Wang Si glanced over at Wang Dashuai, rather impressed with the fat young man. This was the same youth who had sent two trespassers to join Wang Su’s team in the Dominion Realm. “Your achievements and mistakes are now equal.”
The fatty grew excited. “Thank you, elder!”
He actually did not feel the need to gain further achievements—he just wanted to rectify his previous mistakes. Previously, Wang Dashuai had truly believed his life to be over.
Huaiyuan was located in a very important location, and the Smokecloud Sect had been placed in charge of overseeing the path that led to the four ruling powers in the Higher Realm, as well as transporting contraband such as stellular liquid for the four behemoths.
If any of the recent incidents were exposed, then it would be a massive blow to the four ruling powers. While nothing that had happened was enough to jeopardize their actual power, the events were certainly enough to damage people’s opinions of the Perennial World’s overlords.
Throughout everything that had happened, the people transporting the stellular liquid had been the most unfortunate. They had believed that they could be lawless since they had been acting on behalf of the four ruling powers, but after the recent unforeseen events, many of the couriers had grown nervous and were feeling rather traumatic.
Despite the methods that Lu Yin had used, and the fact that he had risked the four ruling powers’ interests, he had still managed to uncover Yun Mubai as a Redback, which was an incredible achievement. Not even Wang Si could hold Lu Yin’s actions against him.
The Smokecloud Sect suffered terribly from the incident, and they were forced to ask their Semi-Progenitor to step out and take charge of the sect.
There were very few groups throughout the entire Middle Realm who had Semi-Progenitor powerhouses, but the Smokecloud Sect was one of them.
There was no need for Lu Yin to worry about any sort of aftermath. The moment that Yun Mubai was verified to be a Redback, countless cheers and words of amazement were sent to him. Countless people in both the Middle Realm and the Higher Realm began to admire Long Qi. A person did not need to look around to know that there were very few people who would risk becoming an enemy of all four ruling powers. The slightest mistake would spell death.
This was not something that could be pulled off with mere courage.
Still, the matter had not ended there without any questions. Thinking about the situation would reveal better methods of exposing Yun Mubai as a Redback, but since the results spoke for themselves, it was difficult for anyone to question what had happened for the time being.
There were many people who were puzzled by the walnut-shaped power vessel that Lu Yin had used, as well as how he had managed to kill Uncle Kuang, and that was not even mentioning the secret technique that he had used. Still, it was not yet time to ask such questions.
Lu Yin told Qing Chen that he was tired and wished to return to rest, and Lu Yin even coughed up a bit of blood. Shang Qing and Liu Tianmu had both been injured, as had Wang Dashuai.
Qing Chen quickly tasked Cai Shu protecting Long Qi and then sent them back to Huaiyuan Gate while forbidding anyone from disturbing the young Gate Master.
After Lu Yin returned to the headquarters, many members of Humility’s Gate who were stationed there looked at him with admiration. Their eyes blazed with respect and fanaticism.
Within the crowd, Lu Yin spotted the old man who had stopped Lu Yin and the others from returning to the Fifth Mainland. Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. This old man clearly was not just watching them, and he had definitely been observing Lu Yin for quite some time. If that were not the case, it would be impossible for the old man to be in Huaiyuan Gate.
After dismissing the crowd, Lu Yin fell into a bad mood. He had just used his walnut-shaped power vessel, exposed the fact that he had a secret technique, revealed the aquatic plant-shaped power vessel, and even more cards. He had completely offended the Smokecloud Sect, and he had not even managed to return to the Fifth Mainland. This incident had been a complete failure.
Shang Qing and Liu Tianmu both returned to their own quarters to rest in peace. Wang Dashuai had been silent the entire time, but after entering the headquarters, he asked, “How did I end up in the Smokecloud Sect?”
He was not stupid and wanted to know this detail.
Lu Yin answered in a serious tone, “I arranged for someone to put you there.”
The fatty frowned. “Then why didn’t you give me some heads up? Also, since you were able to get someone to find that place, why even bother sending me there?”
