Chapter 4229: The Road Of Destruction
Chapter 4229: The Road Of Destruction
Lu Yin understood. This explained why Ancestor Shan had sensed him when he had looked into Astral Anura’s karma long ago, despite the immense distance. Even after so long, Lu Yin still found that feat unbelievable.
At least he knew why now.
Old Fourth’s lips peeled back as bloodlust flooded their eyes. “This Anura Order can lead us to the Blacklight Civilization. Let’s destroy them completely. Old First, let’s go. No more waiting. Let’s wipe the Blacklight Civilization out.”
Old First nodded and then looked at Lu Yin. "Although this Anura Order can show us where to find the Blacklight Civilization, it will still take a long time. Their megaverse is far from where we Seven-Treasure Anuras used to live. Do you have the time to go with us?"
Lu Yin replied, “Just leave pathfinding stones along the way. We’ll first return to the human megaverses, and then I’ll come back for you in fifty years. By that time, you should be very close to the Blacklight Civilization, or maybe you’ll have already destroyed it. I’ll bring you back.”
Old First and the other toads exchanged glances before agreeing.
However, Old Fifth would stay in the human megaverses.
“Old First, I want to go avenge Dad too,” Old Fifth protested. They did want to be left behind.
Old First’s voice grew heavy as he replied, “The Seven-Treasure Anuras cannot lack a strong pillar. No one knows what we might encounter on our way to the Blacklight Civilization. You should go to the human civilization first. In fifty years, come find us with Lu Yin. Take care of Little Anura.”
“Little Anura” referred to Astral Anura.
Everyone had seen Astral Anura speak with Ancestor Shan alone, and on more than one occasion at that. None of the Seven-Treasure Anuras knew what they had talked about, but it was clear that Ancestor Shan had entrusted more to Astral Anura than any other toad; he was different from the other Seven-Treasure Anuras.
Astral Anura listened in silence, feeling the sorrow of parting.
He had not expected that, after living for so many years, and even becoming a Dukkhan, he could still feel such strong emotions.
And yet he also felt that this was the only way that he could be whole.
Old Fifth remained reluctant. Why was Old Fourth able to go?
Eventually, Old First made a comment that completely shattered all of Old Fifth’s arguments. “Of us Seven-Treasure Anuras, you are the smartest. Strength and wisdom—our kin must inherit both.”
With that, Old Fifth knew that he had to stay. He represented their species’ wisdom.
“Little Anura.” Old First looked at Astral Anura.
Astral Anura looked back. “Uncle.”[1]
The word sounded strange to Lu Yin. Something about that term of address felt off.
Old First gazed at Astral Anura kindly. “Cultivate well. Strive to reach the Immortal realm as soon as possible. You are the future of the Seven-Treasure Anuras.”
Astral Anura forced a bitter smile. “And you, Uncle... and the rest of you.”
Old First’s expression suddenly fell. “If Old Sixth could return, that would be best. Still, just knowing he’s alive... is satisfying enough.
“Little Anura, if we don’t come back, remember to follow Lu Yin well. You will lead the Seven-Treasure Anuras to new heights.”
Not long after, Lu Yin teleported back to where the seven-colored land had once stood with Old First and the others. The toads activated the Anura Order, and it shot away. As it flew off, the Seven-Treasure Anuras’ auras changed. There was a surge of killing intent and hatred as they followed the token.
Once they reached their destination, it was highly likely that the Blacklight Civilization would be utterly destroyed.
Far, far too many civilizations had been destroyed throughout the cosmos. Lu Yin watched as Old First and Old Fourth vanished into the distance. The road they were walking on was the road of the Blacklight Civilization’s destruction.
Then, is there right now, some creature or civilization walking the road to human civilization’s destruction?
Lu Yin’s gaze grew heavier. Whoever it might be, if they truly intended to destroy human civilization, they would have to step over his corpse to do so.
After parting with Old First and Old Fourth, Lu Yin returned to the human megaverses with Mister Mu, Old Fifth, and Astral Anura.
The battle that had just taken place could be considered a war between five civilizations: the Blacklight Civilization, the Seven-Treasure Anuras, humanity, the technological civilization, and finally, Lan Meng. That battle had involved the greatest number of civilizations that Lu Yin had ever seen, as well as the most Immortals.
