Chapter 4174: Invitation From Obscura

What appeared to be a battle was actually Ku Deng helping Lu Yin to experience even greater pressure. Lu Yin needed more pressure to increase the limits of what he could endure. The Mindscape Megaverse’s Deep Rift Universe was no longer enough.

The two torrents of darkness merged, continuously grinding everything away while twisting and churning.

Ku Deng exited the Mindscape Megaverse and turned to watch in amazement.

“Master.” Ku Zhan approached.

Master Ku Deng reminded him, “Watch closely. The path you walk is, in many ways, similar to Mr. Lu’s. You both temper yourselves through battle. Mr. Lu may be young, but he is exceptionally adept in combat.

“You have spent all these years in the Mindscape Megaverse trying to suppress your fighting intent in order to break through. Perhaps that was a mistake.”

Ku Zhan clenched his fists. “Release the fighting intent. Release what lies within.”

Ku Deng nodded. “The Rift of Suffering has held you back. Everyone has their own path to walk. As it is for civilizations, it is even more so for people. It is a pity that you have already taken me as your master, as you might have otherwise been able to become Mr. Lu’s apprentice. That would have allowed your future to become limitless.”

Ku Zhan quickly said, “Master, the Rift of Suffering has not held me back. Without our sect, I would have never reached my current level. Mr. Lu is certainly formidable, but your disciple belongs to the Rift of Suffering alone.”

Ku Deng said nothing more and simply gazed into the distance in silence.

Only some time later did the rift that he had created fade away, leaving only the Mindscape Megaverse’s own rift.

Lu Yin stood in the middle of outer space. More than ten days passed before he finally opened his eyes and looked down at his hands.

Years of cultivation had only managed to somewhat increase the limits of what his body could endure. There had been no true metamorphosis. This level of pressure was simply not enough.

Asking Ku Deng for help had already been a large favor, as any time that an Immortal attacked, they would increase their karmic chain. Lu Yin owed a heavy favor for the man’s efforts.

Thinking about that, he stepped forward, soon reappearing in front of Ku Deng, where he offered a slow bow. “Many thanks for your assistance, Senior.”

Ku Deng waved it off. “I was not able to offer much help. Mr. Lu, this old man cannot allow you to experience any real pressure. Out of everyone in our human civilization, only Greater Sancte Green Lotus and Awe Gate can truly pressure you.”

Lu Yin nodded. “Regardless, you have helped this junior, Senior, and I will remember it.”

He then turned to Ku Zhan. “Do not suppress yourself. Look for the shackles that bind your battlelust and break them. After that you will be able to take another step forward. Cultivating battle force in the Tianyuan’s style might help you.”

The Tianyuan’s battleforce was not rare. There were similar methods in both the Nine Odysseys Megaverse and the Spirit Nidus, but the more powerful the faction that someone belonged to, the less likely they were to cultivate something like battleforce. People tended to believe their own faction’s methods to be the best. The Rift of Suffering was no different, and their members cultivated only heartrift power.

Realistically, many different powers led to the same destination, merely by different paths. When cultivators from the Tianyuan had first entered the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, they had brought great changes with them. Although the overall increase in power could not be clearly seen yet, the future would undoubtedly reveal a distinct shift.

Ku Zhan had always suppressed his own battlelust, staying in the Mindscape Megaverse. The last time Lu Yin visited, he had already felt that something was wrong with the man, but because Ku Zhan was a member of the Rift of Suffering, Lu Yin had felt that it was not his place to say anything.

However, with Ku Deng present, it was permissible to speak.

Ku Zhan glanced at Ku Deng, and the Immortal said, “Since Mr. Lu is suggesting it, you should go and try cultivating battleforce with the method that he recommends.”

Ku Zhan nodded and then bowed low to Lu Yin. “Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Lu.”

A few teleports was enough for Lu Yin to deliver Ku Deng to the other side of the Gate of Laws. He then continued to teleport towards the Activeness megaverse, wanting to try to remove the object from the bottom of the ocean once more.

Again, he failed.

