Chapter 553 - 528: Lou Lingxue’s Calculations

"Tao Ancestral Ruins."

Lu Yan whispered.

He knew of the Taoist Tribe.

To participate in the Origin War and enter the Sea of Magic, it was impossible for Lu Yan not to acquaint himself with related information.

The Taoist Tribe, an extremely ancient group, it’s hard to pin down the exact era of their existence.

In any case, it was at least several cultivation cycles ago.

Ancient texts recorded that the members of the Taoist Tribe were naturally close to the Doctrine, descendants of the Doctrine itself.

When it came to cultivation, their progress was swift, and their comprehension of laws and rules was unparalleled, unlike any other race.

To put it more dramatically, every member of the Taoist Tribe was a Taoist Body.

This was terrifying.

When Lu Yan first read about it, he was astounded.

The birthplace of the Taoist Tribe was the Sea of Magic.

But for some unknown reason, several cultivation cycles ago, the Taoist Tribe became extinct, vanishing without a trace from the world.

Nobody knew how the Taoist Tribe had met their demise.

Such a powerful Taoist Tribe, a group that once dominated the world, suddenly perished.

Some speculated that the Taoist Tribe was too monstrously talented and powerful, invoking the jealousy of the heavens and thus erased by the world itself.

Others guessed that there existed in this world hidden beings of tremendous and terrifying strength, who had a conflict with the Taoist Tribe and razed them to the ground.

Opinions varied.

After the Taoist Tribe disappeared, some ruins and ancient cities were left behind in the Sea of Magic. Some people had gained supreme opportunities within these Taoist ruins.

Although after many Origin Wars, the treasures and opportunities in the Taoist ruins had been nearly plundered completely.

But with each Origin War, some people would still go there, hoping against hope to find something that everyone else had missed.

Clearly, the people from the Heavenly Machine Gate harbored such thoughts.

Lu Yan, Lu Lingxuan, and Hu Tu, the three of them didn’t linger and immediately headed towards the Tao Ancestral Ruins.

Before long, an ancient city appeared before them.

The city was old and weathered, exuding the breath of ages past. The city walls were made of some unknown metal, but layers had peeled off over the years, leaving mottled marks.

On the walls, traces of mysterious patterns could barely be seen, but due to the passage of time, they had already lost their function.

The three stepped in.

Inside the city, there were quite a few figures; clearly, the Heavenly Machine Gate was not the only force present here.

They spotted no fewer than three other groups.

At the center of the city, within a collapsed temple, they found the people of the Heavenly Machine Gate.

The Heavenly Machine Gate had eight members present, all young men and women dressed in white silkworm silk robes embroidered with the Eight Diagrams pattern, the men handsome and the women beautiful.

"Lu Lingxuan? What brings you to us?"

A beautiful woman with a pentagram mark on her forehead asked.

This woman was also an extraordinarily talented member of the Heavenly Machine Gate, with high aptitude and strong perception. Although she was not an Initial Body like Lu Lingxuan and the others, she was still above the average Magic Body.

"Lou Lingxue, I’ve come today to purchase a Tianji Guide," Lu Lingxuan said straightforwardly, stating her purpose.

"Buy a Tianji Guide? Do you intend to enter the World of Ten Thousand Universes?"

Lou Lingxue’s gaze shifted, instantly guessing Lu Lingxuan’s goal.

Lu Lingxuan didn’t hide it and nodded, "Exactly."

"The Tianji Guide is extremely difficult to refine. Even within our Heavenly Machine Gate, the numbers are scarce, and I only possess one. I was planning to use the Tianji Guide to enter the World of Ten Thousand Universes myself. If I sell it to you, I won’t be able to enter."

Lou Lingxue said with a smile.

"Name your price," Lu Lingxuan said.

Lou Lingxue’s eyes flickered thoughtfully, as if she was considering the price.

"Wait, the Tianji Guide, we’ll buy it."

Just then, a voice came through.

