Star Odyssey

Chapter 3836: Terrifying Consciousness

“Celestial being, I’ve written a character. Please perform a divination for me.” Someone else stepped forward. They had noticed that the person before them had not paid for their fortune to be told, and the old woman also had not mentioned payment. That was why so many people had gone to visit Lu Yin. If it was free, why not try it?

Lu Yin looked over and saw that the man had written the King (王 - Wang) character, which was the man’s own surname.

“That is both your surname and your desire, but ultimately, you cannot overcome family ties.”

“How is that possible? I’m a member of the Wang family.”

“You are not.”

“Impossible!”

“When you strive to take the position of patriarch, someone will use this to drive you out of the family. You will gain nothing. Take a step back, and the possibilities are endless.”

“I don’t believe you! I am a true descendant of the Wang family! I will be the patriarch! My brother is nothing but a wastrel who understands nothing, not even business. Why should he inherit the position?”

Lu Yin said nothing more.

After that, more and more people wrote characters, asking Lu Yin to read their fortunes. He witnessed all kinds of different lives; people born into wealth, yet plagued with misfortune; people born into poverty, yet whose entire lives were smooth sailing. Birth meant nothing, and luck was fleeting. What he saw more than anything was defiance.

He also saw effort, determination, faith, and much more.

Some of the people had a chance to succeed, while others might fail. Even so, none ever regretted trying.

He saw the wealthy and nobles being generous and charitable; just a few words of guidance from such people were enough to change many lives.

He saw lives deeply steeped in evil and darkness, which he eliminated with the flick of the hand. If such people appeared before him, it meant that fate had delivered them to him. What about the rule that cultivators were not supposed to meddle in the affairs of mortals? Lu Yid did not care about that at all. He did as he pleased, drifting with the river’s current, taking the easiest path.

In the blink of an eye, two years passed. For two years, Lu Yin lived a peaceful life, spending his time observing the various aspects of the mortal world and savoring it. Mortals chased after their benefits, while cultivators chased power. As for Lu Yin, he strove for peace.

During those two years, he wrote the Peace (安) character countless times. Tranquility of the heart brought tranquility to the world and beyond, extending to the entire universe.

He finally understood what he had been compensating for: a debt that he owed to himself. It was the missing piece between Lu Yin and Lu Xiaoxuan, born of the natural desire of a person to be happy.

This was a necessary step for him to enter the Origin realm, and it would also contribute to his eventual Dukkha.

Two years was only the blink of an eye to cultivators, and it was impossible for one to transform their state of mind or to fully heal from a wound. There was still a long journey ahead of Lu Yin.

Since his rapid rise in strength had cost him his state of mind, he would take an unprecedented path to the Origin realm. It was a path that would shake the entire Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

...

In the Sea of Karma, Greater Sancte Green Lotus peered into the distance. No one knew what he was observing, because he saw what others could not.

“Two years... you've managed to seize a bit. There’s finally some change. I'm truly looking forward to seeing what you can bring to this megaverse.”

...

When Lu Yin’s communication device trembled, he answered it to see Lu Siyu’s face appear.

He was lounging on his bamboo raft, completely relaxed. He had just left a city and was on his way to the next one.

“Where are you?”

“Why do you ask?”

“That relaxed, huh? Do you have any idea how many people across the Nine Odysseys Megaverse were ruined by the fall of the Autumnspring Slip? All of the major powers sent people to investigate, and countless people have visited our Four Commands Sword Sect to ask questions. It's driving me crazy!”

Lu Yin chuckled. “Even without that, people would have trampled your front door down.”

“Hmph! Obviously! I was born beautiful, which means that plenty of people like me,” Lu Siyu answered smugly. Her expression then grew serious. “I’m calling you because Sixth Sister has decided on her request.”

Lu Yin arched a brow. His vacation was over. “What is it?”

Lu Siyu looked solemn. “Escort Jian Hong to the Sixth Night Pillar... safely.”

Lu Yin was puzzled. “Jian Hong?”

“This guy.” Lu Siyu showed a picture of the man to Lu Yin.

“Where is he now?”

“No idea.”