He had not tried to merge with the will of the Activeness megaverse. If he needed to use such a method just to pick up the object, how was he supposed to use it as a weapon in the future?

He wanted to pick up the object in just his normal state.

Not only would that mean that he could use it as a weapon at any time, but he would also clearly be able to feel his own personal improvement.

Compared to when he had first visited the megaverse, he had indeed grown much stronger.

At the very least, the overflowing Activeness did not force him to leave nearly so quickly.

Even so, there were still some ways to go before Lu Yin could truly lift the item.

Time flowed on, and another hundred years passed. During that century, Lu Yin teleported about on the other side of the Gate of Laws, hoping to find a suitable megaverse for humans to live in. Unfortunately, without an Immortal like Greater Sancte Green Lotus accompanying him, Lu Yin failed to find even a single new megaverse.

As for that technological civilization from before, there had been no further contact, and he did not know where they may have gone.

Obscura had not not made any appearances. Greater Sancte Green Lotus had said that the struggle between humanity and Obscura was something that stretched across multiple eons. Given that perspective, as long as Obscura had no intention of fully annihilating the human civilization, time itself could serve as a shield to protect humanity.

Obscura also blocked other unknown civilizations in the Aevum Inch from reaching humanity.

Lu Yin stood in outer space, in a universe in the Mindscape Megaverse, with his eyes closed and a rift beneath his feet.

He had maintained the same state for two years. Two years ago, he had arrived at the Mindscape Megaverse after asking Awe Gate for her help, hoping that she could subject him to sufficient pressure.

At the moment, Awe Gate was calmly sitting outside the Mindscape Megaverse, ready to take action at any moment.

Suddenly, she turned to look at a distant point, her eyes flickering.

Qing Cao?

Far away, Master Qing Cao appeared. He was startled to see Awe Gate present. “Why are you here?”

Awe Gate stared at the man. “I’m more curious about why you showed up here.”

“I came to find Lu Yin.”

Awe Gate stared at the man with growing intensity. “For what matter?”

Master Qing Cao offered a small smile. “What? Are you able to speak on Lu Yin’s behalf?”

Awe Gate’s eyes turned icy. She said nothing more. She had never liked Master Qing Cao to begin with, and she feared that if she kept talking, she would not be able to stop herself from attacking.

Master Qing Cao looked over at the Mindscape Megaverse. Lu Yin’s eyes opened to meet the Immortal’s gaze, not understanding why Qing Cao had arrived.

Master Qing Cao entered the Mindscape Megaverse and moved to stand in front of Lu Yin. “Mr. Lu, your aura continues to grow increasingly formidable. Teleportation is a truly incredible ability, allowing you access to any cultivation site you wish at any time. Very impressive.”

Lu Yin’s tone was flat. “Senior, what matter has brought you here to see me?”

As time passed, Lu Yin had spoken with Master Qing Cao on more than one occasion, but no matter how much human civilization had improved, Master Qing Cao’s attitude had never changed. He refused to firmly stand on humanity’s side.

The man’s stubbornness allowed Lu Yin and the others to see just how terrifying Obscura was. Master Qing Cao was no fool. He alone had seen the truth of Obscura, which had caused him to feel despair. When it came to comparing the two sides, he was the only one who had truly seen the gap between the two civilizations.

After seeing more and having several conversations with the man, Lu Yin had stopped caring about whether Master Qing Cao’s actions were right or wrong. After obtaining the innate gift of teleportation, Lu Yin’s patience with the man had diminished. There were even times when he had wanted to simply attack the man and use karma to search for Obscura’s hidden expert.

However, the visit to the Seven-Treasure Anuras had caused Lu Yin’s attitude to change yet again.

There was no need for him to judge whether Master Qing Cao’s choice was right or wrong; their human civilization needed such a person. He was someone who had seen Obscura clearly, and he could serve as a yardstick to compare the two civilizations.

Before dying, Greater Sancte Mi Jin had prevented Greater Sancte Green Lotus and the others from taking action against Master Qing Cao. It was possible that the dead Immortal had thought the same as Lu Yin.

