Chapter 4371: You Wu

You Wu fell silent for quite a while. When they spoke again, their voice trembled. “For reasons unknown, the Nine Ramparts were besieged on all sides by multiple civilizations. I could not shirk my duty, and I fought for the Fifth Rampart, but You Che... betrayed us!

“He first grievously wounded me, and then he attacked the Fifth Rampart’s experts. I do not know what happened during that battle, as when I regained consciousness, what I saw before me was Manifest City. Manifest City had fallen into that beast’s hands!”

“He wanted to control Manifest City. Ridiculous! Manifest City belongs to the Fifth Rampart. It belongs to human civilization. How could it be controlled by him? Even if I knew something, I would never tell him. He deserves to die! He deserves to die!

“So he threw me into Manifest City. He wanted me to try to control it and then seize it for himself. I could not leave, and I also never intended to leave. I did not intend to ever get out. As long as I lived for even one more day, that beast would not be able to control Manifest City, not ever!”

Lu Yin listened quietly and exchanged glances with Awe Gate. Another traitor?

If Hong Xia was the greatest traitor to the Nine Ramparts, then You Che was the greatest traitor to the Fifth Rampart. The human heart was hard to fathom, though You Che was also not human.

It could only be said that, during that ancient era, humanity had stood too high and had overlooked too many problems, much like the Tianyuan’s previous Heavens Sect.

Lu Yin remembered what You Che had said; he claimed to not be human and thus not a traitor. That was not wrong. Che was not human, so how could he be considered a traitor? All that could be said was that the ancient humans had been blind to trust such a creature.

During that ancient war, Che must have done many things, as there was no other way for Manifest City to have fallen into his hands.

“Just how strong is You Che?” Awe Gate could not help asking.

You Wu thought for a moment. “I don’t know about now, but during that era, he stood at the peak of resonating with one cosmic law. He succeeded in becoming an Immortal through a direct breakthrough.”

Lu Yin frowned. Just one cosmic law? Even if he’s at the peak of that level, it shouldn’t have been enough to decide anything. Even Hong Xia was stronger than that.

“I know what you’re thinking. Normally, while a peak one-law Immortal would be considered a powerhouse within the Nine Ramparts, they would not stand at the apex. Although Che surpassed me, he alone could not have been capable of inflicting any fatal damage to the Fifth Rampart. However, you have overlooked the Fifth Rampart itself.

“The Fifth Rampart was the birthplace of your human civilization’s heart-technique. Heart-techniques are extremely peculiar, as they can be infinitely powerful, but they can also be infinitely weak. The Fifth Rampart cultivated heart-techniques: the technique opens the way forward, allowing heaven and earth to be born from the heart. One may live as an ant or ascend to the heavens. Heart-techniques are enough to transform the impossible into the possible.

“I brought You Che into the Fifth Rampart. He effectively grew up in that civilization, and he also cultivated heart-techniques. Because of his peerless talent, he mastered the Fifth Rampart’s legacy heart-technique of that era, which was regarded as being second only to the Rampart’s invincible art. It is known as the Formless Heaven Art.”

You Wu’s voice grew bitter. “Only a few in the Fifth Rampart were ever able to cultivate the Formless Heaven Art, and yet Che succeeded. However, he kept that concealed, only revealing it when he betrayed us.”

Lu Yin’s expression grew heavy. How arrogant must the human civilization have been to allow foreign creatures to cultivate their legacy techniques and powers? In the current era, such an idea would be laughed at.

In the current era, let alone allowing foreigners to cultivate human powers, they barely interacted with them at all. Their human civilization still needed to grow stronger, and yet Lu Yin had still eliminated several surrendered Immortals, despite the fact that they could have strengthened human civilization.

That was Lu Yin’s level of caution.

Compared to the Nine Ramparts era, Lu Yin was practically taking things to the opposite extreme.

But what he heard of the ancient human civilization also demonstrated just how humanity had been during the Nine Ramparts era; they simply had not cared about foreign creatures at all.