Soon, more than a dozen figures filed in.

"Zhao Tianxia, Shen Shengming..."

Lu Lingxuan, Lu Yan, and the others’ eyes flashed with a cold light.

They were surprised; they hadn’t expected Zhao Tianxia, Shen Shengming, and the others to be here too.

The one who had just spoken was Zhao Tianxia.

Zhao Tianxia swept a cold glance over Lu Yan and Lu Lingxuan, pausing especially on Lu Yan, a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.

"Miss Lou, we are willing to pay a high price for the Tianji Guide," Zhao Tianxia said as he looked at Lou Lingxue, adding another sentence.

"Zhao Tianxia, don’t you know the principle of first come, first served?" Lu Lingxuan stepped forward, her powerful aura bursting forth, targeting Zhao Tianxia. Above her head, a dragon shadow faintly appeared, poised to strike.

Now, uninjured and with Lu Yan as an ally, she was fully capable of confronting Zhao Tianxia and Shen Shengming.

In her eyes, the only threat came from Zhao Tianxia and Shen Shengming – the number of their opponents didn’t faze her.

"When it comes to buying, it’s not about who came first but who offers a higher price. If you can’t afford it, better leave early," Zhao Tianxia retorted coldly, his own powerful aura confronting Lu Lingxuan.

As their auras clashed, a stifling pressure permeated the temple.

"Zhao Tianxia, you are right. I’m willing to sell the Tianji Guide, but to the highest bidder," Lou Lingxue finally spoke up and after a pause, added, "Of course, I’m also open to trade it for treasures."

"I’ll offer thirty Tao Elixirs to buy your Tianji Guide," Lu Lingxuan was the first to speak up.

"Ha-ha-ha, Lu Lingxuan, you’re so naive. With the value of the Tianji Guide, do you think that thirty Tao Elixirs will suffice? I’ll offer sixty Tao Elixirs," Zhao Tianxia laughed.

Zhao Tianxia instantly doubled the price.

"I bid eighty Tao Elixirs."

Lu Lingxuan continued to bid with a cold expression.

"I bid a hundred."

Zhao Tianxia said with a sneer.

"I bid one Heavenly Que Grass," Lu Lingxuan said through gritted teeth.

Lou Lingxue’s eyes lit up slightly.

Heavenly Que Grass was an extremely precious Spiritual Medicine. Not only could it be used to refine Tao Elixirs, but the Tao Elixirs refined from it also had special effects, far exceeding the value of a hundred Tao Elixirs.

The smile on Zhao Tianxia’s face also faded.

"It seems that the two who fled into the World of Ten Thousand Universes are very important to you, so much so that you are willing to offer Heavenly Que Grass," Zhao Tianxia said in a cold voice.

Lu Lingxuan and Lu Yan remained silent.

"I bid two Immeasurable Flowers," Zhao Tianxia said after a moment’s thought, raising the stakes.

At these words, the smile on Lou Lingxue’s face became more evident, while Lu Lingxuan’s expression darkened.

"Zhao Tianxia, you claim to have two Immeasurable Flowers, I don’t believe it. Don’t think about gaining something for nothing," Lu Lingxuan said.

The value of the Immeasurable Flower was not the slightest bit inferior to that of Heavenly Que Grass, and it was also quite rare even in the Sea of Magic.

Zhao Tianxia sneered, and with a wave of his hand, a jade box appeared. When the box was opened, it revealed two Spiritual Medicines within.

Indeed, they were Immeasurable Flowers.

"Lu Lingxuan, can you offer a higher price?" asked Zhao Tianxia.

Lu Lingxuan bit her red lip.

She didn’t have many Spiritual Medicines at hand, and even if she offered all she had, it likely wouldn’t match the value of two Immeasurable Flowers.

"I wonder if a nine-layered Tao Lotus can compare to two Immeasurable Flowers," Lu Yan, who had been silent till now, spoke indifferently as he took out a jade box and opened it. Suddenly, a refreshing scent of medicine filled the hall.

