Chapter 4106: That Kind Of Despair

Wang Wen let out a long sigh. “This isn’t pessimism, it’s prudence. Having to deal with just one fishing civilization is already enough to drive us to despair, let alone multiple. If the Nest civilization really is backed by some fishing civilization, then forget the Tianyuan. Even the Nine Odysseys Megaverse is done for. Why even bother fighting? We should just run.”

Lu Yin studied Wang Wen. “There’s nowhere to run. We can only fight with our backs to the river.”

“I can actually swim...” Wang Wen muttered.

Lu Yin did not press the matter further. The truth was indeed enough to drive anyone to despair, but he had not expected such a defeated reaction from even Wang Wen.

“It’s not that there’s no way,” Wang Wen finally said.

Lu Yin looked back at the man. “Go on.”

Wang Wen thought for a moment. “Why is Obscura fixated on attacking human civilization? Why is the Nest civilization fixated on us as well? Is it really just because fishing civilizations want to destroy any and all civilizations that they encounter? If that’s true, then the Tricolor Skyborne, and whatever they’re drawing towards us, shouldn’t be able to escape destruction either.”

“What are you getting at?”

“Pull one in and pit them against another.”

“And what if we can’t draw one in?”

“Then sow discord. Isn’t that Your Royal Chesspiece’s specialty?”

Lu Yin shook his head. “That’s extremely difficult. If Obscura is luring a civilization towards us, it means that they’re prepared.”

“Nothing is foolproof, but for us to act, we need to first know what civilization the snails are bringing our way, what they seek, their position regarding Obscura, and their position towards the Nest civilization. In short, there are two top priorities right now: first, we need to prepare a fallback, an escape route.

“Second: we need information. We need a great deal of highly detailed information. Our knowledge determines what we can do. Only by seeing clearly can we develop an appropriate strategy.

“No one can create a flawless plan. What people call ‘divine foresight’ is nothing more than knowing more than everyone else.”

Lu Yin nodded. “That’s why I sent Astral Anura to investigate the Tricolor Skyborne.”

“Astral Anura?”

“He’s the one who sensed the snails’ presence in the first place.”

“Really? If not even you could sense them, then how could Astral Anura?”

“That’s exactly what Green Lotus and I don’t understand.”

Wang Wen set down his cup while giving Lu Yin an odd look. “In that case, is it possible that the civilization the Tricolor Skyborne is drawing over... Could it be...?”

Lu Yin met the man’s gaze. “It’s not impossible.”

Wang Wen grew solemn. “I suggest that we get Astral Anura settled down with a family. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Lu Yin looked away. If their suspicions proved accurate, then the toad might prove to be the key.

Still, Astral Anura alone could not possibly change the fate of an entire civilization. That would still come down to being able to read the board.

Even so, Astral Anura might at least be able to offer them a chance to negotiate with the approaching civilization.

...

One year later, a green lotus leaf drifted past the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

Astral Anura looked towards the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. This was his first time seeing the megaverse.

So that’s what it looks like

.

Previously, he had been a part of the expedition to the Spirit Nidus. Time had flown by since then. Back then, who could have imagined there was an entire Nine Odysseys Megaverse above them?

“How frightening... One megaverse plundering another to serve as fodder for their cultivation. Humans really are ruthless,” Astral Anura muttered.

“There are far crueler things in the cosmos than that.”

“How would I know that?” the toad blurted, only to then be startled. He jumped, almost leaping off of the lotus leaf.

At some point in time, Greater Sancte Awe Gate had sat down cross-legged behind Astral Anura, and she smiled softly while watching him.

The toad stared at the woman. He did not recognize her, but if she had silently arrived behind him, then she was clearly far, far stronger than him.

A woman. Lu Yin said I’ll be protected by an Immortal... Could she be the one?

Astral Anura quickly bowed, his lotus leaf pressing tight against his head. “Astral Anura pays his respects to Senior Greater Sancte Awe Gate.”

