Chapter 4176: Probing

Even so, Lu Yin was very satisfied with his progress. After all, Awe Gate had not had the power to open twenty-five rifts before merging with Mi Jin’s spirit seed; she had only been able to open nineteen rifts. This meant that Lu Yin had gained the strength to fight the former Awe Gate head on. In other words, even without merging with a megaverse, he was confident that he was strong enough to face both the humanoid Verdant Sage and the droplet Verdant Sage.

An Aberrant was a creature who possessed the combat strength to fight against an Immortal before reaching that realm themselves. However, Lu Yin felt like he was taking that concept a bit too far.

If he were to fight the Seven Treasures Anuras’ Aberrant, Little Eighteen, again, there would be no need for Lu Yin to even move. He could just stand in place and allow the toad to hit him however they pleased; Little Eighteen would not be able to cause the slightest bit of harm.

Lu Yin’s gaze fell upon Master Qing Cao. Suddenly, the younger man stepped forward, swinging a hand down. Lifeforce flowed, and Lu Yin’s body withered. Infinity flowed through his body as Heaven’s Seal’s sequence particles surged out in waves, producing a terrifying pressure.

Master Qing Cao had not expected Lu Yin’s abrupt attack. Grass spread out in front of the man, but it all turned to dust beneath Lu Yin’s hand. The hand continued to close in on Qing Cao.

Awe Gate’s eyes lit up. It felt like Lu Yin had greatly surpassed her former strength, and he radiated a pressure that was hard to shake.

Grass continued to sprout and was crushed apart as Master Qing Cao retreated step by step. He raised the bamboo basket in front of him, forming a defensive barrier: Bamboo Fence.

Lifeforce spread over the bamboo as the basket scattered into countless strands of bamboo that whipped at Lu Yin. The younger man grabbed the bamboo with one hand and flung the Bamboo Fence aside. Master Qing Cao nearly lost his hold on it and was forced to retreat several more steps.

Finally, Lu Yin’s hand stopped, though only when it was a mere meter away from Qing Cao. The attack had nearly reached the man.

Master Qing Cao held his Bamboo Fence, not moving as he watched Lu Yin pull his hand back. “What is the meaning of this?”

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed as his skin returned to a normal appearance. “Nothing. I merely wanted to spar a bit, Senior.”

Master Qing Cao barked a bitter laugh. “I am no longer a match for you, Lord Lu! You have already blocked a strike from Immortal Lord, while I could not. What point is there in testing me?”

Is that really true? Lu Yin stared at Master Qing Cao. For some reason, he could not shake the feeling that the old man was still hiding something. Lu Yin simply could not see what it might be.

He had asked Greater Sancte Green Lotus and the others about the matter before, but none of them had been able to see any sort of hidden strength in Master Qing Cao.

By all rights, Master Qing Cao should not be capable of hiding anything from someone like Greater Sancte Green Lotus, but if Master Qing Cao was only an ordinary Immortal, why had he so decisively chosen Obscura? Why had Obscura chosen the man in the first place?

The choices that the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ old monster had mentioned were very similar to the choices that Master Qing Cao had made, and such a choice would only occur to someone who had gained a certain level of understanding of the Aevum Inch. Master Qing Cao gave off the feeling of someone whose knowledge did not match their strength.

That was why Lu Yin had suddenly lashed out and tested the man, but the results had proven disappointing.

Master Qing Cao was unable to make Lu Yin feel any pressure at all. There was not even the faintest hint of it.

Either the man was concealing his abilities far too well, or Lu Yin really had seen the full extent of Qing Cao’s power.

“Congratulations on your breakthrough, Lord Lu. Now, it is time to give an answer.” Master Qing Cao stared at Lu Yin, completely unfazed by the young man’s testing. Qing Cao was only concerned with Lu Yin’s answer.

Awe Gate frowned. This answer was a very difficult one to give.

On one side lay a history of hatred and humanity’s unyielding spirit, while on the other lay Lu Yin’s responsibility to the humanity who still lived.

No one wanted to let Obscura’s crimes go unpaid, but they could not defeat that civilization. It all came down to strength.

