{Damn you! You deceived me! }

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew in all directions. Yang Zicang measured the demonic sword’s condition with a solemn focus. Though it was only a slight erosion, his Time-Chaos was indeed being constantly eroded away.

“Hmph. Did you really think I wouldn’t know someone was watching me? “

Yang Zicang and the bone puppet controlled by the demon sword kept clashing, both moving with lightning speed. The demon sword’s current techniques were no longer something ordinary mortals could match. Even he, without using his model manipulation ability, might struggle to quickly settle the battle.

What’s more, the opponent possessed the power to see through his every move.

Thinking of this, the same memory of being utterly exposed and the seething rage that accompanied it surged from his chest.

Yet Yang Zicang suppressed it with remarkable speed.

“I didn’t expect you could see from such a distance—at least two hundred kilometers, right? What do you think ‘I’ am doing over there right now? “

Boom!The demon sword was sent flying once more by a lashing bone spike.

The bone puppet gripping the demon sword tumbled across the ground, carving a long furrow into the earth. The blade, driven deep into the floor, left a profound, jagged mark.

For this bone puppet, the Demonic Sword Ten-Thousand-Eyed God-King was simply far too large.

{The cunning human—so you had them carry those bone shards everywhere, digging up ruins, all to hide the pieces that would assemble the armor concealing your presence. }

Now, the demon sword used its own power to sense the vision of a distant bone puppet.

Through that skeleton’s eyes, Yang Zicang’s distant figure—still dressed in human clothes and wrapped in a human blanket—continued to order dozens of skeletons to keep digging in a large pit.

But that was merely a bone puppet disguised in the clothes Yang Zicang.

-｛Distributor Loki Tata Mingqi executes “strike “.｝

-｛Distributor Tata Mingqi indicates “Thumbs up. “｝

The Demon Sword, praised by the distributor Loki Tata Mingqi, felt nothing but rage and fear within.

This human before it could go without food and drink for so many years, Speechless, and even possessed an incomparable invincible regenerative body far superior to the “Skeleton-Spirits. ” Sometimes it couldn’t help but think thatthiswas what a true “Moon Person’s ” body should be like!

Just as Bone Exhibitor raised the Demon Sword again, staring solemnly at the distant human figure wrapped in a blanket, the Undying King suddenly kicked off the ground, and his silhouette vanished abruptly mid-charge.

{Gone! }

The Demon Sword and Bone Exhibitor cried out in unison in shock.

THUD!

Bone Exhibitor suddenly felt itself sent flying by a massive force. Its body exploded into countless fragments in midair, and its skull clattered to the ground like a lump of iron, rolling far away. Meanwhile, the sword had already been snatched out of the air by Yang Zicang who leaped up to grab it.

｛The Spiritual Artifact Weapon is resisting my control.｝

A golden shimmer flickered within Yang Zicang’s palm. Under the augmentation of Time-Patterns, the eyes on the Ten Thousand Eyed God Sword writhed in agony.

“Tell me, where is the statue the world forged for me? “

{A statue… what does that… mean… }

“You’d better know, because otherwise, that will be the only reason for your existence—and you’re about to lose it. Do you truly believe I lack the power to destroy you all? “

The golden ethereal flame in Yang Zicang’s hand instantly ignited with a crimson radiance, causing the magic sword that called itself the “Eye King of Ten Thousand Manifestations ” to let out a miserable shriek.

{I…really…don’t know what you’re talking about! }

Yang Zicang’s eyes narrowed slightly as a surge of intense hatred welled up within him, as if everything in the world was standing in his way.

“Then go to hell! “

Boom! A wild, desolate aura erupted from the man. Though this power might be utterly insignificant to the Bone Men, his spirit was forged from the unwillingness and fury of countless souls. The red ethereal flame instantly enveloped his entire fist, and as hundreds of the magic sword’s eyes watched, he raised it cleanly and drove it straight toward the blade’s edge with a single crushing blow.

｛Because I am the Great Quadrilateral, I can amplify it fourfold… 100,000N!｝

{Wait…! }

Thud!

{Ahhhhh! }

Crack!

A sharp cracking sound rang out, and the head of the skeletal being on the ground in the distance stared at the scene in shock.

