Chapter 4166: Backing

Even just one more person awakening the innate gift of teleportation would grant human civilization a greater sense of security.

Of course, even if a descendant of the Lu family did awaken that innate gift, they would never be able to travel as far as Lu Yin could, simply because they could not see as far. Still, with Greater Sancte Green Lotus and the other Immortals around, it would be possible for people to see farther than they normally could. Whether it was by their own ability or not, as long as they could see a location, it was possible to instantly arrive there.

That was the ideal scenario.

In addition to Ancestor Lu Yuan, even Lu Tianyi and other senior members of the Lu family were being urged to have more children. As long as they were a part of the direct Lu family line, any offspring could potentially awaken the innate gift.

For these reasons, the Lu family was both suffering and delighted during this time, and countless beauties were sent their way.

Greater Sancte Blood Tower was sent to serve as the guardian of the Tianyuan.

Half a year later, Lu Yin set out on his journey to visit the Seven-Treasure Anuras.

There were countless matters within human civilization that still needed to be addressed. They were all minor issues, but if he stayed to deal with them slowly, he would not have been able to leave even after ten years.

Provided that the journey went smoothly, a round trip would take fifty to sixty years, which was not particularly long for cultivators.

The Immortal Lord was already waiting outside the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm, their green stalk shining with a soft radiance. It was difficult to reconcile this gentle appearance with the ferocious reputation of the Nest civilization’s Immortal Lord.

Lu Yin emerged from the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm and moved towards the green stalk.

Behind him were Greater Sancte Green Lotus, Awe Gate, and several others, including Ancestor Lu Yuan and Jiang Feng. Many had come to see Lu Yin off.

At his side, Astral Anura looked absolutely miserable and helpless. Every three steps the toad took, he would glance back.

Lu Yin kept a hand on the toad as he approached the green stalk.

“Lord Lu, I don’t want to go! I

really

don’t want to! This is my home. What do those Seven-Treasure Anuras have to do with me? Lord Lu, just let me go back. I don’t want to go!” Astral Anura wailed.

Lu Yin casually replied, “Not going is not an option. Behave yourself.”

Astral Anura curled his whole body up beneath his lotus leaf. “This is my home! I am part of human civilization. You can’t just cast me aside just because I look like a Seven-Treasure Anura. No, I’m not a Seven-Treasure Anura! I am a human, a human!

“I have friends and business partners here. My entire business is here. Everything I have is here...”

No matter how Astral Anura howled, he was ultimately still dragged onto a drifting branch and leaf of the green stalk by Lu. As the green stalk started to move off, they slowly vanished from sight, and Astral Anura’s voice faded away.

At the edge of the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm, a conflicted expression could be seen on Greater Sancte Green Lotus’s face. He had never imagined that the day would come when the hope of their entire civilization rested on the shoulders of a young man who was not even an Immortal, let alone that the youth would rise up from the Tianyuan Megaverse.

This was not even the only time. In recent years, as war between civilizations had grown more frequent, it had always been the same young man turning the tide. He was the future of human civilization.

Mr. Lu, may your journey be smooth.

...

Beneath the dark cliff, branches hung down. Floating coffins leaned against the cliff face, embedded deep within it, one after another.

“Lan Meng, this human civilization is not so easy to deal with, is it?”

“It has nothing to do with you. In the end, it is my prey.”

“We can cooperate.”

“That does not conform with the rules.”

“Of course it does. I have reason to suspect that my prey has escaped to the same human civilization that you are dealing with.”

“First bring me proof.”

“I fear that you will be dead by then.”

“Hui, don’t think that, just because you joined Obscura earlier, you are some sort of senior. Qi Xu joined before you, and she died just the same.”

“Hmph! Fine. Just don’t come begging me later.”

...

The green stalk followed the token through the Aevum Inch, continuing into the distance.

The token was the real guide. Without it, they would never be able to find the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ location.

On the branch of the green stalk, Astral Anura’s head drooped low as he let out incessant sighs.

Lu Yin glanced over. “Enough. Stop acting so pathetic. Kang Tian lied to you. We tricked you. There’s no toad that feeds on treasures and no cannibalism among your kin. Just be at peace as we return you.”

