Chapter 1632: The Path That Was Chosen

Beads of sweat dripped from Xi Gu’s forehead as he glared at Lu Yin in disbelief. This child was merely an Enlighter, and yet just one of his palm attacks was able to force an Envoy like Xi Gu back. Not even his innate gift had helped him at all, as Lu Yin’s monstrous strength had been reinforced by his shocking level of battle force. How can this brat be so terrifyingly strong?

Xi Gu had watched ZENITH, and had been confident that he had never underestimated Lu Yin’s strength. However, at this moment, Xi Gu learned that he still had.

“Let me ask you again: do you know where all the colossal giants went?” Lu Yin angrily demanded as his cold eyes fixated on Xi Gu. This person’s status meant nothing to Lu Yin.

Xi Gu met Lu Yin’s eyes for a while before solemnly replying, “I haven’t seen them after leaving Giant Consortium. I don’t know where they are.”

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed, and he started thinking. He stared into Xi Gu’s eyes for a long time before finally turning around and leaving.

Lu Yin believed Xi Gu’s words, but the problem had instead become just where exactly had Ku Wei and the other colossal giants gone?

In the Innerverse, an imposing silhouette was making its way towards the Outerverse at an extremely high speed. It was as though it were skipping through space. The figure was nearly half the size of a planet.

Normal people would not be able to determine just what the figure was, and not even Enlighters would be able to get a clear image. Only Envoys and above would be able to see that the shape was actually an isolated section of the void. Within that space were all of the colossal giants, such as Chen Huang and Ku Wei. At the front of the shape was a voluptuous woman. While she was not young, her face was still gorgeous beyond compare. Just one look at her was enough for a person to be tempted by her. This woman was Madam Hong.

When the war in the Cosmic Sea had started, Madam Hong had started making her way there with the intention of lending a hand. However, who could have predicted that top powerhouses would appear one after another. Nightking Dijiang and Gu Laogui had shown themselves, and later on so had Highsage Shenwei and Xia Meng. Such experts left Madam Hong hesitant to show herself and join the fray. However, the war had ended before she had managed to make up her mind, and she lost her chance to participate in the war, so she turned around to return. To her shock, she ended up stumbling upon a group of colossal giants on her way.

Her heart had pounded in excitement the instant she had seen an entire group of colossal giants; these creatures were natural-born warriors she had been looking for. She immediately captured all of the giants without another thought, and she started dragging them away. The colossal giants would become warriors of her Flying Horse Manor.

Ku Wei had wanted to call Lu Yin from atop Chen Huang’s shoulder, but he could not establish any sort of connection or signal from within the isolated space that trapped them. He was really lost as to how to proceed. They had coincidentally met this crazy woman, and she had instantly captured everyone without a single word! She had to be nuts!

There was absolutely no one who knew that Ku Wei and the others had been taken by Madam Hong aside from Cang Yi, as he had been the one to inform Madam Hong of the war before it had broken out in the Cosmic Sea. At this moment, Cang Yi had again taken control of Chaosgod Mountain. He had already learned of the results of the war, as well as the fact that Cang Zhou and Cang Song had both died. Even before taking control, there had been a group within Chaosgod Mountain who had been loyal to Cang Yi.

Not that it really mattered, as the strongest person within Chaosgod Mountain had always been expected to take control of the place. That was tradition. Chaosgod Mountain was a place that was filled with bloodlust and was the power that oversaw the dark side of the Innerverse, so Cang Yi had not struggled to take control.

After not being able to gain any information at all from Xi Gu, Lu Yin tried calling Cong Ying.

Because Overseer Cong Ying had sent new orders of his own, the Expeditionary Forces had made their way to Giant Consortium’s territory instead of traveling to the Cosmic Sea. Cong Ying had already been put on trial for this matter of insubordination, and he had already lost his position as an overseer.

His actions had not been a simple mistake. He had deliberately delayed the movements of the Expeditionary Forces, and that had jeopardized the outcome of the war. Things could easily have taken a much worse turn. Even more importantly, overseers were not allowed to make decisions using their personal emotions, and yet it had become clear that Cong Ying had been deliberately targeting the giants for a long time.

As he had just been removed from his position as an overseer, Cong Ying became even more upset with Lu Yin’s confrontational question. Cong Ying brusquely replied, “Alliance Leader Lu, you should be asking this question of San Liang, as I am no longer an overseer.”

With Cong Ying being removed, San Liang had immediately replaced the former overseer. San Liang had previously been expected to replace another overseer, but due to the situation, he was promoted earlier than expected.

“Does the disappearance of all of the colossal giants have anything to do with you?” Lu Yin demanded.

Cong Ying was actually startled. “The colossal giants disappeared? What do you mean? Didn’t Xi Gu fail?”

