Star Odyssey

Chapter 2513: Wanted

"Excellent!" Xu Xiangyin shouted approvingly as he slapped his thigh. "Kid, as long as you're willing, I can personally guarantee that you can join my Voidforce Universe."

Lu Yin was taken aback. "Is it really possible for me to join the Voidforce Universe?"

"Absolutely." Xu Xiangyin beckoned with a hand. "Come, child, tell me what you know about the Voidforce Universe."

As he sat across from Xu Xiangyin, Lu Yin proceeded to share all kinds of exaggerated theories that portrayed the Voidforce Universe as the most powerful force throughout all of human history. He imagined that he was extolling the virtues of Progenitor Chen, Progenitor Ku, and the God of Death, and he simply replaced them with the Voidforce Universe.

Xu Xiangyin became increasingly fond of Lu Yin as he listened to the youth’s passionate words that overflowed with admiration for his civilization. The affection reached the point where the old man wished he could adopt the youth as his godson.

Two hours passed.

"Xuan Qi, it would be a pity for you to not join the Voidforce Universe. I'll definitely take you there, I promise. For now, focus on cultivating here." Xu Xiangyin clenched a fist. Excitement covered his features as he turned and left. He needed to find a way to get “Xuan Qi” to the Voidforce Universe.

The old man had already reviewed all of the information regarding Lu Yin, but unexpectedly, the youth was a fugitive living in the Transcendent Universe, which made the situation more complicated.

Lu Yin called out in a respectful tone, "I'll be waiting here, Senior!"

Xu Xiangyin waved a hand as he disappeared.

After seeing Xu Xiangyin disappear, a deep exhale escaped Lu Yin’s lips. He had no idea how Ku Wei and the others managed to constantly speak in such a manner, as it was utterly exhausting.

Even so, it appeared that Lu Yin’s performance had been suitably impressive.

After a short while, the Void Ground regained its previous liveliness as the people who had been driven away by Xu Xiangyin returned. Many of them gave Lu Yin strange looks.

Luo Lao'er had practically praised Lu Yin to the heavens. When Luo Lao'er finally finished, Lu Yin patted the young man’s shoulder and gave him a look of sympathy. "You've worked hard."

Luo Lao'er felt thoroughly confused. What had he done?

After Lu Yin’s incredible performance that had even prompted Xu Xiangyin to show himself, no one dared to make any further trouble for Lu Yin.

While things continued in the Sixverse Academy, Xu Xiangyin directly traveled from the Taiyi Universe to the Transcendent Universe, and he went to find Ke Jian.

The information available about Lu Yin revealed him as a member of the Energy Research Group's guards, which placed him directly under Ke Jian’s supervision.

When Xu Xiangyin explained his intentions, Ke Jian was stupefied. "Xuan Qi has a powerful affinity with voidforce energy?"

Xu Xiangyin answered somberly, "Yes. His aptitude is practically perfect. I wish to take him to the Voidforce Universe to continue cultivating there."

"Absolutely not," Ke Jian bluntly refused. This had to be a joke! Xuan Qi was their means of threatening Zi Jing into compliance, and Zi Jing was absolutely crucial to developing a new cultivation technology for the Transcendent Universe. If Xuan Qi was taken away, then what would happen if Zi Jing betrayed the Transcendent Universe again, or even simply neglected her research? The Transcendent Universe could not afford such a loss, and neither could that great person.

Xu Xiangyin said, "Xuan Qi managed to endure for over an hour during his first contact with voidforce energy. Do you have any idea what that means? I have to take him with me."

Ke Jian's expression grew ugly. He sent a message to someone, asking about Xuan Qi's situation. Ke Jian received a response that essentially parroted what he had heard from Xu Xiangyin, though with the additional bit that the matter had already been recorded as a major event within the Sixverse Academy.

Xuan Qi had actually persisted for more than an hour. How was it possible for him to have such an impressive level of talent?

"Ke Jian, you already know about the Sixverse Academy's policy. Xuan Qi is not someone here in your Transcendent Universe. If he were He Shu, I would never bother coming here like this. But Xuan Qi is different, and his background is clean," Xu Xiangyin explained.

