Star Odyssey

Chapter 4242: I Am An Aberrant

Lu Yin shrugged. “If it weren’t necessary, I wouldn’t wish to trouble you, Senior, but the Longevity Civilization has a being who resonates with two cosmic laws. They may even be hiding an ancient monster who’s close to Ancestor Shan’s level. Among those that I know, only you are able to secure a sliver of hope for me in a desperate situation, so I wish to ask you to accompany me.”

Old First glanced at Old Fifth beside him.

Old Fifth looked back.

“Are there any inconveniences, Senior?” Lu Yin asked cautiously.

Old First replied, “There’s nothing. Then, how long will this trip take?”

“At most, ten years.”

“Are you certain?”

“It’s because the Meteor Realm only appears for ten years. If I cannot finish what I must within ten years, I will need to return regardless of the result.”

Old First nodded. “Very well, I’ll go with you.”

Lu Yin said, “I must also trouble you to remain within my Zenith Mountain, Senior, or else we will lose any advantage of surprise.”

“Understood. If there really is someone as formidable as Ancestor Shan, surprise is all that might grant us a chance. When do we leave?” Old First asked.

“Immediately.”

It was easier than expected to negotiate with the eldest of the Seven-Treasure Anuras. Whatever the toads’ nature, Lu Yin had indeed helped them, and that was even after Ancestor Shan had bluntly refused to allow any interactions with the human civilization. During that last battle, Lu Yin’s actions had moved Old First, and Astral Anura’s attitude towards the humans ensured that the Seven-Treasure Anuras could not fully sever their ties, as Astral Anura was vaguely seen as the successor of their species.

Even with Old First leaving, the Seven-Treasure Anuras still had Old Fourth, Old Fifth, and Little Eighteen, so Old First had nothing to worry about.

Lu Yin soon returned to the place where the Meteor Realm would appear and nodded to Greater Sancte Awe Gate.

She let out a breath of relief.

This journey would be somewhat risky. Awe Gate had no way to be certain of the Longevity Civilization’s current state of affairs. With Old First accompanying them, things would be much safer. Their civilization could not afford to lose Lu Yin.

Time passed, day by day. After more than a year went by, Lu Yin’s eyes suddenly opened. The space in front of them was shifting, flowing like water. One breath, two breaths, three breaths. It only took three breaths before the void swirled into a round rotating space that spread out to form a flat, horizontal plane.

The distortion did not take up a large area, but it caused the nearby void to churn, sending ripples out in multiple layers. It was an impressive sight, though when compared to the law-based weapons of the technological civilization, the phenomenon still lacked impact, not striking the same awe.

“That’s the Meteor Realm. Place your hand on my shoulder,” Greater Sancte Awe Gate reminded him.

Lu Yin raised his hand and placed it on her shoulder. The Greater Sancte stared into the flowing space of the Meteor Realm for a moment and then suddenly moved. She stepped into the flow, instantly disappearing.

...

At the same time, in another stretch of the Aevum Inch, another Meteor Realm appeared beneath the eyes of a nearby group of green-skinned humanoid beings.

“The Meteor Realm has reappeared. Carefully observe the surroundings and prevent any unique lifeforms from passing through.

“Any creature you spot, attack immediately.

“None can be allowed to slip past...”

Behind the crowd stood a silent lone figure, tall and imposing. His eyes betrayed complicated emotions as he stared at the Meteor Realm. He did not know when he might see her again. Time after time, he had waited, even petitioning his people to stand guard at this place. Yet he had only been disappointed again and again.

When will you return?

His name was Chang Tian, an Immortal of the Longevity Civilization. Every time the Meteor Realm appeared, he would be the one to stand guard over it.

In the past, when the Meteor Realm had appeared, many lifeforms had accidentally crossed through it. Some were captured, and others were killed. This place lay within the Longevity Civilization’s territory, which was why no foreign creature could be allowed to roam freely.

As his mind wandered, Chang Tian’s expression shifted. A creature was flung out from one edge of the Meteor Realm. It was monstrous and looked indescribably ferocious as it let out a roar of fury. Still, all that awaited it was an overwhelming storm of attacks.

The monster was merely as strong as a sequence powerhouse, and it was absolutely unqualified to enter the Aevum Inch. However, the Meteor Realm was able to drag creatures across vast distances whenever it appeared.

The monster was soon torn to pieces.

Such things had happened too many times before.

With every appearance of the Meteor Realm, some lifeforms would arrive.

The first creature was like bait, luring more monsters over. One after another was flung from the Meteor Realm, only to be destroyed by the guardians of the Longevity Civilization.

Chang Tian frowned. It seemed as if these monsters were testing the Meteor Realm, which meant that something must have gone wrong within their civilization. If not, no creature would resort to such actions. Such a thing had never happened in the past.

More and more monsters continued to appear, and the Longevity Civilization’s assaults did not let up.

The strongest of the creatures was only as powerful as an Ortuser, and it was erased the moment it tried to attack.

Chang Tian watched with his hands behind his back. Such monsters did not require his intervention.

Suddenly, his gaze shifted again as another lifeform was flung out. He looked over, his eyes narrowing. A human.

Awe Gate carried Lu Yin through the Meteor Realm, and they were hurled out by an immense force. At the exact moment that they were thrown, Lu Yin tore the void behind them open, countering the Meteor Realm’s force and allowing himself and Awe Gate to steady themselves.

Everywhere he looked, there were green-skinned beings, the creatures of the Longevity Civilization. In the distance, he also heard the roars of beasts.

