Star Odyssey

Chapter 4433: The Greatest Weakness

Of course, having too many foreign Immortals was also not a good thing, and it could easily lead to trouble. Just one or two was enough.

Given Lu Yin’s existence, Ba Rong and the Immortal stone monster could only go to where he had assigned them. They simply had no way to escape. Furthermore, after they met Blood Tower, Awe Gate, Mister Mu, and the other human Immortals, any thoughts of escape instantly vanished.

One, two, five, eight—what the hell? Why are there so many Immortal beings? Aside from Lu Yin himself, this civilization actually has eight Immortal beings! This... this has to be a fishing civilization.

Teleportation, eight Immortal beings, and an Aberrant who far surpassed the power of ordinary Immortal beings and was able to freely take action—if this was not a fishing civilization, then what was?

How did this count as just a few Immortal beings? Did this human civilization have some completely mistaken understanding of how many Immortal beings a civilization should have?

Ba Rong docilely greeted the people one by one. This would be its home from now on. That was right, it was definitely its home because there was no chance of escaping.

The Immortal stone monster also obediently stood guard outside of Manifest City.

Mister Mu and the others were also informed that the technological fishing civilization had been driven off. After all, Lu Yin’s recent trip had been to deal with the technological civilization. Seeing him return with a fish was completely unexpected.

Of course, there was still the matter of the Death Megaverse, and hearing about their proximity left everyone feeling heavy-hearted.

The shadow of the Death Megaverse had always loomed over all their hearts, and at this moment, it felt as though it was drawing closer and closer.

Lu Yin had always refrained from using Stillness because he feared attracting the Death Megaverse’s attention. He only ever used it occasionally, but when the Death Megaverse came, it would arrive no matter what.

“I will do everything I can to draw the Death Megaverse away if it comes,” Lu Yin stated.

Blood Tower and the others looked at the younger man with mixed emotions. In the end, he was also walking the same path as Green Lotus. This was fate. Every civilization that climbed upward needed to have someone who carried everything on their shoulders.

Shortly thereafter, Lu Yin laid down in the floating coffin and entered Vestigium. It was time to turn in his latest mission. He had recently accepted a mandatory mission to create a star chart, and he had left the task for Lu Huai and the others to complete. Lu Yin had deliberately stalled for time, intending to take his time when turning in the mission. Given that several hundred years had passed, there was no problem with doing so.

In any case, it was only a minor mission and could not affect anything. He also intended to use this mission to draw Black back out and learn as much as possible.

“Ba Se, I’ve completed my mission. Keep the reward for now.”

“Very well. Would you like to accept a new mission?”

“Yes.”

“Please choose a mission.”

“Are the available missions still to capture a branch of the River of Aeons or to draw a star chart?”

“You may also choose a mandatory mission directly issued by Vestigium.”

Lu Yin was surprised. “You also have compulsory missions to give out?”

“Yes.”

“What sort of mission?”

“A five-star mission: locate the Ten-Eyed Divine Crow.”

Lu Yin arched a brow. Locate the Divine Crow? It seems like Obscura has set its sights on that now.

That made sense. Ba Se had once asked Lu Yin about the location of the Ten-Eyed Divine Crow, but Lu Yin had refused to answer. Obscura was clearly very concerned about that corpse.

After all, the Divine Crow had once been hailed as invincible in one-on-one combat.

Even just Lu Yin’s Crow Immobilization had already played an extremely crucial role in several battles, and that was just one of the Divine Crow’s innate gifts. The creature itself had once possessed ten supreme innate gifts, and one could only imagine how terrifying it must have been. Anyone who obtained even one of those abilities would have their combat strength qualitatively transformed.

Lu Yin’s current target was Crow Reversal. If Obscura found the Divine Crow, it would definitely be dragged away, and Lu Yin would lose his opportunity.

“This mission suits Hong Xia best, doesn’t it? Did he not accept it?”

“No comment.”

“Fine, I will take it,” Lu Yin said.

Ba Se asked, “Are you sure that you wish to accept the five-star mission to locate the Ten-Eyed Divine Crow?”

“Yes.”

Lu Yin had originally intended to accept another star chart mission to lure out Black and keep them on the hook, but unexpectedly, this mission regarding the Divine Crow had appeared. This was essentially a free five-star reward. As long as Lu Yin could take the remaining two eyes, what did it matter if the Ten-Eyed Divine Crow was given to Obscura afterward?

Having accepted the mission, Lu Yin was just about to leave when he suddenly heard a voice. “You did not accept a star chart mission?”

Lu Yin's expression shifted. This was Black. They were the one who had assigned the star chart mission. Since Lu Yin had turned in his mission, it was natural that Black would be aware of it, and thus, it could speak to Lu Yin privately with a request to Ba Se.

“I did not. It lacks any challenge,” Lu Yin replied.

“The star chart missions have been separated by Obscura; there is one for every tier. Help me complete a five-star star chart mission, and I will help you kill Hong Xia,” Black offered in an exceedingly calm tone.

However, what they said left Lu Yin’s scalp numb. Kill Hong Xia? Hearing those words spoken in such a calm tone left him unsure of how to respond for a moment.

No matter what, Hong Xia was a peak two-law Immortal. If not for a scheme enacted by Green Lotus and Senior Jiu Wen’s cooperation, Hong Xia might have already broken through and reached the same level of comprehension as Ancestor Shan. A being of that level could be considered supreme across the ages. Even without that breakthrough, Hong Xia was still overwhelmingly strong.

But from Black’s words, it sounded as though Hong Xia could be eliminated at any time.

Lu Yin felt the need to confirm things. “Are you offering to help me kill Hong Xia?”

