Star Odyssey

Chapter 3744: Threat

Yue Ya suspected that the High Seraph had only helped Lu Yin in order to take advantage of the younger man and gain access to the Willbound Spire. After entering and attempting to approach the palace, there was no longer any reason for Mo Shang to help Lu Yin.

On the other hand, Lu Yin still needed the High Seraph, as the man was the only way up or down the cliff. That was greatly appealing, especially as Yue Ya wanted to try approaching the palace again.

After Lu Yin was dealt with, the next step would be to negotiate with the High Seraph.

If Lu Yin and those with him wanted to descend from the cliff, then they needed the High Seraph’s assistance. That should not be an issue, as the High Seraph likely did not want to have anyone hindering him atop the cliff.

The Origin Progenitor commented, “You’re quite generous. Are you really leaving the memories of an Immortal in that palace to him?”

Yanbo Shu raised an eyebrow. “He can’t get close to it.”

“He already has,” the Origin Progenitor softly retorted.

Yanbo Shu frowned, confused.

The Origin Progenitor continued to say, “Look at where he is standing. He has already moved past Ru Shi’s previous record, and by a significant margin too. He even still has the strength to continue.”

Yanbo Shu was startled. “Impossible!”

“See for yourself.”

Yanbo Shu’s eyes darted about, and then he moved closer to the cliff’s face. While he could not climb the cliff, he could get close to it and nearly reach the top. He could at least get a clear view of what was happening.

It was not long before Yanbo Shu saw that the High Seraph was indeed past Ru Shi’s handprints and was still steadily moving closer to the palace.

Right as Yanbo Shu looked over, the High Seraph took another step forward, seemingly unaware that he was being watched.

Lu Yin had made a point of moving far back enough that the High Seraph’s location stood out, just for this moment.

Yanbo Shu’s expression drastically changed, and he raced out of the Willbound Spire. This was vitally important.

It was common knowledge in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse that Ru Shi had gotten closer to the palace in the Willbound Spire than any other person. His handprints were famous because of that. Every person who attempted to reach the palace dreamed of surpassing Ru Shi’s mark, but none had ever succeeded.

Yanbo Shu had also once stared at those handprints while advancing as his memories nearly collapsed. He had never dared to make another attempt after that.

The High Seraph had actually surpassed Ru Shi’s record, and he was even capable of continuing on. Yanbo Shu understood exactly what that meant: trouble.

“What? He’s past Ru Shi’s record?” Yue Ya exclaimed in shock.

Yanbo Haomiao and Yanbo Hongli were similarly stunned.

There was a grim expression on Yanbo Shu’s face. “Yes. He broke past Ru Shi’s record, and not just slightly either. The High Seraph is still making progress.”

Yue Ya’s focus completely shifted.

He had previously been willing to allow the High Seraph to attempt to reach the palace on his own. However, if the High Seraph was actually capable of succeeding, then could Yue Ya really permit the man to continue unhindered? Forget Yue Ya—if word of Mo Shang’s progress reached the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, it was possible that even the Greater Sancti would personally interfere to stop the High Seraph from succeeding.

The Spirit Nidus already had one invincible being who had once broken through the Skyward Gate and invaded the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, forcing the megaverse to take a step back. If the High Seraph was added to the balance... Could the Spirit Nidus be planning a rebellion?

“I’ll take a look,” Yanbo Haomiao offered as he headed for the entrance.

At that same time, atop the cliff in the Willbound Spire, the High Seraph helplessly asked, “Will that be enough?”

The Origin Progenitor nodded. “Thank you.”

The High Seraph had not wanted to attract Yue Ya’s suspicion, as that would not work in his favor. If news spread to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse that he had surpassed Ru Shi’s record, there would be trouble. That megaverse already despised the High Seraph, and they were looking for his replacement. He believed that Jiu Xian was one such candidate, but she had been much too lazy to take action so far.

However, if the High Seraph’s accomplishment was reported back, the Nine Odysseys Megaverse might not even wait to find a replacement; they might simply eliminate him outright.

Unfortunately, he had not been given a choice. The young man and the Origin Progenitor had threatened to work together to drag the High Seraph down the cliff if Mo Shang did not cooperate with Lu Yin.

Mo Shang wanted to reach the palace, not return to the bottom. He genuinely believed that he could reach the palace.

