Suddenly, the sound of rushing wind rose up from deep underground. At the same time, Lu Yin felt as though his body had been suddenly moved. A gust of wind whistled by in front of him, shooting upwards and slicing apart everything that it passed by.
He felt his scalp go numb; he had been right. That gust of wind had even torn through the void, and it had definitely been more powerful than an attack from a normal Envoy. In fact, it might have even been comparable to an attack from an Envoy who had passed through three stellular tribulations, which meant that it was equivalent to an attack with a power level of more than 700,000. Even if Lu Yin was wearing his universal armor, it most likely would not be able to protect him from a direct hit from that gust of wind.
“Supervisor, what was that?” Lu Yin was quite upset.
Qing Chen stood in place in the air as he solemnly replied, “The danger field of a sourcebox.”
Lu Yin looked down, and his eyes focused. “Is there a sourcebox down below?”
“Those terror ants were killed by this sourcebox’s danger zone. There is a truly impressive sourcebox array down there,” Qing Chen replied.
“It really is a sourcebox,” Lu Yin solemnly stated.
Qing Chen waved a hand, and Lu Yin once again felt as though he had been isolated from the world. Another blast of wind whistled by, and like before, it failed to harm him in the least. This was the strength of a Semi-Progenitor.
The two people eventually reached the bottom of the gap between the two tree roots, and they were greeted by a shocking scene.
They found a sourcebox. A humanoid sourcebox!
The instance that he laid eyes on the humanoid sourcebox, Lu Yin felt something jog his memory. Humanoid sourcebox, humanoid sourcebox… I’m pretty sure that someone mentioned something about this before. Right! Xiao Shi! Back then, he said that if I ever found a humanoid sourcebox, to not unlock it.
There was only humanoid sourcebox in sight, but it radiated a very powerful danger field.
Qing Chen landed and looked at the figure. “Look at it.”
Lu Yin was a Lockbreaker, and he had also reached the Creation realm of star energy control. Even though Qing Chen was a Semi-Progenitor, he had no talent or understanding of lockbreaking.
The older man protected Lu Yin as he observed the humanoid sourcebox.
This humanoid sourcebox was just as tall as an average person, but because it was a sealed sourcebox, Lu Yin could not see the person’s appearance, or even sense any hint of life.
For some reason, Lu Yin grew very uncomfortable as he looked at the humanoid sourcebox.
“How strange. How can there be a humanoid-shaped sourcebox? This person has been sealed for far too long for them to become a sourcebox. Can you unlock it?” Qing Chen asked.
Lu Yin shook his head. “This one is very difficult, and I can’t do anything about this sourcebox’s danger field. If you want this sourcebox to be unlocked, then you will need a Lockbreaker with the strength of an Envoy at the very least.”
“If there really was someone inside, he would have died long ago and certainly before we open this sourcebox,” Qing Chen commented.
Lu Yin fell silent for a moment. “I don’t know if anyone has ever unlocked a living creature, but this is my first time coming across a sealed person.”
As Lu Yin spoke, his star energy spread out like a stream of water. Star energy could be used to suppress star energy, and Lu Yin wanted to use his star energy to observe the sourcebox in greater detail.
“Zizi, so you’ve actually reached the Creation realm of star energy control? Kid, you’re very impressive,” another voice called out, and it startled not only Lu Yin, but also Qing Chen.
Both of them whipped around and looked behind them. Neither of them had any idea when, but two people had arrived and were standing behind them. One of the new arrivals was an old man with an elegant appearance and gray hair, though no wrinkles on his face. The other looked like a bodyguard, and he maintained a solemn expression.
“Grandmaster Gu Yan?” Qing Chen was surprised.
Lu Yin was taken aback. Grandmaster? This was a truly special title. As for Array Masters, Lu Yin had only ever met one Array Grandmaster in the Fifth Mainland, and that had been Highsage Grandmaster. Was this old man in front of him another Array Grandmaster?
“I didn’t expect to run into an old friend down here. Qing Chen, what are you doing running around down here instead of hunting down Redbacks in the Middle Realm?” Grandmaster Gu Yan observed Qing Chen as he asked a question.
Qing Chen explained, “Long Qi previously saw some creatures down here that might be the terror ants’ natural predator, so I’m here to look for them. Why is Grandmaster Gu Yan here?”
