Chapter 4587: Clear Sky Locked Earth Array
Chapter 4587: Clear Sky Locked Earth Array
Several years later, Lu Yin let out a sigh. He realized that too much time had passed. Most of the remnant traces of Grand Clarity had already vanished. In fact, the sourcebox array within the forbidden region on the Lepidarch’s back was much clearer and more complete than anything that he found in these megaverses. There was only one exception.
Lu Yin raised his head to look up.
The four megaverses were linked in a two by two array, and at the very center of them stood a tall mountain with a strange shape. It looked as though some creature had gathered its arms together to worship something. That mountain connected all four megaverses together.
When Lu Yin's consciousness had first swept through the four megaverses, he had already confirmed that a sourcebox array existed within that mountain because he had detected its danger field. Although faint, the presence of sourcebox’s danger field indicated that there was an intact sourcebox array.
The Grand Clarity Civilization’s sourcebox arrays were all based on lockbreaking, layer after layer of lockbreaking and layer upon layer of transformation.
Despite such an incredible length of time passing, there was actually a still-operating sourcebox array. That was truly exceptional.
Lu Yin had deliberately left that mountain for last. He wanted to understand as much about Grand Clarity as possible before going there, hoping to avoid taking unnecessary detours. Unfortunately, none of the four megaverses had helped him.
He approached the mountain. It was dark and steep. The moment Lu Yin stepped foot onto it, the sourcebox’s danger field shot up. An unbelievable pressure bore down upon him, causing him to instinctively retreat.
But when he took just one step back, the danger field withdrew. It was as if that instantaneous reaction had been a mere illusion.
Lu Yin stared at the mountain in shock. He had never felt such a powerful danger field from any sourcebox before. In that brief instant, it had felt as though the entire cosmos had come alive, as though some colossal being had awakened.
It gave him the same oppressive feeling as when he had faced Abyssal Displacement.
What kind of sourcebox array could this be, for it to be so terrifying?
He did not dare to advance rashly. No matter how confident he was in his own strength, he could only hope to take action one more time. He did not want his karmic chain to be completed because of this sourcebox array.
Lu Yin thought for a moment and then lightly tapped the void. Ripples spread out, extending in layer after layer of gray.
A surging river then descended. Unmistakably, it was a branch of the River of Aeons.
Wherever there was a megaverse, there was time. Where there was time, a River of Aeons existed.
This River of Aeons was also quite impressive. After all, this branch encompassed four megaverses.
A glance revealed a small boat on this River of Aeons and the ferryman on it. It was a creature that looked like a tall mountain. This appearance should match that of the creatures of the Grand Clarity Civilization.
With the River of Aeons pulled out, the ferryman faced Lu Yin and slowly bowed. "Greetings, Immortal powerhouse."
Lu Yin examined the ferryman. "Are you a Grand Clarity creature?"
"Grand Clarity vanished long ago. I am simply myself," the ferryman replied.
Lu Yin stared at it. "What happened here?"
The ferryman's voice was ancient and worn. "This place is simply a dark and lonely prison. Nothing has happened here. Ever since Grand Clarity left, this place has been as you see it. Occasionally, foreigners enter, but they only ever hurry through. There is nothing of value to warrant staying here."
"When did Grand Clarity leave?"
"A very, very long time ago. So long ago that I can no longer remember."
"Why did they leave?"
"They were probably afraid of vengeance."
"Who would seek vengeance?"
The ferryman looked at Lu Yin. "Beings like yourself."
Human civilization? Lu Yin's eyes flashed. "Have you heard of the Nine Ramparts?"
The ferryman let out an emotional sigh. "Grand Clarity once experienced a period of glory, but at the height of that glory, they tasted fear. Because of that, they made a decision and went to war with the Nine Ramparts. After that war, Grand Clarity left. These four megaverses declined from their former glory, ultimately becoming what they are now.
"Their departure was the right choice. No matter how much time may have passed, you still ultimately came here."
Lu Yin asked, "After Grand Clarity left, did no beings of their civilization ever reappear here?"
"They did." The ferryman calmly looked at Lu Yin as its small boat rocked along the River of Aeons. "A group of Grand Clarity beings arrived here, but they seemed to have experienced a great battle, and they might have even been hunted. They returned to this place, and ultimately, most of them died here. Very few escaped."
"Who killed them?" Lu Yin was curious.
The ferryman replied, "I do not know. That kind of war is far beyond me, and I did not even want to watch."
Lu Yin looked across the ground. "So were the primal talismans scattered all left here by that group of Grand Clarity beings who died here?"
"Yes."
"What about the mountain? Do you know anything about the sourcebox array there?"
"I do. It is the Clear Sky Locked Earth Array."
"The Clear Sky Locked Earth Array?"
The ferryman's tone changed, taking on a tinge of fear. "That is one of the most powerful sourcebox arrays throughout Grand Clarity’s entire history. Long ago, when their civilization was preparing to leave, they tried every possible method to take it away, yet they still failed. They had no choice but to leave it behind.
"It is an extremely powerful array. Perhaps by leaving here, Grand Clarity forever lost this sourcebox array because the Grand Clarity beings spend their entire lives studying just one sourcebox array, and the one who created this Clear Sky Locked Earth Array died during the war against the Nine Ramparts."
Lu Yin asked, "Who killed them?"
"I do not know."
"What is so special about this Clear Sky Locked Earth Array?"
The ferryman stared at Lu Yin. "Descendant of the Nine Ramparts, I have answered many of your questions. From now on, we must trade."
