Chapter 229: Lord Timescale Parchment

Fucking incredibly great and incredibly noble…

This guy, can he stop being such an asshole?

Face darkening, Fang Yue spoke directly.

"No more nonsense! Get to work!"

【…1g Black Ember.】

"Charge it."

【Got it!】

Damn! This guy gets way too eager when money's involved!

Turns out, everywhere you go, money makes you king…

As Fang Yue pondered, lines of text surfaced in his mind.

"I am Fang Yue, at the Black Crow Auction. They're auctioning a Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant. My knowledge is shallow—I can't tell if it's real or fake—but somehow, deep in my soul, I heard the divine decree of the incredibly great Timescale Parchment Lord."

【The Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant is genuine!】

Genuine?!

Fang Yue's pupils shrank; he instinctively raised his hand to bid.

But the next moment, the parchment's text continued appearing in his mind.

【I excitedly bid one Silver Stone, causing a storm of shock—everyone was stunned by this high bid.】

【The hooded figure rose in surprise, gave me a deep look, then turned and left.】

【With no other bidders, I successfully purchased the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant.】

【At night, nightfall arrived.】

【I died.】

【Died in Mo Cun.】

The hand he had just raised froze mid-air.

Night?

I can die at night?

That's when I'm at my strongest! And I died inside Mo Cun!

Was I killed by Hei Da and Hei Er? Just how strong are they?

Fang Yue swallowed hard, about to lower his raised hand, when the sharp-eyed host immediately spotted him—right now, only Fire Captain and Hei Da and Hei Er could bid; Fang Yue sat beside Fire Captain, so naturally he was noticed.

"Niu Niu! It's Young Master Niu Niu!!"

The host's shrill voice rang out, echoing through the auction hall.

The host had just been stunned into daze by the 50 Blood Stones bid.

He'd barely recovered, ready to slap himself for being such an unrefined fool who'd never seen the world—when he saw Fang Yue raise his hand.

This… this means he's going to bid!

On top of 50 Blood Stones, any increase, no matter how small, would be terrifying.

So the host became ecstatic, voice trembling as if about to tear his throat apart.

"Young Master Niu Niu! How much are you bidding? Everyone, focus on Young Master Niu Niu—give him some encouragement! He's about to bid!"

If before, only the host had noticed Fang Yue,

now, after that shout, everyone in the hall knew Fang Yue was about to bid.

Though Hei Da and Hei Er's faces were entirely shrouded in black mist, they turned and scanned him—still pressing pressure onto Fang Yue.

As for the others, they all stared at Fang Yue in stunned disbelief.

They never imagined Fang Yue had so much money! Whispers erupted instantly; everyone grew intensely curious about his origins.

I'm not! I didn't! Don't guess!

The scene left Fang Yue trapped; Fire Captain beside him stared at him curiously, almost ready to demand he pay up right then.

At that moment, Fang Yue looked at Hei Da and Hei Er—and suddenly, a flash of insight struck his mind.

Could my death after buying the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant have been because I bid too high, drawing unwanted attention?

Maybe it wasn't Hei Da and Hei Er who killed me?

Thinking this, Fang Yue was about to make a low bid to test the waters—when the parchment's text reappeared suddenly.

【I am Fang Yue. Amidst everyone's anticipation, I raised my hand and bid 51 Blood Stones.】

【The hooded figure immediately countered with one Disaster Stone.】

【I hesitated… and didn't bid again.】

【The Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant was bought by the hooded figure.】

【At night, nightfall arrived.】

【I died.】

【Died in Mo Cun.】

Died again?

Just because I bid?

I didn't even buy the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant!

Sweat trickled down his forehead; Fang Yue took a deep breath.

"Everyone, don't misunderstand—I don't have money to bid. I raised my hand just to ask: if the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant is the final item of your auction, and I can't afford it, can I leave early?"

Uh… what?

Everyone had been waiting for Fang Yue to bid—then he chickened out.

They immediately showed looks of disappointment.

"Um… Master Niu Niu wishes to leave? Of course you may leave anytime—but wouldn't you like to see which lucky soul ends up with the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant?"

"I have no interest in things I can't afford."

Fang Yue shook his head slightly, spoke a word to Fire Captain, and walked out.

Others sighed, somewhat understanding Fang Yue's choice.

A battlefield of fifty Blood Stones was no longer within their reach to witness.

But watching the show costs nothing—seeing who buys the item is still valuable intelligence, isn't it?

