Chapter 2737: The Unlucky Cang Bi
Lu Yin ignored the two people and took another step forward, instantly appearing right before Cang Bi.
The two people were confused; where had the brat gone?
No one in the crowd reacted at all, and even Cang Bi stared blankly at Lu Yin, who had suddenly appeared in front of him. The Semi-Monarch reflexively took a step back, and then cautiously said, "You..."
Cang Bi was no fool. He had managed to cultivate to the Semi-Monarch level and had naturally faced death many times. However, once he had become a Semi-Monarch, he had started to relax a bit, but the moment that Lu Yin moved with a speed that he couldn’t even perceive, Cang Bi felt his tension.
This person was clearly not simple.
"Who are you?" Cang Bi asked.
Everyone in the crowd looked over at the Semi-Monarch, and as they did so, their expressions changed drastically. When had that person moved in front of Lord Cang Bi? This was clearly not good, as it indicated that this stranger was a true powerhouse.
The two people who had yelled at Lu Yin felt their legs suddenly grow weak as they stared at him in terror.
Lu Yin calmly looked at Cang Bi. "It seems I need to ask the same question three times. For the last time, are you taking me to the Endless Frontier?"
Cang Bi suddenly realized something and exclaimed, "Are you the Origin Universe’s Lu Yin?"
The others were startled by this question, and they stared at Lu Yin in shock. Someone from the Origin Universe?
Most people had not heard of Lu Yin's name, but a few had. Those who had heard of his name knew that Lu Yin was being punished by the Great Sovereign himself and that he was being sent to the Endless Frontier.
Was this Lu Yin?
Regardless of the young man’s cultivation, he was being punished by the Great Sovereign himself. Just how many people in the entire Sixverse Association qualified to be known and directly punished by the Great Sovereign? It was a status that exceeded what most people could even imagine.
Cang Bi was one of the people who was aware that Lu Yin was being punished along with Monarch Luo. Their crime was instigating a war between two parallel universes.
Lu Yin was someone who could stand up to Monarch Luo.
Lu Yin’s cold eyes bored into Cang Bi. A hand rose up, and dropped onto the Semi-Monarch’s shoulder. Cang Bi wanted to avoid it, but despite Lu Yin’s deliberately slow movements, Cang Bi found it impossible to move away as he watched the hand fall. Suddenly, he was assaulted by a heart-wrenching pain as a cracking sound rang out from his shoulder.
Cang Bi’s face turned pale, and he struggled to pull away, but it felt as though his shoulder had been frozen within the void, and the pain simply intensified.
The Semi-Monarch had no thoughts of attack or retaliation. Lu Yin was out of Cang Bi’s league, which meant that his only option was to beg for mercy. "Lu- Dao Monarch Lu, I was blind and did not recognize Dao Monarch Lu. Please forgive this small Cang Bi! Please, Dao Monarch Lu, I was merely surprised.”
The nearby people all slowly retreated, fear covering their faces.
Cang Bi, a powerful Semi-Monarch, completely lacked the strength to resist.
Lu Yin squeezed Cang Bi's shoulder. "It looks like you want me to ask you a fourth time."
Cang Bi reacted instantly, quickly replying, "No! This lowly one will not be leading you, but these people will. They are our escorts to the Endless Frontier."
As the man spoke, he looked at the five escorts, beads of sweat streaming from his forehead. "Quickly, give Dao Monarch Luo an explanation."
The escorts were stunned, but at Cang Bi’s prompting, they quickly repeated their previous introductions.
Lu Yin finally released Cang Bi’s shoulder.
The man instinctively wanted to flee, but he was also required to report to the Endless Frontier. How could he escape? Where could he go to?
From atop the rainbow wall, Chen Le watched on in silence. He really did show up in the end. I hope he dies on the Endless Frontier!
After hearing the escorts’ introductions, Lu Yin looked over at Cang Bi. "Break it down for me."
Cang Bi did not dare hesitate, and he quickly offered Lu Yin his understanding of the five universes.
It was only then that Lu Yin learned that the sixty-two parallel universes of the Endless Frontier were not all equally dangerous. According to Cang Bi, if the universe had never been heard of, then it should be avoided, as it was impossible to determine if the place was dangerous or not. The Big Stone Universe in particular had to be absolutely avoided, as even peak powerhouses had died in that universe, and it was impossible to determine just how dangerous it was. In the end, Cang Bi felt that only the options of the Majestic Universe and the Lilliput Universe were good.
