Speaking of which, Lu Yin wasn't sure if he should thank this Elder Green Apricot.
This person was an Emissary with two tribulations, but because of Bai Shaohong, she obeyed Yuchen.
Lu Yin had been assassinated by the Boundless Realm in the Astral Tree, and it seemed that this person had helped Yuchen.
Logically speaking, Lu Yin had a grudge against this person, but the memories that had just entered his mind shocked him. This Elder Green Apricot was actually from the Hidden Earth Society.
That's right, Earth's Hidden Earth Society.
Lu Yin had once entered an assassin's body to hunt down someone called Leiwu. That person had threatened him with the Hidden Earth Society, saying that even if the assassin hid in Dragon Mountain, he still wouldn't be able to escape the Hidden Earth Society's pursuit.
The Hidden Earth Society didn't have much influence on the Fifth Mainland, but in the Astral Tree, it seemed to be quite influential.
This was because the Hidden Earth Society's members could enter the Astral Tree through Jupiter. In the Astral Tree, the people of the Fifth Mainland were all stowaways, and if they were discovered, they wouldn't have a good ending. Thus, the Hidden Earth Society was very united, and it was also because Earth's cultivators had a high chance of awakening an innate gift. In a place like the Astral Tree where cultivation was highly developed, cultivators with good innate gifts could easily make a name for themselves.
Gradually, as time passed, the Hidden Earth Society gained a considerable number of experts in the Astral Tree. These people communicated through the Hidden Earth Society's unique methods, forming a powerful organization hidden in the dark.
Lu Yin had thought that Leiwu was bragging, that even hiding in Dragon Mountain wouldn't be able to escape the Hidden Earth Society's pursuit.
How was that possible? However, through Elder Green Apricot's memories, Lu Yin understood the Hidden Earth Society's influence.
Dragon Mountain also had people from the Hidden Earth Society, the Four Cardinal Scales, the Central Plane, the Humble School, and the Root Organization all had people from the Hidden Earth Society.
Earthlings had entered the Astral Tree through Jupiter, and their opportunities varied. They had joined various factions, but because of the Hidden Earth Society's connections, they were a force that couldn't be ignored.
They couldn't make a name for themselves on the Fifth Mainland, but they thrived in the Astral Tree. They understood the Astral Tree's attitude towards the Fifth Mainland's stowaways, and each of them hid themselves better than anyone else.
Even Elder Green Apricot, an Emissary of the Cold Immortal Sect, didn't know the Hidden Earth Society's identities.
He had never thought that there would be a day where he would be able to borrow the Hidden Earth's power. Speaking of which, why was there such a high chance that Earth's cultivators were born with innate gifts?
There were so many primeval surnames on Earth. What did the Primeval Surname Alliance have to do with the Starry Sky Tree?
He had forgotten all about it.
"Yu Feng's guards were originally meant to protect Yu Feng. If all of them are dragged to the battlefield, what will happen to Yu Feng?"
Liu Shaoge's voice sounded.
Lu Yin looked over.
Yu Chen's gaze was serene. "The Young Master is already dead. Jade Peak doesn't need to exist anymore." With that, she turned and left.
Liu Shaoge watched Yu Chen leave, then looked at Elder Qing Xing. He narrowed his eyes and said, "Keep an eye on her. She's too smart. Perhaps she's already noticed our presence."
'Elder Greenapricot' was shocked. "She knows?"
Liu Shaoge replied in a low voice, "I'm not sure, but she's on guard against me. Either she knows where we are, or it's because of Elder Xi Zi."
Lu Yin continued to read through Elder Greenapricot's memories, and the more he read, the more surprised he became. He stared at Liu Shaoge.
This fellow was truly a genius. He had used his innate talent to join the Cold Immortal Sect, and then deliberately exposed his scheming side in front of Yu Chen in order to get close to her. Then, he used the Earth Hidden Realm's contact method to connect with Elder Qing Xing. Gradually, not only did he gain Yu Chen's trust, but he also got to know many people from the Earth Hidden Realm.
This was because he had a certain amount of authority within the Earth Hidden Realm.
With Bai Shaohong's death, Yu Chen was gradually disliked by the upper echelons of the Cold Immortal Sect. After all, she was just a servant, and this fellow had taken advantage of this opportunity to gain Elder Xi Zi's attention. Elder Xi Zi had ordered him to keep an eye on Yu Chen, and he had even met Elder Bai once.
Lu Yin was certain that once Yu Chen died, he would replace her and become a disciple with a high status in the Cold Immortal Sect. With Elder Xi Zi and the Earth Hidden Realm's support, he would have a smooth time in the Astral Trees.
This was Liu Shaoge. Of all the people who had come from Earth, he was the most sinister, and he was also the best at protecting himself. Lu Yin had tried to kill him several times, but had never been able to do so.
Of all the people who had come from Earth, Lu Yin cared about Liu Shaoge the most, aside from Silver. Even Bai Qian, who had the highest innate talent, was far inferior to Liu Shaoge in his eyes.
This fellow was smart and sinister, but it seemed that his luck wasn't too good. He kept running into Lu Yin.
Since Liu Shaoge was in the open while Lu Yin was in the dark, Lu Yin had to take care of him.
"How does Elder Xi Zi treat you?"
Elder Green Apricot asked.
Liu Shaoge replied, "He treats me very well. I'll continue to work hard and strive to become his disciple. As for these Jade Peak guards …" He then looked at the thousands of cultivators and continued, "Actually, I want to treat them as people from the Earth Hidden Realm."
Elder Green Apricot didn't understand. "What do you mean?"
Liu Shaoge answered seriously, "The Earth Hidden Realm's influence in the Astral Trees seems to be quite strong, but that's all in the dark. It's time to develop a force that's out in the open."
