Chapter 4202: He Has Returned

But what did any of that have to do with Chu Jian? The more brilliant and successful that Lu Yin had become, the calmer that Chu Jian’s own heart had become. He had moved from constantly competing with Lu Yin to the polar opposite of no longer making any comparisons between them at all.

Chu Jian no longer even had a way in which to compete.

Over the many years, as his heart found peace, his mental state had improved, as had his cultivation. So what if the world forgot about him? Humanity had gained too many amazing geniuses in recent years; adding Chu Jian to their number would not add much, while taking him away did not cause much of a lessening.

Xuan Jiu sighed. “Back when you fought with that kid Lu Yin at the tea ceremony, your battle shook the universe. Your Nine of Ten Chambers Empty became famous across multiple universes. You should go out once more and let the people of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse and the Spirit Nidus see the true meaning of Nine of Ten Chambers Empty.”

Before Chu Jian could respond, a group of people approached, drawing both men’s attention.

A handsome young man stood at the front of the group, the corners of his mouth curved to form a faint smile that seemed somehow both happy and mocking. Step by step, he drew closer. His eyes swept past Xuan Jiu to stare at Chu Jian. “Nine of Ten Chambers Empty? Are you Chu Jian?”

Chu Jian looked at the young man. His face felt familiar, and yet Chu Jian was certain that they had never met.

When Xuan Jiu saw the young man, his face fell. “Lu Huai, what are you doing here?”

The young man was indeed Lu Huai, the third human who was capable of teleportation. From the day he had been born, Lu Huai had met almost every human Immortal. He was someone of the highest privilege.

Whether it was having the surname of Lu or possessing the innate gift of teleportation, both placed the young man at the absolute pinnacle of human civilization, and it had since the moment of his birth.

Chu Jian was surprised.

So this is Lu Huai? No wonder he looks familiar; his brow and eyes bear a slight resemblance to Lu Yin.

Both men were members of the Lu family, and Lu Huai was from one of the most senior generations.

“How bold, Xuan Jiu. We show you a bit of respect. Does that really make you think that you are someone important? You actually dare to call Brother Lu by his name?” someone behind Lu Huai shouted harshly. He was another young man, though he belonged to the Xia family.

Of the crowd following behind Lu Huai, some of the people were from the Tianyuan, while others were from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. The man’s status was not limited to just one megaverse.

Each person in the group held an exalted status themselves and had powerful backing. Even so, in front of Lu Huai, all that they could do was bow and flatter him, calling him Brother Lu.

Lu Huai shot a cold glare at Xuan Jiu. “Xuan Jiu, don’t believe that you are really anyone important. A person’s status depends on themselves. You have already taken full advantage of your few encounters with Seventh Bro. Scram.”

Xuan Jiu felt his anger rise, despite being someone who rarely felt fury. He had never cared much for others’ opinions and had a thick skin. However, Lu Huai was different. Xuan Jiu had treated the young man as a junior, feeling a natural closeness due to the fact that Lu Huai was a member of the Lu family. But despite his intentions, he had been insulted at their very first meeting. This was their second meeting, and yet Lu Huai still refused to see Xuan Jiu as a person.

“Even if Lu Yin himself were here, he still would not speak to me in such a manner. You juniors are the ones being bold,” Xuan Jiu retorted in a low voice.

“Presumptuous!” Lu Huai’s eyes flared, and an intense pressure fell. Over the years, Xuan Jiu’s cultivation had barely improved at all. He had long since abandoned improving his strength and instead wandered about only seeking to enjoy himself. On the other hand, Lu Huai had cultivated his entire life, each and every step overseen with the greatest care that human civilization could offer. Every stage of his path had been arranged. Even his weakest instructors had been Dukkhans, and he had even received guidance from Immortals. Naturally, his cultivation had soared.

He had become a Progenitor after just over 100 years, reaching that realm even faster than Lu Yin. On top of that, Lu Huai was exceptional within his realm with a powerful Progenitor’s world. He could truly be considered unrivaled within his generation.

Xuan Jiu was completely unable to withstand Lu Huai’s pressure.

Chu Jian stepped to Xuan Jiu’s side and eased the pressure for the old man. He looked at Lu Huai. “You have gone too far.”

