Chapter 2980: The Path To Take

In Sovereign Dou Sheng’s mind, while Lu Yin was a rare genius who stood out in all of history, despite the fact that he had a level of determination that other people could not imagine, he remained an ordinary person of flesh, blood, feelings, and fear.

It was possible that what Lu Yin had just seen could shatter Lu Yin’s will.

In particular, Lu Yin had thought himself to be standing at the peak, only to discover that there was still no end in sight.

It must seem to Lu Yin as though he had been living in a false world.

"Great Sovereign, may I ask you a few questions?" Lu Yin asked softly.

The Great Sovereign looked down at him. "Since you have seen the truth and now understand it clearly, you should know what you want to do. Stay in the Origin Universe and focus on that place. Conceal the truth that you have seen while maintaining a facade of your perceived power as much as possible until you sacrifice that last bit of your life for humanity."

"Is the Origin Progenitor dead?" Lu Yin suddenly asked.

The Great Sovereign's eyes flashed.

"How many of the original Three Realms and Six Daos died?"

"The affairs of the Origin Universe have nothing to do with me," the Great Sovereign said with a frown.

Lu Yin lifted his head to look at the Great Sovereign. "What is happening in Burial Garden?"

The Great Sovereign’s eyebrows started to rise.

"What is happening in the Immemorial Citadel?" Lu Yin continued his questions.

The Great Sovereign stared at Lu Yin with cold eyes.

Lu Yin raised his head up tall. "I admit, I just panicked. I clearly saw the Aeternals’ power, and I now understand the insurmountable gap between us, and that scared me. I became anxious and confused, not knowing what to do. Can humanity really be saved? Will Aeternus even give us the time?

"Fear is something that I rarely experience, but I am genuinely scared right now. I am very worried that, one day, the truth of the Aeternals’ power will become reality. I am able to see what you wanted me to see, and I understand what you wanted me to comprehend. I get it, but…

"But I am not alone."

A short distance away, Sovereign Dou Sheng's eyes lit up, and a smile spread across his face.

Lu Tianyi smiled when he saw Lu Yin's eyes. Those eyes were filled with fear, panic, and unease. Lu Yin was feeling the exact emotions that he admitted to feeling, which was a very human reaction. No matter if one was an ordinary person or a Progenitor, they would remain human and were complex things. People could be scared or even suffer from despair. But there was only one thing that they could not lack: determination.

Lu Yin took a deep breath. "Since I’m afraid, then I just find more people to face this with me. If one person can't do what needs to be done, then I’ll gather ten people. If ten people are still not enough, then I will gather a hundred. There are so many people standing behind me. The sky collapsed long ago when the various Mainlands were all destroyed, but some people have managed to survive until now. Burial Garden is the hope that was left behind by that ancient era, no matter how slim that hope might be.

"I have never understood why no one has ever been able to prove whether or not the God of Death, Wu Tian, and the others died, or if they are destined to return. Wilderness God can be reborn, while Garan disappeared. I have no idea where everyone went, including the Origin Progenitor. Are they actually dead?

"Before just now, when I saw the truth, I had no answer, but now I understand that they are also waiting. It’s possible that they are also scared and panicked. If one person cannot defeat the Aeternals, then it’s best to just wait. There will eventually be a day when we all gather together."

The Great Sovereign sneered contemptuously. "While no one has been able to prove that they are dead, no one has ever proven that they are alive either."

Lu Yin raised his hand, and death energy appeared above his palm. "Inheritances are what make a civilization immortal. Death energy comes from the God of Death, Heaven’s Sight comes from Wu Tian, fatesand and the Books of Destiny all come from Destiny. On top of that, I and my Lu family also have the Garan bloodline and humanoid sourceboxes, which also represent other inheritances.

"Even if those people are actually dead, their era can be brought back. As long as human beings live, they will never give up. I am now absolutely certain that the Aeternals are incredibly difficult opponents and that we have no hope of winning. Since I can't see victory, I won’t look for it.”

Lu Yin's words actually confused the Great Sovereign.

