Lu Yin raised an eyebrow. They even had sponsors. It seemed the Starry Sky Academy wasn't completely incorruptible.
"Student Lu, as the top student of the Tenth Academy, you'll definitely be participating in the Ten Academies Tournament. Would you like to know what rewards my Nalan family has prepared for the competition?" Lady Nalan said enticingly.
Lu Yin gave a faint smile. "No need. Regardless of the rewards, if I win, they will naturally be mine. If I fail, I won't get them anyway."
Lady Nalan smiled and said, "The reward we're offering is very suitable for you."
Lu Yin was puzzled.
Lady Nalan held up a slender, pale finger. "A mid-level Control-grade Lockbreaking Origin treasure, with no offensive properties."
Lu Yin was astonished. What extravagance! A mid-level Control-grade Origin treasure was rare, but one with no offensive properties was priceless. It was just like the Origin treasure he had lockbroken before, which had directly earned him a one-star merit. If he became a mid-level Control-grade Lockbreaker and had such a treasure, he could instantly become a one-star mid-level Control-grade Lockbreaker. No wonder that siren said it was suitable for him. It wasn't just suitable for him; it was suitable for all Lockbreakers.
"As expected of the Outerverse's wealthiest family. So generous," Lu Yin marveled.
Lady Nalan smiled faintly. "That's nothing, just a collector's item. My Nalan family has frequent dealings with the Innerverse's Sword Sect. Student Lu, the compensation I mentioned... is information about the Sword Sect."
"What does the Sword Sect have to do with me?" Lu Yin found this strange.
"Doesn't Student Lu want to compete for the championship of the Ten Academies Tournament?" Lady Nalan asked with a smile.
Lu Yin chuckled. "Does my lady think I can surpass all those monstrous prodigies and take the championship?"
"This universe is full of unknowns. That's what makes it challenging, isn't it? Knowing a little more won't hurt. Who knows, you might just run into him," Lady Nalan said, smiling.
Lu Yin nodded. "I'm all ears."
A smile played on Lady Nalan's lips. "The Sword Sect has countless geniuses, but only two in the younger generation can be called unparalleled. One has already achieved the status of a Decablan, standing above all others. The other is cultivating in seclusion within the sect. But I guess he will likely join one of the academies for the Ten Academies Tournament. Your opponent will most likely be him."
Lu Yin's eyes flashed. "There's a Sword Sect member among the Decablan?"
Lady Nalan said, "I cannot conveniently mention the names of the Decablan. It's a rule, and a sign of respect for the Decablan. If Student Lu wants to know more about the Decablan, you must at least join your Starry Sky Academy's Student Council. That is a subordinate organization of the Decablan Council."
Lu Yin's fingers twitched involuntarily, but he didn't interrupt.
Lady Nalan gave Lu Yin a deep look and continued, "The Sword Sect has an ancient sword technique passed down from antiquity, called the Thirteen Swords. This technique cannot be learned by just anyone, because it actively chooses its inheritor."
"Actively chooses?" Lu Yin was amazed. Such a thing existed?
Lady Nalan said gravely, "No one knows the origin of this sword technique, but everyone knows how terrifying it is. A past Sword Sect Master once used the Thirteen Swords to slay three experts of the same level. The previous generation's Sect Master also used it to achieve great renown on the border battlefield. One could say the most important thing for every generation of the Sword Sect's youth is to come into contact with the Thirteen Swords, hoping to receive the inheritance. However, at most, only one person per generation can inherit the Thirteen Swords. In this generation, two have appeared. One is the Decablan, and the other... is the disciple I just mentioned, Liu Shaqiu."
Lu Yin narrowed his eyes. The Liu family of the Sword Sect. He'd heard of them. An ancient 'sole-surname' clan, hated by countless people, never having obtained a legitimate status, yet still looking down on the universe. A super-terrifying family. The name 'Liu' was originally the surname of royalty. The Liu family was like the royalty of swordsmen. All who used the sword revered the Liu family.
"When Liu Shaqiu was born, the first thing he saw was not his mother or any relative, but a rusty iron sword discarded by the door. From that moment on, that iron sword became his weapon," Lady Nalan said, reminiscing.
Lu Yin was surprised, looking at Lady Nalan.
"It was just a very ordinary iron sword, easily breakable by a cultivator. But that very sword, in Liu Shaqiu's hands, defeated countless geniuses and powerhouses. Especially after he inherited the Thirteen Swords, that iron sword never left its sheath again. Among his peers in the Sword Sect, there was no one left worthy of him drawing his sword. In the Ten Academies Tournament, he will be a terrifying opponent," Lady Nalan said sincerely.
Lu Yin took a deep breath, the pressure mounting. "This Liu Shaqiu, what's his cultivation level? How many swords can he execute?"
"He should be at the Limiteer realm. As for how many swords, no one knows. Some say he has comprehended the second sword, others say perhaps the third. No one is certain. But he once injured an Explorer during his travels through the universe," Lady Nalan said.
Lu Yin narrowed his eyes. A truly formidable opponent. An Explorer could spacewalk, a realm he hadn't even come close to touching. Yet, someone could already challenge one and succeed.
Seeing Lu Yin's somber gaze, Lady Nalan swirled her glass and lightly tapped it against Lu Yin's, the chime waking him from his thoughts. "Student Lu, I didn't tell you this to pressure you. I just wanted you to know the strength of the top-tier experts in the Ten Academies Tournament. I don't like to fight unprepared battles. You are my savior, so I am letting you in on a few things. But if you fall into fear of your enemy, the loss outweighs the gain."
