Star Odyssey

Chapter 1958

Lily Anne activated her own gadget and started looking around. She almost instantly found that that video was trending on the entire network. Actually, it was not the video itself that had garnered such attention. Rather, it was the words that Ah Fan had spoken at the very end before escaping. "I'm sorry that I wasn’t able to teach you any battle techniques. I'm so sorry."

His words had triggered countless people who all believed that if the teachers and students from Shangwu Academy had been allowed to learn Ah Fan's battle techniques, they would not have died so tragically. This theory had attracted further speculation from the entire Human Domain network.

In particular, the independent cultivators were frantically supporting the idea that the deaths could have been avoided. If the students had had access to proper battle techniques and resources, they would not have been so badly outclassed. There were countless people who dreamed about the various sects and powers in the universe releasing even a few battle techniques for them to learn, but none of them were holding their breath.

More and more people joined the discussion, and some even uploaded additional videos, all of which were examples of tragic deaths where people were killed by corpse kings, astral beasts, or even cosmic phenomena.

Each and every video incited further discussion with many people commenting on how if the people in the videos had been able to learn some proper battle techniques, they would not have died. Also, if they had been able to get a hold of some real resources, they would have had a chance of survival as well.

It felt like only a moment passed, but the entire Fifth Mainland was already participating in this discussion.

Disciples from powerful sects also jumped in on the discussions, and they tried to counter the prevailing opinion. After all, battle techniques and resources were the property of the various powers who held them, so why should they share what was theirs? There were even some disciples from powerful sects who mocked the independent cultivators for being useless and merely coveting others’ strength.

The discussion spread until it was being addressed in every part of the network. There were far too many people participating or following the discussion, particularly the endless numbers of independent cultivators who united in hopes that the Hall of Honor and some of the other various powers would be pressured into publicly releasing some battle techniques, even if they were only the techniques typically given to outer disciples.

The Great Eastern Alliance was also brought up by countless people. After all, Ah Fan had only escaped by relying on battle techniques that he had received from Lu Yin.

Battle force and the Overlaying Stacks was recognized as Lu Yin's method of fighting, and Ah Fan's comment indicated that he had been forbidden from teaching those methods to anyone else by Lu Yin. Lu Yin became a topic of discussion for countless people.

"Mother, what’s going on?" Lily Anne felt utterly confused by the massive reaction.

Lily Liana solemnly answered, "Things have become quite serious. Ah Fan's words in that video pointed straight at Lu Yin, and now many people are blaming his selfishness for the deaths of those Shangwu Academy students and teachers. If Lu Yin retaliates to these accusations, our Northline Flowzone will end up suffering."

Lily Anne's face grew pale. "Then what should we do about this? Is someone targeting us? Or maybe trying to use Ah Fan to go after Lu Yin?"

Lily Liana shook her head. "It's difficult to say, but there is definitely a guiding hand behind all of this. All we can do now is wait and see how things progress while making sure that the entire Northline Flowzone is united and ready to defend Lu Yin regardless of what happens. This argument needs to be shut down."

However, Northline Flowzone was overestimating themselves. It was impossible for them to suppress the raging discussion as even the entire Innerverse was incapable of doing anything about it. The issue at the heart of this matter affected too many people in too much of the Fifth Mainland.

More and more videos were posted online, most of which were videos of people dying to the Neohuman Alliance.

Bit by bit, the horror seeped into the hearts of people.

***

In the Neoverse, on Mt. Microcosms, in the CyNet World, Zi Jing was enjoying the scenery of the hidden world with a calm expression on her face.

Xin Jiao approached. "Overseer Zi Jing, why hasn’t your CyNet shut down this ridiculous discussion?"

Zi Jing turned to look at Xin Jiao. "There's no way we can possibly stop it. Can you erase the words that have already been spoken or the thoughts in people’s minds?"

Xin Jiao frowned. "We still can’t allow an overseer to be slandered in this manner. The various sects and powers of the universe did not struggle to establish themselves only to see it all go to waste! Their ancestors went through life and death for them to have their current positions, so why should they be forced to allow outsiders push them around? These discussions have gone too far."

Zi Jing turned back to stare out at the landscape again. "The times are changing. Those common independent cultivators probably just want to take advantage of the current turmoil to gain access to the various organizations’ battle techniques. Just ignore them. They won’t be able to change how the universe operates, so all they can do is vent. However, you and I are aware of just what humanity is currently facing. The danger and crisis that exists in the Starfall Sea is drawing closer, and if humanity falls, all of those battle techniques will simply disappear into history."

