Ku Ji sighed in admiration. “I’d been wondering when I’d meet you, Mr. Lu, though I certainly didn’t expect it to happen so soon.”
“Uncle, you’ve heard of him?” Ku Cheng asked in confusion.
Ku Ji smiled. “There aren’t many in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse who don’t know about Mr. Lu.”
Ku Cheng looked back at Lu Yin, astonished.
Lu Yin looked at Ku Ji. “Forgive my intrusion, Senior Ku Ji.”
Ku Ji replied, “It is the Rift of Suffering’s honor to welcome you. You have spoken of casting aside the barriers that stand between megaverses and of promoting our duty to protect humanity as a whole. Everyone in the Rift of Suffering admires you for that. Should you ever need our help, we will do our best.”
Lu Yin solemnly bowed to Ku Ji. “I, Lu Yin, thank you, Senior, on behalf of the Tianyuan.”
Ku Ji returned the bow. “I cannot speak for the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, but I can speak for the Rift of Suffering. I wish you success in pursuing your dream of a united humanity.”
This was the first time that Ku Cheng had seen his martial uncle admire someone so openly.
Just as Lu Yin had expected, everyone had interpreted his words differently.
People like Venerable Lan Ye had only heard provocation in Lu Yin’s words, believing that the three megaverses needed to remain firmly beneath the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. Since Lu Yin had entered the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, he should prioritize their megaverse above all others.
In contrast, Ku Ji had heard a hope for a united humanity in Lu Yin’s declaration, as well as a heart that wished to protect the entire human race.
It was a difference in mindset.
While it was possible that Lan Ye might be just as powerful as Ku Ji, there was no comparison when it came to the men’s breadth of heart.
“If only my senior brother were here to meet you as well.”
“Your senior brother is...?”
Ku Cheng spoke. “The sect master of the Rift of Suffering and also my master, Ku Deng.”
Lu Yin’s expression became serious. “Senior Ku Deng isn’t here in the Rift of Suffering?”
Ku Cheng shook his head. “My master is in the Mindscape Megaverse. He’s been gone from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse for many years.”
Ku Ji added, “If my senior brother were here and had heard what you said, he would surely want to speak with you at length. He would see you as a kindred spirit.”
Lu Yin smiled. “I am also very interested in speaking with Senior Ku Deng.”
The Mindscape Megaverse was another megaverse that had been destroyed by the Nine Odysseys. Lu Yin had heard it be mentioned once before when he had gone to the Autumnspring Slip with Ming Xiaolong, but not even she knew much about the place. All that she had shared was that the Rift of Suffering’s power seemed to come from that megaverse.
The Mindscape Megaverse had been one of the most powerful foreign megaverses that the Nine Odysseys had ever fought against. In fact, it had been just as much of a threat as the Skyveil Megaverse.
The Skyveil Megaverse had brought about the existence of Hidden Heaven City, while the Mindscape Megaverse had given rise to the Rift of Suffering.
It was just that Lu Yin had not expected the sect master of the Rift of Suffering to still be in the Mindscape Megaverse. Could his cultivation method require him to stay there?
The Rift of Suffering welcomed Lu Yin with great respect, which was a rare experience for him in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse. The Four Commands Sword Sect, Everchange Valley, and even the Sixth Night Pillar had only shown respect for him because of his combat strength. But here, Ku Ji respected Lu Yin for his words, and Ku Cheng respected Lu Yin for saving the mountain.
At Ku Ji’s invitation, Lu Yin stayed in the Rift of Suffering for several days and spoke with the man at length. Ku Ji was very curious about the Tianyuan Megaverse. According to him, members of the Rift of Suffering had only ever visited two megaverses: the Nine Odysseys Megaverse and the Mindscape Megaverse.
Their people had never even set foot in the Spirit Nidus or the Consciousness Megaverse.
“Before Lesser Sancte Ru Shi died, the Nine Odysseys Megaverse sent hordes of cultivators into the Spirit Nidus. Some were sent to study their sequence techniques, others to gather resources, and some simply went to enjoy the cruelty of oppression. However, my Rift of Suffering never sent anyone.
“The Consciousness Megaverse has the Willbound Spire, and trying to approach the palace there might grant one the memories of an Immortal, which we are aware of. However, an Immortal’s memories have nothing to do with us. Our only desire is to climb out of our own inner rift. If Immortals are invincible, why do they still fall? Only an invincible heart can find freedom even in death.
“We also have none of our people in the Nine Odysseys. The Rift of Suffering never participates in foreign expeditions. To join the army of the Nine Odysseys, one is required to first leave the Rift of Suffering, though, of course, that is a personal choice. Even so, my Rift of Suffering takes nothing back. The Rift of Suffering is a place to temper the heart...” Ku Ji spoke at length, providing Lu Yin with a much deeper understanding of the sect.
He also learned that the Rift of Suffering’s cultivation method was entirely unique. They focused solely on cultivating their minds, and it was also true that their cultivation method had been taken from the Mindscape Megaverse. Their realms of mastery were simple: starting from the First Rift, one progressed to the Ninth Rift. By pressing the backs of their hands together, opening and closing them could open as many rifts as one’s level of mastery. Opening three rifts meant that one was a Third Rift expert, and so on and so forth.
Ku Cheng could open eight rifts, while Ku Ji could open nine.
Opening eight rifts indicated that one had the power of a Dukkhan, while nine rifts represented a peak Dukkhan.
The people of the Rift of Suffering did not cultivate spirit seeds, Soul legacy skills, or sequence particles. They did not even develop their own innate gifts. They solely cultivated their Heartrift technique. It was a strange method, and yet it had secured the sect’s position as the most powerful in the entire North Domain.
As Ku Cheng explained it, the Heartrift was able to augment any power, which meant that nothing else needed to be cultivated. The Heartrift alone would bring everything else into place.
Lu Yin was very curious about the Rift of Suffering’s heart technique, and so he suggested a spar.
He wanted to spar with Ku Ji, who was a peak Dukkhan, but the man had not fought anyone in a long time and had no wish to do so. For that reason, Lu Yin could only spar with Ku Cheng.
“What would you like to see, Mr. Lu?”
“Anything.”
“Very well. Recently, I’ve heard of some of your accomplishments, especially your unmatched physical strength and how you destroyed all of the Autumnspring Slip with a single punch. For that reason, I’ll face you with physical strength.”
As Ku Cheng spoke, he spread his hands wide, and rift after rift started to devour his surroundings. The void collapsed and darkness spread out, drawing the attention of many members of the Rift of Suffering.
However, most of those gazes were almost entirely indifferent. They showed none of the curiosity or excitement that was common when cultivators were watching a fight.
The people of the Rift of Suffering were truly unique. Whether their path was right or wrong, there was no denying that they possessed an extraordinary state of mind.
Just like before, the eight dark rifts that had opened around Ku Cheng suddenly condensed. He raised a hand and attacked Lu Yin with a single palm strike.
This was the same palm strike that he had used to throw the mountain hanging from the skyswings, matching the power of a Morrow Behemoth.
The palm strike caused the sky and the ground to tremble, giving the impression of crushing space itself. Many of the members of the Rift of Suffering even blanched at the power of the attack being used.
As the attack pressed down upon him, Lu Yin remained motionless.
As his attack drew near, Ku Cheng became frightened. “Mr. Lu, dodge it!”
Lu Yin calmly stared at the attack.