Yan Feng was confused when he saw the notice. Delayed?
Half of the Outerverse Councilors were already dead, and they desperately needed more. Why was there a delay?
This was a notice from Arbiter Zhenwu. What had happened?
No matter how Yan Feng guessed, he could not figure out that this was Lu Yin's doing. Ever since Jenny Auna had arrived at Firesmelt Planet, the two had become mortal enemies. Even though Lu Yin had never cared about Jenny Auna, she was still one of his fiancées in name.
For Yan Feng, helping Nightqueen Yanqing to deal with Lu Yin was an easy task, but this outcome was something that he could never bear.
Lu Yin had no plans to lay all his cards on the table with Yan Feng just yet. Once he reached East San Dios, he would deal with Yan Feng and Puyu.
Two days passed peacefully, and there were only three days left until the Tournament of the Strongest. On this day, Lu Yin suddenly received a notification from Little Pao that someone was looking for him at the space station.
Lu Yin arrived at the space station and immediately saw the Nalan family's spacecraft, as well as the stunning Madam Nalan who was standing below it.
"Madam Nalan?" Lu Yin was surprised.
She smiled at Lu Yin. "You didn't expect me to come, did you?"
Lu Yin smiled. "I really didn't. Why are you here in Astral-10?"
"I'm here to look for you."
Lu Yin was puzzled. "Look for me?
How can I help Madam? "
Madam Nalan gestured for him to sit down. "Student Lu, please sit down. It's too tiring to stand."
Lu Yin nodded and followed her onto the spacecraft.
It was still the same lounge, the same luxurious ingredients, and the same expensive wine. "To tell you the truth, I'm here to ask Student Lu to help me unlock a sourcebox." Madam Nalan went straight to the point.
Lu Yin was surprised. "Madam, as the head of the Nalan family, you must have many Lockbreakers by your side. Why are you looking for me?"
"Student Lu, you're not willing?" She smiled.
Lu Yin solemnly replied, "Madam, you've saved me twice. Even if you ask me to go through a mountain of blades or a sea of flames, I'd not hesitate. I'm just curious."
Madam Nalan smiled and stared at Lu Yin with her beautiful eyes. "I don't feel at ease finding other Lockbreakers."
He was only a two star Discerning Elementary Lockbreaker, and with the Nalan family's wealth, it was not impossible for them to hire a Perceptive Intermediate or even a Boundless Advanced Lockbreaker, let alone a Discerning Elementary Lockbreaker. However, Lu Yin did not probe any further. He thought back to the first time he had met this woman and how she had been assassinated. There were simply too many conflicts within large families.
"Since you think so highly of me, I won't decline. Let's begin," Lu Yin said.
She looked at him helplessly. "Student Lu really is a cultivation maniac. We just sat down."
He smiled awkwardly and didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the thigh of an unknown astral beast and began to chew on it. He had to admit that it was delicious; the meat was fresh and tender, and it even contained the power of star energy. A single bite was enough to fill his mouth with an indescribable sense of satisfaction. He took a sip of the red wine and exhaled in satisfaction. "Madam, this glass of red wine must be expensive."
"If Student Lu likes it, I can give you some," Madam Nalan said with a smile.
Lu Yin smiled as he declined. This woman was so attentive to him, which was strange. He never believed in free lunch, let alone such an expensive one.
This woman was a top tycoon in the Outerverse with her seductive beauty, and her background was related to the Sword Sect. She could not be underestimated, and he wondered if the Sword Sect had asked her to rope him in. However, after some thought, he rejected the idea. He was only a Limiteer, and no matter how talented he was, how could he compare to the Ten Arbiters?
The Sword Sect had produced a Ten Arbiters, and even if they admired him, they would not try to rope him in without any bottom line.
But if they did try to rope him in, could he refuse?
Lu Yin recalled that this woman had saved his life twice.
"Are you thinking about what I'm trying to do with you?"
A fresh and beautiful face with a boundless charm appeared in front of Lu Yin, causing him to retreat in fright.
Madam Nalan smiled. "Student Lu, am I really that scary?"
Lu Yin laughed dryly. "You're too beautiful, and I can't bear it."
Madam Nalan's eyes curved into crescents. "You really know how to talk. We've met a few times already, but I haven't told you my name yet. I'm Liu Fuxue."
Lu Yin's eyes flashed. Indeed, the surname Liu was a primeval surname, and it was also the surname of the Sword Sect's leader. "Drifting clouds form snow, and the taste of the world is boiled into tea. What a good name."
Madam Nalan sighed. "Student Lu's literary talent is astonishing. Then, I wonder if you can decipher my other name — Liu Tianmu."
Lu Yin did not think too much about it and blurted out, "Sirius is scattered, and Su is like autumn."
Madam Nalan covered her mouth and giggled. She clapped her hands. "Student Lu is quick-witted. You can probably compete with those from the Erudite Flowzone."
"Madam Nalan, who is this Liu Tianmu that you mentioned?" Lu Yin asked curiously. Both of them had the surname Liu, and they were not simple people.
Madam Nalan's lips curled up, and a teasing look flashed through her eyes. "You'll find out in the future."
Madam Nalan had asked Lu Yin to unlock three sourceboxes. Two of them were certified Three Stars Discerning Elementary sourceboxes, and they were both stone-like. The third sourcebox had not been certified, but it was about the same size as the other two sourceboxes. Its appearance was a little strange, as it was a severed palm. No, it looked like a severed palm.
