Chapter 463

"What matters most in life? Perfect timing." — Hannibal

Unfortunately, even Lu Mingfei, a waste who survives by exploiting the Cassel Black Card scholarship, had no interest in tasting "veal."

"Are you thinking something extremely rude?" Lu Mingfei's seventh sense sensed something amiss.

"Illusion," Su Lin said, patting the shed remains of Canglang, the mighty time-controlling Reincarnator.

"His method of anchoring his soul in another creature's body and gradually assimilating it is much like an external incarnation."

Meng Qi nodded: "If judged purely by physical form, he should be at the Immortal Human level, but he's not the one from Heifeng Cave—after all—"

This was a werewolf, not a wolf demon.

His body had been forged from various materials into a killing machine, highly resistant to spells and divine arts; even attacks from a Earth Immortal level could be mitigated by its self-repairing properties.

Meng Qi glanced at the finger marks still lingering on the werewolf's neck—still unhealed—clearly indicating Second Brother's mood was far from good.

"Has our identity as Reincarnators been exposed? Aren't we like the scripture seekers?" Su Lin rubbed his bald head, looking at Meng Qi, Shi Hao, Li Huowang, and others.

Sun Wukong in white Dao robes, Zhu Bajie with heroic bearing, Sha Wujing with a copper coin mask, and Lu Mingfei riding a black horse.

Not really.

"Can you two show a little professionalism?" Su Lin asked.

"Aren't you both capable of the Seventy-Two Transformations? Where are my monkey and pig? Hongzhong, take off the mask—this isn't a crossover between Dao Gui and Journey to the West."

"So now you want me to lead the horse and carry the pole?" Shi Hao squeezed his hand bones and grinned. "How about this: we spar. The loser pulls the horse; the winner rides."

"Skip it."

Don't bring your world's toxic habits here—why must everything be solved by violence?

"By convention, two Supreme Beings fight until the edge of the universe, where the Dao itself is shattered."

Kleine planted his cane in the mud and let it fall naturally; he glanced at the direction it pointed and said, "This way."

Though the enemy has ways to disrupt heavenly fate, he is a Diviner—he doesn't play by Eastern rules.

"You were silent just now—I thought you'd been time-stopped. You're the Bell Angel under the Fool, right? Brother Amon," Lu Mingfei said.

"." Kleine picked up his cane, a faint smile on his lips.

If not for these two newcomers, he'd make Lu Mingfei understand what the title "King of Time" truly means—does anyone in this team even get time-stopped?

"What's the deal with this demon?" Han Li asked.

Kleine, Su Lin, and Lu Mingfei all turned toward Han Li, their eyes twitching with peculiar expressions.

Liu Li Ge… you're not messing with us, are you?

"At this point, any remark would be impolite."

Su Lin opened his mouth, then finally said, "The enemy Reincarnators have arrived."

Han Li stared for a moment: "I sensed nothing."

Logically, Han Li had encountered Time Treasure techniques and others—but considering the opponent is a traditional cultivator, his cultivation level remains…

Workplace experience gave Su Lin enough emotional intelligence to drop the issue—whether or not it was an act, better to play along; otherwise, Liu Li Ge would be mortified.

"Alright, clean up the battlefield. This body," Su Lin turned to Kleine, "is temporarily yours to use."

"I'm already doing it," the werewolf rose from the ground, placing a single eyepatch—wherever he got it—over his right eye socket.

"This marks the end of the first trial on the Journey to the West," Su Lin clapped his hands, gazing at the pale dawn on the horizon, smiling: "Beyond the border, countless lands passed; before the clouded mountains, ten thousand layers crossed. From now on, the deputy leaves for the west, upholding the Dharma, realizing the Great Emptiness."

This trial was perilous but without disaster.

Zhang Heng: "."

Wearing a monocle is fine—but can you please stop reciting poetry?

Only now did Zhang Heng realize how powerful this team truly was—every single member here possessed the priceless Time ability?!

And compared to the power and aura Canglang had displayed, Shi Hao had merely waved his hand and killed the so-called Canglang Reincarnator.

The opponent had no chance to resist—utterly like Shi Hao from the novel, impossibly strong, beyond reach.

"Elder, what should we do next?"

Zhang Heng asked the group, learning from these veterans in every detail—from daily conduct to combat—to improve his survival rate in future missions as a new Reincarnator.

"What to do?" Su Lin picked up the two swords left behind by "Canglang"—each contained a unique, never-before-seen power with strong exorcism and mental suppression effects.