"What do you mean by that?" Xin Jiao was puzzled.

Zi Jing's mouth curled up into a smile. "Inheritances being passed down is the very essence of humanity, as we are only able to grow stronger due to the efforts of the past."

Xin Jiao shook her head. "No one will agree with such thinking. It’s impossible for even the Hall of Honor to share their battle techniques without just cause."

Zi Jing said nothing, and she simply continued to stare at the landscape.

***

Several days passed, and the fervor on the network only increased. Countless people raged and begged for the various human powers to share some battle techniques with the public. More and more videos were published, and while many people were moved by what they saw, none of the various sects were swayed.

After all, they had only reached their current heights due to their own efforts. They had not relied on the charity of others.

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No one could say that they were wrong to keep what was theirs.

But it also could not be said that true powerhouses had never risen from the ranks of independent cultivators.

Ku Pu simply scoffed at the raging debate on the network. Not only had their ancestor, Progenitor Ku, initially been an independent cultivator, but he had also been ridiculed by other independent cultivators. After rising up to become a Progenitor, had Progenitor Ku tried to push the various powers to give away their battle techniques? The very idea was nothing more than ridiculous.

However, when Ku Pu saw the countless comments made about Lu Yin, the patriarch’s eyes flickered. It was impossible to guess what was going through the man’s head.

***

In Aurora Fortress, Lu Yin emerged from his seclusion after just ten days.

Upon seeing this, the Second Nightking’s face twitched. Sure enough, Lu Yin was only gone for less than half a month. How could that even be considered secluded training?

Lu Yin had managed to increase his mastery of the Cosmic Art to 38,000 stars during his time in Timestop. After his time ran out, he had not tried to roll four pips again, instead simply resting for several days.

He was perfectly clear on what was happening on the network.

His gadget had practically exploded from all the messages that he had received during these days as people had tried to contact him, but he had not answered anyone.

After exiting from his seclusion, the first thing that Lu Yin did was call Arch-Elder Zen.

"Senior, what do you think about the arguments taking place online?" Lu Yin asked.

From where he sat on Mt. Microcosms, Arch-Elder Zen answered, "The Hall of Honor will release a few battle techniques for independent cultivators to use. You don’t need to worry about this."

"Are you really not concerned?" Lu Yin asked quietly. "If we were living in a time of peace, I also wouldn’t care, and no one else would either. However, we’re facing a crisis in the Starfall Sea, and while the people stirring up this issue are clueless about all that, some of what they’re saying isn’t unreasonable. If the teachers and students on that ship had learned the same battle techniques as Ah Fan, while not all of them would have escaped for sure, at least a few more would have. It’s possible that one of those survivors might have become an Envoy one day, or even a Semi-Progenitor or a Progenitor. It’s impossible to say what opportunities were lost with their deaths."

"So what do you want to do?" Arch-Elder Zen asked.

Lu Yin took a deep breath. "I didn't think about this much before, but now, I want to try something by imitating one of our ancestors. I remember once hearing someone say that in the earliest days, the Six Mainlands suffered from a continuous series of disasters and that humans struggled to even survive. The legends claim that in those days, the Origin Progenitor established the Daosource Sect and spread the enlightenment that he had achieved. While I’m just Lu Yin and can’t compare to the Origin Progenitor, I would like to try copying him."

Arch-Elder Zen's eyes grew large. "So what do you want to do?"

Lu Yin grew serious. "I would like to gather everything that I’ve learned and leave it in a single location where anyone can face challenges for the opportunity to learn them. If they succeed, they’ll be given the chance to learn everything that I’ve received. I want to provide a chance for the Fifth Mainland’s cultivators to learn more techniques and receive a better education."

Arch-Elder Zen was surprised. "Are you really willing to do this?"

"If we were at peace, there’s no way I would do this. But now? There’s no other choice. If Aeternus invades, what we have now is all the strength that humanity has to muster against them. This junior really can’t think of any way for us to win. Senior, we humans have always been on the defensive on the battlefield behind the Mother Tree, and if not for the Ceaseless Impetus sourcebox array, they would have broken through long ago. This is the situation even in the Perennial World, so there’s no need to mention our Fifth Mainland," Lu Yin said, "Of course, this junior would also request that the Hall of Honor also offer some battle techniques, and possibly even secret techniques."