“With the Formless Heaven Art, even against a two-law Immortal, You Che would not be at any disadvantage, especially given the peculiarity of heart-techniques and his knowledge of the Fifth Rampart. I don’t dare to even imagine how much damage he must have inflicted upon the Fifth Rampart.

“How is Xiang Xue? Can you tell me which Rampart you belong to? How are the Nine Ramparts?” You Wu asked, looking at Lu Yin and Awe Gate with open longing. They truly wanted to know.

Lu Yin’s voice dropped low. “You Che betrayed the Fifth Rampart for Manifest City?”

You Wu said, “Yes. Manifest City is acknowledged as the strongest defensive mirebound artifact, and when it is used, it is capable of protecting the entire Nine Ramparts. No one can resist such temptation. During these many years in Manifest City, I have remembered many details. In truth, I should have noticed things sooner. That beast mentioned more than once that he wanted to go into Manifest City, but he was always denied entry.

“While Xiang Xue trusted us, Manifest City is an inheritance of the entire human civilization. Only a few humans throughout the entire civilization are allowed to enter. It was normal for Che to be refused, but it is possible that, from that time onward, he began to form malicious intentions.”

“How many civilizations besieged the Nine Ramparts?”

“Many, some strong, some weak. The strongest civilization I know was the Grand Clarity Civilization, a fishing civilization that sought to unlock all Sourceboxes and restore the Aevum Inch to its original face. They were the main force that attacked the Fifth Rampart. Many other civilizations cooperated with Grand Clarity, including rogue cultivators like You Che...

“When I finally recovered enough to seek out Xiang Xue and ask for clarity, I was ambushed by that beast, Che. Thinking back, Che already knew far more than I did. I was too foolish. How could I have seen nothing? It is all my fault! I have sinned against the Fifth Rampart, wronged Xiang Xue, and wronged human civilization!”

Just as Lu Yin was about to ask more, a sudden chill descended upon the area. He looked around, but saw nothing at all. He opened Heaven’s Sight and suddenly turned his head. Someone was staring at him from far, far away: Che.

Lu Yin did not use Crow Immobilization. It was one of his hidden trump cards. While Ba Se was already aware of it, they might not have told every member of Obscura.

Che smiled at Lu Yin, took a step forward, and reappeared a short distance away from Lu Yin, Awe Gate, and You Wu. Che faced You Wu and slowly bowed. “Master, you’ve finally agreed to come out.”

You Wu glared at Che and let out an enraged roar. “Beast!”

Che straightened back up and smiled at You Wu. “Master, you have misunderstood me.”

“You betrayed me! Betrayed Xiang Xue! Betrayed the Fifth Rampart! You beast!” You Wu screamed.

Che maintained his smile, acting just as politely as when he had first met Lu Yin in the Consciousness Megaverse. “If I never joined, how could I ever have betrayed them?

“Did Xiang Xue ever promise us that we could join the Fifth Rampart? Was your disciple ever considered a member of human civilization?” As Che spoke, he looked at Lu Yin. “What do you say, Lu Yin?”

Lu Yin’s expression remained calm as he coldly stared at Che. This guy was definitely trying to use Lu Yin, hoping that he would gain control of Manifest City so that he could then seize it back. Why else would he hand over Manifest City, something that he had betrayed the Fifth Rampart to obtain at great cost?

But how would Che do it? If Lu Yin truly managed to gain control of Manifest City, how would Che take it back? Without understanding that detail, Lu Yin would not be able to relax at all. Even if he became able to control Manifest City, he still would not feel at ease.

Che was not stupid. He must have prepared a backup plan, especially given the fact that Manifest City had been in his hands for so many years.

You Wu’s body heaved, and their sapphire-blue eyes turned white. “You beast! The Fifth Rampart taught you and showed you grace, and yet you attacked the Fifth Rampart and stole Manifest City! You will die a miserable death!”

