Chapter 3699: Shifting

From the High Seraph’s attention, Master Qing Cao’s intervention, and even the anticipation of the voice in the memories of the Willbound Spire, everything told Lu Yin that karma alone was a path to the Immortal realm.

So what if someone possessed an Immortal’s technique?

Karma: Karmic Dao.

An ant trying to swallow an elephant; that was how Old Chief appeared to Lu Yin at this moment. Some mere lock wanted to seal away his Karmic Dao? Ridiculous.

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

There was a cracking sound, and then the invisible lock in the sky shattered.

Old Chief violently spat out blood. He could not believe this. It was impossible. Had the Heaven and Earth Lock actually been broken?

The lock had failed once before against the High Seraph, and it was suddenly failing again against this new opponent. How could this be? Just who were they facing?

Lu Yin’s Karmic Dao surged onwards, continuing to tear the Heaven and Earth Lock apart. Old Chief coughed up more blood, and he was even forced to release his consciousness to reinforce the seal. As he did so, Shuangdao and the other Luminaries all attacked, trying to overwhelm Lu Yin. Despite his show of dominance and successfully injuring the six Luminaries before, Lu Yin would be hard-pressed to endure it if they all attacked at once. At the very least, he would be injured.

At that moment, at a distant point beneath the cliff, the High Seraph suddenly appeared. He glanced at Lu Yin, who was fighting against Old Chief and the others alone, and then raised a hand. Light danced at his fingertip, and he then attacked the cliff with his Everlasting Will.

The High Seraph had appeared quickly, and he had attacked even faster. While he was seen by Lu Yin and Old Chief, they were unable to react in time, especially since they were mutually restraining each other at this moment.

Lu Yin’s eyes bulged, and his heart dropped. He had wanted to keep an eye out for the High Seraph, wanting to use the man’s Everlasting Will to reach the top of the cliff. It was likely that the High Seraph had similar intentions. However, given that Lu Yin was tied up by Old Chief, he had simply enabled the High Seraph’s success.

This was too much of a coincidence. Was it possible that the High Seraph had also been observing the bottom of the cliff?

Old Chief and the others were similarly unwilling to accept the High Seraph’s success. Reaching the top of the cliff had been a dream of the Consciousness Megaverse’s for countless years, and they had just missed their chance.

Beautiful light burst out from the High Seraph’s fingertip. The brilliant glow of his Everlasting Will illuminated the side of the cliff as it shot upwards.

At this moment, the expressions of those at the top of the cliff also changed dramatically. The High Seraph was the only one beneath the cliff who even had a chance of reaching them. He might even reach the top. If they had to confront him, then no one in either group had any idea how they would respond.

Publicly, the High Seraph was a Lesser Sancte. If he killed them, there would not be any repercussions at all. However, it was also true that the High Seraph was from the Spirit Nidus, which made killing them all the more justified. No matter how they examined the situation, they were doomed.

Everlasting Will shot up the side of the cliff. The High Seraph stepped forward, chasing after his attack, intending to use its power to reach the top.

Lu Yin, Old Chief, and even the people atop the cliff could do nothing to stop Everlasting Will. All anyone could do was watch.

Suddenly, the streak of light shifted direction. It was no longer aimed at the cliff. Instead, it headed for Lu Yin.

The abrupt change caught everyone off guard, including even the High Seraph himself.

He released the technique, allowing Everlasting Will to move freely. The brilliant light illuminated the entire area, followed by a wave of intense pressure.

Lu Yin was still surrounded by the six Luminaries, so attacking him meant first breaking through the encirclement.

Everlasting Will had changed direction too suddenly. Yu Ye was the Luminary closest to the High Seraph, and they had no time to react. Everlasting Will pierced their form, and they quickly dissipated.

Gui Shaoqing and Xi Wen reacted as one, attempting to push Yu Ye aside with their consciousness, but they were too late.

The High Seraph had once killed two other Luminaries with his Everlasting Will, and Yu Ye had no chance of surviving a direct strike.

After passing through Yu Ye, the light of Everlasting Will did not fade. Instead, it continued on towards Lu Yin.

As for Lu Yin, he vanished.

The brilliant streak of light passed through where he had just been standing and struck a distant portion of the cliff before gradually dissipating.