Lu Yin clasped his hands behind his back. "Fine. What do you want in exchange?"
Hope entered the ferryman's voice. "Freedom."
Lu Yin’s brow rose. "Freedom?"
The ferryman looked down. "Because of Grand Clarity, there will never be an intelligent species capable of forming a civilization here. Look at those things. They possess nothing more than the most basic killing instincts. I have seen enough of such things. For countless years, I have watched this, seeing the same scene over and over again—it never changes. Species disappear and are replaced, yet I remain forever, watching those foolish creatures subject to the laws of nature. I can easily see how their species will evolve next. I have had enough of this life. Even death would be better than remaining here. I want freedom. I want to break free from this dark land."
Lu Yin understood, but he was also puzzled. "Why did these four megaverses become like this?"
The ferryman's voice dropped low. "This is how Grand Clarity understands the cosmos. Wherever they passed, everything became like this.
"The process of war is the process of lockbreaking to them. This land is the state left behind after these four megaverses were unlocked. To them, this was the result."
Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. Was this true? If so, how vicious.
"And yet you are still alive?"
"Megaverses need time. Whether I live or die was never part of Grand Clarity's considerations. I would rather die than survive on this lifeless, primitive land."
Lu Yin looked across the expanse. If he had to survive in such a place day after day, forever watching mindless creatures slaughter each other, he would not be able to bear it either. "Fine. I promise you. I will give you freedom."
The ferryman grew excited. "How will you give me freedom?"
Lu Yin stated, "I just need to take you away."
The ferryman instantly grew angry. "You are lying!"
Lu Yin arched a brow.
The ferryman growled, "To take me away, you must completely destroy these four megaverses, and there is no way that you can do that. Are you not afraid of being dragged away by the River of Aeons’ main stream? Even the Grand Clarity Civilization feared that. You are lying to me!"
Lu Yin shook his head. "If not that, why don't you teach me what to do?"
The ferryman breathed heavily, but it gave no answer. It just stared at Lu Yin.
Lu Yin said, "Should I draw down the main stream of the River of Aeons and send you away? Otherwise, you can only trust me and wait for me to completely destroy these four megaverses so that I can take you away. It’s not as if I’ve never done it before. In my view, the threat of the main stream is acceptable. Choose one."
The ferryman fell silent, not knowing how to choose.
"You don’t believe me?"
"I do not. You do not understand the power of the River of Aeons’ main stream."
"Then I’ll convince you." After Lu Yin finished speaking, he vanished, teleporting away.
The ferryman stared at the empty space. How many years had it been? How long had it been since the last intelligent creature had accidentally stumbled upon this place? It had nearly forgotten how to converse.
This descendant of the Nine Ramparts would not just leave. The Clear Sky Locked Earth Array was practically invaluable. He would not abandon this place. He would definitely come back.
Wait, just continue waiting.
The ferryman thought that it would have to wait for a very long time, and it had already prepared itself to endure another eon of loneliness. However, Lu Yin returned quickly, and he even brought someone with him: the Great Master.
The ferryman stared at Lu Yin in a daze. So fast?
It started to vaguely suspect that this human might actually be able to help it.
It did not realize that change, mostly because it was not thinking about that at the moment. Instead, it was staring at the Great Master. This was another ferryman of the River of Aeons.
The Great Master was carrying an oar on her shoulder as she looked at the River of Aeons.
Lu Yin said, "Do you believe me now?"
The ferryman grew excited as it stared at the Great Master. "Will he take me away?"
It would rather trust the Great Master, who was also a ferryman of the River of Aeons.
She replied with her own question, "Since you cannot bear the loneliness, why not die? You are fully capable of that."
The ferryman gave a bitter smile. "Surviving is an instinct of all creatures. I can be killed, but I cannot kill myself."
The Great Master looked across the land, pity filling her eyes. "This is truly the worst kind of torment for us."
She then looked back at the ferryman. "You should believe him. If he promises you, he will definitely take you away, unless he encounters some unopposable force, such as a powerful enemy."
The ferryman struggled to suppress its excitement. "I believe him. Descendant of the Nine Ramparts, I believe that you can take me away. If you truly cannot do it, then please kill me instead. Is that acceptable?"
Lu Yin nodded. "All right."
"Thank you."
Lu Yin sent the Great Master back again and then returned to the Grand Clarity ruins. "Now tell me about this Clear Sky Locked Earth Array."
The ferryman took a deep breath and slowly spoke, its words carrying a hint of amazement that even the passing of eons had not erased. "The Clear Sky Locked Earth Array is a powerful sourcebox array that Grand Clarity used to defend itself. As far as I know, it is divided into two powers: Clear Sky and Locked Earth.
"Clear Sky: within the sourcebox array's range, all power will be dispersed. It disperses all forces, and no power can exist. That is Clear Sky.
"As for Locked Earth, it does not lock the enemy, but rather oneself. The self is the earth. All power consumed by the user will be locked in place. No matter whether the power has been released or not, it will be locked back, allowing it to be reused in an infinite cycle.
"The array has only these two functions. They seem simple, but only when you truly face the Clear Sky Locked Earth Array will you feel the despair it brings.
"This sourcebox array is nearly absolute."
Lu Yin looked at the dark mountain. Clear Sky Locked Earth?
He had encountered each of these two functions more than once before, especially Locked Earth, which rather resembled Verdant Eternity.
At first, he truly did not feel much, but the ferryman seemed to see his thoughts, and added, "With this sourcebox array, Grand Clarity enabled one of its two-law beings to wear down and kill an old three-law monster."