Published at 10th of May 2026 5:56 am

Chapter 4262: The Escape Tactic

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Hearing Furball's words, Lu Yin's eyes flickered. "I don't believe you."

"Believe me or not, your choice."

"Then no bet."

"You can't even catch it, so there's no point in betting."

Lu Yin smugly replied, "I almost caught it today. If that strange bird hadn't used its life-saving move, I would have caught it and agreed to bet with you. You would have been scared out of your wits."

Furball asked in surprise, "What life-saving move?"

"It split into more than a thousand birds and escaped."

"Thousand Feathers, Thousand Changes?" the old guy asked in surprise. "I didn't expect you to be able to force the bird to use that."

Thousand Feathers, Thousand Changes? Sounds impressive. Lu Yin's eyes flickered. "What's so surprising about it? My human civilization has many experts. We also have the most powerful of the Seven-Treasure Anuras with us, who has resonated with two cosmic laws. Why wouldn't we be able to deal with a single bird?"

The ancient voice replied, "It's different. This isn't a battle, but an ambush. Those disgusting birds love to ambush their targets. Since its impossible to catch up to them, trying to prevent their teleportation seems like the most straightforward option, but how many can actually accomplish that? Forcing one to use Thousand Feathers, Thousand Changes is not easy at all. If I'm not mistaken, your ability to teleport also played a part. Congratulations, child, you've become one of the few civilizations that can actually threaten the Plume Immortal Civilization."

Furball barked a cold laugh. "Now the Plume Immortal Civilization will remember you. From now on, your human civilization will constantly have to face ambushes from those strange birds. They wont allow any civilization in the cosmos that has the ability to deal with them to survive, unless youre outright stronger than them. Youre finished, heh heh."

Lu Yin retorted, "What about Obscura? Aren't we also enemies of those strange birds? For us to still be around, are you saying that Obscura stands above the Plume Immortal Civilization?"

Right at that moment, Ba Ses voice spoke up. "Lu Yin, when you complete a three-star mission, you may learn about the Plume Immortal Civilization."

Lu Yin sighed. With Ba Ses interruption, he would not be able to probe any further.

Still, his attempt had managed to reveal a few things. Of course, many of those details made him even more uneasy, especially Furballs last comment.

If that comment was accurate, then his human civilization would have a truly difficult time finding peace in the future. A solution had to be found.

There was also the fact that Furball claimed to know who had been targeting Ancestor Shan, just like Old Man Hehe.

But was that true?

Lu Yin hoped that it was a lie. If that information was a publicly known secret among those at a certain level, it meant that more than just one member of Obscura was strong enough to deal with Ancestor Shan. That would indicate that Obscuras full power was even more unfathomable than what they had thought, and Lu Yin could not accept that.

Che's voice rang out. "Lu Yin, Furball's warning is correct. You must be cautious and always on guard against those strange birds. They do indeed hold grudges and are very insecure. You now pose a threat to them, especially given your own ability to teleport. This is unacceptable to them. Be mentally prepared."

"I didnt warn him. Im glad, hahaha! Your human civilization will regret this! The best solution was to let one or two of your Immortals die at the very beginning in order to send that strange bird away. It only appeared in your megaverses by coincidence, unlike a normal fishing civilization, but thats all changed. Now, youre a target. Its too late for regrets, hahaha!" Furball gloated.

Lu Yin's eyes grew cold. "Even if you told me that at the very beginning, I wouldn't have done it. My human civilization would rather stand and die than kneel in order to survive."

That said, he left Vestigium.

Once Lu Yin was gone, Che let out a sight of admiration. "Honestly, I've always admired human civilization."

Furball sneered. "If it weren't for the fall of the Nine Ramparts, the Plume Immortal Civilization would never have dared to provoke them. It looks like the Plume Immortal that ambushed them doesnt know much about humanity, so it was most likely only recently added to their ranks. This has become interesting. I wonder who will be the next to awaken."

Heh. The Plume Immortal Civilization played no small role in the destruction of the Nine Ramparts. I wonder how many of you were there back then. Do you still remember the Crimson Lotus Tomb?

The old man spoke slowly. When those final three words were uttered, Vestigium fell silent.

A long time later, another voice spoke up. "The fact that they forced that bird to use Thousand Feathers, Thousand Changes coupled with that childs teleportation ability means that the little Plume Immortal shouldnt be bothering human civilization anymore.

"Ba Se, I suggest that we go easy on the child. Lets allow him to break through and become an Immortal more quickly, as thatll let us deal with the Plume Immortal Civilization more easily."

Furball immediately refused. "No! That breaks the rules!"

The ancient voice said, "If that brat can help us deal with the Plume Immortal Civilization, we certainly cant allow him to break through. Hell become even more troublesome than the Plume Immortal Civilization itself. How many of you here have blood on your hands from the destruction of the Nine Ramparts? You all know that the brat will take revenge."

An unknown voice said, "We merely struggle to deal with the Plume Immortal Civilizations teleportation ability. That does not mean we are unable to deal with human civilization."

***

At the same time, far away from the Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm, Yue Lu preened its feathers, staring at the distant Heavenly Karmic Macrocosm with a rare bit of dread in its eyes.

I was actually caught. If not for Thousand Feathers, Thousand Changes, I wouldnt have been able to escape from that human.

It did not care about Aberrants, but since one had managed to catch Yue Lu, it meant that they had made preparations. The Aberrant was nothing more than a bridgethe real threat was the civilizations other powerful beings.

