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Lu Yin\'s words were a slap in the Xia family’s face.

Forget a powerful and dignified family like the Xia family—even someone like Xia Zhitong would not be tolerated in a common family, as her actions would ruin any family’s reputation.

This was why the Xia family had opted to use Xia Zhitong to deal with the Yu family. Their tactics had inspired terror in all the other sects and families in the Perennial World, scaring them from helping the remnants of the Lu family after that. The entire affair had caused many people who had once followed the Lu family to suffer greatly.

The Xia family had been overly ruthless with the Yu family. Not only had the family been essentially wiped out, but their reputation had also been permanently destroyed.

However, while the Yu family had been ruined and reduced to a joke, the Xia family was not in a great situation either. No matter what, there was no getting around the fact that Xia Zhitong was a member of the Xia family. Even if she was not a part of the main family line and was just from a branch family, it was still too embarrassing to have such a person associated with the family.

Xia Zhitong had been fully aware that the Xia family was just using her and that this matter would make her unwelcome to everyone aside from those who warmed her bed. She would never be treated as a member of the family or given the opportunity to honor her ancestors. She had willingly abandoned all of that, as she only wanted to enjoy her life. Yu Hao’s return brought many uncomfortable matters back into the light, but these were not things that would harm the Yu family. After all, the Yu family had already been reduced to nothing, which meant that the vulnerable party at this moment was the Xia family, and Xia Ziheng was not willing to let that happen.

"Wen Lai, give me a bit of face and allow me to speak with him alone. Don\'t worry, I won’t do anything to him. I swear on the reputation of my Xia family," Xia Ziheng spoke softly.

Headmaster Wen glanced at Lu Yin, who nodded. There was no fear in his eyes.

Headmaster Wen said, "Alright, but I will be keeping an eye on you the entire time. If you dare to attack him, I promise on my Virtue Archives itself that I will not let you escape unscathed."

Xia Ziheng’s finger twitched. It was unexpected for Headmaster Wen to make such a threat. Had the man noticed something?

After Headmaster Wen left, Lu Yin made no pretenses of being polite, and he immediately took a seat and poured himself a cup of tea.

Xia Ziheng looked at the young man. "The matter regarding Xia Zhitong has nothing to do with my branch of the family. You should understand that her actions have not only harmed your Yu family, but also my Xia family’s reputation."

"So are you saying that I shouldn’t hold a grudge?" Lu Yin mocked.

Xia Ziheng said, "What I’m saying is that people need to focus on the future. I know of your connection to Grandmaster Gu Yan. With that relationship, everything from the past can disappear like smoke."

Lu Yin laughed. "Disappear? The reputation of my Yu family has been ruined for years, Yu City has been made a laughing stock, and even I’ve become an infamous legend in the Perennial World. And yet, you’re saying that all of that can disappear?"

Xia Ziheng grew serious. "Everything can be erased, just like how the Lu family’s existence was wiped out."

This statement startled Lu Yin, and he stared intently at Xia Ziheng.

Xia Ziheng sneered at his response. "Do you believe that your Yu family is somehow more famous in the Perennial World than the Lu family was? We were able to eliminate the Lu family and make it so that no one even speaks of them. What do you think we can do to your little Yu family? Or, do you think that your new backing can do a better job? You might have Grandmaster Gu Yan supporting you, but do you really believe that that’s enough to stand up to my Xia family? Do you even understand the power of my Xia family or Shenwu\'s Sky?"

Lu Yin remained silent, so Xia Ziheng continued, saying, "As long as we put in some effort, Virtue Archives won’t be able to protect you. We can make your Yu family an infamous example for thousands of years, and no one can do anything to stop us."

Lu Yin clenched his fists and glared furiously at Xia Ziheng.

The old man just shook his head. "You’re still too naive, but that’s not a problem. You clearly aren’t foolish enough to believe that Grandmaster Gu Yan is enough to protect you, which is why you put on a little show and hid here in Virtue Archives. While it’s true that Virtue Archives might have been able to protect you in the past, that’s the past. Both now and in the future, Virtue Archives won’t be able to save you. Everything you are or ever will be amounts to nothing but the workings of an ant to my Xia family. Your foundation is too shallow.

"You think it’s enough to be a Senior Array Master or even a Realm Array Master? Even if you become an Array Grandmaster, my Xia family can just condemn you to the rear battlefield until the Aeternals kill you. Is that the life you want?"

