Chapter 3865: Heartrift

Ku Ji sighed in admiration. “I’d been wondering when I’d meet you, Mr. Lu, though I certainly didn’t expect it to happen so soon.”

“Uncle, you’ve heard of him?” Ku Cheng asked in confusion.

Ku Ji smiled. “There aren’t many in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse who don’t know about Mr. Lu.”

Ku Cheng looked back at Lu Yin, astonished.

Lu Yin looked at Ku Ji. “Forgive my intrusion, Senior Ku Ji.”

Ku Ji replied, “It is the Rift of Suffering’s honor to welcome you. You have spoken of casting aside the barriers that stand between megaverses and of promoting our duty to protect humanity as a whole. Everyone in the Rift of Suffering admires you for that. Should you ever need our help, we will do our best.”

Lu Yin solemnly bowed to Ku Ji. “I, Lu Yin, thank you, Senior, on behalf of the Tianyuan.”

Ku Ji returned the bow. “I cannot speak for the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, but I can speak for the Rift of Suffering. I wish you success in pursuing your dream of a united humanity.”

This was the first time that Ku Cheng had seen his martial uncle admire someone so openly.

Just as Lu Yin had expected, everyone had interpreted his words differently.

People like Venerable Lan Ye had only heard provocation in Lu Yin’s words, believing that the three megaverses needed to remain firmly beneath the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. Since Lu Yin had entered the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, he should prioritize their megaverse above all others.

In contrast, Ku Ji had heard a hope for a united humanity in Lu Yin’s declaration, as well as a heart that wished to protect the entire human race.

It was a difference in mindset.

While it was possible that Lan Ye might be just as powerful as Ku Ji, there was no comparison when it came to the men’s breadth of heart.

“If only my senior brother were here to meet you as well.”

“Your senior brother is...?”

Ku Cheng spoke. “The sect master of the Rift of Suffering and also my master, Ku Deng.”

Lu Yin’s expression became serious. “Senior Ku Deng isn’t here in the Rift of Suffering?”

Ku Cheng shook his head. “My master is in the Mindscape Megaverse. He’s been gone from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse for many years.”

Ku Ji added, “If my senior brother were here and had heard what you said, he would surely want to speak with you at length. He would see you as a kindred spirit.”

Lu Yin smiled. “I am also very interested in speaking with Senior Ku Deng.”

The Mindscape Megaverse was another megaverse that had been destroyed by the Nine Odysseys. Lu Yin had heard it be mentioned once before when he had gone to the Autumnspring Slip with Ming Xiaolong, but not even she knew much about the place. All that she had shared was that the Rift of Suffering’s power seemed to come from that megaverse.

The Mindscape Megaverse had been one of the most powerful foreign megaverses that the Nine Odysseys had ever fought against. In fact, it had been just as much of a threat as the Skyveil Megaverse.

The Skyveil Megaverse had brought about the existence of Hidden Heaven City, while the Mindscape Megaverse had given rise to the Rift of Suffering.

It was just that Lu Yin had not expected the sect master of the Rift of Suffering to still be in the Mindscape Megaverse. Could his cultivation method require him to stay there?

The Rift of Suffering welcomed Lu Yin with great respect, which was a rare experience for him in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. The Four Commands Sword Sect, Everchange Valley, and even the Sixth Night Pillar had only shown respect for him because of his combat strength. But here, Ku Ji respected Lu Yin for his words, and Ku Cheng respected Lu Yin for saving the mountain.

At Ku Ji’s invitation, Lu Yin stayed in the Rift of Suffering for several days and spoke with the man at length. Ku Ji was very curious about the Tianyuan Megaverse. According to him, members of the Rift of Suffering had only ever visited two megaverses: the Nine Odysseys Megaverse and the Mindscape Megaverse.

Their people had never even set foot in the Spirit Nidus or the Consciousness Megaverse.

“Before Lesser Sancte Ru Shi died, the Nine Odysseys Megaverse sent hordes of cultivators into the Spirit Nidus. Some were sent to study their sequence techniques, others to gather resources, and some simply went to enjoy the cruelty of oppression. However, my Rift of Suffering never sent anyone.

“The Consciousness Megaverse has the Willbound Spire, and trying to approach the palace there might grant one the memories of an Immortal, which we are aware of. However, an Immortal’s memories have nothing to do with us. Our only desire is to climb out of our own inner rift. If Immortals are invincible, why do they still fall? Only an invincible heart can find freedom even in death.

