Although Lu Yin's explanation was flawless, Xia Xing had still come to the Central Realm because of him. Lu Yin had even specifically asked Xia Xing to come, which was something that Xia Ziheng could not understand. The excuse that only the Sect Master's guarantee would make him feel at ease was not enough to convince him.
"Yu Hao, there's someone I want you to meet. Consider it a show of sincerity from Shenwu Plane," Xia Ziheng said before using the Cloud Stone to contact someone. He then said to Lu Yin, "Let's go meet him."
President Wen was on guard. "You're taking Mister Hao Yu away?"
Xia Ziheng replied, "I'm just meeting someone. Don't worry, it's right outside Yixian Academy."
President Wen and Lu Yin exchanged glances before leaving the academy together with Xia Ziheng. In the forest outside the academy, they saw an old man who looked exhausted.
The moment he saw the old man, Lu Yin's expression changed, and he immediately rushed forward. "Old Master!"
The old man was Yu Chuan, the previous City Lord of Jade City. He had been betrayed by Yu Hao's father and taken to the Star Alliance.
Lu Yin had not expected Xia Ziheng to bring him here.
When Lu Yin saw the old man, Xia Ziheng kept staring at him, seemingly trying to figure out something. Finally, he heaved a sigh of relief, but he was also somewhat puzzled as he watched Lu Yin meet the old man.
The old man watched Lu Yin approach, and his eyes flashed. He then became excited. "Little Hao."
Lu Yin walked up to Yu Chuan excitedly. "Old Master, you're not dead?
That's great, I knew you weren't dead! Hahahaha! "
Yu Hao had addressed Yu Chuan as "Old Master." Back when Yu Hao had saved Kui Luo, he had been introverted and had only told Kui Luo a few things. Kui Luo knew Yu Hao better, and not only had he drawn Yu Chuan's image for Lu Yin, he had also told Lu Yin some of the things that had happened between Yu Chuan and Yu Hao. Of course, this was only what Kui Luo knew, but it was enough.
When Lu Yin saw Yu Chuan, many thoughts flashed through his mind. He really thought of himself as Yu Hao, and Yu Chuan did not notice anything amiss.
President Wen then looked at Xia Ziheng. "Don't tell me you brought him here out of the goodness of your heart. You're just testing Yu Hao."
Xia Ziheng was indifferent. "In just a few decades, he went from a piece of trash to an Emissary cultivator, and even a Savanna Array Master. Even Divine Master Gu Yan found it inconceivable."
"Is that so? But why do I feel that you're very strange today? It's as if you're eager to verify something." Dean Wen felt that it was strange.
Xia Ziheng looked at President Wen and narrowed his eyes. "Given your status, you'll find out soon enough. I won't hesitate to tell you that Xia Xing is missing."
Dean Wen's eyes widened. "What did you say?"
Xia Ziheng repeated, "I, the master of the Divine Martial Heaven, Xia Xing, have gone missing in the Middle Level World …"
With Dean Wen's intelligence, he immediately understood. "So you suspect Yu Hao?"
Xia Ziheng looked at Lu Yin, who was currently speaking with Yu Chuan. "Aside from him, no one else can predict the whereabouts of the Divine Martial Sect Master. Furthermore, he just so happened to leave Yixian Academy, so why wouldn't I suspect him?"
President Wen did not deny it. Yu Hao was indeed the most suspicious person.
"Wen, no matter what you think of the Four Way Scales, my Divine Martial Heaven will not let Xia Xing go. Even if we have to turn the entire Cosmic Tree upside down, we will find the culprit. If there's a problem with Yu Hao, you better tell me. Otherwise, it won't be good if Yixian Academy is implicated," Xia Ziheng threatened.
President Wen replied, "I don't see any problems."
"I hope so," Xia Ziheng said indifferently as he looked at Lu Yin and Yu Chuan. No one knew what he was thinking.
Lu Yin did not hear the conversation between Xia Ziheng and President Wen, as he was focused on dealing with Yu Chuan.
Kui Luo had told him a few things about Yu Chuan, but it was only a small amount. Most of it had been relayed through Yu Hao. When Yu Hao had saved Kui Luo, Yu Chuan had already been taken to the Star Alliance, so Kui Luo could not have known too much.
Fortunately, Kui Luo knew the biggest problem and had told Lu Yin about it: this was a ruse.
The Four Way Scales had guessed correctly. Yu Hao's father had betrayed Yu Chuan, which had led to him being taken to the Star Alliance. The fact that Xia Ziheng had brought Yu Chuan here proved that they had guessed it. Thus, Lu Yin did not hide his excitement when he saw Yu Chuan. Under normal circumstances, he would not have been so excited after betraying Yu Chuan with his father.
"Little Hao, you're too reckless. You'll be exposed," Yu Chuan said softly.
Lu Yin smiled bitterly, "Old Man, the fact that Xia Ziheng brought you here means that they already knew. Plus …" He paused, "Do you know what happened to the family?"
Yu Chuan's fingers trembled and his expression turned ugly, "It's been hard on you."
Lu Yin sighed, "It's my fault for being useless and bringing shame to the family. But don't worry, Old Man, I won't let anyone who tries to harm the Yu family off."
Yu Chuan looked at Lu Yin in shock and then nodded silently, "No matter how much you can do, protect yourself first. You don't have to worry about Grandfather. Take care of yourself."
Lu Yin looked at Yu Chuan, and Yu Chuan stared back at him. Their eyes met, and Lu Yin could see the pain and complexity in Yu Chuan's eyes. His heart sank; this old man had guessed that he was not Yu Hao, but he had not exposed him.
