The eleven pearls suddenly shifted into a straight line that pointed in a single direction: towards the Sixth Mainland.
After a moment, the pearls fell to the ground and scattered all over.
"How is it?" Lu Yin asked.
Skymender wiped sweat from his forehead and looked over at Destina. The woman waved her hand, and the pearls flew into her grip. "There is a pearl in that direction."
"The Sixth Mainland, I know." Lu Yin stared at Destina. "I'm asking about the last pearl’s location."
Destina shook her head. "We can’t find it. Using Destiny’s power, it’s only possible to find the closest pearl. You must either find that one or destroy it. Otherwise, that’s all we’ll ever be able to find through divination."
Lu Yin had a sudden headache as he looked towards the Sixth Mainland. He also wanted to find that pearl, but it was impossible for the time being. Unless he led several Progenitors to invade and take over the entire Sixth Mainland, he would only ever be able to know that pearl’s general direction.
"Help me find the exact location of that pearl," Lu Yin ordered.
Destina replied, "We can only give you the direction. If you want to find its location, you’ll need to take one of the two of us there with you."
Lu Yin put the pearls away. This situation was not improving, but there was nothing that he could do about it. Aeternus had gotten directly involved, and they were the greatest enemy of all humanity.
Lu Yin asked them to remain in the Heavens Sect for some time, as he could not say when he might try to head into the Sixth Mainland with them. However, he had to first return to the Voidforce Universe. He could not continue to ignore his responsibilities there.
Before leaving, he stopped by Shenwu Continent to confirm that the passage was still sealed and that everything was in order. There, he also spoke with his senior brother Mu Xie about aura energy.
The man had never heard of the power before, so he suggested that Lu Yin speak with Mister Mu about it.
Once again, Lu Yin was helpless. If he could find his master, he would have done so long ago.
For the time being, one of Lu Yin’s greatest concerns was the Heavens Sect’s various Semi-Progenitors. He had no idea which one would attempt to become a Progenitor first, but he was hoping that it would be Lu Buzheng or Cai'er.
…
Lu Yin had not spent much time away from the Voidforce Universe. It was perfectly normal for cultivators to be in seclusion for thousands of years at a time.
Still, for Lu Yin, it felt like he had been gone for a long time, as he only ever remained in seclusion for a few days at a time.
Once he was back in the Red Zone, Lu Yin checked in on the status of Cheng Feng's interrogation.
He had already asked Ning Ran to stop torturing Cheng Feng for some time, as Cheng Feng had given Lu Yin the location of the Knowledge Nexus. For this reason, while Cheng Feng had been questioned, he had not suffered any torture.
Even so, that did not mean that Cheng Feng's life was easy. His greatest torture was the knowledge that the people from his hometown had left and that the village no longer existed.
Aside from Cheng Feng, Ning Ran’s interrogations had resulted in the Bureau arresting several more spies while Lu Yin was in the Transcendent Universe and the Three Monarchs Universe. Unfortunately, all of the spies were insignificant.
Half a month after Lu Yin returned to the Red Zone, a man arrived who surprised Lu Yin.
"Buread Director Gan of the Arboreal Realm’s Bureau asks to visit the Red Zone."
The announcement echoed throughout the entire region.
Boss Guan, Skinner, and the other team captains were all startled, as this person was a very powerful expert.
Lu Yin looked up, an unhappy expression on his face, as this was not good for him.
Bureau Director Gan had already sent several invitations to Xuan Qi, asking the young man to assist the Arboreal Realm’s Bureau, but every request had been rejected. It was surprising for the Bureau Director to make a personal visit to the Red Zone.
The more determined Bureau Director Gan was, the less Lu Yin wanted to go to the Arboreal Realm.
Before Xuan Qi had joined the Voidforce Universe’s Bureau, none of the Sixverse Association’s universes’ Bureaus had been in a good position. Lu Yin had never heard anything about Bureau Director Gan’s efforts in the Arboreal Realm, but the man was pushing way too hard to have Xuan Qi visit the Arboreak Realm; there had to be something more to the matter.
No matter what, it was impossible for Lu Yin to simply go.
However, he also could not ignore Bureau Director Gan, so Lu Yin stepped out to personally greet the Bureau Director.
"Junior Xuan Qi didn't expect Senior’s sudden visit, and I’ve failed to welcome you properly. I hope that you will forgive me." Lu Yin spoke politely as soon as he arrived at the border of the Red Zone. There, he saw a refined-looking man with a smile on his face; nothing about his bearing could be regarded as imposing. There was nothing that gave away that this man was a peak powerhouse, but Lu Yin knew that he was addressing Bureau Director Gan.
The old man looked at Lu Yin and smiled. "Acting Bureau Director Xuan Qi, you’re being too polite. I was the one who arrived unannounced, and I have disturbed you."
Lu Yin smiled back. "Senior, it is an honor for the Red Zone to host your visit. Please, come in, Senior."
Gan smiled and nodded as he entered the Red Zone with Xuan Qi.
Within the Red Zone, every Bureau member bowed respectfully to Bureau Director Gan. It was a familiar sight to the man, as peak powerhouses received such respect wherever they went, and none of these people meant anything to him. The only person in the Red Zone who Bureau Director Gan had any interest in was Xuan Qi.
The two made small talk as Lu Yin led Bureau Director Gan through the Red Zone.
The Red Zone was a ruined city leftover from a race of giants, and the entire place had been decimated by Chen Le’s attack. However, for a cultivator like Bureau Director Gan, it was possible that such a place was more comfortable than a place with beautiful scenery.
"The Bureau has existed for many years, and it is not much younger than the Sixverse Association itself. However, even after all these years, it has never been very effective. Brother Xuan Qi, you know the reason for this." The man suddenly looked over at Lu Yin and said, "Don't be bothered by me calling you brother. I’ve heard that Xu Heng and several others address you as such."
Lu Yin smiled. "This junior is honored to be regarded so highly by Bureau Director Gan."
"Haha, I've already called you brother, so why do you still refer to yourself as junior?" Gan laughed.
Lu Yin turned to face Gan directly and said in a serious tone, "Brother."
"Haha, that’s much better. Speaking of this matter, there are quite a few people in the Sixverse Association who refer to you as brother, and Xu Heng and I are not the only peak powerhouses to do so. How does Chen Le refer to you?" Gan suddenly asked.
This question caused Lu Yin’s mind to race, though he maintained a calm facade. "Senior Chen Le is a serious person. After asking me to take the position of Acting Bureau Director for the Three Monarchs Universe’s Bureau branch, he has always referred to me as Xuan Qi."
Gan nodded and essentially dropped the topic as the two men continued to move through the Red Zone. "If the day comes when humanity cannot stop Aeternus, this city will be the same future that mankind will face. Brother, do you think that future is possible?"
Lu Yin’s voice dropped low. "Yes."
"And that’s why I came to see you. I would like you to come to the Arboreal Realm to help me. Spies are too much of a threat to humanity, and I’ve honestly been quite surprised by your repeated rejections. Why? Are you disgusted by my Arboreal Realm after Mu San invited you to my universe?" Gan asked.
Lu Yin gave a bitter smile. "Of course not. Senior Mu San was very enthusiastic, and he even invited Senior Mu Ke, which was incredibly flattering. It’s just…"
He cut off in an embarrassed manner, and Gan spoke up, clearly serious. "If you have any issues, just share them with me. If they can be resolved, I will make sure to do so."