Star Odyssey

The Time Stop Space was dull, and Lu Yin could not handle the bland scenery, so he decided to use some star energy to change the space’s appearance. 

During his first month training, he quietly examined the star energy route of the Yu Secret Art. He had only used this path once before, but he would never forget it. However, all of his attempts were fruitless as he did not manage to recall even a hint of the sensation that he needed.

During the second month, Lu Yin still had no progress.

He started to get a bit fidgety.

Coincidentally, the Ghost Monkey awakened at this time. “Seventh Bro, where is this place?”

“Don’t ask any questions. Let me ask you something: now that I’ve broken through and become an Explorer, how can I cultivate the Yu Secret Art?” Lu Yin asked.

The monkey was speechless. “Seventh Bro, how would I know? I haven’t practiced any secret techniques before. This sort of thing is dependent on one’s innate gift and destiny, and you can’t be lacking in either. How long have you been practicing for?”

“Just a bit. You really don’t know?” Lu Yin asked.

The monkey replied, “I really don’t know. Strange, where are we? I’ve seen this place before, but you’ve never told me anything about it.”

Lu Yin very quickly screened his arm off as he did not want to reveal his secrets to the monkey. But still, was it even possible for him to learn the Yu Secret Art? 

Just in case, Lu Yin increased his time in the Time Stop Space by another fifty days. 

For every ten days that Lu Yin increased the duration of the Time Stop Space by, the required star energy would double. Four months required 730,000 star crystals, which was 7.3 star essence. Another fifty days after that ended up costing him 233 star essence, which showed just how fast the cost multiplied. 

The more he increased his time, the more anxious Lu Yin became in this isolated space. He had to quickly comprehend the secret technique.

He still had 110 days left in the space, but he had not made the slightest bit of progress. He felt helpless, and out of habit, he began reciting the Stonewall Scriptures. 

Every time Lu Yin encountered a situation that he could not solve, he would first recite the Stonewall Scriptures. He had done so when he had absorbed the first grain of Fatesand in the past, and reciting the scriptures had greatly hastened the process. He still did not even know what exactly the Stonewall Scriptures meant.

Not long after he started reciting the scriptures, Lu Yin felt a trace of a feeling for the secret technique’s star energy path through his body. He opened his eyes in ecstasy, as it turned out that reciting the Stonewall Scriptures had actually been useful. 

He did not waste any time, and he continued to recite the Stonewall Scriptures, but he was not able to finish it all at once. After his breakthrough to the Explorer realm, his spiritual force had increased by quite a lot, but he was still only able to recite a portion of the scriptures at a time. He had to take the occasional rest to avoid falling unconscious. 

As he recited the Stonewall Scriptures, Lu Yin’s feeling towards how the secret technique’s star energy path grew more and more distinct. Another month soon passed by. When he opened his eyes, he raised his hand and casually waved it. The energy caused the void to rumble, but then the energy vanished inexplicably as it had been diverted into another direction. 

Lu Yin was delighted. He had tried to do this multiple times during this month, but he had only succeeded now. The secret technique had come out at last.

At this instant, he felt like everything before him had changed. He tried the technique again, but this time, his eyes were filled with star energy. Sure enough, the moment the secret technique was unleashed, his perception through the secret technique was different from before. There was no space or time, and he was able to instantly attack in any direction whenever he wanted. This was a secret technique, something that turned the rotten into the mysterious and allowed one to see through to the essence of the universe. 

Was this the essence of the universe? He suddenly recalled how Mister Mu had thrown him from Tempest Flowzone all the way to Zhengyang Flowzone, which meant that Lu Yin had crossed half the Innerverse in a moment. Had Mister Mu done that through a similarly deep understanding of the universe’s essence? No, that was impossible. Only a Progenitor could create a secret technique, and only Progenitors could understand the essence of the universe. In the current era, there shouldn’t be any Progenitors in this part of the universe, and even if there were any, they would be in the Neoverse. There was no way that Mister Mu was a Progenitor. 

But if he wasn’t a Progenitor, then how had he done it? Could he have used another secret technique? 