Grandmaster Gu Yan smiled. “I need to grab some Meharns since the cushion that I was sitting on was uncomfortable.”
Qing Chen was confused by this answer, and it was clearly deliberately vague.
Grandmaster Gu Yan did not explain himself, and instead, he started studying the humanoid sourcebox, amazed at what he saw. “So there really is a humanoid sourcebox. There are records in ancient books that claim that anything in the universe can be sealed into a sourcebox—living or dead makes no difference. Any creature can also be sealed up to become a sourcebox, but this is the first time that I’ve seen such a thing.”
After speaking, he turned to look at Lu Yin and smiled, “Hey kid, why don’t you give me this sourcebox?”
Lockbreakers had their own rules, and one of them was that whoever discovered a sourcebox would become its owner, as well as the owner of whatever might be exposed after unlocking the sourcebox. This humanoid sourcebox had clearly been discovered by Lu Yin first.
Lu Yin answered respectfully, “This junior can’t unlock this sourcebox, so I’ll have to bother senior.”
Grandmaster Gu Yan replied with a smile. “Is your name Long Qi?”
Lu Yin bowed. “This junior is indeed Long Qi. I am honored to speak with Grandmaster Gu Yan.”
“No need to be so polite, kid. Are you from the White Dragon Clan?” Grandmaster Gu Yan asked.
Lu Yin nodded.
Grandmaster Gu Yan expressed his admiration, “The White Dragon Clan can also give rise to a Lockbreaker? It’s truly incredible that you’ve managed to reach the Creation realm of star energy control at such a young age.”
Qing Chen’s eyes shifted. “Not only has Long Qi reached the Creation realm, but he’s also managed to comprehend several sourcebox arrays. He once repaired the second array base’s defensive sourcebox array in a very brief amount of time, and he later mastered the spherical red soucebox array that fell down to the New World. That second achievement gave him the opportunity to save millions of people.”
Grandmaster Gu Yan arched a brow, and then succinctly replied, “I don’t believe it.”
Qing Chen glanced over at Lu Yin and winked.
Lu Yin immediately understood that this was an opportunity to gain an apprenticeship, which made him a bit excited. While he had not been interested in studying under Master Deng Guo, an Array Grandmaster was a completely different matter. This person was a true Array Grandmaster, and based on Qing Chen’s reactions, Grandmaster Gu Yan might actually be more than that. After all, he had moved so close to them without letting a Semi-Progenitor like Qing Chen notice.
This thought gave Lu Yin the motivation to try to seize this opportunity.
When Highsage Grandmaster had asked to accept Lu Yin as a disciple, the powerhouse had not only wanted to accept a lockbreaking disciple, but also a full disciple of Eversky Island. However, Lu Yin already had Mister Mu as his master, so it had naturally been impossible to accept such a proposal.
However, this person was different. If Lu Yin accepted this Grandmaster Gu Yan as a lockbreaking master, there would be no conflict.
Grandmaster Gu Yan also observed Lu Yin with a tiny hint of curiosity hiding in his eyes.
Lu Yin raised a hand and started manipulating his star energy. After reaching the Creation realm of star energy control, it had become much easier for him to set up a sourcebox array with his star energy.
“Channeling Diagram.” Lu Yin raised his hand to demonstrate the Channeling Diagram that he had just arranged.
Grandmaster Gu Yan was quite surprised. “It really is a sourcebox array.”
Lu Yin waved his hand to disperse the Channeling Diagram and then quickly set up a Teleportation Formation, which caused his body to suddenly disappear.
Grandmaster Gu Yan was even more amazed by this sight, and he grew serious as he stared at Lu Yin. “Long Qi, right? Despite your youth, you really have mastered two sourcebox arrays. It would seem that you really did repair those two sourcebox arrays on the battlefield.”
Qing Chen asked, “How would I lie to you, Grandmaster Gu Yan?”
Grandmaster Gu Yan just rolled his eyes. People will use any trick imaginable in order to get me to accept a disciple, and lying is nothing more than another trick.”
Qing Chen coughed.
Lu Yin glanced at the older man, as he really did have such motivations.
Grandmaster Gu Yan carefully and somberly observed Lu Yin. “You are extraordinarily talented. Truly, it’s most impressive. To be honest, you certainly qualify to be my apprentice based on your skills, but you’re from the White Dragon Clan.”
