Chapter 1025: Dispute

Fury radiated from Yu Mu’s eyes. He had lived for many years, but he had never been challenged by a junior in such a fashion. What Outerverse Allied Forces’ Commander? If not for some rumors that this kid had died, Lu Yin would have never received such a prestigious title, so Yu Mu simply disregarded it entirely.

“It looks like you don’t understand the true strength of my Shamrock Enterprises,” Yu Mu said, carefully enunciating every word.

Lu Yin’s eyes flashed, and a cosmic ring appeared in his hand. “Chief Yu, do you happen to recognize this?”

Yu Mu looked over and hesitated for a moment. “Is that the one from back then?”

Lu Yin nodded. “That’s right. This is the one that you gave me that time as compensation. And you threw it on the ground.”

He then dropped the cosmic ring, allowing it to slowly fall until it clattered onto the ground. Countless eyes watched this scene.

Yu Mu’s expression grew cold.

“Chief Yu, could I trouble you to pick it up for me?” Lu Yin asked indifferently.

This sentence caused Yu Mu to completely lose his composure, and even En Ya was surprised by Lu Yin’s domineering move. After all, Yu Mu was still a super powerhouse, and it was not easy to force such an expert to apologize. However, Lu Yin was actually trying to force this man to pick up the cosmic ring. This was not just seeking fairness, but rather humiliation.

Yu Mu was so furious that he actually laughed. “Lu Yin, do you really think that you can cover the skies with your hands and threaten the entire Outerverse? Based on just what!? With just the backing from the Hall of Honor? Or is it because of your items that can kill Envoys?”

Lu Yin looked up at the man. “It’s not just because of my backing, and it’s also not because of my items. Since Chief Yu is so confident in your own strength, then I’ll allow you to suppress your power level to 200,000 and fight me. If you beat me, then all of our past grievances can be waived aside. However, if you lose, you must pick up that cosmic ring and apologize to us.”

Yu Mu was surprised, and he looked at Lu Yin with a puzzled expression.

Lu Yin’s lips curled up. “How about that? Does Chief Yu not dare to participate in such a battle? I’m just a Cruiser.”

Yu Mu carefully observed Lu Yin, and the older man thought about all of Lu Yin’s known battles. Suddenly, he remembered how Lu Yin had suddenly vanished after the battle in the astral cemetery. At that time, Lu Yin had most likely been thrown to somewhere in the Innerverse, and everyone’s power level in that place was suppressed to under 200,000 due to the cosmic phenomenon that covered the entire Innerverse. If this kid dared to issue such a challenge, then he must have his own methods. Was Lu Yin really that confident in being able to defeat him as long as he, Yu Mu, restricted his power level to 200,000?

Yu Mu could not be entirely certain.

Lu Yin laughed. “It looks like Chief Yu isn’t so bold. In that case, I’ll give Chief Yu an alternative: I won’t use any items that are able to kill Envoys, and Chief Yu can display his strength however he wishes. If either of us are defeated, then the conditions remain the same.”

Yu Mu frowned sharply, as Lu Yin’s challenge had just been heard by many people, and there was no way he could refuse such an offer.

“Chief Yu still doesn’t dare?” Lu Yin arched a brow. “Could it be that Chief Yu feels that I shouldn’t rely on items when challenging him? If I am allowed to use various items, then naturally, so too can Chief Yu.”

Yu Mu took a deep breath, as Lu Yin had closed off his escape routes at every step. The man was left with no other choice. If he did not accept this battle, then when the Outerverse reconnected with the Innerverse, Shamrock Enterprises’ headquarters might very well replace him. “Very well. Lu Yin, you may use items. If you beat me, I’ll apologize to you.”

Lu Yin pointed at the ground. “And the ring?”

Yu Mu barked, “Talk after you beat me!”

His figure then vanished as he intended to immediately take the initiative. He had a power level of 370,000, and he could stir space itself, causing the wind and clouds on the planet to change when he acted. Instantly, En Ya was overwhelmed.

Lu Yin pushed En Ya aside and quickly donned his universal armor. At the same time, he took out his mirror. At that instant, the void warped as Yu Mu was dragged out without his control. His expression changed drastically as his star energy was being uncontrollably drawn towards that small mirror.

Lu Yin had upgraded this small mirror thirteen times until it was capable of absorbing star energy from experts with power levels of around 400,000. Yu Mu had yet to reach a power level of 400,000. Thus, as soon as the mirror was brought out, the man’s star energy was basically sealed off, which led to his movements being hindered. Lu Yin then took out the giant mechanical arm, put it on, and attacked Yu Mu.

