Star Odyssey

Chapter 4131: The Karmic Heavenwheel

Lu Yin arched a brow. “Then why did you lure the Seven-Treasure Anuras to us? Old Fourth should be about as strong as you. If it shows up, you can’t show yourself to it, but even then, it will pose no real threat to our human civilization.”

Lan Meng sneered. “I’m not focusing on Old Fourth! I’m dragging out the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ ancient monster.”

With that, the creature moved forward, its skull-like face contorting as sword intent shot out in all directions to attack Lu Yin. “Give me what belonged to Qi Xu.”

Lu Yin frowned. A Heaven and Earth Lock descended, only to be completely sliced apart by a single sweep of Lan Meng’s sword. The blue sword contained an indescribable, terrifying sword intent that pressed down on Lu Yin with such force that he could hardly breathe.

The gap between them was immense. Lu Yin was capable of fighting against normal Immortals like the humanoid Verdant Sage and even Kang Tian, but there was an enormous disparity between his power and Lan Meng’s.

Lan Meng was strong enough to fight against Awe Gate even after she had fully integrated with Mi Jin’s spirit seed. Even before, Awe Gate had been able to fight against two Immortal Verdant Sages at the same time.

Of the Immortals that Lu Yin was aware of, Greater Sancte Green Lotus, Lan Meng, and the Immortal Lord stood at the very top. Just below them stood Awe Gate after her Seed Transfusion, and beneath her stood Ku Deng and Lu Yin himself.

If Greater Sancte Blood Tower returned, it was possible that he would also possess the same level of power as Awe Gate.

In the face of Lan Meng’s overpowering sword intent, the Investiture of the Gods appeared above Lu Yin’s head. Tri-Azure Sword Intent: Hidden Blade erupted in countless slashes. Lan Meng swung its sword just once, scattering the waves of attacks, only to be startled when its blade trembled. It had failed to break through all of this human’s attacks with a single sword stroke. This Tri-Azure Sword Intent was completely different from those that Lu Yin had used before.

Dozens of slashes of Tri-Azure Sword Intent filled the Aevum Inch. Lan Meng snarled while raising a clawed hand to meet the attacks.

Clang, clang, clang...

All of the Hidden Blades were crushed. Lu Yin’s pupils contracted sharply as his scalp went numb. Are Lan Meng’s defenses really that monstrous? It wasn’t this exaggerated before.

Previously, when Lan Meng had stood against humanity, Awe Gate had been the one to deal with the tree-like Immortal. At this moment, Lu Yin was personally experiencing just how vast of a gap lay between him and Lan Meng.

The branch-like claws suddenly extended, creating a cage that enclosed Lu Yin.

He retaliated with a spiral of karma, only for it to be blocked by a surge of blue light.

“Karma isn’t omnipotent. It’s nothing more than another power. Do you really believe karma to be invincible?” Lan Meng’s claws descended, and darkness spread out. Shan Barrens: Infinite Darkness.

The endless darkness caused the Aevum Inch to flatten out.

Lan Meng suddenly clenched its five fingers, crushing the darkness. The enormous claws were brought back down, completely enveloping Lu Yin.

Just as the blow was about to connect, Lan Meng’s expression changed. It instinctively moved to the side, and as it did so, everything fell silent. Space, time, and everything in existence froze. Both Lan Meng’s descending claws and its dodge were frozen for a single moment.

Countless voices rang out, as though innumerable creatures were chanting in unison.

Immediately after, something happened that left Lu Yin completely dumbstruck.

Across the cosmos, vast strands of karma intertwined like countless arms forming a wheel, and the darkness of the starry sky was illuminated by karmic light.

Karma replaced the heavens, replaced the darkness, replaced all that could be replaced, until everything converged into a single finger that struck Lan Meng’s brow.

“The Thousand Faces of Karma, Karmic Heavenwheel.”

Lan Meng’s pupils shrank to pinpricks as it stared at the approaching finger. The moment that the finger touched the creature’s brow, a blue halo appeared behind its head. At the point of contact, ripples spread out like on a lake surface before shattering. The finger pierced through, and the blue color spread out. It was no longer light, but rather fragments, and it shattered the color that had once shrouded the cosmos.