"You follow your own path and struggle to overcome Dukkha, entering insanity. All of us must follow our own path. If I fail, someone else will stand up and take my place. If others fail, I will rise up and stand for myself. It's okay to retreat. Fear is only temporary. While each person only has one life, the human spirit is infinite. At worst, people will become just like you. After all, madmen don’t fear death," Lu Yin's voice echoed.

“Hahahaha!” Sovereign Dou Sheng was laughing. "Young man from the Lu family, I admire you. Madmen don’t fear death? Hahahaha!"

Lu Tianyi let out a breath and looked up with a smile.

The Great Sovereign’s eyes were focused tightly on Lu Yin. "Are you trying to convince me?"

Lu Yin grinned. "No, I’m simply venting my fear. I’m so scared right now that my legs are still shaking."

The Great Sovereign had no idea what to say. She felt that there was something wrong with this child’s brain. How could anyone in his position say such things? Admitting to his fear? Instead, he should have been saying something righteous, like voicing his determination to die, right? Instead, Lu Yin ranted like he was going mad.

He had to be mocking her.

You Lu bastards!

??Had the child really seen the strength of the Aeternals clearly?

Not knowing what to say to Lu Yin, the Great Sovereign simply left.

Lu Yin watched as the Great Sovereign left, feeling completely relieved.

"Little Seven, exactly what was it that you saw?" Lu Tianyi asked.

Lu Yin was caught off guard. "Ancestor, you actually don't know?

"The Aeternus that we have been fighting against is just one of their mainlands. If I understand things correctly, Aeternus has copied the ancient Heavens Sect. They have their black Mother Tree at the center and have surrounded it with six land masses."

Lu Tianyi's expression changed drastically. "What did you just say?"

"He's right." Sovereign Dou Sheng approached, along with a heavy pressure.

Lu Yin examined the man. While the Sovereign had fought against Corpse God with the battalion that Lu Yin had led during the crusade, Lu Yin had never gotten a clear look at Sovereign Dou Sheng before. This was the first time he was fully seeing the man. The Sovereign had average features, but determination filled his eyes. A glance was enough to know that this man had an iron will. There was also a hint of bloodlust in his brilliant golden eyes.

"Aeternus’s true strength is the same as your Origin Universe’s ancient Heavens Sect. The Heavens Sect had the Origin Progenitor and the Three Realms and Six Daos, while Aeternus has True God and the Three Pillars and Six Skies."

Lu Yin and Lu Tianyi both felt quite confused. "Three Pillars and Six Skies?"

Sovereign Dou Sheng grew solemn. "That is the term, though I don’t know exactly who they are, because we’ve only faced a single Scourge so far. However, you don’t have to think that the situation is quite that bad. The Seven Skygods are also part of Aeternus, and their strength is second only to True God. The Great Sovereign has mentioned before that the Seven Skygods are a collective name for the most powerful individuals from Aeternus who fight against our Sixverse Association. Some of them are also part of the Three Pillars and Six Skies, holding both titles."

The explanation gave both Lu Yin and Lu Tianyi some measure of relief. This made far more sense. Otherwise, Aeternus would simply have too many unfathomable powerhouses.

If there was no overlap between the two titles, then the Seven Skygods and the Three Pillars and Six Skies would mean that the Aeternals had sixteen incredible powerhouses. That would truly mean that humanity had no hope.

Sovereign Dou Sheng looked at Lu Yin with admiration. "Didn’t the sight of the other Scourges make you feel despair?"

Lu Yin’s voice turned bitter as he replied, "Scared and desperate, it’s true."

"Hahahaha, honestly, I feel the same way," Sovereign Dou Sheng said.

Lu Yin felt curious. "Have you also seen it?"

Sovereign Dou Sheng’s expression grew heavy. "I have seen it. If the Aeternals concentrated all their power onto the Sixverse Association, there is no way the Sixverse Association would have lasted until now.

"Very few people in the entire Sixverse Association know this truth about Aeternus. Not even most of the rulers of the member universes are aware. For example, neither the Voidlord nor the Lost Clan’s Great Elder know the truth. Your Lu family also didn’t know before now. It’s not surprising, as Aeternus just needed to point a single Scourge and the Seven Skygods at us to suppress the Sixverse Association to the point where we can’t even breath.

