Star Odyssey-Chapter 3502: Challenge

Su Shidao thought for a moment. "What makes him so difficult as an opponent is his versatility. He has no noticeable weaknesses. He possesses immense physical strength, consciousness, and spiritual force. On top of that, he is even an accomplished Spirit Treasure Master! It’s impossible to pinpoint any flaws. It could be said that he grows stronger the more powerful his opponent is. Even if some ancient monster might be able to overwhelm him with pure power, completely suppressing him would not be easy at all.

"I wonder if any of the old monsters like that are even still alive."

Grandmaster Yu Ran had not expected Su Shidao to pile such high praise on the Third Boss. This meant that not even the old man was a match for the Third Boss.

This was especially shocking, as Su Shidao was just as powerful as the Seven Seraphs.

The Seraphs were practically the most powerful cultivators in the entire Spirit Nidus.

Were there any old monsters still alive who were more powerful than the Seven Seraphs? Su Shidao was already from an ancient era. It was unimaginable for anyone who even he considered an old monster to still be alive. Such a thing would break history’s very timeline.

With a sigh, Grandmaster Yu Ran found herself understanding Su Shidao's conflicted feelings. While he might hate the High Seraph, without him around, who else in the Spirit Nidus could stand up to the Third Boss?

...

"Third Boss, Su Shidao isn't your match, is he?" Old Tao asked with a flattering smile.

Lu Yin crossed his legs. "That old man’s quite reasonable, though he enjoys cursing people."

"Cursing?" Old Tao was briefly stunned, but then he grew furious. "He dared to curse you, Third Boss? Why didn't you call me over to deal with him? I'd have cursed him to death!"

"Forget it, it wasn’t bad, and it also doesn't matter."

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Old Tao offered a bit more flattery, which disgusted Palace Master Yao and the others within earshot.

"Huh? Third Boss, someone is chasing after us," Old Tao reported.

There was a group of people racing after Lu Yin’s entourage from behind. These were the same people who had initially tried to prevent Lu Yin from entering the Spirit Treasure Domain.

The sedan stopped, and Lu Yin turned to look at his pursuers. "What’s this? You didn’t want to let us in when we first arrived. And now, you don’t want to let us leave?"

Zhi Hua stepped forward and bowed to Lu Yin. "I wanted to apologize for my earlier rudeness, Third Boss."

The others also bowed in unison. "Our apologies, Third Boss."

Lu Yin was not at all interested in their apologies. "Alright, this is just wasting my time. Let's go."

Zhi Hua looked up and blinked. "Will you return, Third Boss?"

"To the Spirit Treasure Domain?"

"Yes."

"Probably not."

Zhi Hua looked disappointed.

"Before I leave, I have a gift for you." Lu Yin pointed a finger. Ripples spread through the void, stopping once they reached Zhi Hua's hand.

The others looked over, curious. There was an image in the girl’s hand, but neither she nor anyone else with her could understand what they were looking at.

The sedan continued on, moving far away.

Suddenly, Zhi Shan arrived, tearing through the void while shouting angrily, "Girl, you’re too brash! You went after the Third Boss again?"

Zhi Hua blinked. "I... I couldn't bear to just let him leave."

Zhi Shan was speechless. "Why would that bother you? What does it matter to you if he stays or leaves? Return home with me."

Zhi Hua opened her hand. "Grandfather, what is this? The Third Boss left it for me."

Zhi Shan looked at the image in the girl’s hand, and a tremor ran through his body. What is that? My Tomb of Mountains and Streams? No, that isn’t the original Tomb of Mountains and Streams.

The old man stared at the image in a daze.

Lu Yin had left his improved version of the Tomb of Mountains and Streams for Zhi Hua, sensing that the old man was approaching.

Su Shidao had shared the spirit treasure formation with Lu Yin, and upon a moment of inspiration, Lu Yin had modified the formation. He had then left the updated formation with Zhi Shan to express his thanks to the Spirit Treasure Domain.

Lu Yin’s experiences in the Spirit Treasure Domain had allowed him to alter Verdant Eternity, and those changes would result in a massive surprise to the Spirit Nidus.

"Third Boss, where are we going now?" Old Tao asked.

Lu Yin's gaze hardened. "the Umbral Deep."

Old Tao was confused. "the Umbral Deep? I think I've heard of that before..."

Palace Master Yao interjected, "It’s beside the Wisdom Domain."

"Oh, right. I remember now, The Umbral Deep. It’s connected to the Wisdom Domain, and it is bottomless." This did not diminish Old Tao’s befuddlement. "Third Boss, are we going to the Wisdom Domain?"

