Star Odyssey

Chapter 3792: Timeless Paintings

Lu Bi’s expression suddenly changed. “Who?”

A finger attack came from in front of him, and Lu Bi’s pupils shrank. He had no time to think as his sword moved forward with the momentum of a mountain. This was his Slaughter Wall. Instantly, layers of barriers appeared all around him, giving off the impression of a massive wall rising up between him and the rest of the world. The void rumbled, compressed by the incredible pressure. No one could break through Lu Bi’s ultimate defense.

Crack.

Lu Bi froze, horrified as he watched his Slaughter Wall split open. Cracks ran down the blade of his sword, which then shattered from the solitary finger attack. When the man looked back up, he saw nothing. There was no person, nor any finger. Even so, his broken sword fell to the ground with a soft clang. The barriers that surrounded him had been torn apart by the power of the attack, and they collapsed as the wind blew through the area.

Lu Bi stood where he was, too dazed to move. One finger. Just one finger.

Suddenly, pain shot through his knee, and he could no longer stand. He dropped to one knee and inspected his wound. It was not serious and entirely internal, though it could not heal within a few days.

Who could it have been?

Lu Yin moved across the Four Commands Sword Sect, heading the south.

Lu Bi’s defensive sword intent was decent, but it was nothing before Lu Yin’s finger attack. He had used an attack that even a newly risen Four Commands Grand Swordmaster might not be able to endure.

One finger from Lu Yin was enough to become a nightmare for anyone beneath the Immortal realm.

Some time later, Lu Yin arrived at the South Command, and what he found truly surprised him.

He had already visited the east, north, and western directions. In each region, sword intent shot high into the sky, filling the region. However, the South Command was completely different. It was filled with bamboo groves and flowing streams. There were elegant visitors chatting as they admired famous paintings that hung throughout the forests. The region looked less like a sword sect than it did an academy. No, this was simply an art gallery.

Lu Yin also saw quite a number of people painting.

The general impression that outsiders had of the South Command’s Lu Jing was that he used timeless masterpieces to refine his mind and understand the endless world. Lu Yin had heard such comments before, but he had not understood what they meant. It was at this moment that things made sense. They had been speaking literally. Lu Jing cultivated his sword intent from ancient master artworks. Each one transmitted the artist’s soul and had been appreciated for generations. The emotions of countless observers had become embedded into the paintings, layering like sediment across the ages. Every painting contained unique currents of emotion while also portraying various landscapes and scenes of birds and beasts.

There were even a number of paintings that showed battles between cultivators.

These paintings had completed Lu Jing, enabling him to become the first person in the history of the Four Commands Sword Sect to comprehend the sword through art.

Aside from the presence of the paintings, the greatest difference between the South Command and the other three directions was that there were no entry restrictions in place. Everyone was allowed to enter the region, including normal humans.

Lu Yin stepped into a bamboo grove and proceeded to pass by one timeless masterpiece after another. There were scholars and academics cheerfully discussing the world as Lu Yin walked past them, yet his eyes saw only one person. It was a person who looked to have been waiting for him for some time.

At the other end of the bamboo grove, there was a pair of eyes that had been watching Lu Yin the moment that he had arrived near the South Command.

Step by step, Lu Yin approached the area and looked down at the bottom of the lake. “Have you been waiting for me?”

“Lu Bi and Lu Feichen have both suffered unseen injuries... from you. Who might you be?”

Lu Yin was surprised. “How did word of that get out?”

“The maze that Lu Bi was using is connected to the entire West Command. As soon as that maze collapsed, it was only natural that the outside world would learn of it.”

Lu Yin understood, though it was outside of his expectations.

“Lu Bi is extremely cautious, matching the hallmark of every leader of the west. He is not concerned about his reputation, and thus he immediately contacted Lu Feichen and learned that Lu Feichen happened to have suffered injuries in the same manner. I then inferred from that that you would come to find me next.”

“Are you Lu Jing?” Lu Yin asked.

“Correct.”

