Chapter 3841: Broken Earth

Liu Li grew increasingly confused, and she turned to look at Lu Yin. “Sir, you want the Fifth Night Pillar to join our expedition?”

Lu Yin nodded.

“May I ask why?”

“The Fifth Night Pillar was already preparing for war before the Seventh Night Pillar returned. I don’t know who their intended target was at that time, but it was most likely one of the three megaverses. I want to prevent that from happening.”

Liu Li understood. “Even if the Fifth Night Pillar is stopped for now, if the Nine Odysseys Megaverse truly intends to reset one of the three lesser megaverses, you will only have bought a little time.”

Lu Yin clasped his hands behind his back and looked out at the severed land. “For me, that will be enough.”

Liu Li was surprised by such a bold claim, but given the man’s recent actions, it was warranted.

It was only at this moment that the woman carefully observed Lu Yin. Was he truly as young as he appeared, or was he someone who deliberately maintained a youthful appearance?

“Forgive my impudence, sir, but are you quite young?” Liu Li hesitantly asked.

Lu Yin smiled at her. “Younger than you think.”

Liu Li was impressed. “I see. In that case, you are as talented as the Young Sancti in the Scion Spire. I am in awe of you.”

“So, could you do me a favor and pull the Fifth Night Pillar into the next war?” Lu Yin asked.

Liu Li was puzzled by something. “If you want the Fifth Night Pillar to join the war, why escort Jian Hong to us?”

Lu Yin shrugged. “Promises can’t be broken.”

“Did you know, sir, that for years, the Fifth Night Pillar has suppressed my Sixth Night Pillar, leading to widespread resentment towards us?

“When the Sixth Night Pillar was weakened, only those who felt truly attached to it chose to stay. I don’t want to break their hearts,” Liu Li said, tactfully declining.

Lu Yin could not force the Sixth Night Pillar, and so he stayed silent.

The ground trembled, and a vast flock of odd creatures flew up from the ground. There were times when they rose up, and others when they swooped low. They radiated a fierce aura as they rushed towards the two humans.

"Those are creatures from the Orchid Megaverse that we captured.

"Sir, if you look over there, those creatures are from the Skyveil Megaverse. Our Sixth Night Pillar has more than one type of foreign creature, and even after so many years of captivity, they’ve retained a few traits of their native megaverse, though many have degenerated and developed new characteristics..."

Liu Li continued showing Lu Yin around the Sixth Night Pillar. He saw more than ten different species of strange creatures from foreign megaverses, all of which were considered otherborn.

Among the Nine Odysseys, they took great pride in capturing creatures from foreign megaverses and bringing them home. The more otherborn that a Night Pillar possessed, the more glorious they appeared.

While the Sixth Night Pillar was currently quite weak, it had once been glorious, and the otherborn on the Night Pillar served as proof of their legacy and foundation.

The strongest otherborn that Lu Yin saw was a massive, vine-like plant with roots that ran deep underground. It served as a protector of the Sixth Night Pillar, and it was as strong as a peak Dukkhan.

It was certainly powerful, and the plant’s vines had spread across a vast region. However, if a real peak Dukkhan arrived, the plant would only be able to passively take their blows. In fact, forget a Dukkhan, even someone like Jian Hong could destroy the plant.

Still, it was impressive. After all, the Tianyuan had very, very few Dukkhans.

If the plant creature had been in one of Aeternus’s Scourges, Lu Yin and the others would not have had nearly as easy a time of things.

“Many creatures were brought back from foreign megaverses. Some were kept here, but less than a tenth managed to survive. Most of the rest have become useless by now. Very few are actually of any help at all,” Liu Li lamented.

Lu Yin asked curiously, “Was the Skyveil Megaverse that difficult to conquer?”

Liu Li’s expression grew solemn, and she gave a decisive nod. “Yes, it was extremely difficult. It was one of the most challenging megaverses that we’ve ever fought against. Five Night Pillars were sent, and yet even that wasn’t enough. While we started off as the aggressors, as soon as we entered that megaverse, we were constantly on the defensive. It felt like we were a mayfly trying to shake a tree.

