Lu Yin picked up his teacup once again and savored the tea’s fragrance. “It appears that you and Wang Wen have gotten along quite well.”
San Liang tried to suppress the shock resounding within his heart, but Lu Yin’s words had resolved some long-standing doubts of his.
To begin with, Wang Wen’s contact information had suddenly appeared in front of San Liang without any sort of explanation. He had tried calling the person, and he had quickly hit it off with Wang Wen. One of the two wanted to become an overseer and needed external support while the other wanted to set up his own people within the Hall of Honor.
With Wang Wen’s support and the resources of the Great Eastern Alliance, San Liang had become bolder. After all, he knew that Arch-Elder Zen and the Chief Justice both support the Great Eastern Alliance along with Leon’s Armada, which was the most powerful of the Four Pirate Crews. This backing had given San Liang the courage to do many things, and not only had he gotten much closer to his dream of becoming an overseer, but he had also become more confident that he would gain the position.
However, despite the fact that everything had been proceeding so well, there was one particular lingering detail that made San Liang very uncomfortable—who had left him Wang Wen’s contact information? Why had they done so silently, and also, why had they even sought San Liang out to begin with? San Liang had asked Wang Wen, but Wang Wen had not given him an answer. All that he had said was that San Liang would learn the truth when the time was right.
When Lu Yin had spoken with Wang Wen, he had mentioned San Liang, so Lu Yin was quite familiar with San Liang’s current situation.
“I’m not interested in whatever you and Wang Wen are doing. Right now, I want to talk to you to learn about Overseer Cong Ying’s situation,” Lu Yin said.
San Liang’s attitude instantly changed. He was sitting in front of the person who not only led the Great Eastern Alliance, but also the person who had given him the opportunity to become an overseer. He did not want to even imagine the efforts put into such matters.
Lu Yin was even bold enough to move against one of the Hall of Honor’s overseers. San Liang knew without even thinking that he did not have the means to go against someone like Lu Yin. Thus, naturally, San Liang started treating Lu Yin with more respect. He wanted Lu Yin to understand that he would be an obedient overseer. “Regarding Overseer’s Cong Ying’s situation, I actually told Wang Wen that the entire matter is truly quite strange. Overseer Cong Ying is a stubborn and very principled man, and he will always follow through on his decisions.”
Lu Yin silently listened. He was surprised by the description that San Liang gave of the overseer. Cong Ying was either extremely talented at hiding his true nature, like Bu Laoweng, or he genuinely hated the Great Eastern Alliance. However, the Great Eastern Alliance was based in the Outerverse, and so it seemed impossible for there to be any hatred between Cong Ying and the alliance. What other motive could he have for targeting Continental Shipping?
“I see.” Lu Yin set his teacup down and started leaving. However, before exiting the room, he said, “If you run into any trouble, you can find me. I hope that you will send me any further news regarding the nine overseers as soon as possible.”
San Liang let out several deep breaths as he watched Lu Yin leave. Even though San Liang had allied himself with the Great Eastern Alliance, he was actually moving closer and closer to becoming an overseer.
San Liang lived rather close to Overseer Ying’s residence. While an ordinary person would not be able to travel such a distance even in an entire lifetime, Lu Yin was able to cover it very quickly.
Lu Yin traveled across Mt. Microcosms by tunneling through the void. Although some people saw him, no one moved to stop him. The incident involving Lu Yin and Highsage Wudi had left a deep impression on all of Mt. Microcosms’ residents.
The nine overseers were all people who stood at the top of Mt. Microcosms, and yet one of them had still been bullied at his own home.
Additionally, the attitude that Arch-Elder Zen had publicly shown towards Lu Yin had essentially made all of Mt. Microcosms Lu Yin’s personal garden.
Arch-Elder Zen was not the only one supporting Lu Yin, as even the elusive Chief Justice had shown his support of this youth.
The people who lived on Mt. Microcosms were not simple, and none of them would try to create trouble for Lu Yin over anything trivial.
“Lu Yin asks to see Overseer Cong Ying.” Lu Yin opened his mouth to announce himself once he arrived outside a certain courtyard, but Lu Yin purposely did not refer to himself as a junior. He was not making a personal visit, but rather trying to open negotiations.
