Star Odyssey

Chapter 1611: Unease

Lu Yin just laughed when he heard Balsam's answer. "Give me ten. Don’t try to tell me that the pills haven’t been developed. The truth is that I reached an agreement with Yu Mu before, and he was going to give me one. However, you were in such a rush to deal with him, so you now have to take over his responsibilities."

"Ten? Impossible! Not to mention that the pills haven’t even been fully developed yet. Even when that happens, it will be impossible for you to receive ten," Balsam bluntly refused.

Lu Yin nodded. "Okay; then let everyone learn the three words ‘stellular energy pill,’ which will cause your Shamrock Enterprise to be focused on by the entire universe, not just our Fifth Mainland."

Balsam's pupils instantly shrank. "One is the most I can do. This is the limit."

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed and he considered the offer for a bit. “Three."

Balsam took a deep breath. "Alright."

"I'm in Giant Consortium’s territory, so send them to me here." Lu Yin then immediately ended the call, and after disconnecting, his expression changed and he was no longer as relaxed as he had been a moment before. During their conversation, he had deliberately mentioned that Shamrock Enterprise had dealt with Yu Mu, and yet Balsam had not denied the casual accusation, which had actually been a subconscious reaction. With Balsam essentially admitting to the assassination, Lu Yin had become certain that Yu Mu had been killed by Shamrock Enterprise. However, how had they pulled it off?

Lu Yin had become very uneasy, and he quickly called Duane Daynight back and asked for all of the details concerning Yu Mu's death. Lu Yin also pushed to have the matter further investigated, as he had to learn the truth behind Yu Mu’s death in order to ever be able to relax again.

On the other side of the ended call, in Shamrock Enterprise’s hidden world headquarters, Balsam’s angry expression suddenly disappeared and was replaced by a cold expression. "I’ll give you what you want, but it’s up to you whether or not you can survive."

Neither of the two individuals was stupid. Lu Yin believed that he had uncovered a secret of Shamrock Enterprise. On the other hand, if everything was still in Balsam’s control, then why had she played along and given in to Lu Yin? Balsam was the company’s Innerverse president, and she was naturally not an average person.

Just as Lu Yin was confident that he would be able to gain control of Shamrock Enterprise, Balsam was similarly confident in turning the tide to her favor.

***

In another part of the Innerverse, to the Erudite Flowzone, Dean Han welcomed a guest to Lost Radiance Academy who had not visited in a truly long time: the Wen family’s patriarch, Wen Zizai.

"What are you doing here instead of sweeping the grounds at your home?" Dean Han made no effort to be polite when speaking to Wen Zizai, as the dean already knew the patriarch’s purpose for visiting.

Despite his position as the Wen family’s patriarch, Wen Zizai enjoyed sweeping the grounds, and he treated it as a form of meditation. The man was also completely unbothered by Dean Han's words. "What the younger generations can't manage can only be left to an old man like me. How about you give me some face?"

Dean Han shook his head and grew solemn. "I won't lie to you; we do indeed have a painting of mountains and seas, and Chong'er managed to see it once and tried to copy it, but that is precisely why he suffered a fatal disaster."

Wen Zizai grew puzzled. "What is the story behind that painting? Even my Wen family knows nothing about it."

Dean Han sighed. "It’s a remnant from long ago that’s been protected by my Han family. As for why there remains no record of it, all that I know is that every member of my Han family must protect this relic painting. It’s a coincidence, my old friend, that this painting is so important and that we cannot give it to anyone at all.”

"How did Lu Yin learn of it?" Wen Zizai wondered.

Dean Han's expression changed slightly. "That’s something that I also want to know. No one in my entire Han family knows about the painting, except for me. Not even you were aware of it, so how could he have known about it?"

"He said that Han Chong used a battle technique from the painting during the Astral Combat Tournament; could that painting have been the copy of your family’s relic?" Wen Zizai guessed.

Dean Han frowned, as he had been unaware of this detail. "Do you think Chong'er's death could have anything to do with him?"