“I have also learned a bit of the sword. The Four Commands Sword Sect has always been on my list to challenge, but I have been disappointed so far.”

“Will you visit the East Command?”

“Do you suspect that I was sent by them?”

“It is possible.”

“I visited the East Command, but I didn't attack them. Lu Sizhan is too weak.”

“I can’t deny that, but I’m still convinced of my deduction. You are here at Lu Siyu’s invitation, possibly at the behest of the Seven Fairies. Or could you be here because of Greater Sancte Green Lotus himself?”

“You knew that I would come, and yet you prepared no ambush? I’ll return the respect that you’ve shown me and allow you to see the truth for yourself.” With that, Lu Yin raised his hand and pointed a finger out. At that moment, the void twisted about his finger and collapsed upon it. A razor-sharp gleam flashed and then simply vanished.

At the bottom of the lake, Lu Jing also lashed out. “Timeless Paintings!”

Ripples spread across the lake, and a single drop of water fell with a soft sound.

Rain fell on the bamboo grove, and the various artists hurriedly put away the paintings.

At the bottom of the lake, Lu Jing let go of the hilt of his sword. A hole had bored through the blade, left by Lu Yin’s single strike. The sect master had lost, badly. He had been beaten solely by sword intent.

Timeless Paintings was the technique that he had developed by refining his heart with ancient artworks. Gazing upon heaven, earth, and the boundless seas, he comprehended a single sword strike of slaughter.

Lu Jing only possessed one technique, and it was even hailed as the Four Commands Sword Sect’s strongest attack, but it was incapable of killing Lu Feichen. That was why Lu Jing was not Lu Feichen’s match, though he could still inflict grave wounds on him.

However, just moments ago, the Four Commands Sword Sect’s most powerful attack had been defeated by another attack of equal lethality.

Sharp pain shot through the man’s knee. So, it’s true. This man does target knees. Thankfully, the injury isn’t severe.

At this moment, Lu Jing also understood the matter.

There was no way that this man had been asked by Lu Sizhan or Lu Siyu to help the East Command. As the man had said himself, he had wanted to challenge the abilities of the Four Commands Sword Sect. A swordsman of his caliber had to be devoted to the blade. This was not someone whom Lu Siyu could ever hope to recruit, and Greater Sancte Green Lotus would never cheat on behalf of the East Command.

Lu Jing had no idea if he should feel relieved or disheartened. He, Lu Feichen, and Lu Bi had all received an injured knee, but Lu Sizhan alone had been deemed unworthy and remained unscathed. That man’s chances in the competition for the next Four Commands Grand Swordmaster had risen exponentially.

However, just who was their attacker? The Four Commands Sword Sect was not some weak sect, and while the Nine Odysseys Megaverse was overflowing with talented cultivators, no one had ever heard of a swordsman like their attacker.

After leaving the South Command, Lu Yin vanished.

He had not expected to encounter this complication, but it did not matter. A single attack had crushed Lu Jing, and that was enough to eliminate any suspicion related to the East Command. Lu Yin simply hoped that Lu Sizhan would show a bit of backbone during the upcoming contest. Otherwise, he would need to come up with another plan.

It would be best if nothing else went wrong.

Unfortunately, it often turned out that, the more one dreaded a mishap, the more likely it was to appear.

News that a mysterious expert had attacked the Four Commands Sword Sect started to spread, startling the entire region and beyond. Many in the megaverse were shocked by the news.

No ordinary person could defeat the Four Commands Sword Sect’s sect masters by relying on the sword. There was no doubt that such a person had to be among the greatest swordsmen in the entire Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

Who could be capable of such skill?

As a result of the rumors, the competition to determine the Four Commands Grand Swordmaster was postponed. Additionally, the Four Commands Sword Sect invited the Everchange Valley’s Elder Le to track the assailant. The goal was not to get revenge, but rather to identify the assailant so that, when the next Grand Swordmaster appeared, he would be able to challenge the sect’s attacker.

These attacks were a stain on the Four Commands Sword Sect’s honor.