“If not for a Greater Sancte’s intervention, we would have never overcome the blockade, let alone defeat the Skyveil Megaverse.

“Many of our most powerful experts died during that war. Without Seed Transfusions, the war would have cost the Nine Odysseys Megaverse an entire era.

“Our greatest advantage over the Skyveil Megaverse was Greater Sancte Shang Yu. If that megaverse had possessed a single individual who could have matched a Greater Sancte, we would have never won.”

The woman only shared a few details, but that was enough for Lu Yin to sense just how brutal that war had been.

“If you’re interested in learning more about the Skyveil Megaverse, you can visit Skyveil City,” Liu Li suggested, “They possess the best-preserved remnants of that megaverse, as well as a number of creatures that are still alive. Their technique of carving sourceboxes is also quite bizarre.”

Lu Yin just grunted in acknowledgment before resuming his tour with Liu Li.

He did not leave the Sixth Night Pillar for several days. Liu Li accompanied him for the first day, but after that, Lu Yin allowed the woman to return to her own matters and asked to be left alone.

She needed to report to the Greater Sancti and request that the Immortals decide whether or not a new expedition would be launched to the newly discovered megaverse. She also needed to organize which of the other Night Pillars would join the expedition. Liu Li had an incredible amount of work to do.

Within mere days, quite a number of cultivators had already arrived to visit the Sixth Night Pillar.

One particular day, the Azuresword Sovereign paid a personal visit to the Sixth Night Pillar and asked to meet with Liu Li. No one knew what they discussed, but it was clear that the Azuresword Sovereign did not leave in a good mood.

The atmosphere of the entire Sixth Night Pillar grew stifled with the Azuresword Sovereign’s arrival. While the people of the Night Pillar appeared calm, that only belied their anger and bloodlust.

...

Lu Yin was quietly sitting at the edge of the severed region of the Night Pillar, looking at it in silence. Many other cultivators visited the area before leaving after taking a look. Some spoke softly to each other. These people were from various different Night Pillars.

Rarely, people seeking to join the Nine Odysseys would arrive, only to leave after glancing around. It was difficult to know if they ended up joining or not.

Truthfully, nothing would change whether or not those people joined.

The Nine Odysseys confronted unknown dangers in the Aevum Inch, while the Temporal Heavens dealt with internal threats, such as the Autumnspring Slip. Personal strength was the only true foundation that people could rely on. Of course, encountering an Immortal in the Aevum Inch had been a bit of bad luck that had nothing to do with strength.

Speaking of luck...

Lu Yin wondered how Qian Shu was doing with the characters.

“The Azuresword Sovereign, Xian Tong, requests an audience with Mr. Lu Yin,” a voice called out.

Lu Yin indifferently replied, “What is it?”

A black-robed old man appeared behind Lu Yin. As he looked at Lu Yin’s back, the old man smiled, shoving aside his typical cold attitude. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I've admired you since I first heard about you, Mr. Lu.”

Lu Yin did not turn around. “What do you want from me?”

The Azuresword Sovereign replied, “I wish to make a trade with you.”

Lu Yin said nothing and continued calmly staring off into the distance.

“I ask that you help me take the position of the Fifth Night Pillar’s Odyssey Commander. In exchange, I will expel Yue Ya.”

Lu Yin arched a brow and finally turned around to look at the Azuresword Sovereign. “Yue Ya is in the Fifth Night Pillar?”

The Azuresword Sovereign nodded. “Apparently, you didn’t know. Yue Ya has permanently lost his title of Lesser Sancte and was banished to the Fifth Night Pillar. This was done at Greater Sancte Blood Tower’s order.

“At first, only Lian Jing could contend with me for the position of the Fifth Night Pillar’s Odyssey Commander, but because he is an Immortal’s disciple, he is ineligible. That should have meant that the position would become mine by default, but Yue Ya’s arrival changed everything. Even if he is no longer a Lesser Sancte, he is still stronger than me. If we compete, I have little chance of winning.

“This is why I am requesting your help.”

Lu Yin stared at the Azuresword Sovereign. “Why should I help you?”

“As I already said, I can expel Yue Ya.” Seeing no reaction from Lu Yin, the man understood. “It would seem that you are still somewhat unfamiliar with how our Nine Odysseys Megaverse operates. Allow me to explain.

