Chapter 275

Do not listen, do not speak, do not look.

But as time slowly passed, the River of Time showed no sign of fading, completely opposite to its usual pattern of arriving swiftly and departing just as quickly.

Everything, as the other had said, had frozen in an eternal instant.

Qu Yanping felt despair rise within him, realizing he had somehow provoked a forbidden entity—and the cause was his own cherished Shihuyu Immortal Realm technique.

"You don't have to answer," the woman floated lightly through the air like a feather, her white jade finger firmly pressing against his third eye, then closing gently to seize the celestial eye formed of runes.

Physical form! She is a physical form!

"Elder! My technique is not the Celestial Eye!" He forced down his fear; regardless of the situation, severing all ties and avoiding further trouble was his top priority.

"It doesn't matter— from now on, it is the Celestial Eye," the woman smiled like a blooming flower, as if speaking of something trivial: "Finally, someone useful has come…"

Before she finished speaking, under Qu Yanping's terrified gaze, the woman's beautiful face **melted away, her eyeballs dropping to the ground, and in an instant she transformed from a peerless beauty into a pristine white skeleton.

Qu Yanping's consciousness grew dull; he did not know how much time had passed, as if he had endured a long dream.

In the dream, he became a golden god towering above heaven and earth, wielding a three-pronged, double-edged blade, standing in the misty celestial palace, gazing down upon countless universes as numerous as Ganges sands, observing their varied paths and transformations.

"Yang Jian!!!"

Countless worlds, countless roars, countless sparks of true spirits coalesced into a terrifying giant ape, standing upon eighteen layers of hell, crowned by thirty-three heavens.

The giant ape wore a purple-gold crown, its face grotesque, upper lip baring sharp fangs, every single hair on its body blazing with Triple Pure Fire capable of burning through layer upon layer of worlds.

A golden cudgel inscribed with ancient runes, transcending the limits of time and space, struck at him from past, present, and future—its target was not merely him, but all of heaven and earth.

"Mr. Qu?! Mr. Qu?!"

Qu Yanping blinked in brief confusion, then suddenly trembled inwardly, frantically scanning his surroundings.

"I…"

He froze, seeing he was still in the starship cabin, facing Mr. 【Miss Kelaien】, whose hair was black and eyes brown.

"What happened to me?"

Qu Yanping felt he had experienced a bizarre dream, but what mattered was not the dream itself—it was what he had undergone before dreaming.

He pressed his hands to his head, his mind gradually clearing, then his face turned as green and bitter as a bitter melon; the sudden terror made him feel as if he might vomit.

"You're lucky, Mr. Qu. Had our Yuzhe Sect not possessed a slight understanding of the Time Dao, your soul would already have been dragged into forgotten ancient eras, becoming sustenance for the malevolent entities trapped in the River of Time." 【Miss Kelaien】 rose from beside his bed, his face always wearing a neutral, indifferent smile:

"I'm curious—what did you see in the River of Time? You've been asleep for over twenty days."

Qu Yanping paused, memories of what he had just witnessed flashing through his mind—he opened his mouth to speak, but instinct told him to say nothing.

"I forgot," Qu Yanping said.

"Is that so?" 【Miss Kelaien】 smiled, pointing at Qu Yanping's forehead: "Then I can't help you."

Within the chat group

"You guys like stir-fried messes too? I'm sick of it," Hōrai-san Kiyotsuki held a boxed meal on Water Mirror Peak, deciding to wrap up filming and go shopping: "By the way, who's the audience for your movie?"

Song Shuhang thought for a moment and replied:

"Probably the myriad worlds. Copyright in our world is easy to handle—we can even book theater slots. Of course, to keep the tone consistent, some characters' names, lines, and voiceovers can be adjusted later."

"Every group member will receive a collector's Blu-ray."

Weigong Shilang: "@Song Shuhang, isn't Master Tunny here? This script is weird!"

Su Lin: "Please, everyone, stop asking Master Tunny and Gao Moumou to rewrite the script—they're about to collapse."

Weigong Shilang: "But this script—"

Su Lin: "Shuhang, take the Longevity Pill to Gao Moumou and Master Tunny, then get them a psychologist. If all else fails, I'll book them an appointment with Dr. Adam."

Su Lin: "By the way, Weigong, what's wrong with this script?"

Weigong Shilang: "No, nothing."

Weigong Shilang glanced at Dada Liya, who was beaming with joy, wondering if Master Tunny had misunderstood—though he was grateful for the added scenes, why was there a kiss scene?!

He snatched the script from Dada Liya's hands, projected an ink pen onto it, scribbled two lines, then turned his head away as she glared in annoyance.

Meng Qi: "Hey, anyone here? Does anyone remember little Meng?"

Su Lin: "Bro, I call you brother—please, stop applying."

Meng Qi: "Why? Why won't you let me come over? Clearly—"

Su Lin: "Beat the White Scholars to death! Don't you have any self-awareness, big bro?!"