“We also have none of our people in the Nine Odysseys. The Rift of Suffering never participates in foreign expeditions. To join the army of the Nine Odysseys, one is required to first leave the Rift of Suffering, though, of course, that is a personal choice. Even so, my Rift of Suffering takes nothing back. The Rift of Suffering is a place to temper the heart...” Ku Ji spoke at length, providing Lu Yin with a much deeper understanding of the sect.

He also learned that the Rift of Suffering’s cultivation method was entirely unique. They focused solely on cultivating their minds, and it was also true that their cultivation method had been taken from the Mindscape Megaverse. Their realms of mastery were simple: starting from the First Rift, one progressed to the Ninth Rift. By pressing the backs of their hands together, opening and closing them could open as many rifts as one’s level of mastery. Opening three rifts meant that one was a Third Rift expert, and so on and so forth.

Ku Cheng could open eight rifts, while Ku Ji could open nine.

Opening eight rifts indicated that one had the power of a Dukkhan, while nine rifts represented a peak Dukkhan.

The people of the Rift of Suffering did not cultivate spirit seeds, Soul legacy skills, or sequence particles. They did not even develop their own innate gifts. They solely cultivated their Heartrift technique. It was a strange method, and yet it had secured the sect’s position as the most powerful in the entire North Domain.

As Ku Cheng explained it, the Heartrift was able to augment any power, which meant that nothing else needed to be cultivated. The Heartrift alone would bring everything else into place.

Lu Yin was very curious about the Rift of Suffering’s heart technique, and so he suggested a spar.

He wanted to spar with Ku Ji, who was a peak Dukkhan, but the man had not fought anyone in a long time and had no wish to do so. For that reason, Lu Yin could only spar with Ku Cheng.

“What would you like to see, Mr. Lu?”

“Anything.”

“Very well. Recently, I’ve heard of some of your accomplishments, especially your unmatched physical strength and how you destroyed all of the Autumnspring Slip with a single punch. For that reason, I’ll face you with physical strength.”

As Ku Cheng spoke, he spread his hands wide, and rift after rift started to devour his surroundings. The void collapsed and darkness spread out, drawing the attention of many members of the Rift of Suffering.

However, most of those gazes were almost entirely indifferent. They showed none of the curiosity or excitement that was common when cultivators were watching a fight.

The people of the Rift of Suffering were truly unique. Whether their path was right or wrong, there was no denying that they possessed an extraordinary state of mind.

Just like before, the eight dark rifts that had opened around Ku Cheng suddenly condensed. He raised a hand and attacked Lu Yin with a single palm strike.

This was the same palm strike that he had used to throw the mountain hanging from the skyswings, matching the power of a Morrow Behemoth.

The palm strike caused the sky and the ground to tremble, giving the impression of crushing space itself. Many of the members of the Rift of Suffering even blanched at the power of the attack being used.

As the attack pressed down upon him, Lu Yin remained motionless.

As his attack drew near, Ku Cheng became frightened. “Mr. Lu, dodge it!”

Lu Yin calmly stared at the attack.

Thud

.

There was a small sound as a fierce wind erupted around Lu Yin before sweeping into the distance.

Ku Cheng’s attack had struck Lu Yin’s shoulder, and yet Lu Yin’s expression did not change at all. His shoulder merely shook slightly as a rebounding force sent Ku Cheng staggering back more than ten steps. Each step cracked the ground beneath the man.

The region fell silent. Everyone who had witnessed the attack was left stunned.

Ku Cheng had used his mastery of the Eighth Rift to boost his physical strength before releasing a tremendously powerful attack. However, not only had that failed to harm Lu Yin, but Ku Cheng had instead been the one knocked back. Just how strong were Lu Yin’s defenses?

Ku Cheng was dazed. “Mr. Lu... your strength...?”

At that moment, Ku Ji stepped forward. “Step back. Allow me.”

Ku Cheng stared at Ku Ji’s back, but then he bowed slowly and retreated into the distance. Even then, when he glanced back at Lu Yin, there was still shock on Ku Cheng’s face.

When his attack landed, it felt like he had struck cotton. This was not because of Lu Yin’s defenses, but because, at the moment that contact was made, Lu Yin’s shoulder had quivered. He had twisted the force of the attack through the void in a way that Ku Cheng had not been able to counter. The resulting rebound force had rippled through space and sent him flying back.