“You don’t know? Then how am I supposed to find him?”

“How should I know? Sixth Sister doesn’t know where he is either, so you’re going to have to find him yourself. Let’s see just how capable you are.”

“What’s going on with him?”

“I don’t know anything! Sixth Sister didn’t tell me anything! All she said is that you need to safely deliver Jian Hong to the Sixth Night Pillar and that you can’t tell anyone about her request. She can’t be connected to this matter at all. You can handle that much, right?”

Lu Yin was speechless. “I’m starting to think all of you Seven Fairies are devious. Each of you has some secret motive. First there was you, then Ming Xiaolong, and now this...”

Lu Siyu rolled her eyes. “Anyway, it’s all on you now.”

Lu Yin exhaled deeply.

Someone shouted from the riverbank, asking Lu Yin for their fortune to be read.

Lu Siyu overheard the request and was surprised. “Fortune telling? Since when did you do that?”

“I just learned it.”

“People still believe in that stuff nowadays?”

“You don’t?”

“Of course not!”

“Your master is one of the best fortune tellers.”

Lu Siyu showed her teeth. “Don’t insult Master! That’s karma!”

“It’s the same thing. I also use the power of karma.”

“Sure you do. Keep bragging.”

“Why don’t you go ask your father if I’m bragging or not?”

“I’m done talking to you. Sixth Sister’s request is very important. Back when Old Lu was about to compete for the title of Four Commands Grand Swordmaster, she even sent someone with a sword technique here. I hope that you can handle this.”

After Lu Yin ended the call, Jian Hong’s picture continued to float in the air in front of him.

Jian Hong, huh? That’s a rather interesting name.

“Celestial being, please help me divine my fate! I’ve written my character!” someone shouted from the riverbank.

Lu Yin waved a hand. “I’m closed for now. Come earlier next time.”

With that, both he and his bamboo raft vanished.

The man on the bank of the river gaped. Gone. I was just a step too late.

Sometimes, being a step too late... could also be fate.

High above in the starry sky, Lu Yin lifted his head and released his consciousness. It instantly spread out in all directions, seemingly infinite and endless.

This was the first time he had recklessly unleashed his consciousness in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, and he did so only to find Jian Hong.

Most of the nearby cultivators were unable to sense anything at all. Only sequence powerhouses were able to vaguely sense something. As for Ortusers and above, they clearly sensed the surge of consciousness sweeping past.

Lu Yin did not bother concealing himself. He behaved recklessly, with no fear or restraint.

His consciousness frantically spread out. If one looked down from high above, they would see Lu Yin’s consciousness radiating in all directions from where he stood, rapidly enveloping the entire East Domain.

Everywhere, cultivators were startled by the terrifying consciousness, and they looked at the sky. “Who? Whose consciousness is so terrifying?”

Some clans quickly ordered all members to return home, forbidding anyone from going outside.

Reclusive experts who were hidden deep in the mountains all felt chills crawl down their spines. The moment the vast consciousness swept by them, their scalps tingled.

Lu Yin’s consciousness was large enough to cover the entire Consciousness Megaverse. Even if the Nine Odysseys Megaverse was massive, it was still possible for him to envelop the entire East Domain.

However, it did not need to spread very far, as he quickly found Jian Hong.

Since he knew that Jian Hong was headed towards the Sixth Night Pillar, Lu Yin naturally focused his search in that direction, and he eventually found the man by doing so.

When Lu Yin’s consciousness locked onto Jian Hong, the swordsman instantly sensed it. However, he had no time to pay attention to the consciousness, as he needed to focus on the enemy who had just appeared before him.

It had been two years since he had left the Seventh Night Pillar, and he had been relentlessly pursued the entire time. At first, he had been able to easily slay those sent after him, but his enemies had gradually come to understand his strength, and the experts sent after him had become increasingly well-matched to his power level. In addition, they had sent assassins and employed underhanded tactics to wear him down. Things had escalated to the point where, even after two years, he still had not reached the Sixth Night Pillar.

The Seventh Night Pillar would not send any help. Jian Hong was on a mission that he had taken of his own initiative. Even within the Seventh Night Pillar, not everyone supported the Sixth.

