Chapter 3711: Captured One By One

Shuangdao’s captive was a man from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, and he looked at the conscient with a pleading expression on his face. There was a cosmic ring on each of his fingers, a clear sign of substantial wealth. He also possessed a decent cultivation for his age, enough to be considered a prodigy in the Tianyuan Megaverse. Even so, he had almost no spine.

Before long, Old Chief and the other conscients had surrounded the man, and soon enough, they learned the truth.

The Nine Odysseys Megaverse was an incredibly powerful megaverse that ruled above the other known megaverses, and it was home to multiple Immortal cultivators.

The truth was suffocating.

The conscients had been completely unaware of even this megaverse’s existence.

For countless years, they had been looked down upon as ants.

The one that they had long regarded as their greatest enemy, the High Seraph, had apparently merely been given his position and title by the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. They struggled to accept all that they were learning.

Their entire understanding of reality was being overturned.

Shuangdao struck again, capturing another young person. This only resulted in the conscients receiving the same information for a second time. After that, another person was caught. Shuangdao was hoping to hear a different response. Even if the humans were lying to him, he still wanted to get a better understanding of the current situation, but ultimately, it was just one disappointment after another. That led to the Luminary lashing out in anger. Blood flowed across the top of the cliff, its pungent stench spreading out.

Lian Shuang watched on with a grim expression on her face. “The Consciousness, Tianyuan, and Spirit Nidus megaverses are nothing but ants under the control of our Nine Odysseys Megaverse. Now that you know the truth, all of you should refrain from acting against us. Everything that happens here

will

be known to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, and you are no longer in control of your own fates.”

Old Chief looked over at Lian Shuang with his ancient eyes. “If we do nothing, then what will happen?”

Lian Shuang answered in a low voice, “Should you spare us now, then you may one day spare yourselves.

“Those who are allowed to come here are not ordinary people. You will receive great favors.”

Old Chief gave Lian Shuang a long look, and then he turned to stare at Luo Ning. Unlike Lian Shuang, that man had actually succeeded in drawing the High Seraph’s attention. It appeared that there was some weight to the Skyward Gate’s Luo family.

The attention caused the young man’s eyes to narrow. “The Skyward Gate grants access to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, and my Luo family guards it. Help me, and I can allow you entry to our megaverse. Even if your Consciousness Megaverse is reset, you will remain safe.”

“Will the Consciousness Megaverse be reset?” Xi Wen asked.

Lian Shuang reacted with a cold sneer, unconsciously revealing a trace of arrogance. “Only three of the four Greater Sancti remain. What do you think?”

All of the Luminaries suddenly grew uneasy. The fastest way to become an Immortal was to reset a megaverse.

While the conscients did not know which megaverse the Nine Odysseys Megaverse’s Greater Sancti had reset to reach their current realm, they had also never even been aware of that megaverse’s existence.

At that moment, Lu Yin abruptly started moving, and he walked straight towards a group of young people.

Lian Shuang, Old Chief, and the others all turned to watch Lu Yin.

Lu Yin’s expression was solemn. He remembered learning that, with only three Greater Sancti in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, a Lesser Sancti would inevitably ascend to the Immortal realm to become the fourth Greater Sancte. To do so, it was necessary to reset a megaverse. Did that guarantee that the Consciousness Megaverse would be reset?

Even after learning of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse’s existence, Lu Yin’s perception had been clouded by his previous knowledge of the Spirit Nidus and the Consciousness megaverses. After countless years of war, it was commonly believed that the Spirit Nidus would eventually reset the Consciousness Megaverse. This thought had persisted even after learning about the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. The idea of resetting the Consciousness Megaverse was deeply etched into his mind, as though branded.

However, Lu Yin had suddenly remembered the events that had transpired during the thirty-seven years that had been undone. The Spirit Nidus had launched an expedition into the Tianyuan Megaverse. Adding on what Lu Yin had recently learned about the Willbound Spire and the relationship between the Consciousness Megaverse, the Spirit Nidus, and the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, he quickly drew a terrifying conclusion.

