From beginning to end, Lu Yin hadn't spoken a word. At this point, saying anything was pointless. The universe was ruled by the law of the jungle, and any expression of unwillingness would only become a joke. The only thing he regretted was not being able to kill Liu Shaoge—this man was a hidden threat.
"Liu—Shao—Ge!" A furious cry rang out as Bai Xue trembled and shouted, her eyes bloodshot.
Liu Shaoge gave her a faint smile but said nothing.
Qing Yu glanced at Bai Xue. "Forget about her for now. Remember, next time we come back, bring this woman. She has an ice-type talent and such a beautiful face. This kind of woman is perfect to serve me. We can't take her now, though."
A cold glint flashed in Liu Shaoge's eyes but disappeared just as quickly. He bowed slightly. "Yes, young master."
In the blink of an eye, Qing Yu and Liu Shaoge vanished. A silver spacecraft soared from within the massive mothership, heading into the cosmos.
Inside the mothership, Mira narrowed her eyes. "A new Nightking has appeared... what a troublesome clan."
Just as everyone looked up at Qing Yu's departing figure, Lu Yin suddenly made a move, capturing Huo Xiaoling and Jenny Auna. Everyone, including Siken Maldo's group, was stunned.
"You native! How dare you? Release them now!" Toru Auna roared in fury. Something like this had happened right under his nose—he had been too careless.
Shaluoshu was astonished. He hadn't expected this little native, just a mere Explorer, to dare seize Huo Xiaoling and Jenny Auna right in front of powerhouses who walked among the stars. The sheer audacity made even him feel a twinge of admiration.
Siken Maldo stared at Lu Yin coldly. "Do you know what you're doing?"
Lu Yin held one woman in each hand, a dagger in both hands poised at their throats. "Sorry, I know threatening women isn't right. But what can I do? These two have the highest status here. General Maldo, right? I'd like to talk with you."
Siken Maldo's eyes burned with rage. A native was actually threatening him.
By his nature, he wouldn't have accepted such threats, even if it meant sacrificing the two women. But these weren't just anyone—they were Huo Xiaoling and Jenny Auna. If they died because of him, the consequences wouldn't be good for him either. "What do you want to talk about?"
Lu Yin kept the women in front of him as a shield. "After the trial, Earth's evolvers will be sent to the battlefield, right? I don't want that. Can you help us out, General Maldo?"
Siken Maldo's tone dropped. "That's imperial policy. I have no power to change it."
Lu Yin smiled. "Qing Yu just said he'll personally come to wipe out Earth. You can use that as a reason to report to the Da Yu Empire. If I'm not wrong, no one in the Empire dares go against the Nightking clan's orders."
Siken Maldo growled, "Boy, don't insult the Da Yu Empire. We simply don't want to provoke the Nightking clan. I'll report your suggestion truthfully, but release the hostages first."
"Do I look like an idiot to you?" Lu Yin said with disdain.
Siken Maldo didn't respond. Toru Auna stepped in. "Kid, don't ruin yourself. With your performance in the trial, you're more than qualified to join the Imperial Court. You won't be dragged down by Earth. In fact, those Earthlings with you can join as well. That's a special privilege from the Da Yu Empire. But if you keep threatening the Empire, that privilege will be revoked. Then you'll know true despair."
"Seems their status still isn't high enough to stop your nonsense," Lu Yin said coolly.
"You—" Toru Auna was furious.
Huo Xiaoling turned to glare at Lu Yin. "Let me go. I can plead for you."
"I can too. Just let me go! Don't touch me!" Jenny Auna cried.
"Another word from either of you, and I'll shove a dirty sock in your mouth," Lu Yin threatened.
Huo Xiaoling and Jenny Auna gritted their teeth in rage.
Zhang Dingtian and Bai Xue silently stepped beside Lu Yin. To them, this was Earth's only chance. The lives of countless Earth evolvers hung in the balance.
Glace stuck out her tongue and backed far away—these people were crazy.
Granny looked at Lu Yin with complex emotions and retreated as well. This trial was something she'd never forget.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Lu Yin's breath came rapidly. His body had already hit its limit during the fight with Qing Yu, and his face was pale—he couldn't let that be seen.