Awe Gate had warned Lu Yin in advance that they would be surrounded by the Longevity Civilization the moment they emerged from the Meteor Realm. Their first task was to get away, as the Meteor Realm always had an Immortal standing guard.

Long ago, Awe Gate had been hunted by one of the Longevity Civilization’s Immortals, and she had been gravely wounded. She had been saved by Chang Tian, which had resulted in everything after.

She did not know who the current guardian of the Meteor Realm might be, but avoiding them was undoubtedly the correct choice.

Lu Yin was about to teleport away when Greater Sancte Awe Gate moved, leaving his hand grasping nothing but empty space.

“Senior?”

Awe Gate was staring into the distance. There, Chang Tian was staring back. Despite the vast distance, their eyes met.

At that moment, countless attacks rained down upon them from the surrounding creatures of the Longevity Civilization.

Lu Yin casually waved his hand, immediately erasing all of the attacks and drawing the attention of every creature surrounding the Meteor Realm.

“Senior?” Lu Yin called out again.

Awe Gate stared intently at Chang Tian in the distance. “Go, but don’t teleport.”

Lu Yin understood and followed her away, both humans rushing in the same direction.

Around them, the guardians of the Longevity Civilization were startled, and they immediately tried to block the two foreigners. Some stared at Awe Gate, as she looked familiar. Yes, it’s her.

With a swoosh, Chang Tian swept past the rest of the crowd, pursuing Greater Sancte Awe Gate and Lu Yin. “Do not move. Leave them to me.”

In an instant, Awe Gate, Lu Yin, and Chang Tian all vanished.

Carried away by Awe Gate, Lu Yin shot across space. The Meteor Realm was within the Longevity Civilization’s territory, and planets soon flashed past them. The most stunning detail was the massive vine up above, shrouding the entire universe.

Lu Yin stared upwards. The vine’s size allowed it to rival a Mother Tree. Could the plant be of a similar kind?

And yet the megaverses clearly already had a Mother Tree.

Indeed, the Longevity Civilization had both a Mother Tree and the vine, which covered it. Vines draped along the Mother Tree’s branches, creating a massive green canopy that shrouded the entire universe.

It reminded Lu Yin of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse.

Behind them, Chang Tian followed, silent and not attacking. It was not until some time later that Greater Sancte Awe Gate finally stopped.

Lu Yin looked around. They had landed in a dark swamp. He noticed that there were many swamps throughout the universe, all formed from old decaying vine branches. Beneath their feet lay a massive, halfway-rotted branch. When it fully decayed, the swamp would double in size.

Every universe had its own characteristics.

Chang Tian landed in the swamp, looking forward with emotion-filled eyes. “Xiao Zhi...”

Greater Sancte Awe Gate lifted her eyes to meet the man’s stare. Her gaze was calm, without the slightest ripple of emotion. “It has been a long time, Chang Tian.”

Chang Tian saw her serene gaze, and his expression shifted. Bitterness encroached on his voice. “Xiao Zhi, it is good that you were able to return.”

Xiao Zhi? Lu Yin glanced at Awe Gate. He had never known that she had another name; everyone simply called her Awe Gate.

The truth was that Awe Gate was not the woman’s name, but rather a title that she had earned after becoming an Immortal. Prior to that, she must have had another name.

If Lu Yin had been curious, it would have been easy for him to learn the truth, or just ask, but Lu Yin had never bothered. There had been no need.

Awe Gate’s voice was soft, “I didn’t expect you to be the one guarding the Meteor Realm.”

Chang Tian drily replied, “Since you left, I have been there every time the Meteor Realm appears.”

Her eyes trembled for a moment, but the emotions vanished too quickly for anyone to catch them. “What was the point?”

Chang Tian stared at her. “You know me very well.”

The green man then turned to look at Lu Yin. “And this is?”

Lu Yin studied Chang Tian with open curiosity. Just as Awe Gate had said, green, leaf-patterned markings covered the being’s entire body. Below his knees were not legs but vines, though his clothing caused those vines to look like legs.

If not for their green skin, the creatures of the Longevity Civilization would look completely human.

Awe Gate looked at Chang Tian. “I came here for him. Chang Tian, you still owe me what you promised. Do you remember?”

Chang Tian nodded. “Of course.”

“I want you to help him acquire the Jumping Line of Sight,” Awe Gate declared.

Chang Tian was caught off guard. He looked at Lu Yin, scrutinizing him deeply before turning back to Awe Gate. “What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said. You once told me that I could obtain the Jumping Line of Sight, so I am giving that chance to him. I want you to help him obtain it,” Awe Gate replied.

Chang Tian looked at Lu Yin again. “What is he to you?”

“That’s none of your concern. Just fulfill your promise,” Awe Gate answered stiffly.

Lu Yin glanced at Awe Gate. What was with that phrasing? Even if Lu Yin was not particularly sensitive to others’ emotions, had wronged several women throughout his life, and had only truly been with Yan’er, he was not entirely ignorant of common sense.

Awe Gate’s tone was so blunt as she asked her child’s father to honor a promise for the sake of a stranger. Anyone would feel awkward.

Thinking this, Lu Yin quickly spoke up. “I am an Aberrant.”

Chang Tian was completely confused, and he did not even react for a moment.

Lu Yin continued, “I am an Aberrant of our human civilization, but I lack an effective method to see great distances. That is why Senior Awe Gate brought me here to seek one. Do not misunderstand, Senior.”

Awe Gate frowned. “There’s no need to explain.”

Lu Yin was left speechless.

Chang Tian’s expression noticeably relaxed. He stopped paying attention to Lu Yin and stared at Awe Gate again. “Xiao Zhi, where is my daughter?”