Highsage Shenwei hesitated. “But Master, the contest at the Astral Tower will begin in just two more months.”
“That’s fine. The Cosmic Sect seems to owe us quite a lot of quotas, so let him go there and play around by himself. Black and White would kick up too much of a fuss. Let him show the Cosmic Sect what our Eversky Island is capable of.”
“Then, should Black and White follow him?”
“There’s no need to send them.”
“Understood.”
…
At the base of the mountain, Lu Yin was stunned by the news. “I’m going to the Cosmic Sect?”
Highsage Shenwei nodded. “The Cosmic Sect and my Eversky Island have always maintained a friendly relationship, and we also maintain a certain quota of exchanges to allow disciples to cultivate in the other organization. This time, you will represent Eversky Island and cultivate at the Cosmic Sect, where you’ll be treated as an inner disciple, just the same as any other Cosmic Sect disciple.”
Lu Yin’s eyes lit up. “Can I learn the Cosmic Sect’s techniques?”
Highsage Shenwei smiled. “Of course. Don’t think of yourself as an outsider while you’re there. In fact, you’ll be thought of as a Cosmic Sect disciple during your stay. You can learn whatever you want, so long as you have the ability.”
Lu Yin’s breath quickened. The Cosmic Sect and the Cosmic Art! How could he have expected that this opportunity would come so soon? He would never forget the benefits that the Cosmic Art gave.
Ever since Lu Yin had first started cultivating, he had constantly used the Cosmic Art, and now, he had finally gotten a chance to improve it tremendously.
“Senior Apprentice Brother, it seems that it won’t be long before I need to go to the Astral Tower, so I won’t be able to cultivate at the Cosmic Sect for too long.” Lu Yin felt like he had been forced into a difficult position.
Highsage Shenwei replied, “Just treat it as a bit of fun. Although you’re short on time, you might still be able to pick up something that will help you at the Astral Tower.”
Lu Yin’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Senior Shenwei.”
Up on the mountain’s precipice, Highsage Master felt puzzled. “Judging by his attitude, he is clearly aware that he has cultivated the Cosmic Art. However, he doesn’t refuse to go to the Cosmic Sect. Strange, very strange.”
In the Neoverse’s West Realm, there was a certain region that contained an endless number of stars revolving around a giant vortex. This vortex seemed to be held up by some invisible hand that carried half of the West Realm. At the center of these stars was the Cosmic Sect.
The Cosmic Sect was one of the top powers of the Neoverse, and it had countless disciples. Although it was not too famous in the Innerverse or the Outerverse, this was not because the sect was not powerful enough, but rather because it had no intention of improving its fame in those places.
In the Cosmic Sect’s eyes, the Innerverse and Outerverse were basically uncivilized wild hinterlands.
“This is Internal Affairs Elder Hai Yan reporting to Sect Leader: Eversky Island’s Highsage Shenwei has sent a message that a nominal disciple is being sent to our sect to cultivate. Lu Yin, a Cruiser at seven cultivation cycles, who comes from the Outerverse.” a middle-aged man reported in a respectful tone as he stood in front of the Cosmic Sect’s great hall.
“Lu? A primeval surname? When did Eversky Island get entangled with primeval surnames? A Cruiser? Arrange an inner disciple spot for him.”
Before long, the middle-aged man arrived in another location. “This is Internal Affairs Elder Hai Yan reporting to True Elder. The exchange disciple from Eversky Island has arrived. His name is Lu Yin, and he hails from the Outerverse.”
“They sent an exchange disciple at this time? What is Eversky Island thinking? Just make some casual arrangements, though nothing too random. Treat him as best you can, as we cannot afford to lose the right to the Eversky Bridge.”
“Elder, do we need to investigate his background?”
“There’s no need; he’s just a Cruiser. He should be some genius that Highsage Shenwei plucked out of the Outerverse. It will be alright.”
“Yes, Elder.”
“Wait a moment.”
The middle-aged man hesitated and turned around to bow respectfully. “Does Elder have any further instructions?”
“Send Hua Xiao or Mu Ziying to receive this disciple.”
The middle-aged man was surprised. “Should we really send a true disciple to greet him?”
“He’s still a nominal disciple from Eversky Island. Treat him well, and we might even be able to wrangle out a few more Eversky Bridge slots for our disciples in the future.”
“Understood.”