Ke Jian frowned. A clean background? Wrong, his background is the messiest! After all, he comes from that universe.

However, Xuan Qi’s true origins were something that only a select few people knew about. The members of the Sixverse Association had previously agreed that anyone who visited that particular universe needed to report the matter to the entire alliance. The Transcendent Universe had made a trip to capture Zi Jing, but they had not informed the other five universes, as they wanted to keep the matter a secret.

"What is there to even consider? The policy is crystal clear! Do you want me to report this to Lord Xu and have him directly intervene? This child is absolutely worth it," Xu Xiangyin warned.

Ke Jian sighed. "I need to report this further up."

"As you wish."

Ke Jian stood at the bottom of a staircase that was covered with blooming flowers, recounting the current situation. A melodious voice responded with surprise, "So Xuan Qi’s affinity for voidforce energy is so strong that Xu Xiangyin actually came here to ask for him?"

Ke Jian answered solemnly, "The Sixverse Academy’s policy’s cannot be ignored. If Lord Xu personally intervenes, then Xuan Qi's origins will very likely be exposed."

"In that case, don't refuse."

"Yes."

"Summon Zi Jing."

Zi Jing quickly arrived, and she kneeled before the stairs. "Greetings, Madam."

"Zi Jing, that Xuan Qi of yours is quite capable," the pleasant voice echoed. Not a single discernible emotion could be heard.

Zi Jing's expression changed drastically. Had the Dao Monarch been exposed? Zi Jing’s first thought was that Lu Yin had destroyed the entire Sixverse Academy. Given his strength, it would not be any issue for him at all. If Lu Yin went all out, he would be able to shake the entire Sixverse Association.

"Are you worried?"

Zi Jing forced herself to remain calm. "I don't know how Xuan Qi might have offended you, Madam."

"He didn't offend me, he simply triggered the Voidforce Universe."

Zi Jing was left utterly bewildered. "The Voidforce Universe?"

"He’s revealed a truly astonishing degree of talent for voidforce energy, and the Voidforce Universe has been worked into a frenzy. They've become adamant about taking him to the Voidforce Universe. What do you think I should do?"

Zi Jing was taken aback, though she was not surprised at all. She had always known that the Dao Monarch's talent was without equal. Throughout all of his time cultivating, the description of "genius"—no, "prodigy"—no, "unprecedented prodigy" had never been considered amiss. It only felt natural that the Sixverse Association would also notice such unparalleled talent.

"You're not surprised?" the voice asked.

Zi Jing quickly regained her senses, and she respectfully replied, "I- I was momentarily caught off guard."

"Haha, you sound much more relaxed now."

Zi Jing felt an involuntary tremor pass through her body. "I dare not, Madam."

"Now that you know that your man is valued by another universe, you may believe that I can't do anything to him any longer," the pleasant voice commented. A hint of laughter could be heard, and there was not the slightest sign of any sort of displeasure.

Zi Jing dropped her head. Even if Lu Yin was not taken by the Voidforce Universe, this woman still would not be able to do anything to him. Of course, Zi Jin would never say that out loud.

"Forget the Voidforce Universe. Even if he is taken by someone from the Main Universe, I can still leave him wishing for death," the voice from the stairs suddenly turned razor sharp. Cracks appeared on the staircase, and a powerful arrogance entered the voice. "You will never understand just how high I stand. Your man is nothing more than one Xuan Qi."

Zi Jing quickly replied, "Madam, Xuan Qi will never betray you, and neither will I!"

"Is that so? I don't care about Xuan Qi. If he has the ability to break free from my control, then good for him. However, if you think that you can slack off and escape like you did before, you are sorely mistaken. I promise you, if you betray me again, I won't kill Xuan Qi, but I will make him wish for death."

"Madam, I don’t dare!" Zi Jing declared her loyalty yet again.

The woman at the top of the stairs shifted, and a dainty white hand held her chin. "Alright, you may leave."

“Understood,” Zi Jing respectfully acknowledged the dismissal and slowly left.

After Zi Jing was gone, Ke Jian returned. "How should we handle Xuan Qi?"