The Greater Sancte’s lips curved upwards. “You know me?”

“I do not, but your grace is famous throughout the cosmos. Your radiance illuminates the entire human civilization. One glance was enough for me to tell,” Astral Anura gushed.

She chuckled. “Quite the silver tongue.”

Astral Anura grinned. “Senior Awe Gate, you are truly in the entire cosmos, serving as the guardian of humanity. Your achievements are unmatched! Please accept this humble one’s homage and allow me to follow in your footsteps. I ask for nothing more, merely to be able to glimpse at your back.”

He had memorized that line. Someone had once said that most people could be won over by a gifted tongue.

The Greater Sancte eyed the toad. “Is every person from the Tianyuan so glib?”

“I’m not a person!” Astral Anura blurted, only to then flounder. “I mean- I’m a- No, I’m not, I’m- ...Fine, I’m a toad.”

She chuckled. “We’ll see how you perform. Don’t disappoint us.”

Astral Anura puffed his chest out. “Rest assured, Senior, I’ll shed my blood down to the last drop for human civilization!”

She nodded and closed her eyes, continuing her attempts to merge the Nirvana Tree Path with Greater Sancte Mi Jin’s spirit seed.

She had not yet succeeded. If she had, her previous battle against the Immortal Kang Tian would have gone differently, and the entire situation would have developed along an alternate path.

That thought caused her heart to sink. Green Lotus had recently shared some of his suspicions, which had greatly increased the pressure on Awe Gate. She could only pray that his conjectures proved to be unfounded.

Even if he was correct, that matter had to be delayed until after humanity’s current crisis was resolved.

The Tricolor Skyborne had to be destroyed.

She would accomplish that, even at the cost of her life.

A frigid killing intent spread out, causing Astral Anura to tremble.

It was the aura of an Immortal. It was terrifying, and it made it clear that the individual was not to be provoked.

She’s even more frightening than Lu Yin.

...

Time flowed on. One day, the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm started to roar, and Lu Yin’s figure quickly took form above it, where he met Greater Sancte Green Lotus.

“That Immortal beast circled the edge of the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm for a while before finally settling down inside a meteorite not too far away,” Green Lotus informed Lu Yin.

The younger man was surprised. “It didn’t run far away?”

“It is neither far nor near. It is just within my reach.”

Lu Yin barked a cold laugh. “What a vengeful thing! It’s intending to strike at us whenever it is able to again.”

“As long as it is alive, it remains a menace. Do you truly intend to use it as bait for Luo Chan?”

“Compared to the Immortal beast, Luo Chan is a far greater threat. There’s no choice.” Lu Yin felt helpless, but he could not think of any other way to deal with Luo Chan.

Green Lotus nodded. “Both we and the Nest civilization understand just how vital Luo Chan is to them. That humanoid Verdant Sage sacrificed itself to protect that bug. Such a thing is unthinkable, and yet it still happened. I cannot help but wonder, does Luo Chan truly belong to the Nest civilization?”

Lu Yin asked, “Do you think that Luo Chan might belong to the civilization behind the bugs?”

“That is certainly possible.”

“That wouldn’t mean that every member of that hidden civilization can teleport, would it?” A chill crept across Lu Yin’s scalp.

Green Lotus did not answer. If Luo Chan was not an oddity born of the Nest civilization’s ability to spawn insects that had assimilated the abilities of the creatures in whatever megaverse they were in, then Lu Yin’s fears might well be accurate.

Teleportation was too bizarre an ability. It was something that not even Immortals could do.

Granted, Luo Chan was a bizarre lifeform, but even so, its ability went against all understanding of the cosmos.

If it originated from some greater fishing civilization, one which used the Nest civilization as bait, that would actually be easier to accept.

That would also explain why the humanoid Verdant Sage had willingly mutilated themselves to protect Luo Chan. It had not been the Verdant Sage making the decision, but rather the Immortal Lord themselves.

