Star Odyssey

Chapter 3579: The Challenge Letter

Far away, the remaining people of the Phantom Reach were startled. They could not understand what had just happened.

Back in the valley, the portal gradually faded from in front of Lu Yin. However, even before it was completely gone, Jiu Xian had already vanished.

The moment she stepped through the portal and touched her palms together, she had disappeared, her destination unknown.

The fact that she had escaped was not what concerned Lu Yin. What had caught his attention was that the portal had endured a full-powered palm strike from him and remained completely intact.

It was important to note that Lu Yin had attacked Jiu Xian without holding anything back. It was a palm strike that any of the Seven Seraphs would have been wary of, and Jiu Xian also had not dared to take the attack head-on. Despite that, her portal had managed to block the attack.

Lu Yin dropped his hand and looked down at it.

His guess had proven correct. The power that Jiu Xian had used gave him the same sensation as when Feng Bo had unleashed his Greater Sancti of the Nine Odysseys. There was an indescribable, almost ineffable feeling to both techniques. If Lu Yin were to describe the sensation with a single word, it would be unease.

Feng Bo’s Greater Sancti of the Nine Odysseys and Jiu Xian’s portal had both caused Lu Yin to feel a moment of unease. This did not mean that either of them were more powerful than Lu Yin, but rather that their power belonged to a different system altogether.

This was the same as the finger attack from Codex 16. At best, that sourcebox array was as powerful as Su Shidao’s Epoch Blade, and yet Lu Yin felt a similar feeling of unease from the finger.

These various techniques and abilities had to be connected. In addition to the sense of unease, they were fundamentally different from everything else that Lu Yin had encountered in the Tianyuan Megaverse or the Spirit Nidus.

That was the reason why Lu Yin had attacked Jiu Xian.

It seemed that, for the foreseeable future, Jiu Xian would not face Lu Yin directly. However, there was also no doubt that she would be gathering information. She would be learning about Boundless, the Grandverse Manor, and everything related to the Tianyuan Megaverse.

The moment she had heard Lu Yin mention Feng Bo’s name, Jiu Xian’s course of action had already been determined.

While the woman perpetually appeared to be half-drunk, her mind was incredibly sharp. Still, she would not be able to escape from Lu Yin’s grasp. As long as she continued to focus on Feng Bo, she would inevitably return to Lu Yin on her own.

Also, she had seen an Immortal before.

Immortals could not be touched. Master Qing Cao had demonstrated this to Lu Yin, and while even Old Yu might not be able to fully grasp this concept, Jiu Xian understood it quite clearly.

After taking one last look at the destroyed valley, Lu Yin left the Roaming South Realm.

Upon returning to Boundless, Lu Yin saw the challenge letter, which caused him to chuckle. “From the Primal Beastland?”

Old Tao answered respectfully, “A servant delivered it to the Hundred Grasses Domain, but he was unable to say who gave it to him. However, the entire Spirit Nidus already knows that Emperor Wu has challenged you, Third Boss.”

Lu Yin set the challenge letter back down. “Challenging me as soon as he returns? How impatient.”

Old Tao hesitated. “Third Boss, if Emperor Wu really did send this challenge letter, then why was it delivered so discreetly? That doesn’t seem to match his style.”

“I know.” Lu Yin stared off into the distance. “I know the truth, but others don’t. What can I do about it? I can’t simply back down.”

As he spoke, he glanced back at the letter. “For some reason, I’m suddenly reminded of a certain someone.”

“Emperor Wu Slayer,” Chu Yi suddenly interjected.

The moment the name was mentioned, Astral Anura appeared. “Emperor Slayer?”

Chu Yi nodded. “Cultivators from the Primal Beastland overheard Emperor Wu mention that he passed by Emperor Slayer in the Aevum Inch, and Emperor Slayer mentioned leaving a ‘gift’ behind for Emperor Wu. This letter is most likely what he was speaking about.”

Astral Anura clenched his jaw. “That despicable, shameless bastard!”

Chu Yi gave the toad an odd look. Why is he particularly upset with Emperor Slayer?

Lu Yin chuckled. “That certainly explains it all. ‘Emperor Wu Slayer’ and ‘Emperor Wu.’ The two names are so similar that the deep-seated hatred between them is practically screaming. It’s only natural that Emperor Slayer set a trap for Emperor Wu.”

“So, what should we do, Third Boss?” Old Tao asked.

