Chapter 2603: Secrets of Vista Woodland

"I'm still sitting here."

Xia De emphasized, Daniste Gustav frowned slightly:

"I promised you last time, but that was limited to last time. I won't lie to you, but I really haven't given up this plan."

Xia De naturally knew that she wouldn't give up easily, but he was still surprised to hear her say it like this.

The two hermits didn't show anything:

"There is a way. You already know that there are four methods to suppress the curse: elf secret potion, relics, the time stability anchor we made, and repentance in our Lord's temple, of which only one of the latter two can exert an effect.

And if she is willing to believe in our Lord and perform repentance in the temple for twenty years, the curse can be completely eliminated."

This was the second method to completely eliminate the curse besides "a spark of First Fire plus the help of the Chosen One of Time" proposed by Sister Sister Daifulin, but Xia De felt that the sister's method was more reliable.

"I won't stay to be a bitter monk."

Miss Daniste shook her head, and leaned closer to Xia De to show her attitude. Mr. Davis had guessed that she would say so, but Xia De also guessed from the method he proposed that there must be someone in the hermit group who had been cursed by time:

"Mr. Davis, thank you anyway for providing these messages. So, Mr. Davis, do you know about paradox worms?"

Mr. Davis nodded and waved his hand to let the other hermits besides old Mr. Meloni leave by the fire:

"I know. Paradox worms will not appear just because of using tree holes. Only after using tree holes and forming time paradox events will such worms be born.

We don't know much about this ancient evil thing that is rumored to be of the same era as the 'World Tree.' We only know that the stronger the soul, the stronger the paradox worm born. This is also why we are more inclined to help ordinary people."

He paused before saying:

"The paradox worm that appeared in the city last week was obviously because of a high-ring mage."

"Owl Lady" was naturally high-ring, while the worm born from the Kaming family was much weaker.

"But this doesn't make sense, right?"

Miss Daniste on the side spoke:

"The number of time travelers who appeared in this woodland since the Sixth Era is definitely not small.

Could it be that everyone here strictly followed the requirements and didn't trigger paradoxes? Since the Sixth Era, Vista Woodland has definitely given birth to more than one paradox worm. You try your best to avoid contacting those worms, so do those worms really leave on their own?"

This was also Xia De's doubt.

Mr. Davis sighed softly:

"They can't leave. Vista Woodland itself has power, which you should both feel. This forest will restrict those evil things, making them unable to leave this area.

Those weak paradox worms born from ordinary people's souls will eventually be captured and suppressed by the forest's power, and we will also provide necessary help; while powerful paradox worms like last week's, if no one takes action to defeat them, they will be... sealed in the forest by some mysterious existences."

"Time Guardians?"

Xia De asked suddenly. Mr. Davis looked at him in surprise:

"Yes, you also know them? I thought the legend of the Time Guardians had completely disappeared in the material world."

"I know, I even know one of them."

This refers to Envy Edwards.

The female sorcerer beside him poked him quietly, obviously very curious about what Xia De was talking about, and Mr. Davis nodded and continued:

"Weak paradox worms are sealed by the forest itself, while powerful paradox worms are sealed underground in the forest by those mysterious existences. This has led to the fact that Vista Woodland actually seals a terrible number of worms, which makes the time in this area increasingly unstable, and thus more and more tree holes are produced.

We also know that this is not something that can continue. Sooner or later, the forest will no longer be able to control the power of those worms, and by then, this entire area will probably disappear in the torrent of twisted time. We also know that this is not something that can continue."

"Are you helpless about this?"

After crossing past the deer herd, they encountered two bears, though these were genuine wild animals. After continuing for a short while, Mr. Meloni took the initiative to stop and presented a token to prevent triggering the forest's warning rituals, only then leading Xia De and Miss Danister to the actual encampment of the 【Hermits of the Forest】.

He didn't leave Xia De a chance to answer, but shook his head on his own:

"Now the situation in Vista Woodland is similar, but the 'bomb' buried here, no one knows how powerful it is. What we have been doing all along is just trying to reduce the appearance of paradox worms to delay the time when the final bomb explodes, and not informing the church also has the reason of preventing the birth of powerful paradox worms."