Overseer Cong Ying’s home was different from Bu Laoweng’s and the other overseers. His home looked like a courtyard, and it was quite neat and proper. The first impression that the courtyard gave was that the owner was a very principled and stubborn person.
A bit of time passed, and then Lu Yin was invited in. He was escorted by a man who was most likely Cong Ying’s primary bodyguard.
It did not take long for Lu Yin to meet Overseer Cong Ying in person. The overseer looked very similar to how San Liang had described him; he had a serious face, and he would not treat strangers warmly.
“Greetings, Mr. Cong Ying.” Lu Yin smiled. He spoke politely, but maintained an attitude that was neither servile nor arrogant.
In the past, he had seen the nine overseers as individuals with lofty positions, but at the present moment, Lu Yin saw them as nothing.
Cong Ying did not even offer Lu Yin any tea, and his face remained expressionless. “Lord Lu, are you here about Continental Shipping?”
Lu Yin nodded. “That’s right. I really don’t know how my Great Eastern Alliance could have offended an overseer to such a degree that an overseer would not hesitate to use their position and influence to block Continental Shipping’s trade routes and even propose dissolving the company to the council of overseers.”
Cong Ying spoke in a solemn tone. “I don’t like beating around the bush, and I prefer to speak directly. It’s because of the Giant Consortium.”
Lu Yin frowned. “Giant Consortium?”1
He was familiar with the group, as Brightstar Corp. was part of it.
“Alliance Leader Lu should already know that there was a specific race of giants that were highly intelligent. At their civilization’s peak, they were able to create technological weapons on par with Envoys. This Giant Consortium was established on the foundation of these giants’ technology,” Cong Ying explained.
Lu Yin listened quietly.
“Giants are sometimes said to be human, but they are not exactly the same race as us humans. At least, I will not admit to such a thing. There are some giants that drink blood, others that are physically stronger than astral beasts, and yet others that excel at developing technology. I adhere to the belief that the race of technologically advanced giants were wiped out and that our ancestors worked to eliminate those giants’ technology. At this time, the giants’ technology is resurfacing, and I will not sit idly by and watch,” Cong Ying continued to explain.
Lu Yin had to ask, “Are there giants within the consortium?”
“I don’t know. I have not found any proof yet, as if I had, I would already have proposed to destroy the entire consortium.” Cong Ying’s eyes grew hard and cruel. “Lord Lu, if you stop cooperating with the Giant Consortium, then I will have no reason to target your Continental Shipping. Consider this matter carefully.”
Lu Yin believed that the overseer must have said these same words to Wang Wen and others, but since Wang Wen and the others had clearly refused, it demonstrated the importance that Brightstar Corp. had in Continental Shipping, so Lu Yin was also unable to agree.
“Overseer Cong Ying, the consortium was built by a civilization that was already destroyed, so isn’t the worry that you have towards it a bit exaggerated? Giant Consortium has been around for a long time.”
“You just called it Giant Consortium. ‘Giant’ is even in its name, though I did not notice the coincidence at first. However, the day that Brightstar Corp. started cooperating with your Great Eastern Alliance, someone brought it to my attention.”
Lu Yin’s eyes flashed. “Someone brought it up? Could Overseer Ying tell me who that was?”
Overseer Cong Ying fell silent.
Lu Yin casually said, “For you to be able to hold the position that you do, you clearly are not dumb. It’s never good to be used as someone else’s blade.”
“Shamrock Enterprises’, Yu Mu,” Cong Ying spoke lightly.
A sharp glint entered Lu Yin’s eyes; he had forgotten about Yu Mu and had not expected him to reappear at this time.
“Thank you, overseer. Goodbye.” Lu Yin then left. He already knew that he would not be able to resolve his conflict with this overseer without abandoning Brightstar Corp.
“Alliance Leader Lu, I know that you have many bigshots supporting you, but I have also been an overseer for many years, and I have never made a mistake. Not even Arch-Elder Zen can easily remove me from my position. I am not the same as Bu Laoweng,” Overseer Cong Ying said one last thing as he watched Lu Yin leave.
Lu Yin did not look back or even say a word. He simply walked away.
“Alliance Leader Lu, nothing good will come of the return of the giants’ technology. Back then, it was agreed by all of the Hall of Honor’s overseers to destroy the giants and eliminate their technology. If you insist on restoring the giants’ technology, then the consequences will be unimaginable…” Overseer Cong Ying’s voice gradually faded as Lu Yin continued to walk away. He had no desire to continue the conversation any further.
