Chapter 780: Images Return (1/2, please subscribe)

The old witch mentioned on the parchment was none other than Meiyu Xianzi's true body.

And a relic left behind by an immortal... it surely wouldn't be anything simple.

One must understand that, in reality, Meiyu might not have been asleep for very long.

But in the game, several hundred years had genuinely passed — it was already an incredibly distant matter from the Moon Abyss Era in which Meiyu had lived.

Elsewhere, Fang Yue wasn't sure, but in a country like Qing Guo, where Rain-tier experts were hard to find and Immortal-tier ones never appeared, even a single relic of an immortal — or anything that had merely brushed against immortal qi — was an extraordinary item.

After thinking for a moment, Fang Yue asked, "So your precognitive ability can't be used anymore, right?"

【Hard to say, but if I have to contend with that thing, it'll drain a lot of power. It isn't the current holder's own power — it's the power that comes with the old witch's relic. When that kind of power clashes with mine, I don't have much confidence.】

【Of course, if you insist I give it a try, I... I'll do my best, I can manage it!】

Hearing the parchment say this, Fang Yue felt a small touch of warmth.

Although the parchment seemed unable to do this or that, when he asked, it could still give its all!

【Yes! Moved is right! Be very grateful to the great and noble Lord Parchment — you'll definitely get plenty of benefits in the future! Gah gah gah gah gah!】

An image of a cute girl letting out an exaggerated duck-like laugh seemed to surface in Fang Yue's mind.

Normally, Fang Yue had no particular thoughts about these kinds of images that suddenly popped into his head, or similar scenes conjured up by imagination.

But after experiencing the scene of Danyuan City's total annihilation just now... Fang Yue realized that the cute girl who kept appearing in his mind from time to time was damn well the parchment!

【Of course it's me, Zhi Zhi!】

【Oh right, if I get interfered with, I can't guarantee it, but I'll do my best to transmit scenes like the genuine precognitive results from before into your mind...】

"Wait!"

Fang Yue's expression darkened slightly.

It was clear that the parchment's level was a bit lower than that relic, putting it in a suppressed position.

If the parchment couldn't match Meiyu's relic and ended up falling into slumber, things would be in serious trouble — he was counting on it as his trump card to unleash Rain-tier combat power!

Facing unknown dangers, the parchment was practically his last safeguard; it absolutely couldn't have problems.

After thinking for a moment, Fang Yue said, "If you sense something's off, stop the precognition immediately. In a crisis like this, your power is crucial!"

【Exactly! The great and noble Lord Parchment is the most important!】

【Say it out loud — you need Lord Parchment!】

...... Do I really have to?

【Say it!!】

"...... I need Lord Parchment." After a moment's hesitation, Fang Yue said with a blank expression.

【So half-hearted?!】

"Enough nonsense, listen — what I want you to foresee is this... this time, we won't go to Danyuan City. We'll split into two routes. One goes by water — straight to Hanjiang Wharf! The other takes the land route, heading directly to Zhantan Cheng, the opposite direction from Danyuan City."

Fang Yue paused here, waiting for the parchment's result.

Although Fang Yue hadn't named it, as the tapeworm in Fang Yue's stomach, the parchment had long known which route Fang Yue would take.

Without a doubt, the water route!

As for the others...

Even if Fang Yue didn't say it, many people understood in their hearts.

The water route was never something just anyone could take.

Even if Fang Yue was willing to take people by water, others wouldn't be willing to follow!

In most people's eyes, the water route was no different from a death route. Those willing to travel with the Special Envoy's group were simply seeking safety.

If they knew the Special Envoy was taking the water route, they'd either turn straight back to Chunuan City, or hop off at some random village along the way — like passengers getting off at a bus stop, scattering away in a rush.

While Fang Yue was thinking these thoughts, the parchment's precognition began.

【I am Fang Yue. I split the Special Envoy's group into two.】

【One takes the land route, one takes the water route.】

【I take the water route...】

The parchment's text suddenly stopped dead at this point.

Fang Yue was briefly stunned, then immediately understood what was happening and quickly closed his eyes, waiting for the images to enter his mind.

Sure enough, after a moment, a scene appeared before his eyes... no!

Not one scene, but two!

The first scene: a figure in black robes, mounted on horseback, a crystal-clear jade flute hanging at his waist, a bamboo hat on his head, stopped in the middle of the road, blocking the way.

The second scene: himself standing at the bow of a boat as it departed; the view pulled back, showing the black-robed figure having just chased from afar to the shore, the two parties swaying as they gazed at each other from a distance.

Escaped?

Fang Yue's heart leaped with joy — this meant taking the water route directly was viable!

At least he himself was safe.

As for how many people remained by his side, that was hard to say...

After all, the parchment's precognitive images hadn't shown any further content.

"Parchment, can you foresee more? How did I escape? Was there a specific exchange of blows?"

This was extremely important information.

Since the parchment's precognition showed him escaping safely, all he had to do was replicate the actions in the vision — execute the exact same moves — and he'd transition into the second scene of escaping onto the boat.

【No good. The old witch's relic was passively detecting and shielding against me before; now it's actively detecting and targeting me.】

【Being able to foresee two image scenes is already my limit.】

【And in the short term, I can't foresee again. If I use my ability too frequently, that thing will pinpoint me even more accurately, and might even turn around and drag me out completely!】

Fang Yue's expression hardened; he knew the parchment might be telling the truth.

Immortal relics cannot be underestimated.

Although the sheepskin parchment is mysterious and unpredictable, in the end, it is merely a Rain-grade anomaly, lacking sufficient innate rank...

【Who said that! I'm Transcendent-grade!】

That positioning is given by the League—what use is it?

【Who says system positioning is authoritative? I don't care! I don't care! I don't care!! I'm Transcendent-grade! Transcendent-grade!! Grade-grade-grade-grade!!】

Fine, fine, fine, you're Transcendent-grade, alright.

Fang Yue rolled his eyes, brushed off the sheepskin parchment, then began to consider the practical issue.

That is... should we take the water route?

Splitting the group in two is not wrong.

As previously mentioned, very few people are willing to follow him along the water route; most villagers from Chunuan City seek only a stable life, and to risk the water route for that is better than turning back the way they came.

Moreover, although this thought is somewhat dark, after splitting the group, these people might even help divert some of the enemy's attention.

In reality, as long as they scatter quickly enough, the black-cloaked assassin who ambushed them probably won't even know where the original Chunuan City villagers have gone.

After all, they aren't wearing names above their heads—just slip into a village, hide in some hamlet for a few days, and who would remember these minor folk?

(End of Chapter)