Chapter 3424: Absolutely No Complaints
A satisfied smile spread across Yuan Qi's face. This was exactly the reaction that he had wanted.
Was Lu Yin forcing him to accept disciples? How ridiculous. These two youngsters should count themselves lucky for eight lifetimes to have Yuan Qi as their master. "That’s right."
Ba Liu and Yi Yao exchanged stunned glances. They had never imagined that the person they had been forced to accept as their master would actually be a Seraph.
Instinctively, the two looked at Lu Yin.
His expression was as calm as ever.
A short distance away, Ce Wangtian scratched his nose while rolling his eyes.
Sovereign Dou Sheng was holding his golden cudgel while he stood and stared off into space.
Old Tao was observing things from a distance, and he was just as startled as Ba Liu and Yi Yao. This was the old man’s first time seeing Yuan Qi, and Old Tao had not considered the possibility that Yuan Qi had been captured by Lu Yin.
Old Tao had personally watched as Yuan Qi had been released from Lu Yin’s cosmic ring. How was that even possible?
However, after Old Tao considered the situation for a moment, he realized that this made sense. Seraph Yuan Qi had gone to the Tianyuan Megaverse long ago to lay the groundwork for the Spirit Nidus’s invasion. The High Seraph himself had publicly announced this. If one of the Seven Seraphs had gone to the Tianyuan Megaverse, then what was there to fear from that megaverse?
Even so, the Tianyuan Megaverse was striking first. It was clear that they had already dealt with all their internal threats.
Seraph Yuan Qi had been their greatest internal threat.
In hindsight, it was not at all surprising to learn that Yuan Qi had been captured.
The Seraph looked at the shock on his two new disciples’ faces and felt even more satisfied. "What? Do you feel that such an old man isn’t worthy of being your master?"
Ba Liu and Yi Yao hurriedly bowed low and showed the greatest respect possible. "To become disciples of Seraph Yuan Qi far exceeds even our wildest dreams. Thank you, Master."
The two then turned to Lu Yin and bowed to him as well. "Thank you, my lord."
Lu Yin chuckled. "Happy with your new master, are you?"
Ba Liu replied respectfully, "I would never dare to be dissatisfied. This is more than I could have ever hoped for."
Lu Yin turned to Yuan Qi. "And you, are you satisfied with your two disciples?"
Yuan Qi did not know what Lu Yin was planning, but he did not want to appear too servile in front of his new disciples. “Thank you, Lord Lu.”
Lu Yin chuckled. “As long as you’re satisfied with them, it’s fine. Also, since they’re now your disciples, you had better protect them. There are many people in the Spirit Nidus who would love to see them dead.”
“Why?” Yuan Qi asked, giving Ba Liu and Yi Yao a curious glance. It was clear that Lu Yin’s intentions behind this arrangement were about to be revealed.
Even as a Seraph, Yuan Qi started to feel nervous. He was too familiar with Lu Yin’s tactics. The man had an unconventional way of going about things, though that often yielded surprising results. Yuan Qi was fully aware that he was being used, but he had no idea what the severity of the situation was. After all, the strongest of his two new disciples was only a Spirit Ancestor. Could such people have somehow offended the High Seraph himself?
As long as he was not standing against the High Seraph, Yuan Qi felt confident that he could handle anything.
Ba Liu and Yi Yao exchanged glances. They were not sure how to respond.
“I am from the Primal Beastland, and Yi Yao is from Heavenspire.
“We... are together.”
Yuan Qi frowned. He was momentarily confused, as it took him a bit to realize something, and then his expression turned to shock. “A beast-form Spirit Rebirth and a human-form Spirit Rebirth? You two are together?
“That’s completely forbidden.”
Lu Yin smirked. “Not only that, but the High Seraph has also issued an edict that forbids anyone from Heavenspire from marrying outsiders. Oh, and these two have also adopted a conscient. Go ahead and show your Little Yao to Seraph Yuan Qi. Let your master have some fun.”
Yuan Qi was left utterly speechless. He stared at Ba Liu and Yi Yao for a long time. The Seraph finally understood that Lu Yin intended to make him a target.