Lu Huai coldly retorted, “Are you Chu Jian, the one who once fought Seventh Bro and was known as the perfect Junior Sovereign?”

“It’s nothing impressive.”

Several of the people behind Lu Huai hurried to chime in. “Of course he can’t compare with you, Brother Lu. Chu Jian isn’t even qualified to meet an Immortal, while Brother Lu has already met them all. Not even Kang Tian would dare to act arrogantly before Brother Lu!”

“Exactly. What Nine of Ten Chambers Empty? It’s just another innate gift. How could it possibly compare to Brother Lu’s teleportation?”

“And he doesn’t just have teleportation. Brother Lu will definitely awaken the Champions' Stage and the Investiture of the Gods as well, drawing infinitely close to Lord Lu’s level.”

Hearing those words caused Lu Huai’s lips to curl up. He looked at Chu Jian with disdain. “Scram. Stop getting in the way. An obsolete relic like you should stay far away.”

Chu Jian showed no anger. “Does Lord Lu know that you act like this?”

Lu Huai’s eyes flickered, and his face twitched briefly before he sneered. “How are you worthy to mention Seventh Bro? It looks like the lesson he taught you back then wasn’t enough. In that case, let me teach you another one.”

At that moment, someone else arrived.

Everyone turned to look. Qing Yun had actually appeared. It was truly a lively day.

Chu Jian had not expected such a remote place in the Cyclic Universe that had been abandoned for so long to draw so many people over. Why were they all coming here?

Qing Yun arrived with Granny Yin, who nodded to Xuan Jiu and Chu Jian when she saw them. All of them were old friends and acquaintances of Lu Yin’s.

Xuan Jiu showed a great deal more courtesy to Qing Yun than he ever had to Lu Huai. No matter what Lu Huai’s status might be, he was still a member of the Lu family, and the Lu family belonged to Lu Yin. On the other hand, Qing Yun was different. She had both Greater Sancti Awe Gate and Green Lotus behind her, and that difference in backing created a barrier.

When Lu Huai saw that Qing Yun had arrived, he frowned. “What are you doing here?”

Granny Yin instantly scolded the young man. “Lu Huai, my young miss has warned you many times before. Why will you not change?”

Lu Huai let out a cold laugh. “What a busybody.”

Qing Yun’s eyes were cold as she stared at him. “If it weren’t for Mr. Lu, we would have never even bothered with you. Everything that you have comes from him. Mr. Lu is held in the highest regard by all of humanity, and yet you insist on tarnishing the Lu family’s reputation. Sooner or later, something will go wrong.”

No one in the crowd behind Lu Huai dared to show the slightest disrespect towards Qing Yun. Her status was absolutely not below Lu Huai’s.

It could be said that both of them enjoyed a status in human civilization that stood just beneath that of the Immortals.

Lu Huai showed a look of pure disgust. “I told you to stop meddling!”

He then shot a disdainful glance at Chu Jian before turning around and leaving.

Granny Yin shouted, “Stop! Did my young miss say that you could leave?”

Lu Huai did not respond at all and simply vanished.

Seeing this left Granny Yin feeling helpless. That was the ability to teleport. Even as a Dukkhan, she could do nothing to stop the young man.

Qing Yun waved a hand. “Forget it.”

“Young miss, he has gone too far! The Feng clan was not the first, nor will they be the last,” Granny Yin angrily protested.

Xuan Jiu asked curiously, “What happened?”

Granny Yin explained, “Lu Huai publicly insulted the Feng family’s young lady, saying that she is ugly and undeserving to pass through the Lu family’s gates. The truth is that she is both graceful, attractive, and dignified in behavior. She is altogether completely different from his accusations. And yet, because of his words, she has closed her doors, sealing herself away. It is said that she has attempted suicide on several occasions. If she had not been stopped, she would have died long ago.”

Xuan Jiu shook his head.

“Such things have happened more than once. Countless families hope to marry their daughters into the Lu family because of the innate gift of teleportation, and the Lu family has continued to accept many of them. However, many have also been humiliated by Lu Huai.

“He has not just caused issues in matters like this. Many of the new generation’s rising geniuses have been dismissed as worthless by him. He has even had his people compile a list of all the most outstanding members of his generation. Then, he goes through it, critiquing them one by one. He uses words so harsh that they leave others seething with anger.”