"But they're all from the Cold Immortal Sect," Elder Green Apricot said.
Liu Shaoge smiled. "They've been trained at Jade Peak since they were born, and they don't have much recognition for the Cold Immortal Sect. This battle is the best way to hide them and take them in for our own use."
Liu Shaoge then looked at Elder Green Apricot and said seriously, "I know that you want to protect yourselves and don't want to show off, but you can't go on like this forever. Every year, there are cultivators from the Earth Hidden Realm who come to this part of the universe through Jupiter, but how many of them can truly grow?
At the end of the day, you guys were only able to grow to where you are today because of luck. If there's a place that can take in and teach people from Earth, then it'll be a good thing for them. "
Elder Green Apricot was troubled. "If that's the case, then it'll be easier for us to be noticed. The Earth Hidden Realm's current development is because it's hidden. If it's exposed, then it'll be easy for us to be destroyed. Let me think about it."
Liu Shaoge nodded. "I understand."
"Do you think that this battle will be able to start?"
Elder Green Apricot suddenly asked.
Liu Shaoge looked into the distance and saw that there were many cultivators everywhere. "That depends on Lu Xiaoxuan's status in the Fifth Mainland. If the Fifth Mainland is willing to protect him, then war will be inevitable. But in my opinion, with the pressure from the Astral Trees, the Fifth Mainland might not protect him."
"It'll be great if I can take this opportunity to go back to Earth and take a look."
Liu Shaoge was too sinister, and he had gained the trust of many in the Earth Hidden Realm because he was good at acting and often missed his hometown on Earth.
Elder Green Apricot patted Liu Shaoge's shoulder. "You'll have your chance. If the war starts, take care of yourself."
Liu Shaoge grunted. "Got it."
With that, Liu Shaoge left. Lu Yin continued to read Elder Green Apricot's memories before withdrawing from the fusion and returning his consciousness to his own body.
This fusion had been a pleasant surprise, as Lu Yin had learned how to contact the Earth Hidden Realm in the Astral Trees.
Through this, he could establish contact with the Earth Hidden Realm in the Astral Trees.
The last time he had fused with Whitesage's body in the Technocracy, he had accidentally caused both sides to suspend their agreement. The one who had proposed the suspension had actually been President Sen.
Even though Lu Yin did not know the reason, it was still a good thing for him.
His eyes lit up. Liu Shaoge, I really hope that you'll do well in the Astral Trees. This guy will definitely hide at the back of this battle and not let Lu Yin discover him. Lu Yin had too many weaknesses that could be used against him, and once Lu Yin threatened him, he would do anything.
Lu Yin's lips curled up, as this guy would be of great help to him.
Right, he quickly checked the consumption rate in his cosmic ring.
The last time he had controlled Longquan to commit suicide, it had taken longer than this time, and he had consumed 20 billion star essence. It should be less this time.
Seventeen billion star essence was a figure that had been consumed, but it was still acceptable.
At present, he only had 24.5 billion star essence left. This closed-door cultivation had consumed over 100 billion star essence, which was quite a terrifying figure. It was equivalent to using up all of Shamrock Enterprises' liquid funds, which was a huge commercial power that dominated the Fifth Mainland.
Lu Yin's remaining money was not much, but it was not much either. After thinking about it, he decided not to go into closed-door cultivation and to keep the money for self-defense.
He stood up and walked out.
The Second Nightking looked over and saw that he had been in closed-door cultivation for almost three months. For an old freak like him who had been in closed-door cultivation since the era of the Daosource Sect, three months was nothing.
However, Lu Yin had undergone a huge change. Whether it was his external items, his battle techniques, his cultivation, or his lockbreaking experience, everything had increased considerably. Unfortunately, the Second Nightking could not see any of this.
Another two months had passed since he had last checked the fifth tower's progress. Lu Yin's gaze pierced through the seabed and into the abyss.
At the center of the abyss was a giant pagoda-shaped building. Even though it only blocked the center of the abyss, it was tens of thousands of times larger than the island itself.
The fifth tower had already reached eight floors, and it was like a colossus that overlooked the abyss.
The tower was black and emitted an inky radiance. The materials used to construct it were all provided by the Hall of Honor, and they could withstand a Hunter's attack without being damaged. As for the interior, not only were rare and sturdy materials used, but they were also complemented by technological methods. Layers of light screens were used to weaken and isolate cultivators' attacks, thus protecting the tower.
The tower also had a comprehensive monitoring system.
This was a combination of technology and cultivation.
After the diagram of the fifth tower had appeared, the Board of Overseers had discussed the matter and wanted to order the World Alliance to construct a major world within the fifth tower. Every floor would be a major world to protect the fifth tower and allow cultivators to fight without restraint.
However, building the fifth tower in the Cosmic Sea would violate the Hall of Honor's rules, which forbade major worlds from appearing outside of Mount Honor. Furthermore, Lu Yin was not willing to do so.
If every floor was a major world, how could he operate it?
He would not be able to take the final step.
Thus, this proposal was not passed by the Board of Overseers, and it was unanimously rejected. Even Yang Ji, who had proposed this topic, voted against it after seeing the opposition from the Unyielding Old Man and the others. Even the newly appointed Director named Xia Sheng had voted against it.
He knew that the Unyielding Old Man and the others were Lu Yin's subordinates.
However, Lu Yin did not care about Xia Sheng. He was alone, and he could not cause much of a stir in the Board of Overseers. Even Nan Yuan, who had a lot of experience, had been kicked out by Lu Yin. It was said that Nan Yuan's fate had been miserable, and the Xia family was not satisfied with his performance.