Lu Yin was at a loss. “Because you’re a part of the Wang family, and the Wang family is one of the four ruling powers.”
The fat young man blinked. He put on a front of understanding despite his continued ignorance. Lu Yin’s gaze indicated that he should already understand this, so Wang Dashuai did not want to pursue it any further.
After the fatty also left to rest, Lu Yin returned to his personal quarters. He sat down, exhausted, but then a voice called out from behind, “That was a big accomplishment.”
Lu Yin knew who was speaking, and he did not even turn around. Instead, he casually asked, “What might senior’s name be? What is it that you want?”
“I’m just old and bored, and I enjoy watching kids struggle.”
“What does that mean?” Lu Yin frowned.
“I’m an old man, and I want to see how high you can climb given my experience and resources.”
Lu Yin’s eyes flickered. “Senior wants to help me?”
“You’re starting to get it, hehe.”
Lu Yin laughed. “Why?”
“When you get old, you just want to watch kids run around struggling. You’re still young, so you don’t understand, but when you get old and infirm like me, your mentality changes.”
Only a fool would believe such nonsense. Who would offer free help without some sort of reason?
“Kid, stop thinking so much. This old man won’t hurt you.”
Lu Yin clenched a fist. He really wanted to beat this old man up. If not for this person, Lu Yin and the others would have already returned to the Fifth Mainland. “Senior, this junior has no need for your help.”
“Did this old man ask if you needed help? Help is what I do! Whether or not you’re willing to accept my help, what does that have to do with me?”
Lu Yin turned around to glare at the old man. “What is it that you want? You just randomly want to help me? What’s in it for you?”
The side of the old man’s mouth bent upwards, and he leaned forward. A mysterious sense of gloom filled the air. “Kid, this old man is quite curious about you. Where were you trying to return to earlier?”
Lu Yin’s eyes flashed, and he fell silent.
“Hmmm… Should this old man go and talk about this with Qing Chen? Regardless, we haven’t seen each other for many years.” The old man’s strange smile returned.
Lu Yin looked away. “Senior can do as he wishes.”
“You really don’t believe this old man. Alright, I really will go see Qing Chen,” The old man threatened.
Lu Yin’s expression remained calm and still.
The old man let out a deep laugh, and he rolled his eyes like a rogue. “You guessed right! But this old man still hasn’t played around enough, and I don’t want to be done already.”
Lu Yin looked over at the old man. “Might I ask for senior’s name?”
“Don’t want to say,” the old man lazily replied.
“Might I ask where senior comes from?”
“Don’t want to say.”
“Might I ask senior-“
“Alright, stop it with the questions. This old man’s not going to say anything. I just found you interesting ‘cause you’ve got guts. No one’s been bold enough to cross the four ruling powers for many years. People look at stellular liquid like its a ghost, but a kid like you used that stellular liquid to scare others again and again. That’s not something that you generally see.” The old man chuckled again and then disappeared.
Lu Yin frowned. The old man had pressed Lu Yin and the others about “where” they were returning to several times now; did the old man know or not? If he did not know, then why would he use it as a threat? However, if he did know, then why would he help Lu Yin?
The old man was a powerful Semi-Progenitor, and yet he had remained hidden while helping Lu Yin, even keeping his identity hidden. Everything made Lu Yin feel like this old man was very dangerous, but there was no way Lu Yin could get rid of the old man.
Waiting was all that Lu Yin could do. He could only wait for another opportunity to slip away. However, things had changed, and Lu Yin now needed to lose both Cai Shu and the old man.
Lu Yin’s headache grew worse and worse as he thought about the old man. He had a feeling that he would not be able to break free from the old man for the rest of his life.
Lu Yin just hoped that the four ruling powers would take a bit longer to rescue Long Tian and the others so that Lu Yin and his companions would not be exposed prematurely.
As the old man had said, throughout so many years, how many would dare to become the enemy of the four ruling powers?
