Chapter 3714: A Green Lotus Leaf

Luo Ning took a moment to think, and then he said, “My Luo family controls the Skyward Gate. With the sole exception of those who have been explicitly forbidden entry by the Lesser Sancti, all other beings fall under the authority of my family when it comes to entering or leaving the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

“There are many in the Spirit Nidus who are actually from my megaverse. Without permission from my family, it is impossible for them to get there. That is why even the Lesser Sancti must show my Luo family respect.”

Lu Yin glanced at the High Seraph, finally understanding why the man resented the Luo family so much. They had sent many people to the Spirit Nidus, which had created endless trouble for the High Seraph.

“If there are people from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse in the Spirit Nidus, then what about the Consciousness and Tianyuan megaverses?”

Just as Luo Ning was about to reply, his expression abruptly changed. He stared at Lu Yin and asked, “Are you from the Tianyuan Megaverse?”

Lu Yin was not surprised that the young man had managed to guess that. The Luo family would know if someone as powerful as Lu Yin appeared in the Spirit Nidus, which meant that he had to be a Tianyuan cultivator who had only recently arrived in the Spirit Nidus. There was no other way for him to have escaped their notice.

However, it was possible that some of the more powerful factions in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse had already noticed Lu Yin.

“It’s no wonder why you attacked the High Seraph, and also that those conscients worked with you later on,” Luo Ning said, astonished by the revelation. He had never considered the possibility of anyone from the Tianyuan Megaverse appearing. That megaverse was supposed to be a wasteland. It should have been impossible for someone as powerful as Lu Yin to have risen up from that place.

Suddenly, the young man turned to look at Yong Heng. “You are also from the Tianyuan Megaverse.”

Yong Heng smiled, but he denied nothing.

It was only then that Luo Ning was able to see the pattern: two factions from the Tianyuan Megaverse had cooperated with the Consciousness Megaverse to attack the High Seraph, who was the greatest threat from the Spirit Nidus. However, the two Tianyuan cultivators were also enemies.

Understanding this told Luo Ning what he needed to say.

He looked back at Lu Yin, his excitement barely contained. “My Luo family can stand with your megaverse to prevent it from being reset. That is the best that I can offer you. What do you say?”

Lu Yin arched a brow, and Luo Ning looked over at Old Chief and the other Luminaries. “Rest assured, it is possible to avoid the Consciousness Megaverse being reset as well.”

Lu Yin laughed. “You can’t expect me to believe that the Spirit Nidus will be reset, do you? Besides, what allows you to make such claims?”

Luo Ning confidently replied, “Because I know that there is another megaverse aside from your three megaverses. That is the one that will be reset.”

“Another megaverse?” All of the Luminaries were flabbergasted.

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. Just how many megaverses were there really?

Each new megaverse that he learned about represented another incredibly powerful expert, though it was impossible to know if they would be an enemy or an ally.

Luo Ning continued, “That megaverse was defeated long ago, and there are only a handful of peak powerhouses still there. All the others are gone. Those people have been kept around to increase the megaverse’s number of parallel universes. Since there are enough now, that megaverse can be reset at any time. It’s just that there’s been a debate within the Nine Odysseys Megaverse over which universe should be reset.”

He looked at Lu Yin. “The Tianyuan Megaverse currently has the most support.”

Lu Yin’s finger twitched, and a dangerous glint flickered in his eyes for a moment.

Luo Ning smiled. “Should you help me, I can guarantee that my Luo family will support you and your megaverse. I’m not just speaking about my own family, but also for many other organizations that are indebted to us. We can instantly flip the balance and protect your megaverse. How’s that for a generous offer?

“You should have just told me you were from the Tianyuan Megaverse in the beginning. There was no need for all that extra talk.”

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

When humans negotiated, gaining the initiative was everything. Previously, Luo Ning had been on the back foot, merely hoping to survive. He had made threats and even exposed his greatest weakness. Things had changed after he found Lu Yin’s vulnerability. Luo Ning had gained the initiative.

Suddenly, Luo Ning’s goal was not merely returning home safely, but also to reach he palace. He would continue on and see how far he could progress down this path.

