Star Odyssey

Chapter 4430: Don't Push Me

It was a bit of a pity that Lu Yin could not use the white magma to increase his karma, but it did not truly matter. He had not found the creature’s true body, so it would not add much karma. The amount of Stillness it contained, however, was considerable.

Once the white magma enveloped a living being, it would release Stillness via Bone Script, granting life to its bones. That was why the white magma contained quite a lot of Stillness within it.

That musical skeleton was able to kill the white magma remotely, but it could not erase the power of Stillness. It did not care that its Stillness had been released, likely believing that, aside from the Death Megaverse, no creature could possibly use that power. It might even intend to use that power to heavily wound Lu Yin, not knowing that Lu Yin himself possessed Stillness.

He released his inner universe, and the star of Stillness rotated, drawing near the dark abyss and devouring it.

Stillness continuously flowed into the star, enlarging it. Lu Yin gazed at the abyss of Stillness, still feeling as though it were a pair of eyes—not those of the musical skeleton, but rather of the Death Megaverse itself.

There were far too many dangers and unknowns in the Aevum Inch. He had already forced his way through one difficulty after another and had believed that things were temporarily stable for humanity, but the truth was that there were always powerful enemies right at his side.

Everything that he had done was not enough, still not enough. Humanity’s overall power, not to mention Lu Yin’s own power, was still far from enough.

A long-forgotten idea resurfaced in his mind. It was an idea that he had entertained once before, but in the face of powerful enemies, he had held back. Now, he was finally qualified to proceed with it.

The white magma was dead, which meant that the three missing black plates of armor had to be with either the musical skeleton or the white magma’s true body. It did not matter which was true, as either case would make it very difficult to retrieve the plates.

Lu Yin withdrew his Manifestation Beyond the Pupil and vanished, teleporting away.

When he reappeared, he was already beside Lu Feiyang and the Immortal stone monster.

"Ancestor." Lu Feiyang gazed at Lu Yin with an expression of the utmost reverence. In the past, he had only heard about how powerful his ancestor was. When the Trio had been attacked, entire megaverses had shaken, but Lu Feiyang had not been qualified to even get close to the battle, much less see what was happening. Finally, he had seen Lu Yin’s power for himself.

This was his ancestor's strength. This was someone who could crush even Immortals.

"How is it? Has anything unusual happened with that fish?"

"No. It has continued fleeing in one direction this whole time."

"That alone is unusual."

Lu Feiyang did not understand, so Lu Yin took the time to explain, "If it’s fleeing in a single direction, then it is either so badly panicked that it’s forgotten even the basic need to evade pursuit, or there is something in that direction that makes it feel safe. This Ba Rong hasn’t used everything it’s capable of yet, which makes that first option impossible, leaving only the second."

Lu Feiyang understood. "Thank you for the guidance, Ancestor."

Lu Yin looked toward Ba Rong. The white magma had been dealt with, and it was Ba Rong's turn next. He vanished, teleporting away.

Lu Feiyang peered into the distance. That fish was doomed.

Ba Rong continued to charge across the cosmos, occasionally glancing back as it fled. It had not been caught yet, which was great, but it knew that it could not relax. That thing would not be so easy to shake off.

600 years. It took a whole 600 years, but it had finally escaped from that damned place and confirmed the direction of its home, only to run into that unlucky thing partway. Grandfather, you have to protect your dear grandson! Your grandson has never offended anyone. Aside from looking a little fierce, I actually have a kind nature. I like helping weak civilizations when I have the chance, and I occasionally even show them a clear path toward the Immortal realm. Your dear grandson truly has never done anything bad. That cursed place already made me suffer enough. I really can’t suffer any more! Otherwise, is there simply no justice left in the Aevum Inch?

It looked back again. No one was chasing it. It looked back again. Still no one. Then... hm?

It stared at the tiny figure that had suddenly appeared in front of it. The fish’s eyes flickered twice, then its pupils sharply contracted, and it let out a frightened shriek, "A human?"

Lu Yin arched a brow as he looked at Ba Rong. "Hello, Ba Rong."

