Star Odyssey

Chapter 2518: Tide

Nothing was more tragic than a person being abandoned by their own father.

Lu Yin said, "Perhaps sending you to the Transcendent Universe to be a hostage was Monarch Luo's way of protecting you."

A tremor ran through Luo Lao'er's body, but he said nothing more. A slight smile returned to his face. "Brother-in-law, what do you think? I believe that my condition is quite reasonable. As long as I can use Zi Jing's name to protect myself in the Transcendent Universe, I’ll teach you the authentic cultivation method for monarch essence."

Lu Yin nodded. "Alright, deal."

"Brother-in-law!" Luo Lao'er shouted loudly, which drew a number of stares.

Luo Shan was one of the people who looked over, and his eyes flickered.

"You may have climbed rather high, but unfortunately, Second Brother, your backer is no longer part of the Transcendent Universe," he murmured with a mocking smile.

The cultivation method of monarch essence was similar to how one cultivated with star energy.

For star energy, one needed to absorb it either from the environment or from star crystals before circulating it correctly. In the same manner, weapons and tools that had been enhanced by monarch essence could be used to cultivate monarch essence in the same manner that star crystals were used to cultivate star energy.

Lu Yin held a tricolored weapon that had been imbued with monarch essence. "Its durability has increased, and it has a sharper blade edge."

"That’s the effect of monarch essence. It’s actually quite similar to the energies cultivated by many other cultivation civilizations, but monarch essence has the additional effect of enhancing an item’s performance. This, along with the fact that my father and the other two Monarchs are able to use the Three Monarchs Formation to deal with one of the Seven Skygods, is why my universe is able to be a member of the Sixverse Association," Luo Lao'er explained.

Cultivating monarch essence was very simple. The threshold to cultivate monarch essence was to reach a level of strength that was equal to that of a Melder or a Limiteer. By the Three Monarchs Universe’s standards, the name of that cultivation realm was Slave. Anyone beneath that level was regarded as an ordinary human in the Three Monarchs Universe.

The Three Monarchs Universe’s terms for its cultivation realms made it clear that all cultivators were considered servants of Monarch Luo and the other Monarchs, while ordinary people did not even qualify to be slaves.

This was a major reason why so few people chose to study in the Three Monarchs School at the Sixverse Academy. Reaching the required threshold for the cultivation method was relatively easy, and many of the students were capable of doing so, but they simply could not accept being referred to as slaves.

How could someone from a Main Universe cultivate monarch essence and become someone else's slave? Even if it was just a title, many people refused to accept it.

Lu Yin also found the naming to be rather strange. "Your old man certainly has a unique perspective when it comes to classifying cultivation realms."

Luo Lao'er sighed. "Our universe has never seen a true civilization develop. All we have is a typical slave society."

"Alright, I know what to do now. You’ll provide me with weapons, and I'll absorb monarch essence from them to increase my own monarch essence, right?" Lu Yin clarified.

Luo Lao'er nodded. "There should be many weapons and tools in the Three Monarchs School that have monarch essence imbued in them just for cultivation purposes."

Lu Yin was not very interested in monarch essence. It was just a fairly common cultivation method. Without the Three Monarch Formation, their universe would have never qualified to become a true member of the Sixverse Association. The Three Monarchs Universe fell far behind the Transcendent Universe. Even though the Transcendent Universe did not possess a cultivation civilization, they did not require their members to cultivate. As long as they had enough energy, they could mass-produce energy converters with the strength of Progenitors. When their Bestowal Art was also taken into account, that universe was truly terrifying.

After sending Luo Lao'er away, Lu Yin continued cultivating. He raised his hand, causing his die to appear. It was time to roll it again. Would rolling a six in this universe allow him to Possess someone in the same manner as in the Fifth Mainland?

Thinking of that possibility, he tapped the die and watched as it slowly spun. Three pips. Useless. There was nothing in the Sixverse Academy for him to Enhance.

Again.

Two pips. There also was nothing for him to Disassemble. Again. Four pips: Timestop.