Lu Yin’s intentions were clear. He wanted to stir up trouble in the Spirit Nidus, or rather, force the Spirit Nidus to go after him. Some acts were absolutely forbidden in the Spirit Nidus, and forcing these two people to become Yuan Qi’s disciples would place Yuan Qi on the chopping block.
The esteemed Seraph Yuan Qi was sheltering two people who had committed forbidden acts. As soon as word got out, the Spirit Nidus would strip him of his title as a Seraph, regardless of the fact that Lu Yin was manipulating things from the background.
As soon as a Seraph’s seat was available...
Yuan Qi stared at Lu Yin. “Lord Lu, are you hoping to trigger a competition for a Seraph’s seat?”
Lu Yin denied nothing, as that was indeed his plan.
He wanted to create an opening among the Seraphs’ ranks so that he could see just how crazed the mad dogs that Bao Qi had mentioned before dying were. Lu Yin wanted to see just how alluring a Seraph’s position was.
Ba Liu and Yi Yao remained silent. They did not dare to consider their situation too deeply. They understood that they were being used by Lu Yin, but they had never imagined that his plots were at the Seraph level.
Yuan Qi was impressed. “Quite clever, Lord Lu. I’m impressed.”
Lu Yin ignored Yuan Qi and turned his attention back to Ba Liu and Yi Yao. “I saved your lives, and with that, we are even. While we might be on opposing sides of this war, I will do what I can to protect you, and I will even give you a great opportunity. If we are able to safely withdraw from the Spirit Nidus, you will be allowed to join me in the Tianyuan Megaverse. If we cannot retreat, then we will all die together. This is your fate due to encountering me. Remember my name: I am Lu Yin.
“I am the master of the Tianyuan Megaverse.”
Ba Liu reached for Yi Yao’s hand and then slowly bowed to Lu Yin. “We understand. Everything will be as Lord Lu wills it. We have absolutely no complaints.”
Yuan Qi sighed. He had complaints, but what use were they?
With all that he had learned, every time he looked at his new disciples, he felt a flash of irritation.
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“Oh, and Seraph Yuan Qi, since they are your disciples, please do your best when guiding them. I hope that you will treat them as though they are truly your own and form a connection with them. This way, you’ll have someone to see you off when the time comes.” Lu Yin’s final remark made Yuan Qi want to curse.
Years passed.
There were already springboards in place between Beacon City and the Spirit Nidus, which meant that Lu Yin’s group did not need to spend time building them, which expedited their journey. It would only take them ten years to reach the Spirit Nidus.
Nine years passed as Boundless continued its journey to the Spirit Nidus.
The ship was only a year away from its destination. There was no doubt they would be greeted by a massive battle.
Even if the High Seraph was not going to participate in the battle, there were the Seven Seraphs and other experts in the Spirit Nidus. Their presence would ensure that Lu Yin and the others would not have an easy fight.
“There’s a person ahead!” Luo Shan’s voice called out.
Lu Yin looked forward, and in the darkness, there was indeed someone heading toward the Spirit Nidus.
This was quite odd, as only people from the Spirit Nidus could travel along this route. Was this person trying to return to the Spirit Nidus without using the springboards? How long would such a journey take?
On top of that, the person was not very strong. He was only able to move through the Aevum Inch thanks to a power vessel that he was using.
“Bring him aboard.”
...
Cai Jun was a young man, but he was consumed with unwillingness and hatred. He hated his own weakness, as well as the people who had robbed him, the Spirit Nidus, and everyone else.
He did not want to die in the endless Aevum Inch. No one would even know what had happened to him.
Those hypocrites! He wanted to rip their masks off with his own hands before slaughtering them all.
If hatred could be transformed into strength, then Cai Jun felt like he would be invincible. Instead, he was facing his own impending death. It was clear that his power vessel was about to fail. Those animals had not even bothered to kill him themselves! Instead, they had left him in the Aevum Inch to die alone. Animals!
He felt a wave of pressure from behind. It was strong enough that he felt smothered.
Cai Jun turned and saw an enormous battleship. It was far larger than any he had seen before. It was even larger than the one that had set off for the Tianyuan Megaverse.