That possibility made Old Tao a bit nervous. The Wisdom Domain was not a simple place. While there were no known Seraph-level experts there, the Wisdom Domain made the decisions for the resource distribution across the entire Spirit Nidus. The Wisdom Domain’s history was even older than the High Seraph and the Seven Seraphs. The only one older than the domain was the megaverse’s invincible being.

Antagonizing the Wisdom Domain would lead to huge problems, as doing so would be like poking a hole in the Spirit Nidus’s sky.

Lu Yin leaned back on the sedan and stared up at the stars. "Bao Qi is in The Umbral Deep."

Old Tao and Palace Master Yao were both startled. "Is Bao Qi in the Wisdom Domain?"

Astral Anura turned to stare at Lu Yin. A Seraph?

Old Tao grew confused. "Why would one of the Seven Seraphs be in The Umbral Deep? That’s so close to the Wisdom Domain."

Lu Yin smiled faintly. "It’s because of the High Seraph. He sent Seraph Bao Qi to observe the Wisdom Domain."

"Third Boss, if you learned that Bao Qi is in The Umbral Deep from the Grandmaster's Trial, then the information must have come from the Phantom Reach. While they most likely have not provided you with false information, even if this is true, finding Bao Qi could still result in an ambush." Old Tao expressed his fears.

Of course, Lu Yin had already considered such things.

The Phantom Reach had originally intended to use Su Shidao to eliminate Lu Yin, but that had been nothing more than wishful thinking. Since Su Shidao had failed, the Umbral Deep would most likely become the site of his execution.

This ambush would not be like the one at Nine Horizons. This time, there would be more than one Dukkhan expert involved. If the seven major powers might join forces, or whether the Ascendant Hall would send their own powerhouses, remained unknown.

There was no telling whether the High Seraph was willing to give Lu Yin more time.

However, there was no avoiding this trip to The Umbral Deep.

He had initially planned to first go make some trouble for the Phantom Reach, but unfortunately, their headquarters did not have a fixed location. Additionally, Old Tao was unable to find them, which meant that Lu Yin needed to first deal with Bao Qi.

It did not really matter, as Lu Yin had only been cooperating with the Phantom Reach to get to Bao Qi.

The only question was whether or not the Seraph would run.

It had been such a long since the Grandverse Manor had provoked the Ascendant Hall, and given Bao Qi’s personality, he should have already done something. The fact that he had not could only mean that the High Seraph was restraining the man and preventing him from taking action.

The High Seraph’s goal is to prevent me from mending my karma.

With that in mind, while others will believe that I am headed for the Wisdom Domain, there’s no doubt that the High Seraph will realize that I am actually headed to The Umbral Deep.

It’s very likely that he’ll make Bao Qi leave, leaving me empty-handed or even set an ambush.

Not only might I fail to find Bao Qi, but I might also face a life-or-death crisis.

Lu Yin thought for a moment, and then he spoke up in a low voice. "Old Tao."

The man eagerly replied, "Here, Third Boss."

"Spread the word—I’m heading to the Umbral Deep for Bao Qi! There’s not a single expert in this world who can stop me. His grandpa is coming for him!"

Old Tao was stunned by Lu Yin’s words, his face turning pale.

Palace Master Yao and Cai Keqing both stared at Lu Yin in disbelief. Did he just openly declare war on a Seraph? His grandpa?

Lu Yin had already defeated Qi Zun in the Consciousness Domain and walked away unscathed after facing Su Shidao, a figure recognized as being on par with the Seven Seraphs. But to openly challenge an actual Seraph? That was something that no Spirit Nidus cultivator could easily process.

To those born in the Spirit Nidus, a Seraph was as untouchable as the heavens themselves.

Still, their shock was fleeting. Hadn’t everything the Third Boss done up until now been a direct provocation of the High Seraph? Challenging a Seraph no longer seemed so impossible.

But to call himself Bao Qi’s grandpa...? How was that not taking arrogance to another level?

Old Tao hesitated. "Third Boss, wouldn’t it be... rather inappropriate to phrase it like that?"

Lu Yin was unmoved. "Say it."

Old Tao had no choice. Feeling utterly helpless, he coughed twice and looked around before shouting at the top of his lungs:

"The Grandverse Manor’s Third Boss is heading straight for Umbral Deep to challenge Seraph Bao Qi! Bao Qi, if you have any courage, don’t you dare run! Your Grandpa, Third Boss, is coming for you!"

