Star Odyssey

"Hey, what are you looking at?" Xiao Shi asked. He followed Lu Yin's gaze. "That's the Lockbreaker World's sourcebox array."

The corner of Lu Yin's mouth twitched. "What? That's a sourcebox array?"

Xiao Shi nodded and answered, "Yep, a sourcebox array."

Lu Yin pointed at the incredibly large sourcebox that filled the horizon. "So, are there more than one of those things?"

Xiao Shi nodded. "There are a total of six."

Lu Yin felt that, despite cultivating for so many years, exploring everywhere from the Outerverse to the Neoverse, and seeing all the various wonders and phenomena, this was still too much.

These kinds of sourceboxes had danger zones, and he could only imagine how terrifying the zone around such a sourcebox would be. He expected that even an Envoy would struggle to survive such a sourcebox, and these had been used to arrange a sourcebox array. He reflexively asked, "What sort of person is capable of setting up such an array?"

Xiao Shi thought for a moment. "Can't say."

"You know?" Lu Yin was shocked. He had just asked out of habit, as such information was usually kept highly classified.

Xiao Shi nodded. "It's noted down in history books, but I can't say."

Lu Yin marveled at Xiao Shi. Did this guy actually have that much knowledge, or was he just a habitual liar?

He pointed to Xiao Shi's book. "Was that also written down in that book?"

Xiao Shi nodded.

Lu Yin was left speechless. There was no way to communicate with this person, as there was no way to determine if he was telling the truth or not.

"By the way, what rank do you want to be tested for?" Xiao Shi asked, looking at Lu Yin with curiosity.

Lu Yin replied, "Boundless Advanced."

Xiao Shi exclaimed, "Boundless Advanced? You?"

Lu Yin pursed his lips. "You don't believe me?"

Xiao Shi grew excited, and he kept staring at Lu Yin. "You're really powerful. Can you teach me?"

"Teach you what?"

"Can you teach me how to become strong? Then, people will believe anything I say."

Lu Yin glanced at the book. The words in books were able to convince a few people, but only a few. Words were actually not the key to convincing people, as only fools blindly believed what they were told.

The Lockbreaker World was a starry sky, and the first planet that they landed on was filled with guards. Lu Yin could feel a powerful strength constantly sweeping through the area, and he felt fear rattle his bones.

Any random expert from the Hall of Honor was able to give him such a feeling. This place left him feeling very unsafe, and he was convinced that the Outerverse was a great place to be.

The center of the Lockbreaker World was not a planet, but rather a continent that floated atop a sea in outer space.

There were many cosmic wonders, so this was not an overwhelmingly surprising sight.

However, the moment Lu Yin saw someone pull out a sourcebox from the sea, his expression completely changed.

"What's that all about?" Lu Yin asked.

Xiao Shi explained, "There are all kinds of sourceboxes in this sea. Some were put in by the ancestors while others were pulled in by the Lockbreaker World's sourcebox array. If Lockbreakers want to get them, then they have to trade by putting in a sourcebox of equal value, but it's definitely possible to unlock the sourceboxes found here."

Lu Yin was amazed. "So there's really such a thing."

He started to get a bit jumpy. He had come here to test his Lockbreaker rank, but he had just come across a sea where you could practice lockbreaking. However, Xiao Shi next led Lu Yin to a planet that was next to the sea. As they traveled, he explained that there were people on that planet who could test Lu Yin's Lockbreaker rank. They were powerful Lockbreakers, and Xiao Shi was also familiar with them, so there was no need to be concerned.

Lu Yin faithfully followed after Xiao Shi, mostly because Lu Yin was curious about who Xiao Shi was claiming to be powerful Lockbreakers. Since they were Xiao Shi's acquaintances, Lu Yin felt that he might be able to ask them for pointers regarding lockbreaking.

At this moment, two people rapidly approached from behind Lu Yin and Xiao Shi. They were also headed towards the large planet, but upon seeing Xiao Shi, they stopped in surprise. "Isn't that the Shit Eating Duo?"1

"It's not a surprise to see that the duo is getting back together again, haha."

