Published at 28th of December 2025 7:36 am

Chapter 3996: All The Same

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

There could be two groups of people that lived in the same universe, but their experience might be worlds apart.

That was why Greater Sancte Mi Jin had used his Lost Path to experience life in all its forms, as well as why Qing Yun pursued the same thing.

Life in all its forms was not as simple as a hundred different peoples stories; there could very well be a hundred different social archetypes.

For a cultivator to properly improve their mental state, shouldnt they find the mortal archetype that corresponded to them the best?

In that case, which archetype corresponded to Lu Yin? The grand chancellor, the great general, or something else? He had just found the next life that he needed to observe.

Wealth is to mortals as what resources are to us. Fugui, if you one day become the richest of mortals, what would you think? Jian Heng asked.

Lu Yin sat down. Have you forgotten? Im not a mortalIm a cultivator.

Theres no difference, Ji replied bluntly.

Lu Yin rolled his eyes.

Yu Xiang'er stepped in front of him. You can all go now. Im having a candlelit conversation with Fugui.

Xue Zhan glanced up at Yu Xiang'er. Why him?

Yu Xiang'er opened her mouth to speak, but Jian Heng cut in, Because his name is Fugui. Hes someone who points straight at his heart and hides nothing. He can even state his desires calmly. Hes someone who can allow you to see the mortal world. Yu Xiang'er, as a disciple of Greater Sancte Green Lotus, your mental state surpasses our own, including even Little Lotus King. However, we now see the situation clearly. You shouldnt monopolize him. Fugui belongs to all of us.

Yu Xiang'er was stunned, and she did not even know how to respond to such a comment.

Later on, her maid still was unable to understand what had been said. How had Fugui come to belong to everyone? Was he really that popular?

The situation grew stranger and stranger, until it reached the point where every sentence that Lu Yin spoke was earnestly pondered over.

His words were regarded as coming from an ordinary human, and thus they served as a guiding light for the prodigies mindset.

Little Lotus King arrived, but when he saw so many people crowding around Fugui, he simply offered an awkward greeting and left again.

Lu Yin noticed that Ning Xiao did not visit. That made sense, as the man was also an independent cultivator and had endured great hardships.

Fugui, how do you see the gap between ordinary people and geniuses? Jian Heng suddenly asked.

Everyone else turned to stare at Lu Yin.

Even Yu Xiang'er was curious as to how he would respond. All of them were geniuses, and they had never considered how ordinary people might view them. The only people ever in their eyes were other geniuses.

How did ordinary people view geniuses like them?

Lu Yin pondered for a moment, then looked at the people surrounding him with an earnest expression as he said, In my eyes, all are the same.

Gui Jis eyebrows rose. Thats impossible. How could we possibly be the same as ordinary people?

Ji also shook his head, not believing Fugui.

Lu Yins expression remained completely serious. Believe me, to my eyes, you really are the same as ordinary people.

Xue Zhan stared at Lu Yin. Indeed all the same.

The others looked at the man in confusion.

While speaking in a low voice, Xue Zhan looked away. Geniuses and ordinary people before reaching the Immortal realm, they really are all the same. Thats how we see it, but in Fuguis eyes, anyone he cant catch up to is a genius.

Jian Heng suddenly understood, and he shot a look of amazement at Xue Zhan. Not bad. Your mental state is quite good. If anyone that Fugui cant match is a genius, then is there any difference? We are all the same.

Ji nodded in deep agreement.

Gui Ji also understood, and he directed a sympathetic look at Fugui. Fugui, theyve hit a sore spot for you.

Lu Yin felt numb to the misunderstandings at this point. Well, its still all the same.

Yu Xiang'er was upset, and said, You may all leave.

Jian Heng turned to go. Thats all for today, Fugui. Lets go for a stroll together tomorrow.

Dont try to make trouble. Who here can whisk Fugui away for their own? You should find some other common person.

Even common people can be hypocrites. Some have immature minds, leading them to choose such a name. However, Fugui is the only cultivator I have ever seen, and not even a weak one too, to adopt such a name. Such a person is one in hundreds of millions.

So, he is the only one who can show us the world of ordinary people.

Then lets do the same tomorrow. We absolutely cannot allow Little Lotus King to take him away.

Of course not.

Why dont we just not go back? We can sit around and prevent anyone from taking Fugui away.

Agreed.

Agreed

The voices gradually faded into the distance. Still inside the courtyard, Lu Yin rubbed his forehead. These geniuses were truly masters at making assumptions. Each one was so clever and able to connect one sentence he said to countless meanings. If only he was capable of deceiving himself in the same way that they did, how wonderful would that be?

That thought caused Lu Yin to suddenly freeze, and he stared at the ground in a daze. Deceive myself, deceive myself, deceive myself

Yes, deceive myself!

He could deceive himself, but his karma would still exist. Why had he never thought of examining his own karma?

No, he could not examine his own karma, because the karma that he controlled belonged to him. It was similar to how fortune-tellers could never read their own fortunes. There was only one possible exception, which was when one was enduring a calamity. In that scenario, they could use that calamity to examine the effect that it had on themselves. This was exactly like when Unbroken Time had swallowed him and compared him to its temporal template.

At that time, Lu Yin had used the calamity from Unbroken Time to determine how his own karma might lead to death, which had allowed him to see through the truth of Unbroken Times ability. Without such a thread to follow, it was impossible for someone to examine their own karma.

However, Lu Yin could use the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm.

He looked up at the stars above. In the past, he had been unable to read himself or glimpse his own karma, but with the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm, that changed. If he took himself as the endpoint of karma, cast out Karmic Lines which then collided and intersected, then by following the patterns that emerged, he might be able to tell if someone was watching him or scheming against him.

