Chapter 3451: The Vast Qian Domain

Palace Master Yao and Cai Keqing reflexively glanced at Lu Yin.

What? Carve something on the Apex Palace?

Neither of the women had heard about this matter beforehand. One had been aboard

Boundless

, cut off from the outside world, and the other had just been released from Lu Yin’s Champions' Stage Purgatory.

They both felt like they had heard something unbelievable.

Old Tao gulped and cautiously asked, “Young Master, are you serious?”

Lu Yin answered somberly, “Of course. Let’s go. You should know where the Apex Palace is. As we travel, we’ll enjoy the beautiful scenery, tease beautiful women, taste delicacies, and steal any treasures we come across. I’m planning on enjoying myself.”

Old Tao forced a smile back out, though it was even uglier than if he was crying. “Of course, Young Master.”

He thought for a moment. “To get to the Apex Palace, we’ll need to pass through several other domains. Our first destination is the Vast Qian Domain.”

“What’s special about that domain?”

“The Vast Qian Domain is quite famous among the thirty-six domains. First, the domain’s Sage of Great Qian is extremely powerful. Second, the Skyriver is in the Vast Qian Domain. It’s said that bathing in the Skyriver’s mist will let a person meld with the universe, clearing away any intrusive thoughts and healing hidden ailments.”

Lu Yin’s eyes lit up.

Healing hidden ailments?

He instantly thought of Ancient God. “Is the Skyriver really that magical?”

“It’s quite effective, even for sequence powerhouses. However, the Skyriver is a treasure that belongs to the Vast Qian Domain. One needs Sage Qian’s approval to bathe in the river’s mist. Only a few receive that permission each year.”

Lu Yin’s mind was decided. “Let’s go to the Vast Qian Domain.”

After leaving

Boundless

, the Megalith and the Pridebeast carried the sedan on poles. While they seemed to be walking, each step crossed a vast distance as they made their way towards the Vast Qian Domain.

Countless observers followed, both openly and from the shadows.

“Palace Master Yao didn’t die! Did she actually become a maid?”

“This is absurd! It’s outrageous! Ridiculous!”

“Has Cai Keqing, my goddess, also become a maid? This Third Boss is despicable!”

“Pah! That Old Tao is shameless! I once considered him to be my senior. It turns out that he has no shame at all!”

“We have to kill this man and rescue Palace Master Yao and Cai Keqing!”

“Brother Yu Shan is also still tied to a tree on

Boundless

. We have to capture this bastard and then trade him for Brother Yu Shan.”

...

Their voices reached Lu Yin’s ears, causing him to smile. He casually set a hand on Palace Master Yao’s head, seemingly completely at ease.

His action instantly caused many people’s tempers to flare.

Still, these people were not stupid. They knew that they were not Lu Yin’s match. Because of this, they could only continue to spread word of what was happening. Their only hope was to summon the Spirit Nidus’s true powerhouses to take action.

Yu Shan ranked second on the White Spirit List, but he had been easily defeated. Palace Master Yao had been regarded as the most powerful cultivator beneath the Seven Seraphs, but she had also lost. Not only had she been defeated, but also no one could make any sense of how she had lost. At the moment, everyone realized that very few people in the megaverse could even hope to challenge Lu Yin.

Lu Yin was eager to see who would act first.

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

It was impossible that no one would make a move. If nothing happened, then he would follow through on carving “Boundless” onto the Apex Palace.

Regardless of whether Lu Yin made it to the Apex Palace and accomplished his stated mission, this journey would absolutely be worthwhile.

The small group quickly left the Hundred Grasses Domain, strolling through outer space.

As they traveled, more and more eyes constantly appeared, watching from all sides.

Countless voices reached Old Tao’s ears as well. He knew that he had completely disgraced himself and was reviled even worse than Yuan Qi. At least Yuan Qi’s title was the Grandverse Manor’s Big Boss, and he was publicly challenging the High Seraph. But what of Old Tao? Everyone could see he was nothing more than a lackey.

But what could he do about it? He had no choice in the matter.

Astral Anura yawned, glancing at Lu Yin. He also did not want to be part of this journey, as he felt that it was far too dangerous, but he had no choice.

