Star Odyssey

Chapter 4133: Repeat That Once More

Lu Yin soon shared Astral Anura’s interpretation of events with Greater Sancte Green Lotus, who also felt a sudden headache. “We frightened them too badly?”

Lu Yin nodded. That was exactly how it felt.

But who could have guessed that two Immortals would lack the courage to even approach them? The humans had been preparing to communicate with the toads, going so far as to make sure to spread some of Obscura’s red energy near the parallel universe where Astral Anura had been hiding. They had even made “Anura” banners. Yes, Anura banners, which were Emperor Slayer’s Virtue banners with different characters.

When Lu Yin had received various complaints about Astral Anura, someone had mentioned that the toad had altered a batch of the Virtue banners that Emperor Slayer had commissioned, creating Anura banners that were planted all over Millions City, much to the Qiong family’s helpless frustration.

That incident had given Lu Yin the idea of making more banners, and a large number had been prepared specifically for the two Seven-Treasure Anuras to see.

Everything had been ready. They had just been waiting for the two toads to arrive, but of all things to do, they had actually run away.

Had that really been necessary?

Greater Sancte Green Lotus let out a long sigh. He and Lu Yin exchanged wry smiles, both at a loss for words.

They felt like they had prepared for a heated duel, only for a dance competition to start up instead.

“Have Astral Anura continue to keep an eye outside of the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm,” Greater Sancte Green Lotus said.

Astral Anura was not willing to cooperate. He wanted to return to Millions City and operate his business there. That was the Dukkha he needed to overcome to enter the Immortal realm.

But it was clear that Greater Sancte Green Lotus was in no mood to argue, so the toad could only suppress his desires.

For the human civilization, this was bad news. This was an even worse outcome than directly facing the two Immortal toads, as all their previous arrangements had been nullified.

“Judging by the previous timing, if the second Seven-Treasure Anura came from where their species is currently staying, it should have taken a bit longer to arrive than Old Fourth: around thirty years for the trip. A round trip will take sixty years at best, which gives us a sixty year buffer,” Lu Yin said.

Greater Sancte Green Lotus grunted in agreement. “Sixty years is not much, though it is enough for some to evacuate. With luck, you might even break into the Immortal realm during that time. The final outcome remains unclear.”

Lu Yin offered a helpless smile. “You flatter me, Senior. While I’m confident that I’ll be powerful once I become an Immortal—there’s no need for false modesty—I don’t believe for a moment that I’ll surpass you. Your karmic attack is absolutely stunning. Also, the Seven-Treasure Anuras still have their ancient monster.”

Greater Sancte Green Lotus sighed. “No plan can overcome fate. I believed that we could take care of Luo Chan, yet it all failed.”

Lu Yin was startled. “Take care Luo Chan?”

Greater Sancte Green Lotus looked at Lu Yin. “Oftentimes, news cannot be contained. Even if no one lets anything slip, information can still leak. This is why I did not share certain things, even with you. However, with those two toads gone, Lan Meng is badly injured and unlikely to reappear, and the Immortal Lord even less likely to act. Thus, there is no longer any need to hide this news.

“Blood Tower has returned.”

Lu Yin brightened. “Greater Sancte Blood Tower’s back? When?”

Greater Sancte Green Lotus smiled. “Not long ago. Only I am aware of his return. I sent him off to the Immortal beast, preparing a surprise for Luo Chan.

“If those two toads had attacked us, the Immortal Lord would have surely stepped forward as well. At that point, Luo Chan would have tried to teleport that monster to the Tianyuan to wreak havoc. Blood Tower is the key to removing Luo Chan. No one is aware of his return, least of all the Nest civilization.

“While his manipulation of the power of time is not as flexible as a ferryman of the River of Aeons, Blood Tower has his own methods and can certainly deal with Luo Chan.

“What a pity. Truly, such a pity.”

Lu Yin grimaced. “You shouldn’t have told me, Senior. What a waste.”

Both of them would rather leave an Immortal alive if doing so would allow them to eliminate Luo Chan. That bug’s ability to shift entire battlefields was terrifying. There was nowhere safe so long as Luo Chan was alive.

