Star Odyssey

Lu Yin was not purposefully trying to stoke any fears or be an alarmist. Although he did not know the complete details of the Innerverse’s situation, he had only shared what he believed to be reasonable conjectures, as it was truly humiliating for a Progenitor to act only to return in failure. The Innerverse, Cosmic Sea, and Neoverse had experts who were very powerful despite having power levels below 200,000, and it would not be easy for the Sixth Mainland to defeat them. The upper echelons of the Sixth Mainland were relying on deceptive methods to coerce their cultivators whose power levels were below 200,000 to head into the battlefield, and this alone was ample proof of their concern about the invasion’s progress. 

As soon as the invasion stalled out, it was highly likely that their strategists would start considering changing the battlefield. 

This was a certainty, and although Lu Yin did not believe that he was some military professional or an outstanding strategist, it was not difficult to see this particular eventuality. 

Elder Lohar had not been able to see it only because he had just received the news, and also because he did not fully trust Lu Yin. 

Lu Yin could only do his best to urge Elder Lohar to make sufficient preparations. The Outerverse could not compare to the Innerverse, and they also did not have a Progenitor’s remnant spiritual force to help them. Even though the Outerverse’s situation was not the same as the Innerverse, the entire Outerverse did not have many experts whose power levels were below 200,000 who could go up against those Sixth Mainland elites, and Lu Yin had no wish to die just yet. 

“According to the news that you obtained, if they invade the Outerverse, which realm would attack us?” Elder Lohar asked solemnly. 

Lu Yin considered the question before answering, “The Bloodburn Realm.” 

Elder Lohar nodded. “I understand. Thank you, Alliance Leader Lu, for pointing this out. Regardless if the Sixth Mainland actually invades the Outerverse, Alliance Leader Lu’s contributions towards the Fifth Mainland have already been significant.”

The elder then continued with a small bit of polite talk before ending the call. 

Lu Yin set his gadget down. If he wanted to know whether or not the Sixth Mainland was planning to invade the Outerverse, then there was no reason to continue waiting. Given the Hall of Honor’s current influence, it was not realistic for them to gather the entire Outerverse’s strength to defend against the Technocracy unless some truly unrivalled powerhouses with the strength to wipe out everything in an instant acted. That was the only way the entire Outerverse could unite. 

And only by having such a powerhouse of their own would the Outerverse be able to investigate deeper into the Technocracy. 

Lu Yin held high expectations towards the strength that the Hall of Honor had kept hidden within the Outerverse, and it was possible that such hidden strength was about to be revealed. 

In the end, conjectures were just conjectures, and what Lu Yin had said to Elder Lohar had also been partially exaggerated. This was because he really wanted to see what kind of hidden strength the Hall of Honor possessed in the Outerverse. 

The next day, massive crowds surrounded the Lu's Grand Auction, filled with media members, scouts from various other powers, and intelligence traders. Today was the day that the Lu's Grand Auction would auction off its premium goods, and they had advertised the goods for this auction for a whole month, and the items for sale this time had caused a commotion throughout the entire Outerverse. 

It was mainly because the items up for auction this time were simply too outrageous; there was a gun that could threaten Enlighters and arrows that could similarly harm them. These were still not the most insane items, and nobody would buy them if they didn’t believe the advertised information. Also, selling fake items would just embarrass the auction itself.

However, the most important aspect of the auction this time was that there were actually five-stage formcast models listed among the goods for sale, and that had completely changed the situation. 

Five-stage formcast models were extremely rare, but they were also something that everybody wanted. Nobody could put a price tag on such a precious item, as those who already had a five-stage formcast model would find them worthless, but they would be absolutely invaluable to those who didn’t have one. 

In the current climate of the Outerverse, nobody would sell off a five-stage formcast model. However, Lu's Grand Auction had actually taken out three five-stage formcast models to sell. They had to be crazy! 

Ever since news of the five-stage formcast models being up for auction had spread, everyone had come to believe that Lu's Grand Auction had gone crazy. No, it was Lu Yin who had gone crazy. 

He had so many experts working under him, and there were even quite a few geniuses who were still a part of the younger generation. Rather than selling these formcast models, people thought that it would be better for Lu Yin to give them to his own people. Although he wouldn’t be able to make a profit by doing so, it would still benefit his own people, which would increase the value of his assets despite him not receiving any money. Still, Lu Yin had chosen to place such treasures up for auction. 