While there might be a chance for him to escape, he was in the Spirit Nidus, and his aura clearly marked him as an outsider. If he left

Boundless

, where could he possibly go?

The first person to make a move against Lu Yin soon arrived. The man looked like a down-on-his-luck middle-aged man. He was also only a Spirit Ancestor.

The sight of the man sent a tremor through Cai Keqing's body, and her brow furrowed slightly.

Voices reached their ears, coming from both those who were openly and hiddenly following Lu Yin. “A Spirit Ancestor? How does he have the courage to challenge the Third Boss? He’s just going to die.”

“He’s just trying to get some attention. Too many people are paying attention to the Third Boss. While countless people want to eliminate him, they don’t dare to try anything. If this man doesn’t die, he’s guaranteed to at least get some attention from a number of important people.”

“Still, he first needs to survive.”

“No, he’s not just seeking attention. He’s a servant from the Cai family who once fell in love with Cai Keqing. However, because of the disparity in their status and power, he was left with no choice but to leave the Cai family. This man is incredibly determined and persistent. He just loves the wrong person...”

Lu Yin glanced at Cai Keqing after hearing a particular conversation. Was this man a servant of the Cai family?

“Hey, you! You’re just a Spirit Ancestor, and yet you dare to provoke our young master? Our young master has challenged the greatest experts in the entire megaverse! You’re not worthy! Get lost!” Old Tao shouted harshly. His voice dripped with bloodlust. He was simply too much stronger than the middle-aged man.

The man’s gaze rested on Cai Keqing alone. “Are you doing this willingly?”

The furrows in Cai Keqing’s brow deepened. “It’s none of your concern.”

The middle-aged man continued to stare at her intently. “If you are not willing to be here, I’ll fight with my life to buy your freedom. Even if I fail, I simply wish to alleviate even some of this person’s bloodlust.”

Cai Keqing’s finger twitched. Her expression was as cold as ever, but Lu Yin could sense that something had changed.

It had nothing to do with what she felt for the man, but rather that she was simply moved by his actions.

“Leave. I am willing to be here,” Cai Keqing stated in a low, subdued tone.

The man stared at her for a long moment before turning to Lu Yin. “I am also able to carry your seat.”

Lu Yin chuckled. “But I have no need for you. You’re too weak, and you are incapable of carrying it steadily.”

“I’m a Spirit Ancestor.”

“That’s too weak.”

The middle-aged man refused to believe that. He knew that he was no match for the Third Boss, or even for Old Tao. He also knew that both Cai Keqing and Palace Master Yao greatly surpassed and were beyond him. But were even the two astral beasts carrying the litter stronger than him?

Although

Boundless

had shaken the Spirit Nidus as it sailed across their domains, only the major powers that ruled over a domain had any real knowledge of the battleship. Independent cultivators, even if they were strong sequence powerhouses, would have no idea; they simply didn’t have any information sources.

Boundless

may have intimidated most of the Spirit Nidus’s experts, but only a rare few in the entire megaverse had any real understanding of the power hidden on that battleship.

The middle-aged man looked at Lu Yin. "Whether I’m weak or not, I can at least try."

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. "How impertinent. Still, given that you were brave enough to stand up first, despite being just a mere Spirit Ancestor, I'll impose a light punishment."

When he finished speaking, Lu Yin released his inner universe and instantly sent the man into the Champions' Stage Purgatory.

Cai Keqing helplessly asked, "Please let him go."

Lu Yin felt the man's karma enter his inner universe as he glanced at Cai Keqing. "You are just a maid. You shouldn’t speak too much. Let’s keep going."

Cai Keqing did not give up. "He never caused you any harm, Young Master."

Lu Yin laughed. "It would already be too late if he had tried to harm me. Do you believe that he really came for you, or is he just seeking attention?"

"For me," Cai Keqing stated firmly.

Lu Yin nodded. "Fine. Then I’ll only imprison him for three days as punishment."

Cai Keqing said nothing.

A person's eyes could not lie. The man had truly come for Cai Keqing, but sadly, they were doomed to never be together. This was not merely because of their difference in status, but also because Cai Keqing herself could never return any of the man’s feelings.