Che smiled. “Only through destruction can there be rebirth. Humanity had already reached the very height of its glory. Even if I had not acted, someone else would have. Master, when I moved against you back then, it was only because I did not want you to die in that war. And look, for all these years, I have walked the Aevum Inch as a human. In essence, that means I have acknowledged that identity myself. Unfortunately, Xiang Xue never acknowledged me. Otherwise, why would he have refused to let me enter Manifest City back then?”

As Che spoke, he looked at Lu Yin. “Humans, because they were at their height, looked down on everything. But because of that brilliance, they embraced all rivers. That was not good, Lu Yin. You must learn the lesson from their mistakes. The only unchanging rule of the Aevum Inch is that there can be no communication between civilizations. The Nine Ramparts broke that rule, and thus it had to be destroyed. It was not me who struck the Fifth Rampart, but rather the cosmos that struck down your human civilization. I could hardly stop it.”

Awe Gate raised Awecloud. “Shameless.”

Che did not get angry, and instead smiled. “Obscura will protect your Human Trio for 1,000 years, but that is on the premise that you do not take the initiative to strike outward. Lu Yin, as we are both part of Obscura, do not harm our harmony. No matter what happens, I will help you. Obscura has accepted me, and it has also accepted you. We now belong to the same civilization, do we not?”

Lu Yin reached out and pressed Awecloud down with a hand. He would not allow Awe Gate to attack. He could not attack Che, and if Awe Gate faced Che on her own, there was no doubt that she would die. Che’s strength was unfathomable. Facing him was like facing another Hong Xia.

They were already struggling to deal with Hong Xia. They could not afford to add Che to their list of active enemies.

“Thank you,” Che said with a smile.

Lu Yin calmly asked, “So is this the ‘guilt’ that you mentioned to me?”

Che sighed, and his expression fell. He placed one hand on his chest and slowly bowed to Lu Yin. “Guilt is not the same as doing something wrong. I did nothing wrong, but I do miss the Fifth Rampart of old. That is why I hope that you can control Manifest City and recreate the Fifth Rampart’s glory.”

Suddenly, Che’s expression shifted, and he slowly turned to stare at You Wu in astonishment. “Master, are you... seeking death?”

Lu Yin’s expression also changed as he spun around to look at You Wu. Because Lu Yin had been focused on You Che, he had not noticed You Wu’s aura changing. It had become deep, hollow, and faintly oppressive. “Senior, you...?”

You Wu looked at Lu Yin. “Child, do not listen to his nonsense. He is using you to gain control of Manifest City. His true aim is to see through it and seize it. What he is using should be the Formless Heaven Art. This heart technique can evade all external interference in cultivation and strike directly at the heart gate. Even in the Fifth Rampart, it was a legendary heart technique, second only to the invincible art.

“It is extremely difficult to counter this heart technique. The only method I know is to cultivate Willforce, then use Willforce to become one with all living beings, so that he cannot find your heart gate.”

“Master, you should mind your words,” You Che interrupted. The cosmos started to churn as overwhelming pressure pressed down like dark clouds. The cosmos itself seemed to shrink down.

At this moment, Kang Tian trembled, and the Immortal golem dropped down into a squat where it stood. Even Awe Gate was horrified. This pressure...?

Lu Yin looked at Che. What he felt from Che was no weaker than the pressure from Hong Xia.

You Wu cackled wildly. “You beast, I know that you’ve cultivated a great deal throughout all these years, but what you truly rely on is still the Formless Heaven Art! Your own power cannot possibly allow you to manifest a force that surpasses the heart-techniques of the Fifth Rampart. I am going to expose your weakness!

“Child, I have wronged the Fifth Rampart. I can only compensate for this with my death. See the power of this beast clearly, and avenge the Fifth Rampart!”

After speaking, You Wu’s body suddenly swelled. Their seaweed-like body grew tough, and their eyes changed from blue to white. Lifeforce erupted, surging across the Aevum Inch to slam into Che.

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