Chapter 165: Return

The trial of Sugou Nobuyuki proceeded quickly; after all, it already involved some unforgivable forbidden domains. Furthermore, this period happened to be when the SAO incident was receiving the most attention. Only a few days passed before the verdict was handed down. Although there was no death penalty, the sentence was absolutely enough for him to spend the rest of his life in prison.

On this day, Asuna and Kirito arrived at Lingyun's home together. At this time, Yuki Konno's condition was nearing recovery, and the rest just required time for slow recuperation. This also meant that the time for Lingyun to leave this world was almost at hand.

"Master, are you really going to leave?" Yuuki asked with some reluctance.

"Mm, we have already delayed quite a bit of time in this world; it is time to go back." Lingyun smiled and patted Yuuki's head. "Right, there is one more thing, and that is about the matter of the World Guardian; how have you all considered it?"

"I have already decided; I want to become a World Guardian. When that time comes, not only will I be able to guard this world, but I will also be able to protect my sister!" Yuuki said.

"We have also discussed it during this time, and finally decided to become World Guardians. After all, I promised Master that I would properly inherit her dual-blade style!" Kirito also nodded slightly.

Looking at the appearance of Kirito and the others, Lingyun smiled, then spread his hands. Four Light Balls flew out from his hands and then slowly merged into the bodies of Kirito and the others.

Kirito and the others only felt a warm power slowly seeping into their bodies, so comfortable that they almost groaned out loud. Fortunately, they were all people with extraordinary self-control, so they did not make a sound in front of Lingyun and the others.

After this warm current merged into their bodies, they felt the power that had been dormant deep within their bodies become active once again, and that vague sense of stagnation also disappeared. Now, they were fully capable of controlling every bit of power within their bodies.

"Is this the benefit of becoming a World Guardian?" Kirito felt the power within her body carefully and spoke slowly.

"This is only a portion of the benefits; there are even more benefits that you will have to wait to discover carefully in the future!" Lingyun said with a smile.

"That, can you really not stay?" Asuna asked with a trace of expectation in her heart.

"This, it really isn't possible. Besides, you wouldn't want to leave this world either, right!" Lingyun spread his hands.

"This..." A trace of hesitation also appeared on Asuna's face.

"Brother, there is a solution!" Ruoxi, who was sitting on the side, spoke up.

"What solution is there?" Lingyun asked.

Ruoxi clapped her hands, and then a translucent light appeared in her hand: "The solution is this!"

Feeling the familiar, unusual power within the light ball, Lingyun raised his eyebrows slightly: "This is, the power of time and space; could it be, a Space-Time Coordinate?"

"That's right, it is a Space-Time Coordinate! It took nearly a year, but I successfully condensed the Space-Time Coordinate of this world. If we can borrow this Space-Time Coordinate, plus your power to travel through time and space, we can take people back and forth between the two worlds, and even determine the time!" Ruoxi said with a smile.

"Travel between two worlds, and also determine the time?" A glimmer of light flashed in Kirito's eyes.

"But did you forget, Kirito and the others cannot easily leave this world! Unless they sign an Eternal Contract with me, but even we haven't figured out exactly what the Eternal Contract entails yet!" Lingyun reminded her.

"Let's sign the contract!" Kirito suddenly moved close to Lingyun and spoke in a tone that brooked no refusal.

"Uh, Kirito, about this, shouldn't we discuss it a bit more!" Looking at Kirito who was close to him, Lingyun suddenly felt immense pressure.

"I want it too, Lingyun, you cannot leave any one of us behind!" Asuna also leaned over.

Suguha and Yuuki's gazes also fell upon him at the same time.

A trace of cold sweat appeared on Lingyun's forehead. Finally, under the high pressure of the young ladies, he signed the Eternal Contract with them. Although he still had not fully understood all the effects of the Eternal Contract, Lingyun could still feel that this contract had no downsides for himself or for those who signed it with him.

"Is this the feeling of having signed a contract? But there doesn't seem to be any special feeling!" Kirito said with some curiosity.

"We haven't fully grasped the power of the Eternal Contract yet, but there are no downsides, that's for sure. However, by borrowing the power of the Eternal Contract, you will be able to leave this world and go to other worlds!" Ruoxi explained.

"Then, are we going to the world where Lingyun and the others are now?" Yuuki asked with some curiosity.

"Of course you can! When we come back next time, the time elapsed in this world will definitely not exceed one minute!" Ruoxi said.

"Alright, you all enter the Cloud Realm first; the power of the River of Time and Space is not something you can withstand right now!" Lingyun waved his hand, and a light gate over two meters tall appeared in front of him.

"Cloud Realm?" Kirito and the others were confused.

"Consider it a Small World unique to me. Ruoxi is the World Consciousness of this world. You all just stay in that place for now; once I reach my world, I will let you out!" Lingyun said.

"Oh!" The women present responded, then walked into the light gate with curiosity.

Lingyun looked around, sighed lightly, and then his figure slowly disappeared into the Void.

On the River of Time and Space, Lingyun's figure slowly appeared. However, when he looked toward the River of Time and Space, his brow could not help but furrow. A portion of the worlds in the River of Time and Space had actually been solidified by someone using extremely powerful force, unable to move. And in these worlds, there was a faint trace of the Underworld King's power of the end leaking out, and these powers were consuming each other with many kinds of powerful forces.

"This is, the arrangement of those most ancient World Consciousnesses, it really is a grand gesture!" Lingyun could not help but sigh in his heart.

However, Lingyun did not stay on the River of Time and Space for long. After all, when he was in the Sword Art Online world, he had been noticed by an extraordinary World Consciousness. If he stayed on the River of Time and Space for too long, he might be caught by that fellow, and it would be difficult to escape then.

After quickly locking onto the coordinate of his original world, Lingyun transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the River of Time and Space.

After Lingyun's figure disappeared, a figure slowly appeared in the place where he had been standing; it was a woman wearing a Daoist robe. After that woman appeared, she began to search this place.

"Has he already disappeared? His speed is truly fast. However, don't think that you can shake me off just like this; I will definitely find you!" The woman in the Daoist robe chuckled, then also disappeared from the River of Time and Space.