Star Odyssey

Chapter 2585: Astonishing Speed

The Harmonious Heavens Technique seemed very challenging, but as long as a person achieved a certain degree of mastery over their own energy, the technique would actually be easy to comprehend.

This was the very essence of the Harmonious Heavens Technique; it appeared simple, but the most challenging aspect was that a person’s energy control had to be able to neutralize their opponents’ energy. Such a level of control was the equivalent to the Skywise level of star energy control, according to the rating system of the Fifth Mainland’s Lockbreakers.

Lockbreakers separated star energy control into different stages: Intricacy, Cloudwalk, Skywise, Divine Gaze, Creation, and Worldliness. The Skywise level was only the third level of control, but how many Lockbreakers in the entire Fifth Mainland had actually reached that stage?

When Lu Yin first had met Ku Wei, he had yet to reach the Skywise level of control, while Ku Wei had only barely touched it.

In order to achieve some level of mastery of the Harmonious Heavens Technique, it was necessary to reach a level of control equal to the Skywise level of star energy control. This was the greatest obstacle to mastering the technique.

In order to achieve higher levels of mastery of the Harmonious Heavens Technique, a person needed to have even greater control over their own energies. From what Lu Yin was learning, he believed that Tu Shuangshuang might have reached the Divine Gaze or even the Creation level of star energy control, given that she had successfully suppressed people like Jiang Xiaodao.

After putting the jade slip away, Lu Yin stared off into the distance. The students joining the Cyclic School had to be very happy, as the appearance of the Harmonious Heavens Technique was a chance for them to inherit Sage Hua's seat, as long as they could demonstrate a sufficient aptitude for the battle technique. Unfortunately, many of the students who had joined the Cyclic School were not even close to the Skywise level of energy control, which prevented them from even meeting the school’s graduation requirements.

Upon thinking of this, Lu Yin hurried to where he had previously taken the requirement exam for the Eight Hands of the Stone Gate. The stone wall had been removed and replaced with orbs of condensed star energy that spun so rapidly that it distorted one’s vision.

This was the Cyclic School’s new examination for the Harmonious Heavens Technique. Anyone who could neutralize the star energy within an orb would pass, which was quite similar to the aptitude test for Lockbreakers in the Fifth Mainland. In the Fifth Mainland, these orbs were called Starburst Orbs, but the orbs in the Cyclic School had no name. So, many of the students had started referring to them as star energy orbs.

By the time Lu Yin arrived, a crowd had already gathered. He saw that Shi Hong, Zuo Yu, and Zhi Xiao were present, as well as other students from the Central School, such as Xu Yue and Mu Mu. Everyone had arrived to learn the Harmonious Heavens Technique. Regardless of whether they were aiming for Sage Hua's seat, it was always beneficial to learn a new technique.

The number of star energy orbs present was related to the number of students in the Cyclic School, which meant that the students from the Central School were not taken into account. Thus, they were taking a portion of the school’s orbs. Given Lu Yin’s relatively late arrival, he was unable to obtain even a single star energy orb. As he looked around, he noticed that many students had two orbs, while Xu Yue actually had three. She smirked at Lu Yin antagonistically.

"Someone showed up late and didn't get any star energy orbs. What are you going to do? Fight for one?” Xu Yue taunted.

Quite a few people watched. Most of them were relieved to see that Xuan Qi had failed to obtain a star energy orb. His level of talent frightened them; regardless of which school he attended, he would somehow manage to break records or accomplish the impossible. It was only natural that the other students were afraid of the same thing happening with the Harmonious Heavens Technique. If Xuan Qi demonstrated the same monstrous level of talent for the technique and drew the attention of the Cyclic Universe, the students knew that they would stand no chance.

The best solution was to simply prevent Xuan Qi from even learning the battle technique to begin with.

Lu Yin looked back at Xu Yue and asked, "Why do you have three orbs?"

Xu Yue arrogantly raised her head. "I wanted them. Who are you to question me? Try to take them from me, if you dare."

She had been itching to give Xuan Qi a good beating. When they had been In the Arboreal Sanctuary, the coward had retreated from a fight, and later on, Ling Gong had interfered and prevented Xu Yue from dealing with the bastard. Every missed opportunity to beat him up had only increased her irritation towards Xuan Qi. He had become a thorn in her heart.