"These two universes are perfectly average, and I’ve never heard of any major battles being fought in either of them. Peak powerhouses hardly ever visit them, and if you remain in either one of them for the duration of your service on the Endless Frontier, then given Dao Monarch Lu’s cultivation, you will not encounter much danger. It might even be possible to trigger a green light for the universe, which means that the universe has been purged of all Aeternal forces," Cang Bi explained in a respectful tone before wiping the sweat from his forehead. Lu Yin was so unreasonable that Cang Bi had nearly been crippled right before heading to the Endless Frontier!
"The only real disadvantage to these kinds of universes is that it is very difficult to accomplish any deeds of note, as they lack powerful enemies."
Lu Yin asked, "How long is my term on the Endless Frontier?"
"Ten years," Cang Bi replied.
Lu Yin frowned. Ten years was too long. It was not an amount of time that mattered to his identity as Lu Yin, but Xuan Qi could not remain in seclusion for so long.
It was indeed perfectly normal for cultivators to remain in seclusion for much longer lengths of time, but Lu Yin was worried that something might happen.
Most people could not expose or capture spies, and if some information popped up regarding an important spy, it was very possible that Xu Wuji would disturb Xuan Qi’s secluded training.
Cang Bi seemed to interpret Lu Yin’s reaction as confusion and said, "Truthfully, choosing an escort is just a way to get to the Endless Frontier. No matter which parallel universe you arrive in, if you don't want to stay there, then you can continue on to another universe through the portals. There are no orders that you must remain in a specific universe, and if you want to achieve something of note, then you can use the portals to travel between universes."
Lu Yin nodded. "That sounds good."
Cang Bi sneered internally. Sounds good? Wrong! So very, very wrong.
While not lying, Cang Bi was deliberately deceiving Lu Yin. While it was technically possible to travel between the sixty-two universes, no one would ever consider actually trying to do so. It was true that the parallel universes were all connected through spatial passages, but because the Endless Frontier was the main battlefield for the war between humanity and Aeternus, both sides were constantly trying to fight for control of those portals, and they would seize control of them wherever possible.
Essentially, the portals connecting the parallel universes were the most dangerous locations on the Endless Frontier. Anytime someone crossed through a portal, they would most likely encounter powerful enemies as soon as they reached the other side.
Cang Bi was hoping that Lu Yin would run into an incredibly powerful corpse king as he tried to cross between universes, as it would be best if Lu Yin was killed.
Chen Le overheard Cang Bi, and the Monarch’s expression changed. Cang Bi was quite cunning, casually mentioning the possibility of moving about the universes that made up the Endless Frontier. It was very likely that attempting to do so would cause Lu Yin to meet a powerful enemy and an early demise.
Chen Le also hoped that Lu Yin would run into an extremely powerful corpse king.
Everyone who had served on the Endless Frontier knew better than to try to move between parallel universes, but while it was something that was avoided, there were no rules against it, and nothing was openly mentioned about it. Thus, it made sense that Lu Yin was ignorant to the fact that he was receiving bad advice.
However, the fact that Lu Yin was ignorant did not matter to him, as he would just find a knowledgeable guide.
He looked at Cang Bi. "You’re pretty strong. Go to the Big Stone Universe and serve mankind well."
Cang Bi's face changed drastically, and he started begging. "Dao Monarch Lu, how can this lowly one go to the Big Stone Universe? That universe is a battlefield for peak powerhouses! Dao Monarch Lu, this- this-"
Lu Yin raised his hand again and set it on Cang Bi's shoulder.
The Semi-Monarch trembled as he stared at Lu Yin in fear.
All of the escorts’ expressions grew strange. Cang Bi had first relied on his superior strength to order someone else to the Big Stone Universe, only to be ordered to go there himself. The man really had no luck at all.
"You don't want to go to the Big Stone Universe?" Lu Yin asked with a smile.
Cang Bi just stared at Lu Yin blankly for a moment before shaking his head firmly.
Lu Yin hummed. "Then come with me."
Cang Bi was stunned.
Up above, Chen Le was left confused.
No one had expected such a thing from Lu Yin.
