Chapter 347: Time

At the instant the sound fell, the sword‑shaped pendant's light flashed, and a slightly hunched, vaguely formed old man's illusion stepped out from the light, hovering silently in front of Feng Caichen.

The old man looked extremely ordinary, even a bit sickly, his form insubstantial as if a gust of wind could disperse him.

He wore the simplest hemp clothing, his face etched with deep furrows left by time, his eyes cloudy yet calm, and his whole being exuded an indescribable, bone‑deep sense of melancholy.

He stood there, not like a peerless master, but more like an ordinary old man who stepped out of an ancient historical scroll, having witnessed countless rises and falls.

Yet the appearance of this seemingly wind‑blown, illusory old man caused the terrifying will‑manifested peerless killing light to suddenly freeze for a moment!

The next instant, under the incredulous gazes of all living beings, the sickly, melancholy old man slowly raised his withered, tree‑root‑like finger.

In that instant he lifted his hand, his entire aura underwent a cataclysmic transformation!

The sickly, hunched, melancholy aura vanished instantly, replaced by a peerless bearing that gazed over the heavens for eons, transcending the cycles of Time.

The cloudy Dark Eyes became as deep as the universal starry sky, and his calm gaze held supreme authority that pierced all illusion and commanded myriad laws!

He remained vaguely formed, yet seemed to become the sole center of this world, even the rainbow‑hued sky appeared dimmed and submissive because of his presence!

High!

Unfathomably high!

High to an indescribable realm!

He did not roar nor unleash an earth‑shaking aura; he simply, with utmost casualness, pointed a single finger at the terrifying killing light that was now within arm's reach.

The motion was light and nonchalant, like brushing away a speck of dust from his sleeve.

"Whoosh."

A faint, firefly‑like, barely noticeable gray Finger Spear silently shot from his fingertip.

The Finger Spear seemed so insignificant that no energy ripple could be felt.

But that weightless fingertip, the moment it touched the Destruction killing light—

a Miracle, or rather, a perfectly natural scene unfolded.

There was no earth‑shaking explosion, no annihilating brilliance from clashing laws.

The terrifying will‑killing light that made every soul shudder vanished silently, as if an eraser gently erased a pencil mark, or thin mist under scorching sun simply dissipated into nothingness.

It was completely erased, spotless, as if it had never existed.

The previous second it was a cataclysm, the next it was as light as a passing cloud.

The murderous intent of the terrifying will was effortlessly dispelled by the old man's casual finger!

"Sss—!!!"

After a brief Dead Silence, a wave of uncontrollable, gasping breaths rose and fell, echoing through every corner of the ultimate battlefield!

All the beings who witnessed the scene were horrified, their eyeballs nearly popping out of their sockets!

"Erased? Just like that… with a casual point?"

"My heavens! Who… who is that old man?! Feng Caichen's guardian?!"

"What a terrifying existence! That murderous intent could shatter Nine Heavens Ten Earths, yet he… brushed it away like a speck of dust!"

"Unfathomable! Truly a peerless titan forged by divine cultivation!! Behind Feng Caichen stood such a figure!"

Ye Wuque felt his heart surge with waves.

The old man who emerged from Feng Caichen's sword‑shaped pendant displayed a nonchalant, cloud‑light demeanor toward the terrifying will's murderous intent, a level of mastery that seemed boundlessly lofty!

Those who stand at the true Absolute Peak possess methods truly beyond comprehension.

At this moment, with the crisis averted, the suffocating pressure across heaven and earth vanished instantly.

The melancholy old man slowly turned, his deep, universe‑like eyes gazing at Feng Caichen, his look carrying a barely perceptible gentleness and expectation; his voice returned to its original plain melancholy: "I should go now…"

The brief four words caused Feng Caichen, who had remained calm and even sharp in battle intent, to change complexion instantly!

"Shi Lao…"

Feng Caichen's clear Dark Eyes flickered wildly, brimming with a complex torrent of emotions… shock, anxiety, and a deep, lingering attachment.

This mentor‑friend, who had accompanied him for a long time, offered countless crucial insights on his sword path, and guided him in moments of doubt—someone he regarded as a parental figure—was finally… leaving?

The melancholy old man, namely Shi Lao, looked at the unabashed longing in Feng Caichen's eyes; a faint smile barely formed on his blurred face, and he said lightly:

"There are some things… I must do…"

"In the future… we will meet again… farewell…"