With Lu Yin and the conscients as his pawns, as long as he could maintain a hold of their vulnerabilities, anything was possible.

Ultimately, it was impossible for cultivators to lose their adventurous spirit.

If Luo Ning lost this opportunity, it would never return to him again.

That palace contained memories that even the Greater Sancti coveted.

Lu Yin hesitated. “Can you really protect the Tianyuan Megaverse?”

Luo Ning answered with absolute confidence, “Many in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse owe my Luo family favors. We absolutely can.”

Lu Yin looked over at Yong Heng. “You and I may be taking different paths, but we both hope to protect the Tianyuan Megaverse. Since that’s the case, why not take a chance?”

Yong Heng stared at Luo Ning. “You may leave. We won’t stop you.”

Luo Ning turned to look at Old Chief and the rest of the conscients, who exchanged glances. “We won’t stop you either. We simply hope that you will keep your word and that a different megaverse than our three will be reset.”

Luo Ning let a breath of relief escape. “You don’t need to worry. With your support, my Luo family will be willing to help you. One day, all of you will go to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, and we can work together then.”

Lu Yin agreed. “Helping us is also helping yourself. As for your competitors from the Scion Spire, we can also help you deal with them.”

Luo Ning’s eyes flickered. While he might look down upon the three megaverses as being occupied by ants, these particular individuals were all peak experts. With their help, he might actually succeed. “Very well. Then here and now, I will thank you all.”

He pulled out three jade tokens that he tossed to Yong Heng, Lu Yin, and Old Chief. “These are passes of my Luo family. They can be used to pass through the Skyward Gate in either direction, so use them however you need.”

Lu Yin solemnly accepted his token. “Thank you.”

“Much appreciated.”

“Many thanks.”

Luo Ning then turned to Lian Shuang. “Come with me.”

Lian Shuang had gone quite pale. She struggled to even stand, and she followed behind Luo Ning as he started walking towards Lu Yin and the others.

Step by step, Luo Ning led Lian Shuang closer to Lu Yin and then passed by, continuing on.

Suddenly, a terrifying surge of consciousness crashed down, dropping onto both Luo Ning and Lian Shuang.

Luo Ning let out a helpless sight.

As expected

.

When he had first realized that Lu Yin was from the Tianyuan Megaverse, Luo Ning had truly believed the man could be manipulated and that he could leave safely. He had even considered the possibility of moving closer to the palace. However, after Lu Yin and the others all agreed, Luo Ning had suddenly realized that, instead of allowing themselves to be manipulated by Luo Ning, it would be much safer for them to flip the table and take him as a hostage with whom to threaten the Luo family.

Luo Ning was already aware that Lu Yin was from the Tianyuan Megaverse, which indicated that the tense war between the Spirit Nidus, the Consciousness Megaverse, and the Nine Odysseys Megaverse was very likely to soon expand to include the Tianyuan Megaverse. Regardless of whether the Nine Odysseys Megaverse was genuinely considering resetting the Tianyuan Megaverse, Lu Yin would never risk anything that increased his megaverse’s chances of being reset.

The Luo family could help the Tianyuan Megaverse, but they could also harm it.

Luo Ning could aid Lu Yin and the others, or he could blackmail them with their secret. How could someone as powerful as Lu Yin allow someone else to hold such a vulnerable spot?

Luo Ning had spent too long in cryostasis in the Scion Spire and had stood at the top of his own megaverse for too long. This meant that the perspectives and mindsets of other cultivators were foreign to him. Had he been forced to struggle and fight with other cultivators from the start, he would have never revealed that he knew that Lu Yin was a Tianyuan cultivator. Only his silence might have given him a chance to survive.

Luo Ning had finally realized this, but it was impossible to change things. His only option was to try to walk away, testing his luck and seeing if anyone truly wanted to cooperate with his family. That was the reason why he had surrendered the three jade tokens.

