That wisp of sharpness had not been intended to kill, but rather to seal the upper limit of the current human civilization. It was as if someone was telling Lu Yin that this was enough. Humanity was not allowed to grow any stronger and could not unite with any other human civilizations. If they dared to make the attempt, what awaited them would be that same wisp of sharpness, that absolutely unstoppable blade.
This was the true reason why Lu Yin felt lost. He did not fear enemies being powerful, but with such a powerful enemy blocking them from growing stronger, how could they overcome such a thing?
The Longevity Civilization was the Fourth Rampart, and yet it remained unreachable.
It was possible that it had never been truly possible for the Human Trio to integrate with Crimson Starshade. Perhaps, even without Hong Xia, it would have still been impossible.
What could Lu Yin do to break this deadlock? Changing this situation required not wisdom, but rather absolute force. It was the simplest situation imaginable, yet also the most complex.
Their human civilization had never been so silent before. No matter what situation they faced, they had always discussed matters and found ways to overcome obstacle after obstacle, but this obstacle was truly difficult to surpass.
They were like inexperienced children facing a powerful adult blocking their path. With the road forward blocked, how could there be any chance of survival?
Perhaps from the very beginning, they had always been raised in captivity and had simply never realized it. That single wisp of sharpness forced everyone to see the truth.
A powerful enemy was not terrifying; what was terrifying was being unable to grow stronger. That was true despair.
Mister Mu set down his teacup and looked at Lu Yin with a faint smile. "Little Seven, you have never really needed comfort from others. Some people have lived longer than you, yet they have not suffered as much. Some have suffered more than you, yet they do not carry your sense of responsibility. What you have endured the most is not endless battles or repeated life or death crises, but rather the torment that you place upon yourself.
"A frog at the bottom of a well is actually quite fortunate. As long as it cannot see the sky outside, the well remains its entire world. However, once it sees the sky beyond, its desires multiply, and its dangers increase.
"But you have climbed out of that well again and again, even when you lacked the ability, and you have carried everyone’s destiny on your shoulders. You are stronger than anyone else. What I want to say is actually only one thing." Mister Mu looked at Lu Yin seriously. "Everyone believes in you."
With that, the man he left.
Lu Yin remained silent for a moment before laughing softly. Am I a frog? Well, that still sounds better than being called a toad.
Still, there were times when he did need a bit of comfort. At the very least, he needed to hear a few encouraging words. Who calls their own disciple a frog in a well?
Long Xi smiled faintly while pouring more tea for Lu Yin. She had overheard everything.
"If you want to laugh, go ahead," Lu Yin said helplessly.
Long Xi picked up Mister Mu’s teacup to take it away and smiled at Lu Yin. "Even if you are a frog, you are the most domineering frog I have ever seen."
Lu Yin blinked. That still makes me a frog...
***
Far away within Aevum Inch, a shrill cry rang out from the Plume Immortals’ great tree. Countless creatures beneath its branches shrieked in response to the blood that dripped from the canopy, burning the void.
The blood came from Yue Lu.
The bird collapsed upon the great tree’s canopy. Its once alluring eyes blazed with fury, the pink robes were soaked with blood, and its body had been torn open. A wing was even half severed. It looked truly miserable.
Yue Lu let out another cry to the sky and then vanished, teleporting away. When it reappeared, it stood on the other side of the canopy in front of an egg. It was not truly an egg, but rather a Thousand-Autumn Dream. It contained a sleeping Plume Immortal that was reducing its karmic chain.
As Yue Lu’s cry echoed out, cracks appeared across the egg, slowly spreading. Eventually, a Plume Immortal emerged.
This Plume Immortal was clearly far older than Yue Lu. Its two white eyebrows hung from its eyes down to its feet, and its eyes appeared to be clouded and sleepy. A tuft of colorful feathers atop its head swayed in the wind while emitting a faint glow.
"Little Yue Lu, what happened?"
"Ancestor Nan Ling, Yue Lu has been injured."
"Oh? What is this? Hmph! It’s a bit excessive for the strong to bully the weak. How did you provoke someone?"
"Yue Lu only wanted revenge. When I awakened earlier, I happened upon a civilization with several Immortal beings. I intended to capture some to present to you, Ancestor, but there was an Aberrant in that civilization that can actually use our teleportation ability. Although its range is limited, it is still teleportation, and Yue Lu failed."
"What? There’s another creature that can use our kind’s teleportation? What creature?"
"It was a human civilization," Yue Lu said. The first time it had entered the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm, it had not remembered that name and had only found the creatures of that civilization to be rather familiar. Later, it had recalled that they were indeed humans, the creatures of that terrifying civilization that had once caused even the Plume Immortals to feel awe.
That was why it had recently gone back to the Human Trio. It had originally planned to wait until another Plume Immortal awakened, but upon realizing that it had stumbled upon a human civilization, curiosity had gotten the better of the bird.
In Yue Lu’s mind, Plume Immortals were the strongest. How could a human civilization have once inspired fear and respect in the Plume Immortals? What was the basis?
But the moment it had arrived near the human civilization, its wing had been almost completely severed, and the one who had struck it was a member of Obscura. The bird could not endure that, absolutely not.
Nan Ling was shocked. "A human civilization? Are you saying that a human can teleport?"
"Yes, Ancestor Nan Ling."
"Little Yue Lu, do you understand the consequences of deceiving your ancestor?"
"Yue Lu understands. If I deceive Ancestor, I will die a miserable death."
"Hmph! Then there is a problem. The Nine Ramparts were destroyed, and yet the humans who have survived until today are actually able to teleport? Not only that, but they also have Obscura at their side and used the strong to bully the weak and cut off one of your wings. When have we Plume Immortals ever suffered such humiliation? No matter the reason, this is war!"
Yue Lu was thrilled. At last, it could get revenge. The bird cried at the sky again, but this time, its cry carried overwhelming excitement.
Ancestor Nan Ling also shrieked at the sky.
The next moment, eggs cracked open throughout the canopy of the great tree. Down below, countless creatures shuddered in terror. For so many eons, the Plume Immortals had only ever awakened one by one, with no more than two awake at any given time. Now, so many were awakening at once. Had the sky fallen?
***
Lu Yin arrived in Vestigium. He had been summoned through Master Qing Cao, informed that Obscura was once again issuing a mandatory draft for a war.
"Lu Yin, Obscura is conscripting you for this war. Will you participate?" Ba Se asked.
Lu Yin was quite irritated. "These drafts are happening far too often! I don’t want to die."
"Will you participate?" Ba Se repeated.
Lu Yin said, "My civilization was just attacked. I don’t want to participate. Obscura can’t protect us at all."
"Confirm that you refuse to participate."