Chapter 633

Chapter 633: The Book of Time (Part 1)

Celestial Lord of Time walked out of the Hall of Time and looked up at the two figures in the sky.

"Qin Huangluo?"

His expression froze slightly. Qin Huangluo had concealed his aura so effectively that Celestial Lord of Time hadn’t been able to detect him. Seeing him now with his own eyes filled Celestial Lord of Time with a sense of foreboding.

"Daoist friend, long time no see," Qin Huangluo said lightly.

Celestial Lord of Time cupped his hands and smiled. "Brother Daoist achieved the rank of Dao Ancestor, and I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you yet. I never expected you to personally visit me today. I’m truly overwhelmed."

"Is he the True Spirit of the Book of Time?"

Zhuge Qinmo’s gaze fell upon Fifth Young Master.

Fifth Young Master’s face instantly changed.

Just that single sentence made him realize the two visitors harbored ill intentions.

Qin Huangluo nodded.

"Brother Daoist, what is the meaning of this?" Celestial Lord of Time asked, his expression turning frosty. "Are you intending to break the rules and strike against a junior?"

"Daoist friend, I need to borrow the Book of Time," Qin Huangluo stated calmly. "You have two choices. Step aside. Or die."

Celestial Lord of Time’s expression darkened.

"A bunch of insignificant pests. Why waste words?" Zhuge Qinmo sneered coldly. "If they haven’t withdrawn within three breaths, I will annihilate the Time Palace today."

"SCRAM!"

A terrifying thunderous roar exploded.

Celestial Lord of Time was struck by the sonic force. His Great Dao withered away. Cracks appeared within his Great Dao World. His aura became utterly weak.

"Master!"

In that instant, the cultivators of Time Palace appeared one after another.

Seeing the severely wounded Celestial Lord of Time, Yan Ruyi and the others felt both shock and fury.

"Stand down."

Celestial Lord of Time commanded sternly.

Both Zhuge Qinmo and Qin Huangluo were Dao Ancestors. He could not afford to anger either one.

"Brother Qin Dao," said Celestial Lord of Time, taking a deep breath to suppress his injuries, his voice grave. "Based on our past friendship, can you give me a straight answer? Do you intend to use my disciple to obtain the Book of Time?"

"Yes."

Qin Huangluo did not conceal it.

"Then…" Celestial Lord of Time spoke again. "Will he survive?"

Fifth Young Master trembled violently, overcome by a sense of helplessness. He was merely a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, without even a chance to resist.

"Once the Book of Time manifests, he will inevitably be absorbed by it," stated Qin Huangluo. "He cannot survive."

Not every Young Master was like Qin Yi, backed by a Dao Ancestor.

Nor did every Young Master have ancient clans as their support.

"I understand," said the Celestial Lord of Time, closing his eyes as if unable to face his disciple, and slowly spoke, "From today onwards, our bond as master and disciple is severed."

The many cultivators of Time Palace were greatly shaken.

Fifth Young Master gave a bitter laugh, straightened his clothes, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed three times loudly to the Celestial Lord of Time, saying, "Thank you, master, for your nurturing grace over these many years."

"After parting today, I fear there may never be another day to meet again."

"Master, please take care of yourself."

Fifth Young Master slowly got up, he stared at Qin Huangluo, and said with a smile, "Senior, I hope you will keep your word and not attack Time Palace."

"He does have some courage," Zhuge Qinmo laughed.

Swoosh!

Qin Huangluo flicked his sleeve, mana enveloping Fifth Young Master, and they disappeared from Time Palace.

"Master…" Yan Ruyi wanted to speak but stopped.

"From this day on, we will seal the mountain and not go out."

The Celestial Lord of Time said, "For disciples who wish to leave Time Palace, let them go."

Losing Fifth Young Master meant that he could no longer rely on the Book of Time to advance to the Dao Ancestor Realm.

"Palace Master!"

The various elders were horrified.

"Master, even without your martial brother and without the Book of Time, with your talent alone, you can cultivate to the Dao Ancestor Realm," Yan Ruyi said anxiously, "Moreover, there is still the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion in the world."

"It’s useless."

The Celestial Lord of Time turned and walked into the Hall of Time.

He sat dazedly on his throne, his black hair turning white at a speed visible to the naked eye, his face becoming extremely wrinkled, aging from youth to old age in an instant.

Having schemed for many years, it all came to naught in a single day.

His Dao heart was on the brink of withering away.

…

"Senior, am I the reincarnation of the Book of Time?" Fifth Young Master’s mood gradually calmed, he had long anticipated this day, but he hadn’t expected that he wouldn’t die at the hands of the Celestial Lord of Time, but at the hands of an outsider.