Various great powers that were a part of the Great Eastern Alliance had all tried to contact Lu Yin in order to conduct an insider transaction, but Lu Yin had been in seclusion during that time, and they had not been able to reach him. 

Quite a few powers of external weaves had started ridiculing the Great Eastern Alliance. They had said that they had no sense of unity, as they could not even safeguard their joint interests. Others said that Lu Yin was a money-grubber and all sorts of similar insults. Still, all the gossip made the various forces of the Great Eastern Alliance very uncomfortable. 

When Lu Yin emerged from seclusion and discovered what had happened,he realized that he had been too inconsiderate towards his allies. 

When Hill Auna learned that Lu Yin had emerged, he immediately requested an audience with him. Lu Yin then asked Hill Auna to contact the leaders of the alliance’s various great powers and make it clear that Lu Yin would sell them five-stage formcast models, which calmed them all down and settled their complaints. 

If Lu Yin had not done so, then the crowds surrounding the Lu's Grand Auction would have been even larger. If they hadn’t been promised internal access to five-stage formcast models, then the people from the various powers of the Great Eastern Alliance would have also joined in. The small auction house could not hold everyone who wished to participate in the auction this time. 

Lu Yin altered his appearance and reduced his aura before walking out onto the busiest street of the Great Eastern Alliance while looking like nothing more than a commoner. Lu Yin felt touched. 

Any business that could set up residence on this street was extremely wealthy and respectable. On the left side of the street was the Mavis Bank, where universal currency occasionally fell from the sky, but nobody who walked on this street picked any of it up. In the distance, Aurora Enterprises’ building towered into the sky alongside Shamrock Enterprises’ building, Amethyst Exchange’s mall, Endless Borders office, and others. These buildings all belonged to financial titans and many other massive financial groups all known throughout the universe. They were able to lease many planets in other parts of the universe, but on this street, they could only afford an office, though that was already very impressive. 

At that moment, Lu Yin saw a familiar name appear on a section of Endless Borders’ office building: Brightstar Corp. 

This company was not unknown to Lu Yin, as during the events on Savage Ape Planet, he had once saved a girl who had turned out to be a manager of Brightstar Corp. Yue Xianzi had been the one to first mention this company to Lu Yin, which was how he had found out that Brightstar Corp was a financial corporation from the Innerverse that was very wealthy. 

Since they were able to survive in the Innerverse and had even expanded their business into the Outerverse, then this company could also be considered a colossal organization. However, Lu Yin hadn’t heard anything about their activities this entire time, which indicated that they had been acting rather low profile. However, for him to not hear anything about them at all was a little strange. 

The circumstances in the Innerverse were more complicated than the Outerverse’s, which Lu Yin understood very well. It could be said that the Innerverse had been portioned out by the eight great flowzones, and anyone who wanted to step out of line would be killed. A corporation that could survive in the Innerverse’s complicated environment was definitely not a simple one, and it was fishy for them to be so low-profile in the Outerverse. 

As he thought about this, Lu Yin stepped into the office since he still had a bit of time remaining before the auction started. 

Endless Borders’ operations took up a third of the building, which clearly showed the extravagance of a great corporation. 

Lu Yin stepped past the building’s primary office and instead headed in towards Brightstar Corpation’s office. 

This office was much lower profile than Endless Borders’, and it only took up about three office spaces. A vast majority of businesses in the Outerverse would be proud to rent this amount of space, but it felt stingy for such an impressive company that spanned across both the Innerverse and Outerverse. 

Lu Yin was about to step in when another person stepped out. He simply glanced at Lu Yin before leaving. He was the regional manager of Endless Borders, Di Nuo. 

Lu Yin had changed his appearance, so Di Nuo had not recognized him. 

Lu Yin continued making his way into the office. Since the amount of space taken up by the three sections of this particular office was not very large, he could see the entire space in a glance. There were only seven to eight people in the office, and it did not seem like they were very busy. 

“Sir, how can I help you?” A pretty receptionist walked over to Lu Yin and smiled at him as she bowed with a gentle demeanor.

Lu Yin casually replied, “I would like to meet with your manager.”

The receptionist asked, “Does sir have an appointment?”

Lu Yin shook his head. “Isn’t your manager called-” He paused to think about it for a moment. “Leng Yan?” 

The receptionist was surprised by Lu Yin’s familiarity. “So sir knows our manager. Please wait a moment, and I’ll inform her.” 