It was likely that Greater Sancte Mi Jin had understood nearly as much about the Aevum Inch as the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ old monster.

Master Qing Cao looked at Lu Yin. “All of the changes that human civilization has seen across multiple ages are not as great as those that you have brought about in just a few hundred years. Lu Yin, you inspire awe and are constantly creating miracles. Forget human civilization, as even Obscura has been shaken by you.”

Lu Yin arched a brow. “Obscura?”

Master Qing Cao nodded, his expression growing solemn. “I bear an invitation from Obscura. They invite you to join.”

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Master Qing Cao in complete surprise. Was this even real?

He had considered Obscura a mortal enemy for so many years, and they were truly one of human civilization’s greatest enemies. Lu Yin had never imagined that he would one day receive an invitation from that civilization.

It was something that he had not even dreamed of.

Human civilization and Obscura were two entirely different civilizations. This was even more unbelievable than when Aeternus had once invited Lu Yin to join them. This was something that he had never considered at all.

Master Qing Cao said, “You did not mishear me. Obscura invites you to join them. You have obtained everything that once belonged to Qi Xu and are qualified to replace her as a member of Obscura.”

Lu Yin stared at Master Qing Cao in a daze. “I am not even an Immortal.”

“Does that make any difference?”

“Of course it does. At the very least, I am no match for Lan Meng.”

“But you are also not even an Immortal,” Master Qing Cao repeated. He stared at Lu Yin with eyes full of wonder. “When the day comes that you break into the Immortal realm, what kind of transformation will you experience? Even human civilization can see your potential, while Obscura can see it even more clearly.

“Your potential and future strength are not something that Lan Meng can compare to at all.”

Lu Yin asked, “Is Obscura so certain that I will succeed in becoming an Immortal?”

Master Qing Cao replied, “I do not know about that. I am only a messenger, delivering Obscura’s invitation to you. However, I also hope that you will accept it. As a condition for you joining, Obscura is willing to abandon all hostilities towards our human civilization.”

As he spoke, Qing Cao’s eyes grew hot and bored into Lu Yin. “Mr. Lu, Obscura is willing, for your sake, to refrain from targeting our human civilization. As long as you agree, human civilization will be safe. Are you willing?”

Lu Yin’s heart skipped a beat. He had certainly not expected Obscura to offer such a condition.

This offer was too tempting. If Obscura was no longer their enemy, their human civilization would gain a great deal of security. Truthfully, Lu Yin had no reason to refuse, not if agreeing was for the sake of the entire human civilization.

He had already prepared himself to die in battle fighting for humanity. If he was not afraid of death, then why should he fear joining Obscura?

Seeing the fervent heat in Master Qing Cao’s eyes, Lu Yin saw that the man was losing his composure for the first time.

Master Qing Cao had done everything for the sake of the Spirit Nidus. Upon seeing hope for all of human civilization to gain safety, the man felt longing as though catching a glimpse of water in a desert. His excitement bordered on madness.

Seeing that Lu Yin still said nothing, Master Qing Cao started to grow anxious. “Mr. Lu, what are you hesitating for? Has everything that you’ve done not been for the sake of humanity? Obscura is our civilization’s greatest enemy. You do not understand how terrifying they truly are. If Obscura decides to destroy our human civilization, you cannot stop them. Humanity has always been walking along the edge of a cliff. It has only persisted thanks to luck and Obscura’s mercy.

“There is not finally a chance to guarantee human civilization’s safety! Why are you still hesitating?”

Lu Yin did not know how to respond.

Joining Obscura, joining humanity’s sworn enemy, was that something he should do? Of course not. Obscura had already caused immense losses to human civilization, and in the future, it would only take more. He had to protect humanity. But all it would take was a single nod, and human civilization would be safe.

It was the simplest choice imaginable.

The Tianyuan, the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, the Spirit Nidus—all of Lu Yin’s own family members, friends, and old acquaintances would be safe. It just took the price of a nod.

And yet Lu Yin simply could not bring himself to nod.