Chapter 3753: I'd Rather It Were You

Even on his deathbed, the High Seraph could have never imagined such a situation. The Spirit Nidus had prepared and plotted to invade the Consciousness Megaverse, ready to reap the benefits of its reset. But in the end, an entire era’s elites had fallen into Lu Yin’s hands for him to reap the benefits.

On top of that, the people of Boundless had already captured every conscient in the parallel universe where they were hiding, and they had used them to augment Lu Yin’s consciousness.

Both his Karmic Dao and his consciousness had swelled. His combat power was steadily climbing.

Still, all of this was not enough. In fact, it was terribly inadequate. As Lu Yin stared out at the stars, he realized that he was still too weak to resolve the current crisis in the Consciousness Megaverse.

The High Seraph, Yong Heng, and Yue Ya were each powerful cultivators who were also peak Dukkhans. Additionally, Lu Yin needed to consider the Nine Odysseys Megaverse’s Lesser Sancti, the Nest civilization, and one of his most deeply suppressed desires was to one day find Mister Mu’s megaverse and help his master reclaim everything that had been lost.

Lu Yin needed more strength, much more strength.

A solitary figure dived into the Champions’ Stage Purgatory, adding yet more karma to the Karmic Dao.

Lu Yin looked over in shock. “Senior, what are you doing?”

Chu Yi had just plunged into the Champions’ Stage Purgatory, which exceeded all of Lu Yin’s former expectations.

“Lord Lu, it’s not too painful in there, is it?” Ce Wangtian joked as he also moved into the Champions’ Stage Purgatory.

Wilderness God did not say a word as he charged in.

Sovereign Dou Sheng grinned. “This looks interesting.”

Shao Chen calmly strode forward.

Mu Zhu, the members of Second Life, and even Luo Shan all moved forward.

Lu Yin stared at everyone, stunned by their actions. “All of you...?”

Lu Tianyi chuckled. “I’ve wanted to go in for ages, but I was worried that doing so would make things awkward for the others. After all, I’m your ancestor. So, I’ve been waiting for a chance to quietly sneak in. I didn’t expect them to beat me to it.”

"Ancestor..." Lu Yin was moved.

His Champions’ Stage Purgatory was a place of excruciating torture. The more that a person had experienced and felt throughout their life, the greater the torment that they would be subjected to.

Despite being desperate to strengthen his Karmic Dao, Lu Yin had never once considered asking anyone from Boundless enter the Champions’ Stage Purgatory.

The fact that the people had chosen to follow him to the Spirit Nidus had already proven their loyalty to the Tianyuan, their dedication to the past, and their integrity. Such people would suffer unimaginable pain within the Champions’ Stage Purgatory, and Lu Yin could already picture their suffering.

At this moment, one by one, they willingly walked in.

Lu Yin quickly tried to take back the Champions’ Stage Purgatory, but the Origin Progenitor suddenly roared, “Pillar!”

Lu Yin froze and looked over.

The Origin Progenitor, solemn, though still pale-faced, was staring at Lu Yin. “The Tianyuan Megaverse is not yours alone.”

Lu Yin’s whole body trembled.

Sovereign Dou Sheng snorted. “You want to cast us aside so that you can fight alone? Lord Lu, you are looking down upon us. Do you believe that we fear death?”

Wilderness God bluntly stated. “Despite living for so long, someone still feels like they need to protect us. What a joke.”

“It’s better to die than to live such a life.” Ce Wangtian shook his head. “Of course, I don’t really want to go in, but oh well. Consider this as me repaying a life debt.”

Hu Wu, Tian Ya, Old Tao, Bian Ji, and the others also stepped forward. “We may not know exactly what’s inside, but it looks like we can help you, Third Boss, by going in. None of us will refuse to carry out that duty.”

“Thank you, Third Boss, for accepting us.”

“Thank you...”

Lu Yin watched as more and more people leapt into the Champions’ Stage Purgatory, willingly accepting the torment of karma. His fists clenched tightly.

For some time, Lu Yin had been overlooking something: he and Boundless were one. He had gone out on his own to fight and protect Boundless, but had those on the ship ever wanted to be protected? From the moment they had decided to leave their home, they had already moved past death. The fact that they had managed to survive for so long was an indication that they had long since overcome the fear of death.

After Lu Yin had returned wounded with a blood-soaked Origin Progenitor, everyone aboard Boundless had felt utterly humiliated.

They were humiliated that they had to be protected.

