187: Chapter 187 Elder Gu's Gift! The Reverse Star Alliance's Recruitment!

Chapter 187: Elder Gu's Gift! The Recruitment of the Nixing Alliance!

...

After leaving Yunmeng Pavilion, Lu Qiu did not immediately return to Tianmen Peak.

He first concealed his aura, blended into the bustling crowd on Tiandu Street, casually wandered through a few shops, and made several turns. After confirming that no one was following him, he quietly left Kuixing City and returned to Tianmen Peak.

Back at his Immortal Cave, Xin Ruyin was studying Formation Dao classics in the main hall. Seeing him return, she looked up and asked, "How was the Auction?"

Lu Qiu smiled slightly, took out the jade box containing the dream illusion stone from his Storage Pouch, and handed it to her.

"Not bad, I brought you a gift."

Xin Ruyin took the jade box and opened it. A hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes: "A dream illusion stone? This is a top-grade material for setting up illusion Formations! Husband Lu, you..."

She looked up at Lu Qiu, her eyes filled with emotion.

Lu Qiu gently held her hand and said softly, "As long as you like it."

Xin Ruyin's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded gently.

After a moment of tenderness, Lu Qiu went to the Quiet Room and waved his hand to set up a sound-insulating Restriction.

He carefully took out the two ancient ruins fragment maps and spread them out in front of him.

One was obtained from Li Yun, and the other was bought at the Auction today.

He slowly pieced the two fragments together—

They fit perfectly!

A complete ancient map appeared before his eyes!

The map depicted the terrain of an unfamiliar sea area, marked with dense symbols and characters. In the center, there was a prominent red marker, clearly indicating the location of the ruins.

Lu Qiu examined the map carefully, his brows gradually furrowing.

The location of that red marker... seemed extremely far from Kuixing Island.

He compared it with the map of the Chaotic Star Sea for a long time and finally confirmed—

That sea area was in the Outer Star Sea!

And it was in the depths of the Outer Star Sea, far from areas where human Cultivators were active!

"Outer Star Sea..." Lu Qiu murmured, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

The Outer Star Sea was the domain of Yao Beasts. Level Four and Level Five Demonic Beasts roamed in groups, and Level Six and Level Seven Great Demons were not uncommon.

There were even rumors that in the depths of the Outer Star Sea, Demonic Cultivators above Level Eight were hidden—terrifying existences equivalent to human Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators!

With his current strength, exploring ancient ruins in the Outer Star Sea would be extremely risky.

"I can only wait until my cultivation is stronger before making plans," Lu Qiu decided in his heart.

He carefully put away the two fragments and placed them in the gray spatial bead.

...

Three days later.

A Sound Transmission Talisman broke through the air and landed in Lu Qiu's hand.

"Elder Lu, Elder Gu wishes to see you. I wonder if you would grace him with your presence?" Third Mother Feng's voice came from the talisman.

Lu Qiu raised an eyebrow slightly.

Gu Yuan?

The Auction had just ended, and he was in such a hurry to see him. What was the matter?

He didn't think much about it, got up, and headed to Kuixing City.

...

White Water Tower, third floor VIP room.

Gu Yuan was already waiting. Seeing Lu Qiu enter, he quickly stood up to greet him, his face brimming with enthusiastic smiles:

"Elder Lu has arrived! Please, have a seat!"

Lu Qiu sat down and, without beating around the bush, went straight to the point: "Elder Gu is in a hurry to see me. Is there something important?"

Gu Yuan laughed heartily, stroked his beard, and said, "Elder Lu is straightforward, so this old man won't beat around the bush either."

He took out two mutton-fat jade bottles, sealed with Spirit Sealing Talismans, from his Storage Pouch and handed them to Lu Qiu with a solemn expression:

"Elder Lu, to be honest, this old man's visit to Kuixing Island, besides helping to guard Kuixing Island, was also at the behest of an important figure in the Hall—to deliver a gift to Elder Lu!"

Lu Qiu took the jade bottles, unsealed them, and a wisp of Divine Sense probed inside.

Inside the bottles were two fist-sized masses of blood, crimson with a faint golden glow, emitting a powerful and scorching Demonic Qi fluctuation—Level Six Demonic Beast Essence Blood!

And there were two portions!

Lu Qiu was slightly startled, but his expression remained calm.

He placed the jade bottles back on the table, looked at Gu Yuan, and said indifferently:

"No merit, no reward. Elder Gu should first tell me the identity of this important figure."

Seeing that he didn't directly accept it, a hint of admiration flashed in Gu Yuan's eyes, and he smiled:

"Elder Lu is cautious, this old man admires that. Very well, this old man will speak frankly—this important figure is the Vice Hall Master of our Liulian Hall, Senior Nangong Hai!"