As the scenery changed around him, Lu Yin entered the grayish-white Timestop Space. He would spend about a year cultivating in this place, though he first needed to familiarize himself with monarch essence.

In the future, he would definitely come into contact with the Three Monarchs Universe, so learning about monarch essence would definitely be beneficial.

Lu Yin was different from other cultivators, as he was able to cultivate any type of energy, and it would even become docile and obedient after it entered the system that he was developing in his chest.

All paths led to the same destination. That was the understanding behind the power in his chest.

When the scenery changed once again, Lu Yin left his Timestop Space. By now, the continent formed from fatesand in his chest had gained a bit of color. It came from the monarch essence, and it was the result of half a year’s cultivation in Timestop. Not only had he reached the threshold of the cultivation method, but his monarch essence reserves had also already reached the level of Servant, which was one realm above that of Slave. If Luo Lao'er were to learn of this, it would surely scare him to death.

After all, as far as Luo Lao'er was concerned, barely a few seconds had passed since he had shared the cultivation method with Lu Yin.

Even Monarch Luo, who had created monarch essence and established the cultivation method, could not have proceeded so quickly.

After spending half a year in the Timestop Space, Lu Yin had resumed focusing on the Cosmic Art and reciting the Origin Progenitor's Sutra. He could not afford to lower his guard under any circumstances.

Rising to his feet, he stretched his arms. While only a second had passed in the outside world, Lu Yin had lived for almost an entire year.

It had been about one year since he had last cultivated with voidforce energy. It was time for him to put in a bit of actual effort.

Determined to take action, Lu Yin's pupils transformed into runes. The God of Flames’ figurine appeared on his shoulder, and invisible runes spread out.

He had to be cautious to prevent any Progenitor-level experts from sensing anything.

As the runes spread out, they gradually enveloped Xie Wu, Xiao Fei, Luo Lao'er, and everyone else who was in the Voidforce School, but none of them sensed a thing.

Lu Yin took a deep breath before starting.

Far away from the Void Ground, Xie Wu looked up at the sky. Only people who had at least reached the threshold of the Voidforce School were able to observe the voidforce energy that stretched out from the young man towards the sky. His energy was approaching a gigantic, circular False God. While the energy surrounding the False God was not quite as much as the village, it was still enough to place the item within the ten most powerful False Gods in the sky.

Xie Wu had attempted to attract this False God multiple times already. As long as he could lure it down, then he would be able to continue on to the next school and learn from another universe. One day, he would even be able to enter the Central School and compete with the incredible geniuses who studied there.

He could not bear the idea of forever remaining someone else’s follower.

He absolutely had to succeed.

Xie Wu's expression turned serious as he tightly clenched his fists. His voidforce energy had already merged with the round False God in the sky, and the object trembled before slowly starting to descend.

Xie Wu was overjoyed. He had succeeded! He focused his entire attention on the sky. As long as he could bring the False God all the way down, it would be a remarkable feat recorded down within the Voidforce School, and then he could leave the place. He did not want to see Xuan Qi ever again.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew by. Xie Wu did not pay attention to it, but just seconds later, his voidforce energy started to quiver. It felt as though it was trying to squirm out of his control.

What was happening?

He quickly strengthened his control over his voidforce energy, but as the wind picked up, his control over the voidforce energy nearly slipped from his grasp.

Eventually, Xie Wu’s strand of voidforce energy snapped completely, which caused him to roar in fury. "Who is it? Who’s doing this?"

Xie Wu was not the only one who had been affected by the wind. At the same time, everyone in the entire Voidforce School was being affected. No matter if they had been trying to absorb voidforce energy or attract False Gods, everyone was interrupted in their activities. A powerful force was pulling in one direction, and it dragged over all of the voidforce energy in the Voidforce School.𝘧𝘳ℯℯ𝓌ℯ𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Xie Wu turned to look in the direction. Was it the Void Ground?

