Star Odyssey

Chapter 3491: The Grandmaster's Trial

While Grandmaster Yu Ran had a rather plain face, she still exuded a noble bearing. Her eyes were particularly striking, and they left a lasting impression on everyone who saw them.

As for her cultivation, she was a sequence powerhouse, far from becoming an Ortuser.

This matched what was expected of Lockbreakers in the Tianyuan Megaverse.

Lockbreakers focused all their time and energy on lockbreaking, especially Array Grandmasters. They constantly studied sourcebox arrays, to the extent where they often neglected their cultivation.

Array Grandmasters often had lower cultivation levels than their non-lockbreaker peers.

However, Array Grandmasters could use sourcebox arrays to compensate for their relatively weaker cultivation levels. While they might be at a disadvantage in a one-on-one battle, an Array Grandmaster could easily emerge victorious if they had enough time to set up their arrays.

There were also certain things that only an Array Grandmaster could accomplish.

Grandmaster Yu Ran confronted Lu Yin. "Third Boss, who have you come to the Spirit Treasure Society for?"

Lu Yin was still lazily lounging in the sedan as he replied, "How do you know that I am here for someone and not for something?"

Grandmaster Yu Ran’s expression remained calm. "The Spirit Treasure Society has no grievances with you that would cause you to seek us out, Third Boss. Even if there were any grievances, such matters are internal and have no relation to any outsiders."

"Sage Qian told me the same thing, as did the Cai family.

"Ask Palace Master Yao here beside me—the Bifrost Palace told me the exact same thing. I, as an outsider, should not interfere, and yet I still did."

Grandmaster Yu Ran looked up. "In that case, Third Boss, you can ask everyone currently present. Who here is willing to allow an outsider to interfere in our affairs?"

"We handle our own matters in the Spirit Treasure Society! There’s no need for any outsiders to interfere!" someone shouted.

"Third Boss, please leave."

"Even if someone has suffered injustice here, they wouldn’t want an outsider to involve themselves."

"No one invited you here, Third Boss. You are not welcome."

"Please leave, esteemed guest..."

Countless voices rang out, drowning the plaza in sound like a tidal wave that threatened to sweep Lu Yin and the others away.

Old Tao sighed, feeling helpless. This was the Spirit Treasure Society; they were incredibly united. Even if someone truly wanted to obtain justice through the Third Boss, the moment that happened, they would be reviled by the entire Spirit Treasure Society.

This made the Spirit Treasure Society fundamentally different from the Cai family, the Vast Qian Domain, and the Bifrost Palace.

The society was different from all the other organizations in their megaverse.

Unity was a concept that surpassed cultivation. It was a power in and of itself; it was a sort of spirit or belief that all could be conquered.

It rarely appeared among cultivators as it made most cultivators uncomfortable.

Lu Yin praised, "As expected of the Spirit Treasure Society. Grandmaster Yu Ran, you are so confident, and you’re correct. I am indeed here for someone, not for something."

"Who?"

"Su Shidao."

Grandmaster Yu Ran was not at all surprised. Out of everyone in the Spirit Treasure Domain, or even out of all the Spirit Treasure Grandmasters across the Spirit Nidus, there was only one person the Third Boss would need to take seriously. He would only be willing to fight Su Shidao.

"Third Boss, please leave. Senior Su Shidao has long since removed himself from worldly matters. Regardless of whether it's the competition for the title of Seraph or your challenge of the megaverse, neither has anything to do with Senior Su Shidao."

Lu Yin stared at the woman. "I believe that, but there’s another matter."

This response puzzled Grandmaster Yu Ran. Aside from Su Shidao, what other expert in the Spirit Treasure Domain could have caught the Third Boss’s attention?

"Who?"

Lu Yin’s expression grew solemn, and he raised his hand. Finally, he pointed at himself. "Me."

Everyone was completely bewildered.

Even Old Tao, Palace Master Yao, and the others traveling with Lu Yin were confused. No one could understand what Lu Yin meant by that.

Grandmaster Yu Ran was similarly puzzled. "What does that mean, Third Boss?"

Lu Yin’s expression remained somber. "I, the Grandverse Manor’s Third Boss, have crossed vast distances to reach the Spirit Treasure Domain. Not only have I not come here to correct anything, but I can’t even see anyone. How can I save face? If word of this gets out, how will I be able to show my face in the Spirit Nidus?

"Do you wish for me to be trampled by all of you?"

All around, members of the Spirit Treasure Society yelled at him, and the chaotic noise spread across the universe.