"Nangong Hai?" Lu Qiu raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Indeed." Gu Yuan nodded, his expression becoming a bit more serious, "Senior Nangong is the most powerful and highest Cultivation person in our Liulian Hall, besides the Hall Master. He heard that Elder Lu, at such a young age, has already broken through to the Middle Core Formation Stage, has astonishing cultivation speed, and profound Formation attainments, and he greatly appreciates Elder Lu."

He paused, then continued: "Senior Nangong feels that with Elder Lu's talent, being confined to this small Kuixing Island is a great waste. He intends to invite Elder Lu to the Liulian Hall headquarters to serve in an important position, with limitless prospects in the future!"

Lu Qiu was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Elder Gu's kindness and Senior Nangong's appreciation are acknowledged by This Lu. However... This Lu's qualifications are still shallow. Suddenly going to the headquarters to hold an important position, I fear it would be difficult to gain the trust of others. In This Lu's opinion, it is better to temporarily remain on Kuixing Island, do more practical things for the Liulian Hall, and then make plans when I have accumulated enough experience. It would not be too late."

His words were tactful.

He had just broken through to the Middle Core Formation Stage, and he could roam freely on Kuixing Island. If he went to the headquarters, he would probably have to act according to others' whims, which would be very inconvenient.

Gu Yuan was slightly stunned when he heard this, then nodded and said, "Elder Lu's words are indeed reasonable. With Elder Lu's talent, he does need some time to settle down."

But he changed the subject and said, "However, Senior Nangong truly appreciates Elder Lu and wants to meet Elder Lu personally. Could Elder Lu accompany this old man to the headquarters to meet Senior Nangong? It's just a meeting, it won't take much time."

Lu Qiu's brows furrowed imperceptibly.

This Elder Gu and that Vice Hall Master were a bit too enthusiastic.

Was it merely because of his Middle Core Formation Stage cultivation? Or was it because of his identity as a Formation Master?

No.

A sense of alert surged in Lu Qiu's heart.

He quickly recalled the original memories in his mind—those memories about the general trend of the Chaotic Star Sea in the next few decades.

Decades later, a rebellion would occur within the Liulian Hall. An ambitious subordinate would successfully seize power and become the new Hall Master. After that, this person would lead the entire Liulian Hall to openly pledge allegiance to the "Nixing Alliance," which resisted the Star Palace!

The Nixing Alliance—that was the Star Palace's sworn enemy! A colossal entity led by the Righteous Path's Myriad Laws Sect and the Demonic Path's number one person, "Six Paths Extreme Sage," its influence spread throughout the Chaotic Star Sea, rivaling the Star Palace!

And this Elder Gu in front of him...

Lu Qiu's gaze narrowed, almost one hundred percent certain.

This Elder Gu had already secretly joined the Nixing Alliance's forces within the Liulian Hall!

They were so actively recommending him to that Vice Hall Master and inviting him to the headquarters...

Perhaps that Vice Hall Master Nangong Hai was one of the leaders of the Nixing Alliance's forces within the Liulian Hall!

It was even very likely that he was the "subordinate" who would launch the rebellion and seize the position of Hall Master in the original story!

Lu Qiu instantly understood in his heart.

The Vice Hall Master's purpose was nothing more than to take advantage of his lack of sect or background, wanting to draw him into the Nixing Alliance's camp.

Sending a generous gift and inviting him to the headquarters—these were all "preliminary courtesies."

If he agreed and went to the headquarters, he would inevitably be forced to learn the secrets of the Nixing Alliance. By then, he would have no choice but to agree.

Refuse? Then there would only be one path: to be silenced.

Agree?

Then he would have to make a Heart Demon oath, or even hand over a wisp of his Primordial Spirit, his life and death controlled by the other party.

Absolutely cannot go!

Lu Qiu instantly made a decision in his heart.

With his current cultivation, he could protect his life against anyone below the Nascent Soul Stage.

But behind the Nixing Alliance was a colossal entity led by the Righteous Path's Myriad Laws Sect and the Demonic Path's number one person, Six Paths Extreme Sage, with many Nascent Soul Cultivators.

If he were secretly hunted by such a terrifying organization, he would either have to live anonymously and hide everywhere, or he would be forced to seek refuge with their sworn enemy, the Star Palace.

Neither getting involved in the brutal struggle between the Star Palace and the Nixing Alliance nor being endlessly hunted by the Nixing Alliance was what Zhou Yuan wanted.

He only wanted to Cultivate in peace, pursue longevity, and not get caught in the vortex of these two major forces.