In the East Command, Lu Sizhan and Lu Siyu were stunned by the news that the other three sect masters had been injured. Worse, the wounds sounded nearly comical: their knees. Three swordsmen’s legs had been crippled.

The father and daughter instantly thought of Lu Yin.

How is this possible? Crippled legs? He actually crippled their legs! How did he manage that? Is he really that powerful?

Lu Sizhan and Lu Siyu exchanged glances, each seeing disbelief in the other’s eyes.

“Girl, tell your father, just where does this Lu Yin come from?”

Lu Siyu’s face paled as she realized just how out of hand things had gotten. Had she known that Lu Yin was capable of crippling the three sect masters so quickly, she would have never agreed to his terms. “I don’t know. He accidentally entered the Sea of Karma. Master acknowledged him, saying that there was a ‘fated connection’ and told the seven of us to give him tasks to perform.”

“I know all that,” Lu Sizhan stated gravely. “Think carefully. How did Greater Sancte Green Lotus treat the young man? Did he praise him? Was he indifferent? What?”

Lu Siyu blinked. Praise him? It went way beyond that! Master treated him like a favored son and even tried to marry me and my sisters to that little thief! It was a colossal joke, and all of us were too shocked to think of anything beyond how to refuse.

“Talk to me, girl.”

“I- I forgot.”

“Silly girl! How could you forget? Do you understand just how strong this Lu Yin is? If I’m not mistaken, he should be a peak Dukkhan!”

Lu Siyu gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief.

Lu Sizhan gave her a wry smile. “Don’t doubt that much. While I may not know the others’ exact strength, Lu Feichen is absolutely terrifying, and his Falling Star Greets the Head is not even his strongest technique. He’s kept a more powerful technique hidden. Even so, he was still wounded by a single attack. Just imagine the gap between them.

“To be honest, I’m not sure if even a peak Dukkhan could pull that off. I’m starting to believe that Lu Yin must be as powerful as the Lesser Sancti.”

Lu Siyu’s thoughts were thrown into chaos as she replayed the events that had taken place at the Lotus Pond, as well as her master’s behavior. It seemed... that her father’s suspicions were not entirely impossible. Given Green Lotus’s insight, how could he ever acknowledge a mere thief? On top of that, would he ever genuinely attempt to marry the sisters to someone because of a single fated encounter? Could anyone “accidentally” wander into the Sea of Karma? That was Greater Sancte Green Lotus’s domain.

Lu Siyu had not given the matter much thought before, but once she did, she immediately found numerous problems.

“Father, please stop asking about this, as I really don’t know,” Lu Siyu answered, her confusion mounting.

Lu Sizhan sighed and patted her on the shoulder. “All right, girl, I’ll stop. However, if you see Lu Yin again, be polite to him. There’s no need to create a powerful enemy for no reason. He’s strong and seems to act without scruples. Such people are the most dangerous of all.”

Lu Siyu bit her lip and nodded.

Her father was already gone by the time she snapped out of her daze.

As strong as a Lesser Sancte? Lu Yin’s from one of the lower three megaverses; what is he doing in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse? Why does Master think so highly of him? Even the Little Lotus King has never been given such high esteem.

Right, she needed to inform her sisters. That little thief is so strong. We all need to be careful.

“I’m not your enemy,” someone suddenly commented, their voice causing Lu Siyu to jump. She looked in a corner of her courtyard and found Lu Yin there again. Who could say how long he had been standing there?

Lu Yin looked at the woman. “I’m not offended by your Four Commands Sword Sect, so under normal circumstances, we’re not enemies.”

Annoyed at being startled, Lu Siyu glared at him. “I know that! But make a bit of noise before you start talking next time! You’re going to give me a complex.

“Also, did you really cripple their legs?”

“Didn’t you already hear what happened?”

“That’s going too far.”

“I just gave them a limp. They’ll recover with a bit of rest. It’s too bad that the competition was delayed. Your Four Commands Sword Sect is rather untrustworthy.”

Lu Siyu fumed. “You crippled their legs and still have the nerve to criticize us!”