In one particular corner of the universe, the small group of people who had tried to stop Lu Yin were similarly indignant. It was clear that the Third Boss was trying to stir up trouble. He had not been invited to the Spirit Treasure domain by anyone.

What did his reputation have to do with the Spirit Treasure Domain?

Grandmaster Yu Ran raised a hand to silence the crowd, and then she refocused on Lu Yin. "What do you intend to do, Third Boss?"

Lu Yin rose to his feet and looked over in a particular direction. "I’ve heard that the Spirit Treasure Society’s Grandmaster's Trial has nine steps. Allow me to take a look."

"Impossible." Before Grandmaster Yu Ran could say a word, someone elsewhere in the plaza immediately refused Lu Yin’s request. They were another Spirit Treasure Grandmaster. "The Grandmaster's Trial’ nine steps are sacred to our Spirit Treasure Society. All who step on those steps must be determined to join our Spirit Treasure Society. Climbing those nine steps and becoming a Grandmaster is a difficult and sacred process.

"For countless years, many have sought to join our Spirit Treasure Society and become a Grandmaster, yet very few have ever succeeded. Those steps can only be approached by those who are destined to become Spirit Treasure Grandmasters. No others are qualified."

Grandmaster Yu Ran also spoke up, her voice similarly serious. "Third Boss, there is nothing for you to see at the Grandmaster's Trial. Those nine steps are meaningless to anyone who does not understand how to open spirit treasures."

"What if I insist?" Lu Yin replied arrogantly.

Grandmaster Yu Ran’s expression fell. "Then, Third Boss, you must prove that you are qualified to challenge the nine steps of the Grandmaster's Trial. Otherwise, our Spirit Treasure Society will stand united against you. Even if we are all eradicated, we will retain our dignity."

"Are things really so serious?" Lu Yin asked in surprise.

Old Tao whispered, "Third Boss, it really is. Throughout history, many powerful Spirit Treasure Masters have shed blood trying to climb the Grandmaster's Trial. Everyone in the Spirit Treasure Society dreams of climbing those steps."

"There might be dozens of Spirit Treasure Grandmasters in the Spirit Nidus, but only nine belong to our Spirit Treasure Society. This is not because the rest don’t wish to join our society, but rather because they are unable to climb the Grandmaster's Trial. No one can disgrace the Grandmaster's Trial," Grandmaster Yu Ran stated loudly.

Lu Yin frowned. These Spirit Treasure Grandmasters were quite formidable. It appeared that the Grandmaster's Trial, which no one could approach, were hiding something.

It must have been done by someone either powerful enough to avoid being sensed by everyone in the Spirit Treasure Society, or one of the society’s nine Grandmasters who were allowed to approach the steps.

Lu Yin was more inclined to bet on the latter.

Everyone in the Spirit Treasure Society glared at Lu Yin. It looked as though they would attack the moment he insulted the Grandmaster's Trial.

Lu Yin stretched lazily. "I do as I please. The High Seraph doesn’t care what I do, and neither does the Ascendant Hall, the Apex Palace, and even the elusive invincible being. How could you hope to threaten me? I’ve already decided to see these Grandmaster's Trial."

With that, Lu Yin vanished as he traveled through the void.

Grandmaster Yu Ran was startled. "Stop!"

If possible, no one would want to fight someone as ruthless as the Third Boss to the death.

Lu Yin had already defeated a number of powerful experts, even if most of them were powerhouses that everyone had thought to be dead.

If the Spirit Treasure Society truly fought the Third Boss to the death, they would likely suffer even more than the Consciousness Domain.

Grandmaster Yu Ran had hoped that the fully united Spirit Treasure Society would be able to pressure the Third Boss. If he still refused to retreat, then all that awaited both sides was a fight to the death.

The nine steps of the Grandmaster's Trial stood in a corner of the Spirit Treasure Society. The stairs rose as high as the main building itself, and it was one of the tallest structures around.

No one could stop Lu Yin.

He instantly arrived at the bottom of the Grandmaster's Trial.

Behind him, the two guardians of the Grandmaster's Trial looked over in confusion.

When Grandmaster Yu Ran saw that Lu Yin had already appeared at the bottom of the Grandmaster's Trial, her heart sank. They were too late.

Everyone from the Spirit Treasure Society followed behind her, and for a moment, the air grew still.

Lu Yin looked at the first step of the staircase, and he found what he was searching for. It was right there.

"You and you..."

Lu Yin turned around and smiled at two people. "Thank you for your hard work."

"He’s defiled the Grandmaster's Trial! Kill him!" someone shouted in fury. Their eyes were bloodshot, and they were already attacking.