"The Great Sovereign wants to overcome Dukkha and reach the next level so that she can use absolute power to sweep the Aeternals away like ants. There is nothing wrong with her path, but she is too extreme in her actions. She is willing to sacrifice anything for her goals, which is precisely the reason behind the friction between the two of us. I choose to stay here, as even if the Aeternals do decide to attack the Sixverse Association with their full strength, I will at least be able to send a warning to the Sixverse Association."

Lu Yin was in awe of this man. After learning the truth about Aeternus, Sovereign Dou Sheng still had the courage to stay at the edge of the Scourge on his own. It was clear that the Sovereign had never considered leaving the place alive. This was someone who deserved respect.

Lu Tianyi was shocked by all that he had learned. "I never imagined that we had not even clearly seen Aeternus."

Sovereign Dou Sheng turned to Lu Yin. "The Great Sovereign admires you a great deal."

Lu Yin’s expression turned a bit strange. "Admires me? She wants to kill me. How many times have I called her crazy?"

Sovereign Dou Sheng laughed. "I know her very well. After all, she’s my master. If she didn’t admire you, she would have never cared about what you said and would not have taken you here to show you the truth. Do you believe that she is actually willing to set foot in the Scourge? She wants to overcome Dukkha, and will thus avoid any unnecessary battles. Despite that, she took you to the Scourge. I am quite certain that she admires you. At the very least, her attitude towards you is completely different from how she treats others.

"True God led the Seven Skygods to attack her Tea Ceremony. His intentions were to test the Great Sovereign’s cultivation and progress. If the impact of that attack on her Tea Ceremony hadn’t been as severe, and if someone hadn’t arrived from the Immemorial Citadel, then the Great Sovereign would have never led the rulers of the different universes to attack the Aeternals.

"Throughout all these years, you are the only one whom Master has personally taken to the Scourge."

Lu Yin's eyes flashed. "Your words won’t erase the blood debt that she owes my Lu family."

"That's a matter between you and her. As far as she’s concerned, sacrificing your Lu family in order to overcome Dukkha means nothing, so she also won't care about how you want to get revenge," Sovereign Dou Sheng commented.

That was what the Sovereign said, but how was Lu Yin supposed to get revenge? He was well aware that even breaking through again and becoming a Progenitor would not make him a match for the Great Sovereign anytime soon.

The peak of human cultivation was the Progenitor realm, or the equivalent. Lu Yin had once believed that it was an actual realm of cultivation, but he had since come to understand that it was more of a concept that referred to touching upon the source. An Origin realm cultivator could be regarded as a Progenitor realm, or someone who had reached a higher realm of cultivation. In the same manner, someone overcoming Dukkha could also be regarded as a Progenitor. Only by surpassing Dukkha and becoming immortal could a person fully break away from the Progenitor realm. That was the meaning of transcendence: immortality.

At the moment, Lu Yin was aware that there were several ways to achieve transcendence, such as Mister Mu's Origin Tracer, the Ninesuns Cauldron Transformation, the Origin Progenitor’s stellular energy, and True God’s divine energy. According to those people, each of those powers was able to achieve transcendence. However, the individuals themselves had all failed to transcend.

What made Lu Yin the most certain that transcendence was possible was the Lost Clan’s Primeval card. While only a corner of it had appeared, it had frightened away the seven-star Immemorial card Evernight. Evernight matched the level of the Lost Clan’s Great Elder. Although the man might not have reached the Origin Realm, he was still an incredible powerhouse who surpassed even Mu Ke. Even something at that level of power had been intimidated by just the corner of the Primeval card. Lu Yin was absolutely certain that that card had transcended.

He hoped that he would be able to draw out that card after his Progenitor breakthrough.

"There are millions of paths in existence, and no one can say which one is unquestionably correct. Madmen do not fear death, but that doesn’t mean that only madmen can defeat their enemy," Lu Yin murmured to himself.

…

OMA's Thoughts

Translated By: OMA

Edited By: Neshi/Nyxnox

TLC'ed By: OMA