If he could live to reach the Sixth Night Pillar, everything could be negotiated. If not... Well, there were contingency plans for that.

“Of all the sword intent in existence, you claim to have comprehended three-tenths. I want that.”

“Save it.” As Jian Hong drew his sword, a breeze could be heard. His opponent delicately danced through the air, each step landing precisely along the edge of the blade. Jian Hong’s expression changed drastically. “Edge-Walking? Are you Edge-Walking Elder?”

“Heheh. Brat, when I roamed this megaverse, your grandfather wasn’t even born. How arrogant! To claim to have mastered three-tenths of the world’s sword intent, even the Azuresword Sovereign wouldn’t dare to make such a claim.”

Jian Hong’s face fell, and the tip of his sword suddenly dropped, falling three inches, where it froze.

His opponent also froze in mid-air, staring intently at Jian Hong.

The two had fallen into a stalemate.

Jian Hong clenched the hilt of his sword tightly as something stirred inside the basket he was carrying on his back. The movement immediately drew his attacker’s attention. “Hand it over, and I won’t kill you.”

“Aren’t you already supposed to be dead?”

“I was just in seclusion, which made some people happy. Unfortunately for them, I’m not so easy to kill.”

Jian Hong’s expression chilled. “You’ve slaughtered so many swordsmen just to master your Edge-Walking. Every swordsman wants you dead. The Fifth Night Pillar would have never hired someone like you.”

“You underestimate the Azuresword Sovereign. However, I’m here—you don’t need to know why. On the other hand, I’ve long wanted to meet you. Just because you’ve hidden yourself in the Seventh Night Pillar’s Sword Pilgrimage Grounds, how dare you believe that you’ve mastered three parts of the world’s sword intent! You’re underestimating the sword masters of the cosmos.”

As the man spoke, he attacked with a palm. Despite throwing a palm strike, his body inverted; he used his hand to move forward: Edge-Walking Hand. His palm struck Jian Hong’s blade, and a terrifying power ran down the sword toward Jian Hong.

The blade produced a rhythmic ringing that weakened Jian Hong’s grip. Just as he was about to release a powerful attack, his sword flew out of his hand. The man in front of him attacked again with a palm.

Jian Hong’s Soul legacy skill, Awe Gate, erupted from his body, and a towering gate appeared that rose high into the sky. The palm struck the gate directly, and although it shuddered, it did not break. Still, dozens more palm strikes were released in quick succession, and Jian Hong coughed up blood.

He had been fighting for two years, and his internal injuries encompassed his entire body. He failed to endure the fierce assault and staggered backwards multiple steps. His opponent shattered his Awe Gate, and a foot dropped from the sky: Edge-Walking.

Jian Hong’s eyes grew sharp, and he spun around, his hand sweeping sideways. The wind that followed his palm condensed into an invisible blade. It was impossible to determine its length or breadth. Wherever there was wind, there was also the sword. He slashed upwards, but the foot still landed on the blade. Just as Jian Hong’s attack crushed the unseen sword, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. The man then stared at Jian Hong in disbelief before reeling backwards, the void collapsing beneath him. The resulting shockwaves created spatial fissures that devoured the nearby area.

Jian Hong coughed up more blood, his face as pale as paper.

His opponent was in no better shape. Clutching his chest, the man growled through gritted teeth, “When did you do it?”

Jian Hong sneered. “Did you really think that you could trample on all swords in existence with your Edge-Walking? The Four Commands Grand Swordmaster and the Azuresword Sovereign, have you trampled on either of them? You haven’t even comprehended the path of the sword.”

“It’s just a dirty trick.”

“Wind Sword Chant: where there is wind, there is a sword. What’s dirty about that? There can be wind... even inside your body.”

“Good, good. Very good. As expected of Jian Hong. To break my Edge-Walking, you do indeed deserve a place among the greatest swordmasters. Still, you’ll end up dying. I am not here to compete with you with the sword.” The man then walked closer to Jian Hong. Behind the man, a Blood Tower rose, looming high and exuding great pressure.