Learning that Greater Sancte Green Lotus had abandoned the Crimson Starshade civilization weighed heavily on Lu Yin’s heart. As he watched the destruction before him, the fleeing creatures did not have the appearance of Blacklight creatures in his eyes; they looked human. If the Crimson Starshade civilization had truly been destroyed, they must have faced a similar ending.
This was something that Green Lotus would never be able to get over, no matter how long he lived for.
Thinking of that, Lu Yin did not even want to move.
When a megaverse reset, it would produce Immortal matter. Even so, Lu Yin did not wish to collect any.
He simply watched, calm and silent.
Occasionally, frenzied Blacklight creatures would charge at the observers, seeking revenge, but they were never able to even get close. Astral Anura alone was enough to deal with any such attackers.
Little Eighteen’s eyes were red with bloodlust. It looked as though the destruction of the Blacklight creatures and the resetting of their megaverse would not be enough to sate the toad’s hatred.
They killed the Immortal Blacklight creature. Old Fourth could not be the one to kill an Immortal, as doing so would greatly increase their karmic chain. It was not worthwhile.
But even slaying an Immortal could not satisfy Little Eighteen. They butchered one Blacklight creature after another, to the point where even the resetting megaverse could barely keep up with the slaughter.
Astral Anura also rushed forward. He remembered the kindness that Ancestor Shan had shown him, as well as the time he had spent in the seven-colored land. The warmth of family that the toad had lacked for his entire life had been ruined by the Blacklight Civilization. He also wanted revenge.
“Uncomfortable?” Old First’s voice sounded.
Lu Yin stared straight ahead. Throughout the megaverse, parallel universes collided, the impacts devouring everything, and yet nothing could affect the two witnesses.
They stood in outer space, unshaken and untouched, no matter how the megaverse shifted and collapsed.
“Once it’s destroyed, everything ends,” Lu Yin stated.
Old First replied in a heavy tone, “That is why it must be destroyed.”
Lu Yin nodded. “Yes, it must be destroyed.”
“And yet you don’t seem pleased.”
“This was never my affair.”
“If the Blacklight Civilization had destroyed the Seven-Treasure Anuras and then taken their One-Hundredth Seal to attack your human civilization, would it still not be your affair?”
Lu Yin looked over at Old First. “Would they?”
The toad laughed. “Are you considering mercy in this cosmos?”
Lu Yin averted his eyes, murmuring, “Yes, there is no mercy in this cosmos. There always needs to be such an outcome when different species meet.”
Old First’s voice dropped low. “The Blacklight Civilization was the one that first sought to destroy us Seven-Treasure Anuras, and that is the reason why war broke out. This time, they struck first again. Fishing civilizations are aggressive to their core. I don’t know what Ancestor told you, but within the Aevum Inch, civilizations that survive and civilizations that are destroyed are as countless as the stars in a universe. If you do not destroy, others will destroy you.
“There is no reason that matters.
“This is the Aevum Inch. This is the omniverse. This is the clash of civilizations.”
Lu Yin exhaled. “If a civilization will ultimately be destroyed, what meaning does such a contest hold?”
Old First replied, “At the very least, I will continue to live until I no longer wish to live.”
Lu Yin looked at the toad, and Old First met his gaze.
Throughout the megaverse, the civilization was being destroyed. Time and space tangled together as thunder rumbled.
Lu Yin chuckled and clasped his hands behind his back. “To live until I no longer wish to live? Then death isn’t something sorrowful, but rather a release. That should be the case for civilizations as well.
“A heart contains both kindness and cruelty: kindness shown to others, cruelty contained within. People separate good and evil, knowing that there is right and wrong.
“Even walls have shades of black and white.
“If a brick cannot be added to the white wall, then let it be placed in the black wall instead.
“A towering wall built in one’s heart must have both white and black.”
With that, he started laughing, and the sound echoed across the stars.
Old First did not know what Lu Yin had comprehended, but they felt that this human was absolutely terrifying. It was as though Lu Yin could always resolve and set his thoughts in the direction that he needed. Some creatures might lose themselves through thinking, but this human gave off the impression that he would never do so.
He seemed capable of always being able to persuade himself.
With darkness at his back, his heart turned toward the light.
The Blacklight Civilization’s megaverse was reset. Not a single Blacklight creature managed to escape. All of them died.
They did not know whether any Blacklight creatures still lived elsewhere in the Aevum Inch. Still, even if some existed, they were scattered and would never be able to reunite.
From this day forward, there would no longer be a Blacklight Civilization in the Aevum Inch.
This was the first fishing civilization that Lu Yin had seen be completely destroyed.
With the fall of the Blacklight Civilization, the hatred of Old First and the others also came to an end. A trace of confusion appeared in the toads’ eyes. They did not know where to go next.
Logically, they should stay with the human civilization, and Old First was willing to do just that. Lu Yin had helped them fight back against the Blacklight Civilization, and that would be remembered.
But what would it mean to simply remain within humanity’s megaverses?
Old First did not know.
“Grandpa, let’s go back. We still have a home: the Consciousness Megaverse,” Astral Anura called out, longing filling his eyes as he looked at Old First.
Old First looked at the little anura and then at Lu Yin before nodding. “Alright, let’s go home.”