Chapter 3247: The Gap

Hui Can trembled as he slowly stood back up, though he kept his head bowed. He did not dare to look up at Lu Yin.

The man thought back to when he had first met Lu Yin on the Perennial World’s rear battlefield. Who would have thought that, after so many years, Lu Yin would rise to his current position? If Hui Can had known the outcome all those years ago, he would have asked Lu Yin to be his master from the start.

However, when the two men had first met, Lu Yin’s strength had not been very remarkable.

Lu Yin looked at Hui Can. "You’re one of Progenitor Hui’s descendants, and you are similarly bold and cunning. Despite being seen as an insignificant ant, you had the courage to plot against the Wang family, and no one in their entire family managed to see through you. For this alone, you are truly worthy of being Progenitor Hui's descendant and will take his name.

"I owe you a debt for helping me master Verdant Eternity. It’s only right that I repay that debt. From today onwards, you will be Hui Can, and you will be my disciple."

Hui Can hurriedly kneeled on the ground. "Disciple Hui Can greets his master."

Lu Yin’s expression turned a bit more solemn as he looked at Hui Can. "As my disciple, you should stand at the very pinnacle of the megaverse. Remember, you must not abuse your power, act immorally, or betray humanity.

"As my disciple, you will gain more than anyone, but you will also have to bear a greater burden than anyone. Whether your future will be bright and dazzling or dark and hopeless will depend on both you and me.

"Are you willing to share this karma with me as master and disciple?"

Hui Can did not hesitate for even a moment. "This disciple is willing to bear this burden. I will serve you, Master, with all my heart, even to the death. I will not regret this choice."

"Good. I hope that you won't disappoint me," Lu Yin stated.

This was something that he had not said to Tuo Lin, because that man was incapable of cultivating. But Hui Can was different. He was bold, meticulous, decisive, and extremely clever. He was capable of using small advantages to achieve great gains. As long as he had a good personality, many people would benefit from him. If not, he had the potential to be a disaster.

Lu Yin had ordered an investigation into Hui Can after he arrived at the Heavens Sect, and Lu Yin had been satisfied with the results.

Hui Can was not someone who would be blinded by greed. He sought out his own opportunities, which was a major reason why Lu Yin had agreed to accept the man as a disciple.

If Hui Can's character had not been suitable, Lu Yin would have never accepted him.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Lu Yin’s disciples held an incredible status in the Origin Universe, much like the Three Realms and Six Daos of the past.

Hui Can would also start learning Verdant Eternity.

To begin with, learning Verdant Eternity would test one’s patience and character more than anything else. This would give everyone ample time to get to know Hui Can.

Secondly, Lu Yin himself had only been able to learn Verdant Eternity because of Hui Can, so it was quite fitting to pass the technique along to the man.

As for how long it would take Hui Can to master Verdant Eternity, that depended on him alone.

Learning Verdant Eternity did not prevent Hui Can from learning other techniques. The Tower of the Fifth had numerous cultivation methods, and as Lu Yin's disciple, Hui Can would have easy access to anything he wished to learn. It would be entirely his choice.

"Take good care of your Senior Brother Tuo Lin," Lu Yin emphasized.

Hui Can answered respectfully, "You don’t need to worry, Master. I will definitely take good care of Senior Brother."

The Second Nightking gazed at Hui Can with envy. This was yet another person who had ascended in a single one step, though Hui Can was also different from Tuo Lin.

No matter what, Tuo Lin would never be able to cultivate, which meant that the resources he enjoyed were extremely limited.

Hui Can was the first person who could truly be considered Lord Lu’s disciple. Hui Can would undoubtedly become envied by everyone in the megaverse.

...

As Lu Yin quietly enjoyed some tea that Zhao Ran had prepared, Hongyan Mavis arrived.

“I’ve cultivated divine energy,” Lu Yin bluntly stated.

A tremor ran through Hongyan Mavis's body, and she looked at Lu Yin in shock. “You’ve cultivated divine energy?”

Lu Yin met the woman’s eyes, but after only a brief moment of eye contact, Hongyan Mavis suddenly started to laugh.

Lu Yin was caught off guard. “Senior, you already knew?”

Hongyan Mavis replied, “Do you think that we’re all fools? During the last battle in the Second Scourge, you fought Bai Xian'er in a lake of divine energy, and despite the time you were down there for, you never showed any issues. Anyone would have been able to figure it out.”

