The Ossis Ark hurtled through outer space before it vanished back into the Hollow. However, this time, Chu Yi and the others did not simply let the ship go, and they charged into the Hollow after it.
For most cultivators, the Hollow was a place to be avoided at all costs. Luo Shan had managed to become the ruler of one of the Sixverse Association’s member universes because of some rumors that he was able to survive in the Hollow.
Even in the fiercest battles throughout all the various parallel universes, it was rare for anyone to survive after entering the Hollow. It seemed to be an indication of a certain level of strength.
However, it seemed that many people in the Immemorial Citadel had reached that level.
Chu Yi, Ce Wangtian, Bai Mu, the massive giant, and many other powerhouses rushed into the Hollow to attack the Ossis Ark.
Ce Wangtian was particularly noticeable with his checkered clothes and solitary slipper. He had a roguish look about him, but at this moment, he shone with a unique brilliance.
"The Immemorial Citadel cannot be disgraced! The Aeternals must pay the price, even if it costs us our lives!"
"Hahaha, old fart Xiang, do you remember our bet? I told you that I'll die to a sword. This time, I’m going to find that guy with seven swords, and he’ll cut me to ribbons."
"Rubbish! I'll die first, and it will be by a saber."
"In your dreams! I'll kill whoever uses a saber."
"Ce Wangtian, you're down to just one slipper, and you still have the courage to charge in?" a woman teased.
Ce Wangtian picked his nose and then flicked the finger at the woman. "For you."
"Disgusting! Get out of my sight!"
"Haha."
"It's been years since the last time the Immemorial Citadel was breached, but we have to avenge each and every such transgression. It’s been my honor to live with you all, and it’s my honor to die with you all. I'll go first."
"Brother Hua, that's the most words I've heard you say in years. I'll join you," Old Gu said.
"Most of us are from different civilizations, and yet we’ve all gathered here at the Immemorial Citadel. It's quite exhilarating!"
"We don't judge heroes by their cultivation. We fight to the death at the Immemorial Citadel..."
"We don't judge heroes by their cultivation. We fight to the death at the Immemorial Citadel..."
"We don't judge heroes by their cultivation. We fight to the death at the Immemorial Citadel..."
...
One after another, various powerhouses raced straight into the Hollow. Their words echoed in Lu Yin's ears: "We don't judge heroes by their cultivation. We fight to the death at the Immemorial Citadel..."
He had seen many people who were afraid of death, but for the people in the Immemorial Citadel, death was neither a release nor something to fear. What mattered most to them was the Immemorial Citadel.
How many universes did these sequence strings connect to?
Very few people in the Immemorial Citadel were from the same parallel universes, regardless of whether they were human or some other type of creature. As long as a creature had emotions, they would have something that was worth protecting.
Lu Yin looked up at the Hollow. He also wanted to charge forward, to live or die with these people while destroying the Ossis Ark.
Atop the city wall, Old Zhong Tou sighed. "Not all of us can leave. Some of us need to stay behind to continue guarding the Immemorial Citadel. Listen to me, do your best to come back alive. Otherwise, where will we find replacements for all of you? Ah... they’re still young and too impulsive."
There was a rare moment of relative peace around the Immemorial Citadel, as the fighting had subsided quite significantly.
The fierce battle at the southeast corner and the brutal fighting in the northwest corner both continued, but where at Lu Yin’s location, there was very little fighting.
Before long, the Hollow reopened, and people returned to the Immemorial Citadel.
Lu Yin clenched his fists when he saw bodies being thrown out from the city. No one spoke as the bodies fell from the walls. Old Zhong Tou sighed as he pushed them all into the lotus’s flames.
Each person at the Immemorial Citadel was their own civilization’s most powerful cultivator, and yet so many of them ended up as nothing more than a wisp of smoke in the end.
Chu Yi returned. He was covered with blood, and his typical scholarly demeanor had been replaced by a bloodthirsty aura.
Ce Wangtian returned. His slipper was half-broken, yet it still clung to his foot. There was no doubt that the man’s slippers somehow resonated with some aspect of his power. He was carrying a woman in his arms. She was the one who had teased him when they had charged into the Hollow.
The man was silent as he pushed her into the lotus’s flames.
Bai Mu returned, but only as a frigid corpse with half of his face missing. He also fell into the flames.
Lu Yin suddenly felt suffocated. He had no idea how to describe his current feelings.
Bai Mu, the ancient founder of the Celestial Frost Sect, had looked relaxed and carefree with his gourd of wine. He had lived in the Immemorial Citadel for countless years, only to die in front of Lu Yin. In moments, there was no trace of the man.
Lu Yin had never spoken to the Progenitor, nor told him that Wang Fan, the traitor, was dead.
Lu Yin had wanted to speak to Bai Mu and tell the man what the Celestial Frost Sect had done before taking Bai Mu to the Sixverse Association to frighten Bai Wangyuan.
There would never be an opportunity for that.
Lu Yin had only witnessed a single battle. How many people had died at the Immemorial Citadel? How many ancient powerhouses and legends from the Origin Universe had perished in this place?
Lu Yin watched on in silence.
Would similar scenes repeat in the future? Would he, Big Sis, Arch-Elder Zen, Ancestor Tianyi, and Ancestor Lu Yuan also make their way to the Immemorial Citadel? Would their bodies find their place in those flames as well?
"You saw things too soon," a voice said with a sigh.
Lu Yin froze, and then he excitedly exclaimed, "Master?"
He could still hear the flute playing in the northwest corner, which indicated that Mister Mu was still fighting against Yuan Qi.
"I knew you were causing trouble. That thing on your face can't deceive anyone in the Origin realm, and Aeternus has more than one Dukkhan," Mister Mu continued.
Lu Yin answered with a bitter voice, "Master, I didn’t have a choice. Aeternus plans to take the Ossis Ark to the Sixverse Association and completely destroy all traces of human civilization in those universes. As soon as I learned of the Ossis Ark's existence, I worked to infiltrate Aeternus. However, this time, I didn’t go to the Scourge by choice, but was rather captured by Di Qiong."
"There’s no time for any explanation. You are not yet ready for this place. Go back, and don't cause more trouble. When you become a Progenitor, you’ll understand everything. The burden of humanity will eventually fall upon your shoulders."