Star Odyssey

Chapter 4428: Ba Rong

Watching other creatures struggle from the perspective of an outsider offered a very different experience. Did Obscura, using one civilization to destroy another, perhaps enjoy this same feeling?

Time passed quickly, and the two entangled entities drew closer and closer to the fish.

At this moment, inside the king vessel, the beings from the technological civilization were also waiting.

Suddenly, the vessel shook once. "What happened?"

"Your Highness, the white magma has detached from the king vessel."

"What?"

In outer space, the white magma that had been clinging to the oval light suddenly compressed, causing light to blaze across the cosmos once more. Then, the white magma broke away from the light entirely and shot off in a new direction at an even greater speed than before.

Neither the beings of the technological civilization nor Lu Yin had expected this outcome, though Lu Yin immediately understood the reason why; the white magma had set its sights on the fish and abandoned the technological civilization’s vessel.

"Your Highness, let's go! That white magma creature has given up on us."

"Turn us around immediately and head in the opposite direction." The oval light moved decisively and quickly fled in the opposite direction of the white magma, showing no intention of stopping at all.

The white magma did not care about the ship, and it simply charged at the fish.

Both the technological civilization’s vessel and the white magma creature had extremely high perception capabilities. Because of that, the fish still had not noticed that it was being targeted. It continued leisurely drifting through the Aevum Inch. Only after some more time passed did the creature suddenly come to a stop. Its huge and ferocious eyes peered ahead, flickering with uncertainty. The scales covering its body could be seen trembling. It seemed that the fish had sensed something.

Then, it turned around and fled.

Lu Yin arched a brow. That decisive?

Lu Feiyang was shocked. It’s running?

This reaction lacked any sort of dignity. The fish was clearly an Immortal, so how could it lack the simple courage to face an enemy?

The stone monster did not know what had happened, but judging by the expressions on Lu Yin and Lu Feiyang’s faces, it was clear that something unexpected had occurred.

At this moment, the situation had become quite clear: the oval light was fleeing in one direction, and the fish was fleeing in another. As those two tried to escape, their backs to each other, the white magma creature was pursuing the fish, having completely given up on the oval light.

Lu Yin observed the fish. Because it was too far away, he could not sense its strength, but the technological civilization’s king vessel should have been able to analyze something. They had avoided directly clashing with the fish, which indicated that the fish was no simple creature. With that, Lu Yin found it completely unexpected that the fish lacked the courage to even face the white magma and had instead decided to immediately flee.

The fish was fleeing, and the white magma was chasing. It was no different from how the oval light had previously fled while being chased by the white magma. Only now, the entire focus had shifted to the fish.

The fish had a fierce and imposing appearance, giving off the impression of being a creature that was impossible to provoke. Who would have thought that it would instantly flee? It even looked exceptionally pathetic, given how it was flinging its tail so violently that it looked ready to snap off.

A year later, the white magma was still closing in like a ghost. The fish had never been able to move as fast as the white magma, and its ability to sense its surroundings was also greatly lacking. It stood no chance of escape.

This became even more clear when Lu Yin saw a megaverse appear in the fish’s path. It became evident that it was about to be caught.

The white magma vanished in an instant. The fish glanced back. Where did that monster go?

Ahead, white replaced the expanse of outer space. The fish looked back and froze. So fast?

The white magma then suddenly lunged at the fish. The two were practically face to face.

The fish abruptly raised its tail and smashed it down from high above. With a bang, the white magma was sent flying.

Lu Yin and Lu Feiyang were both surprised. So fierce?

They had assumed that the fish was fleeing so frantically because it was too weak to directly face the white magma. They had not expected the creature to send the white magma flying with a single strike of its tail. Its power far exceeded the technological civilization's vessel’s capabilities, so why had the fish been so determined to run away?

The fish turned and continued to flee, its movements frantic.

But the white magma quickly steadied itself and continued its pursuit, vanishing in an instant.