Yu Mu felt his scalp go numb, as this giant arm gave him an unprecedented sense of terror. He felt as though the heavens themselves were collapsing when it struck at him. He instinctively evaded this attack, and although he had not deliberately trained his body, as someone with a power level of 300,000, his physical body was by no means weak. Even with just his physique powering him, he could move quickly and tear through the void to escape.

In the place where he had been standing, the void was shredded apart by the giant mechanical arm, causing a violent gale to sweep over the planet. A shockwave appeared that blasted through the atmosphere and into space.

Anyone who was watching the battle from outer space quickly realized that the tremendous shockwave was sweeping towards them.

Just one attack from Lu Yin had caused Yu Mu’s face to go pale, and he stared at the mechanical arm in disbelief before shifting his attention over to the small mirror. What the hell?

One of these items was able to absorb Yu Mu’s star energy while the other was so terrifyingly powerful that he could not even think about standing up to it.

Lu Yin was wearing his universal armor on his body as his left hand held the mirror and his right wielded the mechanical arm. At this point in time, even if Lu Yin had to face an expert with a power level of 400,000, he would be able to put up a good fight, let alone someone on Yu Mu’s level.

Yu Mu’s expression had turned ugly. Just where had Lu Yin obtained so many powerful items? Even if the Hall of Honor supported this kid, it was not possible for him to receive this many powerful items unless he was directly supported by the Neoverse’s Hall of Honor’s headquarters, as the Outerverse Hall of Honor alone could not provide Lu Yin with so many items.

Just what sort of status did this kid have within the Hall of Honor?

Enough rumors would eventually obscure the truth. When only one person had said that Lu Yin was supported by the Hall of Honor, nobody had really believed it. However, when the entire Outerverse talked about how the Hall of Honor was behind Lu Yin’s power and that Yuan Shi was personally supporting him, it meant that the rumors had reached the point where not even Lu Yin himself could deny anything.

In the distance, countless people stared at the battlefield, stunned. Everyone was sharing the same thought at this moment, which was to never compete with Lu Yin in terms of external items.

Lu Yin looked at Yu Mu off in the distance. “How is it now, Chief Yu? Should we continue fighting?”

Yu Mu took a deep breath. “I truly cannot beat you in terms of items, but don’t forget—you can’t beat me either.”

“Is that so?” Lu Yin’s lips bent upwards. “Then be careful, Chief Yu.”

As Lu Yin spoke, he waved a hand and activated the Yu Secret Art. Suddenly, a Sealed Cannon appeared behind Yu Mu and instantly exploded. A terrifying burst of power tore through the void and blasted Yu Mu towards the ground.

Each Sealed Cannon had a strength comparable to the full-powered attack of an Enlighter with a power level of about 220,000. Although Yu Mu was far stronger than such an Enlighter, Lu Yin had more than one Sealed Cannon. In addition, upgraded Ultra Flash Tearbombs had appeared and detonated alongside the Sealed Cannon. Yu Mu had never expected that he would fight a battle almost solely against someone’s items.

He could not help himself from pulling out his own power vessel in retaliation. As the Outerverse Chairman of Shamrock Enterprises, Yu Mu naturally had his own power vessels. However, the moment that he retrieved an item, it was diverted away by the Yu Secret Art. Lu Yin detonated another three Sealed Cannons and continued to ruthlessly bombard Yu Mu.

Then, Lu Yin’s body itself appeared above Yu Mu before swatting down with the mechanical arm.

Yu Mu gritted his teeth, wanting to dodge the attack with a quick sidestep, but Lu Yin’s mirror slowed the Enlighter’s movements. His star energy control became much less nimble, resulting in him being struck by another Ultra Flash Tearbomb as he slowed down even more. He was then hit in the left shoulder by Lu Yin’s mechanical arm, and Yu Mu’s left arm was completely shattered as it bent at an unnatural angle.

Lu Yin took this opportunity to place his left hand against Yu Mu’s chest. This was the first time he had revealed his nine lined battle force. “One Hundred Stacks, One Hundredfold Shockwave Palm.”

With a soft thump, Yu Mu was viciously slammed into the ground, where he left behind a huge crater. The man continued traveling through the planet’s crust until he reached the magma all the way at the planet’s center.

Countless people were stunned by this scene. Had Shamrock Enterprises’ Outerverse Chairman been defeated just like that?

En Ya was also stunned even though she knew that Lu Yin would win. After all, he had managed to take out an Envoy in one hit. Thus, there was no way he would be defeated by Yu Mu. However, she had never expected that he would achieve victory in such a straightforward manner. In addition, Lu Yin truly had not used any of the items that he had used to kill Envoys.