Bang!

Lan Meng staggered back, wailing in agony after its head was stabbed.

Greater Sancte Green Lotus emerged from the void and thrust another finger forward.

A blue coffin suddenly appeared behind Lan Meng, drawing the creature’s body within as the lid closed.

Boom!

Another finger struck, slamming into the blue coffin and sending it flying. Still, it left a deep mark behind on the lid.

The blue coffin vanished in an instant.

The nearby void fractured, the fissures spreading outward. Everything had happened so quickly that not even the void had managed to keep up.

Lu Yin blankly stared on. He had felt such incredible pressure from Lan Meng, but the shock of seeing Greater Sancte Green Lotus overwhelm the Immortal was equally immense.

Lu Yin had already known that the Greater Sancte was very powerful, but the man had almost never taken direct action.

The Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm encompassed multiple megaverses, and while that in and of itself was awe-inspiring, it was unable to compare to Green Lotus’s single strike.

This was the Immortal’s true power.

Before this, Lu Yin had only ever seen Green Lotus keep the Immortal Lord occupied or use his Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm to oversee human civilization, but he had never done something so overwhelming before.

The cosmos gradually grew calm again.

Greater Sancte Green Lotus turned to face Lu Yin, letting out a sigh of regret. “It still escaped. I did not expect that coffin to be so tough that it actually blocked my Karmic Heavenwheel. A pity, such a pity.”

Is that really the case?

Lu Yin did not know where to even begin. The way that Green Lotus spoke made it sound as if Lan Meng should have died the moment that Green Lotus appeared.

However, judging by the man’s attack, that did not seem like an impossible prediction.

“What’s wrong?” the Greater Sancte asked, seeing Lu Yin’s glazed stare.

Lu Yin forcefully suppressed his awe. “Senior, that strike just now-?”

“How was it? Impressive, right?” Green Lotus laughed.

Lu Yin nodded. Impressive was an understatement. If it had been Awe Gate instead of Lan Meng taking that attack, she would have died without question. As for the two Immortal Verdant Sages, neither the humanoid nor the droplet would have even had a chance to react. That had been truly overwhelming power.

“Haha! Do you want to learn it? I can teach you.” The Greater Sancte was grinning.

Lu Yin enviously replied, “This junior is sadly lacking any sort of powerful karmic attacks.”

“That’s because we have taken two different paths in cultivating karma. You focus on using karma to investigate or weave, whereas I specialize in destruction. After all, our human civilization needs a sharp blade.

“However, do not belittle yourself. We have taken different paths, but that does not mean that yours is any weaker. You were able to uncover the Netherfiends and Stillness, weave karma, and peer into the past, all of which are things that I can not do nearly so easily.”

Lu Yin pursed his lips tightly. He was not ashamed of his path, just deeply envious of such a powerful karmic attack.

The Greater Sancte clasped his hands behind his back. “It’s not too late to become my disciple.”

“...Senior, Lan Meng must have been heavily injured, right?”

Green Lotus chuckled. “More than that. If I haven’t crippled it completely, that is only due to its thick skull. It won’t dare to cause trouble for quite some time.”

Lu Yin let out a breath of relief. “At least one has been dealt with.”

He then frowned. “But if Lan Meng doesn’t return, could another one from Obscura come?”

Greater Sancte Green Lotus shook his head. “I cannot say for sure, but based on what we know about Obscura, it is unlikely. Ages passed before they learned of Qi Xu’s death, and during that time, they never caused any trouble for us. It was only after they confirmed her death that Lan Meng was sent out. As long as that creature is still alive, given how little sense of time Obscura has, they most likely won’t send any other expert anytime soon.”

“Good. As long as we can gain some time, we can stabilize things.”

“Even if Lan Meng does not return, it can cause more than a small bit of trouble. The Seven-Treasure Anuras are not at all simple. Did you not hear what it just said? It wants to lure that species’ ancient monster here.”

“Do you know about it, Senior?”

“Not at all.”

“If Lan Meng calls it an ancient monster, then it must be terrifying.”