“So this has nothing to do with you?” Lu Yin pressed.

Cong Ying scoffed. “Wiping out all giants has been my life-long dream. I would never hide such an accomplishment if I had managed to succeed. I was indeed the one who sent the Expeditionary Forces to them, but they failed at their mission. I have not even attempted to hide any aspect of this failed mission from the overseers’ council when I was questioned by them, so I have absolutely no reason to lie to you.”

Lu Yin’s expression grew increasingly worried. If Cong Ying had been the mastermind behind this matter, Lu Yin would have actually felt a bit of relief. However, after finding out that the former overseer was innocent in the matter, just where could Lu Yin turn for answers?

“Alliance Leader Lu, you’re planning on sheltering the colossal giants, aren’t you?” Cong Ying suddenly asked.

Lu Yin’s brows rose in confusion. “They’ve completely disappeared. Other than you, Overseer Cong Ying, who else in the entire Fifth Mainland holds such a strong hatred for the giants?”

Cong Ying sneered. “It’s not hatred, but wariness I feel for them. There are far too many different tribes of giants. I would be fine if they were only the typical brutish giants, but some of them are the survivors of the technologically inclined giants, and intelligent giants pose a far greater threat than those brainless, brutish giants. My goal has always been to wipe out all giants. I hold no personal grudge against any one of them in particular.”

Lu Yin hung up and became immersed in his own thoughts. He then called San Liang, the Cosmic Sect, and every other connection he had in the Innerverse that he could move to look for the colossal giants. Lu Yin considered those colossal giants to be very important due to their limitless potential. Furthermore, Ku Wei was with the giants as well. No matter what, Ku Wei was still Lu Yin’s disciple, and he could not allow things to just lie if anyone dared lay a hand on Ku Wei.

Several more days had passed, and finally Lu Yin bade Leon’s Armada farewell. He then left the Cosmic Sea and made his way towards the Wen family.

The recent war had rattled the entire Fifth Mainland. No one had emerged as a total victor, though the Xia family had managed to soothe the Cosmic Sect’s fury from having their prized treasure stolen by offering the Triple Blade Will. Despite the Cosmic Sect’s reluctance to accept the exchange, the fact was that the deal proceeded regardless. There was nothing the Cosmic Sect could do without waging an all-out war on the Xia family.

The Seven Courts had already been very wary of the Cosmic Sect and Eversky Island, so how could the Cosmic Sect not be on guard as well? Even the Hall of Honor had started interfering in this tense situation.

Lu Yin had already brought up a question regarding the price the Xia family paid as compensation to Eversky Island, and Highsage Grandmaster had answered that it could be a sourcebox array. Regardless, Highsage Grandmaster chose not to pursue the matter any further.

Lu Yin actually really wanted to see Xia Ji face-to-face, especially at the moment Xia Ji discovered that the Skystar Jade Wall did not contain the pattern. Lu Yin really wanted to capture the image of Xia Ji’s expression at that moment for himself. The old man would surely blow through the roof.

Elder Jiu Shen also went the extra mile to call Lu Yin and remind him to never reveal the truth about the pattern on the sole of his foot.

Xia Ji had spent years plotting and preparing a war that had shaken up the Fifth Mainland. It had reduced the Cosmic Sea’s Pirate Crews by half. On top of all of that, Xia Ji had been forced to give up the Xia family’s Triple Blade Will and more valuables in order to smooth things out after taking the Skystar Jade Wall. Once the man found out that all he had obtained was a relatively useless item, he would surely lose any trace of rationality to pure anger. Lu Yin could not afford to become the target or the Semi-Progenitor’s rage at that moment.

Lu Yin was also well aware of his own importance, and there was no way he would make any mention of the location of the pattern.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

His spacecraft was headed for Erudite Flowzone, and Lu Yin took the chance offered by the trip to formally thank Liu Ye and Fei Hua for their efforts on the battlefield. “Thank you both so much for your assistance. I am beyond grateful to you two.”

Sister Fei Hua just rolled her eyes when she heard his words.

Liu Ye replied, “We were just trying to keep ourselves alive.”

Lu Yin grew more somber. “Trying to stay alive is one thing, but I want to humbly and genuinely express my gratitude to you two for your help. Please rest assured that you two will not remain stuck forever. After a while, I will return your freedom to you.”

Sister Fei Hua’s eyes gleamed and she turned around to look at Lu Yin. “When?”

Lu Yin replied firmly, “Soon.”

Fei Hua had no idea how to respond.

Liu Ye suddenly spoke up, “Can I ask a question?”

“Please.”

After a bit of thought, Liu Ye asked in a stern manner, “Exactly what are you planning?”

Lu Yin was left confused by the question. “What do you mean?”