This severed palm piqued Lu Yin's interest, as there were no identical sourceboxes in the universe. Every Lockbreaker would encounter all sorts of strange sourceboxes, but a severed palm-shaped sourcebox was still considered strange.
Lu Yin spent two hours to unlock the first sourcebox, and it was only a Three Stars Discerning Elementary sourcebox. He did not even use the Giant Emperor's third eye, and he only used his domain and Sirius to unlock it. This was thirteen times faster than his first attempt, which represented his improvement.
Unfortunately, the item within the first sourcebox had long since dissipated, so his efforts had been wasted.
The second sourcebox took Lu Yin two and a half hours, and he obtained a very ancient wooden board. There were some words on it, but Lu Yin could not understand them, so he handed it over to Madam Nalan.
Madam Nalan had someone preserve it for archaeologists to study, as perhaps they would be able to obtain some useful information.
The fact that it had been sealed away by the universe meant that an almighty powerhouse had come into contact with it. Only then would it have some value. Any item obtained through lockbreaking was not simple, and the most classic example was the Ross Empire.
The founder of the Ross Empire had unintentionally unlocked an item: a long dress made of very ordinary materials that did not have any star energy. He had originally planned to throw it away, but he was unwilling to do so, so he handed it over to his subordinates to study. Who would have thought that the dress would contain quite a bit of ancient technological research, which had led to the birth of the Ross Empire, one of the hegemons of the Blazing Mist Flowzone, who had the qualifications to compete with the Blaze Realm.
Of course, the Ross Empire had only been a coincidence. Many powers had unlocked items that contained words, and it was unrealistic to try and decipher them. Even if they could, they might not be suitable for the current era. Furthermore, a portion of the research results had already been exposed, as too many years had passed.
In any case, anything that could be unlocked had value, and this value needed to be carefully considered.
Lu Yin looked at the severed palm in front of him and touched it with one hand. Suddenly, his fingertips were pricked by something, and he frowned in confusion.
"Seventh Bro, something's not right. This thing isn't easy to deal with," the monkey suddenly said in a serious tone.
Lu Yin activated the Sirius Art and used his domain to support himself. He then took out the Giant Emperor's third eye and focused on the severed palm. With the three layers of support, Lu Yin saw something different. A strange aura enveloped the severed palm, and it was filled with an ominous feeling. This aura took the form of a barbed scorpion tail, and it was this object that had pricked Lu Yin.
Lu Yin was shocked, as this was his first time encountering such a scene.
He had seen quite a few Sourcebox Catalogs, and even sourceboxes that could harm Lockbreakers would not take the form of a barbed scorpion tail. Of course, it was possible that he could not see it through the Sourcebox Catalog.
Many Lockbreakers had died mysteriously, and this scene might have been related to it.
Lu Yin thought about it. He still had one more chance to unlock this sourcebox in front of the Trialmaster. He then said to Madam Nalan, "Madam, I want to bring this sourcebox in front of the Trialmaster to unlock it."
Delight flashed through her eyes, and she nodded. "Alright, Student Lu. Be careful."
Lu Yin nodded. It seemed that Madam Nalan was aware of the uniqueness of this severed palm, and she had only been testing him. If he had really wanted to unlock it, she would have stopped him. Her true intention was to use him to ask the Trialmaster for help. Did she know of the Trialmaster's existence?
It was not impossible, as the Trialmaster was definitely an extremely powerful Lockbreaker that even Nightking Yuanjing respected. If Madam Nalan knew of the Trialmaster's existence, then it would make sense for her to ask him to unlock the sourcebox today.
It was only now that Lu Yin understood what this woman was trying to do. Indeed, anyone who could become a top Lockbreaker was not simple. He had not even been able to tell what she was trying to do, and it was only after being taught a lesson that he understood.
The severed palm did not have any offensive properties, or else Madam Nalan would not have taken it out so easily. Only direct contact would result in an attack.
When Lu Yin appeared in front of the Trialmaster with the severed palm, the Trialmaster suddenly opened his eyes and stared at the severed palm. "It's the work of a predecessor. Kid, you cannot unlock this sourcebox."
Lu Yin respectfully asked the Trialmaster, "Please enlighten me."
The Trialmaster calmly replied, "Some sourceboxes contain the power of their previous owners. It could be an innate gift, battle force, a domain, or even a technique. These powers can be passed down through the ages, and they are the greatest threat to Lockbreakers."
"Are you saying that this severed palm contains the power of a powerhouse?" Lu Yin asked in astonishment.
The Trialmaster closed his eyes. "If you want to unlock a sourcebox like this, you need to be at least a Lockbreaker at the Boundless Advanced Lockbreaker level. It's still too early for you, kid."
Lu Yin thought about it. "Can Mentor help me?"
The Trialmaster shook his head. "The power of a predecessor is equivalent to transcending the ages to fight against a powerhouse of the past. The risk is too great."
Lu Yin nodded. "This student will take his leave."
Not long after, Lu Yin returned the severed palm to Madam Nalan and repeated what the Trialmaster had said.
Madam Nalan sighed and smiled bitterly. "Student Lu, to tell you the truth, I've sought out quite a few Lockbreakers, but they all rejected me."
"Mentor said that only Lockbreakers who have touched the Boundless Advanced Lockbreaker level can successfully unlock this sourcebox," Lu Yin said.