"Wrong."

Zhuge Qinmo said, "You are merely a wisp of True Spirit divided from the Book of Time."

"From the day you were born, you have had no control over yourself."

"Thank you, senior, for enlightening me," Fifth Young Master bowed.

"Do you have any more questions to ask?" Qin Huangluo said, "I can help you die with understanding."

"I want to know whether what master said is true or false," Fifth Young Master said again.

"True."

Qin Huangluo said, "He is not the Obliteration Daoist, and he doesn’t control your indestructible True Spirit, that means your life and death are in your own hands."

"Understood."

Fifth Young Master smiled with a carefree ease.

"Since the day I was born, I’ve lived in fear. Today, facing death, I inexplicably have a feeling of liberation."

The three stepped into the world of the Pure Land.

"So… above the heavens, there’s yet another bizarre world?" Fifth Young Master gazed around the world of the Pure Land, curious as if viewing flowers from horseback.

Qin Huangluo remained silent.

"Take action," Zhuge Qinmo said.

"Are you ready?" Qin Huangluo looked at Fifth Young Master.

"Senior, take action."

Fifth Young Master closed his eyes, a relieved smile appearing on his face.

Bang!

Qin Huangluo channeled his magic. As his mystic art surged, a divine ability struck Fifth Young Master. A hazy, clear light enveloped him, and divine patterns ascended, merging into Fifth Young Master’s primordial spirit.

In that instant, the primordial spirit flew out of the Purple Palace. A singular strand of the power of Time emanated from its depths, and the ethereal sound of the Dao resonated.

Zhuge Qinmo clicked his tongue in wonder.

"This essence… is truly pure."

"Heh heh…"

A peculiar expression crossed Zhuge Qinmo’s face. "Once the Book of Time emerges, the balance between the yin and yang realms is set to shift again. How very intriguing…"

Boom!

Qin Huangluo channeled his power. His hand plunged into the fabric of Fifth Young Master’s primordial spirit, forcefully wrenching the True Spirit of the Book of Time free.

Pop!

In the next instant, Fifth Young Master’s primordial spirit disintegrated, scattering into the void of heaven and earth.

Not a flicker of emotion crossed Qin Huangluo’s face.

For the sake of his dream, Fifth Young Master had to be sacrificed.

"Go!"

His spiritual energy surged into the Book of Time’s True Spirit. Vast power erupted. Through an unfathomable connection, it seemed a thread traversing time and space bound him to the True Spirit.

Qin Huangluo’s Divine Sense immediately pursued it.

"Found it."

Qin Huangluo’s eyes flashed. "Within the ruins of the Fifth Era!"

Shoom!

Pinpointing the Book of Time’s location, Qin Huangluo transformed into a streak of light plunging into the River of Time, speeding towards the ruins of the Fifth Era.

The corner of Zhuge Qinmo’s mouth lifted slightly.

The time it takes a stick of incense to burn later…

The two men burst into the ruins of the Fifth Era. Guided by the True Spirit’s resonance, they arrived at a chaotic space-time continuum where time flowed like water meandering through a primal void.

Then…

They beheld a book.

The book hovered above the surging currents of the River of Time. It radiated an ancient and unfathomable aura; merely gazing upon it felt like witnessing the passage of ten thousand years.

"The Book of Time!"

A smile appeared on Qin Huangluo’s face.

Shhuaa! Shhuaa!

Though unmoved by wind, the pages of the Book of Time stirred of their own accord. Ancient text characters flickered like a magic lantern in their vision. The power of Time spread outwards, saturating the space-time continuum like nourishing spring rain.

Shuut!

The wisp of True Spirit in Qin Huangluo’s hand actively soared towards the Book of Time as if drawn by a universal force. A flash of green light, and it was absorbed.

Having assimilated that wisp of True Spirit, the Book of Time attained completion, becoming even more inscrutable, like a flawless world woven from time and space.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At that very moment, the world of the Pure Land violently trembled. An unknown terrifying power manifested like a vortex, reaching out to snatch hold of the Book of Time.

The Book of Time seemed intensely alarmed. Its pages flapped violently as a vast torrent of Time power surged forth, churning the River of Time in a desperate bid to vanish into the streams of time.

Qin Huangluo frowned deeply.

"What is happening?"

"Where is this power coming from?"

He hadn’t anticipated this situation at all.

Zhuge Qinmo chuckled.

"Daoist friend Qin, it seems securing the Book of Time will require a bit more… effort."

"Of course, I won’t abandon it."

Qin Huangluo solemnly replied.

He had already sacrificed the entire lineage of the Time Palace. If he didn’t grasp the Book of Time now, wouldn’t it all have been for nothing?