"Umbrella Dominion? Xie Man just used her Umbrella Dominion! That Mr. Lu doesn’t cultivate the Path of Dispassion at all, so he has no idea how terrifying the Umbrella Dominion is. If he’s trapped inside, even an Immortal would find it hard to break out, let alone someone who hasn’t even reached that realm."

"A Sixfold Crimson’s Umbrella Dominion. If we are lucky enough to witness it, perhaps it will help our cultivation of the Path of Dispassion."

As the red umbrella opened, its six ribs lit up, one after another. Each time a rib illuminated, another layer of flowers appeared. Once all six ribs had lit up, there seemed to be seven layers of flowers, but there were actually only six, as the first layer had slowly merged into the other six.

Sixfold Path of Dispassion, six layers of the Umbrella Dominion.

Inside Canglan Valley, Lu Yin looked up. So this is the Umbrella Dominion.

While waiting in the valley, he had spread his consciousness throughout the universe, which had allowed him to learn many things about Crimson Starshade, including this Umbrella Dominion.

The Umbrella Dominion was the signature technique of Crimson Starshade, much like the Darksky Seal for the Blacklight Civilization. In fact, the two even shared rather similar functions.

With the umbrella as a weapon and the Path of Dispassion as the foundation, the umbrella dominion had twelve parts. Each time one more part of the Path of Dispassion was mastered, one more umbrella rib would be added. When the red umbrella opened, it became the Umbrella Prison. Within that prison, the Path of Dispassion was both the fiercest flame and the most virulent poison. Any creature within the confines of the prison would be melted away, and each additional rib meant an additional layer to the prison, which naturally increased its power by another level.

It was said that, to break an Umbrella Prison, one needed greater power than the one who unfurled it. Furthermore, due to the reinforcement that the technique received from the Path of Dispassion, each additional mastered part of the path doubled the force required to break free. This was what made it so extraordinarily difficult.

This was also why, whenever anyone fought against someone a Crimson Starshade and was trapped within a Umbrella Dominion, escape was impossible unless the target was truly far, far stronger than the wielder of the technique. Otherwise, the only option was to wait for death.

This technique was Crimson Starshade’s supreme legacy battle technique, and the might of this inheritance left Lu Yin feeling that it was no weaker than the Blacklight Civilization’s Darksky Seal.

The Blacklight Civilization had been a fishing civilization, and so had Crimson Starshade.

The Blacklight Civilization had possessed Life Overreach, while Crimson Starshade had the twelve parts of their Path of Dispassion.

These two civilizations possessed very similar methods of wielding power. This was the kind of power that a fishing civilization should possess.

The Umbrella Dominion essentially granted those beneath the Immortal realm the ability to open their own world. Even a Onefold Crimson cultivator could train the Umbrella Dominion, and that technique was the equivalent to an Immortal’s unique world.

Earlier, the first Sixfold Crimson had been severely wounded by Lu Yin with a single flick of his finger, and he had never even had a chance to unleash his Umbrella Dominion. Lu Yin was finally seeing it.

A six-layer Umbrella Dominion required one to be at least an Immortal to break free, or someone who also cultivated the Path of Dispassion.

Xie Man did not probe and directly attacked with her Umbrella Dominion. She knew very well that Lu Yin was absolutely powerful. Defeating a Sixfold Crimson with a single finger was a level of strength that left her with no desire to pick a fight. If her master had not forced her, she would have never come.

But since she was here now, she would use her strongest power.

Everyone stared at Canglan Valley. How would that Mr. Lu respond?

If he could not break through Xie Man’s Umbrella Dominion, then he would lose.

Inside Canglan Valley, the Path of Dispassion raged. The Umbrella Dominion could spread across an enormous range, but Xie Man had suppressed and confined it to Canglan Valley.

Lu Yin felt the destructive power of the Umbrella Dominion. It possessed both internal and external power.

On the Path of Dispassion, cultivating dispassion meant granting dispassion to others as well. He could clearly feel his emotions being stripped away, which was a deeply unpleasant sensation.

It made him think of those cold Immortals standing guard over the four directions of this megaverse. This was not the human civilization that Lu Yin wanted to protect.