Lu Yin clenched his right fist tightly; the giant mechanical arm was not very agile, but fortunately, it matched up well with the mirror. The mirror made it difficult for anyone whose power level was under 400,000 to use their star energy to activate their battle techniques, and furthermore, any attacks that used star energy would also be influenced. Lu Yin was naturally more skilled with attacks that focused on his physical strength, and not even Yu Mu’s physique could compare to Lu Yin’s body.

Lu Yin’s greatest shortcoming at this moment was his defense, as his armor could only protect him from attacks launched by Enlighters with power levels of up to 260,000. If Yu Mu was able to land even one hit on Lu Yin, then he would be in trouble. Fortunately, the Yu Secret Art was strong enough to prevent such a possibility from occurring.

If Lu Yin encountered someone who had improved their physical strength like he had and who could engage in close combat without being influenced by the mirror, then his odds of victory would not be very high.

But for this battle, there was no way for Yu Mu to beat Lu Yin.

Within the magma, Yu Mu opened his eyes. They revealed his overflowing rage, and he leaped up, his left arm recovering at a visible rate.

Lu Yin’s heart sank, as he had forgotten that this fellow was Shamrock Enterprises’ Outerverse Chairman—of course he would have access to many different medications. Unless Lu Yin could seriously injure the man in a single attack, it would be very difficult to defeat Yu Mu.

How could Lu Yin have forgotten such a detail?

Yu Mu panted heavily as he kept a wary eye trained on Lu Yin. He was trying to come up with a way to attack Lu Yin, as the Enlighter did not believe the youth’s defense would be as exaggerated as his attacks.

The two men stood across from each other in outer space and stared at each other.

Lu Yin was considering how he could severely injure this Enlighter in a single attack or how he could prevent the man from accessing his medications.

Meanwhile, Yu Mu was thinking about how he could get close to Lu Yin while avoiding the disturbance of star energy.

Right at that moment, Lu Yin looked up and saw a figure tear through the void and emerge. It was actually Elder Daggs.

When Yu Mu saw Elder Daggs appear, his eyes flashed, and his originally sharp expression turned cold.

Lu Yin frowned.

Elder Daggs surveyed the scene and smiled bitterly. He then raised a hand, and in it was the cosmic ring that Lu Yin had thrown on the ground. “Alliance Leader Lu, could you let this matter slide for the reputation of the Hall of Honor?”

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed, but he did not answer.

Elder Daggs then looked over at Yu Mu. “Chief Yu, as the Outerverse Allied Forces’ Commander, Alliance Leader Lu is indeed qualified to issue reasonable commands. You rejected his orders, and you even did so in a rather unexplainable manner. Your past contributions are not necessarily enough to dismiss such a request.”

“Just what are you saying?” Yu Mu’s tone was icy.

Elder Daggs explained, saying, “Shamrock Enterprises is a business, and I assume that Chief Yu would not want to lose a huge market here in the Outerverse. When the Innerverse and Outerverse reconnects, if Chief Ye asks about this matter, then how will Chief Yu answer him? Is it worth it to lose the market of the entire Outerverse just because of a small, one-time misunderstanding?”

After seeing that Yu Mu had fallen deep into thought, Elder Daggs turned back to look at Lu Yin and gestured to the youth. “Alliance Leader Lu, a private word with you, if you please.”

Lu Yin knew that the elder was trying to mediate this matter. He muttered to himself, but he could not disrespect the Hall of Honor’s elders. Although Elder Daggs wanted to use Lu Yin’s status to return to the Hall of Honor’s Neoverse headquarters, this was not a situation where Lu Yin could use that to his advantage. Someone who had cultivated to Elder Daggs’s realm would invariably have a strong will, just like how the man had been unwilling to give Lu Yin any additional rewards on the warehouse planet.

Everything that Elder Daggs had given to Lu Yin had been within his authority to distribute, and going beyond his means was impossible.

Lu Yin was also clear on the matters that pertained to himself. For example, he did not actually have the Hall of Honor as his foundation, but instead, it was Yuan Shi who appreciated the youth. The Hall of Honor was not a backer that Lu Yin could rely upon, so he could not push too far.

Once they moved away from Yu Mu, Elder Daggs’s tone grew solemn. “Alliance Leader, the rate at which the Astral River’s energy is receding is increasing. The Innerverse will reconnect to the Outerverse very soon, and it’s not wise to become enemies with Shamrock Enterprises at this point in time.”