Chapter 3586: The Final 334 Years

The demon-possessed cultist finally placed his own soul into the hollow bones of the void fiend, after which the profoundly sinister skull devoured the flesh of seven cultists, even swallowing all items on their persons, including holy symbols.

The bones, gripped by a black shadow, vanished into thin air, and the next instant appeared before the terrifying beast at the center of the battlefield, slipping into its open mouth as it called down the falling stars.

"What's wrong?"

At that moment, the colors of the starry sky abruptly dimmed; Xia De, who had just reunited with Emilyia, had barely picked up the silver spear when he spun around to face the beast fighting the cultists.

Blood and black mist surged from its body; beneath the crimson-black glow, the beast's form swelled violently, then—boom~—exploded into a swirling vortex of crimson and black, vanishing without a trace.

Those who had just experienced the third stage of the Ring Beast immediately looked upward; in fact, by now, they didn't even need to raise their heads to feel its power. In the dimmed starry sky, red-black meteors had already appeared.

But unlike the pure stellar force moments ago, these meteors now writhed with the power of destruction and death. The star fragments that had once fallen here merely solidified the bay's fate, but these meteors clearly intended to annihilate everything here.

The immense pressure descending from the dimmed starry sky had already forced some to lower their heads; those who looked up and saw this destructive meteor knew clearly that the coming cataclysmic collision would reduce all of this to nothingness.

At this moment, Stella, supported by her teacher, bit her lip as she gazed upward; for some reason, she felt that this terrifying star tearing through the heavens was no different from falling snowflakes.

The gathered Grand Witches turned to look at Xia De, who held the silver-white spear; he shoved both spear and sword into Emilyia's hands, whispered an apology, plucked several hairs from Ali, then took the serpent fang from Matilda's pouch:

"Wait for me three seconds—I'll definitely come back. Emilyia, protect everyone."

Emilyia immediately nodded; Xia De had entrusted only her with this final task, and it filled her with a noble sense of mission.

Xia De had no time to bid farewell to the others; he pulled out the door pendant he'd bought just days ago and thrust the Time Key into it:

"May the World Tree protect me across infinite time."

The pendant and all items Xia De could not bring back to the past fell downward, swiftly snatched up by Matilda; the other girls stared at the crimson star drawing ever closer above them, none speaking a word.

Emilyia had already transformed into her Grand Elf form, sword in right hand, spear in left; without consulting anyone, she urged Ali to carry her toward the falling star:

"Xia De, Luveya, and Yi Lu Na are gone—this time, I will protect everyone—Stars, return to where you belong!"

【Foreigner, you have entered the "Corridor of Time."】

【Message from the Ancient God "Father of the Infinite Tree":】

【Fifth Era, Year 334, Autumn, Eastern Continent, Whispering Hills.】

【Event: Lodging.】

【Duration: Sixty minutes (3/3).】

【You have gained additional information.】

【The figure of the Father of the Infinite Tree observes you.】

【The Ancient God of Time grants you a trial:】

【Assist the Old God "Lord of the Wall" in selecting suitable guests for the inn.】

【The Father of the Infinite Tree will reward you: One of your currently possessed spells linked to the 【World】 Rune, and the Arcane—Transformation: Serpent.】

Amid thick white mist, Xia De's expression was grim. Hearing the familiar words, he did not immediately step forward into the fog, but stood motionless.

【You need not worry for your safety—once the task is complete, the Father's power will protect you from injury upon returning to your original time.】

"She" whispered softly; Xia De spoke directly to "her":

"You know I'm not worried about my own safety."

【Then what do you intend to do?】

"I don't need new power. With sufficient Qi, I can fully deploy my Maze and pull the falling star into it. That star seems tainted by some formidable force—I don't yet understand the cultists' methods, but once inside my Maze, I can either attempt to seal it with 【Kiss of the Tree】 or reverse time on a grand scale with 【Mermaid Princess】 to send it back."

"Her" voice remained as gentle as ever; since Xia De was speaking aloud, he felt as if "her" were speaking directly within the white mist:

【Your Maze cannot resist it. That star pierced through the outer barrier of the material world before crashing into the ocean. Your Maze may capture it, but it will pierce through your Maze as well.】

After all, even Xia De's composite Maze, "Fairy Tale Town," could not compare to the outer barrier of the material world.