If it was indeed necessary to reset a megaverse in order to become an Immortal, then while the Consciousness Megaverse was still a possibility, the Tianyuan Megaverse was a far more likely candidate.

It was possible that the “three megaverses” that Lu Yin had overheard did not refer to the Tianyuan, Spirit Nidus, and Consciousness megaverses. That term could have just as easily referred to the Spirit Nidus, Consciousness, and Nine Odysseys megaverses.

The Tianyuan Negaverse was too far removed from the other three megaverses, and it had never had any real interactions with them. Yuan Qi had been sent to limit the Tianyuan Megaverse’s potential, and in doing so, limit their ability to resist a future invasion. When resistance became impossible, the outcome would be guaranteed.

Lu Yin had previously assumed that the Spirit Nidus would be the one to reap the benefits of a weakened Tianyuan Megaverse, but the truth was that the Nine Odysseys Megaverse would be the true beneficiary, and them alone.

Ge Yao, whom Lesser Sancte Yue Ya had sent to Lu Yin, had told Lu Yin that Yue Ya saw no distinction between the Spirit Nidus and the Tianyuan megaverses. This had essentially been an attempt to demonstrate how the Nine Odysseys Megaverse reigned supreme and how all others were subordinate. In the eyes of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, the Tianyuan Megaverse had long since been enveloped into their control.

If Lu Yin was the ruler of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, then he would never consider resetting the Consciousness Megaverse because both they and the Spirit Nidus were intrinsically connected to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. These symbiotic relationships were too important to casually end. In contrast, the Tianyuan Megaverse was so far removed from the other megaverses that it would be a waste to not reset it.

This realization sent endless chills through Lu Yin. He had continuously overlooked this detail. The truth was that he had not merely overlooked it; past events had clouded his judgment, and he had prematurely come to a false conclusion.

Had he known of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse’s existence from the very beginning, he would have never fallen into this mistaken perspective. It would have been clear to him just which megaverse was most logical for the Nine Odysseys Megaverse to reset.

As for Heavenspire, which Lu Yin had once believed to be the Lesser Spirit Megaverse, he had learned the truth from Ru Guo. Heavenspire was not a megaverse, but rather a place that was similar to Beacon City. If there really had been a Lesser Spirit Megaverse, then the Tianyuan Megaverse would have been much safer. Without that safeguard, Lu Yin became convinced that his megaverse would be the first to be reset.

There was no need to worry about the Spirit Nidus. The High Seraph was with Lu Yin, and it was quite possible that the Origin Progenitor and the others had already dealt with the other battleships. What Lu Yin feared most at this moment was the Nine Odysseys Megaverse directly targeting the Tianyuan Megaverse.

That meant that he needed to understand the current situation in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

When the young people saw Lu Yin approaching, they immediately started to panic even more.

When it had just been Old Chief and the other conscients targeting them, the people from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse had still been able to threaten them and prevent the Luminaries from going too far. On the other hand, they could all remember what they had seen Lu Yin do. Threaten him? Forget that. It would be better to offer a bribe.

Lian Shuang watched Lu Yin as he moved closer. She wanted to block his path, but she also knew that she was no match for him. “Conscients, if you help us return to our megaverse, I will promise that these youths’ elders will work together and use their influence to secure your passage to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. This will spare you the fate of dying with the reset.”

“Yes! I am from Loneswan Island. My grandfather is very influential. Help me get back, and I will surely get you into the Nine Odysseys Megaverse!” someone immediately shouted.

Others nearby immediately started pleading as well. “I am from...”

“I am from...”

“Don’t worry about those you’ve already killed. We will help you smooth things over...”

Old Chief and the other Luminaries did not move at all. While these young people might have powerful backing, that did not mean that they were able to influence the Nine Odysseys Megaverse’s decisions when it came to the conscients. They were all part of the Thirteen Luminaries, their megaverse’s top experts. Even if they were allowed into the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, they would still stand near the peak. Their fates could not be decided by mere children. On top of that, what would await them in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse? Enslavement?

