Chapter 3676: Setting Out

Ru Guo pointed a single finger forward, shattering the distant void. Many figures emerged from the spatial tear. One of them wielded the power of Extreme Yin, while another carried seven swords. All of the figures immediately flew at the Apex Palace. They were all wandering corpses.

While the wandering corpses were individually too weak to contribute to the battle that Ru Guo was fighting in, as they were only as strong as sequence powerhouses, the number of wandering corpses was impressive; a dozen or so had appeared. They charged forward as if racing to their deaths, completely fearless of the power of a Dukkhan.

While more than ten of the wandering corpses were instantly cut down, Ru Guo was able to seize the opportunity that they had created to force Zi Tianshu back and enter Heavenspire.

Lan and Zi Tianshu exchanged glances before turning back to stare at the broken corpses that lay strewn across the ground. They had no idea how to tell the High Seraph that Ru Guo had successfully returned to Heavenspire.

In the Heavencraft Domain, Ling Zuo and the other elders could not think of any conditions that might guarantee the safety of their domain.

Killing intent started to flicker in Lu Yin’s eyes. “Mo Shang, how long can you stay here and protect them?”

The High Seraph remained calm as he observed Lu Yin. “Do you truly intend to destroy the Heavencraft Domain?”

“As long as that’s what I want.”

“Even if doing so will provoke Xing Fan?”

Lu Yin arched a brow as he met the High Seraph’s eyes. “Will this draw Xing Fan’s attention?”

“Inevitably. By now, you should clearly understand the relationship between the Nine Odysseys Megaverse and the Spirit Nidus. Do you think that the Nine Odysseys Megaverse would tolerate the spirit threads being severed?”

Lu Yin had overlooked that detail. In order for the Nine Odysseys Megaverse to harvest spirit seeds from the Spirit Nidus, the “灵” character was a necessary conduit. Without that character being formed from the spirit threads, the liquid would not rise up the seven inverted funnels and into the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. There was no way that such a threat to the status quo would be ignored.

Saying that the Heavencraft Domain was vital to the Spirit Nidus was a lie, but it

was

true that the domain was vital to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

No one from the Heavencraft Domain was able to hear the last bit of their conversation. It remained solely between Lu Yin and the High Seraph.

While Ling Zuo and the others had been ordered to go to the Northmount Domain and arrange some spirit threads, they had only known that the command was absolute. Ling Zuo alone had been aware that the order had come from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, but the details had been unclear and everything had been strictly confidential.

If the Heavencraft Domain was truly destroyed, there was no doubt that the Nine Odysseys Megaverse would respond. Most likely, Xing Fan would be sent down, as the spirit threads appeared to be related to his power.

“You couldn’t even handle Yue Ya. This would add Xing Fan into the mix, and possibly even the wrath of a Greater Sancte. If you really wish to attack, then go ahead. I won’t stop you,” the High Seraph stated.

Lu Yin stared at the man. “Isn’t that exactly what you would like to see? Don’t tell me that you’re fine with the Spirit Nidus being harvested by the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. If I destroy the Heavencraft Domain, wouldn’t that perfectly suit your wishes? It would allow you to avoid offending Master Qing Cao, and you would also be able to watch the Nine Odysseys Megaverse take me out. The Spirit Nidus would even be able to catch a break. Three birds with one stone.”

“Yet if I did that, I would not be able to avoid taking responsibility,” the High Seraph rebuffed.

True... but “responsibility” means nothing when compared to an opportunity to eliminate a threat like me

.

The High Seraph’s efforts to protect the Heavencraft Domain made things clear to Lu Yin: the reason why he had not been attacked by the High Seraph was not solely because of Master Qing Cao. In fact, the Immortal might have even been an excuse. The High Seraph had other motives, and that was also why he did not want Lu Yin to destroy the Heavencraft Domain and draw down the wrath of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

This also explained why the High Seraph had previously attacked Ru Mu and had Old Salamander ambush Emperor Wu.

Those incidents might have once been a part of the High Seraph’s personal feud with Yue Ya, or an effort to stop Yue Ya from becoming a Greater Sancte. However, at this moment, Lu Yin was certain that the High Seraph had other uses for him.

The seven lands of karma, the karma wall, and that towering rectangular structure, its presence stretching outward, expanding with the force of karma...

While it seemed as though Lu Yin was the one in control, the truth was that he had always been moving according to the High Seraph’s calculations. The High Seraph had not needed to take action. All he needed to do was ensure that things remained on course.