Xuan Jiu was curious. “For example...?”

Granny Yin thought for a moment. “There is a young prodigy in the Rift of Suffering who managed to master four rifts at a very young age. When Master Ku Deng was at that same age, he had not reached that level of mastery. Yet Lu Huai describes that young prodigy as a fool who only knows how to dig holes and who will eventually bury himself.”

Xuan Jiu and Chu Jian were both left speechless.

“There is also a young woman with no background, a lone cultivator who rose up through both opportunity and effort. She is praised by many and known as Fairy Kong. She is famous for her wind-like speed. Unfortunately, Lu Huai managed to describe her abilities as someone whose greatest talent is undressing the fastest. Fairy Kong was unable to defend herself, leading others to assume that something improper had passed between them. Ultimately, she shut herself away and has refused to come out for more than ten years. She lives in seclusion in a valley. She may have even already died. No one would know,” Granny Yin said.

Qing Yun spoke in a heavy tone, “There are countless other such examples. Lu Huai is far too arrogant, and no one can control him. Senior Lu Yuan has punished him, and even my mother has disciplined him, but it is all useless. He has not done anything that can be considered truly monstrous, but the consequences of many of his actions are terrible. If things go on like this, Mr. Lu’s reputation in our civilization will be ruined by Lu Huai.

“Also, given how he behaves now, no one can say what he will become like in the future. He may well do things far worse, and at that time, no one will be able to save him.”

Granny Yin sighed. “Over the course of more than 200 years, out of all the Lu family’s children, he alone has awakened the innate gift of teleportation. The chances of success are not high. Humanity needs teleportation, and the more people with that innate gift, the better. How is it possible that the one who has obtained that ability has turned out like this?”

Xuan Jiu asked, “What about Lu Yin?”

“He has been cultivating this whole time and has not emerged,” Qing Yun answered.

Xuan Jiu said, “Tell him anyway. These are his people, so he should be the one to deal with them. No one else can interfere.”

Granny Yin glanced over at Qing Yun. After a moment’s thought, the woman nodded.

They had not wanted to trouble Lu Yin, but Lu Huai had become impossible to discipline. Only Lu Yin could act at this point.

In the Heavens Sect, Lu Yin lowered the message he had just received.

Lu Huai, is it?

Elsewhere, after leaving the Cyclic Universe, Lu Huai had headed straight back to the Lu Sanctum. Everyone bowed as he passed by, but he did not pay them even the slightest notice.

“Young Master Huai, you have returned.” The steward, Lu San, respectfully greeted the young man with a bow.

Lu Huai did not even glance at the older man and simply walked straight on by.

Lu San kept his head bowed, and only slowly straightened once Lu Huai was far away.

“Has he always been like this?” a familiar voice asked.

Lu San went stiff. He slowly turned his head, and when he saw who was speaking to him, he grew extremely excited. “Y- young Master! You- you’ve returned!”

Lu Yin smiled at the old man. “Yes, I am back.”

Lu San was overjoyed. “I’ll have Cook make a few good dishes for you right away! I’ll go right now!”

“There’s no hurry.” Lu Yin looked at Lu Huai’s back in the distance. “Call him over.”

Lu San briefly froze before glancing at the far-off young man. The steward did not dare to delay for even a moment, and he hurried after Lu Huai. Softly, the old man reported, “Young Master Huai, the young master has returned.”

Lu Huai frowned. “Which young master? Lu San, you must be confused. Is there anyone who can be called ‘young master’ before me?”

Lu San quickly gestured back with his eyes.

Lu Huai turned his head. Seeing Lu Yin, the young man’s eyes narrowed.

While having never met Lu Yi, his face was known to every cultivator in human civilization, let alone the members of the Lu family.

As Lu Huai stared at Lu Yin, he felt a strange sense of contradiction. It was as though the years were stretching between them.

One was the man who had led human civilization to its current peak and caused the Lu family to be one of the most famous human families.

The other was the one heralded as the heir to that human legacy.

The two of them stared at each other.

Lu Yin was calm, but Lu Huai could not remain calm.

It’s him! It’s really him!

The man that Lu Huai had dreamed of chasing after had returned.