Yu Secret Art: Void Transfer. It allowed Lu Yin to divert any attack within a certain range of himself in any other direction and attack any target. This was the Yu Secret Art, and when he gained a deeper understanding of it, the range would definitely increase. Additionally, eventually, he might be able to divert not only attacks, but possibly also items or living beings. 

If that was the case, then it was possible that Mister Mu actually knew the secret technique as well. 

Lu Yin acted again and waved his hand, but nothing moved.

Lu Yin felt that it was a pity. He needed to work and familiarize himself with the technique as he was not practiced enough yet. 

Another month passed quickly by, which meant that Lu Yin had now spent a total of four months in the Time Stop Space. During this fourth month, Lu Yin had made dozens of attempts at using the secret technique, and he had even succeeded quite a few times. His success rate was about 50%, which was pretty good. However, there was a stark discrepancy when he compared himself to Wendy Yushan. 

Lu Yin’s own talent was not lacking at all, and he even possessed eyes that had been transformed. Even if Wendy Yushan could demonstrate the Yu Secret Art, she definitely could not see the essence of the universe like he could. The reason why she could surpass Lu Yin’s results in terms of the secret technique was likely related to her bloodline, as she was a descendant of the Yu surname. The Yu Secret Art had belonged to the Yu family since ancient times, and there was an inheritance that flowed in their blood. 

If not for the Stonewall Scriptures, then even if Lu Yin had managed to successfully comprehend the technique’s required energy path, it would have taken him way too long to comprehend the secret technique. It was no wonder why the monkey had said that it was very difficult to cultivate a secret technique. 

Fortunately, Lu Yin’s fortune was that bad, and he had ultimately managed to cultivate it successfully.

The next matter of course was to improve his rate of success, as he could not gamble with his life. 

He thought about it before deciding to further endure the dullness of the boring room. He increased his time by another fifty days, which cost him another 7,400 star essence. 

He now had a hundred days left in this place, and he would conduct his final struggle during these days.

At Seasons Fort, inside the ruins, Lu Yin reappeared in the blink of an eye, as only one second had passed in real time. He had spent a full 200 days in the Time Stop Space, which was more than half a year. 

Since more than half a year had passed for him, Seasons Fort suddenly felt rather foreign to him. 

Massive astral beasts crashed down from the sky, shrouding the ground in shadows. Lu Yin looked up and stepped out lightly. There was a thump, and a small shockwave caused the void to fluctuate as his figure vanished. He then reappeared in midair. He kicked out, and a giant, boulder-like beast was sent tumbling into space. 

Lu Yin landed and moved over to Wang Wen’s coffin. “It’s alright.”

Wang Wen turned and stared blankly at Lu Yin. “What’s alright?”

“Nothing...” Lu Yin had forgotten that, for Wang Wen, only one second had passed. Wang Wen had only just turned his head away. 

Wang Wen looked at Lu Yin strangely. “Chesspiece Bro, have you gone crazy?” 

Lu Yin looked up and saw boundless rune lines in every direction. He still had eight bullets left in his gun. “I’m going to go hunting. Think about what kind of contribution points you’re going to give me.”

Then, he leaped into the air and charged up into outer space. The Enneadic Wings appeared behind him and fluttered to increase his speed even further, causing him to quickly vanish before Wang Wen’s eyes. 

Wang Wen blinked. “He’s really gone crazy.”

In outer space, Topmist was fleeing for his life. He could not beat the Enlighter beasts. He was not adept at head on fights in the first place, and right now, he had two Enlighter realm astral beasts pursuing him.

“Human, surrender! The Celestial Beast Empire will warmly welcome powerful human beasts,” a Enlighter beast roared from behind him. 

Topmist mentally cursed. What human beast?

Still, he was also musing to himself that, if he truly couldn’t escape, then surrendering could also be a valid option so long as he kept his life.

Hold on, what’s that coming here? Topmist looked ahead and saw that there was a single figure streaking through the heavens towards him. And based on the stance of the figure, it was aiming for him. Was it possible that it was an Enlighter beast in a humanoid form? That would be too despicable! Topmist didn’t hesitate to immediately throw out a palm. 

Lu Yin was frightened, as he had wanted to shout for Topmist to cooperate with him, but who would have thought that Topmist would instantly strike out at him! Could this person have some kind of mental defect?

