Chapter 3710: Self-interest Above All

The High Seraph retaliated, and Veilparter swept towards Yong Heng.

The man turned and unleashed Natural Art. Red lanterns drifted in the sky. One moved in Mo Shang’s direction while the other drifted closer to Lu Yin. Both were destroyed at the same time, and as that happened, Yong Heng’s hands thrust out to meet the High Seraph’s attack.

Shockwaves rippled out, and Lu Yin used them to retreat. So long as the High Seraph was present, Lu Yin was not afraid of having everyone gang up on him.

Even if Lu Yin genuinely tried to kill the High Seraph, the High Seraph still would not allow Lu Yin to be harmed.

The High Seraph had deep plans involving Lu Yin, and while Lu Yin did not know what those plans were, he was certain that they would compel the High Seraph to save him.

Judging by all that had happened, the scheme was incredibly important, which cast a shadow over Lu Yin’s thoughts.

“You conscients, what are you waiting for? Attack! Help me take out the High Seraph!” Yong Heng’s voice rang out.

Old Chief and the other Luminaries were stunned. Who were they supposed to attack? Lu Yin? The High Seraph? The whole thing was a mess.

The idea was for everyone to attack the High Seraph, and yet the members of their little alliance were attacking each other first. On top of that, Lu Yin had actually requested the High Seraph’s assistance, and he had even received it! What did all the earlier fighting even mean?

The people from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse were equally confused. For the first time in their lives, their intelligence failed to process the current situation. They could find no coherent explanation for the chaos before them.

The conscients attacked. No matter what else, going after the High Seraph was guaranteed to be the right decision.

Lu Yin also joined the fray, similarly attacking the High Seraph. This did not surprise the High Seraph in the least.

Everything that was playing out could be summarized with a few simple words: Self-interest above all else.

No matter how long the chaos raged, the battle yielded no results.

Only when the High Seraph nearly killed Xi Wen, who was saved by Lu Yin, did the fighting finally cease.

Old Chief was left even more bewildered than ever; why had Lu Yin saved Xi Wen?

The four sides restrained each other. In the short term, there would be no conclusion.

Each party had their own interests and demands, and yet they also possessed nearly equal power, which led to a perfect balance.

Yong Heng sighed in resignation. “If you allow Lord Lu to grow unchecked, you will come to regret it.”

Lu Yin’s lips curved into a smile. “We’re in the same boat.”

Nothing that could be said would change the situation. Given the level of cultivation of everyone present, they were all confident with their own powerful hidden cards.

In this situation, no one could prevail over anyone else.

Unable to truly harm each other, everyone’s attention shifted to the palace and then to the people from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse who were staring at them.

Old Chief’s group was particularly interested. They had never seen anyone atop the cliff before, and discovering these people had been so shocking and unbelievable that the conscients were still reeling from the shock. The way that the people from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse looked at the conscients only served to deepen their curiosity about these strangers.

Already, the newcomers to the cliff top were only a short distance away from the two groups of people. However, closing that distance would require being subjected to the crushing pressure of the palace’s memories. Despite the limited distance, it had taken the groups from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse a great deal of time to cover it.

The pressure was only crushing to those from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. For Old Chief and the other Luminaries, the intensity of the pressure from the memories was at an entirely different level.

When the conscients looked their way, the leaders of the two groups instantly changed expressions.

On one side, the woman stood in front of her group. Her expression was grim, as this was the worst‑case scenario. These people had climbed the cliff, and they had cut off any possibility of retreat.

“This cliff top is quite spacious, so why don’t we all keep to ourselves and not interfere with each other?” Lu Yin suggested. He had some information regarding the palace, but not much. What had Yong Heng just said? That the palace contained the memories of an Immortal? That would be truly invaluable.

He was eager to see if he could enter the palace and obtain those memories.

The High Seraph agreed. While this deviated from the original plan, there was really no other choice.

Yong Heng was forced to consent as well.

Shuangdao immediately started moving closer to the palace, which meant that he was also heading towards the people from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

Those people started to panic. Ants might be able to look down on elephants from an elevated position, but when those elephants were raised up to the same level, the ants would understand the true terror of directly confronting an elephant. Looking up, they failed to even see the elephant’s head.

The woman leading one of the groups looked at the High Seraph and slowly bowed. “I am Lian Shuang. Greetings to the Lesser Sancte, the lord High Seraph.”

The young people with her quickly followed her lead and also bowed to the High Seraph. They had forgotten that there was a Lesser Sancte present with them. Even if they held him in contempt due to how he had received his title and his current actions, he was the only one who could save them at this moment.

After all, the High Seraph was a Lesser Sancte, regardless of his attitude towards the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

Shuangdao stopped moving and turned to look at the High Seraph. Sure enough, he was in league with the people atop the cliff. The High Seraph had been able to expose them because they had already known each other.

The conscients instantly grew tense and vigilant.

The High Seraph’s expression remained indifferent as his eyes swept over the people from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, only for his attention to move past them and settle on the palace.

Seeing this infuriated Lian Shuang. How dare a dog that had been thrown a bone by her Nine Odysseys Megaverse dare to ignore them? All who stood in this place clearly had powerful backings.

“Lesser Sancte High Seraph, please help us open up a path. We wish to return to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse,” Lian Shuang continued.

The Luminaries all grew puzzled. What was the Nine Odysseys Megaverse? A fourth megaverse? Why would the Nine Odysseys Megaverse have a connection to both the Willbound Spire and the High Seraph? There were just too many questions.

This made the conscients simply want to capture the people before them and get some clear answers.

The High Seraph took a step forward, moving towards the palace, completely ignoring the two groups of young people.

Shuangdao looked away from the High Seraph and back at the group of young humans before moving closer to them. “No one will save you. You’ve been enjoying the show. Now, I want you to cry for me.”