There was a megaverse nearby, which meant that there was a branch of the River of Aeons in the region. This allowed the white magma to instantly appear in any location it desired.

The fish stared blankly as the white magma appeared in front of it again. Teleportation? No way! Does such an innate gift really exist?

It lifted its tail and struck again.

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. This fish was not lashing out with mere brute force, but was rather using a battle technique. Whenever its tail rose, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a certain profound rhythm, one that perfectly mobilized the fish's Lifeforce and Immortal matter to release a powerful strike.

Crack.

The white magma flew back from the impact, blasted away once more.

The fish turned around yet again, but the white magma easily caught up.

Even Lu Yin felt sorry for the fish. It kept changing directions in an attempt to avoid the white magma, but in reality, the fish was merely circling around the megaverse. If it simply committed to a single direction, the white magma would not be able to catch up nearly so easily.

Crack.

Crack.

Crack.

The thunder of one impact after another tore through the cosmos. The white magma was sent flying again and again, yet it continued to instantly close the distance.

The fish's gaze grew increasingly vicious, and it let out warning roars. However, nothing had any effect on the white magma. It seemed incapable of communicating. This was no different from when the technological civilization’s vessel had attempted to communicate; there was simply no intent to engage in any kind of dialogue at all.

Not far away, the megaverse swayed under the shockwaves of a fight between two Immortals. Who knew how many native creatures had already lost their lives.

Again and again, the white magma tried to envelop the fish, and again and again, the fish sent it flying. Each time it struck, the fish carefully observed the results, and it realised that the white magma was truly unharmed by the repeated blows. Realizing this left the fish feeling somewhat helpless. All of its effort had been a waste.

It was still best to run.

"I am Ba Rong. I am kind by nature and do not wish to invite trouble or bloodshed. You are no match for me, so leave at once," the fish threatened.

The white magma charged in.

Crack.

It was sent flying. "Why do you insist on attacking me? Are you not afraid of increasing your karmic chain?"

Crack.

"There is no grudge between us. Could this be some misunderstanding?"

Crack.

"If this continues, you cannot blame me for being impolite! My unwillingness to increase my karmic chain does not mean that I don’t dare to kill you!"

Crack.

Lu Yin frowned. This white magma seemed to have no other methods. It approached, and it enveloped. Was that really it? It should be impossible for any Immortal to have such limited means. No matter how he looked at it, this white magma Immortal was strange.

The white magma shot at Ba Rong yet again.

"You're courting death!" Ba Rong roared furiously. Its Lifeforce surged, sweeping through the void. Its tail rose high, and with another crack, it lashed out with an even fiercer attack than before. The white magma was sent flying straight out of the nearby megaverse’s range, likely beyond the influence of the local branch of the River of Aeons.

Ba Rong glanced at the megaverse and then abruptly shot off in a different direction.

Lu Yin arched a brow. The fish had seen through the white magma’s apparent teleportation ability.

However, even if the fish had figured out how the white magma moved, what of it? It still could not escape.

The white magma vanished in an instant, reappearing as close to Ba Rong as possible and then lunging for the fish. Although the white magma was no longer able to move along the branch of the River of Aeons, it still was catching up to Ba Rong. As Lu Yin and the others watched in amazement as the white magma caught up to the fish yet again.

This time, the force of Ba Rong's tail strike proved very weak, and it was nowhere near enough to send the white magma flying. The fish could only allow itself to be enveloped as the white magma gradually covered its entire body.

"Ancestor!" Lu Feiyang cried out in alarm, but Lu Yin just watched, still perfectly calm.

Not a single Immortal was simple. Even though he had easily killed Immortals in the past, that was only possible because Lu Yin possessed too many different powers, each of which could be considered powerful enough to be a fishing civilization’s legacy power. In truth, throughout the entire Aevum Inch, no Immortal was ever simple.

After all, reaching the Immortal realm was simply too difficult. Along the path to reach that level, only the individual themselves could know just how many life-preserving tricks they had mastered.

