Bu Laoweng had directly revealed the matter of Lu Yin cultivating death energy. This tore apart the little remaining cordiality between Bu Laoweng and Eversky Island. The overseer believed that, since he had already offended Highsage Wudi, offending the entirety of Eversky Island did not matter anymore.
Many people turned to look at Lu Yin, the man who cultivated death energy.
The expressions of everyone present instantly changed.
Even the expression on Xin Jiao’s face changed as she looked at Lu Yin. Cultivating death energy was not explicitly a major crime, but it did mean that that person posed a legitimate potential risk.
Highsage Wudi’s brows rose. “My junior brother has indeed cultivated death energy, but the Chief Justice has already passed judgment and ruled that my junior brother cannot be affected by death energy.”
Bu Laoweng froze. Then, his expression became sinister, as he had not known of this matter. Insinuating that the Chief Justice’s verdict was wrong was essentially the same as going against the Chief Justice himself.
Many of the surrounding people looked at Bu Laoweng like he was an idiot. His scalp tingled, and as he looked around, he saw numerous looks of ridicule directed at him, though there were a few looks of sympathy as well. Bu Laoweng quickly weighed his options, as he could not retract such a statement. After a moment of thought, he loudly said, “The Interstellar Supreme Court’s verdict is based on the present, and cultivating with death energy is not a crime in and of itself, but death energy has a unique characteristic that makes it very risky. If Lu Yin were just some regular cultivator, this wouldn’t matter, but he is the leader of the Great Eastern Alliance that controls the entire Outerverse, which essentially makes him the ruler of the Outerverse. So doesn’t him cultivating with death energy mean that the entire Outerverse could easily fall under the Neohuman Alliance’s control?
“Who can guarantee that he won’t end up being controlled by the Specter Clan? Who can guarantee that he will always remain untainted by death energy? Not even Eversky Island can make such a promise, no?”
Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. The fact that he had cultivated with death energy was something that only the Chief Justice, Highsage Wudi, and the three Judicial Commissioners had been aware of, but Bu Laoweng had clearly been informed of this. Mu Tianlun must have shared the news with the overseer; the Calm of Despair was truly hostile towards Lu Yin.
Also, Bu Laoweng still dared to bring up the matter of death energy. This indicated that the Chief Justice’s authority was either not enough, or as one of the Judicial Commissioners had mentioned, the Chief Justice did not interfere with matters concerning the overseers.
Lu Yin suddenly discovered a problem: Yuan Shi and Eversky Island had no direct influence within the Hall of Honor, and it seemed that not even the Chief Justice would be able to sway the Hall of Honor itself. Rather, his authority was limited to passing judgment. He might support his own people in climbing to higher positions, but he did not concern himself with menial matters, which gave Bu Laoweng the courage to press this issue.
Despite the fact that most of the people present were stronger than the overseer, none of them moved. If not even these seniors would support Lu Yin, then he would be in deep trouble.
Bu Laoweng had made accusations that not even Highsage Wudi could refute.
Despite not being at the top of the hierarchy of the Hall of Honor, an overseer was still somewhat influential, and his words were convincing to many people.
Bu Laoweng was deliberately pitting himself to see things all the way through to the end with Lu Yin. Unless he was slapped to death by Highsage Wudi, the overseer would retain every right and reason to imprison Lu Yin.
Lu Yin was not able to deny that he had cultivated death energy, but he also had no means of convincing others that he could not be controlled by death energy. Furthermore, if he made such a claim, then people would grow even more suspicious of him and believe that he was a member of the Specter Clan.
Lu Yin was in a tricky situation.
Bu Laoweng’s words were accurate; despite Eversky Island’s power, their influence was not enough, and Highsage Wudi was unable to convince the gathered people to believe in Lu Yin. Their only hope was for the Chief Justice to step in, but how could the Chief Justice possibly step forward for Lu Yin?
The entire place fell silent for a time, and then, everyone started discussing death energy
The situation was moving in a direction that was very unfavorable to Lu Yin.
Bu Laoweng sucked in a cold breath; since he had already offended Eversky Island, he intended to go all the way and decided to present the image of a strong-willed overseer who was fearless of even Eversky Island.
“That- that- I’m sorry to interrupt, but…” A voice called out from below. The person stammered constantly, clearly scared.
Everyone instinctively looked down. They saw the ruined mountain peak, and standing on it was a teen dressed in extremely rustic clothes with a mushroom-like haircut and large glasses. He was struggling to raise his right hand since his left was preoccupied with an enormous pile of books a half-meter high, and he scowled as he spoke.
