Chapter 3768: Strength Of An Immortal

The solitary speck of light, which was normally completely invisible, could still be seen by Lu Yin once it was immersed in the spirit seed liquid.

Lu Yin let out a sigh of relief. The spirit seed liquid was proving to be quite useful.

The first time he had seen one of the spots of light, both Lu Yin and the Origin Progenitor had examined it carefully and tried every method that they could think of, but they had never been able to grab the spot of light. The possibility of it being connected to the Immortal realm had not occurred to them, and since they had only been able to see the light while holding the shard of the Starforged Sword, that had occupied their attention.

Finally, Lu Yin had found the trick.

He had captured one of the specks of light, but its uses still needed to be tested.

Lu Yin stared at the light, a bit entranced as he watched it drift about within the spirit seed liquid.

At the moment, he still had three tasks to do: first, he needed to capture Yue Ya and imprison him until he could use Yue Ya’s manifested thought to evolve his own consciousness and achieve a state where he could alter the rules of the universe with a single word. Second, he needed to find the High Seraph and return to the Willbound Spire. It was important to reach the top of the cliff again and try to reach the palace.

Finally, Lu Yin wanted to harvest more karmic bricks.

Even though his Karmic Dao had grown immensely, he would never be satisfied with its power.

In particular, when Lu Yin observed the walls of karma that bound the Consciousness Megaverse, he had no words for what he felt.

It was like he had finally climbed out of a well, only to find a frog larger than the well itself.

If Lu Yin could one day envelop an entire megaverse with his own karma, how amazing would that be?

Compared to his three tasks, catching a few points of light seemed rather unimportant.

As he held the spot of light, Lu Yin slowly closed his eyes. Karma twisted in front of him while his consciousness erupted behind him and the Nine Heavens opened. Infinity flowed, the star of divine energy spun, and the star of consciousness revolved. There was also the landmass, Lightstream, the Wordless Heavenly Book, and more. Images drifted about, crashing into the power of karma. It did not take long for the speck of light to drift upward and enter the top layer of the Nine Heavens, where it finally stopped.

Lu Yin’s eyes snapped open. Heaven’s Blade, which had sat in the highest level of the Nine Heavens, had just become the true Tri-Azure Sword Intent.

A casual flick of a hand released the three blades of consciousness as one. They merged together, and the speck of light vanished the moment it followed the slash into the sky. The universe was severed, revealing a profound darkness as the attack instantly disappeared.

As Lu Yin watched the Tri-Azure Sword Intent fade, he suddenly felt that, if the High Seraph had been present for that attack, he would have instantly died.

Was it just an illusion? No, it had been an attack on the level of an Immortal.

Lu Yin’s breathing quickened as he realized that he had inadvertently obtained an attack that could threaten an Immortal.

It was no wonder why he had always felt that the Tri-Azure Sword Intent and the Heaven and Earth Lock were incomplete. This was what they had been missing.

The Tri-Azure Sword Intent and the Heaven and Earth Lock were both Immortal battle techniques, which meant that they were perfectly suited to the power of an Immortal. Neither Lu Yin nor Old Chief had reached that level. The gap between them and an Immortal was simply too vast, which had led the two battle techniques to fall far short of their potential.

The moment that the spot of light vanished into the sword slash, Lu Yin had sensed the missing portion of the technique be instantly filled.

He had just unleashed an Immortal level Tri-Azure Sword Intent.

Sadly, he was unable to control the sword technique, and he was also unable to manipulate the spot of light, which meant that he could not truly wield the power of an Immortal. The true Tri-Azure Sword Intent could really only be considered a life-saving measure, rather than an ability that could stand up to an Immortal. The same held true of the Heaven and Earth Lock.

However, if Lu Yin could gather more specks of light, things would change.

While one slash of the Tri-Azure Sword Intent might not be enough, what if there were ten? A hundred? A thousand?

The more he imagined the possibilities, the more excited Lu Yin became. He had just found a fourth task that had become a high priority: he needed to gather more specks of light.

It was strange; why were his tasks so extremely odd? Not to mention prying out karmic bricks from a wall, he now needed to catch spots of light.

Far away, after the Tri-Azure Sword Intent had sliced through the void, it eventually reappeared past the Consciousness Megaverse’s boundary. It continued into the Aevum Inch before it finally disappeared, though it still sent out ripples through the endless emptiness.

