Chapter 4224: Cosmic Shear

Lu Yin nodded. That was quite accurate. He had not expected things to go this smoothly himself. The technological civilization had not given the Blacklight Civilization even the slightest chance to explain matters diplomatically, despite the fact that the two civilizations had already made contact.

War had erupted so smoothly that it felt as if Lu Yin had coordinated with the technological civilization in advance.

The technological civilization had been poised to launch an attack, and they had only been waiting for an ideal opportunity.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Old First muttered in a low voice, “The advantage of technological weapons is quantity. They don’t care about karmic chains, so once the destructive power of a weapon reaches the Immortal level, it can be used endlessly, making them extremely troublesome. No Immortal wants to fight against such an opponent. If you get pulled into a stalemate, you’ll be bled dry.

“But their weakness is just as obvious. No weapon can be fired instantaneously. They need preparation, resources, and sometimes even celestial alignment. As long as you don’t give a technological civilization enough time to prepare, they can be crushed fairly easily.”

Lu Yin understood. “The Blacklight Civilization’s biggest mistake was letting the technological civilization remain in the seven-colored land and prepare there. The attacks currently launching at them are exactly what the technological civilization spent the last few decades preparing. This is their own fault.”

Mister Mu said, “But the Blacklight Civilization had no other choice. They need more time to wear Ancestor Shan down, and they also need to stay on guard against us. They clearly understood that, even if they didn’t allow the technological civilization to remain, it would still be impossible to break the gate, as we would simply take it away. In that case, there was no reason not to let the technological civilization enter and push for negotiations. Their goal is vengeance. If they can achieve that while avoiding war with the technological civilization, they’ll take that option, even if the chances are remote.”

The man then looked at Old First. “Do fishing civilizations really not ask questions and simply destroy any civilization that they encounter?”

Old First said, “It’s not quite to that extent. Fishing civilizations are also wary of each other. We’ve encountered other civilizations as strong as us, and we passed by each other without fighting. Fishing civilizations are the same.”

“Then why did things turn out like this? The Blacklight Civilization clearly doesn’t want to fight against the technological civilization, but the technological civilization keeps pushing forward, step by step,” Mister Mu asked in puzzlement.

This was precisely what confused Lu Yin as well.

Unless, is there some other reason pushing the technological civilization to take action?

But what could the seven-color land possibly contain to make the technological civilization willing to go to great lengths to conquer the Blacklight Civilization?

Could it be...

Lu Yin looked at the black sphere that imprisoned Ancestor Shan.

No. The technological civilization doesn’t want to save Ancestor Shan, do they? Maybe capture them? Wait, do they even know that Ancestor Shan is sealed in there?

In the distant seven-colored land, Duan’s body released an erupting aura as it used Life Overreach. Black plates whirled about, surrounding the largest ovoid light: Darksky Seal - Ninety-Seven Seals.

Whatever your weapon may be, I’ll seal it first.

“

Beep.

Warning! Material barrier cannot be breached. Warning! Material barrier cannot be breached. Recommend releasing a law-based weapon.”

“I truly envy these creatures, achieving such strength on their own. The creatures of our civilization could never do that. Launch Cosmic Shear.”

“

Beep.

Cosmic Shear ready.”

“Fire immediately.”

“Cosmic Shear fired.”

From the distance, Lu Yin and the others witnessed a world-shaking movement of the cosmos. The sensation was nearly impossible to describe; it was as if they were all standing still while the cosmos raced away from them at breakneck speed.

There was no universe present, only outer space. They were in the Aevum Inch.

The seven-colored land was part of a universe; it had mountains, lakes, and prairies. But for a split second, it felt as if the entire Aevum Inch had abruptly shrunk, converging upon the tiny seven-colored land. It was as if the entire cosmos was being compressed.

Both space and time surged forward at that instant.

Lu Yin and the others stood in the same place, staring into the distance. They were looking at a source of light that felt like the beginning of the cosmos, as well as its end. Its mere presence caused the entire cosmos to move for a moment.

Was the cosmos alive?

No one could answer that question, but the cosmos... could move.

The Aevum Inch was moving, if only for a single second. And yet that single second caused absolute shock as the capabilities of technological weaponry was completely redefined.

What were creatures capable of creating with their intellects?

The possibilities had just been witnessed.

For this terrifying attack to be launched through pure intellect broadened every other lifeform’s understanding of the Aevum Inch, while also planting the seed of an idea within their minds.

The Aevum Inch was not infinite. It was also able to move.

Lu Yin had never felt a second stretch out for so long. The concepts of time and space grew blurry. After that second passed, the cosmos in the distance seemed to have been torn apart. Everyone stared blankly at the seven-colored land. The mountains, lakes, prairies—everything had been ripped apart, as if it was all as fragile as paper. This land had endured Lu Yin’s fierce battle with Little Eighteen and the ravages of Immortals’ battles, but it instantly been erased into smoke and nothingness.

The distant cosmos had twisted like a spring; first, it was stretched to the limit, and then it was released. The spring had suddenly snapped into a compressed state, only to then rebound and stretch back out from the force of that compression.

The seven-colored land had been that spring.

Old First, Old Fourth, and Old Fifth all stared, dumbfounded. Their home... was gone.

After the second passed and space was fully released, the seven-colored land was reduced to a place of pure darkness. Aside from the black sphere and a few lucky Blacklight creatures who had managed to survive, there was only the massive ovoid light and Obscura’s gate. Nothing else remained.

The entire seven-colored land had completely disappeared.

“Every time I see Cosmic Shear fire, there’s a beauty that makes me feel intoxicated. It’s a pity, but not every civilization is worthy of experiencing Cosmic Shear. It’s all thanks to these creatures granting us enough time to prepare. Without that, we truly couldn’t have fired the weapon.”