"But eight layers of Mazes nested within each other can at least greatly weaken its power, right?"

【Have you considered what would happen to you if your fully activated Maze were shattered?】

Xia De lifted his right foot and stepped forward:

"Serious injury—but I won't die. For me, if I can protect them, this cost is worth paying. My only fear now is that the power staining the star isn't that one—if it truly is, even my full Maze deployment won't prevent major trouble afterward."

"She" smiled gently; the next second, the white mist parted like a curtain, and Xia De stepped into the third act of the Whispering Hills adventure.

He had assumed "she" would merely listen to De De Xiang Fa, as always, and say nothing more—but as the darkness of the inn room sought to swallow him, he clearly heard "her" continue:

【The eye of the Moon Beast might help you.】

A faint crackling of ice formed around him; thus, the starting point of the third act of the Whispering Hills adventure remained Room 1022, the Demon's Room.

Last time, Xia De had rescued the black-haired witch possessed by the demon, but he had not severely wounded the demon. Clearly, the demon still remembered him—and this time, it gave him no chance to step forward, attacking him the moment he appeared.

And unluckily, Xia De's mood was equally foul; since returning last time, he had indeed considered using the Key a third time, again starting from this room.

Flames surged from his body as if he himself were burning; he unleashed the power of the Primordial Fire to its maximum, then, guided by his intuition, punched leftward—his flaming fist struck a patch of black frost mist, and Xia De was certain this was the demon's true physical form in the material world: the Frost Demon—Herimshur.

"Why do you provoke me?"

That strange cold differed from any frost power Xia De had encountered in this world; its essence was a force twisted by demons, capable of halting and withering all things.

But with Primordial Fire, Xia De did not retreat his right hand; instead, he allowed the black frost mist to coil around his arm:

"Chaos residue!"

A blinding spinning fireball erupted within the black frost mist; after a piercing soul-shriek, the mist abandoned Xia De's arm and lunged straight for his head. Simultaneously, a cold hand rested upon his equally flaming shoulder.

"One in front, one behind—which is the true form? Both are true forms—Light Spell!"

In his left palm, prepared in advance, moonlight blazed forth—even Xia De found it blinding. At such close range, a demon not at peak condition and with its true form exposed could not possibly withstand the holy radiance of the Silver Moon—and the result matched Xia De's prediction: the mist lunging at his face reversed direction, fleeing toward the wardrobe, while the hand behind him immediately loosened its grip.

"Moonbeam Ray!"

Squinting through the moonlight, he extended his finger toward the mist; the light pierced through it, and it vanished within the erupting radiance.

When the Light Spell ended and darkness returned, the room was no longer as cold as before; the hand on his shoulder and the black frost had both disappeared.

But the moonlight did not linger on the walls—it still radiated a chilling sense of danger. Xia De was certain the demon was only wounded; it had merely realized further combat was futile and hidden itself.

Xia De had no intention of pursuing it further; the demon was sealed here, and even if he wounded it again, it would be meaningless. The doctor was not here, and Xia De lacked the ability to permanently eradicate this ancient, mysterious evil whose origin remained unknown.

"I wonder if I'll ever encounter it again in the Sixth Era."

He thought to himself, cast one last glance at the room he would likely never see again, then pushed the door open and walked out.

【Are you feeling better?】

"She" asked softly. Xia De stood in the dark corridor and let out a long breath:

"There's nothing particularly good or bad about it. I cannot let my mood affect me."

He walked toward the glowing "Safe Room 1024".

After knocking at the frequency agreed upon when he last left, the door was opened quickly. Miss Noire, the red-haired vampire witch, saw that it was truly Xia De outside and immediately smiled:

"You're back. Come in quickly."

Her mental state was clearly very poor, and it was unknown what had happened. Fortunately, everyone who should be here was present. Miss Corne, the ancient hunter who had fallen into a coma after being possessed by a demon last time, had already awakened. A long sword lay beside her, and holding a teacup, she smiled at Xia De by the fireplace.

Madame Gerde, the middle-aged witch, had seemingly been reading a book just now; seeing Xia De enter, she also smiled and greeted him.

The black-haired strange witch lying beside her still had not awakened. Miss Corne had only been possessed for a moment before being rescued, but she had been controlled by the demon for an unknown length of time.