As that happened, an enormous pair of eyes opened in a distant point in the Aevum Inch. A deep rumble shook space. “It’s him! He’s still alive. Vengeance... vengeance...”

Back on

Boundless

, Lu Yin explained to the Origin Progenitor what he had learned about the spots of light. The Origin Progenitor laughed happily, and he shared his own speculation, “It would appear that these lights are somehow connected to the Immortal realm.

“The Immortal realm has always remained ethereal. I was certain that we would never encounter any connections to it so long as we lived, but more and more things are now appearing in front of us.”

Lu Yin gravely stated, “Invincible, yet also bound. That is the Immortal realm.”

The Origin Progenitor stared at Lu Yin’s hand. He was holding a speck of light that drifted about within some spirit seed liquid. The light could only be seen while within that medium.

“During the time that I suppressed the sequence strings, I constantly found myself wondering just what precisely the Immortal realm is. Is it a realm reached through a transformation of cultivation, of one’s flesh, of life itself, or could it be something else altogether? I never did manage to find an answer.

“This speck of light leads me to believe that the Immortal realm is not simply a transformation of life itself, but rather more of a metamorphosis that comes about through contact with the omniverse.

“Immortality is not the immortality of self, but rather a shedding of certain cosmic shackles in order to become eternal.”

Lu Yin did not dwell on the matter. “As long as we stay alive, we’ll eventually be able to get a clearer view of the Immortal realm. For now, I just want to collect more of these light specks.”

“Exactly, gather more of them. That way, we won’t be completely powerless when we face Master Qing Cao next time.” The Origin Progenitor was also excited.

No matter how they fought or schemed across the three megaverses, there would always be a level that they could not touch: the Immortal level.

In the Tianyuan Megaverse, Master Qing Cao had effortlessly crushed Ancient God and sealed Lu Yin with karma. Those incidents had become deeply etched in people’s minds. No matter how far Lu Yin may have advanced in the Spirit Nidus or the Consciousness Megaverse, he still felt powerless before Qing Cao.

It was a difference in tiers of existence.

Essentially, Lu Yin was unable to climb to the peak, whereas Master Qing Cao already stood at the summit.

Finally, Lu Yin had acquired a power that approached Master Qing Cao’s level.

Just as the High Seraph was able to climb the cliff within the Willbound Spire, Lu Yin was able to ascend a previously insurmountable height to stand before Master Qing Cao.

Early on in Lu Yin’s cultivation, he had frequently relied on tools to overcome what was seen as an impossible gap in strength, so he was already accustomed to such methods.

However, who else in the three megaverses could even use an outside power to challenge an Immortal? That was beyond even the High Seraph.

Lu Yin stared up at the starry sky, as though seeing the megaverse’s countless Broken Realms. He would claim the speck of light in each and every one of those Broken Realms.

Emperor Slayer was traveling through the Aevum Inch, moving from springboard to springboard, using them to speed his journey along while casually whistling.

After passing the first springboard, there was nothing that could catch up to him or frighten him.

Who could possibly catch up to him?

The Consciousness Megaverse had become a terrifying place. So many supreme experts had arrived, each leaving him unable to even breathe. He was so thankful that he had managed to escape.

Just thinking back to his time in that place filled him with dread.

If there had been even the slightest mistake, he would have undoubtedly been doomed.

He rubbed his head, deciding not to think about such things any further. It was best to simply forget about all those bothersome matters and go enjoy himself in Beacon City for a bit. Of course, he could not stay there for too long before moving onto the Tianyuan Megaverse.

Now that I think about it, there should already be springboards between Beacon City and the Tianyuan.

Boundless

surely built springboards so that they could more quickly reach Beacon City, but who knows if they still exist

.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Emperor Slayer hoped that they were still in place. Otherwise, he would need to rebuild them, which would add a great deal of time to his journey.

As his mind continued to wander, Emperor Slayer was already picturing how he would introduce himself to the Tianyuan Megaverse. As the Spirit Nidus’s most powerful beast-form Spirit Rebirth expert? No, that title was rather cursed. It had been held by both Emperor Wu and his predecessor, and yet both had died. Emperor Slayer needed a new title.

The Spirit Nidus’s most virtuous cultivator?

