Lu Yin felt shaken as he recalled the words of the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ ancestor. He looked over at Greater Sancte Awe Gate. “Senior, do you remember what that old monster said?
“The cosmos itself has an ecosystem. Obscura serves as both our mortal enemy and our shield. If Obscura is defeated, what we find beyond may not be a weaker civilization. Ultimately, all civilizations share the same destination: destruction.”
Mister Mu asked in astonishment, “Who said that?”
“An ancient expert who has lived a very, very long time, one who perfectly embodies what it means to be an Immortal,” Lu Yin replied.
Mister Mu nodded. “That senior’s vision far surpasses our own. Very impressive.”
Lu Yin exchanged a glance with Greater Sancte Awe Gate, both of them showing awkward expressions.
Senior?
Yes, someone who lived for so long could indeed be considered a senior.
A senior toad.
Lu Yin wanted to avoid mentioning the Seven-Treasure Anuras again, lest he make Mister Mu uncomfortable.
“What that, cough, senior said was a gentle reminder, and it matches our own concept of self-awareness. Obscura is powerful, terrifyingly so. Being able to use even one of their gates is already fortune enough for us. Trying to repeatedly exploit Obscura’s gates could very likely trap us in a web of our own making.” Lu Yin looked back at the gate. “No matter where the gate leads, we can’t look, see, or touch. We live within our own place in the cosmic ecosystem because that is where we are most familiar and also the most secure.”
Greater Sancte Awe Gate nodded. “That makes sense. Anything connected to Obscura should be destroyed. In that case, we’ll destroy this gate.”
Lu Yin and Greater Sancte Awe Gate both looked back at Mister Mu.
It was his megaverse. Thus, he should be the one to act.
Mister Mu looked at Obscura’s gate and waved his hand. The cauldron flew out from his sleeve, smashing down and pulverizing the gate, just as it had the silver coffin.
Greater Sancte Awe Gate’s brow shot up. “Have you seen this gate before?”
Mister Mu nodded. “I wanted to destroy it back then, but I underestimated its durability during my first attempt, and I failed to break it.”
Greater Sancte Awe Gate felt greatly reassured upon hearing that.
She had also once underestimated a gate, which had allowed Lan Meng to investigate human civilization and learn of Qi Xu’s death. If Awe Gate had struck the gate at her full strength the first time, as Mister Mu just had, Lan Meng might have never had the chance to meddle with humanity.
One could say Lu Yin had been careless at that time, but it could also be said that Greater Sancte Awe Gate had been careless as well.
With Obscura’s gate destroyed, there was nothing important left in the megaverse.
Mister Mu had already wandered about for days and was ready to return.
Lu Yin took Mister Mu, Greater Sancte Awe Gate, Kang Tian, and the red coffin along as he teleported away. They next reappeared in the Aevum Inch. Lu Yin continued teleporting, each time delivering them to another pathfinding stone.
Before long, they saw the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm. Just one more teleport would deliver them to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.
When Greater Sancte Green Lotus saw that Lu Yin and the others had returned, he was finally able to completely relax.
He immediately focused on Mister Mu.
Mister Mu bowed to the Greater Sancte. “Thank you, Senior, for your assistance.”
Greater Sancte Green Lotus smiled as he lifted a hand. “There is no need for such courtesy. With one more Immortal, our human civilization has gained greater strength to protect ourselves. I acted for the sake of humanity.”
Lu Yin added, “We still must thank you, Senior. Without your suggestion, I wouldn’t have thought to take my master to his native megaverse. It was also precisely because you stood guard over our homes here that Senior Greater Sancte Awe Gate was able to go with me.”
“How did it go? What of Hui?” Greater Sancte Green Lotus asked.
Lu Yin said, “Let me bring Senior Greater Sancte Blood Tower here first, and then we’ll explain everything.”
Lu Yin quickly traveled to the Mirari Realm and then delivered Greater Sancte Blood Tower back to the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. Only then did they share the battle that had taken place.
It had been a difficult fight against Hui, and there had been danger at every step, but fortunately, they had all made it through in the end.
Hearing about the battle made Greater Sancte Blood Tower’s blood boil. He wished he could have been there himself.
Mister Mu bowed low to Greater Sancte Blood Tower, as the latter had sacrificed his River of Aeons. Mister Mu owed the man a tremendous favor.
“Haha, exchanging a branch of the River of Aeons for another Immortal was worth it. Without question, haha!” Greater Sancte Blood Tower laughed heartily.
Greater Sancte Awe Gate shot him a glance. “You actually said something sensible for once.”
Greater Sancte Blood Tower frowned. “Girl, you’re getting cheekier by the day. Who did you learn that sharp tongue from?”
Greater Sancte Awe Gate did not reply, opting to completely ignore the man.
"Though, to be honest, losing that River of Aeons really does pain me." Greater Sancte Blood Tower sighed. After a moment, he added, "The best compensation is to become one family. That way, the losses remain within our family. What do you think? In-laws?"
Mister Mu just gave the man a confused look.
Greater Sancte Green Lotus shook his head in a helpless manner. “Can’t you two say something useful?”
Greater Sancte Blood Tower laughed again. “I’m not joking! Don’t mind him, mister. By the way, that cauldron of yours, could you let us take a look at it?”
Greater Sancte Green Lotus scolded, “Blood Tower, mind your manners!”
Mister Mu chuckled. “Of course.”
With that, the cauldron slipped out from his sleeve and spiraled upwards while gradually expanding.
The cauldron’s appearance caused the air of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse to grow heavier. The entire universe felt suppressed. The sensation was felt by countless people who could not understand the cause.
Greater Sancte Green Lotus, Greater Sancte Blood Tower, and the others present all solemnly stared at the cauldron. They felt an oppressive aura press against their chests like a weight that they could not escape. It was extremely uncomfortable.
So this was a dominion-type mirebound artifact?
Greater Sancte Green Lotus exclaimed in admiration, “There were once legends within human civilization of dominion-type mirebound artifacts, treasures capable of governing a civilization’s fate. Today, I’ve finally seen one.”