The next day, Lu Yin was summoned by Gong Ling alone.
"Alliance Master Lu, I was negligent yesterday," Gong Ling said politely.
Lu Yin replied respectfully, "Senior, what are you saying?"
Gong Ling sized him up. "Alliance Leader Lu, you're not even thirty this year, right?"
Lu Yin nodded.
"Young and promising. When I was Alliance Head Lu's age, I still wanted to compete for the Top 100 Rankings, but I couldn't. Alliance Head Lu, you've already achieved so much. Give Alliance Head Lu another ten years, and perhaps the entire eastern weave will belong to you." Gong Ling smiled.
Lu Yin's eyes flashed. "Senior, you flatter me. Actually, I don't have much ability. It's mainly because of the help of my friends and the threats from the outside world that we're in our current situation."
Gong Ling was curious. "External threats?
Alliance Master Lu, are you talking about the Astral Beast Domain? "
Lu Yin looked at Gong Ling. "I wonder if Sect Master has heard of the Sixth Mainland?"
Gong Ling's expression changed, and he blurted out, "How did you know?"
"I'm more curious as to how the Headmaster found out."
The Sixth Mainland's secret had long since been covered up by the Hall of Honor, and even many powers in the Innerverse did not know about it. Lu Yin had only asked Gong Ling to test the waters. After all, the number of rune lines that the Temple of Tai Mo had concealed was terrifying. Even if Gong Ling did not know about it, Lu Yin could have easily evaded the question. However, Gong Ling actually knew about it, which made Lu Yin even more fearful of the Temple of Tai Mo.
Gong Ling and Lu Yin looked at each other, trying to discern something from Lu Yin's eyes. Unfortunately, Lu Yin's gaze was too deep. He had experienced too many things, so he couldn't discern anything.
"Alliance Lord Lu, let's get straight to the point. The ancient books of my Hall of Tai Mo have recorded the Sixth Mainland. After all, our sect has been around for a long time, and we know some secrets about the ancient war. But Alliance Lord Lu, you're so young. How did you learn about the existence of the Sixth Mainland?" Gong Ling asked.
Lu Yin smiled and said, "The Hall of Honor."
Gong Ling frowned. "So you're saying that the rumors outside aren't false? Alliance Master Lu has long since obtained the Hall of Honor's support?"
"The Sixth Mainland is a threat, and everyone knows about the war in Ironblood Weave. Elder Lohar once said that the Astral Beast Domain was forced to retreat because of the Sixth Mainland's attack. However, the Astral Beast Domain alone might not be able to stop the Sixth Mainland, which is why the Outerverse needs to consolidate its strength. The scattered Outerverse is too weak."
Gong Ling agreed. "The Outerverse isn't that bad, but it's just too scattered."
Lu Yin looked at Gong Ling. "Since Senior agrees with this junior's idea, why don't you join the Great Eastern Alliance and prepare to resist future threats?
The other weaves might not be aware of the Sixth Mainland's threat, but Senior should be very clear about it. You should know that the scattered Outerverse will not be able to stop the Sixth Mainland. "
Gong Ling smiled. "The Sixth Mainland's threat is just your side of the story. I can't possibly throw away the traditions of the Hall of Tai Mo just because of a few words from you."
"Senior, are you talking about a closed tradition?" Lu Yin asked.
Gong Ling smiled. "Alliance Leader Lu saved Little Peach, and the Hall of Tai Mo is very grateful. The five arrows are a gift from the Hall of Tai Mo, and I, Gong Ling, have a gift of my own."
Lu Yin was unwilling to give up. He could use force against the other weaves, but he did not have the ability to do so against the Hall of Tai Mo. This was especially true when Gong Ling even knew about the Sixth Mainland, which made Lu Yin feel even more uncertain. The Hall of Tai Mo might be hiding more than what they were seeing. "Senior, the Hall of Tai Mo has an extremely high reputation in the Outerverse. Once we join the Great Eastern Alliance, we will definitely be able to bring in a bunch of other powers who are watching from the sidelines.
"Alliance Leader Lu controls the Great Yu Empire. If I asked you to merge the Great Yu Empire and the entire Great Eastern Alliance into the Hall of Tai Mo to resist the Sixth Mainland's attack, would Alliance Leader Lu agree without hesitation?" Gong Ling asked with a smile.
Lu Yin was taken aback, but he then resolutely replied, "If we were truly faced with a desperate situation and had to do so, then I would not hesitate."
"That's right. You also said that we would have to face a desperate situation. The Outerverse is currently peaceful, so how could there be a desperate situation?
I know about the Sixth Mainland, but the others in the Hall of Tai Mo do not. How do you want me to convince them to join the Great Eastern Alliance? Besides, even if they did join the Great Eastern Alliance, what benefits would they bring to the Hall of Tai Mo?
What the Hall of Tai Mo needs can be obtained from the Modo Weave and Myriad Veil Weave. There is no need for the other weaves to support them, "Gong Ling explained.
Lu Yin fell silent.
Gong Ling smiled, but he did not say anything. He sipped his tea and looked at Lu Yin with interest. This kid actually wanted to rope in the Hall of Tai Mo with just a few words? He was too naive. However, this kid even knew about the Sixth Mainland's secrets. The Hall of Honor really thought highly of him.
Unfortunately, the weaves that had joined the Great Eastern Alliance had only done so because of Lu Yin's threats. The Hall of Tai Mo was not something that Lu Yin could threaten. The Innerverse and Outerverse were separated, and even the Hall of Honor could not threaten the Hall of Tai Mo.
Lu Yin tapped the tea table with a single finger and looked up at Gong Ling. "Senior, the most important thing for the Hall of Tai Mo is the bow and arrow, right?"