Grandmaster Yu Ran shouted sternly, "Third Boss, do you want to fight against the Spirit Treasure Society?"

Lu Yin saw bloodlust in the eyes of many members of the Spirit Treasure Society. They were absolutely serious about fighting him to the death.

In the plaza, Old Tao and the others were already surrounded. The atmosphere had grown tense, and a fight could erupt at any moment.

Old Tao's brow was dripping with cold sweat. "Third Boss, following you is too exciting. Even if I expected to die, I never would have imagined that we’d be surrounded by the entire Spirit Treasure Society one day."

How intense was the killing intent emanating from the members of the Spirit Treasure Society?

Palace Master Yao was on edge. It would be difficult to break away from the Spirit Treasure Society. A hard battle was about to break out.

Cai Keqing was also prepared. The Third Boss was far too talented at stirring up trouble.

Astral Anura’s skin changed from golden to multi-colored. Even if the brat could lockbreak, if he was not given any time to do so, the situation might grow complicated and devolve into a real fight.

The Megalith and the Pridebeast both let go of the sedan while baring their teeth and growling at the people surrounding them.

Lu Yin’s various observers all retreated. Sure enough, the Third Boss had enraged the entire Spirit Treasure Society. They would allow the Spirit Treasure Society to probe the limits of the Grandverse Manor.

For a moment, the entire Spirit Treasure Domain fell silent.

Everyone was waiting for the first person to make a move.

At the bottom of the Grandmaster's Trial, Lu Yin glanced around. "Why is everyone so nervous? Is this Grandmaster's Trial really that difficult to climb?"

Grandmaster Yu Ran stared at Lu Yin and then glanced across the ground. She seemed about ready to activate a spirit treasure formation.

Her eyes suddenly snapped back up, and she stared at Lu Yin, seemingly dazed. What’s going on?

To her astonishment, Lu Yin had stepped onto the first step of the Grandmaster's Trial, and he had done so without her noticing.

The fact that he had stepped onto the first step did not stun the woman. Rather, what left her speechless was the Grandmaster's Trial’ reaction; they were completely calm. How could this be? Was it possible that this Third Boss was also a Spirit Treasure Master?

Grandmaster Yu Ran was not alone, as everyone present was similarly dumbfounded.

In the plaza, Old Tao and the others watching from a great distance also saw what had happened. Can the Third Boss unlock spirit treasures?

Astral Anura alone rolled his eyes. Things had been so tense just a moment ago, and he had expected a fight to break out. Fortunately, he had been wrong.

His skin returned to its normal, golden color.

Things are about to get interesting. No one in the Spirit Nidus knows that the brat is the most powerful Array Grandmaster in the Tianyuan Megaverse. The Tianyuan Megaverse itself might as well have come to make trouble in the Spirit Nidus.

This will be fun. The toad focused on the Grandmaster's Trial.

On the Grandmaster's Trial, Lu Yin took another step. His foot was firmly planted on the first step.

There were nine steps to the Grandmaster's Trial, and he was fully standing on the first step.

Grandmaster Yu Ran felt as though she had seen a ghost.

The young man possessed enough combat strength to rival the Seven Seraphs, which was already unbelievable to the people of the Spirit Nidus. And now, he was revealing himself as a Spirit Treasure Master as well! Just how had he cultivated? Could such a person be real?

"Third Boss, can you... unlock spirit treasures?" The Grandmaster who had previously tried to stop Lu Yin from approaching the stairs spoke up, clearly stunned. The man’s name was Ying Han.

Lu Yin did not even turn his head. "A bit."

All eyes were currently focused on Lu Yin’s feet. A Spirit Treasure Master’s skill could easily be estimated simply by how they lifted a foot.

At first, the Spirit Treasure Society’s Grandmaster's Trial did not have nine steps. The number had grown one by one as the number of Spirit Treasure Grandmasters increased.

Each new Grandmaster had added another step to the stairs. When a Grandmaster was lost, a step was removed.

At the moment, the Spirit Treasure Society had nine Spirit Treasure Grandmasters, excluding Su Shidao.

The first step of the Grandmaster's Trial was typically used to evaluate if the person stepping onto it was a Spirit Treasure Master, as well as their proficiency. Both could be determined by the depth of a person’s footprints.

The deeper their foot sank, the weaker their mastery as a Spirit Treasure Master. Conversely, the shallower their footprint, the stronger their ability.

Ying Han remembered that, when he had challenged the Grandmaster's Trial, there had only been seven steps. It had taken him three attempts to succeed.