Lu Yin nodded, and as he sat down, someone immediately served him a beverage.

Lu Yin took a sip and then looked at his cup with a serious expression. The drink that he had just been served was the same one that he had been given in Amethyst Exchange. If he guessed correctly, then this beverage was one that could not be found in the open market, as it was only specially provided to a very select minority. 

He looked around the area. Although there were only a few people around, each and every one of them was a cultivator, and they were all very young and full of energy. 

Somebody would occasionally speak up, and it was always in a gentle tone and seasoned manner. 

Although this Brightstar Corp. had been acting in a very low-profile manner thus far, through the details that he could observe, Lu Yin could tell that this group truly was more than what met the eye. In fact, their potential seemed endless. 

Some footsteps sounded out from behind him, and Lu Yin turned around. The receptionist had returned, and she was leading Leng Yan to see Lu Yin. 

Lu Yin was surprised, as he had only met this person by coincidence and that he had not forgotten her name. His memory had proven correct, and Leng Yan was indeed Brightstar Corpation’s Outerverse’s manager. Even if her status could not compare to a chairman that oversaw multiple weaves like Shamrock Enterprises’ Hoffman, she was still probably more important than the manager of a single weave like Di Nuo. Thus, Lu Yin had never expected her to be on Zenyu Star. 

The receptionist bowed to Lu Yin and then left. 

Leng Yan walked over, sized Lu Yin up and down, and then smiled at him. “Sir, do we know each other?” 

Lu Yin stood up. “You could say that we’re acquaintances.” 

Leng Yan’s eyes flashed, and she gestured to Lu Yin. “Let’s head inside for a chat.”

Lu Yin nodded. “This drink is good.”

He did not stand on ceremony and followed Leng Yan into her office.

The two sat down, and Leng Yan smiled at Lu Yin. “You say we are acquaintances, but you look very unfamiliar. I feel that my memory is pretty decent, so has sir altered his appearance?”

Lu Yin nodded and then changed his appearance back to his original look.

Leng Yan was surprised, but then she hurriedly stood up and bowed respectfully. “So it’s Alliance Leader Lu. I was too disrespectful.”

Lu Yin motioned for her to sit down and smiled at the woman. “Manager Leng, it’s been quite a long time.”

Leng Yan softly sat back down and adjusted her skirt. She then smiled at Lu Yin. “That’s true. It’s been several years since our encounter on Savage Ape Planet, and Alliance Leader Lu has become far more impressive than before, and you are now famous throughout the universe. That deserves my congratulations.” 

Lu Yin looked at the woman. “Why didn’t Manager Leng come to King Zishan's palace when you arrived on Zenyu Star? After all, we’re old friends.” 

Leng Yan put on a helpless expression. "There were simply too many matters demanding my attention, and I never had the time. And when I was able to find the time, Alliance Leader Lu wasn’t around. Thus, we simply missed the opportunity.” 

Lu Yin nodded and then looked outside the window.

“Speaking of which, Alliance Leader Lu is my benefactor, and I’ve never had the chance to express my gratitude. I really feel ashamed.” 

Lu Yin shook his head. “That was no trouble to me, so there’s no need for it to weigh so heavily on your heart. However, I’m very curious—Brightstar Corp. is a financial titan that spans both the Innerverse and Outerverse, so why do you have such a humble office here?” 

Leng Yan sighed. “The Innerverse and Outerverse were separated too suddenly, and we did not make many preparations. Due to that, our cash flow was interrupted, and our business was even snatched away by Endless Borders. We had no choice in the matter, though we were able to persevere, which is already pretty decent.” 

Lu Yin did not understand how this had happened. “Since your company spanned both the Innerverse and Outerverse, Endless Borders still should have shown you some face. I just saw Di Nuo leave here as well.” 

Leng Yan stared at Lu Yin and smiled bitterly. “It seems that Alliance Leader Lu has some misperceptions concerning the financial corporations of the Innerverse.” 

“I’m all ears.”  

Leng Yan explained, “Alliance Leader Lu should understand the circumstances of the Innerverse well: there are eight great flowzones, and the great powers of those places are like the heavens as they suppress all others. No matter who it is, if they step out of line, they will be beaten down into place. Financial institutes are no different. We can earn money and reap the rewards, but we definitely cannot stick out, as that will prevent us from being able to recruit powerhouses.”