Lu Yin met Master Qing Cao’s gaze with calm eyes. “Tell the one from Obscura who stands behind you to come find me themself.”

Master Qing Cao’s tone dropped low. “That is impossible.”

Lu Yin said, “Do they find it fun to keep hiding in the Tianyuan? I may not know what their goal is, but there is nothing in the current human civilization that is worth such scheming. It is time for them to show themself.”

Master Qing Cao shook his head. “As I already said, that is impossible. Lord Lu, joining Obscura and saving humanity is what you should do right now.”

Lu Yin’s tone cooled. “And I said, let that one from Obscura who’s hiding come find me themself.”

Master Qing Cao stared at Lu Yin for a long time. “If you cannot decide, Lord Lu, then the entire human civilization will decide.”

Lu Yin arched a brow. “What are you planning to do?”

Master Qing Cao said, “This choice will be presented to everyone, and we will see what they want you to decide.”

“You would not dare,” Awe Gate growled.

Lu Yin’s expression also fell.

This was a despicable threat. If the choice was given to everyone, Lu Yin would be forced to join Obscura, as most people did not want to die. People would rather live than fight another war, especially one that would almost certainly lead to their doom.

If Lu Yin still refused to join Obscura, every loss in the following war would be regarded as his fault. He would have to bear the pressure from the entire human civilization, endure curses from countless people.

Master Qing Cao let out a helpless sigh. “If there were any other way, this old man would not want to do this either. However, there is no other choice. To save the Spirit Nidus, I even chose to ruin my relationship with the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, cooperating with Obscura to kill Mi Jin. I am willing to admit that much.”

Awe Gate clenched her fists, suppressing her urge to drive her spear through the man.

“A terrible, huge price has already been paid, and success is within our grasp. No one can be allowed to ruin this. Lord Lu, you also wish to keep the Tianyuan safe, do you not? Do not speak to me of past hatreds or the will of humanity. I don’t care. I am not like you. As long as human civilization can persist, nothing else matters!” As he spoke, Master Qing Cao grew increasingly agitated. “I lived through the Spirit Nidus’s darkest era, when cultivators from Nine Odysseys Megaverse were able to decide life and death for all the people there, treating lives like weeds. Compared to the darkness of that era, what can the hatred directed at Obscura amount to?

“One day, this old man will surely be seen as a sinner in the eyes of our entire civilization, but what must be done still must be done.

“Lord Lu, you have no choice.”

Killing intent blossomed in Awe Gate’s eyes. “Do you not have any fear that I will cut you down right here?”

Master Qing Cao responded by chuckling. “Very well, allow this old man to trade his death for Lord Lu joining Obscura. Is that acceptable?”

Awe Gate was stunned, and her intense bloodlust suddenly dissipated. This old man means it.

Lu Yin’s mouth slowly curled up to form a smile, though that action only made Master Qing Cao nervous. How can he still laugh at a time like this?

Awe Gate also looked at Lu Yin in confusion.

Lu Yin suddenly let out a roar of laughter. “Senior, you can’t defeat me in an outright battle, so you instead want to compete with me with scheming? Do you really think that you can win against me in that field?”

Master Qing Cao stared at Lu Yin in a daze as the young man’s countless deeds flashed through the Immortal’s mind. There was a sudden and foreboding sense of nervousness.

Lu Yin clasped his hands behind his back, appearing completely at ease. “Right now, I can return to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse and announce a few things, anything I like, in fact. For example, that Obscura is using you, Master Qing Cao, to force me to commit suicide in exchange for humanity’s safety. Or that the Death Megaverse has returned and is forcing Greater Sancte Green Lotus to join them and is threatening to erase our civilization if he refuses. Or that the Seven-Treasure Anuras are forcing Awe Gate to join them or else they will destroy the entire human civilization. There are so many options.

“With so many rumors released at once, do you think that your story about Obscura forcing me to join them in exchange for humanity’s safety will seem particularly astonishing?”

Master Qing Cao mutely stared at Lu Yin. He had struggled to devise a plan that would pressure Lu Yin to accept, but the young man had dismantled the entire scheme with just a few sentences.