The fish flipped over and tried to get farther away, acting as if it had seen a ghost. Lu Yin did not chase after it but simply watched. The fact that this fish recognized humans was already quite extraordinary.

Originally, Lu Yin had only intended to use the fish to increase his karma and see if he could find any valuable information by examining its past. He had not expected the fish to surprise him the moment they met. Is it able to recognize humans? Interesting indeed.

Regardless of whether the fish was an enemy or ally, it was still valuable.

Ba Rong kept flipping away, trying to get as far from Lu Yin as possible, yet its gaze never left the human. Wariness filled the fish’s eyes, along with lingering fear, unease, and all kinds of other complicated emotions. Seeing them roused Lu Yin’s curiosity even more. Exactly what had this fish gone through?

"Enough. You can't escape, so let's talk," Lu Yin said in an even tone.

Ba Rong pulled farther away and stared at Lu Yin while panting heavily. It looked as though it could not believe its eyes. It blinked hard and looked again, but the human was still there. The humans have found me!

The sky might as well be falling.

"Human, do you really refuse to let me go?"

Lu Yin smiled. "Of course. Why would I let you go?"

Ba Rong roared, raising its tail high in a threatening manner. "You won't catch me this time! I'm never going back to that cursed place."

"Do you want to try?" Lu Yin raised a brow.

Ba Rong stared at Lu Yin for a while then suddenly felt that something was off. "Wait. You're not an Immortal?"

"Whether I am or not, do you think you can escape?"

Ba Rong sized Lu Yin up. "So you're not him."

A glint flickered across Lu Yin's eyes. "Wrong. I am him."

"He's an Immortal being."

"My cultivation has risen, so you simply can't see through it anymore."

Ba Rong's pupils kept flickering as it stared at Lu Yin. "Impossible. Cultivation... Wait, that line was wrong. You're him? That's not something you should have said. Tell me, what's his name?"

Lu Yin found this conversation amusing. This fish was not stupid. He had only been speaking casually and had never expected to trick this creature into revealing anything with just a few words. It had a fierce and foolish appearance, yet was actually very cautious. "Fine, he sent me. I'm not him."

"What's his name?" Ba Rong raised its tail even higher while keeping a wary eye on Lu Yin.

Lu Yin's gaze sharpened. "Starforged Sword."

Ba Rong's scales stood on end, and it spun around to flee. So it really is him! He sent this human to capture me! Run, run fast! Grandfather, your dear grandson is suffering retribution! There is no justice in the Aevum Inch! Where can I even go to appeal?

Lu Yin stared at Ba Rong's back as the fish fled. Was his guess correct? It turned out that it really was.

Ba Rong had recognized a human the moment it had seen Lu Yin, and it had quickly said that it would not be captured again and that it would never return to that cursed place. Those comments had reminded Lu Yin of something.

The first time Ba Yue entered Manifest City, she had transformed into a vine. After catching on fire, a little dog had rescued her. After that, the dog had learned from Ba Yue how to leave Manifest City. That little dog had eventually escaped, but when Lu Yin had arrived at Manifest City later on and learned of these events, he had searched the surrounding area. If any creature beneath the Immortal realm had escaped from Manifest City, he would have immediately found it, as they could not have fled very far.

However, if the creature had been an Immortal, then even if it was incapable of instantly escaping beyond the range of Lu Yin’s Mirrorlight Art, who knew what direction it might have gone in?

Even if it had only fled for a short time, it would still be difficult to find, and that was not even considering the fact that Immortals often had their own means of concealing themselves.

Lu Yin had found no trace of any creature that had escaped from Manifest City. Either that little dog had failed to escape, or it was an Immortal and had gotten away.

The second possibility seemed far more likely.

Ba Rong’s reaction and comments had reminded Lu Yin of that little dog, so he had deliberately tested it with the name “Starforged Sword.” Sure enough, the fish had recognized the name, which indicated it was familiar with You Che. This fish should be that little dog that had escaped.