Lu Yin’s threat had hit the High Seraph right where he was most sensitive.

Besides, he was supposed to protect Lu Yin. If this helped Lu Yin avoid being ganged up on, that would be better, no matter how remote the chances of that being true was.

If buying Lu Yin some time increased his chances of survival, the High Seraph was willing to help.

No matter what, this was his last chance to enter the Willbound Spire. So what if he was exposed?

That thought caused the High Seraph’s expression to darken as he continued forward.

Yanbo Haomiao entered, and without a word, rose up alongside the cliff. He looked at Ru Shi’s handprints and then saw the High Seraph.

The old man’s expression became terrifying to look at.

Some trash from the Spirit Nidus, who was given his position and title, has actually surpassed everyone from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse? What gives him that right? What qualifications? Does he actually dare to attempt to touch the palace and take the memories of the Immortal within? Despicable!

“Mo Shang, stop!”

The High Seraph turned to meet the old man’s gaze. “The master of Ruler Garden?”

Yanbo Haomiao stared at him. “What do you think you are doing?”

The High Seraph indifferently replied, “Are you trying to tell me something?”

“Stop, and do not take another step! Any more, and the three megaverses will no longer be able to tolerate your existence,” Yanbo Haomiao threatened, but the High Seraph just laughed.

A short distance away, the Origin Progenitor also chuckled. Relying on mere words? These people from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse truly believed themselves to be superior to all, and they felt qualified to look down on everything.

It was possible that they believed that the resistance of those from the lower three megaverses was born of ignorance, as those from the Tianyuan Megaverse should know nothing of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

However, the High Seraph did know about them, so why would they believe that he could be cowed by mere threats? Were they purely arrogant, or simply fools?

“If I’m not wrong, Ruler Garden has already committed a grave crime. I may not know whether the three megaverses can tolerate me, but I do know that your Ruler Garden is already finished,” the High Seraph coolly stated.

Yanbo Haomiao’s expression fell. “Ruler Garden is far from finished! Mo Shang, you are already a Lesser Sancte! You were given that title by the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. Why create more trouble?

“Help Lord Yue Ya capture Lu Yin. This is your only chance.

“My Ruler Garden may have committed a crime, it’s true, but so long as Lord Yue Ya supports us, we will be protected. That same protection can be extended to you. This can also be your opportunity.”

The High Seraph’s lips curved upwards to reveal a faint smile. “That’s not needed.”

Yanbo Haomiao took a deep breath and turned his attention to Lu Yin.

Lu Yin still had his back to the bottom of the cliff, preventing those down below from seeing what he was doing.

“Lu Yin, are you going to ignore your megaverse? You are nearly out of time.”

Lu Yin’s eyes were open so that he could watch his die come to a stop. One pip. Again, it was one pip. He had already rolled the die three times, and he had only rolled Pilfer so far. He was down to his last chance.

He heard Yanbo Haomiao’s words and slowly replied, “I’m keeping an eye on Mo Shang. I’m prepared to attack him at any moment.”

That was not the answer that Yanbo Haomiao had expected. “You’re waiting to attack Mo Shang?”

This did not make sense. The High Seraph had helped Lu Yin before, and yet Lu Yin was preparing to attack Mo Shang?

Lu Yin had only reached the top of the cliff because of Mo Shang, while Mo Shang had only been able to enter the Willbound Spire because of Lu Yin. The two should be allies, not enemies.

Lu Yin said nothing more. Instead, the Origin Progenitor spoke up, “Do you not see that Mo Shang is steadily approaching the palace?”

Of course Yanbo Haomiao saw it. Why else would he be in the Willbound Spire?

The Origin Progenitor continued, “We are also Mo Shang’s enemies, and this is simply a matter of mutual exploitation. What do you think Lu Yin is doing? If not for his threat, Mo Shang would have already reached the palace.”

Yanbo Haomiao looked back at Lu Yin. Really?

“Can he really reach the palace that easily?” Yanbo Haomiao struggled to believe that. It was already terrifying that the High Seraph had surpassed Ru Shi’s record, but that was not enough for Yanbo Haomiao to readily accept everything that the Origin Progenitor said.

The Origin Progenitor fell silent. There were times when saying fewer words made for a more convincing threat.