Lu Yin had done everything that he could to protect Boundless, but had the people on the vessel not also wanted to protect Lu Yin?

They would never hesitate to step forward if there was any way for them to help Lu Yin and assist his efforts, no matter how painful it might be.

Lu Yin stopped trying to stop them. He had suffered much over the years, and all who reaped great benefits would also need to pay a price. Lu Yin was a Tianyuan cultivator, but so were many others. They were not sacrificing themselves for Lu Yin alone, but rather for their entire megaverse and the countless souls waiting for them to return home.

“Off you go,” Astral Anura said while kicking the Pridebeast forward.

The massive ape looked offended, but it still gave Lu Yin a thumbs-up before leaping into the Champions’ Stage Purgatory with a heroic resolve.

The Megalith grinned as it turned to look at Lu Yin with hopeful eyes, only for Mu Zhu to drag the beast in.

There was a bitter expression on Astral Anura’s face. He had no desire to subject himself to such agony, but he could feel the Origin Progenitor’s intense stare.

Yuan Qi’s face twitched. He had no choice but to step forward with everyone else. How had things reached such a point? All of these people were utterly insane.

Yi Shang watched in delight. He had been imprisoned in the Champions’ Stage Purgatory before, and thus he knew exactly what everyone was feeling at this moment. It was time for others to enjoy all that he had experienced.

Finally, the Origin Progenitor himself stepped towards the Champions’ Stage Purgatory.

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. “Senior, your wounds...”

The Origin Progenitor smiled. “Pillar, if only one of us is able to return alive, we would all prefer that it be you.”

With that, he leaped forward.

At that very moment, the universe started to roar. Countless voices rang in Lu Yin’s ears as his Karmic Dao surged wildly. The Investiture of the Gods shot into the sky as the images on it shone like stars.

Lu Yin closed his eyes. At this moment, his Karmic Dao had broken past a certain threshold.

Many of the most powerful cultivators of the current era from both the Spirit Nidus and the Tianyuan Megaverse had just entered the Champions’ Stage Purgatory. Not even Lu Yin had any idea just how much this would strengthen his Karmic Dao. He had never imagined that he would be able to strengthen it so much.

So be it. Let my Karmic Dao become the true karma of the megaverse.

This was his desire, and it merged with the desires of all.

Throughout the entire Consciousness Megaverse, nearly every living creature instinctively turned to look in the same direction, caught up by a sudden, disturbing feeling.

No one understood where this discomfort was coming from, as none of them could see the power of karma. Even so, their instincts told them that something had grabbed a hold of them. It was extremely uncomfortable, especially for the most powerful experts, such as the High Seraph and Yue Ya.

“Greater Sancte Green Lotus’s power?” The High Seraph’s face showed great alarm and a bit of doubt. He could not see the source of this sensation, but he could guess that it was the power of karma. However, Lu Yin lacked the strength to incite this feeling of dread in the High Seraph. That could only come from Greater Sancte Green Lotus himself. Had a Greater Sancte descended upon the Consciousness Megaverse?

In the Willbound Expanse, Yue Ya and Chao Yi both had the same suspicion as the High Seraph. “Has Greater Sancte Green Lotus arrived?”

For the first time, Chao Yi’s expression changed as reverence and awe filled his eyes. How could this be? If Greater Sancte Green Lotus has truly arrived, then why was I sent to complete this task? Still, there’s no doubt that this invisible power feels like karma. Other than Green Lotus, no one else can wield this sort of power.

Each of the three Greater Sancti possessed different powers, which made them clearly distinguishable from one another.

Yue Ya’s expression darkened. Greater Sancte Green Lotus? Could he truly be arriving? That should be impossible! Why would Green Lotus come here?

Old Chief and the conscients were all terrified. They had never sensed such an unfathomable power before. They felt as though a colossal hand was covering the entire Consciousness Megaverse. There was no doubt that this was the power of an Immortal.

Emperor Slayer’s eyes darted about. Damn it all! I should have never come to this megaverse! Not even if I lived a thousand more lifetimes.

Every creature in the Consciousness Megaverse trembled as they were suppressed by the overwhelming power.

Lu Yin’s karmic power was still far from comparing to Greater Sancte Green Lotus’s, but by gathering the karma of two megaverses’ elites, his power of karma had instantly shot past his consciousness, physical strength, divine energy, and every other power and ability that he possessed. Lu Yin’s Karmic Dao was quickly approaching the power level of a peak Dukkhan. The surge in power was so explosive that he initially failed to control it, which was why the entire Consciousness Megaverse felt its impact.