“

Beep.

Cosmic Shear firing complete.

Beep.

Cosmic Shear firing complete.”

“Activate absolute analysis.”

“Absolute analysis activated.”

“How are there still so many alive? And the ones who disappeared are not necessarily all dead. Once Cosmic Shear passes, no one knows which corner of the Aevum Inch they might be tossed to. Still... most of them should be dead, right? It’s beautiful. Prepare a second Cosmic Shear.”

“

Beep.

Preparing Cosmic Shear...

Beep.

Cosmic Shear ready.”

“Stand by to fire at any moment.”

In front of the massive light, Duan’s body had been torn open. Both of its hooked claws had snapped off, vanishing along with the seven-colored land. Its enormous eyes were staring at the oval light, filled with dread. Of its ninety-seven plates that had been flying around, only a bit more than ten remained. It had no idea where the rest were, but they were completely gone.

Even with its strength as an Immortal, it could not sense where its scales were anymore.

Huo was also staring at the oval light. That last attack had shaken even it. While it was not enough to defeat the most powerful Blacklight creature, who knew how many times that thing could be fired, especially at such a vast range? This was the power of a technological civilization.

Meanwhile, Huo’s own karmic chain kept increasing with every action that it took. It was infuriating.

At the moment, Huo actually found itself envious of the technological civilization.

The old monster was still not dead. The only option was to have Hong help stand guard. Huo glanced around. Where was that teleporting creature? It might take action at any moment.

“

Beep.

Cosmic Shear prepared.

Beep.

Cosmic Shear prepared.”

“Then fire.”

“Firing.”

The same scene as before played out. Lu Yin and the others watched as the region that had previously been the seven-colored land once again compressed before unwinding.

This time, aside from Huo and Duan, every other Blacklight creature died. Not a single one remained.

As for the technological civilization, their forces had been reduced only to the largest ovoid light.

Old First’s expression was dark. Their home was gone, and yet not even two consecutive shots of that attack had been enough to free their ancestor.

Around Duan’s body, its few remaining black plates had either shattered or disappeared.

Its body was ripped open. It had clearly been heavily wounded.

A voice rang out from within the massive oval light. “Blacklight Civilization, turn over the seal. Otherwise, Cosmic Shear will be fired a third time.”

Duan slowly retreated, moving in front of Huo.

Huo had not been injured, and it also had no intention of continuing any talks with the technological civilization. That was because Hong had arrived.

Hong had originally been a great distance away, but the longer the standoff with the technological civilization went on for, the closer Hong got. As the second Cosmic Shear ended, Hong arrived. From afar, black plates whirled out in the direction of the massive oval glow: Darksky Seal - Ninety-Eight Seals.

Huo also attacked. Its hooked claws stretched out in the direction of the technological civilization. Since it was no longer possible to buy more time, Huo would settle things here and now.

“

Beep.

Warning, danger!

Beep.

Warning, danger!

Beep.

”

“No matter what warning you give, it’s useless. Cosmic Shear isn’t enough to harm the strongest Blacklight creatures. Threats won’t work. It looks like we’re doomed. Not to mention that there’s another creature still behind them.”

Just as the hooked claw was about to strike the oval light, a steel fork shot out from the void, stabbing at Huo.

Huo was not at all surprised. Its second hooked claw reached out. “You damned toads! So you finally act now. You can’t save that old monster. The old monster must die!”

“Bullshit.” Old First appeared, his eyes furious. He slammed a hand down: Star-Plucking Hands.

Huo charged straight forward, its black plates swirling.

Old Fourth and Old Fifth appeared behind the technological civilization, ready to face Hong. Alone, neither toad was Hong’s match, but together, they could hold the creature off.

Mister Mu also stepped forward, striking at Duan.

Within the oval light, the creature from the technological civilization sounded confused. “Another civilization is intervening... Those must be the Seven-Treasure Anuras that the Blacklight Civilization mentioned. It appears that they weren’t lying, and they are indeed pursuing vengeance. Still, vengeance alone is not proof that what’s inside that seal is the Seven-Treasure Anura’s ancestor.

“Still, they’re helping me, so there’s no rush. I originally wanted to lure Huo into attacking at a closer range so that I could hook it over.

“Still, it doesn’t matter.”

“

Beep

. Powerful foreign lifeforms have intervened. Recommend adjusting combat plan.

“Recommend adjusting combat plan...”

While battle erupted elsewhere in outer space, Lu Yin appeared beside Ancestor Shan’s prison and pulled Astral Anura back out. “Go say hello to your ancestor.”

The moment Astral Anura emerged, goosebumps covered his entire body. The aura of the nearby Immortals fighting pressed down upon the toad, especially where Huo was fighting Old First. Astral Anura’s instincts all scream at him to flee.

Fortunately, Lu Yin had shared the plan in advance. The toad forcefully suppressed his terror and placed a hand on the black sphere. “Ancestor, it’s Little Anura.”

“Heheh. Just as I guessed. Human Lu Yin, you want Little Anura to be the last one to speak with me so that you can use him to bind the Seven-Treasure Anuras into serving you. A fine idea.”

Lu Yin did not deny the accusation. “Senior, you told me to save Old First. I did, while taking an enormous risk. Old First and the others have continuously pressed me to try again to save you. I’ve exhausted every means possible to draw another civilization into a chaotic battle, just for this opportunity. However, doing so has exposed my human civilization. Senior, don’t you think that I should at least gain something worth such a price?”

Ancestor Shan replied, “Of course. I’m not blaming you. From the perspective of your human civilization, you are behaving as you should. Looking at you, I can almost see the moment in the future when humanity will rise back to their former brilliance.”