It was not that Lu Yin hated Cong Yin, but that they simply held opposing positions and views. Those differences had made them enemies, and Lu Yin saw no need to be polite to an enemy.
However, he was also intrigued by the idea of the giants’ technology, so he intended to fully investigate it.
As soon as he left Overseer Cong Ying’s home, Lu Yin sent Wei Rong a very simple message: ‘Thoroughly investigate Cong Ying.’
Regardless of how Wei Rong wanted to proceed, the alliance already had two or three people on Mt. Microcosms, which meant that Wei Rong would be able to gather a great deal of information on Cong Ying. And as long as there was enough information, a solution could be found.
Also, on top of the alliance’s two or three men, there was also Bu Laoweng. While Lu Yin wanted to keep Ming Yan away from the Neohuman Alliance, Overseer Bu Laoweng still had his uses.
If San Liang really did become an overseer, then two of the nine overseers would be supporting Lu Yin and the Great Eastern Alliance, which would be pretty good.
As for the other overseers, such as Overseer Xin and the others, they were all hesitant to target Lu Yin as Arch-Elder Zen supported him. Lu Yin actually had a considerable voice within the Hall of Honor.
Finally, Lu Yin reached his last stop on Mt. Microcosms: it was time for him to meet with the Chief Justice of the Interstellar Supreme Court.
Lu Yin wanted to know why the Chief Justice had repeatedly helped him.
Arbitration World was shrouded in an eternal chill. This place saw only executions and trials, and few people were able to leave this place in the same state that they had entered.
Even though Lu Yin was able to freely wander about Mt. Microcosms, he was still stopped before he entered Arbitration World. This was not a place where Lu Yin could freely move about.
Lu Yin had no way of getting in touch with the Chief Justice, so his only option was to get in contact with Mu En.
However, Lu Yin found that he was unable to get to Mu En either.
Lu Yin felt that he would have to return in failure, but then someone emerged to greet him. It was one of the Judicial Commissioners: the Shadow of Death.
The Shadow of Death was the strongest of the three Judicial Commissioners, as well as the oldest. It was said that the Shadow of Death was from the same generation as the Chief Justice and that he had a terrifying power level of more than 800,000.
The Shadow of Death looked like nothing more than a shadow, and he merged into Lu Yin’s own. Lu Yin’s back went cold at the sight, and he felt incredibly vulnerable.
“I will take you to see the Chief Justice,” the Shadow of Death said, and Lu Yin was given no choice in the matter. He was actually dragged away by his own shadow.
This experience reminded Lu Yin of the Ghost Monkey. He wondered where the strange beast had ended up.
Lu Yin had expected to find the Chief Justice on the massive planet where he held court, but the Shadow of Death actually dragged Lu Yin to a corner of the Arbitration World.
Arbitration World was an extremely dark place that was only illuminated by a few stars. Lu Yin was taken to a corner of Arbitration World that was so devoid of light that he could not even see his own hands. No matter where he looked, there was no hint of any light.
Lu Yin was a powerful cultivator who had already become an Enlighter, and yet he was unable to even see his own hand. This was the first time that he had experienced such a thing, and it was completely different from how his senses had been mixed up and confused by Shaman God.
Suddenly, the space nearby him twisted, and light gradually returned. Lu Yin looked around. He was once again able to see his own hand, but there was nothing else aside from pure darkness in front of him. He quickly bowed. “Junior Lu Yin greets Senior Chief Justice.”
Truthfully, Lu Yin was feeling a bit of panic at this moment since he did not have Highsage Wudi’s support. Lu Yin had stolen the Chief Justice’s little red bell, and Lu Yin had no idea if this matter had ever come to light.
“What’s the matter?” the Chief Justice asked in an indistinct voice.
Lu Yin respectfully replied, “I wish to thank you for supporting the Great Eastern Alliance.”
The Chief Justice did not respond.
[1] As a refresher, Chapter 1329 explains the Innerverse companies in detail and why they’re different from the Outerverse businesses.
OMA’s Thoughts
Translated By: OMA
Edited By: Neshi/Nyxnox
TLC’ed By: OMA