He had no right to judge whether the Path of Dispassion was right or wrong, but he did have the right to choose what kind of civilizational inheritance he wanted to protect.

Since you all worship the Path of Dispassion so devoutly, then I will show you what true ruthlessness is. Lu Yin raised a hand, pointing all five fingers at the sky before grasping.

Rake marks appeared in the void, spreading as his fingers curled. Outside Canglan Valley, Xie Man's expression changed. What is happening?

She looked at her red umbrella. Its six ribs were bending.

"Look, quickly!" someone cried out.

Everyone looked above Canglan Valley and saw the six layers of flowers trembling and twisting. It looked like they had been seized and were being dragged by some force. A moment later, the void warped violently. From a distance, it was clear that it was the shape of a hand. A single hand had grabbed hold of the void, squeezing all six layers of flowers in its grasp. They shattered with a thunderous crash.

At the same time, a gale swept through the area. Xie Man spat out blood, her hair whipping wildly. Within her red umbrella, the six ribs snapped, inch by inch, into shards that shot outwards. Some ripped through Xie Man's skin, stabbing into her flesh and staining it with her blood. Some pierced the umbrella’s canopy and flew into the distance. Xie Man staggered back six steps, staring at Canglan Valley in horror. How can this be?

She was far from alone. At this moment, everyone was stunned. How could this be?

Grasping the void and toying with the megaverse were the abilities of an Immortal. For someone below that realm to do it, he was undoubtedly an Aberrant. However, it would be difficult for most Immortals to break a six-layer Umbrella Dominion this easily. This was their civilization’s pride, the confidence that Crimson Starshade placed in the Umbrella Dominion.

This was the foundation that allowed those beneath the Immortal realm to speak to Immortals on equal footing.

And yet that foundational technique had been crushed by one hand.

Yes, crushed by a hand, as easily as one might crush a teacup.

This scene created an incomparable shock in all who witnessed it. It was as if their very faith had been crushed.

Outside Canglan Valley, there was a deathly silence. Chu Songyun's eyes blazed, and excitement ran through his entire being. This man had just forcibly shattered the Path of Dispassion. How domineering!

Elder Qiu sucked in a cold breath. Luckily, he had not stepped forward. He was so, so lucky that he had not taken action. This was no longer something that achieving the pinnacle of power beneath the Immortal realm could compare to. Even calling this man an Aberrant might not be enough to define his strength. He had to be an Immortal, one who had hidden his cultivation so well that no one could see it.

Xie Man's face turned ashen. She slowly lowered her shattered red umbrella. After spitting out another mouthful of blood, she bowed deeply towards Canglan Valley, turned, and left.

At this moment, there was nothing to say.

No wonder she had been ignored. The other side had never considered her to be worth his notice. They existed on two different levels.

Inside Canglan Valley, Lu Yin lowered his hand and flexed his fingers. Quite sturdy. This Umbrella Dominion was really not bad, but unfortunately, it required one to cultivate the Path of Dispassion.

The woman had only failed so tragically because she had encountered Lu Yin. If Ku Deng or one of the other Immortals had been in his place, they might not have been able to shatter the technique so easily. If Awe Gate wanted to break free of the Umbrella Dominion, she would have to use Awecloud, and the impact of using a spear would not be anywhere near as great as Lu Yin using his hand.

All that could be said was that the woman had been unfortunate enough to run into him, because he was the strongest when it came to physical power.

At least in terms of physical strength alone, Lu Yin was confident that even Green Lotus was only his equal at most. He had not even used his full strength, but the woman was also not an Immortal. If an Immortal had used the Umbrella Dominion against Lu Yin, it would not be so easy for him to break free.

Breaking the Umbrella Dominion would consume an enormous amount of power.

Was there still anyone else looking to cause him trouble? Lu Yin looked outside Canglan Valley.

Xie Man had left, so everyone's attention now turned to Chu Songyun. Elder Qiu and another Sixfold Crimson were still present as well, but Chu Songyun was the only person present who was qualified to take action.

However, no one had high expectations. Chu Songyun should not be much stronger than Xie Man, as the two were about equal.

With how miserably Xie Man had suffered, would Shu Songyun really dare to challenge Lu Yin?