Lu Yin gave Xiao Shi a strange look after hearing the two people speak. Shit Eating Duo?

Xiao Shi did not seem to understand what was being said.

The longer Lu Yin looked at the teen, the more he felt that this guy was a nutjob. "You- you have a strange taste."

Xiao Shi was confused. "What taste?"

Lu Yin breathed a sigh of relief. That comment had scared him, as he had been worried that his person actually ate shit.

"My friend's surname is Chi, so he's known as Xiao Chi. My surname is Shi, and I'm called Xiao Shi, so…" Xiao Shi did not have a pleasant expression on his face.

Lu Yin felt that this was strange, but he did not ask any further. When it came to one's surname, it would be insulting to mock it. Although Xiao Shi was clearly rather odd, not even he would appreciate having his surname mocked!

Before long, Lu Yin's assumption turned out to be correct, and another teenager appeared in front of them. This person also wore large glasses and had a mushroom-shaped haircut. When Lu Yin looked at the two people, he wondered if they were actually brothers.

"Wow, Xiao Shi, it's been a long time," the bowl headed Xiao Chi said in surprise.

Xiao Shi was also happy to see his friend. "Xiao Chi, it's been quite some time."

"Why haven't you visited in so long? I've missed you."

"I was explaining history to people, but they didn't believe me."

"They still don't believe you? Those people are just too stubborn."

"What about you? Have you found anyone who can understand the romance of mushroom heads?"

"No, not a single one. My master even keeps scolding me, trying to get me to cut off the mushroom head. Hmph! A head can be broken, but the mushroom cannot be messed with!"

"Yes, we must stick with things to the end! My book records the true history."

"My mushroom head is a lockbreaking tool, and it's the best lockbreaking tool!"

"Come on, let's go for it and never give up."

"One, two, three, come on! Never give up!"

Lu Yin froze and subconsciously took two steps back. He felt that these people had somehow suddenly become idiots.

The two mushroom heads eagerly turned to look at Lu Yin. "Xiao Shi, is he Lu Yin? The youngest and most promising Lockbreaker in the history of the Outerverse? The one who returned a page of True Insight?"

"That's right, Xiao Chi. He's that Lu Yin, the person who united the Outerverse. After only cultivating for twelve years, he was able to compete in the Mountain and Sea Realm. He's already done enough to be recorded in history."

"So powerful! How did you end up bringing him here? Is he willing to talk to us? Will he believe us?"

"Not so much right now, but don't worry. I'm confident that I'll be able to convince him. He's the same kind as us."

…

Lu Yin was suddenly glad that the Ghost Monkey was gone, as otherwise, Lu Yin would have been mocked relentlessly. The same kind of person as them? Lu Yin was not an idiot!

"Sorry, but I still have to take a ranking test, so I can't keep you company," Lu Yin spoke up in a stiff voice as he hurriedly tried to leave.

Xiao Chi's eyes lit up. "A Lockbreaker test? You're going to try for the Boundless Advanced level?"

Lu Yin nodded.

Xiao Chi was taken aback. "That's great! I'll take you to Master and have Master give you the test."

Lu Yin stared at Xiao Chi. "Your master?"

Xiao Chi nodded, clenched a fist, and cheered himself up. "He's one of the most powerful Lockbreakers in the entire Neoverse! My master is Gui Junheng."

Lu Yin had not heard this name before, but he knew too little of the Neoverse.

Xiao Chi was clearly disappointed by Lu Yin's lack of reaction. "You haven't heard of my master before?"

"Sorry, it's my first time here," Lu Yin apologized.

Xiao Shi explained, "He's from the Outerverse, so it makes sense for him to not have heard of Master Gui." He then looked at Lu Yin and explained, saying, "Master Gui is one of the most powerful Lockbreakers in the Lockbreaker Society's main headquarters, and he's a powerful Array Master as well."

Lu Yin's pupils shrank—an Array Master?

There was a clear ranking of Lockbreakers: Discerning Elementary, Bright Eyes Junior, Perceptive Intermediate, and finally, Boundless Advanced. The ranks were further subdivided by stars, with five stars being the highest within a given rank. This was common knowledge throughout the Innerverse and the Outerverse, but there was also a rank above the Boundless Advanced Lockbreakers: Array Master.