Emperor Slayer had not just targeted Emperor Wu; he had also pulled the Grandverse Manor into the mess as well. If Lu Yin refused to fight, it would look like he was scared of Emperor Wu. However, if he accepted the challenge, he would be walking straight into the trap. This was the most frustrating detail of Emperor Slayer’s “gift.” He was well aware that someone like Lu Yin hated being toyed with more than anything.

The stronger a person was, the less they could accept having their dignity disregarded.

If Lu Yin refused the challenge, it would simply be him refusing to be manipulated, but the people of the Spirit Nidus would misunderstand his actions. If he did accept the challenge, he would step right into the trap. Either choice was a difficult one.

Emperor Wu was in the same position.

However, there was one important difference between Lu Yin and Emperor Wu: Lu Yin was confident that he could defeat the beast, while Emperor Wu did not have that same level of confidence. That was what troubled Emperor Wu the most.

If Emperor Wu was confident that he could beat Lu Yin, he would not be so troubled by the matter. Of course, the beast was not afraid, but simply lacked certainty in his own victory.

There were only two individuals in the current Spirit Nidus whom Emperor Wu was uncertain that he could defeat: the High Seraph and Lu Yin. As for any other Seraph, or even Old Yu, Emperor Wu believed that he would be the victor.

There were countless others in the Spirit Nidus who also believed this to be true. Unless the High Seraph personally stepped out, there was no one who could overpower Lu Yin, and that included Emperor Wu.

After receiving “Emperor Wu’s” challenge letter, Lu Yin responded succinctly: anytime.

The blunt response led countless eyes throughout the Spirit Nidus to suddenly focus on the Primal Beastland. Lu Yin had made his position quite clear: he would fight at any time. The choice had been left with Emperor Wu.

Emperor Wu had already returned to the Primal Beastland, and when he heard Lu Yin’s response, despite not wanting to dance to Emperor Wu Slayer’s tune, the battle became inevitable. If Emperor Wu backed down, how would stay as one of the Seven Seraphs?

Bao Qi was already dead, Yi Nan had defeated Yi Seraph, only to then go missing. At the moment, he was presumed dead. Su Shidao was practically one of Lu Yin’s followers. Lu Yin had gained so much influence in the Spirit Nidus that, if Emperor Wu backed down, he would lose all respect as a Seraph. He would be regarded as a complete joke.

The Primal Beastland released an announcement that the battle would take place six months after the Day of Offering and that it would be held at the Fu River’s source.

Emperor Wu had formally accepted the challenge, but he had also pushed it to be held after the Day of Offering. The delay did not matter. What did was that he had agreed to the fight. After all, there was not much time left before the Day of Offering.

At that moment, everyone was waiting for the Day of Offering. After that, the battle at the Fu River’s source would reveal exactly who was the strongest beneath the High Seraph.

However, a few days later, there was a new bit of news that shook the entire Spirit Nidus. “After the Day of Offering, the Ascendant Hall will destroy Boundless.”

No one knew who released the announcement, but it stirred up a tremendous commotion as countless cultivators discussed the matter.

Many were absolutely thrilled to hear that the Ascendant Hall was finally going to make their move.

The Grandverse Manor had been allowed to run rampant for too long. Lu Yin had been left to freely roam about the Spirit Nidus, but his brazen behavior had only been tolerated so that there would be no complications for the Day of Offering. As soon as that day passed, Boundless would fall.

Up above the battleship, Lu Yin learned of the rumors, and Old Tao’s face grew pale.

If the High Seraph personally attacked, who could stand against him? No one was that man’s equal.

Would the Ascendant Hall really take action against Boundless? If that were to happen, the rumors would have never been allowed to spread in the first place.

Of course, Lu Yin did not believe them to be accurate.

However, he did find the fact that the rumors were circulating to be rather odd. Where had the rumor originated from? Who had fabricated it? What was their purpose? For such news to have spread across the entire Spirit Nidus so quickly, a powerful faction was clearly behind the matter, but who?

No matter which group Lu Yin considered, he could not find a single clue implicating them.

The rumors ran wild. Some people even claimed to know the exact date that the High Seraph would take action, as well as which individuals aboard Boundless would be allowed to survive and who would be doomed. The reports took on a nearly mythical quality.

“Third Boss, this matter might be related to the Primal Beastland,” Old Tao reported.

Lu Yin did not understand that. “How so?”

Old Tao explained, “Many people believe that Emperor Wu is not confident that he can defeat you. So, in response, he’s deliberately spread these rumors to push the Ascendant Hall to attack the Grandverse Manor.