And the enemy had launched an initial strike with a high-grade Immortal Human-level external incarnation.

Everyone saw it—they struck first.

Borrowing a phrase from a righteous companion: "A man killed dies."

Su Lin and Shi Hao exchanged glances, their lips rising in unison: "To subdue demons, eradicate evil, defend the righteous path, and restore the glory of the Western Pilgrimage—our duty, unquestionable."

Since this is a team, there's more than one person in it.

An A-class Reincarnator team? Their assets must be substantial.

Within the Shanhe Map, the bustling inn remained crowded with Reincarnators from three teams gathered together.

Though temporarily allied under the call of the Soul-Shaking Team, they still watched each other warily—Canglang was now safely protected by his own team.

"Canglang, how are you?" Ya asked.

Unlike his previous imposing form, Canglang's true body was slender and small.

"How am I…" He opened his eyes, glancing at Ya: "This is what you called… just a powerful artifact? Cough—cough—"

Canglang instinctively gripped his neck—his expression agonized, as if suffocating; when he released his grip, a deep crimson mark was branded there.

"They all ignored my time magic," he frowned. "Even my werewolf avatar, cultivated since the Night Legend world, is lost."

"Is that so?" Ya nodded. "So you've gathered zero intelligence."

"Excluding the worst possibility, assuming they all possess time abilities, at least one of them must have a Law artifact exchangeable only with an S-rank medal or higher," Bai Mingsheng analyzed.

"Combined with their scripture-seeker cultivation, the balance of this team battle has already been shattered."

Ya said: "If they eat Tang Seng's flesh, won't their cultivation become yours?"

The Reincarnators present glanced at him; though none spoke, all internally dismissed him.

"No need for subtlety—I need you to probe their strength and gather intelligence," said Ya, smiling as he raised his brows; his masculine face now seemed even more delicate and alluring.

"Canglang, your losses will be recorded under our team's account. The physical body of Lingxuzi, matching your current identity, is in our possession—you may have it shortly."

"Additionally, after the mission, I'll personally give you an A-rank medal and 3,000 Reincarnation points as compensation."

A faint smile returned to Canglang's face. "That's acceptable."

It was somewhat disadvantageous—after all, the wolf demon Lingxuzi's body was weaker than his previous werewolf form—but from the perspective of growth potential and the A-rank medal, it wasn't a loss.

"It seems you've really invested heavily to complete your promotion mission," said Bai Mingsheng.

"So we're being very sincere—go ahead and act." Ya pulled three items from his pocket and placed them on the table: "Canglang, what do these people look like? Do you recognize any?"

"All unfamiliar faces," said Canglang, projecting the scenes he had witnessed via technique.

Towering ancient trees, sprawling wild vines, a hazy morning, a group of nine traveling together.

The monk riding the white horse, clad in a kasaya, needed no explanation—he was clearly Tang Seng.

"These two are newcomers," said Canglang, pointing to a man and a woman.

"Indeed, all unfamiliar faces. Never mind—this Reincarnation Space is vast; it's normal." Ya was unsurprised; even his own team was insignificant against the uncountable numbers.

But it couldn't be ruled out that a few teams with grudges had deliberately come to target them.

"After the probing, I'll speak with them. With this level of strength, excluding Reincarnator teams, they should easily bypass the natives and complete the Journey to the West."

Ya pointed to a silver coin bearing a human head and a black tablet wrapped in swirling smoke, saying:

"These can each summon a Count of the Heavenly Fate Devourers and a Count of the Abyss Demons respectively—after signing a guarantee contract, they may be lent to you."

As Ya was about to introduce the purple-gold gourd, Bai Mingsheng interrupted him.

Bai Mingsheng abruptly rose, gesturing with his hand toward the door: "You'd better speak with them ourselves. We won't join this mission—we don't want to stir up trouble."

"Aren't you curious about the reward?" Ya's eyes flickered. He rose and walked slowly toward the exit, a mocking smile curling his lips:

"You're content to drift in your comfort zone—but too bad your team leader entrusted you with the wrong task. It seems you have no intention of reviving them."

Bai Mingsheng immediately pulled out a crimson bullet, loaded it into the magazine, chambered a round, and slammed the gun onto the table.

"Heh."

Ya left. The other two Reincarnator teams quickly departed as well—this Shanhe Map was Bai Mingsheng's domain; fighting here would bring no advantage.