Just one whiff made one feel refreshed and clear-headed.

"Nine-layered Tao Lotus..."

The people present immediately focused their intense gaze on it, their eyes blazing with fiery desire.

Including Lou Lingxue.

A nine-layered Tao Lotus was considered an extraordinary and rare Spiritual Medicine, rarely seen in the world; a single petal could refine a batch of Tao Elixirs, equal in value to an entire Spiritual Medicine.

"Are you really willing to exchange the nine-layered Tao Lotus for the Tianji Guide?" Lou Lingxue asked with a fervent gaze, fixated on the nine-layered Tao Lotus.

"Yes," Lu Yan nodded.

In his heart, the nine-layered Tao Lotus was precious, but still not as valuable as a single strand of Shen Yinuo’s hair.

Even if it were a hundred times more valuable, as long as it could save Shen Yinuo, he would offer it without hesitation.

"Alright, I’ll make the exchange," Lou Lingxue said.

Zhao Tianxia’s expression darkened as he sent a quick telepathic message to Lou Lingxue: "Miss Lou, the Dragon Alliance comes from the boundless starry sky and is not well-received by all parties. By aiding them, you are making enemies with all the major powers. If you trade the Tianji Guide to me, the Three Emperors Alliance will certainly not forget Miss Lou’s kindness."

But Lou Lingxue shook her head slightly, still looking at Lu Yan as she waved her hand. A scroll appeared, carved with profound patterns. "This is the Tianji Guide."

With a gesture, she sent the Tianji Guide flying towards Lu Yan.

Lu Yan reached out and caught it, then looked at Lu Lingxuan.

Lu Lingxuan nodded at him.

"There."

Lu Yan pushed his palm forward, and the nine-colored Tao Lotus flew towards Lou Lingxue.

Lou Lingxue joyfully accepted it.

"Thank you," Lu Yan said with a bow, not lingering any longer. He swiftly left the Tao Ancestral Ruins with Lu Lingxuan and Hu Tu.

"Miss Lou, selling the Tianji Guide to the Dragon Alliance is not a wise choice; it could damage the relations between the Heavenly Machine Gate, the Three Emperors Alliance, and the Divine Clan," Zhao Tianxia said with some displeasure.

"Are you also looking to enter the World of Ten Thousand Universes by purchasing the Tianji Guide?" Lou Lingxue asked.

Zhao Tianxia shook his head. "We only wish to prevent Lu Lingxuan or Lu Yan from entering. They have someone trapped inside and want to rescue them."

The World of Ten Thousand Universes was fraught with danger. Even with the Tianji Guide, one couldn’t guarantee absolute safety upon entering.

Moreover, traveling through countless worlds was too time-consuming. With that time, it would be better to try one’s luck elsewhere.

That was also why Lou Lingxue was willing to sell the Tianji Guide.

She had no plans to enter the World of Ten Thousand Universes herself.

"That makes things easier," Lou Lingxue said with a smile. "If they want to enter the World of Ten Thousand Universes, they will have to mark a location outside of it and need someone to guard that mark. A single Tianji Guide can only allow one person to enter, so they will certainly have to split up."

"I, however, have a way to trace the mark set by the Tianji Guide. Later, we can surround and kill the person guarding outside, and the one who entered the World of Ten Thousand Universes will be trapped there forever."

"Is that possible?" Zhao Tianxia’s eyes lit up, and then he bowed. "I would ask for Miss Lou’s assistance."

"Heavenly Machine Gate, Three Emperors Alliance, and the Divine Clan have been friendly for generations, while the Dragon Alliance is an outsider. By reason and by sentiment, I ought to assist you all and not them," Lou Lingxue said with a smile, though now her smile contained a hint of coldness.

"They will surely look for a secluded place outside the World of Ten Thousand Universes to set their mark. Let’s head out after a while to avoid raising their suspicions," Zhao Tianxia said.