Chapter 923: The River of Time

Yan Buji stepped into this mysterious past spacetime, his sharp gaze probing the hidden secrets within.

In a secluded spot, he happened to detect a rather unique fluctuation.

"This is..."

Following this strange fluctuation, he discovered a mortal immersed in the study of the dream of living beings.

The mortal was diligently recording and experimenting, and had even created a method of the Dream Dao.

"Could this be that Dream Master?" Yan Buji recalled the technique he had seen in the Nan Ting Mountain Region, and that this Dream Master seemed to have attracted the Celestial Demon.

"But regardless, to actually witness the Dream Master forging the Dream Dao, this trip was not in vain."

Yan Buji felt a stir in his heart, silently observing the mortal's every move, quietly pilfering the other's technique.

His innate talent was sharp, and he quickly grasped many essences.

"So that's it—opening the Dream Dao also relies on the Way of the Universe's method? He used..." Yan Buji examined closely.

He suddenly realized that this mortal fell into a slumber every three years, each sleep lasting three hundred years.

After three hundred years passed, he would awaken for three years, the cycle repeating...

No wonder!

Yan Buji suddenly had an epiphany: "That's the Mayfly Method!"

Another Way of the Universe secret technique!

However, just as he was smugly admiring himself, the mortal suddenly turned his head, his gaze blazing at him, eyes filled with a light that seemed to perceive everything.

"You plagiarist!" the mortal snorted coldly.

Yan Buji was startled; he hadn't expected the other to be so perceptive.

He dared not delay a moment, fearing capture, and hurriedly circulated his magical energy, exiting the Time River at top speed, panting with lingering fear.

"Damn it, I didn't expect that Dream Master to find me in the past of the Time River... Could it be that his cultivation truly relied on the Way of the Universe to forge the Dream Dao, so that all cultivators of the Way of the Universe will eventually meet in the Time River?"

Yan Buji pondered for a moment; since that was the case, there was nothing more to say.

The power of the Twelve Zodiac had been exhausted and returned to the Time River to recover; thereafter, Yan Buji began practicing the Essence Method.

By using the Extreme Desire Path borne by his Primordial Essence to absorb desire, Yan Buji continuously deepened his understanding of the Desire Dao, thereby steadily elevating his realm.

Strictly speaking, desire can corrupt a cultivator's magical power, causing a drastic change in temperament.

But for Yan Buji, he currently has no magical power; the absorbed desire is weaker than his own desire and will not affect him.

Time flies.

A brief year passes.

After emerging from the sect, Yan Buji smoothly advanced to the late stage of Void Refinement, but regrettably gained no further insight on the Desire Path; instead, his Way of the Universe, having mastered the Time Secret Technique and entered the Mayfly Method, rose to the 'Hearing Dao' realm.

"However, I only have one Primordial Essence; my body cannot bear any other Great Dao," Yan Buji sighed.

His Primordial Essence carries the Extreme Desire Path, and although other essences in his body can bear laws, they cannot bear a Great Dao.

Yan Buji sensed that if he tried to accommodate another Great Dao, his body would collapse in an instant; after all, he is merely a Void Refinement cultivator, and bearing a Dao with one's body is already unimaginable, let alone attempting to bear two.

After completing his cultivation, Yan Buji immediately disguised himself and returned to the Celestial City, scouring for information.

"The Ten Thousand Poison Abyss was recently seized in one stroke by the Demon Suppression Division; it is said many of its Elders have close ties with the demonic race."

"These scoundrels are truly detestable! We cultivators threw ourselves into the front lines against the demonic race, our fellow sect brothers were all slain leaving only me, yet these lofty Elders secretly collude with the demons!"

"Who says it isn't?"

"However, the newly appointed head of the Demon Suppression Division seems highly righteous; these past days he personally slew those who covertly colluded with the demons, showing no mercy whatsoever!"

"Good, the more big figures like this, the better!"

Yan Buji squinted.

It seems Lin Qingli hasn't yet found a way to dispel the curse I placed; that curse was woven by Yan Buji using certain laws and Dao he can control, combined with desire to craft the spell.

Although Yan Buji has never studied systematic spellcasting, for someone of his current level, one law leads to all laws, making it effortless for him.

Just as now, even though Yan Buji knows little of many techniques, with a bit of inference, his current knowledge and experience, plus six hundred years of study, he is far from the clueless rookie he once was.

"But my spellcraft is admittedly crude; if she intends to mention it to a big figure of the Immortal Alliance, someone should help her lift it... Actually, that's not right; the Inspection Envoy isn't a good guy either, and although the Demon Suppression Division claims to start rooting out internal traitors, there are so many moving people..."

Yan Buji gently pinched his chin, his brows slightly furrowed as he seemed to be pondering. Suddenly his eyes lit up, as if a startling possibility had occurred to him!

"Could it be..." Yan Buji murmured, "the Inspection Envoy is actually deliberately allowing Lin Qingli to investigate internal traitors?"

The thought flashed through his mind like lightning, instantly clarifying many matters. He began recalling Lin Qingli's recent actions and the subtle relationship between her and the Inspection Envoy.

"If that's the case, everything makes sense," Yan Buji thought inwardly, "perhaps Lin Qingli's zeal in hunting internal traitors isn't driven by justice, but by orders from the Inspection Envoy."

At this thought, Yan Buji's expression grew solemn. He realized this discovery could involve many more people and events, potentially sparking a massive upheaval.

However, for him, the situation might not be that simple. Perhaps, long ago, the Inspection Envoy had already uncovered his true identity, yet puzzlingly took no action against him.

What is the reason behind this? After careful contemplation, he gradually grasped the clue: the Inspection Envoy's inaction likely stems from his desire to use his own power against those from various sects and factions with ulterior motives.

After all, these people each harbor hidden agendas, and their relationships are tangled. If the Inspection Envoy intervened directly, it would likely provoke discontent. By exploiting an inconspicuous figure like him, the Inspection Envoy can manipulate events from behind the scenes, pitting them against each other to achieve his aims.

More importantly, if things go awry, the Inspection Envoy can fully shift the blame onto Yan Buji and Lin Qingli. After all, they are intricately linked to him, while his own identity remains unaffected.

At this, a chill washed over him. He realized he was merely a pawn in the Inspection Envoy's hand, being used without his awareness.

"Interesting."

Yan Buji would never believe that the Immortal Alliance's Inspection Envoy is a fool; then everything makes sense!