Wen Zizai grew solemn. "There should be no connection at all, as if there were, he would not ask for the painting so openly."

Dean Han nodded, his expression complicated.

Wen Zizai looked at the other man. "Do you know what Lu Yin is offering to my Wen family in order for us to help him get this painting?"

"What is he offering that not even you can refuse?" Dean Han asked. Wen Yao had already made a request for the painting, but the dean had simply refused the request without even considering the motivation behind the request. With Wen Zizai himself asking, Dean Han grew genuinely curious.

Wen Zizai's voice dropped low, "An alternate method for using and training with the Literary Prison. He is offering my Wen family a lost portion of our inheritance."

Dean Han was shocked. "No wonder you came here."

Wen Zizai stared at Dean Han. "With my Wen family here, your Han family has no cause for worry. However, if my family one day ceased to exist, the painting and even your Han family will cease to exist. Han Chong’s death had proved that someone is eyeing the painting. A force able to capture him without causing a ruckus in the Lost Radiance Academy should speak volumes of what they’re capable of, and the Neohuman Alliance is very likely the culprit.

"I’m not even sure I can stop such an opponent."

"What are you trying to say?" Dean Han asked in a sour tone.

Wen Zizai sighed. "Let's give him the painting. You can think of it as payment for the care and protection my Wen family has given your Han family over so many years."

Dean Han trembled and he closed his eyes in agony.

Soon after that, Wen Zizai personally contacted Lu Yin. This was not the first time the two had spoken to each other, but each time that they did, their relationship was fundamentally different from before. At the moment, Wen Zizai was unable to even see the standard reverence and respect that people held towards powerful Envoys in Lu Yin's eyes. The youth remained as calm as if he were meeting with some peer.

"Alliance Leader Lu, if you truly want that painting, you should be aware of its importance. Our conditions are going to change: I will give you the painting, but you will give me the technique first," Wen Zizai spoke openly, thinking that he finally held the initiative.

However, Lu Yin simply ended the call as soon as the Envoy stopped talking.

Wen Zizai frowned and reconnected the call. "What are you saying, Alliance Leader Lu? Do you not want to discuss this matter?"

Lu Yin replied in a casual manner, "Senior Wen, it instead looks like you have no intention to discuss this matter. Do you really think your painting is worth the missing inheritance of the Wen family, which can very well push you to the top power of the Innerverse? Do you think I’m gullible enough to make a deal like that?”

Wen Zizai stared into Lu Yin's eyes, unable to determine if the youth was telling the truth or not. Could it be that Lu Yin was unaware of the importance of the painting? For the Han family, the painting had held unparalleled importance.

"Does Alliance Leader Lu not understand the importance of this painting?" Wen Zizai shouted.

"No clue," Lu Yin answered bluntly.action

Wen Zi was stunned, and thought that he must have misheard. "What did you say?"

Lu Yin elaborated on his answer, "I have no idea how important it is, which is why I wanted to see it. However, if your Wen family doesn’t care enough about this deal to show some sincerity, then I don’t want the painting."

Wen Zizai Rao had lived for many years, but despite that, he had no idea how to respond to Lu Yin. Negotiations were always determined by both parties recognizing the terms being put forward. If one of the parties held an unquestionable advantage, then the matter ceased to be a negotiation and it became simple extortion. Lu Yin was trying to extort the Wen family without even caring about the value of the painting. He had instead set the painting as the base price for delivering Wen Diyi to the Wen family.

As for whether or not the painting proved to be valuable or not, Lu Yin was unconcerned and would simply obtain it first.

Wen Zizai ended the call, as he could not speak to Lu Yin any longer. The youth was totally ignorant of what the Mountain Seas Painting represented! Truthfully, Wen Zizai was similarly ignorant of its value, but he had gained some inkling from the attitude that the Han family had shown. The painting was more important to them than the lives of their own clan members, which meant that the painting was invaluable. If the painting could only allow Lu Yin to allow them more options to choose from instead of choosing their own conditions, then he was not interested in the negotiation.