How could such a vessel exist? Where in the Spirit Nidus could such a massive battleship have come from?
Cai Jun had seen battleships carry cultivators to the Consciousness Megaverse, and he had even seen the ship carrying the vanguard for the invasion of the Tianyuan Megaverse thirty years earlier. That vessel was the largest that he had ever laid eyes on, and yet even that paled in comparison to the one behind him.
Who owned this colossal battleship?
Cai Jun stretched out his arms, hoping to be taken aboard. He knew that such hope was pointless, but he had no other choice.
Anyone who was left stranded in the Aevum Inch between springboards was someone who had been abandoned mid-journey. The reason why they had been abandoned never mattered. What did matter was that the only people capable of stranding others could not be simple individuals.
Cai Jun had been abandoned, and the ones who had tossed him off the battleship enjoyed significant standing, even within the Ascendant Hall’s Apex Palace.
Other battleships had passed him by in the Aevum Inch, but none had been willing to take him aboard.
He had asked, but all he received was death moving closer.
This battleship was the largest he had ever seen, and he still clung to a faint glimmer of hope.
An irresistible power swept over him, and Cai Jun felt things flip upside down. When he regained his senses, he was already surrounded by strangers. A handsome man was standing beside him. However, while the man’s features were elegant, his bearing was anything but noble.
His mouth dry, Cai Jun nervously spoke up. "I am Cai Jun. I humbly ask you seniors for a ride."
“Explain your situation,” Old Tao ordered after receiving a glance from Lu Yin.
Out of everyone aboard Boundless, only Old Tao, Ba Liu, and Yi Yao knew about the current situation in the Spirit Nidus, and of course, Old Tao was the best qualified to ask questions.
Cai Jun looked at Old Tao and uncertainly asked, “Are you... one of the deputy city lords of Beacon City?”
Old Tao nodded. “Kid, explain what happened to you.”
Cai Jun grew excited. “Are you really Vice Lord Tao? This junior is Cai Jun. Greetings, Senior! I am a descendant of the Ascendant Hall’s Cai family.”
“The Ascendant Hall’s Cai family? Really?” Old Tao asked, intrigued.
“Yes, I’m part of the Cai family. The same family with Cai Sandao, who is currently ranked ninth on the White Spirit List.”
“I thought that the Cai family left Beacon City a long time ago, no? All of you went to the Consciousness Megaverse to fight, and you survived. You should have returned to the Spirit Nidus by now,” Old Tao commented in confusion.
Cai Jun gave Old Tao a deep bow. “This junior was betrayed by traitors and left to die. If not for this fortuitous encounter, Senior, I would already be dead. Please accept my gratitude.”
The young man started to kneel, only to be stopped by Old Tao.
The old man had no intention of saving the young man. Despite his cheerful demeanor and habit of being overly friendly to everyone, Old Tao’s efforts to avoid offending anyone did not mean that he was unwilling to kill. Often, such people were the most ruthless.
If Old Tao had been given the choice, he would not have brought Cai Jun aboard Boundless, nor would he have even spoken to the young man. The fewer complications, the better.
“How were you betrayed by Tell me,” Lu Yin ordered in a voice that carried a hint of curiosity.
Old Tao remained silent.
Cai Jun was astonished. He had merely hoped to be taken back to the Spirit Nidus. He had never thought that anyone might care about his situation. After all, that was the way of things for cultivators.
There was no chance that Old Tao would support Cai Jun just because of a few compliments. That was simply impossible.
However, this man seemed genuinely curious about Cai Jun’s story.
Cai Jun turned to look at Lu Yin. Could this young man be Old Tao’s disciple or junior?
Lu Yin stared at Cai Jun. “Your cultivation isn’t very high. You’re only a Spirit Warrior. You’ve been using a power vessel to survive in the Aevum Inch. However, that tool itself is flawed. You’re heading toward death. Someone wanted to torture you, driving you to the very brink, leaving you completely powerless and lost in the endless dark. That’s quite cruel.
“However, I find your story intriguing. Tell me more, and I might be able to help you.”
Cai Jun did not believe a word that Lu Yin said. Help him? Since when was anyone in the cultivation world so benevolent?