of such a tactic, then so too could Lu Yin.
Interstellar battles were always the same in one regard: one expert could change the entire situation.
Wei Rong rubbed his forehead. This Lu Yin was too difficult to deal with, and it seemed like Wei Rong would have to use that dark pawn after all.
***
In Neo-Vestige Sect, the giant fire beneath the ground rose up and shot towards the sky. Master Bei’s expression was solemn, and as he looked at the fire, an arrow gradually took form.
This was the original form of an arrow that he had been forging for over a hundred years, and he had used countless precious minerals and materials during that time to sharpen the aura of the arrow. He had hoped that this arrow would become one of Arrow Mountain’s most treasured divine, and that it would be recorded down in Neo-Vestige Sect’s history.
Outside, a Cruiser realm Neo-Vestige Sect disciple requested an audience.
Shao Zisong had a hateful expression. “Master is not someone who you can meet as you please.” He had been sentenced to work on Arrow Mountain as a slave, but he had been brought out by Master Bei after just a few days, though he was still considered an arrow slave.
“Senior Song, I’m not looking for Elder just for myself, but also for Senior Song.” The Cruiser disciple tried to fawn over Shao Zisong.
Shao Zisong frowned and looked at the disciple with a strange expression. “For me? We have never had any sort of interaction, so what sort of relationship could you have with me?”
The Cruiser realm disciple quietly said, “I have a way to deal with Lu Yin.”
Shao Zisong’s eyes went wide, he grabbed the Cruiser’s collar, and he gritted his teeth, “You dare to mock me?”
“I don’t dare! If Senior Song will allow me to meet with Elder, then I will report the current situation. If Senior Song is not satisfied, then you can simply make me disappear,” the Cruiser said hurriedly.
Shao Zisong’s eyes flickered, and he snorted coldly. “Follow me.”
Before long, Master Bei walked out and looked at the Cruiser disciple. He indifferently asked, “What’s the matter?”
The Cruiser disciple knelt on the floor. “The Armament Weave’s Wei Rong requests to speak with Elder.”
Master Bei’s eyes flashed. “The Wei family? Is it the same Wei family that’s waging a war with the Great Eastern Alliance?”
“Yes.”
Master Bei fell deep into thought.
Shao Zisong’s eyes lit up. “Master, there’s no harm in listening to what he has to say.”
Master Bei nodded.
Shao Zisong had the Cruiser disciple open the screen on his gadget before both Shao Zisong and the Cruiser disciple withdrew, leaving only Master Bei and Wei Rong to meet through a video call.
Wei Rong had a respectful expression on his face and he slowly bowed. “Junior Wei Rong pays his respects to Master Bei.”
In a detached tone, Master Bei asked, “Why have you come looking for me?”
Wei Rong serenely answered, “Junior wants to ask Master Bei to enforce justice. The Great Eastern Alliance took the initiative to start this war, which has led to a terrible situation for many in the Outerverse with blood flowing in rivers. It’s well known that Master Bei is consistently just and kind, so I beg Master Bei to please help my Armament Weave.”
Master Bei indifferently replied, “Just this?”
Wei Rong adjusted his expression. “If Master Bei is willing to help, my Wei family will naturally offer a gift.”
“I don’t have the time.” Master Bei began leaving.
Wei Rong hurriedly spoke up. “Would Master Bei please wait a moment. The Wei family’s gift—and I trust that Master will not reject it—is Peach.”
Master Bei abruptly froze before turning around slowly and revealing an icy expression. “What do you mean?”
Wei Rong respectfully responded, “My Wei family is willing to give Peach to Master Bei as a present, so we ask Master Bei to please come to our aid.”
Master Bei’s eyes narrowed. “Peach is from my Neo-Vestige Sect, but you want to use her to threaten me?”
Wei Rong smiled. “A straightforward person does not resort to such insinuations. Peach will be given to Master Bei, which will be a secret deal between the two of us. Junior promises that nobody will find out about this matter.”
“What do you know about Peach?” Master Bei asked coldly.
Wei Rong shook his head. “I don’t know much, but there is one thing: there was a period of time where, due to Peach, Master Bei’s disciple became enemies with Lu Yin. In fact, I even heard that Master Bei was about to act. I trust that Peach will definitely be of use to Master Bei, though this junior may not know the reason. Truth be told, I don’t want to know, just so long as this can help Master Bei.”
Master Bei stood in place and stared at Wei Rong, and his expression grew gentler after a long while. “What do you want me to do?”
Wei Rong’s lips curled upwards.
Not much more time passed before Master Bei walked out. He then gave Shao Zisong a few instructions. Shao Zisong was delighted, and he quickly left.
As for the Cruiser realm disciple, Master Bei simply dismissed him. Master Bei had gained some impression of Wei Rong during their conversation, and he had realized that the kid had actually planted a spy within Neo-Vestige Sect. No—judging by the ages of the two people, that disciple should have been sent by the Wei family rather than Wei Rong himself.
It was rumored that the Wei family was adept at various plots and that they had their fingers in many pies. Sure enough, they had even placed someone inside Neo-Vestige Sect. They had truly hidden their assets very deeply.
Although Master Bei was rather unhappy with the Wei family, for the moment, they had a common enemy. They should first take care of that person, and this time, their plan should be ironclad.
In Armament Weave, Lu Yin watched as the line of defense crumbled yet again. At this moment, there were only two filaments standing between the Allied Forces and the Wei family’s ancestral planet. The war would end soon, but Lu Yin had a feeling that Wei Rong would not go down that easily. At the very least, the Lockbreakers, such as Yi Feng, had not made any moves yet.
Wei Rong had brought those Lockbreakers into Armament Weave, and they were not there simply for show.
The astral warhorses appeared again, which marked the fifth time that they had been used during this war. Each appearance had heralded great losses for the Allied Forces. However, ever since the experts from Neo-Vestige Sect had arrived, the losses had been greatly reduced.
“Your Highness, more reinforcements have arrived, this time from the Umbral Butterfly Tribe and some other forces from the nearby weaves,” Liuying Zishan reported to Lu Yin.
Lu Yin was not surprised by this. The time it had taken these forces to arrive seemed to be about right. If not for Lu Yin eliminating the support that Armament Weave had been receiving from Endless Borders, the reinforcements would have arrived much earlier.
It seemed like it would take a bit more time to breach the defenses that stood in their way.
At this time, the Allied Forces were being supported by the Rapid Response Team and the Six-Fingered Tribe, not to mention the Great Yu Empire, Neo-Vestige Sect, and other experts from all parts of the alliance. They had thrown their full strength into the war efforts. Even if Armament Weave received more reinforcements, they would only last for an additional day or two at most.
The most troublesome part of the defense was Sall Phoenix’s presence. If not for Lu Yin lending his Backlash Pearl to Aden, even the combination of Aden and Yan Yan would not be able to hold off the Enlighter for long.
In the distance, a scorching heat wave sped towards the Allied Forces yet again, and the surface of Lu Yin’s spacecraft was slightly charred with some sections of the hull even melting before gradually breaking away.
