Old Yu was briefly taken aback, but he was not bothered by the question. "Yi Nan might be the only one who knows the true reason. This old man never even considered it."
Lu Yin calmly stated, "The seven major powers are located in precise locations across the Spirit Nidus. Their locations are not a coincidence."
Old Yu replied, "Then it might have something to do with the High Seraph. That man has always been trying to take complete control of the Spirit Nidus. While it might initially seem as if he’s succeeded and that no one dares to defy his orders, the truth is that the seven major powers and the Seven Seraphs are not fully obedient towards him. There are times when not even the High Seraph can act as he wishes.
"With what you are telling me, it seems that the locations of the seven major powers need to be looked into.
"At times, matters can be so subtle that only outsiders can see the details clearly," Old Yu mused, his eyes showing that he had gotten lost in his own thoughts.
However, the old man’s train of thought was completely divergent from what Lu Yin was thinking.
Except for the High Seraph and Master Qing Cao, no one could even guess at what Lu Yin had seen. He had peeked into another layer of reality.
Slowly, Lu Yin entered Jiu Xian's valley.
Old Yu did not know why Lu Yin was interested in this place.
The ground was shattered, but some of the stone rubble was still pinning multiple portraits down.
Lu Yin sat on a stone, pulled out a couple of bottles of wine out from his cosmic ring, and handed one to Old Yu.
"Old man, you were willing to send a Dukkhan to me to calm my anger. That’s quite the gesture. Was it worth it?" Lu Yin asked as he took a sip of wine.
Old Yu examined the bottle before opening it and smelling its contents. He laughed. "Is this wine from your Tianyuan Megaverse? What a wonderful fragrance. "
He then took a sip of the wine and sat on a stone across from Lu Yin.
If one did not recognize the two men, they would have never guessed that one was the ruler of the Tianyuan Megaverse and that the other was the ruler of the Spirit Nidus’s Wisdom Domain.
"Good wine." Old Yu lowered his bottle to look at Lu Yin. "To be honest, I find it a great pity, but completely worthwhile.
"The High Seraph's strength makes him invincible, and there is a need for someone to restrain him. It’s difficult to find anyone in the Spirit Nidus with that potential, but this old man sees hope in you."
Lu Yin sneered. "Using others or being used—you treat others as your pawns, but ultimately, you yourself are just a pawn. Old man, if you compare yourself to the High Seraph, do you see yourself as the pawn, or him?"
Old Yu chuckled softly. "We're all just pieces on the board. The ones truly playing the game are this universe itself... and the will of its people."
Lu Yin arched a brow. "Don't try to sound profound. All I want to know is whether the High Seraph knows that you’re trying to plot against him."
"Of course he’s aware."
“So are you only cooperating with me on the surface?”
“Saying it like that is not very accurate. While my Wisdom Domain enjoys a unique status in the megaverse, that does not mean that we can openly flout the rules.” Old Yu paused for a moment. “Right now, there are certain paths that you should not pursue, Lord Lu. Adaptability is king.”
Lu Yin took a sip of wine. “That depends on whether you are able to make me adapt.”
Old Yu grew solemn. “If not, why else would you have come to the Spirit Nidus at all? Why break so many rules and antagonize the High Seraph? Why maintain your leverage over him?”
Lu Yin nodded. “I will admit that I am not yet a match for the High Seraph, but would cooperating with you give me the ability to face him?
“You were not initially this determined to target the High Seraph, but you are so impatient now. What’s caused this sudden change?”
Old Yu showed a bitter smile. “There was never any change. That’s a fact.
“At first, I believed that you and those with you merely wanted to protect yourselves, having abandoned the Tianyuan Megaverse. That was why I advised you to simultaneously cut your losses, look for the greatest mutual benefit, and work to restrain the High Seraph.
“However, you didn’t hesitate at all to go after the Phantom Reach when Yi Nan went after the title of Seraph. You were willing and unafraid to be targeted by the entire Spirit Nidus. I have observed your determination, as well as that of the others in the Grandverse Manor.
“I have seen the determination of your Tianyuan Megaverse.
“I realize that the chances of convincing you to submit to the High Seraph are too slim, which leaves me with no choice but to alter our approach and go after the High Seraph directly.”
Lu Yin stared at Old Yu. “If we manage to defeat the High Seraph, the Tianyuan Megaverse will eclipse your Spirit Nidus. Are you willing to see that happen?”
Old Yu locked eyes with Lu Yin. “You won’t be able to win.”
Lu Yin frowned.
Old Yu said, “When I spoke to you about altering the way in which we deal with the High Seraph, that is to help you, not us.
“You won’t be able to defeat the High Seraph, but in going against him, you can work with us. Ultimately, the final outcome will align with my previous prediction: the number of Immortals in our two megaverses will be fixed, and the Spirit Nidus will eternally surpass your Tianyuan Megaverse because of that. However, the Tianyuan Megaverse will still be able to sustain itself. There is no way to alter the final situation of the three megaverses.”
“Which means you’re just toying with me now.” Lu Yin's face grew colder.
Helplessness filled the old man’s voice, “If I don't express myself in this manner, would you even be willing to listen to me any further, Lord Lu?
“Your heart is too big, to the point where, even without seeing a path to your own survival, you still want to overturn the current balance. This is the ambition of youth. I am old, as are many of the people in the Grandverse Manor. Your ambition doesn’t resonate with them, but they trust you and will follow you all the way, even to death.
“Their affection and trust—can you betray that, Lord Lu? Do you really intend to lead them to certain death?”