Lu Yin clenched his teeth. “Whatever Luo Chan is, it needs to be dealt with. The Immortal Lord’s willingness to sacrifice an Immortal for that bug is proof that, even if Luo Chan is only a part of the Nest civilization, it’s an extraordinary existence among the bugs. If not, an Immortal would never be sacrificed for a creature beneath that level.”

Greater Sancte Green Lotus grunted softly. “Indeed.”

Eliminating Luo Chan would not only eliminate a great deal of the Nest civilization’s advantage in war, but it would also enable Lu Yin to check if it would be possible for Ancestor Lu Yuan to grow Luo Chan’s ability into an innate gift.

If teleportation could be grown, perhaps the future would not be completely devoid of hope.

The Champions’ Stage and the Investiture of the Gods, which of the Lu family’s two existing innate gifts followed conventional logic?

If he can grow teleportation as an innate gift, maybe things won’t be impossible after all.

As soon as he can...

Lu Yin’s eyes blazed. That possibility would allow human civilization to truly soar.

This plan of Lu Yin’s had not been shared with Greater Sancte Green Lotus, not because of any sort of distrust, but rather because Lu Yin did not want to raise any false hopes.

After all, the odds of success were less than one in a billion.

Of course, if Luo Chan was successfully captured, Lu Yin would certainly discuss the matter with Greater Sancte Green Lotus and the Immortals. An Immortal’s insight might be able to improve their chances of success.

Elsewhere, in one of the Tianyuan’s parallel universes, Master Qing Cao stood silently. Behind him stretched the vast, desolate expanse of the universe, filled with barren worlds spinning in lonely orbits.

Skydog stepped out of the void, its eyes flickering as soon as it saw Master Qing Cao.

After all, it recognized the Immortal.

Qing Cao’s attention rose above Skydog to the figure seated on its back, the person with hands as white as polished jade.

“Xia Shang has been looking for me.”

“Oh? The child who managed to survive my blow? Quite impressively talented. Did you come here because of him?”

Qing Cao spoke calmly, “Human civilization is surrounded by crises. Obscura promised me that the Spirit Nidus will be preserved, but can it truly accomplish that?”

“It can, right now.”

Qing Cao stared at the man. “How?”

“Have those you wish to save leave this human civilization. I can give you a gate.”

Qing Cao stared at the Immortal for a long time.

“What’s wrong? You don’t want to go? Or are you trying to test Obscura?”

Qing Cao’s voice dropped low. “How can the population of an entire megaverse pass through a single gate? Neither the Nine Odysseys Megaverse nor the Tianyuan will ever permit such a thing.”

“That’s your problem. Before you made your agreement with us, no one expected some Nest civilization to appear. Qi Xu wasn’t even dead then, was she?

“Now, Lan Meng is luring that other civilization over, trying to earn a bit of credit. It wants its friend to take Qi Xu’s place. This is not something that I can interfere with.

“Blame Lu Yin. He exposed the gate and let Lan Meng learn of Qi Xu’s death. If not for that, you could’ve taken your time.

“Still, that kid is rather impressive to kill an Immortal before reaching that realm himself. There are few throughout the Aevum Inch capable of that. I’m tempted to replace you with him.”

Qing Cao replied evenly, “Lu Yin chooses the greater good. I choose the lesser good. Lu Yin protects humanity’s future. I protect the few people I love. He has dignity and conviction. I lost mine long ago.”

“True choices aren’t spoken aloud, but rather demonstrated when a civilization faces annihilation. You’ve been there, while he hasn’t. Don’t belittle yourself. You’re also quite exceptional.”

Qing Cao remained silent.

“That’s enough. I’m leaving. When you’ve made a decision, let me know. I can allow those you wish to save leave at any time. You can’t evacuate the entire Spirit Nidus, but a portion? Absolutely. Didn’t you leave some people here in the Tianyuan for that exact purpose? Or have you forgotten your former despair?”

Qing Cao’s eyes narrowed as he watched Skydog leave. The man’s back grew more bent than ever before.