His booming voice rippled through space, echoing across the cosmos.

The countless eyes that had been watching Lu Yin collectively lost their minds.

Not only was he openly challenging a Seraph—he was calling himself Bao Qi’s grandpa!

This Third Boss really wants to flip the megaverse upside down!

This was no longer an indirect confrontation. Lu Yin had just declared war against a genuine Seraph.

Qi Zun, Su Shidao, and Hu Wu and Tian Ya were all Seraph-level experts, but none had ever actually claimed the title. Bao Qi, on the other hand, was a true Seraph.

Despite being an Ortuser, Bao Qi possessed an invincible presence, his Cauldron Bell sequence base resonating with his Sound sequence technique, making him untouchable in combat.

And now, not only was the Third Boss openly challenging him—he was calling himself Bao Qi’s grandpa!

The entire Spirit Nidus erupted in outraged fury. Countless voices hurled insults at Lu Yin.

To insult a Seraph was to insult the Spirit Nidus itself.

At the same time, Old Tao was also being dragged through the mud.

He was on the verge of tears.

"How arrogant! With his Cauldron Bell, Seraph Bao Qi has proven himself invincible in the megaverse! He is one of the Seven Seraphs, someone who’s suppressed an entire era. This Third Boss is not just challenging Bao—he even dares to call himself Seraph Bao Qi’s grandpa! He is far too arrogant!"

"He’s been arrogant for too long. Seraph Bao Qi will show him the difference between a true Seraph and all who have failed to achieve that position."

"I also had the honor of seeing Seraph Bao Qi in action once. With his Cauldron Bell, even getting close to him is difficult. He suppressed three Ortusers alone, preventing all of them from even approaching him. That sort of overwhelming strength is how powerful the true Seraphs are! The Third Boss will undoubtedly suffer a crushing defeat!"

"I’m curious as to why Seraph Bao Qi is in The Umbral Deep."

"Is Bao Qi really in The Umbral Deep? Could the Third Boss have made that up? Did he just choose a place at random? He can then claim that Bao Qi isn’t there and brag that Bao Qi won’t dare to fight him."

"That’s possible."

"Definitely possible."

"I think that’s what’s going on. the Umbral Deep connects to the Wisdom Domain, and the Wisdom Doma—"

"Shh! Speaking about the Wisdom Domain is forbidden! Say nothing."

"Can’t even speak of it..."

...

Countless discussions broke out in every corner of the Spirit Nidus. Lu Yin's sudden challenge pulled all eyes towards the Wisdom Domain, specifically focusing on The Umbral Deep.

The sedan stopped at an interstellar city, and Lu Yin went into seclusion.

He needed to make some preparations. He raised his hand, brought out his die, and tapped it. It had been a very long time since he last rolled his die. He wanted to roll four pips, as he needed the extra time that Timestop could grant him.

The Umbral Deep was a place unlike any other. It bordered the Wisdom Domain, and its uniqueness stemmed entirely from that connection.

It was a bottomless chasm in the vastness of space, and it could even be considered an astral phenomenon in nature. No one knew where Umbral Deep truly led. Throughout countless years, many had ventured into its depths—those who returned never saw the end, while those who reached the end... never returned.

No one had known that Bao Qi, one of the Seven Seraphs, had actually been hiding in The Umbral Deep.

As soon as people heard about the Third Boss’s challenge, not only did they start gossiping about the challenge itself, but they also wondered why Bao Qi was in The Umbral Deep and what lay at its bottom.

Some people turned their focus to The Umbral Deep, not for anything else other than the fact that their ancestors or descendants had died in the place. They were wondering whether those deaths might be related to Bao Qi, and they waited to learn the answer.

While the Seven Seraphs stood above all others, pure power alone could not change people’s hearts.

Hatred would not disappear. If their loved ones really had died because of Bao Qi, then even if the current generation could not get revenge, or even the next, there was always a chance that a future generation would obtain the necessary strength.

The Seven Seraphs did not solely come from the seven major powers.

Seraph Meng Sang had no organization behind him.

Many cultivators started moving towards The Umbral Deep.

The Third Boss had stopped at an interstellar city, and no one knew if he was there to go into seclusion or something else. Everyone was waiting for a hint of movement from The Umbral Deep.

One day, an old man was seen moving about in The Umbral Deep, and many cultivators saw him.

"Is that the ruler of the Wisdom Domain, Old Yu?" someone exclaimed in shock.

Everyone stepped back and offered respectful bows to Old Yu.