Old Chief and the others stood frozen in place as they stared in a daze. Where had Lu Yin gone?

The High Seraph looked to the side, where Lu Yin stood calmly. He was holding a wooden wing in a hand. He had used the mirebound artifact to avoid Everlasting Will.

The wooden wing had not been used during Lu Yin’s battle with Old Chief and the other Luminaries because it had not been necessary. Only the High Seraph’s sudden appearance and attack with Everlasting Will had driven Lu Yin to a desperate situation. However, he already regretted using it. The High Seraph’s timing had been so precise that Lu Yin might have been too late even with the wooden wing. Fortunately, the High Seraph’s attack had been disrupted. With this thought, Lu Yin turned to look into the distance. Another person had arrived, and it was someone familiar.

The High Seraph turned his head to look in the same direction. A figure slowly emerged and entered everyone’s sight. There was no mistake—Yong Heng had arrived.

No one had expected True God to be present in the Willbound Spire.

Lu Yin had expected Yong Heng to follow the expedition to the Consciousness Megaverse by joining a battleship, but seeing the man in the Willbound Expanse, and even the Willbound Spire, was a surprise. Not only that, but Yong Heng’s timing had also been as precise as the High Seraph’s, as though he had been focused on someone.

It was just like the old saying; while the mantis hunts the cicada, the oriole lurks above. The High Seraph had arrived, as had Lu Yin and Yong Heng.

Four different forces had gathered at the bottom of the cliff: Old Chief and his five Luminaries, the High Seraph, Yong Heng, and Lu Yin.

The two groups at the top of the cliff remained motionless. They were just watching everything play out. Their earlier chatter was gone, as everyone could sense that the battle below might eventually affect them.

There was a clear sense of imminent danger in the air.

"How did you get here?" the High Seraph asked as he looked at Yong Heng. Lu Yin’s appearance had been anticipated, but Yong Heng’s was a complete surprise.

Yong Heng gave a small smile as he looked first at the High Seraph, and then at Lu Yin. "Since everyone else is already here, I couldn’t be missing, could I?"

He then turned to Old Chief and the conscients and admiringly remarked, "Are you Thirteen Luminaries truly the strongest in this Consciousness Megaverse? If all of you are exterminated here, then the Consciousness Megaverse will be left to the mercy of others."

No matter how one looked at it, Old Chief and the rest of the Luminaries were at a disadvantage despite their superior numbers.

Yong Heng’s comment prompted Old Chief to step forward. He looked at the three men and said, "This is the Consciousness Megaverse. We can stay and fight, or we can retreat. We will not be completely wiped out here. You had best look after yourself, as we are not the greatest threat to you."

Yong Heng laughed. "Clearly we are in your territory, and yet you are still forced to consider retreating. How pathetic."

Old Chief and the other five Luminaries looked quite depressed at this moment.

Lu Yin spoke up, "How did you get here?"

Yong Heng looked over. "If I wasn’t here, who would help you?"

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. "Like the help you just gave me?"

Yong Heng laughed again. "The High Seraph almost ran away, didn't he?"

"But I was also nearly injured by his Everlasting Will," Lu Yin retorted.

Yong Heng just shrugged. "You wouldn’t have been."

The High Seraph frowned as he kept a wary eye on Yong Heng. No one understood just how difficult it was to redirect his Everlasting Will better than the High Seraph. He had once killed two of the Thirteen Luminaries with Everlasting Will while also severely injuring Wu Wei. Everlasting Will had silenced the entire Consciousness Megaverse. Later, only by working together had the Origin Progenitor and Lu Yin managed to counter the technique when it had targeted someone aboard

Boundless.

Even then, they had merely countered the attack.

Instead, Yong Heng had managed to completely redirect the attack. Just as the High Seraph had believed, Yong Heng was the true strongest being in the Tianyuan Megaverse.

"So, what now? It appears that only the High Seraph is able to climb the cliff, but everyone else here also wishes to reach the top," Yong Heng asked with a smile as he looked over at the High Seraph.

Old Chief and the other Luminaries followed Yong Heng’s gaze. The situation was completely outside of their control. On top of that, there were three absolute monsters present, any one of whom would render the conscients helpless. Trying to climb the cliff was unquestionably the better option. They could not understand how so many experts had suddenly appeared.

