In the blink of an eye, several hundred years passed.
Over those few hundred years, Xiang City gave rise to generation after generation of new cultivators. The older generation remained young, though; after all, only a few hundred years had passed. They spread tales of Lu Yin's deeds and built more and more statues of him across the universes within Xiang City, so the legend of Lu Yin never faded.
Wang Wen visited Xiang City several times during those years, urging the Progenitor to undergo a transformation and cultivate anew alongside the Four Great Masters. The Progenitor refused every time.
No matter how Wang Wen tried to persuade him, the Progenitor had only one answer: "Bring Zhu Zi back."
That was the only condition the Progenitor could offer in negotiation.
He would trade it for Lu Yin's life.
He hoped Lu Yin was in the Four Great Masters' hands at that very moment. He hoped Lu Yin was still alive.
He hoped Wang Wen was lying to him.
He hoped the so-called Mitian Grand Plan was all a sham.
He placed everything on hope.
But that hope was destined to come to nothing.
Wang Wen hadn't expected the Progenitor to be so stubborn, willing to disregard the Mitian Grand Plan just to trade for Lu Yin's life. It was the complete opposite of Lord Mi's choice.
Because of the Progenitor's intransigence, the Four Great Masters began to take action. They didn't attack, of course. Instead, they took up positions outside Xiang City and exerted pressure, suppressing the city with their masterly might. They made it difficult for the people inside to cultivate. Even if the Progenitor fought back, how long could he hold out?
The Four Great Masters took turns holding their positions, and the Progenitor had no choice but