Chapter 2906: Muddying The Water  

Luo Shan's expression fell as his tri-colored monarch essence surged. "Lu Yin, did you bring all these people to the Three Monarchs Universe to surround and kill me? Don't forget, while I may no longer be a ruler of one of the Sixverse Association’s member universes, I am still fighting against the Aeternals on the Endless Frontier. If you target me, especially on the Endless Frontier, you will be punished by the Sixverse Association as a whole."

Lu Yin laughed. "Yes, this is a crusade, but our target is not you, but rather…"

He paused for a moment.

Luo Shan's pupils shrank to pinpricks, as everything that he knew about Lu Yin flashed through the Monarch’s mind, including Lu Yin’s actions in the Origin Universe. Luo Shan immediately grew very pale. "What have you done?"

Lu Yin was stunned. What had he done?

Luo Shan grew furious. "Lu Yin, you must have framed me as a spy in order to gain greater recognition from the Sixverse Association. That’s why you’ve come here and surrounded me, isn’t it?"

Strange expressions appeared on the faces of Wang Jian and the others, and they could not help but glance back at Lu Yin. Was this true? It certainly seemed to fit with Lu Yin’s modus operandi. He had unified the Fifth Mainland and then schemed against the four ruling powers. Was Luo Shan’s accusation against Lu Yin really that far-fetched? Was it possible that the crusade was a lie and that his real goal was to eliminate Luo Shan?

The better someone knew Lu Yin, the more likely they would be to agree with Luo Shan's suspicions.

Lu Yin was rendered speechless. "You’re overthinking things. A few months ago, our Heavens Sect launched an official crusade to conquer the Endless Frontier to avenge Lord Wei. We found you by mere coincidence."

Luo Shan was startled. "Lord Wei is dead?"

Lu Yin sneered as he looked in another direction. "How long are you going to sit there and watch? Get out here!"

As he spoke, he raised a hand, and his fingers made a grabbing motion as he tore space apart in the direction he was looking. The void trembled as a terrifying power swept out, shattering space.

Everyone turned to look, and they saw someone emerge, quickly evade Lu Yin’s attack, and then try to escape.

Mu Ke spun around, his saber raised up before he chopped down.

The slash cut through the Three Monarchs Universe as it shot towards the fleeing figure. The attack was indescribably sharp, and it left everyone's scalp numb.

The individual who was trying to escape was startled, and they lashed out at the attack, clashing against Mu Ke’s attack. The universe was sundered into four sections, but even though the fleeting figure’s counter attack had struck Mu Ke’s slash, a part of the attack continued on.

The impact between the two attacks briefly slowed Mu Ke’s slash, which allowed the other person to evade it. The attack slicked by, leaving a black spatial crack in its wake.

"Mu Ke, it's me…"

Mu Ke frowned. "Daheng?"

Luo Shan's eyes flared. "Daheng?"

Lu Yin was not surprised. Mr. Daheng had located Luo Shan on the Endless Frontier, which Lu Yin had learned about from Wu Heng. This was also why Lu Yin had wanted to find Luo Shan. Lu Yin was not worried about Mr. Daheng’s goals, as the man clearly just wanted to get the Peaks and Rivers Rock. Lu Yin also wanted to take the stone back from Luo Shan.

However, Lu Yin also wanted to know what Mr. Daheng wanted to do with the Peaks and Rivers Rock.

In the distance, Mr. Daheng was fearfully staring at Mu Ke. Everyone claimed that Mr. Daheng was the second-most powerful individual in the Arboreal Realm, with only Mu Shen above him. The man had even believed it himself.

However, during the last Tea Ceremony, Mu Ke had revealed a level of strength that had made everyone take another look at him. Even Mr. Daheng felt that his fellow Arborean was likely superior, and Mu Ke’s slash in the Three Monarchs Universe had only further confirmed Mr. Daheng’s suspicions. Mu Ke was the person in the Arboreal Realm who was really second to Mu Shen.

"Mr. Daheng, why are you in the Three Monarchs Universe?" Lu Yin asked in a casual manner. While Mr. Daheng was a sequence powerhouse, Lu Yin did not need to be particularly concerned about that.

Luo Shan stared intently at Mr. Daheng. Lu Yin had asked the exact question that the Monarch wanted answered. Why was this man shadowing Luo Shan?