This was different from predicting the future.

When he had first comprehended karma, Lu Yin had used it to peer into the future and had sensed someones gaze fixed upon him. But that gaze could shift, and it could even be disguised.

However, if he examined his own karma and then moved in a different direction from what he saw, nothing directed his way could be hidden. He might not be able to see exactly what method was being used, but he would know beyond doubt that someone was plotting against him. For instance, if he had been marked by Silent Death.

Yes, he could cross-check his own karma through the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm./p>

And besides, ones own state of mind could also serve as a deception. When others plotted against him, that was one kind of deception. When he deceived himself, that was another. Either way, such deception could push him into a deeper understanding of his own heart.

Lu Yin took a deep breath. Humanitys social archetypes, self-deception, and indirectly observing karmahe could not help but smile.

This trip had not been in vain. Even if he could not find Silent Death or the Netherfiends, he had still profited greatly.

Im sorry, Fugui, Yu Xiang'er apologized.

Lu Yin was puzzled. For what?

Yu Xiang'er sighed. Now that theyre targeting you, you may never know peace again.

Lu Yin gave a bitter laugh. Its fine. Theyre not bad people.

Yu Xiang'ers expression grew complicated. She wanted to say more but held back from doing so. She simply added, Ill take you out of Blackmarsh City as soon as possible. As for your name, Fugui, dont use it anymore. Change it. These geniuses can sometimes be rather extreme.

Lu Yin nodded and did not argue.

The courtyard contained multiple rooms, and Yu Xiang'er entered one to rest, while her maid leaned closer to stare at Lu Yin. Her eyes were full of curiosity.

What is it? Lu Yin asked, confused by her behavior.

The maid had grown far more suspicious of him. Somethings not right about you.

Lu Yin touched his own face. Whats not right?

Are you schizophrenic?

Why are you insulting me?

Im not insulting you. Youre just strange. Look, when Jian Heng confronted you, you had the courage to antagonize him, but then you were so respectful to Little Lotus King. At first, you seemed nervous around those prodigies, but then you acted indifferently towards them. Just now, you even appeared to have had some grand realization. I just feel like Im never seeing the real you.

Lu Yin pursed his lips. Youre overthinking things. This is just how I am, an ordinary, honest man: Fugui.

The maid blinked and then looked away. Alright. Maybe I just dont understand the thoughts of someone like you. After all, Ive only been with the young lady since I was little. You should also rest.

To those outside, it appeared that the two had another private chat through the night.

The next day, Jian Heng and the others returned and resumed their conversation with Fugui.

That repeated on the third day, and the day after; the cycle continued. Lu Yin could not even refuse, as doing so would be too far out of character for the ordinary cultivator that he was portraying.

As an average independent cultivator, he was supposed to be someone who had always struggled on the edge of life and death, fighting tooth and nail for even a single opportunity to join the treasure-hunting team. On what grounds could he refuse to speak with multiple famous geniuses from all across the Nine Odysseys Megaverse? Besides, they were even offering him benefits.

Ten treasure-hunting slots.

Make it twenty. Ill speak with City Lord Yu.

Better yet, a permanent slot. Then, you can go whenever you want.

In the distance, Yu Sheng could only let out a helpless sigh. These brats were blatantly making decisions on his behalf.

Lu Yin sometimes felt that speaking with the geniuses could truly bring about some benefits. It was true that they were incredibly talented, but they were also still just people. They also had their own stories and curiosity. To him, they were no different from ordinary humans. Even Little Lotus King, whom many believed had the potential to one day become an Immortal, appeared quite ordinary in Lu Yins eyes.

He also wanted to see what such ordinary people thought and to hear their stories.

Unfortunately, he had already spent too much. He was worried that whoever was hidden underground might notice something and run away. At this moment, aside from Ku Zhou, all who should participate in the competition had arrived.

It was time to begin.

However, the contest itself would have to change.

Previously, he had wanted the Scion Spires Bai Xia to act, but that was no longer necessary.

Fugui, in the eyes of you ordinary people, what does a powerhouse look like? someone asked. This time, Ji asked the question.

Lu Yin thought for a moment. Like Little Lotus King, I guess.

Several eyebrows rose, and everyone stared at him.

Little Lotus King? Jian Hengs eyes grew cold.

Lu Yin nodded. Hes the strongest member of the younger generation. In the eyes of people like us, Little Lotus King is the strongest.

Jian Heng sneered. What a joke! Who told you that Little Lotus King is the strongest?

Lu Yin looked puzzled. Isnt he? Dont tell me that you are?

A cold glint flickered through Jian Hengs eyes.

Xue Zhan stared at Lu Yin. Why do you believe that Little Lotus King is the strongest?

Lu Yin replied, Im not alone. All of us think so. Little Lotus King is the First Scion.

Xue Zhans eyes narrowed. Is that so? Without that reminder, I would have forgotten entirely. It is time to decide who holds the title of First Scion.

Gui Jis eyes lit up as he turned to Xue Zhan. Id also forgotten about that. I should have defeated you long ago, Xue Zhan.

Ji clenched his fist. Wheres Ning Xiao?

Jian Heng turned. Everyone, since commoners like Fugui believe that Little Lotus King is the strongest, lets show him the truth. I propose that we decide who is the strongest among us from atop Blackmarsh Citys walls. Whoever is defeated will yield their place to the victor.

Gui Ji licked his lips. We should have done this long ago. Fugui, watch closely. This is a showdown between those at the peak. This battle will be so brilliant that it might never be surpassed even in the coming eras!

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