The current Heaven's Sect was just a framework. The eight Heaven's Gates, the seven half-step Ancestors, and the Blood Ancestor, as well as the Mist Ancestor and Lu Yin, who could borrow Progenitor Chen's power, had formed the current Fifth Mainland, the Human Domain.
Although the Human Domain had rebuilt the Heaven's Sect and seemed to be united, there were still many unstable elements within. Regardless of what Hen Xin, Jue Yi, and the others were planning, there were still many hidden troubles. Undying Yushan was one of them, and the fact that Big Sis was the Netherworld Ancestor was another. Lu Yin did not know what Fate's Daughter was thinking, but there was still an even greater threat: Bai Wushen. Outside, the Astral Beast Domain had yet to make a move, and this concerned Lu Yin.
He had specifically asked the Mist Ancestor if she knew anything about humanoid sourceboxes, but her answer had been that she did not know the origins of humanoid sourceboxes.
Lu Yin did not forget that the Astral Beast Domain had always been collecting humanoid sourceboxes, and he had seen the most humanoid sourceboxes when the Fourth Mainland had collapsed. Did these humanoid sourceboxes have anything to do with the Astral Beast Domain?
Lu Yin had used Progenitor Chen's power to suppress the entire Fifth Mainland and look down on everything. However, even he could not clearly see the undercurrents hidden within this continent.
Since he could not see them clearly, then he would not bother. No matter what kind of undercurrents were hidden within, Lu Yin was confident that he could control the Fifth Mainland unless someone surpassed Progenitor Chen.
Under the Mist Ancestor's strong request, Lu Yin brought her to tour the Human Domain.
Since the Daosource Sect's era, the Fifth Mainland had changed greatly, especially in the past twenty years. There were many changes that even Lu Yin was not clear about.
The Mist Ancestor wanted to see where she had once been, but whether it was the name or the location, everything might have changed.
They arrived at Bard Weave, which was beside the Astral River, and gazed at the Astral River from the darkness of outer space. "This is where I started my cultivation. At that time, I met my master, who was the Daosource Sect's Enforcer. From then on, my life changed. Now, everything has changed, and even my hometown no longer exists."
They then arrived at the Astral River, which was different from twenty years ago, let alone the Daosource Sect's era.
"There are too many geniuses and elites in the Daosource Sect. Every domain, every direction, and even every family competes with each other. I was brought into the Daosource Sect by my master, and after I became an Explorer, the first competition I participated in was Astral River Fishing," the Mist Ancestor muttered.
Lu Yin listened without interrupting.
"Fishing in the Milky Way doesn't just depend on one's strength, but also on one's technique and perception of danger. Some people will be dragged into the Milky Way and only be left with a pool of blood, while others will be able to catch the most powerful creatures. I still remember that Old Fu stayed by the Milky Way back then and was in charge of handing out fishing rods to people. Who would have thought that he would become the Symbol Ancestor after so many years?" The Mist Ancestor laughed.
Lu Yin asked, "Was the Symbol Ancestor very mediocre in his youth?"
The Mist Ancestor nodded. "That's right. He's older than all of us, and he only became an Explorer when he was a hundred years old. However, as he progressed, his breakthroughs became even faster. There's a saying that he often says —" She paused for a moment before continuing with a strange expression, "Read more books. Knowledge is power."
Lu Yin pursed his lips. "Shouldn't that be Patriarch Hui's words?"
"Huiwen likes to say that knowledge is not just power," the Fog Ancestor said.
Lu Yin was speechless, as that made a lot of sense.
"Geniuses after geniuses competed with each other for glory. Back then, everyone knew that our generation would usher in a grand event in the Fifth Mainland, but no one could have imagined that it would be so grand. More than half of the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas appeared in our generation, and there was even a traitor named Xia Shang who dominated two mountains and one sea."
"During that time, Xia Shang was synonymous with rebellion. He cultivated the Nine Clones and fused with the giant's bloodline. He snuck into the Burial Garden by himself and even seduced a girl from the Wang family. By the time this matter was exposed, he had already learned the Wang family's Oblivion Technique and other secret techniques." The Mist Ancestor sighed. "Although everyone viewed him as a traitor, it has to be said that he was ruthless and extremely talented. Even Ancestor Lu Tianyi couldn't bear to touch him."
A few days later, the two of them arrived at the Daynight Flowzone. During the era of the Daosource Sect, this place had been the Frigid Immortal Sect, but many years later, it had become the Daynight clan. Now, even the Daynight clan no longer existed, and only the ruins of the Frigid Immortal Sect remained hidden.
The Mist Ancestor looked at the shattered Nightking Planet. "I've been to the Frigid Immortal Sect before and fought with Bai Wangyuan's junior sister. Back then, the Frigid Immortal Sect was very low-key. I never expected that they would join forces to banish your Lu family. It's unbelievable that such a colossus like the Lu family could be overthrown."
Lu Yin was speechless. The White Dragon's reversal and the Four Way Scales had overthrown the Lu family, but the Mist Ancestor did not believe it. Based on the Mist Ancestor's attitude, Lu Yin became increasingly suspicious. If the Lu family could be banished so easily, would it still be the Lu family?
"How does Ancestor Lu Tianyi compare to Ancestor Chen?"
Lu Yin asked.
The Mist Ancestor shook his head. "I don't know. Xia Shang is practically invincible in the same realm, but Senior Lu Tianyi is unfathomable. It's said that he can even summon Progenitors. It's hard to tell who's stronger and who's weaker."
"That's why I find it so strange. With Xia Shang's strength, he would have no problem facing Bai Wangyuan and Wang Fan at the same time, so Senior Lu Tianyi definitely wouldn't have any problems either. Besides, your Lu family has other Progenitors, and with the Lu family's foundation, I can't figure out how the Frigid Immortal Sect managed to banish you. Right, there's also a legend in your Lu family."