Han Li: "Just tell me before you come over, so I have time to retreat."

Zhang Chu'ar: "Whatever makes Yuanshi Tianzun happy."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "Which Tianzun? Han Tianzun or Meng Tianzun?"

Lu Mingfei: "Liu Li Ge, you don't even bother hiding your persona anymore?"

Han Li: "Heh, you're all used to it by now, and I can't change it anyway."

Su Lin: "He makes perfect sense—I'm speechless."

Ye Fan: "He makes perfect sense—I'm speechless."

Song Shuhang: "Treasure! Stop the echo!"

Meng Qi: "Damn it, it's all the Demon Buddha's fault—is there any big shot here who can cut the Demon Buddha's karmic ties for me right now?"

Xing: "Send the link."

Xing: "Sorry, I misread."

Meng Qi: "?"

Feeling somewhat exasperated, Meng Qi slapped his palm forward, shattering the assassin swordsman who floated toward him on a tiny boat across the indigo sea, looking every bit the masterful warrior.

Amidst the royal guards' stares of "Big Boss 666," his thoughts had already drifted beyond the heavens.

It wasn't entirely because he couldn't sit still or wanted to leave this world for another—he had applied to enter another world as a joke.

Whether it was the Six Realms Lord, funded by countless greats, or the karmic ties of the Demon Buddha upon him—he could not freely travel to other worlds until those links were severed.

But this feeling of being bound is truly unbearable, and

Meng Qi's mind flashed with a figure—he clearly had no destiny with her.

Meng Qi fell into thought, meanwhile gathering his true qi, clenched his right fist, and swung it out—black and white swirling, morality interwoven—a Taiji erupted forth, shattering a powerful figure within the mist.

"Then again, that demoness Gu Xiaosang actually became my wife—damn, next time I see her, I'll really have to answer to 'Wu Xiang Gong.'"

Just as Meng Qi's thoughts drifted off somewhere again, a new message arrived in the chat group.

Zhongli: "By general rationality, without other external or uncertain factors interfering, none of us now are a match for the Demon Buddha—even combined."

Zhongli: "But exceptions exist—there is one person in this group; frankly, I'm unsure of his strength."

After long-term association, Zhongli was certain his wording was precise.

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "Brother Hang, talking about you."

Ye Fan: "Brother Hang, talking about you."

Lu Mingfei: "Brother Hang, talking about you."

Meng Qi: "Brother Hang? Who's Brother Hang? Is someone cheating in a game in this group?"

Su Lin: "I've had it with this damn group—I said, can you please stop calling me Brother Hang?"

Su Lin: "Who came up with this nickname? My achievements today are entirely due to my own efforts—haven't you seen how perilous my battlefield above has been?"

Luffy: "Huh? Come to think of it, I remember you, Su Lin, are the user of the Library Fruit—you copied all Devil Fruit abilities and threatened to kill the Celestial Dragons."

Su Lin: "."

Su Lin: "I've been working tirelessly for the Supreme in the Dragon Clan world, willingly serving as a pawn and claw."

Lu Mingfei: "You overturned the Supreme's chessboard—Old Lu said his greatest regret was mistaking you for a weakling and asking you for help."

Lu Mingfei: "Of course, brother, I'm still grateful—you did brilliantly, Tianrang Jiehuo."

To be fair, Hui Liyi cosplaying as Xia Na made Lu Mingfei's nose feel warm—he tilted his head up at a forty-five-degree angle.

Penglai Mountain Kaguya: "If I recall correctly, isn't that the Heavenly Punishment God from The Flame of Recca?"

Su Lin: "."

Kleine: "Aren't you about to say you barely survived against the Outer Gods?"

Yi Leina: "It was incredibly hard—the dimensional magic exiled an entire plane."

Su Lin: "No, haven't you noticed my efforts at all?"

Ye Fan: "That's just like Song Shuhang building his foundation—haha."

Song Shuhang: "Senior Ye, what's wrong with building a foundation?"

Ye Fan: "I'll wait for you deep in the Sword Tomb—building a foundation, let's do it together!"

Zhang Chu'an: "Brother! Admin! Look at me—I've trained hard and still can only shatter a mountain—is that fair?! Is there any justice?!"

Kleine: "When Zhang Chu'an says he can shatter a mountain, his true strength is likely already enough to shatter a city."

Zhang Chu'an: "Uh, Brother Kleine, the topic isn't about Su Lin right now."

Kleine: "Oh, sorry, Su Lin—what's the origin of this sword?"

Although it was said to be a prop for acting, Kleine had tried summoning its historical projection over a dozen times—and failed every time.

He knew he'd never struggled so much summoning 0-08, and now he was a Rank One Weirdness Attendant—he had reason to suspect Su Lin had acquired something extraordinary.

Su Lin: "I'd forgotten, unless you have time, let Meng Qi try using that sword."

Meng Qi, who had been casually watching the drama, suddenly realized the topic had shifted to him—he hurriedly asked: "What?"