"Very well. As long as you are willing to do this, my Hall of Honor will naturally contribute to the effort!" Arch-Elder Zen shouted. As the master of the Hall of Honor, Arch-Elder Zen had to consider what was best for the entire Fifth Mainland and all of humanity. No one else had ever had the same perspective as the old man, but Lu Yin had finally appeared with the same vision as Arch-Elder Zen.

Regardless of the motives behind the online discord, it was imperative that humanity’s strength be improved so that they could eventually face the disaster that were the Aeternals.

"Senior, many of this junior’s battle techniques come from various sects, and there will be many unhappy people when I offer them up to the public…" Lu Yin started.

Arch-Elder Zen frowned. "I understand. I’ll handle that matter."

In Aurora Fortress, Lu Yin smiled at the old man. "Then I will have to trouble you with this, Senior. This junior has been thinking about this for a bit, and the place will be called the Tower of the Fifth."

With that, Lu Yin hung up.

Arch-Elder Zen sat in place, lost in thought. The Tower of the Fifth? This would become a tower of inheritance for the entire Fifth Mainland.

Elsewhere, Lu Yin called Wang Wen.

"How’s it going? Ah Fan did pretty good, didn’t he?" Wang Wen asked proudly.

Lu Yin said. "It's fine, but those people from Shangwu Academy need to be kept perfectly hidden. No one can be allowed to find them."

"Don't worry about it," Wang Wen said reassuringly.

The attack on Shangwu Academy’s spacecraft by the corpse kings had actually been an act put on by Wang Wen. The entire thing had been staged from start to finish. The entire goal had been to instigate the comments online and trigger a massive debate to bring Lu Yin to the forefront of the Human Domain’s attention. Then, he would be able to have the necessary conversation with Arch-Elder Zen.

The fact that Lu Yin had taken the initiative to defend the Outerverse from the Astral Beast Domain’s invasion had given Arch-Elder Zen an excellent impression of Lu Yin. At that time, Lu Yin had risked everything to do what was right and protect humanity rather than his own interests. The old man felt like he could hand the Fifth Mainland over to Lu Yin’s care, and Lu Yin wanted to see just who would have the guts to suggest turning him over to the Perennial World when they invaded.

Even if Arch-Elder Zen and others wanted to hand Lu Yin over, they would not be able to do so, as it would completely ruin their reputations for thousands of years.

Of course, that was all just a side benefit. Lu Yin’s true motive was to seize the initiative. He was not willing to leave his own life in the hands of anyone else. Once the Perennial World launched their invasion, would the people of the Fifth Mainland be pressured so much that they turned him over to the invaders? However, after the Tower of the Fifth was established, who would be willing to lose it and the battle techniques that he would make available there? Not to mention, there were also the secrets that he held that the Sword Sect, the Ku, Ce, and Wen family all deeply desired. Which of these families would not send their descendants there to learn the techniques? All of the people who would be eager to see Lu Yin remain in the Fifth Mainland were powers with deep foundations. Even if all of them disappeared, Lu Yin was eager to see who would propose to hand him over to the invaders.

This was the only plan that Lu Yin had been able to come up with. The entire Fifth Mainland would be drawn to the Tower of the Fifth and the inheritances it held. What’s more, people would also quickly come to believe that the Hall of Honor’s support of the tower indicated that they would pay attention to those who received inheritances from the tower as geniuses who deserved to be supported. Those geniuses would eventually become an era of the Fifth Mainland’s powerhouses, and Lu Yin intended to take all of them under his wing. The Fifth Mainland was riddled with weaknesses, and those fractures would pose a serious problem when the Perennial World attacked.

Lu Yin was trying to seize the initiative, but he knew that it was still not enough. Any war between humans would only serve to benefit Aeternus, which meant that Lu Yin had to find a way to drag the Aeternals into the fray, not to mention the Astral Beast Domain. Countless thoughts flickered through Lu Yin’s mind in a flash.

"Do you actually want to share your battle techniques? This is basically letting people take advantage of you instead of getting something from them. You should give me some benefits too" Wang Wen quipped.

Lu Yin responded with a slight smile, "Even if I share some things, most people won’t be able to learn any of what will be made available. Also, honestly, the danger posed by the Aeternals is incredibly serious. I’m hoping that by sharing some of my battle techniques, it will be the first step in motivating others to share their own techniques and improve the strength of all of humanity."

"You’re making yourself sound like some sort of savior." Wang Wen rolled his eyes.

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