Star Odyssey

Lu Yin stared at the images before him, but he could only see one tiny human, who was surrounded by multiple other people attacking the solitary figure. The various attackers unleashed a multitude of different battle techniques, but they were all simply reduced to vapor before they could strike the little human in the middle, the remnant wind simply brushing past him.

"That is Eversky Island's secret technique, Thousand Rivers Return to the Sea. It is able to reduce all your opponents' attacks to the original energy state," Highsage Shenwei explained before adding on, "It is a very powerful secret technique."

Lu Yin felt his interest pique. Thousand Rivers Return to the Sea. Just the name alone sounded compelling. However, Lu Yin already had the Yu secret technique, which could redirect enemy attacks as well as the Ce secret technique, which helped him avoid enemy attacks. Thus, this particular secret technique seemed to overlap with the abilities he already had.

While pondering his options, Lu Yin looked to the side, where he saw a tiny human wielding a massive blade. The weapon sliced through the air in a domineering fashion.

"This is one of Eversky Island's battle techniques, Overlord Slash, which junior Leon uses with great skill. One attack of the Overlord Slash is in no way inferior to the Xia family's Triple Blade Will. Additionally, the more intimidating the user is, the stronger their power will be. The key is in dominating others," Highsage Shenwei continued to explain.

Lu Yin's gaze moved past it. Dominating, huh?

He was capable of unleashing such an aura, but his was different from Highsage Leon's forthright and unrestrained dominance. The dominance that Lu Yin possessed revealed itself in a more subtle manner, but he was still just as individualistic, refusing to accept any law above him. It was clear that this battle technique was not for him.

Lu Yin continued to observe all the battle techniques that Eversky Island possessed, after which he focused on the five arrays. Arrays… Are these sourcebox arrays? Five of them! You've got to be kidding me!

"Are these all sourcebox arrays?" Lu Yin guessed as he looked up at Highsage Grandmaster.

Highsage Grandmaster nodded with a smile and looked at Lu Yin as he answered, "I've heard that you've reached the Boundless Advanced Lockbreaker level, so I think that it's time for you to comprehend a sourcebox array. Only Lockbreakers who have grasped a sourcebox array can call themselves true Lockbreakers. The vast universe is limitless, and it is often extremely difficult to approach precious and hidden things. The path of Lockbreakers is one that resists the fate given to us, but of course, the universe is not a force to be underestimated. Thus, it would only be natural for sourcebox arrays to be even more terrifying."

From what Highsage Grandmaster had just said, it was clear that he hoped that Lu Yin would pick a sourcebox array.

Lu Yin found it strange that Highsage Grandmaster had five sourcebox arrays. Wait… Highsage Grandmaster, MASTER! It couldn't be…

Lu Yin looked up at Highsage Grandmaster in complete shock. "Senior, you- are you an Array Grandmaster?"

Lockbreakers were categorized as Discerning Elementary, Perceptive Intermediate, and Boundless Advanced. But there were still more levels above the Boundless Advanced level: Array Master, Senior Array Master, Realm Array Master, and finally, the highest rank that any Lockbreaker could achieve, Array Grandmaster.

A Lockbreaker could only claim the title of Array Master after comprehending at least five sourcebox arrays and designing their own, unique sourcebox array.

Comprehending and mastering five sourcebox arrays was not an easy task.

The Teleportation Formation that Qiu Shi had comprehended from the Cosmic Sect was the lowest level of sourcebox arrays, and it might have been even further simplified. Despite that, it would still take her a substantial amount of time before she mastered it and was able to casually use the array as she wished. Lu Yin had grasped two sourcebox arrays so far, but they were both extremely simple ones.

He also had five pages of True Insight in his possession, but the only sourcebox array that he had managed to comprehend from those pages was the Inception Array. Lu Yin needed at least a few more years before he could comprehend any of the other sourcebox arrays even though his lockbreaking foundation came from the Daosource Sect's Platform of Inception and Gu Yue's journal.

Not even Qiu Shi could comprehend the Inception Array as quickly as Lu Yin had, and she was considered one of the universe's most gifted Lockbreakers. She was someone who stood at the same at the true peak of their generation as the Lockbreaker Society's Wu Dan.

It took time to comprehend a sourcebox array, and to become an Array Master, a Lockbreaker also had to design their own array. That was an entirely different sort of struggle compared to simply learning an array.