“As long as you agree, it can be done at any time.”

“This is Vestigium. Ba Se can hear everything you say here.”

“So what?” Black retorted, still just as calm as ever. It was as if they were chatting with an ordinary person, but at that moment, when Lu Yin looked across Vestigium, it felt as though there were a pair of eyes, staring at him from the deep darkness.

He remained silent for quite a while before answering, “Hong Xia is not worth a five-star mission. Within Obscura, completing a five-star mission is as difficult as destroying a fishing civilization. Hong Xia clearly does not measure up to that level of difficulty.”

“You said it yourself. Ba Se is listening. I must think of a method that can kill Hong Xia for you without giving Obscura any proof that I broke the rules. Although, I may not necessarily care about those rules.”

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”

“Is that important?”

“Very.”

“That can be traded for.”

Lu Yin's gaze flickered. “We can talk when I actually want to make that trade.”

Black slowly stated, “Your human civilization currently has one great weakness. It is a weakness that ensures that you will never truly rise again. Do you know what it is?”

“I’m listening.”

“You are too conspicuous.”

Lu Yin arched a brow. “The location of the Human Trio?”

“No. Your human civilization itself is too conspicuous. Although the Nine Ramparts were defeated, their peak glory is like a light that still shines like a beacon, ensuring that every step you take is observed by others. Once you reach a certain threshold, it could very well prove to be the limit of your existence.”

Lu Yin did not argue. After all, he knew this to be true. For example, Obscura’s Transparent, the Keeper of Balance, had once cut through the Meteor Realm with a single sword strike, forever depriving the Trio of any chance to contact the Longevity Civilization again. The Longevity Civilization was another human civilization, and if they had united, they would have become extremely strong. Separated, that was no longer certain.

Every step taken was being watched by multiple enemies.

“The Nine Ramparts were so brilliant in their time not only because they gave birth to so many extraordinary powerhouses, but also because no one paid attention to them. By the time others had no choice but to pay notice, it was already too late. On the other hand, you have been constrained from the very beginning. Obscura is like this, the Plume Immortals are like this, and so are the other civilizations that once besieged your Nine Ramparts. It may appear that you are free, but in truth, you have been confined within a fixed boundary. You cannot break free, you cannot escape, you cannot charge out, and you cannot win.

“Worse still, even your position has been exposed. The location of your Human Trio is known to all like a beacon. No matter how extraordinary your own talent may be or what you have mastered, even if you became a three-law Immortal right at this very moment, you still would not be able to break free of your shackles. This is the strongest restraint that binds your human civilization. It comes from every surrounding civilization while also coming from your human civilization itself.”

Lu Yin asked in return, “After saying all this, what exactly do you want?”

Black said, “I can help you break free of this shackle.”

Lu Yin almost laughed. “You alone?”

“Is that not enough?”

“What do you think?”

“It is enough.”

At that moment, Lu Yin's curiosity about Black reached its peak. Where did this being get the confidence to say that they could help the human civilization break free of its shackles? Back during the war against the Plume Immortals, Black had only been assigned to fight against a two-law Plume Immortal, the same as Old Man Hehe. The one who had stood before the rest of Obscura to directly face Shang Jing was White, while the one who had fought against Gao Tian was the Keeper of Balance.

Perhaps Black was hiding their strength. Every member of Obscura hid themselves, to some extent. However, Black’s claim that, by themself, they could help human civilization face the threats of so many civilizations was impossible. The Nine Ramparts had not been able to do that, and neither could this one individual.

If they could, how could they still be just a mere member of Obscura? They would have transcended Obscura long ago.

Although he did not believe Black, Lu Yin also knew that the being was unquestionably terrifyingly strong. As for what level they had actually reached, he could not guess at all.

Ancestor Shan had once issued a threat from outside of Vestigium, only to abruptly halt there. There were powerhouses within Obscura who were so powerful that not even Ancestor Shan had dared to face them. Lu Yin had always wanted to uncover who that might be. Perhaps that powerhouse was the one responsible for Ancestor Shan's death.

Lu Yin slowly said, “Since you are so capable, why don’t you tell me who was watching Ancestor Shan and caused his death.”

Black asked, “Does that concern you?”

“Of course. I was there myself.”

“I will not tell you that. You have not paid an equivalent price.”

“What price do you want?”

“Complete the five-star mission to draw a star chart.”

Lu Yin frowned. “Is a single bit of information worth a five-star mission?”

“That information is worth more than Hong Xia,” Black stated with absolute certainty.

Lu Yin let out a breath. “Then forget it.”

“No deal?”

“Another time.”

“Obscura possesses information regarding a human civilization that corresponds to six-star and five-star mission rewards. Why did you not simply trade for that information with Ba Se?” Black suddenly asked.

Without waiting for Lu Yin to answer, they continued to say, “It is because you also understand that knowledge does not equal strength. The strength of the Human Trio has already been sealed. Even if you were given those coordinates, you would not be able to unite with those civilizations. However, I am different.”

Lu Yin’s eyes flickered.

“I can help you make that exchange, and no one will know.”

Lu Yin said, “Ba Se would know.”

“Obscura is a place where the rules stand above all. Ba Se is Ba Se, while the Keeper of Balance is the Keeper of Balance,” Black replied.

Lu Yin's heart stirred, and he understood. It was the responsibility of Obscura’s Keeper of Balance to keep the human civilization restrained, while Ba Se had other responsibilities. But Ba Se was also unable to casually share the conversations held between other Obscura members.

That was what Black was truly revealing to Lu Yin.

As long as Lu Yin did not allow his own information to leak to the Keeper of Balance, there were various things that he could do.