"In that case, the current highest bid remains Black's fifty Blood Stones—is there anyone willing to bid higher?"

The host continued loudly urging bids, but this price had already crushed everyone present; no one could afford it, so his efforts were futile.

As Fang Yue passed by Hei Da and Hei Er on his way out, he paused, smiled at them, and said: "Thank you both for helping me enter earlier. If you ever need help in Mo Cun, just let me know—I'll do my best."

"…."

Hei Da nodded silently, then turned away without further regard for Fang Yue; Hei Er, however, kept his mist-shrouded gaze fixed on Fang Yue, though he said nothing.

Fang Yue left the Black Crow Auction tent and stepped outside; the setting sun descending the hill revealed he had spent considerable time inside—the hour was now late afternoon, just before sunset.

"Parchment."

He silently murmured the word.

This time, without Fang Yue needing to explain, the Parchment had already provided its message.

【I am Fang Yue. I am at the Black Crow Auction. I did not bid on the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant—I chose to leave.】

【Night falls.】

【I slept soundly and saw tomorrow's sunlight.】

【Being alive is wonderful!】

Whoosh—

Fang Yue let out a long breath.

Safe.

Indeed, the better the item, the hotter it burns.

Not being tied to the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant meant he no longer had to fear being killed in the village at night.

But who wanted to kill me?

From every angle, Hei Da and Hei Er were the most suspicious.

Fang Yue planned to have Lang Wu, Chief Captain, investigate their backgrounds after returning.

"By the way, Parchment—have you gained any new abilities after absorbing the 【Chrono Bell】?"

【Of course I have!】

【Ting-ting-ting-ting-ting!】

【The supremely great and supremely noble 【Parchment of Time】 now grants you the ability to reverse time by a certain duration!】

【The cost? A vast amount of lifespan.】

Time… reverse?

Fang Yue was stunned.

What does that mean? Can I go back to yesterday?

This is too vague.

But the Parchment wasted no time—it immediately displayed text in his mind.

【Pick up a stone from the ground and throw it away at random.】

Fang Yue obeyed, picked up a small stone from the ground, and tossed it away.

When the stone landed, Fang Yue asked inwardly: "Now what?"

The Parchment's reply was four large characters.

【Time Reversal!】

A sensation linked to his soul suddenly arose.

Like an unbreakable chain, it tightly bound Fang Yue to the Parchment on the other end.

They began to resonate, generating violent agitation; Fang Yue felt his mind nearly exploding, his lifespan burning like dry tinder ignited by fire.

At the instant his lifespan burned, the small stone he had just thrown returned along its original trajectory—in a bizarre, reverse-play fashion—back into his hand.

Only then did the terrifying agitation and the furious burning of his lifespan cease.

Fang Yue gasped for breath, staring blankly as he recalled what had just happened.

"This is… time reversal?"

【Yes. You can reverse time for any action you've performed.】

【Moreover, if you feed the supremely great and supremely noble Parchment of Time generously, I will unlock even more abilities!】

【This minor ability is less than one ten-thousandth of what the 【Chrono Bell】 could achieve at its peak!】

Time Reversal… time reversal…

After his initial shock, Fang Yue's mind immediately sparked with possibilities.

"Wait—does that mean if I suffer a fatal injury, I can use 【Time Reversal】 to restore myself?"

【Exactly! As long as you have vast amounts of lifespan!】

"And if I suffer Qi Deviation during cultivation, can 【Time Reversal】 return me to my original state?"

【Yes! As long as you have vast amounts of lifespan!】

Fang Yue grew excited.

"Then if I die…"

【Then there's no saving you.】

"... Something's off about you!"

Fang Yue's agitated emotions instantly cooled by more than half.

"... Hey! That can't be right, if I die then there's no saving me? Give me a time reversal!"

【I am Fang Yue, foolishly thinking that 【Time Retrospection】 is some existence that can interfere with anything. But I don't know that birth, aging, illness, and death are the laws of nature, the rules of the Heavenly Dao.】

【Death, is irreversible!】

【Even if time were reversed, it would still be interfering with the rules of heaven and earth; those who go against heaven will surely be rejected by the Heavenly Dao, their fortune scattered, and misfortune clinging to them.】

【For cultivation, it is even more greatly disadvantageous, easily brewing a powerful inner demon.】

【But those with a firm Dao heart can overcome all obstacles, all the way to the Great Dao.】

【I deeply doubt whether I am the sort of person with such resilient will.】

【But in the face of enormous danger, 【Time Retrospection】 is very likely my only hope of surviving, so I choose to carefully use the great and noble Lord Parchment's 【Time Retrospection】 ability, and do my utmost to help Lord Parchment recover his strength as soon as possible.】

Ah, this?