Lu Yin\'s eyes were as cold as ice, and they overflowed with endless hatred and bloodlust. "Do you think that just a few words are enough to make me abandon my revenge?"

Xia Ziheng laughed. "Revenge? Who are you going to go after for your revenge? Xia Zhitong? My Xia family? Or maybe Shenwu\'s Sky?"

Seeing the various emotions flitting across Lu Yin\'s eyes, Xia Ziheng shook his head. "You think too highly of yourself. Against Shenwu\'s Sky, you’re less than an ant."

"If I’m nothing more than an ant, then why is a Semi-Progenitor like you here and threatening me so much? Do you just like to hear yourself talk that much?" Lu Yin shot back.

Xia Ziheng grew earnest as he spoke, "You may be an ant, but your future doesn’t have to be the same as Gu Yan’s. You are someone whom the Xia family could eventually consider valuable. Now, I’m not talking about revenge, but rather of benefits. For the moment, if you can convince Grandmaster Gu Yan to join my Xia family, I’ll help you get your revenge."

Lu Yin gave a sharp laugh. "You’ll help me get revenge? How? Are you going to work with me against your own Xia family?"

Xia Ziheng\'s voice grew cold. "Xia Zhitong can die, and we can allow you to do as you wish with her. Even Xia Yuan can die, as long as you make yourself valuable enough. I will help you restore the Yu family’s reputation, and I can even get your grandfather out of Star Alliance. Whatever you want, I will help you get it. The fate and reputation of your Yu family can be completely reversed. Forget your petty hatred! Which cultivator doesn’t have enemies? Is there really a need to kill all of them? If we did that, humanity would have been wiped out long ago.”

Lu Yin\'s expression twisted; hesitation and consideration were clearly warring for control within him.

Xia Ziheng saw that he was starting to convince the young man. "Xia Zhitong was the one who harmed your Yu family, and she is also the target of your revenge. You can decide the fates of all of her lovers. You can take one step closer to home, or you can cause your decades of effort to disappear. You can decide what will happen after today.

"I am even willing to choose a new spouse for you so that you can truly become a part of my Xia family, a member of one of the four ruling powers! There will be no need for you to stay hidden here in Virtue Archives. Besides, this place will soon see changes, and it won\'t be the best place for you to continue developing."

Lu Yin looked puzzled. "Virtue Archives is going to change?"

Xia Ziheng answered, "You don’t need to worry about that. All you need to know is that I’m willing to do my best to help you out, get revenge, and restore your reputation. I can help you get everything that you want. I represent both Shenwu\'s Sky and the four ruling powers. What can\'t we do here in the Perennial World? As long as you agree, you will become famous throughout the Perennial World. You can have your name go down in history."

There was no denying that Xia Ziheng’s arguments made for a very convincing case. If the real Yu Hao were in front of the Semi-Progenitor, he might have actually been convinced. However, it was actually Lu Yin, and he had not accepted Grandmaster Gu Yan as his master. Furthermore, Lu Yin’s background was much, much grander than a mere Array Grandmaster, and he was indeed qualified to challenge the four ruling powers. Thus, Xia Ziheng’s words rang hollow in Lu Yin\'s ears.

"Is my grandfather really still alive?" Lu Yin asked.

"He is, and I promise you that, as long as you agree, I will release your grandfather and allow him to leave Star Alliance."

Lu Yin stared at Xia Ziheng. "Leave Star Alliance? How can that happen?"

"All it takes is one order, and your grandfather will be freed. He’ll be allowed to return to Yu City to recover, and he will even receive the full support of my Xia family."

Lu Yin sneered. It only took a single order? He would not believe that even if he had not learned about the restrictions placed on the Envoys in Star Alliance. If it were so simple, then how could so many powerhouses have failed to escape?

Xia Ziheng was just baiting "Yu Hao," trying to trick him into doing whatever it took to convince Grandmaster Gu Yan to join the Xia family. Even if that were not possible, as long as Xia Ziheng could get Yu Hao away from Virtue Archives, the Xia family would have the means to unilaterally decide what happened to the young man.

Old monsters did not live for as long as they did without learning a few tricks.

Lu Yin lowered his head, contemplating the offer.