If not for Ancestor Shan’s karmic chain being completed, Lu Yin might have nearly forgotten that karmic chains even existed.
That was mostly because, during the last few centuries, human civilization had fought far too frequently. Awe Gate had taken action so many times that it felt like doing so cost her nothing. After Mister Mu had broken through, he had also taken action repeatedly. Because of that, Lu Yin had ended up neglecting the matter.
The truth was that Greater Sancte Green Lotus, Awe Gate, and Mister Mu all had their own karmic chains. They had taken action because they each had reasons that had left them with no other choice.
Compared to their karmic chains, those reasons were more important.
When had any of them been reluctant to take action?
Fortunately, Lu Yin had been the one to deliver the final blow to a number of formidable enemies. If not, the Immortals’ karmic chains would have increased even more.
After returning home and sharing a brief accounting of the events that had taken place at the seven-colored land, Lu Yin handed the plate with the information on the Seventh Rampart to Greater Sancte Green Lotus. That done, Lu Yin found a quiet place where he laid down inside the coffin. He needed to return to Vestigium.
...
On a dark world, with branches hanging low, Lu Yin opened his eyes inside of a coffin. “Furball, are you here?”
In Vestigium, eyes opened, one after another, revealing odd expressions.
Furball? So, that human Lu Yin has returned. This brat truly knows how to stir up trouble.
“Furball, are you there? Hello? If you are, answer me. I’ve missed you,” Lu Yin added.
No one answered.
Looks like Furball isn’t here.
“What about Lan Meng? Is it here?”
Again, no one answered.
Lu Yin did not know if Lan Meng was present or not. It had been badly injured by Ancestor Shan, and the blue coffin had almost been shattered. If Lan Meng survived, it was only out of sheer luck, as well as the fact that Huo had sacrificed its life to use Life Overreach a second time, threatening Old First. If not for that, Lan Meng would have undoubtedly died.
“Lan Meng, are you here or not? If you are, answer,” Lu Yin called again. Lan Meng’s floating coffin had been beaten miserably. Who knew if it was even able to return to Vestigium. If not, that would be bad. Lu Yin still wanted to talk to the tree-like creature.
There was still no answer.
Lu Yin let out a sigh of regret. “It looks like he can’t make it. Ba Se, Lan Meng broke the rules and even ruined its floating coffin. Does Obscura have any punishment for that?”
“Lu Yin, what nonsense are you spouting?” Lan Meng roared.
Lu Yin arched a brow. “So you are here then? I asked if you were, and you didn’t answer. Really, no manners at all. No wonder you broke the rules. Obscura’s rules aren’t something that you can ignore. You must pay for that.”
Lan Meng was growing increasingly furious. “You’re the one who broke the rules! The Seven-Treasure Anuras are a civilization that I use, and yet you tangled yourself with them! You even took them all away and helped them attack me! You nearly got me killed! How are you going to settle that debt?”
Lu Yin snorted. “Do you even hear yourself? The Seven-Treasure Anuras are a civilization. What? Now they’re your private property? I’m not allowed to touch them? Or were you given a mission to destroy the Seven-Treasure Anuras?”
There was no chance that Lan Meng had been tasked with destroying the Seven-Treasure Anuras. Its previous task had been to destroy Lu Yin’s human civilization, but even when humanity could no longer be touched, Lan Meng’s mission still would not change to destroying the Seven-Treasure Anuras. That was because Lan Meng wanted to use the toads.
Using one civilization to destroy another, the Seven-Treasure Anura were intended to be a tool.
That was why Lu Yin dared to ask such a question.
Lan Meng gritted its teeth before snapping back, “I found the Seven-Treasure Anuras first!”
Lu Yin mocked, “I found a springboard first. Does that mean that the springboard civilization belongs to me?”
“Lu Yin, don’t speak nonsense.” Ba Se’s voice rang out, sounding extremely solemn.
Lu Yin’s eyes flickered with a sharp glint. So wary?
Could he not even mention that civilization? Obscura was incredibly strong, but were they still so wary of the springboard civilization? Just what was it?
Long ago, the Nest civilization had also shown extreme caution regarding the springboard civilization, and that civilization was not allowed to even be mentioned within a Thread of Heaven.