Lu Yin laughed. "My lady worries too much. No matter how strong the opponent, I am still myself. So what if I lose? There's always a next time. Besides, the date for the tournament isn't even set. I managed to become the top student of the Tenth Academy in just a few months; I might not be unable to surpass those prodigies."
"Then I wish Student Lu victory in the tournament, and that you take the championship." Lady Nalan raised her glass in a toast.
Lu Yin raised his glass as well, clinking it with hers.
The juice reflected the brilliant light of the distant stars.
After Lu Yin left, Lady Nalan stared into space, lost in thought. The young woman appeared behind her. "My lady."
"What do you think of that young man?" Lady Nalan asked casually, but unlike before, her tone was filled with authority.
The young woman replied, "A genius."
"Just a genius? If he had been born in the Innerverse, he could have been compared to anyone in the Sword Sect besides Liu Shaqiu. But it's a pity. He was born in the Outerverse, and his cultivation time is too short. One step behind, always a step behind," Lady Nalan murmured.
"If you knew this, my lady, why tell him about the Sword Sect?" the young woman asked, puzzled.
Lady Nalan smiled faintly. "I just don't want him to become depressed due to failure. He just needs to focus his mind on Lockbreaking, and his future in the starry sky will be brilliant. The Ten Academies Tournament is important, but it's the stage for those absolute top-tier, monstrous prodigies. He doesn't belong there. The path of a Lockbreaker... that is his stage."
The young woman said softly, "But even on the path of Lockbreaking, there are monstrous prodigies like Dobo."
Lady Nalan looked up. "You're right. The universe is too vast, and it has produced too many monsters. I hope he can keep walking forward."
Seven days passed quickly. Lu Yin savored his last feast, bid farewell to Lady Nalan, and boarded his own spacecraft. He detached from the Nalan family's ship and headed toward the Canglan territory.
The Nalan family's ship had been moving the entire time; it hadn't stopped for him for seven days. And its speed was not slow. When Lu Yin replotted his route, he found that even with his upgraded Aurora spacecraft's speed, it would still take him twelve days to reach the Canglan territory. The 10-fold speed increase had cut the original month-long journey down to five days. The extra seven days were from the Nalan ship's travel during that time. In other words, his ship couldn't make up for those seven days of travel. The Nalan family's luxurious ship was no slower than his upgraded Aurora ship; it must also be an upgraded, large-scale Aurora vessel.
So rich... Lu Yin lamented again, rubbing his stomach. He felt like he'd gotten fatter.
Twelve days passed quickly. Lu Yin constantly observed the star chart. The ninth star was becoming clearer. He could feel the power that would come from circulating the Heavenly Star Art with nine stars. Combined with his battle-qi and his own physical limits, which he hadn't even found yet, he himself didn't know how strong he was.
Perhaps... I can fight a Domain Master now, Lu Yin guessed.
He still had a fresh memory of Van Kleed's spear thrust. He could have blocked it, but he couldn't have taken a second one, which was why he hadn't gone all out. Now, if he just poured in enough Star Energy, he might be able to fight him.
Thinking of Star Energy gave Lu Yin a headache. His consumption was too massive. The six-pip on the die was a bottomless pit. He felt that even if he gathered all the Star Crystals in the entire Great Yu Empire, he could probably burn through them in an instant.
Beep beep beep beep...
The spacecraft chimed. Lu Yin looked up. The Tenth Academy. He had arrived.
He hadn't expected a single trip to take nearly four months, and so much had happened. The Great Yu Empire, the Dieying territory, the Baiye clan, and the Nalan family... these things just kept happening. It was too complicated. The Tenth Academy was still the best. He could just focus on cultivating, without worrying about anything else.
The cabin door opened. Lu Yin stepped out and stretched, feeling like he was home.
"It's you?" Not far away, Hui Baiye was staring at Lu Yin, his eyes filled with excitement and battle intent.
Lu Yin glanced at him. "What are you doing here? Heading out for a mission?"
Hui Baiye sneered. "It's great to run into you. Hand over the top student position. You're not qualified."
Lu Yin nodded. "Fine, it's yours."
Hui Baiye was stunned.
Lu Yin chuckled, looking at him. "Even if I give it to you, can you hold on to it?"
Hui Baiye's eyes filled with rage. "A stray dog from the Trial Zone still dares to talk so big?"
Lu Yin's expression turned cold. "You're still as punchable as ever."
"Am I wrong? The Fire Realm is broadcasting everywhere that you were killed by Van Kleed with a single spear thrust. You're the laughingstock of the Tenth Academy!" Hui Baiye sneered.
Lu Yin narrowed his eyes. He was genuinely angry now. Van Kleed, the Fire Realm, Gall.
"You've disgraced the Tenth Academy! You don't deserve to be the top student!" Hui Baiye shouted, lunging at Lu Yin. A finger jabbed out, light glowing at its tip. It was completely different from the White Night Spirit-Chasing Finger, but the soul-tearing sensation was several times stronger.
A cold glint flashed in Lu Yin's eyes. He raised his hand, just like when he had crushed Hui Baiye last time. He grabbed the finger and brutally broke it. Hui Baiye's pupils shrank. He had changed! His strength had greatly increased under the guidance of the Zonal Mentor, and he had even learned new techniques of the White Night clan. Why was it still like this? This person's body was unbelievably tough, and the White Night clan's techniques were useless against him.