However, Yue Ya’s interference had shaken things up, and that was forcing Lu Yin to start looking at the bigger picture, discovering one hidden truth after another.

Even protecting the Heavencraft Domain was not something done from the High Seraph’s kindness, but rather out of necessity.

While Lu Yin did feel threatened by the High Seraph’s schemes, there was also an upside: the High Seraph was also protecting Lu Yin. When Yue Ya had tried to capture him, the High Seraph had stepped in. Similarly, if the High Seraph’s own scheme ever succeeded and he decided to finally target Lu Yin, then Yue Ya would move to protect him.

Suddenly, Lu Yin had a great deal to consider.

He also realized that Yue Ya might not necessarily be his enemy.

The High Seraph had no idea how deeply Lu Yin was contemplating various matters, including even the Lesser Spirit Megaverse and Yuan Qi. Despite his youth, Lu Yin had already survived a great deal, and he had even personally witnessed how Destiny had plotted against Wei Nu by creating a branch stream in the River of Aeons. Lu Yin was capable of imagining many different scenarios, especially since he had spent a great deal of time around people like Wang Wen and Wei Rong, who constantly pushed him to think deeper.

Most people, after learning of the leverage on the High Seraph that was the Lesser Spirit Megaverse, would never suspect that the leverage itself was merely a red herring left for others to follow, let alone the possibility that the Lesser Spirit Megaverse itself might be fake.

Cultivation was too cruel. If one could not think far ahead, they would die before long.

The High Seraph’s words did lead Lu Yin to decide to spare the Heavencraft Domain, but only the domain itself, not any of the individuals.

From the ground of the Heavencraft Domain, Ling Zuo stared up at the palm falling towards him and sighed. This was the end.

Boom

.

Aside from a gaunt, pallid old man, Ling Zuo, the old woman, and everyone else in the small group of old people was killed by a single palm strike from Lu Yin.

No matter what the Heavencraft Domain represented, the fact remained that they had helped Yue Ya in attacking Lu Yin. He had no reason to spare them.

Ling Zuo and the others were all dead. Out of everyone in the group, the gaunt old man alone had shown genuine fear upon seeing Lu Yin. For that reason, he was spared. By keeping this particular old man alive in the Heavencraft Domain, their heritage would not be completely broken.

“From this day on, every spirit seed the Heavencraft Domain earns belongs to my

Boundless

. Any objections, Mo Shang?” Lu Yin asked the High Seraph.

The High Seraph turned and left. The deaths of the domain’s elders did not impact him in the slightest. In the past, most of them had faked their own deaths, with only Ling Zuo staying in the public’s eye. It did not really matter that the ruler of the domain had become another old man. The Heavencraft Domain would still produce spirit thread, as it always had. That was enough.

Lu Yin also left. Before leaving, he glanced back at the gaunt old man.

Beneath the Seraph’s stare, the gaunt old man slowly bowed. “Ling Gui bids you farewell, Seraph Lu.”

Lu Yin looked away and vanished.

Only when Lu Yin was completely out of sight did Ling Gui finally let out a breath of relief. It was finally over. He looked around. There was so much blood in the air that it had taken on a crimson hue.

Did the old man fear dying? Of course he did. He was nowhere close to the end of his lifespan, unlike the other elders. As for personal strength, Ling Gui could not compare to Ling Zuo. He was also merely one of the Heavencraft Domain’s master craftsmen. Still, that was enough to ensure that the spirit threads would continue to be produced.

The Heavencraft Domain may have permanently lost their spirit seeds, but the truth was that the domain had never needed them to begin with.

It was time to let the youths return.

The old man looked back up at the distant sky. No one in the Heavencraft Domain would ever be able to reach the same level of strength as Seraph Lu.

No one, not ever.

The High Seraph returned to the Ascendant Hall, only to immediately be informed that Ru Guo had reached Heavenspire. The news caused the man’s expression to fall.

Just as Ru Guo had claimed, the High Seraph did not want to see the Ru family be rescued. Their rescue would increase the odds that Yue Ya would lose his title of Lesser Sancte, even if that remained a remote possibility.

“Bone grafters,” the High Seraph muttered as he observed the broken corpses down below. His expression turned grim.

“Bone grafters?” Lan asked in confusion.

The High Seraph’s eyes narrowed sharply.

Yong Heng again. What exactly is that man trying to do?