Su Lin: "Tianqing Yu Xu Sword—forged by Yuan Shi Tianzun of the Gao Tian Yuan Realm. But it has some seals—if you can remove them… maybe, perhaps, severing a connection won't be a problem."

Without exaggeration, after sensing the sword's power even with a single seal unbroken, Su Lin decided this was the best item he'd ever drawn in a lottery.

Zhongli saw this message and smiled faintly, replying in the group: "This is the exception I meant."

Ye Fan: "6, you little brat—we've known each other this long and you never gave me one?"

Su Lin: "Aren't you already with Weigong Shilang?"

Ye Fan: "Come to think of it, yeah."

Weigong Shilang: "0_0?"

Meng Qi: "So this is a master's depth—I'm off to hunt the Great Blue Root and seek the legacy in Yu Xu Palace!"

Su Lin: "Recently acquired stock."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "?????"

Song Shuhang: "????"

Su Lin: "Talk after filming—the lead actor's here, I'm starting work."

When Qu Yanping stood before the mirror, he noticed a golden mark had appeared on his third eye—the spot where his Heavenly Eye technique had once condensed divine runes.

He reached out to touch it, and then

The golden mark split open!

Amid divine radiance, a vertical eyeball appeared on Qu Yanping's forehead!

Not a rune-formed illusion—but a real, fleshy eye!

"This—" Qu Yanping staggered back two steps, suddenly recalling the man who had once given him a book—he pleaded urgently: "Mr. Kleine, you must know something, right?!"

A thousand thoughts raced through his mind—he moved all three eyes simultaneously, then remembered: the original team had not included 【Kleine】, for his strength fell short of exploration requirements—but he had spent his accumulated merits and signed a pledge with the Yuzhe Sect to surrender any Heavenly Dao artifacts and forfeit his status if necessary.

"Academic research on the Eastern Huangshan Zhenjun has always been one of my subjects—it directly affects my professional ranking. Do you think I don't know?" 【Kleine】 adjusted his single lens carved from crystal and said:

"I know. You know nothing. Then I know nothing either."

"Sorry," Qu Yanping quickly apologized—he realized clearly that playing clever in front of these people was meaningless; his only task was to demonstrate value and maintain his persona.

"I saw a woman…"

Twenty days later.

The light boat has passed ten thousand ancient swords, advancing deeper, and the rust on the weapons across the vast land grows sparser—a fact also evident in the decreasing frequency of the Time River's impact.

"There's a cultivator's corpse! Be careful!"

The swords in the tomb below are not easily taken; their sword qi interlink into an ocean. If an ordinary Ruyi Zhenxian descended, they would be washed away into nothingness. Now, there is a cultivator's corpse down there—this means even a being above an immortal could perish with the slightest misstep.

"Form the formation!"

The Time River's impact came again; unlike last time, Qu Yanping recalled 【Miss Kelaien】's words.

"This is your fortune, and mine—I knew following you into Penglai would bring good things!"

"What fortune do I have? In the academic system, once this research report is brought back, even Merlin will answer to me!"

"Your divine ability has likely been entirely transformed into the Eastern Heavenly Eye!"

"Remember, when the Time River's impact comes, look—except for a few rare Dao artifacts, you can observe even the events within the Time River without becoming entangled in karmic ties!"

Illusory time swept past again outside the starship; when that sense of temporal control vanished, Qu Yanping's third eye blazed with brilliant divine light.

These rays of light pierced into the illusory Time River, beginning to swim through it like fish freely darting in water.

Time flies like an arrow; years pass like a shuttle.

This time, he saw an ancient version of the sword tomb.

There was nothing there—only void.

No stars, no life, let alone earth, sky, or endless swords.

After an unknown length of time, a flash of sword light ignited, shattering the void; suddenly, a magnificent landscape of mountains and rivers appeared within the emptiness.

As if someone had unrolled a scroll, the most striking feature was a towering mountain, its peak standing amid clouds.

Waterfalls cascaded from the summit, plunging straight down like the Tianhe pouring onto the mortal world; mist from the falls, bathed in sunlight, hung rainbows of all sizes in the sky.

The great sun on the horizon was about to set; the half-sunken sun cast golden afterglow over the remaining clouds, illuminating them like fields of ripe wheat. Behind, peach trees occasionally dropped petals, adding faint pink to the golden scroll.

From within the scroll stepped a young man, his long red hair flowing, clad in a white ancient-style dao robe—though the robe was torn and drenched in blood.

At his waist hung a long sword; its scabbard was crimson-black, carved with a tree, its hilt pure white, radiating an unreal beauty.

In his arms he cradled a petite figure, her long white hair spilling over his arms, her delicate face as perfect as a doll's.

His eyes were filled with exhaustion, yet he dragged his battered body step by step out of the scroll. Finally, he gazed lovingly at the woman in his arms, then turned toward the dark void and whispered:

"This body was born of sword."

(End of Chapter)