…
Outside the Cosmic Sect, in a sealed underground space, Mu Ziying suddenly looked up from a dark tome filled with star charts. “I clearly followed the pattern of the star chart from the Skystar Jade Wall, so why is it ineffective? It looks like I need to return to the Skystar Jade Wall for another look. The contest at the Astral Tower is quickly approaching, and if I can cultivate the third layer of the Cosmic Art, I’ll have some hope for this contest.”
At that moment, the middle-aged man arrived. “Internal Affairs Elder Hai Yan requests an audience with the second true disciple.”
Mu Ziying frowned and exited the underground room. Glaring sunlight lit up his face, and he glanced around before focusing on a middle-aged man standing close by. “So it’s Elder Hai. What is the reason Elder Hai is looking for this disciple?”
The middle-aged man respectfully answered, “An Eversky Island disciple is about to arrive at the Cosmic Sect to cultivate, and the True Elder ordered that either third true disciple Hua Xiao or second true disciple Mu Ziying to welcome him. Since Hua Xiao is not here in the sect, second true disciple is being asked to welcome them.”
Mu Ziying felt puzzled. “They’re sending over an exchange disciple to cultivate at a time like this? What are they thinking? There’s only a small amount of time left before the Astral Tower contest, so what can anyone learn?”
Hai Yan replied, “I only just received Eversky Island’s Highsage Shenwei’s message.”
Mu Ziying nodded. “If an Eversky Island disciple is coming to the sect, then they will be considered an inner disciple. Our Cosmic Sect has many inner disciples, and who knows if this person will be able to step into our internal rankings? However, if Eversky Island is sending them, they should not be weak. What’s their name?”
“Lu Yin, from the Outerverse,” Hai Yan replied.
Mu Ziying nodded casually as he repeated, “Lu Yin.” Eh? Wait a sec, Lu Yin?
Mu Ziyin stared at Hai Yan in astonishment. “What did you just say?”
Hai Yan felt confused by Mu Ziyin’s reaction, so he explained a bit more. “His name is Lu Yin, and he is from the Outerverse.”
Mu Ziying’s expression turned a bit strange, and his eyes went rather blank due to his shock. “Lu Yin? Isn’t he dead?”
Hai Yan was lost. “Does Disciple know him?”
Mu Ziying’s eyes flashed. “Inform the sect to immediately find out all the recent events in both the Innerverse and the Outerverse with a focus on any information regarding this Lu Yin person.”
Hai Yan was instantly put into a difficult position. “Since the contest at the Astral Tower is about to begin, the Honor Zone has sealed off the Neoverse. Thus, it’s very difficult to find out anything from the Innerverse or Outerverse.”
Mu Ziying replied, “Just try. He’s incredibly famous, so you should be able to find out something at least.”
Hai Yan nodded. “Alright.”
As he watched Hai Yan leave, Mu Ziying shifted his gaze. Lu Yin, Lu Yin… He should have died at Nightking Zhenwu’s hands, and he was even labeled a traitor to the Fifth Mainland by Nightking Zhenwu. So what is he doing with Eversky Island? And why did they send him here as part of the disciple exchange program?
Mu Ziying was even more confused.
Unfortunately, Hua Xiao was not around, as he knew Lu Yin even better than Mu Ziying.
Since Eversky Island and the Cosmic Sect were both located in the West Realm, they were not too far from each other. With the speed of Highsage Shenwei’s eonlight-grade Aurora, they quickly arrived.
“Kid, you seem to have high expectations.” Highsage Shenwei glanced at Lu Yin, a little puzzled.
Logically, before the contest at the Astral Tower began, everyone should be in seclusion in preparation. However, Lu Yin did not seem to have any issue with going to the Cosmic Sect to cultivate. However, what could he gain in a short one or two months? Lu Yin’s attitude puzzled Highsage Shenwei, as he had casually mentioned to Lu Yin that he should improve his techniques. However, the true objective of this exchange was to let the Cosmic Sect know that Eversky Island had its own gifted people.
Lu Yin answered with clear longing, “When I was still in the Astral Combat Academy, I heard my mentors say that the Cosmic Sect is one of the most powerful sects in the entire Human Domain. Thus, I’m looking forward to finally seeing it.”