Lu Yin had forgotten about that detail.

“After the battle was over, Loam came to us and explained things,” Hongyan Mavis continued.

Lu Yin felt his heart warm. While he had done a great deal for humanity as a whole, many others had acted on his behalf behind the scenes. He just had not noticed most of it.

“Little Seven, no matter what, divine energy is Yong Heng’s power. While power by itself is never good or evil, divine energy is an exception. Even my master said that divine energy can affect a person’s rationality,” Hongyan Mavis cautioned.

Lu Yin was instantly reminded of the scene of the future he had seen from the Books of Destiny, and he nodded. “I know. Don’t worry, Senior, I’m walking a much broader path than Yong Heng.”

Hongyan Mavis smiled. “In the past, we might not have felt comfortable with this, but now we are. Given your strength, it won’t be a problem for you to control your divine energy. Did you want to see me just for this?”

“Does Senior Wu Tian and the others know about this as well?”

“Of course, don’t worry.”

Lu Yin nodded. “Good. In that case, I can move ahead without worrying.”

“Move ahead with what?” Hongyan Mavis asked, puzzled.

Lu Yin looked over at Hongyan Mavis. “Destroying the black Mother Tree.”

...

Lu Yin arrived at the Lu Sanctum. After speaking with Hongyan Mavis, he had intended to reassume his alias as Ye Bo so that he could absorb divine energy and destroy the black Mother Tree.

However, he had suddenly remembered a task that was still pending; he needed to deal with Nutjob Lu.

They had a wager to settle.

Lu Yin went to where Nutjob Lu was imprisoned in the Lu Sanctum, looking perfectly calm.

Some distance away, deep underground in the dark, Nutjob Lu’s eyes opened. They burned with bloodlust and madness as a grin spread across his face.

He’s here

.

The prison rose up from underground, and Nutjob Lu looked at his visitor.

Lu Yin stood calmly and met the older man’s gaze. “I’ve come to settle our wager.”

Nutjob Lu glared at Lu Yin, his eyes ferocious. “Are you confident that you can defeat me now?”

"Tell me, who helped me by pushing your Champions' Stage aside?" Lu Yin asked indifferently.

Both Lu Yuan and Lu Tianyi were present and watching from a distance. The day had finally arrived.

Lu Yuan's expression was complicated. This fight would become Nutjob Lu's execution. The man had betrayed humanity and joined Aeternus. He deserved to die.

The sky above Lu Sanctum grew dark.

Would Lu Yin win? There was no need to answer that question. Everyone already knew that Nutjob Lu was doomed.

Even Nutjob Lu was aware of this. Lu Yin was not someone blinded by arrogance. The fact that he had appeared for the death match showed that Lu Yin had reached a level of strength where he could defeat or simply kill Nutjob Lu. That was fine. Nutjob Lu had lived long enough. He would let things happen naturally.

"Brat, if you want that answer, you need to beat me first," Nutjob Lu said, insanity filling his voice.

Lu Yin raised a hand and flicked a finger. He used pure physical strength to produce a sharp blade that sliced through the chains that bound Nutjob Lu.

The madman’s pupils shrank, and his expression changed drastically as he stared at Lu Yin.

The chains were formed from sequence particles. Not even Nutjob Lu himself could break the chains, and yet Lu Yin had done so effortlessly. The difference in the two men’s strength had grown worlds apart.

“Hahaha! Brat, you’re vicious enough! I thought that we’d have a grueling battle, but it seems that I was overthinking the matter. It’s only been a few years, and yet you’ve already reached this level.” Nutjob Lu cackled.

Lu Yin clasped his hands behind his back. “Make your move now, or else you won’t get a chance at all.”

Nutjob Lu’s smile faded as he stared at Lu Yin. Hatred chilled the man’s eyes. “I hate the Lu family! I’ve never regretted betraying them, nor have I ever regretted betraying humanity.”

As he spoke, dark-red divine energy erupted from his body, transforming the sky above the Lu Sanctum into a blood-red color.

One by one, the members of the Lu family looked up at the sky. The power being used sent chills down their spines.

Lu Yuan closed his eyes.

Divine energy. As expected, Nutjob Lu’s cultivated divine energy

.

Lu Tianyi sighed.