They wished that they had never learned about the existence of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

On the other side of the cliff top, a woman in the group led by the man suddenly shouted, “I know what you’re worried about! If you help them return to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, I can call upon the Spirit Coalition to intervene on your behalf. They will do all that they can to protect you after you enter the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.”

All of the conscients turned to look across the cliff top. Protect them? The Spirit Coalition?

While Ru Guo had told Lu Yin about the megaverse, the man had never commented on any of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse’s factions. It was true, as Ru Guo had mentioned, that those at their level did not need to worry about many details. The only thing that mattered was the Nine Odysseys Megaverse’s existence and its relationship with the Spirit Nidus.

As for the various factions, they could be annihilated with the flick of a wrist. There was no reason to learn much about them.

The people on the far side of the cliff top had been watching quietly before this, but since a woman over there had brought up the Spirit Coalition, it had to be a group with some level of real influence.

“What is the Spirit Coalition?” Old Chief asked.

From the other side, the woman explained, “The Spirit Coalition is a group of individuals from the Spirit Nidus and other other places. They are not natives of our Nine Odysseys Megaverse. They formed the coalition for mutual aid to help each other survive in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse while also preserving their native cultures. While the Spirit Coalition is unable to influence the Nine Odysseys Megaverse’s decisions, it is still quite powerful. My presence here should be enough to prove that. If you can join the Spirit Coalition, then all you need to fear from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse is judgement of its rulers.”

“That’s right! You can join the Spirit Coalition.”

“Help us get home, and we will get you the help of the Spirit Coalition.”

“The Spirit Coalition will definitely help you.”

Luo Ning spoke up, “The Skyward Gate’s Luo family can assist the Spirit Coalition, provided that you help me return.”

His words moved Old Chief and the other conscients. If they could avoid the Consciousness Megaverse’s fate to be destroyed, they would not hesitate to submit to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

The basic instinct of all conscients was survival.

They had fought against the Spirit Nidus and tried to kill the High Seraph solely for their own survival. Even climbing to the top of the cliff was for survival.

They were willing to betray anyone.

As Luo Ning spoke, Lu Yin moved closer to the group. He was already close enough that he felt like he could grab some of them.

“Conscients, attack now!” a nervous-looking young man screamed in panic.

Shuangdao clenched the hilt of his blade as he stared at Lu Yin.

Lu Yin slowly looked over, his eyes heavy and ice cold. “I don’t mind if you want to make a move.”

Just one sentence managed to extinguish all of the conscients’ desire to act against Lu Yin.

They stared at him, recalling his previous battles. Attack Lu Yin? Even if they did, what then? Who would be helped by such action?

Suddenly, Lu Yin grabbed a young man who had fallen behind the others.

Lu Yin smiled at him. “Am I so terrifying, little one?”

The young man’s face turned deathly pale as he stared at Lu Yin in a daze.

“Let’s have a chat.”

Lian Shuang let out a helpless sigh as she watched from the front of the group. She looked back at Old Chief and the others. Even with how things had played out, the conscients had still refused to act. Clearly, they were too intimidated by the man who had just taken action.

Earlier, when that man had been attacked, the High Seraph had helped save him. No one from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse could understand the complex relationships between the individuals from the lesser megaverses, but it was clear that everyone who had climbed up the cliff was an absolute monster.

Luo Ning gritted his teeth, refusing to look back. His eyes grew bloodshot as he forced his way closer to the palace.

Each step he took was a struggle, yet each step was also a chance to survive.

It was not long before Lu Yin finished talking to the young man that he had captured. The man was the heir of a reasonably powerful family, but since they were not particularly important, he moved on.

Lu Yin immediately captured another young man.

“I- I am from Loneswan Island!”

“It’s a nice name. Is it very powerful?”

“Of course.”

The young man tried to sound more impressive, but Lu Yin was disappointed. While perspective might not be enough to determine a person’s true strength, it could certainly reveal their past.

Loneswan Island was about as powerful as one of the Spirit Nidus seven major powers, but no more than that.

It had to be one of the lowest level organizations in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.