“There’s another theory that claims that Emperor Wu set your battle for six months after the Day of Offering because he knew that the Ascendant Hall would attack Boundless before that time and that he chose to delay so that he won’t have to fight at all.

“There are various other rumors, and some even claim that Emperor Wu has visited the Ascendant Hall seven times, begging the High Seraph to intervene.”

Lu Yin listened in silence. Emperor Wu? While Lu Yin had yet to meet him in person, would such an individual take those actions?

Every Dukkhan had their own obsessions. Overcoming Dukkha defined such individuals’ very character.

Some who entered Dukkha could lay down their blades and dedicate themselves to saving others.

Others instead became cruel and cunning upon entering Dukkha.

Some grew lost, while others were consumed by their obsession.

Ultimately, cultivators could develop all kinds of personalities, but there was one commonality among all Dukkhans: it was difficult for them to hide their true nature.

Astral Anura was a businessman who was obsessed with wealth. Bao Qi had been unable to kill. The Great Sovereign had been arrogant and aloof. Of the Spirit Nidus’s other Dukkhans, Nian Xian was infatuated with Jiu Xian; Mr. Li endured being humiliated for a chance to enter Immortality; Su Shidao researched spiritual treasure formations and spent his days fishing; Old Salamander simply strove to live for as long as possible.

The deeper one descended into their Dukkha, the harder it became for them to conceal their true personalities.

Emperor Slayer’s shameless and roguish nature was a reflection of the same.

Emperor Wu’s overwhelming arrogance was no different.

The entire Spirit Nidus knew just how domineering Emperor Wu was. Would such an individual really resort to underhanded schemes? Even if Emperor Wu concocted a scheme, it would be carried out openly. There was nothing dishonorable or shameless about it. Given the obsessions that each Dukkhan suffered, it was nearly impossible for them to go against their personality in such a manner.

Lu Yin found it hard to believe that Emperor Wu was behind the newly circulating rumors.

Could it be someone else from the Primal Beastland? That possibility brought Old Salamander to mind. He was a cunning old thing.

Regardless of who had initiated the rumors, some people would be able to benefit from them. While things seemed bad for Boundless on the surface, Lu Yin could still turn things to his advantage.

“Boundless, we need to collect resources again. Do the same as last time, but this time, do everything in the name of Seraph Yuan Qi.” Lu Yin’s voice rang out across the battleship.

Many of those aboard Boundless were stunned. Again? Already?

Old Tao was dumbfounded. “Third Boss, what are yo-?”

Lu Yin laughed. “Since Boundless is already supposed to be doomed, let’s go all out one last time! At this point, whatever we do will be allowed, won’t it?”

Old Tao was left speechless. Who spread these rumors? Could the Third Boss actually be the one behind them? Is that really possible?

Very quickly, the Spirit Nidus started to suffer the consequences of the rumors.

Countless people had been rejoicing at the news that the Ascendant Hall would strike down Boundless, but then, Boundless started confiscating resources once again. This time, their actions were even more aggressive than before, and they stripped the various domains of absolutely everything. Outrage sparked, and naturally, all of the curses were directed at Yuan Qi.

The old man’s expression was terrible.

Throughout the thirty-six domains, many factions wanted to resist. However, when faced with the authority of a Seraph, not to mention the Grandverse Manor’s various experts who were acting on the Seraph’s orders, those factions did not dare speak out, no matter how enraged they felt.

“Just endure it. Boundless is already done for. As soon as they’re destroyed, we’ll swoop in and take back what’s ours!”

“That’s right! Lord High Seraph will surely deal with them.”

“We barely have any resources left to distribute to our disciples.”

“Barely any? Well, at least you still have some! We were completely wiped out.”

“The sooner Boundless is destroyed, the better. Just hang in there. It’s almost over now. They’re doomed.”

Sovereign Dou Sheng and Progenitor Xi returned to the Consciousness Domain and were met with Shi Lin’s miserable expression. Out of habit, he asked Wu Wei to protect the domain, only to discover that Sovereign Dou Sheng’s strength had surged drastically from before. The man had become an Ortuser, and a single swipe of his golden cudgel nearly killed Shi Lin.

Chu Yi returned to enjoy tea with Old Yu in the Wisdom Domain. However, this time Chu Yi also had a mission to carry out; the Wisdom Domain was listed as one of the domains that had to submit resources.

When Old Yu heard this, his expression turned as dark as Shi Lin’s. He tried to reach out to Lu Yin but failed to connect.

According to Chu Yi, this collection was their final frenzy before the end.

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