"If what you told us is accurate, then there is only one explanation." Mu Ke sounded very serious as he spoke. "Someone used an ability similar to Origin Tracer to deny the moment in time when that Book of Destiny was given to you."
Senior Brother Mu Xie added, "If that time has been denied, then naturally, you do not possess that Book of Destiny. Wherever there is a cause, there is also an effect. Without the third Book of Destiny, the karmic effects produced by the other two books that you repaired would naturally not exist either."
Lu Yin frowned. "But other things haven’t changed. If someone is capable of denying a moment of time during the Tea Ceremony, then why not alter other events that happened at that time as well?"
"Alright." Mu Ke stared at Lu Yin. "It is possible to use Origin Tracer to replace a piece of a given parallel universe with a corresponding piece from another parallel universe in order to achieve one’s desired results as long as that other parallel universe has nothing to do with the events being targeted. This would require incredible power, essentially at the level of what Master refers to as ‘transcending.’ This is far beyond what I am capable of right now.”
Mu Xie lamented. "We are cultivating Origin Tracer to reach that level of mastery, but the technique is too difficult. Even if Master has said that it is possible to achieve transcendence, we can't see any hope of reaching that level."
Lu Yin started to grow worried. "So what you’re saying is that someone else has already achieved this level of mastery with a technique similar to Origin Tracer and that they denied the moment in time when I received the third Book of Destiny. If this denial was done by replacing a portion of a universe with an unrelated parallel universe, then what other changes might have occurred?"
Even as Lu Yin spoke, he did not believe what he was saying. How could there be a person with such power? Would this ability not mean that they could alter history to fit their whims?
Mu Xie replied, "There are too many strange abilities in existence. Even the laws of the universe are a sort of power. Since time exists in the various universes, then it can be altered and controlled. The only question is if one has the ability to do so.
"Junior Brother, whoever is capable of altering cause and effect possesses a terrifying power."
Mu Ke's voice dropped as he added on, "Such power is very scary. If you are able to meet Master again, you need to make sure to tell him and let us know what you learn. This ability is beyond anything that we can understand."
Even without such a suggestion, Lu Yin already intended to do exactly that. What he was hearing from his senior brothers gave him chills all over his body, and he felt as though there was a monster targeting him.
His first thought was of Bai Xian'er and the figure which had emerged from her body. Prof. Wei was powerful enough to stop even Ancestor Tianyi, while the second form that had emerged from Bai Xian’er had executed the Seven Heroes and nearly killed Lu Xiaoxuan’s father as well. Who could say how many figures were inside of Bai Xian’er’s body?
What kind of existence was that woman?
However, Lu Yin also felt quite lucky. If not for this incident, he would have never learned of this terrifying individual’s existence. Was this the power of someone overcoming Dukkha, like the ones that Sage Yajna had mentioned?
What Lu Yin regretted the most was that everything had happened too quickly. With more time, he had wanted to use the Books of Destiny to investigate Zhao Ran, his own future, and the future of the Heavens Sect.
After chatting with Mu Ke and Mu Xie, Lu Yin went to see Ancestor Lu Tianyi and Big Sis, asking them about the same incident. However, possibly due to the fact that neither had ever used Origin Tracer, their understanding of what might have happened was not nearly as clear as Lu Yin’s senior brothers’. Even so, there was a common consensus, which was that a truly terrifying individual had taken action. Both Lu Tianyi and Big Sis suspected that it might have been Destiny.
Big Sis immediately prepared to move into the Heavens Sect, while Ancestor Lu Tianyi wanted Lu Yin to return to the Lu Sanctum for a while, though Lu Yin refused.
If such an individual wanted to go after Lu Yin, they would have done so long ago.
Bai Xian'er, Destiny, outsider powerhouses, Old Mo, Luo Shan, and more. Lu Yin sighed. The megaverse was simply too chaotic, and his cultivation was still too low for him to clearly see through it.
It would be good if he could find a way to improve his own strength, such as his inner worlds. In particular, it would be good if he could find a way to reverse time by more than just one second.
The best way for Lu Yin to improve his cultivation would be to find a parallel universe where time flowed at a different rate.
Lu Yin contacted Madam Nalan in order to connect with the Merchant Exchange.
It would not take long for the Merchant Exchange's people to arrive, but while waiting for them, Lu Yin went to see Zhao Ran.
"Have you made any new teas recently?" Lu Yin asked softly as he looked at Zhao Ran.
She blinked in surprise. "Your Highness, are you thirsty?"
"No, I’m not."
"Then, you're hungry?"
"I’m not hungry either."
"Oh."
Neither of the two said anything for a time.
Lu Yin did not know what to say. When facing an enemy, he could probe them or intimidate them, but with Zhao Ran, Lu Yin felt as though there was nothing he could do.
That thought caused his eyes to drift to the thread around Zhao Ran's wrist. That thread was somehow connected to Destiny’s threads. Lu Yin had clearly seen that connection with Heaven’s Sight. Even so, Zhao Ran possessed no hint of cultivation, and Ancestor Lu Yuan had said that Zhao Ran was not Destiny; he had not been able to sense any connection between the two women.
What had happened for that thread to appear?
Zhao Ran pursed her lips when she saw Lu Yin staring at her wrist, and she subconsciously tucked her hand back. "Your Highness, I need to go wash my hands."
Lu Yin felt completely helpless. "Go ahead, and then make me a cup of tea."
Zhao Ran happily replied, "Alright."
With that, she skipped away.
As long as she was able to make her teas, Zhao Ran would be happy.
While staring at Zhao Ran's back, Lu Yin grew increasingly confused. Just what was the deal with the girl?
She had to have some sort of connection to Destiny, but then why was Ancestor Patriarch Lu Yuan able to sense anything? She had lived for a very long time and even accompanied Progenitor Ku for a time, though she had always acted as though she was waiting for someone.
Lu Yin’s typical way of handling things would be to test Zhao Ran, or find some way to ensure that she could never do anything to him. This was what he had done with the humanoid sourceboxes to prevent Wilderness God’s return. Lu Yin was protecting Progenitor Hui’s seals and would not touch them.
However, things with Zhao Ran were clearly different. She had followed Lu Yin for too long.
The two had been together ever since Lu Yin had been nothing more than a peerless Enlighter. Out of everyone, Zhao Ran had been with Lu Yin the longest, and it had become a habit of his to enjoy a cup of the girl’s tea whenever he was in a bad mood.
Her blank eyes caused people to feel distressed, but she had always done her best to show kindness to Lu Yin.
He simply could not attack such a person.
Lu Yin was still lost in thought when Zhao Ran returned with his tea. She handed it to Lu Yin and then looked at him expectantly.
He glanced at the tea, and his eye twitched. Zhao Ran’s tea had become even stranger than ever.
How was this tea? It was clearly poison! He had already gotten accustomed to her teas, but the sight of this new concoction had even Lu Yin hesitating.
Zhao Ran edged closer, staring at Lu Yin with hope-filled eyes. "Your Highness?"
Lu Yin stood up. "Right, I forgot that I need to do something. I’ll head out and take care of that now, but I’ll try your tea next time."