Those who were known as Array Masters were Lockbreakers who had become five star Advanced Lockbreakers that had also mastered sourcebox arrays, hence the name.

This meant that the Master Gui that these two were mentioning was not only a five star Advanced Lockbreaker, but also a master of setting up sourcebox arrays.

Any Lockbreaker who was an Array Master was not someone to be underestimated. Although sourcebox arrays were not quite as valuable as secret techniques, in some ways, sourcebox arrays could be even more versatile than secret techniques. There were arrays that were capable of changing the sky and even creating something out of nothing.

The Neohuman Alliance had been able to enter the Mountain and Seas Zone and Progenitor Chen's Mausoleum because they had an Array Master and the appropriate sourcebox array. This combination was enough to change anything.

Any and all Array Masters were considered treasures of humanity.

If Lu Yin had not coincidentally entered the giant eyes at the peak of one of the mountains in the Mountain and Seas Zone with the ability to access to his Timestop Space, which gave him the time needed to comprehend what he saw in that place, then he would not have reached the Worldliness realm of star energy control. In that case, it would have been even more impossible to comprehend a sourcebox array. Still, his comprehension was not that deep, and he was not anywhere close to the point of being able to ignore space.

Only once a person reached the level of an Array Master would they be able to manipulate the most powerful sourcebox arrays.

Lu Yin had not expected someone whom he suspected of being a madman would actually have an Array Master as their teacher.

Lu Yin grew respectful. "Please introduce me to this Array Master."

Xiao Chi was satisfied, as Lu Yin's respectful attitude towards his master made the youth feel proud. "Wait a moment, and I'll call Master out."

He then turned on his gadget and sent out a message.

Before long, Xiao Chi told Lu Yin, "Let's go to Master's place, and you can take the ranking exam there."

"Anyone who's able to become an Array Master is allowed to test any Lockbreaker for ranking exams," Xiao Shi explained.

At this time, Xiao Chi moved close to Xiao Shi's ear and whispered something. Xiao Shi was surprised. "He's there, too? Should we wait a while before going?"

Xiao Shou gritted his teeth. "We need to go now." He then glanced over at Lu Yin. "If he's with us, what are you afraid of?"

Xiao Shi puffed out his chest. "That's true. Ok, we'll go now. There's no reason to be afraid."

Lu Yin felt these two were strange, and it always seemed like they were discussing weird things. This conversation seemed related to Lu Yin, but surely they would not get him involved in anything too strange. He actually started to panic a bit as he looked at the two mushroom heads.

The entire Outerverse had no Array Master. Actually, no, there was one—Geoffrey, though he was not actually from the Outerverse, but rather had been transferred there from the Neoverse. More accurately, there was no Outerverse native who had become an Array Master. Lu Yin did not know whether or not any such expert had risen from the Innerverse, but he felt that there should be at least one in the form of the Innerverse Lockbreaker Society President, but that person might also be from the Neoverse. According to Xiao Chi, there were very few Array Masters, even in the Neoverse.

Gui Junheng was completely unknown to the people of the Outerverse and Innerverse, but those who in the know were aware of him.

Lu Yin remembered seeing a video when he had first joined the Lockbreaker Society where a powerful expert had unlocked a sourcebox shaped like a massive plant that had been so large that its roots had even reached the sky. Everyone who joined the Lockbreaker Society saw that video, and it left a deep impression on everyone. Naturally, Lu Yin had been inspired by it as well.

The person in that video had been Gui Junheng.

Lu Yin had originally expected the person in that video to be an ancient expert, and he had never expected it to be Gui Junheng. When Xiao Chi mentioned this, Lu Yin was shocked, though he also felt that this was very odd. Why would a powerhouse like Gui Junheng accept Xiao Chi as his disciple? If Xiao Chi had not already contacted the Array Master and received a response, Lu Yin would not have wanted to continue on.

[1] A play on words, as Shi Chi and shit-eating have the same hanyu pinyin spelling. Also, "Xiao Chi" means "little ruler." ☜