“Let’s go. It’s time to meet, as well as to deliver a warning to Kang Tian. Our human civilization can become even stronger.”

With that, the older man vanished.

Lu Yin continued to ride the green lotus leaf through the Aevum Inch, on his way back to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

Green Lotus, Blood Tower, Awe Gate, and Ku Deng meant that they had four human Immortals. With Lu Yin and Qing Cao added in, humanity had six combatants who could fight against foreign Immortals. That was enough to deal with most civilizations in the cosmos, and they could even survive a brush against a fishing civilization.

Blood Tower’s return served to temper the bad news. While the shift in developments was a pity, humanity was also much safer than before.

Besides, even if the Seven-Treasure Anuras arrived, would they really fight to the death against human civilization? With Obscura lurking nearby, Lu Yin did not believe so. Those toads were crafty, and they could certainly make such calculations.

A year later, in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, the colossal Awe Gate stood tall, putting incredible pressure onto Kang Tian.

It remembered how it had been suppressed and chased again and again by Greater Sancte Awe Gate. She had been a manageable opponent at first, but after she fully fused with Mi Jin’s spirit seed, her power had surged. That transformation had terrified the snail, as without Lan Meng’s interference, it would have been skewered.

That massive gate weighed heavily on Kang Tian.

Beside the snail stood Ku Deng, a calm expression on his face.

“Honored Ku Deng.”

“There’s no need to be so formal. Just call me Ku Deng.”

Kang Tian glanced back at the massive gate. “It feels like there was a massive difference between when I fought her the first time and our last clash.”

Ku Deng smiled. “Surprised?”

Kang Tian’s antennas twitched, which served as an affirmative nod.

Ku Deng grew reverent. “Greater Sancte Awe Gate was hiding her strength.”

Kang Tian rolled its eyes. “Hiding her strength?”

“Yes. With enemies closing in on us from all sides, we conceal our strength, striking only at the proper moment: one blow to kill. That is the principle of Greater Sancte Awe Gate, as well as that of the entire human civilization,” Ku Deng explained.

Kang Tian stared blankly at the man. The human might appear rather mild, but he stank of bloodlust.

Also, does he even hear what he’s saying? What about that deserves respect? That’s so underhanded!

No matter how badly Kang Tian wanted to say the word “underhanded,” it did not dare to do so.

When it thought back to how Awe Gate’s spear Awecloud had clashed with Lan Meng, the snail also remembered its panic at that time.

At just that moment Lu Yin arrived. He greeted Ku Deng before turning to Kang Tian. “Have you produced enough Colored-Glass?”

Kang Tian did its best to shrug. “I’ve made enough. You can’t use any more. You don’t have enough powerful cultivators.”

“I want enough that even three-year-olds can use it,” Lu Yin quipped.

Kang Tian fell silent.

The gate then opened, and Awe Gate stepped through with Awecloud on her back. Her expression was frigid, and her eyes blazed with a desire to fight. The sight left Kang Tian breathless.

Recently, Awe Gate had fought enough to fully release her battle tendencies, and it was impossible for her to suppress that urge.

Ku Deng cautiously asked, “How have your restrictions grown?”

“It’s nothing serious. I can still kill a few Immortals,” she replied coolly, barely sparing Kang Tian a glance.

The snail made no reply, and it instead simply shifted back a bit.

Greater Sancte Green Lotus then arrived. When he saw everyone present, he smiled. “You arrived early. I’ll be blunt. The Seven-Treasure Anuras have retreated.”

Kang Tian was surprised. “Old Fourth retreated?”

Green Lotus nodded. “We may not know why, but yes.”

Kang Tian did not relax, and instead, it grew panicked. “No! Old Fourth wouldn’t just retreat! What’s it planning? What did you do?”

Lu Yin did not want to spook the snail further. What if it ran?

“It was Lan Meng. It must have seen Lan Meng.”