A slight smile appeared on Xia Ziheng’s face. Anyone would be tempted by such generous offers, not to mention Yu Hao. The Semi-Progenitor had offered both the young man’s greatest desires, as well as what he actually needed. Xia Ziheng was too clear on how to spin a situation, as he understood the weaknesses of human nature. As long as one could grasp a person’s deepest desires, it would be easy to control them.

Not to mention, having a Semi-Progenitor personally deliver such an offer showed the sincerity of the Xia family.

"First, I want to know who came up with the idea of marrying me to Xia Zhitong," Lu Yin stated.

Good. With this question, it meant that the young man was looking for a new target for his revenge. Apparently, Yu Hao had not looked into this himself, and he was instead asking Xia Ziheng about it. The Semi-Progenitor simply needed to provide an appropriate target. The person could not be someone with too low a status, but also not too high, as this was a matter that concerned the Xia family’s reputation.

The idea had actually been Xia Yuan’s, but Xia Ziheng wanted to save Xia Yuan, if at all possible.

Finally, Xia Ziheng gave a name that Lu Yin had never heard before. The man was just a one-tribulation Envoy from a branch of the Xia family. He had just enough of a status to be able to meet with a Semi-Progenitor and report certain things, but he was not regarded as actually important.

"He came up with the idea of having Xia Zhitong marry you. If you want revenge, then his life is yours," Xia Ziheng offered. This one sentence was enough to determine the life or death of an Envoy, and the man’s ruthlessness would give anyone who understood it chills.

Lu Yin\'s eyes grew cold. "I will make him pay for what he did!"

Xia Ziheng\'s mouth curled up into a smile.

"But-" Lu Yin lifted his head to look up at Xia Ziheng. "You don’t really represent Shenwu’s Sky. If you want to be able to recruit my master, then I want to see Xia Xing."

It was not unreasonable to expect a Semi-Progenitor like Xia Ziheng to know about the secrets of the restrictions that the four ruling powers had placed on the members of Star Alliance, but Lu Yin did not want to take any risks. He intended to take advantage of their belief that Grandmaster Gu Yan was his master to draw out Xia Xing, the sect master of Shenwu’s Sky. From him, he would hopefully obtain the Xia family’s portion of the method to remove the restrictions. This was a risk, and if Lu Yin had any other options, he would not take it, as he could not try this a second time.

Xia Ziheng frowned. "Xia Xing is the sect master of Shenwu\'s Sky, but he’s only an Envoy. How is my word not good enough?"

Lu Yin lifted his head higher. "I can only speak with the sect master of Shenwu\'s Sky. I won’t deal with anyone else, not even Xia Yingxiong himself."

"Presumptuous!" Xia Ziheng grew angry and glared at Lu Yin, but the young man remained stubborn and refused to look away.

"Don\'t think that I spent all this time with you just because we want that old man. I simply don’t want humanity to lose a genius Lockbreaker. On top of that, I would like to see Grandmaster Gu Yan train more Lockbreakers for my Xia family. Don’t get cocky about your value and think that you can threaten me," Xia Ziheng warned in a low voice.

Lu Yin replied, "My master is old, and he cares a great deal about me. He’s spent decades training me and even regards me as a son. If I speak to him, my master will definitely listen."

Xia Ziheng\'s eyes flickered.

Lu Yin continued, saying, "I want to speak with Xia Xing, and I want him to promise me everything that you just offered. Otherwise, there’s nothing to be discussed."

Xia Ziheng was furious, and he rose to his feet to stare down at Lu Yin.

Headmaster Wen immediately appeared. "Alright, that’s long enough. Prof. Hao Yu has lessons to prepare for. Semi-Progenitor Ziheng, we won’t see you off."

Xia Ziheng continued to glare at Lu Yin. "Are you really going to be that stubborn?"

Lu Yin also stood up, and he looked at Xia Ziheng from the same level. His eyes remained firm. "That’s right."

Xia Ziheng turned and left without saying another word.

Upon seeing the man leave, Headmaster Wen commented, "It might be best if you aren’t one of the chaperones for the trip to the four ruling powers."

With a solemn expression, Lu Yin bowed to Headmaster Wen. "Thank you for your help, Senior."

Headmaster Wen waved the thanks off with a hand. "What help did I give you?"

Lu Yin replied, "If not for you, then given Xia Ziheng\'s personality, this junior has no assurances that I would still be alive."