This was also why Xie Man immediately left. Given her fate, the same would happen to Chu Songyun.

Staring at Canglan Valley, Chu Songyun lifted his foot and walked forward step by step.

Everyone was astonished. He still wanted to make a move.

Facing Canglan Valley, Chu Songyun slowly bowed. "Sixfold Crimson, Chu Songyun, requests guidance."

Lu Yin looked out from the valley, his eyes flickering. Something about this man was off. While he cultivated the Path of Dispassion, just like the others, there was a sensation about him of not belonging. Not only that, but this man’s mastery of the Path of Dispassion was also even greater than that of the woman who had just left.

Others could not see it, not even Immortals, but Lu Yin could.

He had spent years building a wall in his heart, and thus he could see that Chu Songyun's mental state was extremely contradictory.

"You are very contradictory." Lu Yin's voice rang out, stunning the crowd outside the valley. This was the first time that he had spoken.

Everyone looked over. Not even Xie Man had been able to get Mr. Lu to speak. How had Chu Songyun done it? Was he stronger than Xie Man? 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Chu Songyun stared deeply at Canglan Valley. "Yes, I am very contradictory, and you can see it, sir."

"You should not be here."

Chu Songyun bowed again. "I ask you, sir, to point out a clear path."

"You were born with your heart closed off, making you dispassionate and loveless by nature. You are well suited to the Path of Dispassion, but unfortunately, the Path of Dispassion does not suit you." Lu Yin could see it. This person did not want to cultivate the Path of Dispassion at all, and yet his constitution forced him to do so.

The man was to be pitied.

Those outside the valley looked at Chu Songyun. What did that mean? He was suited to the Path of Dispassion, but the Path of Dispassion did not suit him?

There were some people in their civilization who did not want to cultivate the Path of Dispassion.

Chu Songyun maintained his bow. "I ask you, sir, to point out a clear path."

"I cannot give you a clear path."

Chu Songyun said, "You can give me a clear path, sir. I ask you to take me away. I want to go to your civilization."

As soon as he voiced his request, an uproar broke out outside the valley. Chu Songyun wanted to leave Crimson Starshade. That could not be allowed. He had been born with immense talent, and he had received fortune from the entire civilization. His heart was innately closed off, and he was perfectly suited to cultivating the Path of Dispassion. Even the Sect of Dispassion had invited him multiple times.

He absolutely could not be allowed to leave.

Elder Qiu stared at Chu Songyun, feeling that this man had just caused a disaster.

From the Sect of Dispassion, Ba Yue had been observing all that happened at Canglan Valley all along. As an Immortal, she was more than capable of seeing and hearing everything that happened within the same universe.

The Immortals had long since known that Chu Songyun wanted to leave Crimson Starshade and that he did not want to cultivate the Path of Dispassion at all. All of his mastery of the Path of Dispassion had been achieved passively. Even so, he had managed to become a Sixfold Crimson, and he was indisputably the most powerful among the Sixfold Crimsons. As long as Chu Songyun wished it, he could become the disciple of any Immortal at any time.

But he did not want to cultivate the Path of Dispassion. Throughout their entire civilization, only Ba Yue could be his master and yet he held her in no regard at all, which left Ba Yue feeling stifled. No matter what, Chu Songyun could not leave. He was certain to break into the Immortal realm and was also guaranteed to become a powerhouse of Crimson Starshade.

Leave? Impossible.

Lu Yin's voice echoed out of Canglan Valley. "I cannot even leave myself. How could I take you away?"

Chu Songyun’s voice remained respectful. "You will break through into the Immortal realm one day, sir. When that time comes, no one will be able to stop you. I am willing to serve you until the day of your breakthrough and departure. I only ask that you take me with you."

Serve? Lu Yin looked over. That would not do. That would expose everything.

Not only that, but Chu Songyun was also regarded as an invaluable treasure of Crimson Starshade. If he stayed with Lu Yin, Ba Yue and the others would absolutely keep a special watch on what happened, and they would have every reason to do so. How could that work for Lu Yin’s future plans?

"Go back."

"I ask you, sir, to take me away."

"I have no intention of leaving."

"Then I will serve you, sir, until the day you want to leave."

"..."