This means that my use of 【Time Retrospection】 will have an adverse effect on my future cultivation?

But just as Lord Parchment said, in the face of danger, who cares about the future.

【Time Retrospection】 is this powerful, if it can be used, then use it.

Fang Yue questioned Lord Parchment about some precautions regarding 【Time Retrospection】, and quickly understood the general idea.

Simply put, depending on the target, action, and event, the price of 【Time Retrospection】 also differs.

Like reversing time on a small stone that has never interacted with anyone, and has only undergone regular motion, the lifespan spent is as much as two or three whole days!

The way this lifespan is burning, even Fang Yue's liver aches.

"Name: Yese Liming."

"Realm: Acquired Third-Rate."

"Status: Ghost Curse 【Back of Hand】"

"HP: 200/200."

"Internal Force: 300/300."

"Control Force: 80 【Base: 100/Reached Realm Cap】 【Status/Buff: -20】."

"Deflection Force: 80 【Base: 100/Reached Realm Cap】 【Status/Buff: -20】."

"Realm Breakthrough Progress: 0.1%."

"Talent: Breath of Night 【Human Grade, Superior】."

"Skills: Analysis Pupil 【Human Grade, Inferior】, Star Fire Blade Technique Lv. 1 【Acquired Third-Rate】, Water Sky Blade Technique Lv. 1 【Vulgar Martial Arts】, Star Fire Heart Method Lv. 3 【Acquired Third-Rate/Max Level】."

"Lifespan: 2 months, 15 days."

Fang Yue looked at the Ghost Curse on his status panel and asked: "Lord Parchment, if I use 【Time Retrospection】 on the 【Ghost Curse】, how many days of lifespan will I have to pay?"

【You'll die.】

"Huh?"

【It will exhaust your lifespan and you will die.】

Fang Yue:!!!!?

Fang Yue's pupils shrank, greatly shocked.

No way, it's just a tiny little Ghost Curse, and it's already threatening my safety, yet I can't even afford the price of 【Time Retrospection】 with two months of lifespan?

【Time Retrospection is rewinding time backward. The further back the time is rewound, the greater the price.】

【Right now, your Sheep Void Ghost 【Ghost Curse】 still has seven or eight days left.】

【【Time Retrospective】 will rewind time, increasing the 【Ghost Curse】's time to nine days, ten days, fifteen days, then returning to the initial weakened version of the Sheep Void Ghost Curse's seven days, and continuing the rewind.】

【Ultimately, it rewinds to the state before being 【cursed】 by the Sheep Void Ghost.】

【Only then is the rewind task considered complete.】

【And the lifespan price required for this process, you cannot afford it.】

【However, if you offer your 【Silver Stone】 to the especially great and especially noble Lord Time Parchment, then Lord Parchment can indeed step in to help.】

Get lost!

Still eyeing my Silver Stone!

But after Lord Parchment's explanation, Fang Yue roughly understood how 【Time Retrospection】 operated.

Simply put, it's rewinding time backward, like playing a movie in reverse.

So, if 【Time Retrospection】 were performed right when the curse was first contracted, the price paid would be the smallest.

Now that so much time has passed, rewinding again means rewinding all the previous time, ultimately rewinding to the point where it all began.

This lengthy process naturally requires a massive amount of lifespan to burn.

Judging from the situation where using 【Time Retrospection】 on a small stone already costs this much lifespan.

To rewind the Sheep Void Ghost Curse that has gone on for so long back to before it was contracted, the amount of lifespan required would naturally be enough to burn me to death directly.

After roughly understanding the function of 【Time Retrospection】, Fang Yue began thinking in his mind about how to maximize the use of this ability for his own growth, as well as in combat.

Thinking and thinking…

Whoosh.

The curtain of the large tent at the rear of the Black Crow Merchant Group was suddenly yanked wide open by someone.

Looking back, Fang Yue was instantly stunned.

"Captain Fire? Why did you come out?"

The one who walked out of the tent was none other than Captain Huo.

She was seen rolling her eyes.

"If I don't come out, what then? Fifty Blood Stones — you treat them like cabbages, who could afford that price? By the way, who exactly are those two black-robed people? Do you know them?"

There's one more update today.

Updates return to normal tomorrow.

(End of chapter)