Chapter 958: Hope You

The World Tree of the God Hammer Plane extended, growing along the hole in the hammer’s handle to its entrance, then sprouting vines that clung to the surrounding black crystal soil, slowly retracting.

When the vines pulled back into the hole, the surrounding black crystal soil was dragged in with them, completely sealing the entrance.

Because black crystal blocks soul perception, unless the black crystal is excavated, even undead beings would find it hard to detect the space inside.

While they were concealing their work, dozens of airships sailed steadily into the void.

Nine full days later, both sides reached the God Hammer Plane; Silver Coin said to Ogar: “You can set up an ambush here; we’ll lure the Mourning Undead Soldiers over. According to intelligence, the Divine Light Alliance deployed only about half their Mourning Undead Soldiers—easier for you to clean up.”

Ogar waved behind him; someone immediately went to relay orders. Soon, seven or eight airships flew off in different directions, while another detached from the main fleet and landed on the God Hammer Plane, where a group of humans in high-collared robes, their entire heads covered, disembarked.

“My gaze pierces the mist of time, my gaze rewinds the primordial wilderness, my gaze restores the true past...”

As these high-collared humans walked down the airship, they chanted loudly; with each chant, a phantom image rose on every person’s body, projecting onto whatever their gaze fixed upon.

Seeing this, Silver Coin turned in shock toward Ogar, his face filled with horror.

Ogar spoke calmly: “The Eye of Temporal Trace—every action leaves a trace. The Eye of Temporal Trace reveals remnants of the past. If anyone dares set traps here to betray us, they will regret it.”

Silver Coin offered a “sheepish” smile and turned his gaze back to the high-collared mages.

He hadn’t expected these people to possess such a bizarre ability—able to see traces of the past?

But our side is genuinely cooperating; we have no intention of ambushing them. At most, they’ll discover the World Tree, the sealed interior space, and the Ten Thousand Guides God Hammer.

Yet as he looked again at the high-collared mages, Silver Coin immediately noticed a problem—and couldn’t help laughing. Apparently, the Eye of Temporal Trace wasn’t as impressive as it seemed.

Where the high-collared mages gazed, their vision shone like searchlights, projecting phantom images: Negrilis, Anthony, Silver Coin Du Luo, and others—but no An Ge.

Negrilis was right beside An Ge, yet An Ge’s phantom was absent—meaning the Eye of Temporal Trace could not trace An Ge’s path.

Negrilis and the others also noticed this issue; on An Ge’s airship, watching the projected phantoms, everyone was startled.

Negrilis said: “That’s me, that’s me—I peed on that rock ten days ago, and they projected what I looked like peeing ten days ago? They can see events from ten days ago? What kind of eyes are these? Dragon-steel-core dog-head eyes?”

“It’s probably some kind of space-time rewind ability. Trouble—the underground God Hammer space might be exposed. Will they turn hostile? Silver Coin’s still on their airship,” Du Luo said.

“Turn hostile? What did we do? We sealed a hole—so they turn on us? This place is ours. We lent it to them to ambush enemies, and now they’ll turn hostile just because we sealed off part of our own home?” Anthony asked.

“Wait, wait—why isn’t An Ge in the projections? Can’t they rewind his trace?” Negrilis noticed.

“Huh, yeah, why can’t they see the Master?” Anthony exclaimed.

An Ge tilted his head.

Negrilis said: “Probably like my Prophet ability—can’t foresee anything tied to the Source. Their rewind ability likely has similar limitations.”

“The projected images are all static—meaning this rewind ability can’t show continuous motion. Perfect for investigations,” Du Luo said.

Unable to show continuous motion and unable to trace An Ge, the high-collared mages traced a full circle, then all gathered near the original entrance to the central God Hammer space—where all traces vanished.

The high-collared mages returned to the airships and reported via communicator; Ogar said nothing, sitting calmly and waiting.

Seeing his demeanor, Silver Coin suddenly had an insight: “Can the Eye of Temporal Trace not activate in the void? Can it not see how we boarded the airships and left?”

Ogar glanced at Silver Coin and smiled faintly: “Are you always this direct when probing military secrets? Your behavior gives me grounds to arrest you and sentence you to death—espionage against the Empire is a capital offense.”

“Heh, I’ll tell you a secret too—then it’s not espionage, it’s intelligence sharing. How about that?” Silver Coin said.

“What secret?” Ogar asked.

Silver Coin shrugged: “Never mind—I changed my mind. I don’t want your secret, and I won’t share mine.”

No sharing needed—Silver Coin already knew the answer. Ogar’s reaction said it all; otherwise, he wouldn’t have used “secret” as an excuse to deflect.

Combined with the name “Eye of Temporal Trace,” this ability must relate to time and traces. In the void, traces are nearly impossible to leave—so the ability cannot activate there.

Meaning, they could see our group gathered together, but not whether we ascended or descended. The World Tree symbiosis with An Ge means the Eye of Temporal Trace cannot trace An Ge—and thus cannot trace the sealed hole blocked by the World Tree.

Realizing this, Silver Coin lost all interest in sharing intelligence.

Ogar was nearly choked by Silver Coin’s reply; he took several deep breaths to suppress the urge to strangle the gnome. He’d been ready to agree—such a made-up “secret” was worth exchanging for real intel. Now Silver Coin had changed his mind.

The other dispersed airships scouted the surrounding void, deployed surveillance equipment, then returned to report—after confirming safety, all airships descended onto the God Hammer Plane and began setting traps.

The ground was covered in black crystal, but Ogar’s people didn’t seem to care, treating it like ordinary material and digging it up. The outer layer of the God Hammer Plane had loosened into a layer of floating soil, several centimeters thick, easily shovelled.

As they set traps, Ogar watched the calm Silver Coin and finally couldn’t hold back: “You really can lure the Mourning Undead Soldiers here? Don’t end up with nothing showing up—I won’t hesitate to turn on you.”

Silver Coin smiled faintly: “Secret. Espionage against us? Capital offense.”

Ogar’s forehead darkened with veins; again, he felt the urge to strangle the gnome. Then he remembered Silver Coin’s own words and replied: “I’ll tell you a secret too—then it’s not espionage, it’s intelligence sharing. How about that?”

Silver Coin immediately said: “Our forces have breached the Light Point Fortress, captured its inhabitants. The Light Point Fortress is ours now.”

Ogar’s smile froze on his face; the words “I don’t want to know” died in his throat. He stared wide-eyed.

Silver Coin grinned: “Now you owe me a secret. I hope your secret is worthy of the spirits within your heart.”