Around 600 years had passed, but Lu Yin had actually never forgotten about the matter. Even so, he had certainly not expected to find the escaped Immortal by accident.

This place was more than 600 years’ travel away from Manifest City. However, this fish was very fast. While it was not a match for the white magma, it still moved faster than the average Immortal, so it was not strange for it to have crossed such a distance.

Still, a guess was only a guess. Lu Yin would have to confirm the truth with karma.

He teleported directly in front of Ba Rong. Without another word, the fish lashed out with its tail.

Far away, Lu Feiyang stared on, wide-eyed. This strange fish's tail was no joke. Although it had failed to defeat the white magma, each blow had sent that white magma flying.

The powerful tail savagely whipped at Lu Yin, yet it passed through his body, striking only empty space.

Lu Yin drew closer to Ba Rong and kicked at the fish. With a heavy bang, the powerful blow sent Ba Rong flying back into the distance.

The fish was stunned. What was going on? Lu Yin was clearly a tiny creature, so how had he sent it flying with a mere kick?

Lu Yin appeared in front of the creature again, teleporting over. His foot slammed down yet again.

Ba Rong let out a roar. This was it! Even if it died, it would never return to that accursed place! It swung its tail again, only to miss again. Damn it!

Bang!

Lu Yin stomped a foot down, smashing Ba Rong again. He then proceeded to teleport again and again, continuing to beat the fish all over. Unless the creature was beaten into submission, it would never behave properly.

This had nothing to do with enmity; Lu Yin simply needed to prepare a situation where Ba Rong would speak honestly.

The fish let out a furious roar. Its head was already covered with lumps, its face was bruised and swollen, its eyelids were drooping, and one of its teeth had kicked out. It looked truly miserable.

In the distance, even Lu Feiyang could barely continue watching. Ancestor is being too ruthless!

While the fish’s injuries were not severe, Ba Rong's dignity was being completely dismantled.

The stone monster was also watching. There was no need to hide any longer. Not only that, but Lu Feiyang especially wanted the Immortal stone monster to watch the fish’s fate.

Consequently, the stone monster's tone when speaking to Lu Feiyang became much, much gentler than before.

Bang, bang, bang!

"Human, don't push me! I'd rather die than go back there!

"Human, my power is beyond what you can imagine!

"That human isn't here, so you can't stop me. Human, you've underestimated me!

"Human, I was wrong..."

Lu Yin finally stopped and looked at the miserable Ba Rong before him. "Good. Now that's the proper attitude for a conversation."

The fish felt utterly wronged. It was an Immortal being, and yet it had been beaten so badly. Its Lifeforce had been practically kicked apart, and as for its Immortal matter, it was no longer even able to use it. It hurt. Everything hurt. How was this human even more vicious than the previous one?

"Human, let's negotiate. Can I just not go back?" Ba Rong pleaded. Even its eyelids were bleeding, giving it a truly pitiful appearance.

Lu Yin smiled. "Sure."

"Really?"

"Stay right there and let me take a look."

"Take a look at what? How?"

A spiral of karma wound around Lu Yin’s finger, and then shot at Ba Rong. The fish was startled and hurriedly dodged, horrified. "Karma?"

Lu Yin said, "With this."

"No!" Ba Rong instantly refused. "Human, you're showing me no respect at all!"

Being examined with karma meant having all of one’s secrets revealed. No one would be willing to allow such a thing.

This was precisely why Lu Yin had beaten the fish so badly. If he did not beat it into submission, how could it possibly agree to allow him to see its karma?

Ba Rong was different from the white magma. The white magma had been unable to escape from Lu Yin’s Manifestation Beyond the Pupil, which was why he had been able to forcibly inspect its past with karma, but Ba Rong could cast off its scales to escape. Those tiny scales were so small that it might not be possible to accurately track them even with karma. Even trapping the fish within Manifestation Beyond the Pupil and trying to force it to allow Lu Yin to examine its past would take time, and that was assuming that Lu Yin could actually trap this fish.

Of course, Crow Immobilization could hold it in place, but Lu Yin was also curious to see what other tricks Ba Rong still had.