The white magma completely enveloped Ba Rong and then remained motionless in outer space, but the very next moment, the white magma suddenly abandoned the fish and shot off in another direction.

Lu Yin frowned and used Mirrorlight Art to look along the white magma’s path. He had thought of something, but he had not initially caught the issue. He turned back to look, and by using Ba Rong's speed as a reference, he peered into the distance. There, he saw it. There was a single fish scale. It was utterly inconspicuous. The only reason why it caught his attention was that, as it moved, it tore through the void, leaving behind a black spatial tear.

The fissure was actually not very long, and it was nearly impossible to detect at first glance.

A fish scale? Ba Rong escaped.

Lu Yin brought the Immortal stone monster and Lu Feiyang over to where Ba Rong had just been enveloped by the white magma. The fish before them was utterly motionless, like a statue.

With a casual wave of his hand, Lu Yin caused Ba Rong's body to scatter apart, leaving behind nothing more than a single fish scale that drifted through the cosmos.

"Oh? What a peculiar method of escape," the stone monster commented in surprise.

Lu Yin looked into the distance. Yes, this really was a peculiar method. He had observed the battle the entire time, and yet even he had not noticed when the fish had slipped away.

Ba Rong was truly skilled at fleeing, but it was not very fast.

Far away, Ba Rong grew uneasy. The white monster had figured things out too quickly. That should not have been possible. Shedding scales to survive was the secret ability of the fish’s species. Unless an opponent already knew about it beforehand, they should not be able to notice Ba Rong’s escape nearly so quickly.

Was it possible that this white monster was specifically there to kill it? But it did not even have any enemies.

With that thought, the fish reverted back to its true form and then stayed motionless again. As that happened, a single fish scale shot off into the distance.

It was only when the white magma arrived at Ba Rong’s body and enveloped it that it realized that something was wrong, and it immediately continued its pursuit.

After this series of events played out with several repetitions, the distance between Ba Rong and the white magma grew larger and larger. This was primarily due to the fact that each false body that Ba Rong left behind was able to delay the white magma for a short while, and even if it was not long, it was still enough to slowly widen the gap between the two.

Given enough time, Ba Rong would be able to escape from the white magma's pursuit.

Lu Yin peered across the endless Aevum Inch. Watching others fight was certainly enjoyable, but this stalemate was nothing more than a waste of time. Not only that, but he was also very interested in the white magma. Since that was the case, it was his turn to take action.

"You two stay here," Lu Yin ordered, vanishing with a teleport.

Lu Feiyang grew excited. Ancestor’s finally going to make his move!

Across the cosmos, Lu Yin teleported directly in front of the white magma. He looked at it as his Tri-Azure Sword Intent swirled around him. His river of sword intent then slashed out.

One strand of Tri-Azure Sword Intent after another slashed at the white magma. It did not put up any sort of resistance, and every attack struck home. However, just like when Crystal Fall had struck the Immortal, Lu Yin’s sword intent merely transformed the white magma into a hedgehog of blades. None of the attacks actually cut through it.

The white magma spread out, reaching for Lu Yin. It showed no surprise, nor any other emotion. It moved as if acting solely on instinct.

Behind Lu Yin, his Investiture of the Gods appeared. Tri-Azure Sword Intent: Hidden Blade. Another river of sword intent appeared.

Countless strands of Tri-Azure Sword Intent erupted to slash at the white magma. This time, it was cut through entirely. Every strand of Tri-Azure Sword Intent in the river was a Hidden Blade, and its power was on a completely different level from the earlier Tri-Azure Sword Intent, let alone something like Crystal Fall.

The white magma's defenses were certainly impressive, but ultimately, still limited. It could not even begin to compare to a being like Second Furball.

When facing the technological civilization’s king vessel or Ba Rong, this Immortal was able to fully withstand their attacks, but against Lu Yin, it could not endure.