Mr. Daheng glanced at the second battalion. While he was quite intimidated by the forces arrayed before him, he put on a show of being relaxed and at ease. "I just happened to be passing by. I’m actually on my way to the Starlight Universe. I’ve heard that a particular type of starlight grass grows there and that it’s very beautiful. Dao Monarch Lu has seen my Liberation Palace and knows what it’s like. So, you should know that this starlight grass would greatly improve the view."

A smile crept across Lu Yin's mouth. "But you’ve been in this universe for a long time already."

Mr. Daheng's eye twitched, and he reflexively glanced at Luo Shan.

Luo Shan was staring at the Arborean with cold and wary eyes. Had Mr. Daheng been in the Three Monarchs Universe for a while? Then he must have been watching him.

"You must be joking, Dao Monarch Lu. I only just arrived," Mr. Daheng replied.

Lu Yin shrugged. "When you arrived doesn’t matter. You’re here, so you aren’t leaving. You’ve been officially drafted into the second battalion to join the crusade."

Mr. Daheng instantly refused. "While I respect Lord Lu’s crusade against Aeternus, this crusade is your Heavens Sect’s affair, and I have other matters to see to. I will take my leave now."

Lu Yin clasped his hands behind his back. "If you try to leave, you will be regarded as a traitor to humanity."

Mr. Daheng's expression changed, and he glowered at Lu Yin. "Lord Lu, joining your crusade is a purely voluntary matter. I am from the Arboreal Realm, so even if I am forced to join your crusade, it must be Mu Shen who makes that decision. You have no authority over me."

"Mu Ke, you know this."

With the exception of Mu Ke, Mr. Daheng was confident that no one present was capable of stopping him, which meant that he could leave whenever he wished. As for Lu Yin, what would the brat be without the protection of a sequence powerhouse?

Lu Yin laughed. "You tried to argue when I said that you’ve been in the Three Monarchs Universe for a long time, and you’re still trying to argue with me. Proximity has already issued an announcement to the entire Sixverse Association. Any cultivator on the Endless Frontier who is not currently serving as an assigned defender is required to join our crusade when we encounter them. If any refuse this draft, they are to be treated as traitors to humanity.

"The announcement was made a long time ago."

Mr. Daheng’s expression grew ugly. Had this really happened?

Luo Shan clenched his fists as he stared at Mr. Daheng. How long had this man been watching him? What did he want?

Mu Ke clenched the hilt of his saber. "Daheng, join the battalion. All who refuse are to be treated as spies."

Mr. Daheng glared at Lu Yin, furious. This brat was clearly targeting him.

Lu Yin continued to smile brightly at Mr. Daheng..

​Everyone wanted to do whatever they wished and obtain all that they desired, receiving everything they sought, but how could that be possible?

In order to obtain the Peaks and Rivers Rock, Mr. Daheng had forced Chen Le to steal one. In order to gain control of more peak powerhouses, he had also sealed Chen Le and Wu Heng’s cultivation. This was not freedom and being at ease, but rather seizing control of others.

True liberation and freedom would be to ensure the safety and security of humanity as a whole, protecting peace for all future generations.

Sitting alone up above all others was not freedom, but rather loneliness.

"Lord Lu, all the previous grudges between us were instigated by me. I, Daheng, formally apologize here and now to Lord Lu for my previous actions.

“Now, I really have some important matters to attend to, so I ask that you allow me to go, Lord Lu. Once my affairs are in order, I will surely return to the Endless Frontier and join a battalion. I, Daheng, have bound myself to the fight for humanity against Aeternus." Mr. Daheng suppressed his anger and slowly bowed to Lu Yin.

Lu Yin sighed. "So, are you saying that I’m drafting you into this battalion because of our past grudges?"

Mr. Daheng's heart skipped a beat. "Of course not. I just wanted to take this coincidental meeting with Lord Lu to apologize. This matter has nothing to do with whether or not I join your battalion."

"Then join. I don't want to waste any time arguing." Lu Yin showed no mercy.

Mr. Daheng blanched. He had said so many flattering things, but this brat refused to give the Arborean any face.

Lu Yin glanced over at Luo Shan. "Do you want to join us and avenge your Three Monarchs Universe?"