Lu Yin also looked at the High Seraph and then commented, "I have a suggestion: why don't we first cripple the High Seraph? Then we can force him to take us up."

"Excellent idea," Yong Heng agreed.

Old Chief and the other Luminaries exchanged glances. "Attack!"

At that moment, all of their consciousnesses instantly surged towards the High Seraph.

Lu Yin stepped forward, releasing his inner universe as well as his consciousness that formed the Nine Heavens. He threw a palm strike with such compressed physical power that even the High Seraph could feel a chill.

In unison with Lu Yin, the High Seraph also stepped forward and released his own Nine Heavens Transformation while attacking with Veilparter.

Bang!

The two strikes collided, shattering the void. The shockwaves created a storm that swept out, dispersing the consciousness attacks of the conscients. At the point of impact, flecks of darkness started to spread out, engulfing both men. Their palm strikes rebounded, and the excessive power caused the void itself to dissolve like an illusion.

Lu Yin stared at the point where his hand had met Veilparter. Battle force covered his arm as it withered. Behind him, Heaven’s Blade shot at the High Seraph.

The man looked up, and a terrifying number of sequence particles appeared. It was such an excessive number that it caused people’s scalps to go numb. The High Seraph was quickly hidden from sight as his sequence particles filled the area beneath the cliff. With both the Everstone sequence base and his own Everstone sequence particles, the High Seraph could not be moved.

Heaven's Blade froze in the air, unable to advance even another inch.

The sword of consciousness attacked the result, entirely bypassing the process itself, but even then, it was unable to get close to the High Seraph. At this moment, the High Seraph was the universe, and the universe was the High Seraph.

There was a bang, and Lu Yin was forced multiple steps back. He was shaken, but not by the High Seraph's strength. This power was drawn from the void.

The Spirit Nidus had a sequence technique known as Infinite Strength. Theoretically, it could allow one’s strength to become infinite by harnessing the vast power of the universe itself. It was possible to unleash unimaginable, limitless power. However, to do so also required an infinite number of sequence particles, which was completely impossible. That was why true infinite strength was nothing more than a theoretical possibility.

In contrast, with Everstone and his unfathomable number of sequence particles, the High Seraph had managed to alter the universe and essentially become it. With the power of a universe, the High Seraph was able to overwhelm Lu Yin. This was an alternative means of strength. It was not the High Seraph’s personal power, but rather something harnessed, much like a springboard.

When it came to brute strength, none in the Spirit Nidus surpassed Emperor Wu. However, the High Seraph had surpassed the realm of mere physical strength. He no longer required physical strength to unleash limitless power.

As Lu Yin was forced back, two sword slashes swept past him to attack the High Seraph: Middle Heaven’s Blade and Lower Heaven's Blade.

Compared to Lu Yin, the High Seraph was a much greater threat to the Consciousness Megaverse. He was also the only one who was capable of ascending the cliff. For Old Chief and the other Luminaries, the High Seraph was their most important target, and they would go after him even if it meant ignoring Lu Yin, who was closer.

The two slashes also froze in the sky. With the support of Everstone, the High Seraph had made himself the universe itself, vast and boundless. Those atop the cliff were stunned. Despite the great distance, they could not stop themselves from feeling the sense of awe that the man radiated. That feeling of needing to look up at him, despite looking down the cliff, left people feeling like they were coughing up blood.

The man and woman leading the two groups were badly startled. Was this the High Seraph's true level of strength? It was no wonder how he had once defeated Lesser Sancte Ru Shi. Of the five Lesser Sancti, even if the High Seraph was not the strongest, there was no question that he was among the top three.

Yong Heng attacked. The sequence particles filled the sky like a monster emerging from underground. The High Seraph’s own sequence particles were violently shoved aside in an impressive burst.

The High Seraph’s expression grew somber, and he looked over at Yong Heng without saying a word. Everstone froze the void again, and the High Seraph pressed forward, having been given the power of a universe again.

Yong Heng calmly watched and then waved his right hand. His sequence particles suddenly shifted and moved back towards the High Seraph.

As everyone watched, the two streams of sequence particles collided. The sky and the ground were both split asunder. It was like watching two massive beasts fight in outer space, and the clash made the cliff tremble.

Atop the cliff, everyone felt a sudden chill. This was like watching two gods battle each other.