The voidforce energy continued to flow towards the Void Ground, eventually forming a vortex. It looked as though all of the energy in the entire school was being devoured by some giant.

People shot past Xie Wu, making their way towards the Void Ground.

His eyes flickered. Could this be Xuan Qi yet again? Xie Wu gritted his teeth and followed after the others to visit the Void Ground.

A large crowd of students quickly formed outside the Void Ground, staring at Lu Yin as he absorbed voidforce energy at a rate that left everyone completely dumbfounded.

Was it possible to actually cultivate in such a manner?

Luo Lao'er blinked. He had only just left the Void Ground, and yet he already found himself returning. "Brother-in-law, what are you doing?"

Lu Yin had not anticipated how effective it would be to use runes to absorb voidforce energy. As soon as he realized what was happening, he quickly restrained his runes, but voidforce energy was already surging towards him in an unstoppable manner. It was as though the energy had been incited into a frenzy, and he stood at the center of the vortex.

He felt rather confused by the sudden development. Hopefully nothing would go wrong…

Forget it, I’ll just keep going.

Throughout the history of cultivation, certain events that were inexplicable to ordinary people would often occur. Given what was happening to Lu Yin, everything depended on whether Xu Xiangyin could help him explain what was happening.

"Voirdforce Tide…" Three words were muttered by Xu Xiangyin as soon as he arrived. He had rushed to the Void Ground as soon as he had received a report.

Lu Yin was speechless. This event actually had a name?

Excitement filled Xu Xiangyin's eyes. "It's actually a legendary False God Tide! Supposedly, only people who are extremely compatible with voidforce energy are able to trigger this. This is not merely absorbing voidforce energy, but rather being infused by voidforce energy. The energy itself desires to enter his body, and it’s formed a resonance with him. His very existence has stirred the desires of voidforce energy, which has led to this cumulative effect.”

"I need to report this matter immediately. His aptitude for voidforce energy surpasses that of everyone else," the old man muttered as he abruptly left, though not before warning everyone to not disturb Lu Yin's cultivation. Anyone who violated the order would be executed without exception.

Xu Xiangyin had given the students various warnings in the past, but this was the first time that he had openly threatened them.

Lu Yin’s importance had just spiked in Xu Xiangyin's mind. Things had already reached the point where the old man believed that this youth might truly end up as Lord Xu's personal disciple.

Other important figures in the Sixverse Academy looked towards the Voidforce School.

"The Voidforce Universe is really lucky. This child is truly blessed with an unrivaled talent for voidforce energy, to the point where this matter deserves to be recorded down in history. How long has he been here for? That old guy Xu Xiangyin has already gone over so many times."

"In the future, the Voidforce Universe may deliver an unfathomable powerhouse to the battlefield between humanity and Aeternus. As long as this child does not die early, he has a very promising future before him."

"He's clearly from our Transcendent Universe."

"I strongly suggest that you let that go. With his talent, he is destined to join the Voidforce Universe. If you try to stop it, Lord Xu might personally make a visit to the Transcendent Universe and make trouble for you. Still, it’s such a pity. If only this child showed such talent for my Arboreal Realm’s methods instead of voidforce energy."

"I wish that he had the same talent for cultivating monarch essence."

"What about you, Old Zhi? Don’t you hope for someone with such remarkable talent for cultivating your Lost Clan's power to come along?"

"What I hope for doesn’t matter. The Lost Clan's power is unique. Anyone who can comprehend our methods is already quite talented, but no one can compare to the members of our Lost Clan."

No one spoke up to refute the man. The Lost Clan's power was indeed unique, and it tested one's character.

One day. Two days. Three days… Sixteen days. A full sixteen days passed as voidforce energy from all across the Voidforce School relentlessly poured into Lu Yin's body. He could only watch as the river of voidforce energy that ran across the continent of fatesand in the power within his chest grew significantly. Finally, on the seventeenth day, the flood stopped.

Opening his eyes, Lu Yin saw everyone gathered outside the Void Ground and staring at him in astonishment.