This was precisely what had scared the bird into breaking free from Lu Yin. If not for that, simply being caught by Lu Yin would not have frightened Yue Lu at all.

Thousand Feathers, Thousand Changes had allowed it to escape from that human once, and it could escape countless more times. At least, that was what Lu Yin and the rest of humanity believed. But in reality, Thousand Feathers, Thousand Changes was not an invincible technique. The cosmos did not have any truly invincible powers.

As the name suggested, Thousand Feathers, Thousand Changes was able to create up to 1,000 copies of a bird, with one being real while the rest were false.

This was what had happened to Lu Yin. While he had caught Yue Lu, after it used Thousand Feathers, Thousand Changes, the bird he had held onto had become a fake.

<>As for which bird was real and which was fake, not even Yue Lu itself could control that. That was precisely what made it impossible for an opponent to find an opening.

If the bird could control which image was real and which was fake, then an opponent would be able to devise strategies to determine which was true. However, if even the user of Thousand Feathers, Thousand Changes did not have any control, then there was nothing for an enemy to use.

Still, catching a fake once did not mean that a fake would be captured every time. Even if it was only a one in 1,000 chance, since the probability was not zero, then there was a chance that the real one would be caught.

Yue Lu clearly understood that, if it continued to target this human civilization, it might not be able to escape the next time. Its death or survival had become a matter of chances.

It was not unstoppable.

Thousand Feathers, Thousand Changes had its advantages, yet it also had its disadvantages.

Yue Lu watched this human civilization for a long time, but it eventually left. However, it would never forget the grudge between them.

This civilization would certainly be destroyed.

I feel like Ive seen this civilization somewhere They rouse both a familiar and a revolting feeling from my bloodline.

***

At the same time, humanity had no idea that Yue Lu had temporarily given up on targeting them.

Lu Yin returned with a report about what he had learned in Vestigium. It was bad news for everyone, and it was deeply unsettling for their human civilization.

How long had humanity enjoyed peace for? And so soon, they were being targeted again.

No one believed that the strange bird had appeared by sheer coincidence. Something must have guided it over. If not, how could it have appeared specifically within their human civilization's territory given the endless vastness of the Aevum Inch?

Lu Yin agreed with that suspicion, but he could not determine who might have targeted them.

Lan Meng? It was not qualified. Furball? Possible, but the one who had targeted Ancestor Shan was the more likely candidate.

He specifically sought out Qing Cao to try to open communication with the mysterious Immortal from Obscura.

In fact, Lu Yin had already made several attempts to uncover the identity of that mysterious Immortal through Qing Cao, but Qing Cao himself claimed to not know who that Immortal was. He had also claimed that they might have left. Lu Yin had no way to proceed.

"Having encountered such a crisis twice, you should understand very well just how strong that strange bird is, Senior. I can tell you that that one is just the weakest from the Plume Immortal Civilization," Lu Yin stated. While he himself did not believe Ches words, believing it to be nothing more than an attempt to incite panic, he could use it to pressure Qing Cao.

The mans expression grew somber as he looked at Lu Yin. "I really cant find that mysterious Immortal that you speak of."

Lu Yin frowned. Senior, our situation is serious. Dont force me to do something I dont want to.

Qing Cao said, I wasnt finished speaking. I may not be able to find that mysterious Immortal, but I can relay a message. What do you wish to say?

Lu Yin stared at Qing Cao, studying the man for a while before softening his tone. "I want to know who was watching Ancestor Shan. Its possible that that being led the bird here."

Arent you afraid that the one who targeted Ancestor Shan might be the mysterious Immortal you wish to speak to?

If they dare to admit to it, I dont mind having one more enemy.

Qing Cao sighed. You wont get an answer.

That doesnt matter. Just go ahead and ask.

Alright.

Some years later, Lu Yin met Qing Cao again, hoping for an answer.

Throughout those years, humanity had remained on guard against the strange bird, but it had not appeared.

They refused to lower their guard. The longest period of time that bird had waited between its attacks so far was seven years, but to an Immortal, seven years was no different from seventy.

This was also why Lu Yin was anxious to get an answer. They could not remain on edge forever, as that would be too detrimental to humanitys cultivation. Years had passed without him working on building the wall in his heart, as he was unable to calm his mind.

Qing Cao faced Lu Yin. Theres no answer.

Lu Yins eyes narrowed, and Qing Cao continued to say, Even if you kill me, theres no answer. I asked, but it was like a stone dropping into the sea. From the moment you joined Obscura, that being seems to have left. They may not have even received my messages.

Lu Yin left without a single word.

More time passed. Ten years had gone by, and yet the strange bird still had not reappeared. Lu Yin and the others had not relaxed. In fact, they had grown even more vigilant.

The more time that passed without an attack, the more prepared they expected the bird to be. Its next ambush might not be as simple as the previous ones.

Soon, more than twenty years had gone by, and the strange bird still had not returned. They could only continue waiting.

Another ten years passed, and still nothing.

Lu Yin could not sit still any longer. He returned to Vestigium to test things further, but no matter what he said, Furball and the others refused to respond. It was possible that they were actually not even present in Vestigium.

Che was there, but Lu Yin did not want to even say a word to the Immortal. There was no point in interacting with someone who could not even be insulted.

Time rolled on. 100 years had passed since the last time the strange bird had attacked Qing Cao. During these years, they had spent the first few decades waiting, and so too with all the following decades.

100 years was nothing more than the blink of an eye for an Immortal.

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