It was a possible option. It was certainly not bad.

The Spirit Nidus... wait, why limit myself to the Spirit Nidus?

The beast’s eyes suddenly flared.

I should be the most virtuous cultivator in all three megaverses!

The most virtuous cultivator in the three megaverses! That’s it! Hahaha!

The thought delighted the beast so much that he laughed aloud, not even noticing the figure approaching him from behind. Che had arrived.

With my new title settled, the next step is to design a flag. I need something more imposing, yet also modest and prudent, since I will be promoting myself as a virtuous cultivator. Yes, I’ll spend the rest of my time in the Aevum Inch working on the design. It’s important.

“Excuse me. I’m sorry to bother you.”

Emperor Slayer rolled his eyes. “I’m busy. Scram.”

He waved a hand dismissively and resumed considering the new design for his flags.

Suddenly, his expression froze before dramatically changing. He whipped around and found a kindly smile on Che’s face as the man stood there. It was a gentle smile that seemed to introduce a spring breeze into the endless dark of the Aevum Inch.

To Emperor Slayer, the smile might as well belong to a ghost.

His pupils shrank, and his mouth fell open. “Aaaah!”

Che’s smile stiffened, and he blinked, still calmly observing Emperor Slayer. The man placed his right hand on his chest and slowly bowed. “I’ve interrupted you. I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Emperor Slayer clamped a hand over his own mouth to stifle any involuntary sound. He swallowed hard, still staring directly at Che and looking as though he was staring at a ghost.

Damn it! This is insane! I’m tearing through the Aevum Inch with the help of springboards, so where did this guy pop up from? He couldn’t have caught up to me. That’s impossible! Not even the High Seraph or Lu Yin can move faster than a springboard can launch someone. That means not just moving as fast as a springboard can launch you, but even faster.

No creature can do that.

Nothing like this has ever happened.

Never.

What the hell? Why do all the weird things happen to me?

Che continued to observe Emperor Slayer and then softly asked, “Sir, are you feeling any better?”

Emperor Slayer licked his lips and lowered his hand. With a cough, he glanced around, but there was nowhere to run. He drew a deep breath and forced a fawning smile into place. “Um... Senior, who might you be?”

Che politely replied, “You can just call me Che. There’s no need to call me senior.”

“That won’t do at all! That would be disrespectful. I am Emperor Wu Slayer, but you can just call me Xiao Wu,[1] Senior. So... where do you come from, and is there anything that Xiao Wu can do for you?” The beast was far more deferential than he had ever been towards Yue Ya or any other expert. After all, Emperor Slayer had already realized that the only creature who could possibly catch up to him in the Aevum Inch was an Immortal.

Isn’t this madness? An Immortal! Someone in that legendary realm. When have I ever seen an Immortal? I’ve only ever heard myths about them

.

Even if the Spirit Nidus was supposed to have the invincible being at the top, who was an Immortal, nobody truly believed in their existence.

On the other hand, there was no doubt that the man before Emperor Slayer was an Immortal. There was no other way for him to have done something this freakish. It was absolutely impossible for anyone beneath the Immortal realm.

How should I behave before an Immortal? Calling myself Xiao Wu is the bare minimum.

Che smiled. “You are far too courteous. This is only our first meeting, and I was terribly abrupt. Please forgive me.”

“Not at all, absolutely not.” Emperor Slayer smiled ingratiatingly. “If you have any requests at all, Senior, just say the word. Xiao Wu will serve you to death and will never shirk my duty.”

Invincible being! Please be the invincible being!

That would at least offer him a bit of hope that this man might show favor to another from the Spirit Nidus.

Just don’t let him be from that Nine Odysseys Megaverse! Please, no!

Emperor Slayer internally screamed.

Che was quite impressed. “You are a genuinely good person. Everyone I’ve met during my travels has been so kind to me. It is truly wonderful.”

Emperor Slayer was rendered speechless. He briefly had absolutely no idea how he should respond.

How could they not be kind to you? Any villain would be scared straight by you!

1. He calls himself "Xiao Wu" (小无), which is a humble, self-effacing nickname for speaking to a senior. Xiao (小) means "little," and is often used in xianxia settings to show deference or a junior status. Wu (无) is drawn from his chosen name, Emperor Wu Slayer (灭无皇), rather than referring to a personal name.☜