Upon seeing the crowd look at him, the teenager looked frightened, and he swallowed hard and coughed awkwardly. “Um, I’m sorry to interrupt, but- uh. About that- in fact, death energy is just another power source for cultivation. Essentially, it’s no different from star energy. There’s nothing good or bad to…”
Bu Laoweng’s expression inspired awe as he shouted, “What are you talking about? Say that again!”
The teenager with a bowl cut panicked, and a book fell from the pile and smashed his foot. He let out a miserable howl, and he looked to be in pain as well as terrified.
Lu Yin froze; this was a strange person to see in the Hall of Honor’s headquarters. Did he not cultivate? Actually, he was a Melder, so how could a book falling on his foot have hurt him?
The gathered crowd all had strange expressions on their faces as they stared at the teenager.
The teen could not easily pick up the fallen book, and he was still staring at Bu Laoweng fearfully. “That- that’s just what’s written in the history books. I- I just was stating what’s recorded.”
Bu Laoweng snapped, “What’s your name? The Hall of Honor does not permit entry to people with weak wills like you. Do you want to cultivate death energy? Arrest him.”
Lu Yin loudly spoke up. “What an impressive leader. Overseer Bu Laoweng won’t even allow others to speak?”
Bu Laoweng’s expression fell. He coldly snorted and simply stared at the bowl cut youth.
Xin Jiao smiled gently as she looked at the mushroom head. “I remember you. You’re from the Institute of History, yes?”
The teenager pushed his glasses up and nodded with a scowl. “I- I- my name is Xiao Shi.”1
“Good. Little Shi, what is it that you wanted to clarify? Is Lu Yin’s cultivation of death energy not a risk?” Xin Jiao had a soft look and a smile on her face as she prodded the teen.
Xiao Shi swallowed once again and opened one of the books he was carrying. He looked through it for a bit, pushed his glasses back up, and began reciting, “Naturally, death energy is not something unique to the Specter Clan. They simply discovered and began to utilize death energy. After countless generations passed, death energy became the most suitable form of cultivation for them. Theoretically, anyone can cultivate death energy as long as they slowly incorporate it. After enough time, their descendants would be able to smoothly cultivate with death energy, and if enough time passes, another Specter Clan would be created.”
“Cultivating with death energy means that one will be suppressed or even controlled by the members of the Specter Clan. This power is simply a means for the Specter Clan to create traitors and turncoats,” Bu Laoweng retorted.
Xiao Shi pushed his glasses up. “People can suppress others with star energy just as easily.”
Bu Laoweng’s brows arched up high. “Those who cultivate death energy are easily controlled by stronger cultivators of death energy.”
Xiao Shi scowled. “That’s just a matter of being suppressed and being unable to resist. It’s no different than what happens with normal cultivators.”
Lu Yin laughed. “Overseer Bu Laoweng, right now, you’re trying to intimidate Brother Mushroom Head. With your strength, it’s too easy for you to intimidate a Melder. Does that mean that star energy is also too dangerous to be used for cultivation?”
Bu Laoweng solemnly replied, “No matter how you twist it, death energy makes it easier for the Specter Clan to control you, and you can never remove that risk.”
“Unless you abolish the strength you cultivated with death energy,” Nightking Zheng loudly added.
Xiao Shi raised a hand and swallowed hard.
Highsage Wudi pointed at the teen. “Talk.”
Bu Laoweng and Nightking Zheng both angrily glared at Xiao Shi.
Countless people watched the teen in amazement. A tiny Melder realm child actually dared to interject in this situation? Where did he find such guts?
Xiao Shi was extremely nervous, and he looked back at his book while sneaking peeks at Bu Laoweng. The teen was terrified, but he still managed to speak up, “In fact, people can have a preternatural aptitude for death energy. It’s not that people who cultivate with death energy can’t be controlled by members of the Specter Clan. Rather, if one has a strong enough aptitude, encounters some kind of special opportunity, has some special innate gift, or has something else along those lines, then they can actually use death energy to control the members of the Specter Clan. This is also another possibility.”
Bu Laoweng was infuriated, and he could barely stop himself from slapping the mushroom head dead.
Lu Yin tilted his head. “It’s no wonder why I never felt anything special when cultivating with death energy. You can check with the people from the Seven Courts, but in Progenitor Chen’s Mausoleum, I was never controlled by the Specter Clan. Instead, I was actually able to suppress them.”