Qing Chen quickly spoke up. “Grandmaster Gu Yan, Long Qi is a Gate Master from my Humility’s Gate, and he has already gained the commander’s attention. He even risked becoming an enemy of the four ruling powers to expose Yun Mubai as a Redback. All of this can be verified.”
“Really?” Grandmaster Gu Yan was quite surprised, and he smiled as he stared at Lu Yin. “I’ll let you make a choice then: one, become the disciple of me, Grandmaster Gu Yan, but renounce the White Dragon Clan. Two, you can keep your status as a member of the White Dragon Clan, but you must return to the battlefield behind the Mother Tree with me. Much like other Lockbreakers, I intend to live out the rest of my life on that battlefield. What is your choice?”
Qing Chen stared at Lu Yin.
Lu Yin thought for a while, and then he respectfully answered, “While this junior was indeed born in a branch family of the White Dragon Clan, I have never once received even the slightest favor from the White Dragon Clan since childhood. I have no desire or attachment to the status of being a member of the White Dragon Clan and the four ruling powers. However, this junior is also married to Princess Long Xi, and I cannot forget this matter. While I can live out the rest of my life without relying on the White Dragon Clan, I am still unable to abandon my identity as a son-in-law of the White Dragon Clan’s main family.
“As for returning to the battlefield for the rest of my days, this junior would prefer to stay in the Middle Realm to capture Redbacks, as that provides greater assistance to humanity than slaughtering thousands of enemies on the battlefield.”
Upon hearing Lu Yin’s words, Grandmaster Gu Yan’s expression went blank. He then moved past Lu Yin and started walking towards the humanoid sourcebox one step at a time.
Qing Chen frowned; had he failed? It was said that this Grandmaster Gu Yan was too stubborn and had a terrible dislike of the four ruling powers. Even after encountering a youth as talented as Long Qi, this old man still did not care. If he had been any other Array Grandmaster, Long Qi would already have been accepted as an apprentice.
What a pity.
However, Lu Yin had given the only answer that was possible. Given his alias as Long Qi, how could he possibly leave the White Dragon Clan without giving them a single word? If he returned to the Perennial World after leaving, he would definitely use a new face for his second trip.
Grandmaster Gu Yan stored the humanoid sourcebox away, and then turned around and stared at Qing Chen. “Don’t go randomly searching for your creature. There’s a method to searching for every creature, no matter how strong they may be. After all, they are just beasts. Go to Root to ask, or post a bounty.”
“And what about Long Qi?” Qing Chen asked.
Grandmaster Gu Yan looked at Lu Yin. “My conditions remain unchanged. If you decide to change your mind and are willing to live on the battlefield, then you can come find me and become Grandmaster Gu Yan’s disciple.”
After he finished speaking, he tossed a ring the size of a palm to Lu Yin. “Take this as compensation for the humanoid sourcebox. That thing contains an attack as powerful as my own. Don’t use it unless you are in dire peril, as it can only be used once. If not even that can save you, then it can only be said that you are doomed.”
“Er Gouzi, let’s go.” With that, Grandmaster Gu Yan and his guard left.
Lu Yin looked at the large ring of hands. This was quite the windfall.
He had originally wanted to tell Grandmaster Gu Yan that a humanoid sourcebox should not be casually opened, but after thinking about how the man was an Array Grandmaster, even a humanoid sourcebox should not pose a threat to such a powerhouse.
Qing Chen lamented, “What a pity. If you could have accepted Grandmaster Gu Yan as your master, you would have enjoyed a limitless future.”
Lu Yin smiled. “This subordinate would never be able to answer to Long Xi if I made such a choice, and I have no desire to remain on the battlefield forever. I would much rather capture traitors in the Middle Realm.”
Qing Chen still felt sorry for Lu Yin, but he did not say anything further about the matter. As for allowing Lu Yin to remain on the battlefield behind the Mother Tree, Qing Chen felt that such a future was also a pity. There was no shortage of people on that battlefield who possessed Lu Yin’s strength, and he would be much more effective in continuing his efforts in the Middle Realm.
After emerging from underground, Qing Chen led Lu Yin back along the path that they had taken, as Qing Chen intended to find Adventure King.
Grandmaster Gu Yan had been right when he had said that there were methods for finding every creature, no matter how powerful it might be. For such a matter, Root was clearly the most qualified for the job.
Finding Adventure King proved much easier than finding the anteater, and Qing Chen quickly got in touch with a few people.