Suddenly, a terrifying pressure descended. Lu Yin trembled. An overwhelming force froze him in place. Pebbles on the ground turned to dust. In an instant, Toru Auna appeared before him and kicked him, sending him flying over a hundred meters and smashing into the ground. With a casual wave, Zhang Dingtian and Bai Xue were swept away by a gust of wind.
Lu Yin coughed up blood. His organs screamed in pain, as though they'd been crushed. A deep footprint was embedded in his chest—he was nearly kicked through. Just in that instant, he had felt the true terror of a powerhouse who walked the stars. That kind of power couldn't be resisted. He couldn't even move.
Toru Auna's gaze was icy as he looked down on Lu Yin. "A mere insect dares negotiate with us? I was going to leave you for Qing Yu, but you're too arrogant. You're courting death."
Jenny Auna also glared at Lu Yin angrily.
Huo Xiaoling sighed. She actually admired this man somewhat. For a native to come this far was no small feat. But unfortunately, the gap between them was too vast. The universe was full of geniuses. Lu Yin was undeniably a rare talent—he could defeat Qing Yu, an Explorer—but so what? The universe was too big to lack talents.
Lu Yin lowered his head. His vision blurred. His body had reached its limit.
At that moment, Siken Maldo activated his personal terminal, seemingly in contact with someone.
Toru Auna turned to him. "General Maldo, I say we kill him. Arrogant, origin unknown—he'll only bring trouble to the Empire if sent to the battlefield."
Siken Maldo didn't respond. He stared at his terminal, his expression growing more and more incredulous.
Seeing that, Toru Auna slowly raised his hand, aiming at Lu Yin. "Don't think Qing Yu will come back to kill you. He won't return to the Da Yu Empire for a long time. You won't live to see him again. Die."
Zhang Dingtian roared, but couldn't get up.
Russ stood in a sorry state, watching with a cold smile.
On the ship, Mira stood up, ready to act.
Suddenly, Siken Maldo roared, "Stop, Toru Auna!"
Toru Auna paused, confused. "What is it?"
Siken Maldo's expression was grim. He looked at Lu Yin, both anxious and hopeful. "Someone, collect some of his blood for me."
Immediately, a soldier in Da Yu Empire military uniform stepped forward, knelt beside Lu Yin, and began collecting the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Lu Yin opened his eyes, saw the soldier, and his pupils shrank. "You?"
The soldier shushed him and winked. "The family sends their regards. You did great. Give me the blood."
Lu Yin didn't hesitate. He took out a vial of blood from his spatial ring and handed it over.
The soldier smiled, turned back with a serious expression, and reported to Siken Maldo. "General, the blood sample."
Siken Maldo held out his hand. The sample floated up toward the spacecraft.
Everyone fell silent, waiting.
Lu Yin fixed his gaze on the soldier who had returned to the formation and let out a breath. He smiled. Finally, he had taken the first step. The blood sample he left in the Jinling prison camp had paid off.
The Da Yu Empire conducted very strict tests on evolvers. Lu Yin's performance was enough to attract their interest, so of course they'd test his blood. He had intentionally left a sample behind in the prison camp just for this moment.
Everything he had done had been to ensure the Empire tested that blood. Everything was going according to his plan.
After a long wait, Siken Maldo listened to a response through his terminal. His expression grew excited. He appeared beside Lu Yin and helped him up. "Tell me, why are you on Earth? What's your name? Do you have any family? How old are you?"
The others looked on in confusion.
Shaluoshu and Toru Auna quickly contacted someone as well. Then, their gazes turned shocked as they looked at Lu Yin. The Da Yu Empire was about to be shaken.
On the spaceship, Mira stared at the screen in disbelief. "Are you sure? That's way too much of a coincidence."
The technician watching the data looked nervous. "No mistake. Absolutely not. This is the bloodline of the Zishan clan. That boy is a descendant of Zishan—there's no doubt."
Mira was speechless. She had researched the Da Yu Empire before arriving. It was a legendary nation. Originally weak, it had risen to a top-tier power in the Canglan region thanks to two people: Undying Yushan and Undying Zishan. Together, they were famous in the outer universe as the Undying Duo.