The exchange might have occurred instantaneously, but Lu Yin had done a lot in that one moment. Had things not been handled as they had, Ku Cheng’s strike might have very well injured Lu Yin.

Lu Yin had done something that was only possible because there was such a vast difference in power between him and his opponent. If there had been less of a discrepancy, Lu Yin might have suffered from attempting such a thing.

Ku Cheng understood just how wide the gap between him and Lu Yin was, and that was why Ku Ji had finally shown a rare bit of desire to do battle.

Lu Yin showed a faint smile. He had only revealed a bit of his strength and had deliberately knocked Ku Cheng back so that he could draw Ku Ji out.

No average Dukkhan could compare to Lu Yin. If it was not Ku Ji striking, Lu Yin would not be able to learn anything from the Rift of Suffering.

Ku Ji stared at Lu Yin in amazement. “Mr. Lu, your strength is truly astonishing. In the entire Nine Odysseys Megaverse, it’s possible that only the great Morrow Behemoths that launch the Nine Odysseys can rival you.”

Lu Yin shook his head. “There’s always someone stronger. The High Seraph’s power is also quite formidable. He has the Everstone Heart and has cultivated his heart to allow him to borrow the power of a universe. He was a terrifyingly powerful opponent.”

Ku Ji said, “The High Seraph? He is a Lesser Sancte, after all, and he even managed to defeat Lesser Sancte Ru Shi. May I ask... have you defeated the High Seraph?”

That question grabbed the attention of many in the Rift of Suffering. So they were not completely indifferent to the events of the outside world, after all.

When it came to the Lesser Sancti, no one in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse could remain entirely indifferent.

Lu Yin did not hide anything. “He was no match for me.”

The people of the Rift of Suffering were startled; was even a Lesser Sancte not able to compare to this man?

However, Ku Ji was not surprised. “When your words echoed across the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, you had only just become an Ortuser. Your power is unbelievable. If pure combat strength is what you desire, I certainly cannot compare to you. However, since you wish to experience my Rift of Suffering’s Heartrift, I am your most suitable opponent.”

Lu Yin replied, “Thank you, Senior Ku Ji. Please proceed.”

“Please.” Ku Ji did not hesitate. He spread his hands apart, opening one rift after another. The first eight opened like Ku Cheng’s, but when the ninth rift appeared, the sky grew dark. That darkness spread out endlessly, as though it was going to engulf the entire North Domain.

Far away, two figures were approaching the Rift of Suffering. When they noticed the darkening sky, one exclaimed in surprise, “Martial Uncle, what’s this?”

“A Ninth Rift expert is making a move. Who could be so powerful as to force Senior Ku Ji to take action?”

“Should we continue?”

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

“Yes.”

Elsewhere, cultivators in the various families and sects of the North Domain all looked up in shock. “The Ninth Rift? This is the Ninth Rift! Has the Rift of Suffering encountered an overwhelming enemy?”

“Close the gates to all visitors! Have all of our clansmen return immediately. Anyone caught leaving will be expelled.”

The ground was dark red in Ruler Garden. The once glorious sect had become a ghost town, inhabited only by a few scattered cultivators, all of whom were from Deathmound.

Each of them looked up at the sky. “That’s Senior Ku Ji’s power. Who is able to force him to attack?”

“Send a report to the Peak Lord right now! Things might be changing in the North Domain.”

“A Ninth Rift expert from the Rift of Suffering is attacking, and we don’t even know what’s going on.”

Even farther away, while the effects of Ku Ji’s attack had not reached the Skyward Gate’s Luo family, they had already received word of what was happening.

Luo Nanshan stared at the distant Mother Tree, and muttered, “The Rift of Suffering too? What’s going on? Trouble keeps cropping up lately...”

“Patriarch, about the Skyward Gate...”

“I know. I’ll go at once. Also... has the young lord returned to the Scion Spire yet?”

“He has almost arrived.”

“Good. Have the Luo family close our doors to all visitors.”

“Understood.”

...

In the Rift of Suffering, as the full might of Ku Ji’s Ninth Rift erupted, the overwhelming strength of a peak Dukkhan pressed down with such force that even Ku Cheng found it difficult to breathe and was forced to retreat.

The other members of the Rift of Suffering had long since fled. Their ultimate goal might be to climb out of their inner rifts, but that did not mean that they could simply ignore death. If they died, how would they be able to continue climbing?