Lu Yin could not get a good grasp of the situation, but he had some understanding towards Topmist’s morals, so such a thing was not impossible.

Lu Yin changed his mind and used the Stellar Ruler to evade Topmist’s attack before pausing in space. He warily observed the old Enlighter in front of him as he pulled out his gun and held it in his hands. 

Topmist’s palm missed, but he felt that the approaching person’s style of moving seemed very familiar. They were moving like Lu Yin? Wait, it was really him. 

“Kid, you’re not dead?” Topmist felt odd.

Lu Yin stared intensely at Topmist. “You’ve betrayed humanity?”

Topmist hollered, “Kid, don’t slander me! Viletree and Wen Qichen both died, and if I had stayed in the Primal Zone, all that would have accomplished was adding on one more casualty! Did you want me to join you in death?”

“I’m not talking about that! Why did you attack me just now?” Lu Yin raised his gun and pointed it at Topmist. 

Topmist’s heart raced, as he had not forgotten about the power of Lu Yin’s gun. “Don’t be rash! How would I know that there’s still someone here who’s bold enough to enter the battlefield? Even Liu Qiuyu has fallen, so I’m the last Enlighter here.” 

Lu Yin reluctantly accepted the explanation, and then he fired his gun. Topmist’s pupils shrank, and he reflexively evaded the attack. Suddenly, Lu Yin raised a hand and waved it. “Yu Secret Art: Void Transfer.”

As Lu Yin spoke, Topmist watched on, completely overwhelmed, as the bullet disappeared. When it showed up next, it was already piercing through the brain of an Enlighter beast. 

Everything fell silent, and the other Enlighter realm astral beast that had been chasing after Topmist looked up in shock. The Enlighter beast that had just had its brains blown out by the bullet collapsed, devoid of any trace of life.

Topmist was horrified. “Se-secret technique... That’s the secret technique! You know it as well?”

Lu Yin’s lips rose up, and he raised his gun to aim at the other Enlighter beast. “Go and die too.”

That Enlighter beast did not hesitate, and it directly made its escape by tearing through the void.

Lu Yin lowered his gun and released a pent-up breath. With the secret technique, he would be able to hit an Enlighter, but if they were prepared and escaped by tearing through the void without reappearing, then Lu Yin wouldn’t have a chance to attack them.

No, that wasn’t correct anymore; there still was another method. Lu Yin’s eyes trembled. He had forgotten, but he was now capable of seeing through the essence of the universe.

Even if an Enlighter fled into the void, they would still exist within the universe, and as long as they were still in the universe, he would be able to see them the moment he used the secret technique. Still, being able to hit them was another matter entirely. Being able to see through the essence of the universe was not the same as understanding it, and at this time, Lu Yin didn’t even understand the principles of the secret technique.

It was just like the gun; he was only able to use it, not recreate it. 

One shot of the gun had killed the Enlighter beast, which stunned Topmist badly. The black fog kept shifting around, which reflected the Enligher’s agitated state of mind. “Kid, how do you know a secret technique?” 

Lu Yin glanced at Topmist. “Why? Do I have to answer to you?”

Topmist stared at Lu Yin. “You’ve also become an Explorer? The changes seem to be rather impressive.”

Lu Yin did not bother with him any further. “Cooperate with me. You look for the Enlighter beasts, and I’ll kill them. We’ll split the contributions 50-50.” 

Topmist fell silent.

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t even think of fleeing. If you leave while we still have even a chance of victory, and we lose because of you, then the punishment from the Hall of Honor won’t be something you can handle. Don’t forget—Elder Lohar is still around.” 

Topmist snorted. “I wasn’t thinking of fleeing. I’m just considering what methods I can use to drag out those Enlighter beasts for you to hit them.”

“Then get started!” Lu Yin dashed into the distance, heading towards the boundless rune lines that he saw. Just as he had said, he was going hunting.

He had the universal armor for defense, and combination of the gun and secret technique for offense. Additionally, he had the Stellar Ruler and Collapsible Spacecraft as escape methods, as well as Progenitor Wushang's hide and the Void Thunderbeast’s flesh for support. As long as no old freak whose power level surpassed 300,000 appeared, Lu Yin was invincible on this battlefield.