Lu Yin could not figure it out either. Perhaps only Progenitors like Bai Wangyuan would be able to answer his questions.
"Let's go and find my Mountains and Seas." The Mist Ancestor sighed. Times had changed, and his old home had disappeared. There was no need to wander around anymore.
Lu Yin was surprised. "You can find them?"
"Of course, they're my Mountains and Seas," the Mist Ancestor said matter-of-factly.
After that, the Mist Ancestor continued to search for the Mountains and Seas. The two of them traveled throughout the Innerverse and Outerverse, even going to the Cosmic Sea. They even passed by Earth's Swamp, where they exchanged glances with Jueyi.
Jueyi was shocked by the Mist Ancestor's existence, but he could not see through the Mist Ancestor's cultivation.
Lu Yin saw that Earth's Swamp Prison Overseer had been locked outside the Death Qi Swamp, and he was furious. He released the Prison Overseer, who expressed his gratitude and then headed towards the Neoverse.
Jueyi calmly looked at Lu Yin from within the death qi.
Lu Yin looked at the Death Qi Swamp. "The Specter Race and the She family are both here, right?"
The Seven Courts had split, with the Xia family joining the Three Ultimates Heaven's Gate. After Jueyi appeared, the She family did not hesitate to join him, shocking the Hui family and the other four families. It was only then that they realized that the She family had been controlled by the Specter Race.
If not for their fear of Jueyi's strength, they would have attacked the Specter Race.
The She family being controlled by the Specter Race meant that the Seven Courts had been infiltrated for many years. This also explained why Progenitor Chen's tomb had been invaded by the Neohuman Alliance time and time again.
The Specter Race joining Jueyi meant that Jueyi had protected the Specter Race. Otherwise, the Specter Race would have been destroyed by the Human Domain long ago.
This was a thorn in the side of Elder Chan and many others.
Anyone who was in cahoots with the Neohuman Alliance would be eradicated, but the Specter Race would not be touched.
"Not here," Jueyi replied.
Lu Yin solemnly said, "The Sect of Heaven's Gate has returned.
The twelve Heavenly Gates are only here to protect the Human Domain's entrance. Let the Specter Race and the She family report to the Sect of Heaven's Gate. "
Jueyi frowned. "I already said that they are no longer in Kun's Swamp."
Lu Yin looked at Jueyi deeply. Beside him, the Fog Ancestor said, "There are many people there. If they can remain in the death qi, then they must be from the Specter Race."
Lu Yin glanced at Kun's Swamp. "Sect Master Jueyi, I hope that you will remember the responsibilities of the twelve Heavenly Gates." He then turned and left.
The Fog Ancestor was puzzled, but he did not say anything.
Jueyi watched Lu Yin leave and frowned. He had refused to hand the Specter Race over to the Sect of Heaven's Gate, which meant that he had offended this person. Although he had had some conflicts with this person in the past, the nature of the conflict was different.
Still, it did not matter, as he was not far from breaking through to the Progenitor realm. Once he did, this region would be under his control.
After leaving Kun's Swamp, the Fog Ancestor was puzzled. "The Specter Race is clearly inside. Why didn't you expose them?"
Lu Yin smiled. "It's not the right time."
The Fog Ancestor did not understand, but he did not ask any further. "After interacting with you for a few days, I realized that you are just as sinister as Huiwen."
Lu Yin pursed his lips. "That's called wisdom."
"That's called sinister." The Fog Ancestor was very insistent.
Lu Yin was helpless.
Another ten days passed. On this day, the Fog Ancestor suddenly looked in a certain direction and became excited. "Found it!" She then pointed in a certain direction. "Let's go there."
Although she could display the strength of a Half-Progenitor, her main body was still trapped, and she still needed Lu Yin to carry her around.
Lu Yin was also excited. Although he had learned many battle techniques from the Mountainsea Inheritance, he was not afraid of learning another one. This was a very ancient inheritance.
Twenty years ago, the Daosource Sect's ruins had collapsed, and the Mountains and Seas within the ruins had scattered. Although their locations had been determined, and some people had tried to enter and receive the inheritance, not a single one had succeeded. Lu Buzheng had also tried, but he had failed.
Lu Yin had no intention of trying, as he still did not understand the meaning of the flames or the water flow. Going there would be a waste of time.
At this moment, they were east of Kun's Swamp, where the Cosmic Sea intersected with the Innerverse. From a distance, they could see an endless stretch of seawater covering the entire sky. A strange phenomenon had descended, and it gave this region a sinister aura.
"Where is it?"
Lu Yin asked, as there was nothing around them besides the Cosmic Sea.
The Fog Ancestor looked into the distance. "It's almost here."
Lu Yin followed the Fog Ancestor's gaze and saw a thick fog gradually covering the edge of the Cosmic Sea. A warship was rushing in their direction.
"Hey, let's go! That fog can eat people!" someone shouted from the warship.
Lu Yin was astonished. "Senior, is that fog your Mountain and Sea Realm?"
The Fog Ancestor sighed. "That's right. Let's go in."
Lu Yin nodded, grabbed the mirror, and stepped forward, disappearing into the fog.
Within the warship, the cultivator who had warned them was vexed. Two more had died, even though he had clearly warned them.
"Let's go. It's none of our business if they don't listen to us. Don't get eaten by the fog."
The cultivator acknowledged the warning and hurriedly steered the warship towards the Innerverse.
…
Once they entered the fog, they entered the Mountain and Sea Realm.
By the time Lu Yin could clearly see his surroundings, they were no longer in the Cosmic Sea. Instead, they were on a surface of water that was filled with fog. In the distance, a tall mountain was faintly discernible.