As soon as he sensed the consciousness being unleashed, Luo Ning knew that it was over for him. There was only one decision to make now: whether to use his guardian spirit seed and retaliate. Doing so might give him a chance to survive, but it would also cost him everything in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. His family would lose a great deal as well. Even worse, if Luo Ning lost his potential and his future, he would no longer be able to make use of his family, as he would become worthless to them.

His other option was to not resist and accept being captured by Lu Yin. Should Luo Ning refrain from using his guardian spirit seed, Lu Yin would be able to use him to negotiate with the Luo family for his megaverse’s protection. That would preserve Luo Ning’s future, as he would still be valuable to both the Luo family and the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

The greatest risk with this second option was the possibility of death after being captured. Luo Ning would be entirely subject to Lu Yin’s whims, and he would be entrusting his life to a stranger.

Countless thoughts raced through Luo Ning’s mind in an instant. As the consciousness fell, he suddenly threw Lian Shuang to the side.

He had ordered her to accompany him for that purpose alone.

Lian Shuang was knocked unconscious by the attack, but that meant that she had absorbed some of the force, stalling it for a brief moment.

It was enough time for Luo Ning to come to a decision.

It was the most difficult one he had ever faced. The complacency that had come from being frozen in the Scion Spire and standing at the peak of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse was shattered in an instant. Once again, Luo Ning descended into the ruthless struggle and intrigues of the cultivation world.

Lu Yin stared at Luo Ning. What choice would the young man make? If he used his guardian spirit seed, it would prove that all that he had said concerning resetting the Tianyuan Megaverse was false. If he did not, it would prove that he had been honest, as well as that he was confident that he could be used as a bargaining chip with the Luo family.

That moment also allowed Lu Yin to confirm if Luo Ning had been honest or not.

Luo Ning was forced to choose, and Lu Yin needed to see that choice.

Cultivators thought quickly, and a battle of wit could occur in less than a moment.

Ultimately, Luo Ning chose to not use his guardian spirit seed and to allow himself to be captured by Lu Yin.

Rather than lose everything and be reduced to nothing more than another guardian ancestor of the Luo family, Luo Ning preferred the other option.

He did not want to be mocked by the others from the Scion Spire, and he also did not want his family to lose hope. As long as he survived, there would be hope of being able to turn things around. Luo Ning was convinced of his own exceptional value.

A hand dropped onto Luo Ning’s shoulder, and Lu Yin praised the young man. “Impressive courage.”

Despite being removed from the brutality of the cultivation world and falling into a completely passive position, Luo Ning’s courage remained admirable. Not everyone could place their life in the hands of another.

Both the High Seraph and Yong Heng also looked at Luo Ning differently at that moment. They had assumed that the young man was nothing more than a talented but foolish child. However, the courage that he had demonstrated compensated for a great deal. This was someone who was genuinely qualified to be placed in the Scion Spire.

Luo Ning’s voice was bitter as he stated, “At this moment, I merely wish to know your name.”

“Lu Yin.”

“Lu Yin...?” Luo Ning muttered.

He had always been destined to become a captive, provided that he did not use his guardian spirit seed. Luo Ning was not surprised by this outcome, as he had never intended to use it.

Between his future and death, he had chosen the future.

Everyone atop the cliff stared in shock. Every last person in one of the two groups from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse had been captured. It was unprecedented for anyone from their megaverse to be taken by people from the three lower megaverses.

The man leading the second group called out in a low voice, “Hurry, run!”

The young people in his group did not hesitate. Every last one of them immediately turned and fled back the way they had come from. They were returning to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

Since the High Seraph had succeeded in reaching one side of the cliff, he could reach their side as well.

However, they were all overthinking things. They were not that valuable. Old Chief and the rest of the Luminaries had already learned what they wanted. They were feeling conflicted about the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, while the High Seraph had never considered going to the other side of the cliff to begin with.

Lu Yin similarly had no interest in the other group.

The Nine Odysseys Megaverse would learn all that had happened above the Willbound Spire. It was impossible to keep it hidden.

Lu Yin was more curious to learn about how the people from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse had traveled to the Willbound Spire.

Luo Ning gave an answer, though not a complete one. “With... a green lotus leaf.”