The people in the nearby crowd stared, speechless, but also overcome with envy. Were two powerful experts really going to cooperate on the Endless Frontier?
Cang Bi was slow to respond. "Dao Monarch Lu, you- you want this lowly one to go with you?"
"That’s right. This isn’t your first time serving on the Endless Frontier, so be my guide. I’m really not familiar with that place at all."
Cang Bi quickly refused, "Dao Monarch Lu, our Monarch Luo and you do not have a very amiable relationship, and thus I don’t dare follow you."
Lu Yin patted Cang Bi’s shoulder. "I have an excellent relationship with Luo Shan—don’t be deceived by appearances. Alright, it’s decided! Don’t worry, I’ll protect you while we’re on the Endless Frontier."
Cang Bi was truly ready to weep. He did not want to be protected. He just wanted to stay as far away from Lu Yin as possible. "Dao Monarch Lu, I-"
Lu Yin's eyes suddenly flared, and an indescribable power fell upon the area, focused entirely on Cang Bi.
This was the strength that allowed Lu Yin to face Progenitors. Years ago, he had already been able to fight against Semi-Progenitors, and he had since moved on to fighting against Progenitors, and even insulting the masters of the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas and the Three Sovereigns and Nine Sages. How could Cang Bi endure such power?
As the pressure fell, Cang Bi's heart trembled, and he was overcome with a sense of despair.
"It’s decided."
Cang Bi heard those words again, and this time, he knew that there was no way for him to refuse.
Everyone else lowered their heads. None dared to look at Lu Yin.
Even Chen Le was put on edge, high up on the rainbow wall as he was. He had felt his heart start to race. Clearly, Lu Yin must have already killed a peak powerhouse!
The pressure lasted less than a moment before it disappeared, but Lu Yin made it a point to glance up and look at Chen Le.
The Monarch silently looked back at Lu Yin.
Neither spoke a word.
Soon the escorts to the Endless Frontier spoke up, "Everyone, it is time. Three people have not arrived within the allotted time, so they will be investigated by specialized personnel. If they deliberately avoided coming here, they will be killed without mercy. Now is the time for you to choose which parallel universe you will go to.”
"There are thirty-nine people present, and there are five universes represented. At least seven people must go to each parallel universe, so please make your choice now."
Everyone warily glanced at each other, looking all around. No one wanted to go to the Big Stone Universe, but seven people would have to go there. This was going to become a fight.
At this moment, the cruelty of the Endless Frontier could already be seen.
Lu Yin set his hand on Cang Bi's shoulder. "Make your choice. Where do we go?"
Everyone watched the two men, knowing that none could compete with the two.
Cang Bi thought for a moment. "Let's go to Lilliput Universe."
The Semi-Monarch had heard of both the Majestic Universe and the Lilliput Universe, but had never visited either one. Still, judging by just the names, it sounded like the Lilliput Universe might be the safer choice.
One of the escorts stepped forward. "Dao Monarch Lu, Lord Cang Bi, please follow me to the Lilliput Universe."
Cang Bi's expression finally perked up, as he was at least not being sent to the Big Stone Universe. That universe was a battlefield for peak powerhouses, and the higher one’s cultivation, the more dangerous such a battlefield became.
"Let's go," Cang Bi said.
The escort replied, "We still need five more people."
"Take us first," Cang Bi rudely demanded, wanting to leave early. He felt that everyone here was laughing at him.
The escort was put in a difficult position, as he really did not want to make the trip twice. While the Lilliput Universe was not particularly dangerous, every time a person entered a universe, they would end up in a random location within a certain range of the coordinate seal, and there was no way to be certain that it would be a safe location, though of course he was required to take the risk once.
Lu Yin glanced around. "You, you, you, you, and you—you’re coming with us to the Lilliput Universe."
The people that he had called out were all people who had never insulted Lu Yin, or who had even shown pity on him when he first arrived. Given Lu Yin’s cultivation, he had naturally been able to see everyone’s reactions the entire time.
The people were thrilled at their luck. "Thank you very much, Dao Monarch Lu."
"Thank you, Dao Monarch Lu."
The escort also heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Dao Monarch Lu."
The void was torn apart, and Lu Yin and six others vanished.
The moment they left, the remaining people started to fight amongst themselves for the other universes, though they could not help but feel relieved that Lu Yin and Cang Bi were already gone.
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