“If you wish to kill Yue Ya while he is a member of the Fifth Night Pillar, it would be difficult. This is not because the Fifth Night Pillar can stop you on its own, but rather because the entire Nine Odysseys would see you as an enemy. This is not a written law, but an unspoken rule.

“Only members of the Nine Odysseys are allowed to kill other members. Any outsider attacking them is seen as provoking the entire Nine Odysseys. I doubt that you wish for such an outcome.”

Lu Yin frowned. “Yue Ya only recently joined the Fifth Night Pillar. How can he represent the entire Nine Odysseys?”

“How long he has been there has nothing to do with that. The moment he joined the Fifth Night Pillar, he became a part of the Nine Odysseys.

“To be fair, this unspoken rule is not always enforced. If he was a regular cultivator, the Nine Odysseys would certainly not care. However, Yue Ya was once a Lesser Sancte, who are second only to the Immortal Greater Sancti. His existence is a great asset to our entire megaverse, and such people are highly valued by the Nine Odysseys.”

Lu Yin understood. The Nine Odysseys was the megaverse’s external armed forces. It was only natural that they would welcome a powerhouse like Yue Ya.

The more a person fought in wars, the more they would understand the importance of unity, as well as the importance of respecting the rules.

“You know that I want to kill Yue Ya?” Lu Yin countered.

The Azuresword Sovereign smiled. “Your name was already known throughout the entire Nine Odysseys Megaverse back then. After all, not just anyone is capable of reversing the situation when being fished into our megaverse.”

Lu Yin looked up. “Exactly what are you asking me to help you with?”

A flash of heat flickered in the Azuresword Sovereign’s eyes. “The title of Odyssey Commander is only granted during times of war. I am asking that you help by asking the Sixth Night Pillar to let the Fifth join the war campaign.”

Lu Yin felt helpless. This request was pointless, as Lu Yin had already made that request and been denied.

“Secondly, I ask that you help me to request the Sea of Karma that I be granted the title of Odyssey Commander.”

Lu Yin laughed. “Do you understand what you're asking? The Sixth Night Pillar hates your Fifth to the bone. For two years, you constantly sent attackers after Jian Hong, which almost cost the Sixth Night Pillar the foreign creature. You even forced Liu Li to personally give up. If not for Jian Hong’s persistence, that creature would already be with your Fifth Night Pillar.

“Asking the Sixth Night Pillar to support you is nothing more than a joke, let alone asking me to intercede with the Sea of Karma on your behalf. You’re asking me to speak to Greater Sancte Green Lotus himself. Do you really think that Yue Ya alone is worth so much effort from me?”

The Azuresword Sovereign shrugged. “I don’t wish to trouble you, Mr. Lu, but I have no other choice. The Greater Sancti will decide who serves as Odyssey Commander. You emerged from the Sea of Karma, and your relationship with Ming Zhuo and the Seven Fairies is already known. If you are willing to help me, I promise to repay you greatly in the future. Expelling Yue Ya will not be the end of things. Please consider it.”

The Azuresword Sovereign had no choice but to approach Lu Yin. Yue Ya’s sudden arrival had left the man feeling suffocated, and it had also pushed the position of Odyssey Commander even further out of his reach. He could not understand why, given how weak the Sixth Night Pillar was, Greater Sancte Blood Tower had not sent Yue Ya to that Night Pillar. Instead, he had been dumped upon the Fifth Night Pillar. It felt like a deliberate insult.

So long as the Azuresword Sovereign had to compete with Yue Ya, he had no confidence of receiving the title of Odyssey Commander.

Lu Yin was the man’s only chance. This was someone who could speak with Greater Sancte Green Lotus, and that offered him a sliver of hope.

However, that was also predicated on the Fifth Night Pillar even being allowed to join the expedition. Without that, how could an Odyssey Commander be appointed?

Lu Yin stared at the Azuresword Sovereign. “Why do you insist on becoming the Odyssey Commander?”

The man met Lu Yin’s gaze. “Only those who have held the title of Odyssey Commander are qualified to compete for the title of Lesser Sancte.”