Liu Ye explained in a worried manner, “You are Lu Xiaoxuan, the only descendent of the Lu family still in the Perennial World. Your appearance brought about great turmoil there Perennial World, and despite a short amount of time, your mere existence has caused the four ruling powers to suffer a massive decline in credibility and power. Countless people would flock over to you and would use your name to rise up against the four ruling powers. Despite that, you’re here in the Forsaken Land doing your best to establish a base of power to increase your status and strength. What in the world are you planning?”

Lu Yin stayed silent and did not answer. Instead, he turned to stare out at space.

Staring at Lu Yin’s back, Liu Ye pushed more to get some response. “I know without you even saying anything that you intend to get revenge on the four ruling powers for exiling your Lu family.”

Sister Fei Hua’s eyes went wide in surprise and she also stared at Lu Yin.

Lu Yin turned back around and met Liu Ye’s eyes. “Yes, I do want revenge, but is that desire not justified?”

“Doing so will condemn the entire Perennial World to complete chaos. The four ruling powers will crumble, and even the rear battlefront will suffer the consequences. Do you realize that the rear battlefield’s commander in chief and the array base generals all herald from the four ruling powers? If anything happens to those people, Ceaseless Impetus will be compromised, which will create an easy opening for the Aeternals to attack the Perennial World,” Liu Ye warned sternly.

Lu Yin’s voice rose, “So I should just let the four ruling powers continue to force me about like a puppet? Am I supposed to turn a blind eye to the exile and annihilation of my Lu family?”

Liu Ye shook his head. “There is no question that they have been cruel and ruthless to you, but if you seek revenge, you’ll be doing the same as them to both the Perennial World and this place as well.”

“Is this something that has only recently occurred to you?” Lu Yin retorted.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time.”

“In that case, why didn’t you bring it up before?” Lu Yin asked.

This time, Liu Ye stayed quiet.

“You said nothing because you don’t actually care whether or not I try to get revenge. In other words, you have your own reservations concerning the four ruling powers. Why have you and Fei Hua not joined them? Why have you both remained in the Middle Realm despite your power?” Lu Yin continued his questioning.

Sister Fei Hua snapped, “Not everyone is desperate to join them.”

“There are people just like you who can be found everywhere in the Perennial World, and yet many more have been captured and forced into the Star Alliance. If something were to happen to either of you, I wonder if the other would be forced into Star Alliance?” Lu Yin commented aloud.

Liu Ye and Fei Hua looked at each other. Neither knew how to respond.

Together, they had the strength to protect themselves, but if either of them fell, the other would be forced to join the four ruling powers. Otherwise, they would be captured and forced into the Star Alliance.

“We are advisors to Humility’s Gate.”

“That’s the path you chose to take. For the sake of self-protection, your only choice was to become affiliated with Humility’s Gate. As for me,” Lu Yin paused and gave Liu Ye and Fei Hua a serious stare. “The only available choice is revenge. It is the only way for me to protect myself. You and I are not any different from each other.”

Soon after, Lu Yin’s gadget beeped. He glanced at who was calling before answering.

“Alliance Leader Lu, this is Cang Yi. I am calling to inform you that I have already taken control of Chaosgod Mountain,” Cang Yi’s courteous voice came through the gadget.

His mood had already been soured from the conversation with Liu Ye and Fei Hua, so Lu Yin merely gave a short reply, “Mhmm, I got it.”

“Alliance Leader Lu, your subordinate will definitely help you to keep an eye on Chaosgod Mountain and will make sure that the Innerverse never learns anything,” Cang Yi continued speaking, already knowing what Lu Yin wanted from him.

Lu Yin replied rather indifferently, “Then I’ll leave it to you.”

He then ended the call. After visiting the Wen family, he still needed to make another trip to Chaosgod Mountain. That was because Cang Yi was someone willing to betray the entire Fifth Mainland, which meant that he had absolutely no bottom line. Lu Yin did not and never would trust such a person with Chaosgod Mountain. Instead, he would someone else to lead the place.

Lu Yini had been to Erudite Flowzone before, as he had visited the flowzone during the Astral Combat Tournament. However, that time he had only passed through the flowzone to get to the border, so this was his first time visiting the Wen family’s home.

After the war in the Cosmic Sea, the Wen family had sent multiple invitations to Lu Yin, but he had not responded even once. He was going to visit the Wen family, and his first visit would be as their formal guest.

The Wen family truly embodied their surname; each of them was well-mannered and intellectual individuals through and through. Everyone in the flowzone exuded some sort of scholarly demeanor. As for those Lu Yin and the other two saw in passing, the cultivators who were practicing their battle techniques and even the merchants traveling about through space were all very cultured. The entire place was unlike any other flowzone Lu Yin had ever seen.