Her experiences as a youth had caused her to hate the attention of others. She was someone who could only live comfortably if she was the only one in the entire universe.

No one knew if the middle-aged man was dead or alive. All that anyone knew was that he had instantly vanished.

Some took pleasure in man’s misfortune, while others admired him.

In the face of the notorious Grandverse Manor and their ruthless Third Boss, it was not easy for a mere Spirit Ancestor to stand up to them. Even if the man had only been seeking attention, he had still needed enough courage to see that through.

Three days later, the middle-aged man was released.

Just like Palace Master Yao, the man’s face was pale, but his expression was calm, exceptionally so. However, when he looked at Lu Yin, disbelief filled the man’s eyes.

Lu Yin waved his hand. "Let's go."

Karma was a difficult concept to explain. The middle-aged man had been imprisoned in the Champions' Stage Purgatory, enduring the weight of karma. However, what he had experienced would be difficult to explain to others. Even if he did, what of it? The High Seraph already knew that Lu Yin had comprehended karma, and Lu Yin had no reason to hide this ability from anyone else.

Both Origin Progenitor and Chu Yi knew about it as well.

In fact, the more people that knew, the better things might be.

The middle-aged man looked at Cai Keqing one last time. "I will come find you again."

Cai Keqing's expression remained as cold as ever. "Don’t bother."

With that, the man left.

The man’s departure was not a minor matter, due to the countless people observing Lu Yin’s every action. In fact, imprisoning the man in the Champions' Stage’s purgatory might have been better for him.

Lu Yin could see what was happening, but he would not protect the man.

Everyone had their own path, and the middle-aged man had nothing to do with Lu Yin. Whether the man lived or died was not something Lu Yin would care about.

The sedan chair and Lu Yin’s entourage continued on their way to the Vast Qian Domain. Their destination was clear. As soon as the Vast Qian Domain learned that Lu Yin was headed their way, the various powers there immediately went on high alert.

Sage Qian stared out at the stars, uncertain of what Lu Yin and his people wanted. Would they just pass through, or did they have some other purpose?

The man hoped that they wanted nothing from his domain.

...

The Vast Qian Domain was a humid place because the Skyriver’s presence. Many cultivators traveled to the Vast Qian Domain seeking the mist of the Skyriver. Even if they were not allowed to bathe in it, as long as they were in the domain, they might be lucky enough to catch a wisp of the mist.

There was little use for these wisps that could be caught, aside from selling to others. There were some people who could eventually gather enough mist that they could bathe in it. This had given rise to a profession unique to the Vast Qian Domain: the mist catchers.

Xu Ren was a mist catcher, as were the many generations of his family before him. They had been in this profession for so many years that they were no longer able to trace the origin of their family.

His family possessed a cultivation art that they passed down. While it was a rather ordinary cultivation art, it was enough to allow Xu Ren to become a mist catcher. After that, he had been lucky enough to stumble upon another cultivation art. By combining that opportunity with his own intelligence and a certain twist of fate, he had managed to join Sage Qian's sect and become one of the sage’s disciples.

With that identity, Xu Ren was able to get much closer to the Skyriver, which had allowed him to gather more mist.

Only Sage Qian was able to freely access the Skyriver. Even the disciples of the Great Ar Sect were not allowed to freely enter the river.

One day, Xu Ren was feeling quite happy after gathering a large bundle of mist. He stored it in a gourd and prepared to leave so that he could trade it with others.

But when he arrived at the foot of a mountain, he shuddered when he sensed terrifying auras surrounding him.

Why are there so many people here? And why do all of them seem to be experts?

"Xu Ren! Xu Ren!" someone whispered.

Xu Ren looked over and breathed a sigh of relief. "Sixth Brother, you're here. What's going on today? What is all of this?"

"Shh! Don't speak. Come over here."

Xu Ren quickly suppressed his aura and moved over.

The man he called Sixth Brother was laying flat on the ground while glancing around. "Be careful! There are a lot of big shots here today. Look over there!"

Xu Ren’s eyes followed where Sixth Brother was pointing, and he saw an old man crouched on the mountainside. Only half of his body was sticking out.

"Who is that?"

"He’s from the White Orchid Domain. That’s one of the honorary elders of the Jade Cauldron Sect."