Truthfully, if Lu Yin’s power of karma was compared to Green Lotus’s, then it would be no different from the moon’s reflection on a lake. While the image might seem real, it was impossible to actually touch.

However, unless an actual Immortal appeared, or before someone like the High Seraph directly fought against Lu Yin, it would be impossible for anyone to tell the difference.

This was much like Yong Heng’s power of illusion.

Suddenly, Lu Yin’s Karmic Dao contracted, condensing solely upon the Investiture of the Gods.

Lu Yin stared up at it, and a strange sensation welled up from within him.

The moment that he had first comprehended his Inner Clarity Technique, his power had started to change. In particular, his understanding of his Karmic Dao had transformed both the Investiture of the Gods and the Champions' Stage, which were his Lu family’s two inherited innate gifts.

There had been a time when the Champions’ Stage and the Investiture of the Gods had ceased offering him any sort of assistance, but things had since changed.

The Champions’ Stage allowed Lu Yin to strengthen his karma, but the Investiture of the Gods... Lu Yin stared at it in disbelief. Can it really do that?

As the Karmic Dao shrank, peace gradually returned to the Consciousness Megaverse.

Everyone continued to await the arrival of Greater Sancte Green Lotus, only for several days to pass with no sign of the Immortal. Even so, the High Seraph, Yue Ya, and many others remained on edge and unable to relax.

As for Lu Yin, he released the Origin Progenitor and everyone else.

As people emerged from the Champions’ Stage Purgatory, their faces were pale, betraying their shock. When they looked at Lu Yin, there was amazement in their eyes.

It had been clear to all of them for a long time that the Champions’ Stage Purgatory was agonizing. After all, no one who emerged had ever remained defiant. In particular, Yi Shang had become perfectly compliant after being released. Many people had been curious about the Champions’ Stage Purgatory, but only after experiencing it for themselves did they understand the reactions that they had previously observed.

If they were being honest, while they would still agree to enter the Champions’ Stage Purgatory to help Lu Yin, their mindsets would be completely different if they needed to do it again. In fact, it would be better to be unconscious when entering.

Facing the entire crowd, Lu Yin offered a deep bow. “I, Lu Yin, thank all of you seniors for your sacrifice.”

Everyone dispersed. While physically unhurt, their minds were frayed. They needed some time to recover.

The Origin Progenitor and Lu Tianyi and many others had entered willingly, which was fair enough, but Astral Anura wanted to do nothing more than stab Lu Yin with his steel fork. That bastard’s created an absolutely revolting ability! I saw my great-grandmother again, and I was chased and beaten for three days and nights! If I knew what would happen beforehand, they would have had to kill me before shoving me in!

Yuan Qi’s face was as pale as a ghost, and confusion filled his eyes as well as bloodlust. This killing intent was not directed towards Lu Yin, but rather towards Yuan Tu, Yuan Qi’s own son.

While in the Champions’ Stage Purgatory, individuals would experience the cycle of karma. Every emotion that they had ever experienced might resurface, laid bare and unfiltered. A person’s life could never consist of joy alone. There was always sorrow, despair, and pain. In the Champions’ Stage Purgatory, all of that erupted at once. That was the true source of the agony that people were subjected to.

While in the Champions’ Stage Purgatory, Yuan Qi had seen scenes from his past. He had seen his Yuan clan’s report that Yuan Tu was not his son, as well as his own order for Yuan Tu’s execution. It all appeared perfectly normal, except for the fact that Yuan Qi had never known about any of it. If he had, he would have never ordered his clan to clean up the mess.

Yuan Qi had always been a rather cold individual. That was why he had not returned to visit the Lushan Domain even once after returning to the Spirit Nidus. People thought that Yuan Qi had avoided his family in order to avoid old memories, but the truth was he had been entirely ignorant of these events. He had simply refused to dwell on the past. Such a man would have barely cared whether Yuan Tu had lived or died.

At this moment, Yuan Qi was terribly confused. Had it really been him who had known of those past events and given that order?

He was suddenly reminded of Sovereign Dou Sheng’s odd questions about Yuan Qi’s feelings for his son and if the boy resembled him. In retrospect, it became clear that Sovereign Dou Sheng had known something. It was after that conversation that Yuan Qi had been sent to the Roaming South Realm to guard Lu Yin. Even at the time, Yuan Qi had felt that the situation had been odd, and he believed that there had to be a connection.

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