Even though the Immovable Heavenly King Elephant was dead, there were still three other elephants in the Divine Realm, and each one was a formidable sequence powerhouse. If they became enemies of the Heavens Sect, even if the Origin Universe won in the end, they would have to pay a steep price for that victory.
“While only a decade has passed here, you’ve been exploring unknown parallel universes and have lived through hundreds of years yourself. How has your harvest been?” Lu Tianyi asked.
Lu Yin exhaled. “Not bad. I’ve found a few new paths, though I don’t know how things will go once I walk down them.”
Lu Tianyi praised Lu Yin, “Throughout history, no one can surpass your talent. Since you’ve decided on your path, walk down it. Don’t worry about the Heavens Sect. We will keep it safe.”
Lu Yin nodded. “I understand. Thank you, Ancestor.”
Ten years was a short time for cultivators.
Aeternus remained unchanged, and the Sixverse Association had seized dominance of the entire Endless Frontier long ago. Their forces were almost entirely gathered near the entrance to the Scourge and were ready to launch an attack at any moment.
The Great Sovereign would rather focus on her own cultivation and overcome Dukkha than fight directly against the Aeternals. But at the moment, Lu Yin was second only to the Great Sovereign in the Sixverse Association, and he wanted to launch an attack and restart the war. He wanted to force Aeternus to reveal a bit of what they had been keeping hidden.
Lu Yin had already seen the heights of Aeternus’s power, and while the truth had driven him to despair, he did not believe that victory was impossible for humanity. The Aeternals had once viewed the ancient Heavens Sect as invincible, and yet they had eventually destroyed it, one Mainland after another. This was the foundation of Lu Yin’s confidence.
The Sixverse Association, Whitecloud City, the will of past peak powerhouses, and even Burial Garden—these forces would gradually converge into a unified will that would resist Aeternus.
As the Lord of Lightning had once said, “We march to the Scourge to meet death.”
Progenitor Ku had wanted to become a stone that paved a path for future generations to eliminate the Aeternals.
With so many peak powerhouses having led the way, why did they need to be afraid?
Humanity’s faith was inexhaustible and unyielding.
After returning from the Lu Sanctum, Lu Yin met with Wang Wen and Wei Rong. The two had not yet managed to come up with any plan to let Lu Yin safely return to the Scourge as Ye Bo.
The best option was simply to allow the Aeternals to save themselves from Aeternus Nation, but unfortunately, Aeternus was not currently capable of saving the captive True God Guard Captains. True God’s seclusion had been extended multiple times, and several of the Seven Skygods had been killed. The surviving ones would not easily move, and if they did, they might wreak havoc rather than mount any sort of rescue attempt.
For Aeternus to take open action against the Origin Universe, they would need another one of the Scourges to get involved.
Soon, Lu Yin and the others prepared to set off again. Lu Yin needed to further improve Lightstream so that he could peer even further into the past, and he was eager to continue. He felt like he had found the right path for him. It was a path that he had conceived while crawling through a universe for over a hundred years in the same manner as the pangolin-like creatures. While his path was vague, Lu Yin at least had a direction now.
“Oh, Dao Monarch, there’s something that you should know about. Elder Gong failed his Progenitor’s tribulation, and his life is coming to an end.” Wei Rong suddenly remembered something when he saw that Lu Yin and the others were about to leave.
Lu Yin was taken aback, and he gestured for Jiang Qingyue and the others to wait for him as he headed to the Neoverse alone.
While Lu Yin had never been as close to Elder Gong as he was to Big Sis and many others, the old man was still an elder who had protected Lu Yin over the years. While most of the man’s protection was actually him wanting to protect the complete version of the Cosmic Art, there was no denying that Elder Gong had helped Lu Yin on multiple occasions.
Given that Elder Gong’s failed breakthrough would cost him his life, Lu Yin felt that it was necessary to go see the man before he passed.
Soon, Lu Yin arrived at the Cosmic Sect in the Neoverse.
The atmosphere in the Cosmic Sect was heavy, as the disciples were in mourning, kneeling throughout the sect. The entire place was shrouded in a gloomy mood.