While it was possible for some civilizations to not know about Obscura, it was impossible for them to not know about the springboard civilization. Lu Yin was growing more and more curious; just what kind of civilization could it be?
“Ba Se, is Lan Meng’s mission to destroy the Seven-Treasure Anura?”
“Others’ missions have nothing to do with you.”
“But I am not tangled up with the Seven-Treasure Anuras. If its mission is to destroy those toads, then I’m the one at fault. If it isn’t, then it owes me an explanation. I worked hard to draw the Seven-Treasure Anuras over, only for it to sneak-attack me at the last moment. If I hadn’t been prepared, I might have died.
“It broke the rules.”
Lan Meng’s tone dropped low. “I did not attack you. I did not violate Obscura’s rules. You, on the other hand, exposed your identity as a part of Obscura while striking at a fishing civilization, trying to direct their hostility towards Obscura. You are the one who broke the rules.”
Lu Yin shouted, “I’m proud to be a part of Obscura! Wherever I go, I’m Obscura! So what if I reveal that? Obscura is invincible and powerful! Am I not allowed to say that? You hide your head and tail like a rat, but Obscura isn’t sneaky like that! Obscura is great! I’m proud of it!”
Lan Meng was left utterly without words.
It was hard for the creature to describe its feelings at this moment. It was like a dead fly had stuffed itself down its throat, and yet Lan Meng could not even spit it out.
Lu Yin’s voice was bursting with pride. It actually lit up the dark sky, and the rare sound of rising wind appeared within Vestigium.
“Truly shameless. I’ve lived for so long, and yet this is the first time I’ve seen a creature so shameless.” A familiar voice spoke, and Lu Yin immediately connected it to one from his memories.
“So it’s you, Old Man Hehe!” Lu Yin greeted.
“?” A creature in another coffin was left feeling confused.
“Old Hehe, you still haven’t told me what kind of creature is able to teleport. It’s clearly a simple ability. Are none of you really able to do it?” Lu Yin kept probing. He had never managed to get an answer before, but he was not ready to give up.
“Hehehe. I’m not telling you.”
“What do you think of the name ‘Second Furball?’”
The other creature stopped talking. They clearly did not dare to continue the conversation. It was even possible that they were truly afraid of being called Second Furball.
Ba Se’s voice rang out at just the right moment. “Lan Meng, your mission was to destroy the abandoned humans. That mission is now canceled. You must choose a new one.”
Lu Yin’s heart stirred. Abandoned?
Lan Meng’s voice dropped low. “It is not worth abandoning a mission for just Lu Yin alone. That human civilization should be destroyed!”
Ba Se replied, “That is not for you to decide. Now, choose a new mission.”
Lu Yin spoke up, “That’s right. That human civilization should be destroyed. How about it, Lan Meng? Do you want to try again? I promise I won’t strike first.”
Lan Meng growled, “Lu Yin, human civilization will one day be exterminated. Don’t think too highly of yourself.”
Lu Yin scoffed, "That's why I said that I’ll let you try. I want to see if you are overestimating yourself or if you're just too scared."
Lan Meng stopped speaking.
“How about I choose a mission for you?” Lu Yin continued.
Ba Se spoke up. “Lu Yin, you should quiet down. Know when not to interfere.”
Lu Yin shot back, “I’m still young. Old Man Hehe, you’re already halfway into the ground, aren’t you?”
“In our place, there’s no being buried,” the voice replied calmly. “There’s only ascension.[2] Care to come along, little one?”
“I won’t bother you. Go ahead and ascend on your own.”
Ba Se felt utterly helpless. They could not order the members of Obscura. Each one of them had their own value and capability, and that included Lu Yin.
Ba Se could merely guide them, not control them.
The moment that Lu Yin joined Obscura, Vestigium had become a far livelier place. Ba Se felt that, if things continued, the identities of the various members of Obscura would eventually all be exposed.
1. 大爷 here carries the register of the colloquial phrase “你大爷,” a blunt, improper address, but with the explicit target removed. On its own, it is neither respectful nor openly insulting, leaving behind a vague sense of social wrongness rather than clear hostility. ☜
2. 升天 literally means “to ascend,” but it is also a common euphemism for dying. Here, the speaker deliberately uses the elevated term to deflect Lu Yin’s jab about death while implicitly acknowledging it. ☜