Astral Anura was not surprised. “I know. I’ve known that for a long time.”

“Then why are you still acting like this?”

“Lord Lu, I truly don’t want to go back! Human civilization really is my home. I’m not joking about that. I may be one of the Seven-Treasure Anuras, but I feel no sense of belonging to them.”

Lu Yin gave the toad a half-smile. “You’re hoping that the Seven-Treasure Anuras will end up ruling over human civilization, aren’t you?”

Astral Anura was startled. “No! Absolutely not! I never considered that. Lord Lu, you must believe me—my heart lies with human civilization! I belong to human civilization!”

Lu Yin could see through the damned toad’s thoughts at a glance.

It was true that Astral Anura could not bear to leave human civilization. After all, he had grown up and lived there all along. He even hoped to overcome Dukkha and step into Immortality within their human civilization.

While he might not have harbored such ambitions before, ever since learning that he was one of the Seven-Treasure Anuras and understanding just how powerful his species was, Astral Anura had concluded that it was indeed possible for him to become an Immortal. When he compared returning to his own kind or staying in the human civilization, the latter would make that breakthrough easier.

That was because the toad’s understanding of the cosmos came from human civilization.

Naturally, he was unwilling to return to his own kind. He would much prefer it if the Seven-Treasure Anuras became the masters of humanity. That would give Astral Anura the backing of his species, allowing him to strut about in human civilization. He might even be able to consider settling scores with those who had crossed him.

Who was unaware of Astral Anura’s twisted personality?

Seeing that Lu Yin said nothing, Astral Anura rolled his eyes. “Lord Lu, is it really not possible for you to send me back?”

Lu Yin gave Astral Anura a pointed look. “The Seven-Treasure Anuras care a great deal about you. The condition for us paying them a visit is your return. They clearly value you very highly.”

Astral Anura straightened his lotus leaf.

“However, if you think that gaining the Seven-Treasure Anuras as your backers will allow you to act however you please in human civilization, you are overthinking things. We humans have multiple Immortals. No matter how strong your kind might be, the simple fact that they have not gone to war with us shows that something is holding them back, so put your schemes away and act like a good toad. That way, both the Seven-Treasure Anuras and our human civilization will serve as your backers. Don’t get carried away and stir up trouble.”

Astral Anura quickly replied, “Lord Lu, you don’t have to worry. I am not that kind of toad. Once I return to my kin, I will definitely speak well of our human civilization. I absolutely won’t allow the Seven-Treasure Anuras to go to war with humanity. I promise.”

Lu Yin nodded. “Having both the Seven-Treasure Anuras and humanity behind you would be far better than us going to war and weakening each other. Think it through for yourself.”

Astral Anura offered a fawning grin, his eyes flickering.

He had indeed gotten a little carried away. He had recalled how Lu Yin had bullied him repeatedly, and then he had mentally listed off anyone else who had bullied him. But after Lu Yin’s reminder, Astral Anura had to admit that the man was right.

If the Seven-Treasure Anuras and human civilization went to war, even if the toads won, it would be a pyrrhic victory. Having his species weakened would not be as secure as having two friendly civilizations both backing Astral Anura. Would he not then be able to walk sideways wherever he pleased in the Aevum Inch?

Obscura? The Nest civilization? Who would dare to offend Astral Anura at that time?

As his mind wandered, Astral Anura grew excited. Once he was back with his own kind, he would need to speak well of the humans. No matter what, his vast business network was in the human civilization, and he could not throw that away.

Lu Yin glanced at Astral Anura. The damned toad’s head had always been missing a screw, and his character flaws necessitated constant reminders. Without them, if Astral Anura messed things up, the situation would become a real headache. Who knew what sort of attitude the Seven-Treasure Anuras might have toward the toad?

In the blink of an eye, five years passed. The green stalk continued moving towards the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ territory. Lu Yin did not take part in any real conversations during that time.

He needed to remain on constant guard against the Immortal Lord. They had already moved far away from the human megaverses, which meant that it was not impossible for the Immortal Lord to suddenly strike.

As they moved along, he constantly scattered out pathfinding stones so that he would be able to freely teleport to any of them.