Lu Yin simply observed Nutjob Lu. The man actually did not have very much divine energy inside of him. He had only spent a short while training in the Scourge.

As the divine energy surged, Nutjob Lu also charged at Lu Yin. The man knew that only his divine energy even had a chance of threatening Lu Yin. The Investiture of the Gods, the Champions' Stage, his ominion energy, and even the Corpse King Transformation would not be nearly enough. Not even close.

Sequence particles filled the air in front of the man as violence filled his eyes. Nutjob Lu only had this one chance to attack.

Let’s see if you can withstand the combined force of my sequence particles and divine energy!

Lu Yin calmly watched as Nutjob Lu charged forward, and then he simply raised a hand and pointed a single finger forward.

Nutjob Lu’s rage mounted. Someone was dealing with him with one finger—again. When Lu Tianyi had gone to the Cyclic Universe to retrieve Nutjob Lu, the madman had been completely thrashed by Lu Tianyi’s Dao of One Heavens. The power of that solitary finger still haunted Nutjob Lu. At this moment, Lu Yin was acting in the exact same manner.

The man went berserk, and his divine energy surged like it belonged to a mad beast.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind swept through the area, dissipating the dark-red divine energy. It was quickly pushed back, and Nutjob Lu froze in place, still in a charging stance. At this moment, there was a single finger pressed to his glabella, holding him in place. He was completely immobilized.

Nutjob Lu stared blankly at Lu Yin, who had appeared right in front of him.

Lu Yin’s other hand was still behind his back. It was clear from his stance that he had no intention of using it. With just one finger, he had pinned Nutjob Lu in place. If Nutjob Lu moved, he would die.

A chill seeped into Nutjob Lu’s bones. It had been a very long time since he had felt so powerless.

Lu Yin gave the man a sense of utter despair.

Nutjob Lu was not afraid of death, but with just one finger and nothing more, he had been defeated. It was even more effortless than when Lu Tianyi had defeated Nutjob Lu. Or rather, the man was confident that, if he used his divine energy, Lu Tianyi would not be able to defeat him that easily.

Only Lu Yuan, that old monster, was strong enough to do such a thing. There was no one else.

But if that was true, then how could a mere child pull it off? How had Lu Yin accomplished this?

Were sequence particles and divine energy completely ineffective against this brat?

Lu Yin looked at Nutjob Lu with pity. He really was pitiful, both in his life and experiences, as well as his final fate.

Nutjob Lu stared into Lu Yin’s eyes.

What is that I see? Pity?

Pity! This boy dares to pity me?

Nutjob Lu roared and tried to slap Lu Yin.

The finger twitched, and Nutjob Lu was sent flying back. He roared, “Do you pity me, brat?”

Lu Yin remained as calm as ever. “You are no match for me.”

“If you’ve got the guts, then kill me! I don’t need your pity! I don’t need the pity of the Lu family! Brat, kill me!” Nutjob Lu charged back at Lu Yin, his eyes bloodshot. He had completely lost his mind.

Lu Yin grabbed Nutjob Lu’s outstretched hand and pressed it down with a bit of force. The man’s entire body was pressed into the ground.

Lu Yin looked down at Nutjob Lu. “I don’t want to talk about your past. No matter what may have happened, you’re still an elder of the Lu family. Do as you said and tell me who pushed your Champions' Stage aside, as well as the price they paid.”

Nutjob Lu pushed himself up from the ground with one hand. The other was still held by Lu Yin, preventing the man from moving as he wished.

He showed a bitter smile as he looked up to meet Lu Yin’s eyes. “I can tell you, but I don’t want that old bastard to kill me. That’s why I wanted this deathmatch with you.

“Brat, kill me, and I’ll tell you.”

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. Killing Nutjob Lu would not be difficult, but doing so would cause the karma of the matter to fall onto him. Nutjob Lu was Lu Yuan’s grandson, which was why the Lu family had tolerated the man for so long and acted as though he was owed a debt. If Lu Yin killed Nutjob Lu, it might become a thorn in Lu Yuan’s heart.

“What’s wrong? Scared?” Nutjob Lu cackled. “If you don’t kill me, you’ll never know who it was! That person paid a price to save you that you won’t be able to repay in your entire lifetime! I can also guarantee that you’ll never guess who it was.”

Lu Yin’s eyes snapped wide open. “Fine, I accept your condition.”