Lu Yin had been trying to find a way to return to the Tianyuan Megaverse. Fortunately, there was no rush, as the Nine Odysseys Megaverse was also concerned about the Tianyuan Megaverse’s fate. Since Green Lotus’s Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm encompassed the Tianyuan, it meant that Lu Yin’s home megaverse was also under the protection of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.
“I want to know about the Netherfiends.”
The Great Master remained silent for a moment. “The Netherfiends represents a group, a group that caused the death of Greater Sancte Mi Jin. We once believed that, after his death, the group vanished. However, it was not long after that they reappeared. I can’t explain this to you clearly, because even I don’t know the truth behind that group. Only the three Greater Sancti do.
“What I can tell you is: if you encounter Netherfiends, kill them without mercy.”
Lu Yin asked again, “What about Yong Heng?”
“Yong Heng?”
“This man.” Lu Yin drew a picture of Yong Heng. “He uses the same power as Netherfiends.”
“That’s the traitor.”
“The traitor? He betrayed humanity?”
“He’s betrayed all.”
“What does that mean?”
The Great Master explained, “He has betrayed both humanity and the Netherfiends. If he is mentioned, a certain gate also needs to be mentioned.”
“Greater Sancte Awe Gate?” Lu Yin asked automatically.
“No. There’s no connection to Greater Sancte Awe Gate. I’ve heard from the Greater Sancti that even they are searching for that gate. While it must exist somewhere in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, no one has managed to find it yet. That gate involves Immortals. This traitor has a world-shaking secret behind him—he can represent humanity, the Netherfiends, and possibly even an unknown Immortal.
“Did he go to your Tianyuan Megaverse?”
Lu Yin nodded. “That’s where he’s been all along.”
“No wonder Master Qing Cao negotiated an agreement with our megaverse for no one to be allowed into the Tianyuan Megaverse. It was all to protect him,” the Great Master muttered.
Lu Yin pressed on. “Master Qing Cao was the one who made it so that no one from the Nine Odysseys Megaverse could enter the Tianyuan?”
The Great Master replied, “In a way, yes. Master Qing Cao is an Immortal, but his Spirit Nidus is constantly being harvested by our Nine Odysseys Megaverse. Even if we don’t wish to, we need to pay a price for this. Besides, with him around, our shield is more stable.”
“What’s the connection between Master Qing Cao and Yong Heng?”
“How should I know? Still, it’s understandable that he would help that traitor. He also views our Nine Odysseys Megaverse as an enemy, and the enemy of my enemy is my friend. He might even know the secret behind the traitor.”
After pausing for a moment, the Great Master continued to say, “That traitor is truly ruthless. He’s managed to betray both humanity and the Netherfiends, and yet he still managed to escape. That’s quite impressive.”
Lu Yin suddenly recalled something. “Senior, you mentioned that Yong Heng is connected to a gate. Could that gate be the Gate of Laws in the Spirit Nidus?”
The Great Master replied, “Everyone is aware of the Gate of Laws. Would there still be a need to search for the gate?”
Lu Yin was momentarily rendered speechless, as he realized the truth to that question. How could the Nine Odysseys Megaverse not be aware of the Gate of Laws?
“However, since you’ve brought up the Gate of Laws, I’ll warn you: do not touch it. It has a very important function,” the Great Master added.
Lu Yin remembered that Stillstorm had once emerged from the Gate of Laws. Could it be connected to some other place?
“Exactly what is the Gate of Laws?”
“That’s hard to answer. There are some things that you are better off asking Greater Sancte Green Lotus. You can meet with the Greater Sancte at any time, so why ask me?”
“I have one last question for you, Senior.”
“Tell me.”
“What is the meaning of the scene on the last page of the Cheng family’s secret scroll?”
There was no answer, though the communication device’s display remained pitch black.
Lu Yin frowned. Not even when he had asked about the Netherfiends had the Great Master fallen silent for so long.
After a long stretch of silence, the Great Master finally spoke. “Um... What did you just say? I stepped away for a moment, so I didn’t hear you.”
Lu Yin was completely lost for words. He had assumed that there was something serious about his question, not that a random thing had prompted the Great Master’s silence.
“I asked about the last page of the Cheng family’s secret scroll.”
“You’ve seen the Cheng family’s secret scroll?” the Great Master returned.
“I have.”
“How did you feel upon seeing the last page?”
“Chilled,” Lu Yin blurted. There was no better description.
The Great Master hummed in agreement. “Precisely. That was my exact same reaction. That is a grave, grave situation.”
Lu Yin arched a brow. Were things really so serious?
“You must have seen the Spirit Nidus’s Mother Tree.”
“The black Mother Tree?”
“Yes. Don’t you find it strange? How could a Mother Tree turn black?”
“It is strange, but I couldn’t find an answer in the Spirit Nidus.”
“Less than ten people can answer that question,” the Great Master explained. “It’s because that Mother Tree once shielded us from a catastrophe.”
Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. “A catastrophe?”
“Yes, catastrophic destruction.” The Great Master’s tone grew heavy enough that Lu Yin could sense it even through the call. “Our Nine Odysseys Megaverse has destroyed a number of foreign megaverses. The Aevum Inch is vast beyond measure. Not even Immortals can reach its end. No one can guess at how many megaverses may exist in the Aevum Inch. While we can destroy those we encounter, others can also destroy us. That is why we have made tremendous preparations. That black Mother Tree was used to prevent one such catastrophe, and fortunately, it succeeded. If not, there would not have been just the one black Mother Tree, as the entire Nine Odysseys Megaverse and the three lower megaverses would have all been wiped out. Not a single one would have remained.”