Greater Sancte Green Lotus’s expression grew grave. “According to Kang Tian, that creature is an ancient being that perfectly embodies the concept of an Immortal. Even if such a creature doesn’t excel in combat, it will not be weak. Hopefully, things will proceed smoothly, or else we really will have to move.

“Still, for a creature that long-lived, I do not believe that it will be quick to act. The restrictions that Immortals must deal with are no joke.”

Lu Yin thought it reasonable. “Then this junior will continue.”

He could still use the red coffin. By seeking out the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ Old Fourth, it would indeed be possible to redirect Old Fourth’s animosity as Lan Meng had said. This also involved Astral Anura. Lan Meng had predicted Lu Yin’s actions and moved to intercept the attempt, just as Greater Sancte Green Lotus and Lu Yin had anticipated in turn. Lan Meng was not stupid, and they were certain that the tree-like creature had been keeping watch on human civilization.

Old Fourth was coming from the same direction of the Tricolor Skyborne, which meant that it had been easy for Lan Meng to monitor the path. That had also granted Greater Sancte Green Lotus an opportunity to strike.

Of course, Lu Yin himself had served as a crucial decoy.

Lan Meng had not only hoped to kill Lu Yin, but also to take back the red coffin and red line. Such bait had proven irresistible.

With one goal achieved, the next step was to focus on the Seven-Treasure Anuras.

With Greater Sancte Green Lotus’s power, the red coffin continued to fly into the distance.

The Immortal’s voice reached his ears. “Don’t be envious. I will eventually teach you how to attack with karma. Your path differs from mine. I’m willing to serve as the blade of our civilization, and for now, one blade is sufficient. Focus on your cultivation.”

Lu Yin looked back, but Greater Sancte Green Lotus had already returned.

Leaving the Nine Odysseys Megaverse to deal with Lan Meng had been a gamble, and they had only taken it after concluding that Lan Meng was sure to act. Green Lotus needed to hurry back. If the Immortal Lord noticed the Greater Sancte’s absence, everything would be over.

Willing to be the blade of civilization?

While humanity was not a fishing civilization, Lu Yin was grateful to have been born into it. It was a civilization that made the Aevum Inch feel less cold.

Half a year later, in the middle of outer space, the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ Old Fourth adjusted its steel fork, making it crooked before it moved on.

One hop.

Another hop.

One- huh? What’s that?

Not good! Karma?

Old Fourth twisted its body, its massive bulk somehow contorting to the side to evade the karma. It glared ahead, furious. This enemy was adept at wielding karma.

“There is a civilization ahead. Outsiders are forbidden. Scram!”

There was a roar as spirals of karma shot forward, all of them shooting towards Old Fourth.

The toad was not afraid of karma, but it refused to make contact with the karma. It had no desire for its secrets to be exposed.

While dodging every spiral of karma, Old Fourth hefted the steel fork. It was enraged and wanted to attack, but it soon discovered that its opponent was already gone.

Where did they go?

Damn it! Who hits with karma just once and then runs?

The toad was about to give chase. Wait, no. A trap. It has to be a trap. I can’t chase.

From far away, Lu Yin glanced back. There was no pursuit. He breathed out in relief. Things were proceeding just as they would if he was dealing with Astral Anura. Good.

Beneath him, a green lotus leaf was speeding toward the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm, the red coffin resting upon it.

Lu Yin’s own speed was not nearly enough for him to outrun Old Fourth. Fortunately, he was rather close to the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm, though on the opposite side of where the Tianyuan was. This meant that, with Greater Sancte Green Lotus at the edge of the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm, he could just barely control the lotus leaf from afar and bring Lu Yin back. If not for that, Lu Yin’s lacking speed would result in Old Fourth catching up even after it waited a few years before pursuing.

Everything that could be done had been completed. At this point, everything was up to fate.

If the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ Old Fourth and Old Fifth had personalities and behaviors similar to Astral Anura, or at least a similar perspective, the plan should work.

Suspicious, timid, greedy, despicable, and yet also arrogant and believing himself to be quite clever: that was Astral Anura.