It was a pity that the sourcebox array recorded within Gu Yue's notes was incomplete. Otherwise, Lu Yin would have had at least some chance of comprehending it. It was impossible to know if the damage had been made by Gu Yue himself or by someone else, but regardless, it was quite unfortunate.

"Of course my master is an Array Master! Why else would everyone else call him Highsage Grandmaster? Idiot!" Highsage Shenwei grumbled angrily.

Lu Yin stared at Highsage Grandmaster in absolute awe. So this was what the appellation "Master" indicated. From what Lu Yin knew, there was only one person in the entire Human Domain who was a Celestial Array Master, and that was the president of the Lockbreaker Society, Xiu Ming. He had never expected that Highsage Grandmaster would also be one.

It was no wonder why Eversky Island had five sourcebox arrays.

Highsage Grandmaster turned to glare at Highsage Shenwei before scolding him. "Shush! Even though this old man has become a Celestial Array Master, each of my disciples end up being more useless than the last! Not a single one of you were able to even become a Senior Array Master, and yet you still dare to spout such crap."

Highsage Shenwei let out a dry laugh, but he did not dare to say anything more.

Highsage Grandmaster looked back at Lu Yin and smiled. "Little rascal, although you haven't been formally recognized as one of Eversky Island's disciples, a nominal disciple is still a disciple. I suggest that you choose to learn a sourcebox array."

Lu Yin bowed respectfully as he responded, "I thank Highsage Grandmaster for your good will, but I am already in the process of comprehending a sourcebox array. Even if I wished to comprehend a second one, at this juncture, I'm afraid that it would be too much for me to handle."

Highsage Grandmaster was taken aback. "You have a sourcebox array?"

Lu Yin grunted in affirmation and started thinking of some way to explain how he had gotten it to Highsage Grandmaster.

Unexpectedly, Highsage Grandmaster did not press the matter any further. "Well that's fine. Since you already have a sourcebox array, then you should focus on fully comprehending it. In that case, what else do you desire? Secret techniques? Battle techniques?"

Lu Yin raised his head and asked, "Senior, are my choices limited to only secret techniques and battle techniques?"

Highsage Grandmaster furrowed his brows. "Child, are you not interested in the secret technique or the battle techniques that this old man has?"

Highsage Shenwei and Highsage Wudi both turned to look at Lu Yin, shooting him repeated and pointed looks.

Lu Yin sighed. "I have already learned the Yu and Ce families' secret techniques, and their abilities happen to overlap with the effects of your Thousand Rivers Return to the Sea Secret Technique. As for battle techniques, my humble self already has a few too many. Thus, I would be extremely hard pressed to learn anything more."

Also, Eversky Island's battle techniques were rather incompatible with Lu Yin. None of them suited him well even though they were each very powerful.

Highsage Grandmaster carefully scanned Lu Yin from top to bottom, and then he seemed to remember something. "Indeed, even when you crossed the Eversky Bridge back then, you already had an abundance of battle techniques. There was the Cosmic Art, one of the Ku family's techniques, the Daynight clan's techniques, the Overlaying Stacks Path, and more. Add your innate gift and secret techniques on top of that, and you'll be all set. It would indeed be meaningless for you to learn anything more." As the old man considered the matter, he looked at Lu Yin and said, "However, I promised Leon that Eversky Island would properly compensate you if you returned safely."

Lu Yin immediately replied, "I understand that Highsage Grandmaster has your reasons for doing this, but I don't need any compensation."

The smile on Highsage Grandmaster's face vanished. "I can't renege on a promise that I made to my disciple. Little rascal, just now, you asked me if there's anything else that you could learn, but I can't think of anything. In that case, what do you want?"

Lu Yin pondered for a bit before meeting Highsage Grandmaster's gaze. "Would Senior happen to have something for protection?"

Right now, Lu Yin was still lacking a power vessel that could protect him from true top-level experts. He had offended far too many people, and with the Outerverse being handed over to the Sixth Mainland, there was still a great deal more that he needed to accomplish.

Highsage Grandmaster thought for a moment before raising his hand and causing an item the size of a palm to appear. "I do have something that can help save your life, but this item's force is too overwhelming, and it covers too large of an area. If you're not careful, then you might be caught up in it yourself.

"This item contains a sourcebox array that I designed myself, the Desolate Array. Once used, an entire galaxy will be wiped clean. The force of this array is enough to reduce a cultivator with a power level of 800,000 to a smoking corpse."

Lu Yin's eyes went wide with shock. The walnut-looking power vessel that Yuan Shi had given Lu Yin had been powerful enough to reduce an expert with a power level of 700,000 to ashes, but this tiny item was able to threaten a powerhouse with a power level of 800,000! And on top of that, it had an area of effect!?