Gong Ling nodded. "That's right. My Hall of Tai Mo originally occupied Myriad Veil Weave because it produced many minerals that the Modo Weave does not have. It's very suitable for forging bows."
Lu Yin's lips curled up. "If this junior can forge bows that are even better than the Hall of Tai Mo's, and in batches at that, would senior be willing to join the Great Eastern Alliance and cooperate with this junior?"
Gong Ling was shocked. "Better bows than my Hall of Tai Mo's?
Alliance Master Lu, you're underestimating my Hall of Tai Mo too much. That's right, since you haven't been to Arrow Mountain, I'll agree to give you five arrows. I'll take you to pick them out now. "He then stood up.
Lu Yin asked, "Senior, are you afraid?"
Gong Ling laughed. "Alliance Master Lu, my Hall of Tai Mo's bow and arrow forging history is even longer than the Great Yu Empire's founding history. I'm saving you some face and don't want to embarrass you, so please don't pester me any further."
"How about this? Let's use the five arrows that senior gave me as a wager. If this junior can improve those five arrows by another grade, then that should be enough to prove my abilities, right?" Lu Yin asked.
Gong Ling sighed. "Since Alliance Master Lu is so persistent, then fine. Out of respect for Little Peach, I'll give you twenty weaves. If your Great Eastern Alliance can gather twenty weaves, then my Hall of Tai Mo will join."
Lu Yin's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Gong Ling nodded and smiled. "Of course. It looks like Alliance Master Lu is very confident. Let me remind you that the entire eastern weaves don't even have twenty weaves."
Lu Yin knew that he had to subtract the Modo Weave and Myriad Veil Weave, which meant that he would have to make a move on one of the weaves.
"No matter what, this is an opportunity. Senior, let's agree on twenty weaves," Lu Yin said firmly.
Gong Ling nodded. "Alright."
Although it was twenty weaves, from Lu Yin's perspective, the most important thing for the Hall of Tai Mo was the bow. If he could really forge a bow that was even more powerful than the Hall of Tai Mo's, then he would definitely be able to change the Hall of Tai Mo's opinion of him.
The Arrow Mountain was the core area of the entire Hall of Tai Mo, and it occupied a considerable area. Numerous long arrows were embedded in the dark red soil and emitted a sharp aura. From time to time, illusory arrows would streak across the sky, but no one knew where they came from.
Under Gong Chou's lead, Lu Yin brought Peach, Aden, the Blind Monk, and Meng Tianlong to the Arrow Mountain. When he saw the rune lines that filled the sky, he was amazed. The Hall of Tai Mo truly lived up to its name. Every arrow here had been forged using rare ores and various other rare treasures. Even a normal person would be shocked if they could shoot an arrow here.
No one noticed that when they approached the Arrow Mountain, all of the arrows on the mountain trembled imperceptibly, and a pair of turbid eyes opened in the depths of the darkness.
Aden sighed when he saw the Arrow Mountain. "There's actually a power in the Outerverse that can forge so many powerful arrows. Amazing."
Meng Tianlong's eyes were filled with apprehension. This was the Hall of Tai Mo. If the disciples who had surrounded them had all been armed with arrows from this place, then they would have been in deep trouble. Some of the arrows even had unique effects.
Gong Chou was pleased with himself. When it came to arrows, the Hall of Tai Mo would not submit to anyone, and the Arrow Mountain was their pride.
Peach looked at the Arrow Mountain with nostalgia, and then she tugged at Lu Yin and whispered, "Let's go inside. The periphery isn't that good."
Lu Yin nodded and led Peach inside.
Gong Chou's mouth twitched, as he felt like a daughter who had been married off was like spilled water.
On the Arrow Mountain, every arrow was separated by at least a thousand meters, and some were even separated by thousands or tens of thousands of meters. From Lu Yin's point of view, some of the rune lines emanated by the arrows were directed towards the sky, while others were directed in all directions. There were even some arrows that were directed towards the ground.
Lu Yin did not choose his arrows blindly, but rather based on the number of rune lines.
Right now, he was conflicted about one thing: if he chose an arrow that was too good, would the Hall of Tai Mo be unhappy?
There was a whoosh, and not too far away, an arrow trembled. A phantom image tore through the void, and the entire arrow vanished along with it.
"This arrow chooses its own master," Gong Chou said.
Lu Yin was shocked. "It's that advanced?"
Gong Chou smiled. "Everyone in the Hall of Tai Mo knows how to forge, and that process is also the time to comprehend arrow intent. Cultivation is passed down from generation to generation, and some arrows are fused with certain arrow intents. Those who comprehend the same arrow intent can easily choose their own master."
Lu Yin understood. This meant that when a master created an arrow and left it at the Arrow Mountain, a disciple would arrive and comprehend an arrow intent similar to the one who had created it and would choose its own master. This meant that the disciple would also be able to choose the arrow that was most suitable for them.
This was the difference in their foundations. There were so many arrows on the Arrow Mountain, and they represented the generations of disciples of the Hall of Tai Mo.
The group continued to walk deeper into the Arrow Mountain, and along the way, they encountered quite a few disciples wandering around. They seemed to be searching for the arrows that they wanted, and they also saw quite a few people in ragged clothes walking around numbly. These people were the slaves of the Arrow Mountain, and they were waiting to be summoned by the person who had forged the arrows so that they could help.
"Brother Gong, what if a disciple accidentally obtains a powerful arrow?" Lu Yin asked.
Gong Chou replied, "That depends on whether or not they have the ability to obtain it."
Coincidentally, a disciple from the Hall of Tai Mo screamed in the distance. His hands were charred, and it was obvious that they had been burned. In front of him was an arrow that was completely red, and the temperature was so high that it seemed to distort the void.
Peach's eyes lit up. "Your Highness, that arrow is not bad."
Lu Yin curiously walked over.