"If the Voidforce Universe wants him, then let them have him. Don't allow anyone to think that we are going against the academy’s policies," the woman replied.

Ke Jian replied, "Understood."

"Also, send Xuan Qi a message." The woman’s hand left her chin, and her eyes grew bright and elusive. "The Transcendent Universe will always be his home.'"

Ke Jian's eyes flickered. "Yes."

In the Taiyi Universe, in the Voidforce School, when the other people from the Transcendent Universe who had arrived with Lu Yin learned of his accomplishment, they were completely flabbergasted. That person had managed to accomplish an absolute miracle as soon as he arrived in the academy! Wasn't this too fast?

This was not something that people had expected, and it was even more shocking for the students of the previous class.

Xiao Fei had woken up, but after she heard about what Xuan Qi had miraculously achieved, she did not return to the Void Ground.

Xie Wu stayed away as well.

The Void Ground was the place where students were able to start cultivating voidforce energy. Once one was gained an initial level of control of voidforce energy, it simply meant that they had crossed the threshold and no longer needed to visit the Void Ground. It was possible to attract the False Gods floating in the sky from anywhere in the Voidforce School. People could also search for voidforce energy that had been hidden on the school’s continent. The hidden energy was regarded as both a test and a reward offered to the students.

Even so, most of the time, even people who had passed the threshold would remain at the Void Ground, as it was the only place where they could continuously perceive voidforce energy and improve their control of it.

Unfortunately, Xu Xiangyin's warning meant that the students who had already reached the threshold of perceiving voidforce energy were forced to leave the Void Ground so that the new students could access it.

"Do not disturb Xuan Qi's cultivation. Anyone who disobeys this rule will be expelled from the Voidforce School." This was the exact warning that Xu Xiangyin had sent out, and it left the people who had already managed to perceive voidforce energy completely speechless.

In prioritizing Lu Yin, Xu Xiangyin had essentially abandoned the rest of the students. Such favoritism was beyond excessive.

Xie Wu was completely furious. He did not really care if he could visit the Void Ground or not, but the blatant favoritism was too much.

Someone reported the matter to the Sixverse Academy’s administration, but it accomplished nothing. The Voidforce School was essentially ruled by Xu Xiangyin.

"Forget it. Don't provoke him while he's in the Voidforce School. He’s become the darling of the Voidforce Universe, but once he leaves this school, that might not continue," Xie Wu quietly commented.

"Xie Wu, what do you mean?" someone asked.

Xie Wu sneered. "That brat’s been praised so much, and he even managed to gain Xu Xiangyin's personal attention. Who would dare to offend him in the Voidforce School? How do you think he feels right now?"

Nearby, Xiao Fei's eyes grew cold. "Naturally, he'll become arrogant and overconfident."

"I would expect that he no longer sees us as his peers."

"Definitely."

"Since that's the case, then let’s make him become even more arrogant." Xie Wu's lips twisted into a sneer.

In the Void Ground, Lu Yin left his stone and stared up at the sky to observe the many odd-looking False Gods. It had been six days since he arrived in the Voidforce School, and he was already able to last for two hours while sitting on the stone.

This was regarded as quite fast. Normally, people like Luo Lao'er who possessed the potential to master voidforce energy but lacked any particular talent for it needed at least half a year before they could sit on a stone for two hours. Then, they would need another half year to reach the minimum threshold. This was considered an average speed.

After the threshold was passed and a student could perceive and control voidforce energy, they would be allowed to continue on and visit other schools within the Sixverse Academy.

The one-year time limit that the Sixverse Academy had set was also based on the average speed of the students.

However, Lu Yin seemed to be able to reach the threshold in no more than a month, which made Luo Lao'er and the others appear relatively slow.

The other students from the Transcendent Universe in Lu Yin’s class felt the same way. They sent the occasional envious glance Lu Yin’s way, though no one dared say a thing. This was nothing but pure talent.

Some of the students tried to get closer to Lu Yin, but he only ever gave a few terse responses. It was clear to everyone that he was not interested, and as time passed, everyone stopped trying to strike up a conversation with him. However, their gazes still revealed a hint of dissatisfaction, even if no one dared to express it.