Before the ending the call, Wen Zizai had again asked Lu Yin to change his price for delivering Wen Diyi, but Lu Yin refused.

This was because Lu Yin still had no idea of what he wanted from the Wen family.

Wen Zizai was incredibly frustrated. If he were dealing with almost anyone else, he would have 10,000 different methods to seize the initiative and force the other person to negotiate, but with Lu Yin, the Wen patriarch was unable to find a place to even start. The youth had a foundation that was invincible with no clear weaknesses, and he was also very powerful. There was no opening for Wen Zizai to exploit.

The Wen family became utterly passive in their negotiation with Lu Yin.

On the other hand, Lu Yin was in no hurry to resume negotiations, which also left the Wen family feeling helpless. It would not even make any difference if they sent their patriarch to meet with Lu Yin.

After his time in the Perennial World, Lu Yin was no longer impressed by speaking with Envoys. He had long since lost his awe of such powerhouses, and he had even killed quite a number of them.

For the moment, his negotiations with the Wen family had failed, so Lu Yin quietly waited for the day when people from Chaosgod Mountain would come to Giant Consortium.

…

A huge mountain floated through space. No matter if it was seen from a distance or up close, it was still clearly a mountain.

Colossal giants entered the mountain and disappeared.

Qing Kong stared at the mountain, somewhat nervous. He was unaware of what Lu Yin was planning, but the giant did know that Ku Wei had transformed into a giant and had joined the others who had gone to the mountain. Lu Yin’s plans were clearly not small-scale.

Thinking about it, Qing Kong was unable to stop himself from glancing to his side where an old man was looking at the mountain with his hands clasped behind his back.

Ahem, Cang Song coughed and patted his chest. When the Sixth Mainland had invaded, he had been struck by an Imprinter on a mini mainland. Cang Song had been lucky to survive, but he was also plagued by an injury that could not be cured.

"President Qing, I'll take these people with me," Cang Song said, somewhat fatigued.

Qing Kong nodded while staying silent.

Giant Consortium was protected by Chaosgod Mountain, but the giants were also exploited by Chaosgod Mountain. The giants had no freedom at all.

Cang Song was unconcerned by Qing Kong's attitude, and he jumped after the mountain and entered it.

A total of ten giants stood quietly on the mountain. Aside from them, the mountain was massive and empty. These giants were only a few kilometers tall, which meant that they were less than half the height of the mountain.

Ku Wei stared at Cang Song, when suddenly, the mountain collapsed and the giants were pressed to the ground. Ku Wei was no exception, and he was almost unable to stop himself from turning back into his original size.

"Before arriving at Chaosgod Mountain, you should put up with this. It will also prevent you from destroying the mountain," Cang Song commented indifferently before turning around and leaving without so much as a glance at any of the giants.

Ku Wei gritted his teeth. The mountain pressed against his entire back. It was an unusual mountain, and not only for its weight. Even if Ku Wei had suppressed his cultivation to just below that of an Enlighter, he still found it difficult to withstand the weight on his back. This was a unique characteristic of Chaosgod Mountain’s weapons that they used to suppress the giants.

The enormous mountain began to move back towards Chaos Flowzone, and it moved quite quickly.

Giant Consortium did not have its headquarters anywhere close to Chaos Flowzone, but they were also not too distant from each other. They were separated by several minor flowzones and Soulseal Flowzone.

Lu Yin, Liu Ye, and Fei Hua followed closely behind the mountain, also making their way towards Chaos Flowzone.

A few days later, the mountain encountered a massive spacecraft. It bore an emblem that Lu Yin had seen before: it was the Blackbeard Pirates who he had dealt with before.

It was clear that the pirates recognized the mountain, as they turned and left the moment they saw it. However, the mountain accelerated and rammed into the vessel.

From behind, Lu Yin was able to clearly see that the pirates’ vessel had been smashed to pieces, and several Explorers fled through space, only to be slaughtered by Chaosgod Mountain’s cultivators.