Compared to some powerful foreign civilization forcing Greater Sancti Green Lotus or Awe Gate to join, the idea of Obscura forcing Lu Yin to join simply did not carry the same sense of possibility. People would be far more inclined to believe that the Greater Sancti were being pressured, due to the fact that they were Immortals.

By spreading a few similar rumors about, the news that Master Qing Cao wanted to spread would instantly be regarded as a complete joke. Who would believe such a thing?

Most people were not even aware of Obscura’s existence.

Awe Gate shot Lu Yin a sideways glance. She had not even considered such an option. It was not that she was incapable of thinking of such a thing, but rather that, ever since she had become an Immortal, she stopped bothering with such schemes. In this area, Lu Yin’s mind was still too sharp.

Lu Yin had countless ways to dismantle Master Qing Cao’s threat. It was a joke for someone to even try to compete with him with schemes.

Master Qing Cao felt completely helpless. He had no clue what more he could even say.

He had already done his best.

“Lord Lu, I beg you. For the sake of how much humanity struggles to even endure, give our civilization a chance, a chance to grow.”

Lu Yin’s smile faded. “Senior, I truly admire your willingness to sacrifice yourself for the sake of humanity’s peace, but right now, I cannot give you an answer. Tell Obscura’s hidden expert to come see me themself.”

Master Qing Cao wanted to say more, but Lu Yin moved over beside Awe Gate and then simply vanished with her.

Master Qing Cao stared at the suddenly empty Mindscape Megaverse and let out a long sigh.

He had genuinely done everything he could. It was already fortunate that Lu Yin had not outright refused.

Logically, it should be impossible for Lu Yin to firmly refuse the invitation. It was something that human civilization desperately needed.

Far away, Lu Yin delivered Awe Gate back to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. “Senior, I am going to go to the Activeness megaverse to retrieve that object. I need to trouble you to deliver Master Qing Cao’s words to Greater Sancte Green Lotus and the others.”

Awe Gate nodded. “Go.”

Lu Yin instantly vanished, reappearing beside the Gate of Laws. A single step took him through it, and he arrived in an entirely different region of the Aevum Inch. When he looked over, he saw Ku Deng.

Lu Yin greeted the Immortal and then disappeared once more, making his way towards the Activeness megaverse.

In the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, Awe Gate arrived at the Sea of Karma. She spoke to Greater Sancte Green Lotus, sharing the invitation that Master Qing Cao had delivered.

Greater Sancte Green Lotus had not expected Obscura to set their sights on Lu Yin, inviting someone who was not even an Immortal to join them.

“What did Lu Yin say?”

“He did not agree, nor did he refuse. He wants to use this to expose Obscura’s hidden expert.”

Greater Sancte Green Lotus stared across the Sea of Karma, his expression conflicted.

It was indeed a difficult choice. Neither option could be easily discarded, especially given that Lu Yin still carried the hatred of his master, Mister Mu.

Even if the Nine Odysseys Megaverse was willing to set their hatred of Obscura aside, the Tianyuan would not agree so readily.

They could not force Lu Yin.

There was also one more detail to consider; joining Obscura would only be the beginning. What would come after Lu Yin joined? Obscura would inevitably demand that Lu Yin destroy civilizations on their behalf, just as Qi Xu and Lan Meng had done. How would Lu Yin be able to gain a foothold within Obscura? Given his personality, was he someone who could destroy civilizations that had nothing to do with him?

This was not something that could be resolved with a simple yes or no.

“Senior, what do you think Lu Yin will choose?” Awe Gate asked.

Greater Sancte Green Lotus shook his head. “I do not know.”

“What if Obscura asked you to choose, Senior?” Awe Gate pressed.

Greater Sancte Green Lotus’s eyes flickered as he stared at the Sea of Karma. He remained silent for a long time.

...

Lu Yin arrived at the Activeness megaverse and entered, descending to the bottom of the great ocean as his body withered.

In the next moment, a surge of Activeness flooded his body. His body remained withered for much longer than before, but he still eventually reached his limit. His limit was now much greater than his previous attempt.

Lu Yin released the power that Extremes Must Be Reversed had accumulated when he reached his limits, sending an attack across the Aevum Inch. That done, he moved closer to the object.

This time, he was finally right in front of the item.

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