Xia Ziheng had underestimated Yu Chuan's hatred for the Four Way Scales. He had thought that Yu Chuan would expose Yu Hao once he realized that there was something wrong with him. He had thought that there was no one in Yu Chuan's heart who could compare to his grandson, but over the years, as news of the Yu family spread to the Star Alliance, Yu Chuan's hatred for the Four Way Scales had reached an indescribable level.
As long as there was a sliver of a chance, even if he had to cut Yu Hao into pieces, he would be willing to do anything to upset the Four Way Scales. He could tell that the Yu Hao in front of him was not the real Yu Hao. Even if he could not see through his grandson's disguise, that feeling would not be wrong. But so what? This person was impersonating Yu Hao, and it would only bring harm to the Four Way Scales.
As for the real Yu Hao, Xia Ziheng had heard rumors decades ago that the real Yu Hao was already dead. This person should have nothing to do with him.
Xia Ziheng was in the Star Alliance, and there was nothing he could do. This person could do whatever he wanted.
Lu Yin raised a hand and grabbed Yu Chuan's arm. "I understand, Elder."
There was not much time left for Lu Yin and Yu Chuan to speak. When Xia Ziheng saw that Yu Chuan was not acting strangely, he spoke up to take Yu Chuan away.
"Half-Ancestor Ziheng, can you let my grandfather stay behind?"
This was the first time Lu Yin had used a pleading tone in front of Xia Ziheng. This was what a grandson should do, and Lu Yin sympathized with this old man.
Xia Ziheng's expression improved slightly, as this was the attitude that Lu Yin should have. However, Yu Chuan was still not enough to control Lu Yin, but as long as he could control Yu Chuan, the Frigid Immortal Sect would be slightly weaker. Right now, roping in Lu Yin was not the main point; the most important thing was to find traces of Sect Master Xia Xing.
"It's not that we didn't know about the Yu family's plans. Yu Chuan was able to survive until now because of his luck, and also because we took care of him.
However, because of the Yu family's mistakes, the matter with Xia Zhitong can be considered a punishment. Now, I've brought him to you, and I can assure you that as long as you sincerely join the Divine Martial Plane, your grandfather will return safely. Think about it carefully. For the time being, you can stay together, "Xia Ziheng said, using both the carrot and the stick.
Lu Yin thanked him in a low voice.
Yu Chuan remained silent throughout. His years in the Star Alliance had allowed him to see through life and death. If not for his good luck, he would have died at the hands of Redback or the Four Way Scales' internal conflicts. If he could leave the Star Alliance, he would definitely be willing.
At that moment, Xia Ziheng's Cloudvision Stone vibrated, and he connected to it. "Speak."
"Ancestor, we found traces of the Lu family's Lifeform Palm at the scene."
Xia Ziheng's eyes widened, and killing intent flashed through his eyes.
"This could have been done by the remaining members of the Lu family. They weren't confident, so they bribed the Boundless Realm."
Xia Ziheng's first thought was not about the remaining members of the Lu family, as those trash had been unable to raise their heads for many years. Even if they had the ability to do so, they would not have waited until today. He was thinking about the Frozen Immortal Sect, as the Lu family's Lifeform Palm was also known as the Xian Fanyao Sect.
The Lu family had been exiled, and some of the resources they had left behind had been divided up by the Four Way Scales. However, the Xian Fanyao Sect had not obtained the Lu family's battle technique after the Lu family had been exiled.
The Lifeform Palm and the Xian Fanyao Sect were essentially the same.
Xia Ziheng's expression turned ugly; it was the Frozen Immortal Sect again. How could it be related to the Frozen Immortal Sect?
Lu Yin saw Xia Ziheng's expression turn ugly. Although he did not know what Xia Ziheng had said, it should have something to do with the traces of the Lifeform Palm that Xia Ziheng had purposely left behind.
"Are there many people in the Star Alliance, Sir?"
Lu Yin suddenly asked. His voice was normal, and he did not try to hide it.
Yu Chuan replied, "There aren't many, but there aren't few either. They're all Emissaries."
"Are there a hundred of them?"
Lu Yin was curious; it sounded like they were just chatting.
President Wen replied, "There are more than a hundred people in the Star Alliance."
Yu Chuan nodded, "Yes, there are more than a hundred."
Lu Yin sighed, "What a powerful force. Whoever controls the Star Alliance will immediately have over a hundred Emissaries."
Xia Ziheng heard what Lu Yin said, and a thought flashed through his mind. The Star Alliance? Controlling the Star Alliance?
Xia Xing, Yu Hao, Gu Yan … He suddenly seemed to understand something, and he left without saying anything else.
Lu Yin remained calm. Sometimes, the smarter a person was, the more easily they would be misled. He liked to deal with smart people, but fools were not easy to deal with.
"President, can my grandfather stay in the academy?"
Lu Yin asked.
President Wen was put in a difficult position. If it was an ordinary person, then it would be fine, but this was someone from the Star Alliance.
Yu Hao was not clear about this, but Lu Yin knew that the people from the Star Alliance had been restricted. Even if Shenwu Plane had promised, Yu Chuan would not be truly free. He was still controlled by the Four Way Scales, and once he entered the Star Alliance, he would never be able to make a name for himself.
"Little Hao, the academy is not suitable for people like me. Don't worry and stay in the academy. Xia Ziheng has already guaranteed that I'll be fine."
President Wen looked at Yu Chuan sympathetically, "You can stay in the academy if you want. This is no longer the Pure Land."
Lu Yin pretended to be confused, "What do you mean, President?
My grandfather … "Yu Chuan continued," What you mean is that the Four Way Scales might send someone to monitor me once I move in. "
Lu Yin was helpless.