The High Seraph knew of bone grafting. Long ago, when the Spirit Nidus had first allied with Aeternus to destroy the Heavens Sect, Yong Heng had stated that he was one. The bone grafter innate gift was enough to guarantee a constant supply of peak powerhouses who would fight for Aeternus. That was why more elites had not been sent from the Spirit Nidus to fight in the Tianyuan Megaverse. The Ossis Ark alone had been sufficient.

The High Seraph had not expected that bone grafters had been sent to attack the Ascendant Hall.

First, Yong Heng had helped Old Salamander escape. Then, the man had allied with Yue Ya, only to shortly after be caught working with Lu Yin—his sworn enemy. At present, it was clear that Yong Heng was working with Ru Guo. Just what was the man’s goal? Why was he cooperating with everyone?

“My lord, Ru Guo returned to Heavenspire because we failed to guard the path. Please punish us accordingly,” Lan stated as she bowed, feeling guilty.

The High Seraph waved a hand. “It’s only natural since the bone grafters got involved.”

If the bone grafters had been insufficient to allow Ru Guo to return to Heavenspire and Yong Heng had personally intervened, it would have been absolutely impossible to stop Ru Guo from leaving.

Ru Guo had returned, and Yue Ya was being punished for the recent incident. It would be some time before he could show himself again. This guaranteed that Ru Guo would rescue his family, and once that happened, they would not stay in Heavenspire. Most likely, Ru Guo would return to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

Why would Yong Heng help with that?

Right, Jiu Xian’s enemy, who she’s been searching for all this time, is also connected to Yong Heng. Could Yong Heng be planning something in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse? Does he really possess the nerve for that?

In the face of absolute power, any scheme or trick is meaningless.

Compared to the other three megaverses, the Nine Odysseys Megaverse existed on an entirely different level.

In Heavenspire, Ru Guo did save Ru Mu and the others. He had eliminated all of the people who had helped Yue Ya attack the Ru family. Unfortunately, Cheng Gong had managed to escape.

Ru Guo headed to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, taking Ru Mu with him, who was still essentially a living corpse. When he glanced back, it was clear to him that Heavenspire no longer belonged to his Ru family. There was no doubt that the status they had purchased with the Wayfinder Sutra would be lost.

Without the requisite strength, titles meant nothing.

Ru Guo’s plans consisted of returning to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse and abandoning his desire for the title of Lesser Sancte. He would focus on his cultivation and quickly reach the third level of the Wayfinder Sutra. With that, there was no doubt that he would be able to truly seize the title of Lesser Sancte for himself.

Lu Yin, I’ll do as I promised. I’ll leave you a path to survival here in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. I hope to meet you here one day.

Yue Ya had nurtured Cheng Gong in hopes of gaining assistance when he became a Greater Sancte. Ru Guo was no different. In the eyes of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, there was no real difference between the Spirit Nidus and the Tianyuan megaverses. If the High Seraph could be given the title of Lesser Sancte, then so too could Lu Yin.

By rescuing Ru Mu and the rest of his family, Ru Guo had secured an escape route for his family while also properly preparing his mental state for the Wayfinder Sutra. He had no doubt that he would be able to master the third level and become a Lesser Sancte. At that time, Ru Guo would also need allies, and Lu Yin was the best candidate.

The young man had already been targeted by Yue Ya, which made the two of them enemies. Lu Yin was also at odds with the High Seraph, whereas Ru Guo’s position aligned with Lu Yin’s.

Don’t disappoint me!

After Lu Yin returned to

Boundless

, the Ascendant Hall released a proclamation: it was time to set out. The expedition to destroy the Consciousness Megaverse was launching.

...

Seven colossal battleships sailed toward the boundary. As they passed by, countless eyes followed them. Some were filled with envy, and others held anticipation, anxiety, or just excitement.

The war between the Spirit Nidus and the Consciousness Megaverse had gone on for far too long. The Consciousness Megaverse had always been on the defensive, as it had never been the Spirit Nidus’s equal. Despite that inequality, the Consciousness Megaverse still had not been reset. Generations had passed, and many people had seen relatives, friends, and comrades all perish in that foreign megaverse.

While the Spirit Nidus had initiated the war, hatred had still continued to spread.

There were many who hoped to see the Consciousness Megaverse be completely destroyed. As for resetting the megaverse, that was not something that most people could witness personally.

Only Dukkhans had any chance of taking advantage of a megaverse’s reset to step into the Immortal realm. For everyone else, even Ortusers, a reset meant very little.