Bu Laoweng opened his mouth to counter Lu Yin’s words, but for a moment he was speechless.
If there was a chance that Lu Yin could counter-control members of the Specter Clan, it would not be possible to use his privilege as an overseer on Lu Yin. Attempting to do so would not only simply offend Eversky Island, but it could also trigger Highsage Wudi to actually smash Bu Laoweng dead.
Nightking Zheng’s expression was dark as he stared at the teenager with a bowl cut. “Kid, don’t speak nonsense. Death energy is a power that belongs solely to the Specter Clan. This is common knowledge throughout the Human Domain and is universally recognized.”
Xiao Shi’s attitude suddenly changed, and he glared at fiercely Nightking Zheng, clearly angered. “You’re the one who’s spouting nonsense! It’s people like you who confuse history! The people who treat common knowledge as actual history are the dumbest!. Death energy is in no way something that belongs to the Specter Clan. It belongs to the God of Death, you stupid bastard!”
The Night King was instantly enraged. “What did you say?”
Xiao Shi froze. He quickly reacted, hastily ducking down and holding the book over his head to shield himself. “Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! I didn’t mean it!”
Nightking Zheng raised a hand to attack Xiao Shi, but Highsage Wudi let out a cold snort as he grabbed Xiao Shi and pulled him over. Lu Yin caught the teen, and with this, Nightking Zheng no longer dared to attack.
Bu Laoweng loudly said, “Ladies and gentlemen, don’t listen to this kid’s nonsense! There is no God of Death, as that’s just a fable.”
Nightking Zheng said, “That’s good. Death energy belongs to the God of Death? Then does star energy belong to the God of Stars? This is not some home to gods, and there are no such things as gods or deities.”
Xiao Shi looked up and muttered, “I’m not talking nonsense! The God of Death is the oldest being, and the God of Death was the one who dcreate death energy.”
Lu Yin felt his heart twinge, and he looked at Xiao Shi, particularly focusing on the book above the teen’s head. It was massive.
No one believed Xiao Shi’s words, as something like the God of Death was too absurd. After all, there were no gods in the universe.
At this moment, a figure suddenly appeared in the sky. This person was just there; they could have been standing there for a long time without anyone noticing them.
Highsage Wudi was the first to see the figure, and his demeanor completely transformed as he greeted with complete respect, “Wudi pays his respects to Arch-Elder Zen.”
The next moment, everyone else noticed the person in the sky, and they all saluted him in unison. “We pay our respects to Arch-Elder Zen.”
“We pay our respects to Arch-Elder Zen.”
…
Lu Yin also formally greeted the newcomer. Out of the corner of his eye, he looked up at the person. Was this Arch-Elder Zen the true source of authority in the Hall of Honor? If even Highsage Wudi was being so submissive, then this person might really be the true top powerhouse in the entire Hall of Honor.
Arch-Elder Zen looked down and focused on Highsage Wudi. “You’re becoming more and more reckless.”
Highsage Wudi respectfully responded, “Junior actually did not want to do so, but this overseer is too much of a bully. He’s targeting a member of my Eversky Island.”
Arch-Elder Zen laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous, he is not a member of your Eversky Island.”
Highsage Wudi replied, “Lu Yin is a nominal disciple of my Eversky Island.”
“Is he willing to worship the Highsage Grandmaster as his master?” Arch-Elder Zen asked, his expression a bit strange.
Highsage Wudi looked over at Lu Yin.
Lu Yin could not understand how the subject had taken such a turn. His answer might allow Eversky Island to hold the higher moral ground and protect him. Then, there would be no problem with Highsage Wudi’s actions, but Lu Yin already had a master, and he had also already given Highsage Shenwei an answer.
For a moment, Lu Yin did not know how to answer, as if he spoke incorrectly, then not only Lu Yin would be in trouble, but even Highsage Wudi might also be implicated.
Arch-Elder Zen quietly watched Lu Yin with a smile.
Highsage Wudi kept winking at Lu Yin.
Xiao Shi stared at Lu Yin with a mix of curiosity and equal parts admiration, awe, and excitement.
Lu Yin thought for a moment, but then he helplessly said to Highsage Wudi, “Senior Wudi, I’m sorry, but I already have a master. I can’t take the Highsage Grandmaster as my master. I, Lu Yin, can’t be an ungrateful person.”
Highsage Wudi was stunned, but he simply nodded. “No harm done. Just be yourself.”
Lu Yin felt truly grateful.
[1] Xiao Shi = Little History. ☜