Kang Tian glanced at Lu Yin before looking back at Greater Sancte Green Lotus, and then at Awe Gate and Ku Deng. Seeing how all of the humans were so calm, the snail asked, “Was it scared off by Obscura?”

Greater Sancte Green Lotus shook his head. “Not exactly scared off. When the toad saw that Obscura was here, it realized the situation. Why wade into muddy water and be used?”

Kang Tian grew increasingly nervous. “There’s another possibility. It could have left to get help. It might have gone back to the Seven-Treasure Anuras.”

“Why do you say that?” Lu Yin asked.

Kang Tian grimaced. “I’m too familiar with Old Fourth. That toad is so vain even though it is horribly ugly. It thinks itself mighty, but it is nothing but a coward. Seeing Lan Meng is no different from seeing the full might of Obscura. Most likely, it went back to make a report. Let’s hope that it doesn’t pull its entire species here.

“Everyone, if the Seven-Treasure Anuras all arrive-”

“What of it?” Blood-red light pierced the sky, blocking the stars as a Blood Tower appeared. Greater Sancte Blood Tower had arrived.

Kang Tian froze while staring upward in a daze. Another? Another Immortal?

Greater Sancte Green Lotus and the others watched the snail with faint smiles.

Awe Gate and Ku Deng had already been aware that Blood Tower had returned. Kang Tian alone had been left ignorant.

Blood Tower’s sudden appearance left the giant snail badly shaken.

This was not due to Blood Tower’s personal strength, but rather the simple fact that there was another human Immortal.

It had already felt that a civilization having three Immortals and an Aberrant was outrageous. At this moment, Kang Tian learned that humanity had yet another Immortal.

This... this is practically a fishing civilization, isn’t it?

The last time that Lu Yin saw Greater Sancte Blood Tower, it had been before the expedition to the Allsense Megaverse. Lu Yin had been a completely different person at that time, and his senses regarding Immortals had utterly changed.

Previously, Immortals had all felt unfathomable and powerful. Only after breaking through with Lifeforce had Lu Yin truly comprehended the power of Immortals, but he had since gained the strength to kill a weaker Immortal on his own.

As Lu Yin observed Greater Sancte Blood Tower, he sensed a subtle killing intent. This was not aimed at Lu Yin, but rather at all living creatures and even at the cosmos itself. Most likely, this killing intent stemmed from the cosmic law that Blood Tower resonated with.

Greater Sancte Blood Tower was not as powerful as Greater Sancte Awe Gate, yet he was noticeably stronger than Ku Deng.

Lu Yin felt that he was no match for Greater Sancte Blood Tower. Even if the Immortal had previously been a match for Awe Gate in terms of raw power, Blood Tower had lived much longer and was far more experienced. Not only that, but he also wielded the power of time.

Greater Sancte Blood Tower dropped onto the Frightened Sparrow Terrace. His eyes swept over everyone present. He offered Lu Yin a small nod and then focused on Kang Tian. “How long has it been? After Qi Xu’s death, this should be the first foreign Immortal allowed into our human civilization, right?”

As he spoke, Blood Tower stared intently at Kang Tian. It felt as though the man’s eyes had risen from a sea of blood. The vague, universal killing intent suddenly pulled back, only to fall solely upon Kang Tian.

The snail immediately bristled and retreated yet again, feeling overcome with dread. “And you are?”

“Repeat that once more,” Greater Sancte Blood Tower ordered in a low voice.

Kang Tian glanced at Greater Sancte Green Lotus, feeling rather lost.

“I’m talking to you. Why are you looking at the others?” Greater Sancte Blood Tower demanded in an irritated tone. “What? Are you looking down on me?”

Turning back to meet Blood Tower’s gaze, Kang Tian replied, “I mean, if the Seven-Treasure Anuras all arrive-”

“So what?” Greater Sancte Blood Tower barked.

Kang Tian was left speechless.

Everyone else was similarly silent. What had been the point of making the snail repeat itself?

At a complete loss for words, Lu Yin stared at Greater Sancte Blood Tower. He could see the similarities to both the Great Master and Wei Heng in this man. He had a truly unique style.