Lu Yin had no intention of starting a fight with the girl, but someone else suddenly lashed out. Wendy Yushan had recently joined the Cyclic School, and when she heard Xu Yue's comment, Wendy swiftly drew her sword in a single motion.

Xu Yue quickly retreated. She had not expected Wendy Yushan to suddenly attack. "Are you mad?"

Wendy Yushan was still wearing her white outfit with a golden trim. It made her look extraordinarily heroic. Her long black hair hung loose, which gave her a serene and ancient-feeling aura. She ordered, "Hand them over."

Xu Yue bounced the three star energy orbs in her hand. "These?"

Wendy Yushan's eyes remained firm.

Xu Yue snorted disdainfully. "Who do you think you are? Why should I give these to you? Just because you’re telling me to?"

Wendy Yushan had spent several days in the Cyclic School already. At first, she had faced bullying and condescension, but her strength and peerless beauty had quickly put a stop to such trouble, and she had even gained a number of admirers. When people saw her confronting Xu Yue, one student immediately tried to persuade her to stop. "Wendy, don't get involved. If you want a star energy orb, then we have some right here. Don't fight with Xu Yue."

"Wendy, Xu Yue is very strong. Don't fight her directly."

"Wendy..."

...

As Lu Yin listened to the students shouting out warnings to Wendy Yushan, he chuckled self-deprecatingly. Such special treatment was only reserved for beautiful women. He suspected that both Ling Gong and Zhuo Daynight had not been faring too poorly in their respective schools, either.

Wendy Yushan pointed her sword at Xu Yue, her heroic image sending many male hearts aflutter.

"Hand them over now."

Xu Yue scoffed as she arched a brow. "I just finished dealing with Ling Gong, and now another one’s already arrived? You people from the Origin Universe just don't seem to understand your place. Allow me to teach you a lesson."

With that, Xu Yue brought out her stone mace. With a single step, she was already in front of Wendy Yushan. The stone mace sweeps the world.

At the same time, Wendy Yushan's sword multiplied. 10,000 swords as one.

Wendy Yushan's cultivation was a bit inferior to Ling Gong's. Initially, Ling Gong had greatly surpassed Wendy Yushan in strength. While the resources that Lu Yin had given her had allowed Wendy to shrink that gap, she had not been able to completely close it.

The fact that Wendy Yushan was weaker than Ling Gong meant that the gap between her and Xu Yue was even wider. However, this was also assuming that Wendy Yushan did not use her innate gift, which involved the power of time. She had never openly revealed the truth of her innate gift, but if she did use it, she might stand a chance against Xu Yue. Even so, victory would remain a challenge.

Lu Yin did not want Wendy Yushan to expose her innate gift, so he decided that it was time for him to reveal some of his own strength. If he continued to appear weak, there would always be some student or another trying to pick a fight with him.

Xu Yue's stone mace instantly suppressed Wendy Yushan's sword technique. There was a serious expression on Wendy’s face as her eyes searched for an opening in her opponent's defenses, even while she was being overpowered.

Xu Yue sneered contemptuously. This woman was much weaker than Ling Gong, and Xu Yue did not even need to use her life-bound voidforce puppet.

"Leaving no trace in destiny!" She roared as her stone mace swept at Wendy Yushan from an unexpected angle.

Wendy Yushan's eyes grew hard. She knew that she could not block this attack, which meant that her only option was to revert the stone mace’s time, eliminating the attack.

Suddenly, Xu Yue felt an unexpected pull on her stone mace. Before she could react, her weapon had vanished.

Suddenly losing her stone mace caused Xu Yue to almost topple over from the abrupt change in momentum.

Wendy Yushan's sword froze mid-strike when she saw that Xu Yue's mace had disappeared. She turned her head to look in a specific direction.

Xu Yue was also staring incredulously in that same direction.

To her right, Lu Yin was somehow holding Xu Yue’s stone mace in a hand. He swung it casually while muttering, "It’s pretty heavy."

Mu Mu took a step forward, her eyes glued to Xuan Qi. She had not seen him move at all. How had he gotten there so quickly?

Zhi Xiao was also staring intently at Lu Yin. That speed was terrifying.

Luo Zang was also present, and his eyes narrowed. He had also been unable to see anything clearly. How had Xuan Qi moved so quickly?

Everyone was astonished to see that Xuan Qi had actually managed to steal Xu Yue’s stone mace mid-swing. This was not just unbelievable—this was an open slap to the face!

Xu Yue glared at Lu Yin, her face flushed red with anger. "Impossible! How could you move so quickly?"