While the situation was resolved his efficiency and decisiveness in exposing another Redback shook the entire Perennial World. The very next day, some people abandoned their organizations, hoping to enter Huaiyuan Gate and become one of Long Qi’s subordinates. This continued on the third day, the fourth day, and the fifth day…
Every single day, more people came, and Long Qi’s reputation grew greater and greater.
Lu Yin himself did not know how his reputation was spreading. It felt like someone was deliberately using him as a poster child of a fearless person who was not intimidated by even the four ruling powers if it meant capturing a Redback and eliminating a threat to humanity. When Lu Yin heard what outsiders said about him, he was shocked at his own greatness.
Still, it was not bad to be known for being unafraid of the four ruling powers.
There were many among the new arrivals who hailed from families and powers that had been suppressed by the four ruling powers, and they all saw Long Qi as an emotional pillar of support. He had become something of a hero who stood up to the four ruling powers and refused to be intimidated by them.
Lu Yin was left speechless at this public reaction. After all, in this universe, his identity was that of the White Dragon Clan’s Long Qi.
Many people arrived at Huaiyuan Gate to enlist, and Lu Yin also received invitations to visit many other different organizations. They pleaded with him to investigate whether or not they had any traitors or Redbacks within their ranks. Among those who invited Lu Yin were the Liu family, Seed Garden’s Nong family, and even the Purple-Gold family, Virtue Archives, powers from the Bifrost, and more.
Lu Yin did not even consider visiting any of those places. All he wanted to do was find a way to escape as soon as possible.
For the Smokecloud Sect, the aftermath of the incident was much more complicated, as they were the guardians of the path that connected to the four ruling powers in the Higher Realm. How many people had learned about stellular liquid being smuggled to the Higher Realm, and how many were involved? Every single person in the sect had to be individually investigated in order to ensure that no word of the matter leaked to the public.
One day, Lu Yin was looking at the dozens of new cultivators who had joined Huaiyuan Gate. All of them had joined because of him. They looked at him with eyes filled with blazing excitement and adoration.
Lu Yin met the people before handing them over for Chen Xiazi to settle arrangements.
Alone, Lu Yin looked up at the water flowing above the headquarters. He let out a sigh. How could he return home? Given his current circumstances, Lu Yin did not even dare to take out Zenith Mountain to meet with Unseen Light or any of the others. Lu Yin did not even know if there had been fights on the mountain.
Suddenly, the color of the water changed. It became gray and then froze. Everything else in the area went gray and still as well. It was as though time and space had all been frozen.
Lu Yin’s expression instantly changed, and his head snapped around to see Mister Mu calmly staring at him.
Lu Yin had never dreamed of seeing Mister Mu in the Perennial World, but Lu Yin’s master was right in front of him, appearing like a ghost. Mister Mu was just as mysterious as he had been in the Fifth Mainland.
It had to be acknowledged that Huaiyuan Gate was not King Zishan’s palace. Cai Shu was guarding Lu Yin, and there was also the Semi-Progenitor old man, but everyone had been locked in place. Well, according to Lu Yin’s extremely limited understanding, it seemed as though time and space themselves had been locked in place.
“Ma- Master?” Lu Yin exclaimed as he looked at Mister Mu with great excitement. Lu Yin ran over to his master, eager to embrace the older man.
Mister Mu gave Lu Yin a flat stare. “You ran pretty far; I almost couldn’t find you.”
Lu Yin pursed his lips. How could traveling to another universe be a matter of simply finding someone?
“Master, why did you come to this universe?” Lu Yin asked, feeling quite curious.
Mister Mu casually replied, “If I want to visit, then I’ll do so.”
Lu Yin did not know how to reply. His master saw things from a perspective that was too difficult for Lu Yin to comprehend.
“You did well by taking first place during ZENITH. What would you like as a reward?” Mister Mu spoke calmly and did not betray the slightest hint of curiosity as to why Lu Yin was in the Perennial World.
“Master, are you here to reward me?” Lu Yin asked in surprise.