Highsage Shenwei spoke up. "Master, wouldn't this be pushing things for him? He'll destroy himself if he's not careful."

Highsage Grandmaster replied, "With his ability as an Advanced Lockbreaker and Truesight, he should be able to escape death. The power of this Desolate Array might be strong, but it's not overly complicated. It's a purely offensive sourcebox array."

Lu Yin was thrilled, and he exclaimed, "Thank you Highsage Grandmaster! I shall choose that then!" Such a powerful item was exactly what he had been lacking. Everything would be perfect after he returned to the Outerverse and asked Yuan Shi for a few more of the walnut-shaped power vessels.

After taking the item that held the Desolate Array, Lu Yin carefully stored it away in his cosmic ring.

Highsage Grandmaster spoke up, "Eversky Island has now fully compensated you. Little rascal, keep up the good work and continue to cultivate hard. You should be able to enter the top ten in the upcoming tournament, ZENITH, and it will be entirely up to you to seize any opportunities that appear before you. Remember, when you arrive, avoid causing conflicts as much as possible, but if you are forced to make a move, then never show mercy. You must seize what you need."

After saying that, Highsage Grandmaster left.

Lu Yin did not understand what the old man meant, so he turned to Highsage Wudi.

Highsage Wudi shrugged. "Just keep Master's words in mind. You'll understand in the future."

Highsage Shenwei moved in front of Lu Yin and leaned close while studying the youth up and down in a weird manner. "Are you sure that you're not under the Neohuman Alliance's control? We all thought that you were dead meat! Even Master wasn't able to guarantee you making it back safely. Otherwise, he would have never agreed to Junior Leon's request to make things up to you."

Lu Yin replied, "It was a narrow escape."

Highsage Shenwei sized Lu Yin up. "You've cultivated death energy?"

Lu Yin nodded. It seemed that almost everyone had learned of this. He really needed to thank the person who had told Bu Laoweng about this matter; it was most likely Mu Tianlun, the Calm of Despair. Lu Yin intended to remember this favor that he owed the Judicial Commissioner.

"The Specter Clan can use death energy to easily suppress other people that cultivate it, so you should watch your back, alright? I don't want to hear anything about you joining the Neohuman Alliance in the future," Highsage Shenwei cautioned.

Lu Yin still needed to wait at Eversky Island for Ku Wei to arrive, so Lu Yin called him again. Ku Wei replied that he was still a few days away, so Lu Yin decided to take another walk across the Eversky Bridge out of boredom. He wanted to see what the bridge would bring him this time.

However, the results left him greatly disappointed, as there was no reaction from the bridge whatsoever. It seemed that a person could only cross the bridge once in their lifetime.

After crossing the bridge, Lu Yin heard a strange laughter echoing out from somewhere. He pursed his lips. Just when he had been thinking about where those two brats might have gone, they showed up.

Black and White were actually moving slightly faster than when they had been in the Mountain and Seas Zone. As they ran around, they looked like a black and a white shadow, clearly hoping to startle Lu Yin. He unleashed his domain in response, causing a tree to appear from the ground as he used his forcefield. The tree branches quickly wrapped around the two brats' ankles, and Lu Yin purposefully shaped the branches to look like demonic claws, nearly scaring the twins to death.

Only then did Lu Yin appear.

Black and White's faces were both extremely pale, and they glared at him in a menacing fashion. "Little Lu, you're so mean! And you're getting meaner!"

"To think that we were worried about you, Little Lu."

Lu Yin chuckled. "You guys tried to scare me first. So, was it fun?"

"Hmph!" White turned her head away.

Black rolled her eyes.

Lu Yin laughed and ruffled their heads. "You've gotten quite a bit faster. Have you been working hard at cultivating?"

"We're going to fight in ZENITH," White bragged.

Black clenched her fists. "We're going to represent Eversky Island!"

Lu Yin found their antics amusing. Despite the girls' young ages, neither of them were in any way weak. It was a shame that no team fights would take place at ZENITH. Otherwise, the twin's Black and White Combo would have been enough to overwhelm other Hunters.

…

Lu Yin stayed at Eversky Island for a few more days before Ku Wei finally arrived.

The moment Ku Wei saw Lu Yin, he completely broke down. "Your Highness! Seventh Bro! Your Little Wei has been bullied so badly!" he wept as he ran to Lu Yin.