Highsage Shenwei nodded. “Although they are not the most formidable power in the Neoverse, they’re close to being the most powerful sect. The Cosmic Sect has countless disciples, and there are thousands of inner disciples, and any one of their inner disciples has the strength of a top elite from the Innerverse or Outerverse. In particular, the top ten disciples ranked in the sect’s Internal Rankings are comparable to the top ten youths of your Innerverse’s Top 100 Rankings.”
Although Lu Yin had considered the Cosmic Sect to be an overwhelming power, he had not expected their strength to be this absurd.
The Innerverse’s Top 100 Rankings took into account the top youths from both the Innerverse and the Outerverse, which included countless genius cultivators, each one a Realmbreaker. They were true elites of the Human Domain, and they had all been qualified to receive an invitation to the Daynight Feast.
And yet, the Cosmic Sect alone was able to match up to the Top 100 Rankings. What sort of concept was thousands of inner disciples? According to Highsage Shenwei, the Cosmic Sect merely had the power of a single sect, but it alone was able to suppress the Top 100 Rankings experts that included both the Innerverse and the Outerverse. If their true disciples were also included, then the sect’s strength would be even more terrifying.
When the Sixth Mainland had invaded and when the cosmic phenomenon had suppressed the entire Innerverse, what exactly had the Neoverse been doing? Why had there been no word of any Neoverse powerhouses entering the battlefield? Although the Cosmic Sect’s three true disciples had participated, Lu Yin remembered that the All Rounder Fairy Qiu Shi had not really put in that much effort.
The various great powers of the Innerverse had sacrificed countless people to stop the Sixth Mainland’s cultivators, and they had also used up a great deal of resources and power vessels. The average strength of the Sixth Mainland cultivators far surpassed those of the Innerverse, but when they were compared to the Neoverse’s, the two were almost equal.
Did this indicate that the Neoverse’s elites improved at the same rate as the Sixth Mainland’s? Was the only difference between the two that the Neoverse lacked any Progenitors?
The more Lu Yin thought about it, the more that he felt he was right. After all, the Neoverse contained the most pristinely preserved remnants of the Fifth Mainland, and they were the true core of the Fifth Mainland.
As Lu Yin’s mind raced about, half a day soon passed, and Lu Yin saw a vortex off in the distance. Its power seemed to be stirring the universe itself, and there were countless stars spiralling around it. It was a truly magnificent sight. As they approached, the shock within Lu Yin’s heart only increased.
The Cosmic Sect seemed like a large hand stirring the universe, or rather, a hand that was holding up the heavens.
Lu Yin did not dare to look at the runes in this place, as he was afraid that he would injure his eyes.
Truesight was a very rare ability in both the Innerverse and the Outerverse, so he was able to use it anywhere he wished. However, Gods’ Origin was well known throughout the Neoverse for their ability to use Truesight, and Lu Yin had not been able to see almost anything at Eversky Island, and he assumed that he similarly would not be able to observe anything in the Cosmic Sect. In fact, it was even possible that he would suffer a backlash from using the technique.
Lu Yin had to constantly remind himself that he was now in the Neoverse, and certain methods that he had used in the Innerverse and Outerverse would not work here. Truesight was the most important one.
The Cosmic Sect was hidden within the center of all these countless stars, and as Lu Yin looked around at the endlessly revolving stars, he had a strange thought. If powerful foes attacked the Cosmic Sect, could the sect unleash a tremendous power by detonating these stars?
The Cosmic Palm originally allowed one to erupt with great strength by detonating stars and unleashing their destruction.
If Lu Yin could simulate this many stars with the Cosmic Art, then his rate of star energy absorption would spike, and he might even reach the stage where he would no longer need to rely on the Skyblaze Stone.
It was decided; after Lu Yin settled down in the Cosmic Sect, he would use the Skyblaze Stone to complete another cultivation cycle, and he would also figure out the integrated finger attack that he had seen on the Eversky Bridge.
Highsage Shenwei’s arrival at the Cosmic Sect did not create much of a stir.
Lu Yin stood atop a floating stone step within a certain area of the Cosmic Sect while he waited for someone to welcome him. Highsage Shenwei had already disappeared.
Before long, a figure flew over from the distance and landed on the stone step. “Brother Lu, it’s been a long time. I’m the Cosmic Sect’s second true disciple, Mu Ziying. It’s nice to meet you.”
Mu Ziying was the one who had appeared in front of Lu Yin.