For this trip, nearly every pathfinding stone that the Nine Odysseys Megaverse possessed had been given to Lu Yin. It was a massive number and was more than enough for him to use.

“Lu Yin.” The Immortal Lord suddenly spoke up, startling Astral Anura so badly that the toad jumped up. He had actually forgotten that the Immortal Lord was present.

Lu Yin opened his eyes and looked at the green stalk. “What is it?”

“Where is Luo Chan?”

“With me.”

“I want to see it.”

“Impossible.”

“Are you wary of me?”

Lu Yin nearly laughed at the question, but just as he was about to reply, his gaze shifted over to Astral Anura, and he shot the toad a meaningful look.

Astral Anura received the hint. With a cough, he said, “Hey, you! Immortal Lord, right?”

“I am speaking with Lu Yin,” the Immortal Lord replied.

Astral Anura sneered. “I, Astral Anura, am talking to you! Haven’t you ever heard of manners?”

The green stalk paused, startling Astral Anura so badly that his skin grew mottled with color, and he looked at Lu Yin for help.

Lu Yin just gave a small smile, encouraging the toad with a nod.

At any other time, Astral Anura would have never dared to show such insolence to the Immortal Lord. The difference in strength between them was far too great. But at the moment, things were different. They were on their way to visit the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ home, which meant that they were heading towards Astral Anura’s turf. No matter what, the Immortal Lord would not dare to do anything to Astral Anura at this time.

If the Immortal Lord really intended to strike, it would not make any difference whether the toad spoke or not. It would simply mean that the Immortal Lord had never intended to visit the Seven-Treasure Anuras at all.

Astral Anura fully understood that his attitude towards the Immortal Lord did not matter. All he needed to do was cling as tightly to Lu Yin’s thigh as possible. In the midst of the Aevum Inch, Lu Yin was the toad’s only support.

“What are you stopping for? Move! Keep going!” Astral Anura shouted, mustering his courage. The mottled colors on his skin shifted rapidly, and his eyes flushed red. The steel fork in his grip glinted with a cold light.

The green stalk resumed moving. “Lu Yin, allow me to see Luo Chan. Otherwise I can’t be at ease.

“If you’re able to be at ease, we won’t. Stop yapping and get moving!” Astral Anura ordered.

The Immortal Lord kept their voice low. “Time is very precious for you humans. Allowing Luo Chan to take us to the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ territory would save a great deal of time.”

“Do you think that I’m an idiot? Release that bug? It sounds like you’re hoping to get rid of us.”

“Toad, I was not speaking to you!” the Immortal Lord finally snapped.

Astral Anura jumped in place. “You damned bug! Just wait until we reach the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ territory! We’ll see if you still dare to call me a toad!”

The Immortal Lord was furious, but no matter what they said, Lu Yin completely ignored them and had Astral Anura respond to everything.

Astral Anura only grew increasingly excited as he spoke, until things reached a point where the Immortal Lord was so furious that they stopped speaking altogether.

Lu Yin was quite content. He could still remember how strong his fear of the Immortal Lord had been when he had first learned of the Nest civilization. At that time, all of humanity had been trying to destroy Nests and slaughter the bugs, terrified of luring the Nest civilization to their megaverse. But at the moment, Lu Yin felt quite relaxed.

Time flowed on, and in the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.

They had spent fifteen years traveling towards the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ territory, and they were probably more than halfway there.

Even so, this vast distance was still miniscule when compared to the entirety of the Aevum Inch.

The Seven-Treasure Anuras’ territory should have been more than ten times the diameter of the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm away from the human megaverses, and they were constantly drawing closer to their destination.

During the fifteen years of travel, they had seen nothing but endless darkness. They had not seen a single megaverse and had not encountered any other creatures. The silence was terrifying.

The stillness had only been broken by Astral Anura occasionally antagonizing the Immortal Lord with a few sharp remarks.

“Hey, you really don’t give up, do you? How many Nests have you tossed out by now?” Astral Anura shouted.

Throughout the journey, while Lu Yin was throwing out pathfinding stones, the Immortal Lord had not been idle, and they were constantly throwing out Nests.