Lian Shuang gritted her teeth. “Lord High Seraph, are you not going to help us? You are a Lesser Sancte! Do not forget your duty!”

The High Seraph still completely ignored the woman. After all, he was already within range of the pressure of the memories.

Yong Heng also walked toward the palace, bracing himself against the onslaught of memories.

Everyone’s mutual vigilance towards the others present drove them all to constantly move closer to the palace.

Lu Yin also stepped forward. He lacked the power to disrupt the current balance, so he would simply see who could get closest to the palace.

Everyone relied on their own abilities, yet whoever drew closest would inevitably become targeted by the other three parties. Advancing required extreme caution.

Additionally, Lu Yin intended to capture a few people from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. Luo Ning had already been selected as a target.

Lu Yin’s gaze shifted over to the young man.

Luo Ning was already staring at Lu Yin, and when their eyes met, Luo Ning’s pupils shrank. It was clear that the other man intended to attack.

Lu Yin smiled and again dragged a finger over his throat while staring at Luo Ning.

This time, Luo Ning lost his breath when he saw the gesture.

“Lord High Seraph, the Nine Odysseys Megaverse already knows that you are here. Word was sent back the moment that we were exposed. Should anything happen to us, how will you answer to them?” Lian Shuang threatened.

The High Seraph did not even bother to glance at the woman as he continued forward.

Lu Yin walked toward one of the groups, as did Shuangdao.

Luo Ning spoke up. “I am from the Skyward Gate’s Luo family. My family’s favor is priceless, Lord High Seraph.”

The High Seraph finally turned his head to look at Luo Ning.

The young man stared back. “Save me, and you will be allowed to travel through the Skyward Gate as you wish.”

Lu Yin glanced at the High Seraph, who was still staring at Luo Ning. “The Skyward Gate’s Luo family?”

Luo Ning’s lips curled. “Yes, the Luo family.”

“Nothing more than a guard dog,” the High Seraph stated before turning away. He refused to look further.

Luo Ning’s face twisted, and his rage flared. “What did you just say?”

The others from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse fell deathly silent. The Skyward Gate’s Luo family was undoubtedly a powerful group, and they were quite important in their megaverse. If not, Luo Ning would have never been allowed to enter the Scion Spire or be frozen in the Octagonal Pavilion. Despite all that, he had still failed to earn more than a glance from the High Seraph.

If the High Seraph was someone from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse and had properly earned his title of Lesser Sancte, then such disregard might make sense, but he had been given his title. For that reason, the entire Nine Odysseys Megaverse held him in contempt. To enter their megaverse, it was necessary to pass through the Skyward Gate. While any proper Lesser Sancte could do so freely, the High Seraph required the Luo family’s consent.

This was precisely the reason behind Luo Ning’s earlier confidence. He had assumed that the High Seraph needed the Luo family’s favor.

Being ignored by the High Seraph was entirely unexpected.

“You have offended my Luo family, High Seraph! From now on, you shall never pass through the Skyward Gate!” Luo Ning threatened.

The High Seraph never so much as batted an eye.

Receiving no response, Luo Ning glared at the High Seraph. He then glanced back over at Lu Yin, who had already entered the range of the pressure from the palace’s memories. Lu Yin was closing in fast. Luo Ning’s only option was to flee, and the only direction available was closer to the palace. How was he ever supposed to outrun Lu Yin in this place?

Despite the terrible odds, Luo Ning said nothing more and simply resumed walking toward the palace. Each step was agonizing.

Lu Yin endured the onslaught of memories. It was a sensation that was both familiar and strange.

He had Possessed countless creatures with his die, and he had witnessed every manner of memories, even the heavy pressure of endless years that conscients experienced. He was all too familiar with that numbing weight. Even so, at this moment, in addition to that similar pressure, there was an indescribable sense of tearing and immersion. It was as if he had become another person, creature, or even an entire universe. He could see an infinite night sky and feel the ebb and flow of cosmic tides. On top of all that, it felt like his body was falling into an abyss, as powerless as any ordinary human.

The pressure from these memories felt as though his own memories were being solidified into a string with the pressure from the palace constantly pulling on that string. If Lu Yin failed to endure, his string would snap.

While suffering from the pressure of the memories, he never saw a single image from any of the memories.

Despite the contradictory situation, it felt quite natural. The total immersion was not the same as virtual reality; one included a third‑person perspective while also allowing for a full experience.

He was reliving events from the past even though he never saw anything at all.

The clearest sensation he had was that of his string of memories being pulled ever tighter.

This was just the beginning. The further he proceeded, the tighter that string would be stretched. This was delving into realms that pure strength could not touch. Neither consciousness nor spiritual force could help. It felt as though he was in a dream where it was impossible to use his strength despite possessing it.

It was a profoundly helpless feeling, which was something that Lu Yin had not experienced in a very, very long time.

If this palace, or even the Willbound Spire itself, was formed from the memories of a single being, then had that being cultivated the power of memory?

That was a power that Lu Yin had never encountered before.

Elsewhere, Shuangdao was also enduring the pressure of the memories as he and the rest of Old Chief’s group continued moving towards the palace.

Lu Yin glanced over. He did not rush forward, instead observing the High Seraph and Yong Heng, both of whom were similarly standing still. They seemed to be absorbing the pressure of the memories.

Only Shuangdao was impatient. He was determined to capture the people from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse and learn what was really going on.

Some time later, a scream rang out. Shuangdao had captured one of the young people who had fallen behind the rest of their group.

The rest of the young people struggled desperately to get closer to the palace. They felt powerless, confused, fearful, and despairing. They had once had a bright future laid out before them, but now, they were suddenly confronting death at the hands of ants that they had once scorned.