Yuan Qiong, the sect master of the Cosmic Sect, Elder Yuan Shou, the guardian of the Cosmos Hall, Yuan Ke, the elder who protected the sect’s secret technique, and others all stood beneath the peak of the mountain where Elder Gong was generally in seclusion or enjoying tea. Only two people were on the mountain peak itself to care for Elder Gong: Elder Jiu Shen and Qiu Shi.
When Lu Yin arrived, Elder Jiu Shen and Qiu Shi both bowed respectfully.
Lu Yin was no longer the person they had once known, and they knew the proper level of respect to show the Dao Monarch.
Elder Gong was leaning against a large tree, and when he spoke, his voice was very weak. “Dao Monarch, please forgive me for not being able to offer you a bow.”
Lu Yin waved the apology away. Elder Jiu Shen and Qiu Shi both offered a second bow before they excused themselves.
Lu Yin took a seat across from Elder Gong. “How did you fail?”
Elder Gong’s voice was bitter as he recounted the matter. “I took too long. I wanted to break through, but I hesitated for too long. Once I finally attempted my breakthrough, my mental state was too flawed, and it was impossible for things to naturally fall into place as they should have.”
Lu Yin poured tea for Elder Gong and handed the cup to the old man.
Elder Gong accepted it. “Thank you, Dao Monarch.”
Lu Yin looked away and stared off into the distance at all of the Cosmic Sect disciples who were kneeling. The Cosmic Sect had never felt such sorrow before, not even when Aeternus had invaded the Fifth Mainland and the sect had been forced to relocate.
Elder Gong had always been the pillar of the Cosmic Sect, and his presence had allowed the sect to thrive. Without him, their future became uncertain.
“Dao Monarch, why have you come? I didn’t expect to see you, as you should be in seclusion,” Elder Gong asked.
Lu Yin calmly replied, “I happened to emerge from seclusion, and as soon as I heard what happened to you, I came to see you. The Cosmic Sect cannot continue without you. If you want to live, I have a way.”
Elder Gong shook his head, a bitter smile on his face. “I’ve already lived for too long, and I’m tired. Semi-Progenitors rarely bother to live the lives of mortals, but I’m different, as I have lived as both a Semi-Progenitor and as a mortal. With my life at its end, it’s time for me to move on. This is in accordance with the laws of the universe.”
What the old man referred to as the laws of the universe were not the laws that were governed by sequence particles, but rather what ordinary humans understood as the mandate of heaven and reincarnation.
Lu Yin said nothing further to try to persuade the old man. “I won’t allow the Cosmic Sect to weaken. When did Elder Jiu Shen break through to become a Semi-Progenitor?”
“Right after my failure.”
Lu Yin was surprised, but then he chuckled after a moment. “I thought that he was terrified of death. I never thought there’d be a day when he’d be willing to risk his life.”
“Hehe, my Cosmic Sect needs a Semi-Progenitor to protect it,” Elder Gong said with a laugh. He was at peace with his own death in part because Elder Jiu Shen had successfully become a Semi-Progenitor.
The Cosmic Sect’s Origin Matter had already been given over to Jiu Shen. Lu Yin would not interfere with this, as he did not care about the Origin Matter. If needed, the masters of the Perennial World who were in the Dominion Realm could get some.
Already, the Heavens Sect had announced that a competition would be held, similar to the one in the past, allowing youths to compete for Origin Matter. This competition was intended to uncover extraordinarily talented young cultivators, and they would be rewarded with Origin Matter.
After all, Origin Matter only had any real value when it was used. Otherwise, it would just go to waste.
“The sect has a Semi-Progenitor in Jiu Shen, and the disciples can follow Qiu Shi. I can die without regrets,” Elder Gong said with a sigh. His skin started to turn gray. It was clear that the end was near.
Lu Yin looked at the dying man. “The Cosmic Sect’s greatest regret is the Cosmic Art. I want you to rest assured that once I become a Progenitor, I will make sure to leave the full Cosmic Art to the Cosmic Sect.”
Elder Gong coughed. “Thank you, Dao Monarch.”
“There’s one other thing that might be good to tell you.” Lu Yin pondered for a moment. “I met Progenitor Chen.”