"White Team," said Fatty, puzzled: "It's just a probe."

Bai Mingsheng rose slowly, glancing at the lingering image within the Shanhe Map; his gaze lingered for a moment on the young man with messy hair and a pale, clean face. "Bai Zhou, has the Scroll of Hell's Descent been completed?"

"Mm," said Bai Zhou, pulling out the processed bear hide he had stripped earlier; its surface bore a pattern that induced dizziness and vertigo at a single glance.

"Take it out. Deliver it to the Soul-Shaking Team," said Bai Mingsheng.

"Bai Mingsheng! Bai Zhou spent a fortune making this scroll!" Lu Beiyun looked as if he'd gone mad: "So what if we offended them? Why give this away for free?"

"Pay for it from my pocket—don't charge it to the team's funds." Bai Mingsheng holstered his gun without explanation: "Let's go to Huangfeng Ridge."

White apple blossoms, red waterweed, frosty sky, snow; lone wild geese fall through the setting sun's glow.

Shuangcha Ridge—after emerging from the cave, the group found not a single hair. There were signs of habitation, but the place was unnervingly clean, reminding Su Lin of his college days, when his monthly allowance vanished by month's end.

It was frustrating they didn't follow the plot's套路—In the original Journey to the West, upon reaching Shuangcha Ridge, the two attendants in their team, "Miss Kelaien" and "Han Li," should have been devoured by demons.

Helpless, Su Lin led the team onward.

"Haa~~~" Lu Mingfei yawned, eyes half-lidded, as if just waking from a dream, still dazed and drowsy.

Su Lin asked: "Stole cattle last night?"

"Dreaming. Slept too long," said Lu Mingfei, rubbing his eyes and scraping off a few eye boogers.

Last night he dreamed he held ebony and ivory guns, fighting from Biohazard to the Intelligent Empire, from Heaven to Hell. While everyone else teamed up for safety, he, the lone wolf, had already begun leveling alone.

With just two guns, he outwitted dungeons, grew stronger, collected gear—all while looking cooler than some net-addicted kid who used Starburst Air Slash.

Especially the final massacre in Hell.

He and a group of players formed a temporary alliance; while others guarded the ancient demon's sealed gate in the sea of blood and lava, he left a cool silhouette, guarding a hidden side door alone.

Countless demons and devils surged forth—but he activated his Demon Form, leapt, spun, and transformed into Death: Die~die~die~

Then suddenly, he threw all his gear to the players and was forcibly logged out amid a chorus of curses.

Probably no big issue—there were several high-level players inside; they'd likely clear it.

But memories from this live-action MMORPG were far more interesting than those from romantic soap operas; each time he experienced those memories, he felt guilty toward Hui Liyi.

"Say, when will this ever end?" Lu Mingfei scratched his head hard. "Are we really going all the way to the Western Heaven?!"

He had a girlfriend—he wasn't like those two singledogs; ten years apart would drive him mad with longing.

Lu Mingfei nudged Su Lin: "Bro, why not just go all out? Storm Lingshan—you become the Buddha?"

"Amitabha," said Su Lin, slapping his palm forward—a golden handprint slammed Lu Mingfei into the mountain: "Wicked disciple—what did your master open?"

Lingshan has no Buddhas. The Underworld has no ghosts. Where did they go?

The Three Pure Ones, Hun Tian Di, the Buddha—none of these were referring to the ones in our team. Where did the original deities of this world go? And all the other legendary figures? All vanished.

Why has the Reincarnation Space's pilgrimage team been constantly hunted by the Heavenly Court?

Before understanding this world's problems, rushing to Lingshan would be reckless.

The Four Continents are far vaster than imagined; heaven is round, earth is square. Whether immortals or demons, all face invisible restrictions on the mortal plane. Even entering the stars offers only slight relief—still, influence remains.

Under these conditions, who knows what lurking demon waits to finish off the wounded at the end?

But as long as Tang Seng is here, demons, devils, and Reincarnator teams will all flock to eat his flesh—gathering intelligence won't be a problem.

It's just that their methods are flashy, and they're good at running.

Besides, the gods of this world are still diligent—no matter the adaptation, they won't rewrite recklessly.

Su Lin saw an old man seated quietly by a side path, leaning on a walking staff.

Taibai Jinxing.

Try adjusting again. Set it to update at noon; during this period before the New Year, you shouldn't have to work overtime.

(End of Chapter)