Yanbo Haomiao’s eyes flickered about, and at that moment, the High Seraph took another step forward. He was moving even closer to the palace.

“Lu Yin, are you not going to stop him?”

No one answered Yanbo Haomiao.

He shot one final glare at the High Seraph, turned around, and left.

Once he was gone, Emperor Slayer let out a sigh of admiration. Now that was clever. They actually managed to intimidate the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

Lu Yin’s time had already expired, and yet Yanbo Haomiao had been forced to leave without saying a word.

People with brute strength were not intimidating. It was the ones who were both strong and clever who were truly terrifying.

On top of the cliff, Lu Yin kept his back to Emperor Slayer while staring at his die. This was his final roll. If he failed to get Possession, he would have to wait ten days, and that was far too long.

The die slowly stopped spinning and showed six pips. A breath of relief slipped out as Lu Yin’s mind entered the strange dark space. No matter how much consciousness he had to expend, he had to find Old Chief. Only by Possessing that conscient could Lu Yin hope to find a way out of this situation.

The High Seraph turned to look at Lu Yin.

The Origin Progenitor stood up and released the weapons from his Verdant Arsenal. The old man was fully prepared in case the High Seraph attempted to do anything to Pillar.

They were surrounded by enemies on all sides. Even the High Seraph, who had helped Lu Yin on more than one occasion, was not an ally.

The High Seraph had already demonstrated how ruthless he could be. No matter how much he had tolerated Lu Yin’s actions for the sake of the Spirit Nidus, it was not impossible for the man to suddenly change his mind.

Fortunately, Lu Yin had retreated far enough. He was roughly equidistant between the High Seraph and the Origin Progenitor. Even if the High Seraph attacked, the Origin Progenitor would be able to intercept it.

The High Seraph did not attack. “I hope that you can overcome this obstacle. I cannot help you this time.”

Just outside the thatched hut in the Willbound Expanse, Yanbo Haomiao reported all that he had seen to Yue Ya. Yue Ya’s voice dropped low. “Can Mo Shang really reach the palace?”

“I don’t know, but he has clearly moved far past Ru Shi’s location,” Yanbo Haomiao stated warily. He did not dare offer any speculation. The consequences of being wrong were much too severe.

This was a matter that concerned the Immortal realm. Absolutely no carelessness could be allowed.

“Mo Shang has cultivated his will with the Everstone sequence base. His will is unwavering, and his consciousness is formidable. After all, he even defeated Ru Shi. It’s not impossible for him to reach the palace,” Yue Ya slowly admitted.

Yanbo Hongli asked, “What will happen if he touches the palace?”

Yanbo Haomiao shook his head. “I have no idea. No one has ever managed to do that before.”

Old Chief and Shuangdao exchanged glances. While the Willbound Spire belonged to the Consciousness Megaverse, and thus to the Thirteen Luminaries, it was instead an outsider, and a sworn enemy at that, who was most likely to reach the palace. They could not accept that, and yet they were not in a position to make any decisions at this moment.

“Is Lu Yin blocking Mo Shang?”

“He’s facing Mo Shang, but I don’t know if he’s blocking him.” Yanbo Haomiao hesitated before adding, “But he is the only one capable of stopping Mo Shang. That other Tianyuan cultivator is too far away from Mo Shang, and all of his attacks would dissipate before reaching the High Seraph. Only Lu Yin can do anything.”

That palace likely contained an Immortal’s memories. It was a place that the Nine Odysseys Megaverse had been eyeing for countless centuries.

Lu Yin could let Yue Ya undergo a complete transformation.

There were two paths to the Immortal realm in front of Yue Ya, but one belonged solely to Mo Shang.

Yue Ya wanted to both stop Mo Shang from succeeding and also capture Lu Yin. Lu Yin was Yue Ya’s true desire, but he was unable to stop Mo Shang.

After another moment of consideration, Yanbo Haomiao was sent back inside to threaten Mo Shang with the Spirit Nidus. He needed to prevent the man from reaching the palace, if at all possible.

Yanbo Haomiao already knew that such threats would be futile, but he had to at least try.

“What if Mo Shang refuses?”

Yue Ya growled, “Then ignore him and force Lu Yin to come down. I must transform before Mo Shang succeeds. Even if he obtains the Immortal’s memories, he still won’t be able to surpass me at that point.”

Yanbo Haomiao went back in.