Wendy Yushan did not look at all surprised. Given Lu Yin's strength, he could have razed the entire Sixverse Academy to the ground if he had wished.

Lu Yin casually tossed the stone mace aside. It shot through the air and lodged itself in the ground in front of Xu Yue. "Try again. See if you can keep your weapon this time."

Xu Yue’s expression hardened as she quickly grabbed her stone mace. However, at that same instant, a breeze brushed her ear. Before she could react at all, her mace once again disappeared from her hand.

The students watching were astounded. If the first time had been an accident, then the second time was a clear demonstration of pure ability.

Luo Zang clenched his fists. This speed exceeded what should be possible for anyone within Xuan Qi’s cultivation realm. How was such speed possible? How was he moving so quickly? Even if Luo Zang himself used a red energy converter, he doubted that he could reach the same speed.

Once again, the stone mace shot through the air and slammed into the ground in front of Xu Yue. "Try again. If you still can’t keep a hold of your weapon, hand your star energy orbs over."

Xu Yue’s head suddenly rose to reveal a far more serious expression on her face. There was no longer any contempt to be seen. She understood that Xuan Qi’s speed was something to be feared.

The stone mace trembled and started to emit a soft hum.

Above Xu Yue's head, a blue phoenix shot high into the sky. Flames billowed out from the bird and set the sky aflame, scorching the Cyclic School with an unbearable heat. "If you can still steal my mace from my hand, then I, Xu Yue, will concede defeat."

After her declaration, blue flames started to fall. They enveloped both Xu Yue and her mace. She looked like a goddess born of flames. Her hair whipped about, and her eyes blazed with a blue light as she stared at Lu Yin. "Come on!"

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed as he slowly lifted a foot and took a step forward. The moment his foot touched the ground, he vanished. No one saw what happened, but the next moment, they saw him holding a stone mace in his hand. Xu Yue stood frozen from disbelief. How was this possible? He had broken through her barrier of voidforce energy. That was not possible with mere speed.

Xu Yue whirled around to glare at Lu Yin. "You've been hiding your true power."

Lu Yin indifferently tossed the stone mace aside. "Don't start making random guesses just because you don't understand what’s going on. Hand over your star energy orbs."

Although reluctant, Xu Yue was forced to admit that Xuan Qi’s demonstration had been truly extraordinary. If he had chosen to attack her instead of simply stealing her mace, she would have been left with no choice but to take all of his attacks without any way to defend herself.

After catching the star energy orbs that Xu Yue tossed over, Lu Yin threw one to Wendy Yushan. "Thanks."

Wendy Yushan's answered in a glacial tone, "I'll get my own."

She refused to even glance at the star energy orb that Lu Yin had given her.

Lu Yin felt rather awkward. Despite knowing that this was just an act, the coldness from Wendy still stung. He felt like he was meeting her for the first time again.

With the star energy orbs settled, everyone resumed trying to cultivate the Harmonious Heavens Technique.

The jade slip had clearly explained to the students how to go about improving their star energy control until it reached the Skywise level, but even with those instructions, success was far from easy.

Many of the academy’s students who came from the Cyclic Universe also transferred to the Cyclic School. Their energy control already surpassed most of the other students.

When Jiang Xiaodao arrived, he went to find Xu Yue. Two of the extra star energy orbs that Xu Yue had secured had been reserved for others, and one had been intended for Jiang Xiaodao. Even though Wendy Yushan had refused to accept one of the orbs from Lu Yin, someone else had snatched it up instead.

"What? My star energy orb is gone? Who dared to steal it?" Jiang Xiaodao erupted in fury.

Xu Yue reluctantly shared what had happened.

Jiang Xiaodao shouted, "Xuan Qi? That guy’s fast?"

Xu Yue's face turned serious. "It's not just speed."

"It's definitely not just speed." Xu Ji joined the conversation while calmly observing Lu Yin. "Speed alone isn’t enough to break through a barrier of voidforce energy, but Xu Yue’s barrier couldn’t stop him at all."

"Brother, what does that mean?" Xu Yue asked, still puzzled by what had happened.

A strange light flickered across Xu Ji's eyes as he suddenly remembered an ancient legend. If that legend was actually true, then Xuan Qi had obtained a truly miraculous innate gift from his arboreal transformation.

This possibility caused Xu Ji to glance back over at Lu Yin before he walked over to him.