Xia De had nothing to say about this:

"Regarding the rules of time travel, I have already figured out a lot now. Then do you have any way to deal with those tree holes? As long as those tree holes exist, they may send people away or send people here at

Although far from civilized society, this small settlement had its own living environment. The conditions for living here were certainly not good, but judging by the atmosphere, those truly pursuing a peaceful life would surely love it here.

"That over there is the temple of my Lord."

Mr. Meloni pointed to the temple under the large tree and introduced it in a low voice, then led Xia De and Miss Danister to the largest bonfire in the center of the camp and sat down with them.

At this moment, the strongest 12th-tier sorcerer in this camp, a middle-aged man who looked to be around forty, was already waiting for them by the fire.

He had just been tending to a pot over the fire, in which a few pinecones were being roasted.

"Steve Davis, I am the current Grand Elder of the Hermits."

The 12th-tier sorcerer wore the same brown robe as the other hermits and shook hands with Xia De while introducing himself. Like Doctor Schneider, this Mr. Davis also had blue eyes, but the color of his eyes was much lighter than the doctor's:

"Regarding the matter of the Chosen, the letter Meloni sent has already informed me. It is this lady who is cursed by time, correct?"

He handed her a wooden box he had placed to the side:

"Here, you can use this to temporarily suppress the time curse. You don't need to wear it on your finger; it can also be used as a pendant."

After the box was opened, inside lay a wooden ring. The ring was made of oak, and the miracle elements indicated that it was a divine artifact.

The surface of the wooden ring retained clear wood grain, and it was engraved with ancient elven runes as well as a prayer to the Old God 【White Holy Tree】 that Xia De had never seen before, while the inside of the ring contained a series of dense ritual patterns.

In terms of the content of miracle elements alone, this ring was not inferior to the holy emblem Xia De had returned, though the holy emblem certainly held greater significance to the hermits.

"We call this kind of divine artifact a 'Time Stability Anchor'. Wearing it can not only suppress your own curse to a certain extent but also improve your own time resistance. However, its suppression effect on the curse is most obvious for ordinary people, and it can only play a small role for powerful sorcerers.

It itself is like an anchor, making the wearer more stable in their own time, but if the wearer themselves is very 'heavy' and swaying due to the curse, then the anchor's effect will certainly be less effective."

Mr. Davis respectfully looked toward the temple to the side of the group:

"Making such a divine artifact not only requires our unique techniques but also requires it to be consecrated in my Lord's temple for at least ten years. Although many things from the Hermits have ended up outside, the 'Time Stability Anchor' has never been obtained by anyone outside the order."

"It looks very impressive."

The red-haired girl examined the ring but had no intention of wearing it right there.

Xia De sat up straight by the bonfire:

"Thank you for your willingness to provide help. So, Mr. Davis, does the Hermit order believe the news I brought about the Chosen?"

The 12th-tier middle-aged man sat cross-legged on the ground looking at him:

"Actually, ever since the Great God-Descending Event in the northern steam capital of Tobesk last summer confirmed that the 'Whispering Poetry' was not just a legend, I had guessed that the Chosen of Time would appear in this forest.

It's just that last year I originally thought that even if my guess was correct, it would take at least five or six years for it to be the Vesta Forest's turn. I didn't expect that with the help of that God-Caller, the Chosen would appear so quickly."

From the Silver Moon Shining Day of last midsummer to the end of the Harvest Moon this year, in just over a year, it has already reached the eighth one.

"Mr. Watson, I don't know which faction you and this lady represent, but since Old John trusts you, I am also willing to trust you. We rarely let outsiders enter our camp, and bringing you here now is because of that trust.

But regardless of whether our mutual friend, the 【Light-Guiding Hermit Order】, wants to get involved in the matter of the Chosen, we hermits have no intention of getting mixed up in the epics of the Sixth Era. Of course, we are willing to provide you with help, but we will not take the initiative to do anything, and we certainly won't take the initiative to defect to the Orthodox Churches."

Xia De also understood his caution; these neutral sorcerer groups each had their own ideas:

"It's enough that you are willing to provide help. When I mentioned you to Old Dad John back then, he even complained that you actually hid such secrets."

Mr. Davis shook his head:

"Regarding the secret of time travel, one can never be too cautious. Those who hope to preserve the seeds of civilization for the end-times are not without regrets about the past.

Alright, Mr. Watson, go ahead and ask; what do you want to know from us?"