Luo Shan replied in a soft voice, "The Three Monarchs Universe is a part of the Endless Frontier, which makes me a defender of the Endless Frontier. Because of this, I can refuse to join you."

Lu Yin nodded. "It's your choice.

"How long do we need to purge this universe?"

Xia Qin replied, "It’ll take fifteen days."

Lu Yin said, "Do whatever is needed to get the Three Monarchs Universe green lit."

Wang Jian, Xia Qin, and the jiao went in three different directions, and many of the second battalion’s other cultivators started fighting across the universe.

Mr. Da Heng wanted to leave, but he did not dare to attempt it. He knew that Lu Yin would do as he said, and if Lu Yin obtained any sort of leverage against Mr. Daheng, it would not be unexpected if the brat led a number of Progenitors to surround and kill Mr. Daheng.

Mu Shen had already helped the man once, but he would not be able to do so a second time.

Helpless, Mr. Daheng had no choice but to temporarily join the second battalion.

The addition of Mr. Daheng boosted the second battalion’s strength even further. Regardless of the man’s character, they were still on the Endless Frontier, and Mr. Daheng had no choice but to join the second battalion in their crusade against the Aeternals. The second battalion had gained another sequence powerhouse, which was a substantial addition.

Lu Yin still felt that it was a pity, as it would have been best if Luo Shan had also joined their numbers.

In the ruins of the Mo Courtyard, Mr. Daheng spoke with Lu Yin alone, hoping to go.

Of course, Lu Yin refused and instead called Luo Shan over.

Luo Shan also wanted to leave, but the reason why he was able to refuse to join the second battalion was because he belonged to the Three Monarchs Universe. As long as the second battalion remained in that universe, Luo Shan could not leave. On top of that, he wanted to keep an eye on Mr. Daheng and find out why the Arborean had been watching him.

The three men met in the ruins of the Mo Courtyard.

Mr. Daheng did not want to speak with Luo Shan, and he only wanted to beg for Lu Yin’s permission to leave.

Luo Shan also wanted to meet with Mr. Daheng alone, as the Monarch did not want to deal with Lu Yin.

And Lu Yin wanted to speak with both men, so the three met amidst the ruins of the Mo Courtyard.

"You're already here, so if you have anything to say, just say it," Lu Yin said.

Mr. Daheng's eyes flickered. "Lord Lu-"

The man was cut off before he could even start making his request, "If you’re still trying to leave, don't even bring it up. I don’t want to grow suspicious and accuse you of betraying humanity."

Mr. Daheng gritted his teeth and suppressed his anger, trying to avoid arguing with Lu Yin. This young man was too overbearing.

Luo Shan looked at Lu Yin before turning to Mr. Daheng, but the Monarch said nothing.

Lu Yin watched Luo Shan. "Do you not have anything to say?"

Luo Shan quietly retorted, "Lord Lu, what do you want me to say?"

Lu Yin laughed. "At the end of the battle with Shaman God, you fled on your own, leaving me behind. Shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

Luo Shan stared at Lu Yin. "In that case, Lord Lu, please explain why Monarch Mu was your captive."

Lu Yin answered with a smile, "Because back then, we were enemies."

Luo Shan's eyes bulged. His thoughts aligned with Mr. Daheng; if the second battalion were not present, the Monarch would want to kill Lu Yin. They should still be enemies.

Monarch Mu might have been killed by Shaman God, but was Lu Yin not also responsible for her death?

If Lu Yin had not been plotting against Lord Wei and exposed Shaman God, then Monarch Luo would not have needed to fight against Shaman God, and Monarch Mu would still be alive.

Not once had Luo Shan placed any of the blame for Monarch Mu’s death onto himself. The truth was that his greed and desire to become the ruler of the Transcendent Universe had motivated him to stay and fight against Lord Wei, which had forced Shaman God to reveal himself.

"Didn't you tell the Sixverse Association the truth about Lord Wei, Lord Lu?" Luo Shan asked.

Lu Yin shook his head. "No matter what, he was the lord of the Transcendent Universe, and exposing the truth would only disgrace the Sixverse Association. This crusade was launched to avenge Lord Wei. The true reasons don’t really matter, as the results are what’s most important."

Only the people who had fought in that battle knew that Lord Wei had been under Shaman God’s control and that he had even voluntarily helped Shaman God research sequence particles, deceiving the entire Sixverse Association.