Chapter 386

Zuo Hongyue, the seventeenth imperial prince of the Icebound Empire and a registered disciple of Prince Guang.

Not long after Lin Qing became Prince Guang’s direct disciple, this younger brother Zuo had also presented a generous gift, among all registered disciples, his offering being among the most precious.

Moreover, since they were both from the Icebound Empire, Lin Qing held a certain fondness for him.

“Younger brother Zuo seems to have anticipated the outcome?” Lin Qing asked involuntarily.

“Not exactly,” the seventeenth prince smiled. “I merely thought… Elder Brother Lin Qing, being granted direct discipleship without trial by our master, must be extraordinary. This crisis should not have been able to harm you—but… I never expected you to so easily annihilate the Changyuan Imperial Army, Lord Yantian, and even Lord Cangye.”

He sincerely praised: “I heard you reached this level after only a few million years of cultivation—truly admirable. No wonder our master chose you.”

Lin Qing smiled and said: “Too bad the reinforcements sent by the Wanhai and Yuanchu factions still weren’t numerous enough.”

“It’s already at the limit,” the seventeenth prince sighed. “The Divine Nation war is about to erupt; every side must allocate their strength as efficiently as possible, especially warriors at Lord Yantian’s level, who cannot be moved lightly.”

He looked at Lin Qing. “Elder Brother, destroying Lord Yantian’s and Lord Cangye’s main battle avatars and wiping out the Changyuan Imperial Army is already a great achievement. I’m certain our master will reward you.”

Lin Qing shook his head slightly. “Just the main battle avatars—it’s not much. At most, it weakens these two slightly.”

“Even a slight weakening is enough.”

The seventeenth prince chuckled. “Besides, even a Duke-level warrior, unless skilled in causal attacks or soul techniques, finds it nearly impossible to completely annihilate someone like Lord Yantian. Take Elder Brother Qixuan—he’s famed for direct combat, but he’s weak in causal and soul methods.”

Lin Qing nodded slightly.

Duke Qixuan was also one of Prince Guang’s registered disciples—the only Duke-level warrior among them, one of the seven Dukes in the Liewang Realm.

The Tian Guang Divine Nation had only two Duke-level warriors; the other was the senior disciple and first pupil, “Yuan Gong.”

“Since Elder Brother has already demonstrated his strength, there’s no need to conceal it anymore.”

The seventeenth prince said: “Will Elder Brother travel to the Tian Guang Divine Nation to hold a ceremony and formally become our master’s disciple?”

“That was my intention,” Lin Qing nodded. “But I still have some matters to settle.”

“Can younger brother assist?” the seventeenth prince asked at once.

Lin Qing thought for a moment. “You understand the Liewang Realm better than I do. If you’re willing to help, that would be ideal.”

“Helping Elder Brother is my honor,” the seventeenth prince said immediately. “Tell me what you need—I’ll do everything I can.”

“I’d like you to help me find someone,” Lin Qing said. “Over a trillion years ago, before the Liewang Realm was formed, the daughter of a transcendent from my homeland, the Void Sea, was taken by a powerful figure from the Liewang Realm. Her name is Tian Jue Xi. Please help me trace her whereabouts.”

“Before the Liewang Realm was formed?” the seventeenth prince said. “Only Eternal Beings could travel between Void Seas back then. A trillion years ago, and from our Liewang Realm—that should be easy to trace.”

“Also… I’d trouble you to look out for a few people,” Lin Qing said.

“Elder Brother, speak,” the seventeenth prince eagerly replied—he was glad this extraordinarily gifted elder brother kept asking for his help, at least while he still could.

“One is Lord Xinglian. Another is a Chaos God, named Jing, brought from the Main Universe to the Icebound Empire a million years ago—he likely hasn’t reached High Chaos God yet. The third is Xu Qingzhi of the Xu Clan, a registered disciple of Emperor Jue Xian.”

The seventeenth prince nodded slightly. “Since Elder Brother mentioned them, I’ll do my best to protect them—I still hold some authority within the Empire.”

Lin Qing immediately said: “Then I’m in your debt, younger brother.”

“It’s nothing.”

The seventeenth prince smiled. “Elder Brother, rest easy—this time-space fortress is under my command now. It’s perfectly safe.”

…

…

Within a dreamlike, ethereal realm.

“How could this happen?”

Yu Gong frowned at Lord Cangye below and said sternly: “A mere youngster who became a High Chaos Being only a million years ago—suddenly strong enough to annihilate you instantly?”

Lord Cangye took a deep breath. “His raw power isn’t much stronger than mine. But he has a Mind Traveler avatar amplifying his will. Under the suppression of the Illusory Annihilation, I was reduced to only two or three tenths of my strength. Add to that his Instantaneous True God avatar, which activated Absolute Space-Time—and since I’m weak in defense and can’t break free instantly, I simply couldn’t withstand his strike.”

His Divine Lord secret technique was designed for stealth and assassination; defense was his weakness.

Lord Yantian cultivated a Divine Lord technique that enhanced his physical body—Lin Qing had to unleash over a dozen full-power strikes to finally kill him.

“Mind Traveler… Instantaneous True God…”

Yu Gong raised an eyebrow slightly, speaking with faint mockery: “Perhaps he’s attempting the Dual Space-Time Path?”

The Dual Space-Time Path—that is, the path toward becoming a Duke.

Normally, nearly all who cultivate two space-time rules focus on “Now” and “Past.”

Not “Now” and “Future,” nor “Past” and “Future.”

It’s impossible: mastering even one space-time rule is already immensely difficult, requiring the highest-tier space-time talent. But most possess only one—Past, Now, or Future.

Those who master two space-time rules must possess two distinct talents.

But Future-rule cultivators are exceedingly rare. In the entire Liewang Realm, only a handful of Eternal Beings even cultivate Future. To expect one of them to also possess the terrifying talent to master a second space-time rule?

Not even in the Liewang Realm—but across all of humanity’s Duke-level warriors, not a single one currently wields the Future rule!

History once held such figures, but they perished with their civilizations.

“The Dual Space-Time Path is not easily trodden.”

Yu Gong sneered. “Besides, his talent in the Future rule is already inconceivable. The more specialized a genius is, the weaker his other talents become—just like Prince Guang, who has cultivated for countless eons and still hasn’t progressed.”

Talent is always concentrated in one point.

The more prodigious, the more so.

The chance of a “complete talent” emerging is nearly zero.

“Regardless, I’m no match for him anymore,” Lord Cangye said coldly. “I suffered heavy losses helping you, Yu Gong, against Lin Qing. Don’t forget your promise.”

Yu Gong frowned slightly. “Rest assured—I won’t withhold a single thing you’re owed.”

Lord Cangye said nothing more and turned to leave the dream.

The exquisite woman with wings on her back spoke up: “Yu Gong, Lin Qing has already achieved Eternity—he’s likely beyond our reach now…”

Eternal Blood only works on those below Eternity.

Had Lin Qing not yet broken through, even with his Chaos Being avatars, as long as any one avatar remained unawakened, he could still be transformed into an Eternal Servant God!

But now that he has mastered space-time rules, achieving Eternity is effortless—there’s no chance left.