Equally stunned was the iron rhinoceros, which had just reached the cave entrance, poking out a head the size of a small room. The Beauty Demon Lord’s heart was instantly engulfed in an indescribable “despair, ” and its legs buckled weakly, collapsing to its knees with a heavy “thud. “

{Ah…I…I still know so many…secrets… }

“Do you think I’m some merchant? “

Yang Zicang’s eyes were bloodshot. After stepping down from that carriage, all the annoyances and obstacles he had endured now surged forth in a torrent, demanding release.

The red flame in his hand, which had dimmed slightly, flared up again. The intelligent Magic Sword naturally knew that the force capable of suppressing it was recovering.

{Stop hitting! I-I still have uses. }

Bam!

This punch struck the joint between the broken blade and the hilt.

Clang!The Magic Sword, already shattered and reduced to only two meters in length, was now completely broken into three pieces. The hilt alone resembled an arm-thick iron rod.

{I… I know how to… resurre…ct people… stoppp,… }

Clatter.Yang Zicang kicked one segment of the blade aside before dragging the iron rod toward the cave entrance. The Beauty Demon Lord, whose body naturally exuded a baleful aura, had had its will utterly worn down after untold deaths. Its once-keen intellect, buried under the relentless melancholy that death brought, made it lower its head in fear, utterly devoid of ideas.

Like a true beast, it chose submission.

Clang-boom!

The long sword hilt was tossed to the ground by Yang Zicang. On his distant tablet-lens communicator, from across the far side of the continent which linked to the deceptive operation gathering sources from these vision-questers, the boy Boboli’s shouts rang out. Only then did Yang Zicang finally cease his relentless assault on the hilt of the Magic Sword.

“Beauty Demon Lord, hah. Tell me where my statue is. If you don’t know, then accept the long overdue judgment of seven hundred thousand years.“

At this moment, the Beauty Demon Lord felt as if she saw an Angel descending to the earth, bringing with it the divine punishment she had once feared.

Even though it was so late.

But that day had finally arrived… as if this long stretch of time had only happened just yesterday.

{I… know… }

Before the Beauty Demon Lord could speak, the voices of the sword handle and several short swords blurted out weakly and urgently.

Yang Zicang cast a sidelong glance at the scattered items on the ground.

“I don’t believe what you say. Shut up.“

The eyes on the Shattered Evil Sword all shrank in unison, and it fell silent, not daring to say another word.

The Beauty Demon Lord’s jaw opened and closed as she spoke:

{In… one special place. The entrance there… changes constantly… So you have actually passed by several times… But each time, you missed the window to enter. }

……

Several months later, in the winter, Yang Zicang and his few companions, together with a skeleton army of a hundred men, arrived at an entrance that the Beauty Demon Lord had mentioned.

The place turned out to a small town where he used to frequent the most. Outside the town, a solitary mountain stood silently. Yang Zicang only then realized there must be a reason the mountain had survived until now. Because this was the same hill where he had taken his first departure from and second entry into the Holy Psychokinesis Field.

{Wait… For the moment when spring comes. }

The Beauty Demon Lord, kept under guard by Qiao Bing in the camp, said as if giving a reminder.

“Hey, you there, why must it be spring? “

{As for that… I’m not sure either. }

Yang Zicang, at the very front of the team, chuckled and said, “What else could it be? Must be linked to the Five Elements again. This place is in the eastern part of the continent, belonging to Wood, and spring also belongs to Wood. Am I right? “

The Beauty Demon Lord shook its head noncommittally and then lay down on the ground.

The shards of the demon sword, tied up and pulled onto a stone, spoke with their faint, lingering energy:

{Perhaps so, indeed there are five… different entrances. They can only be entered… by matching the time and direction… }

The demon sword dared not entertain any thought of negotiating a lucky escape with the Undying King. The fact that that madman had allowed it to keep its last breath could be considered sheer “mercy, ” as the people might call it.

Yet, deep within, it harbored intense resentment.

It possessed such immense value… It alone knew secrets of this world that no one else on the continent did.

But the madman before it didn’t even have the slightest desire to probe for them.

He only craved those statues that satisfied his own false honor.

……

In the biting wind, tiny snowflakes seemed to drift down.

For this world, these were treasures more precious than gold and diamonds. Yet, no substance could preserve these invaluable “snowflakes. “

Kadeng came out, leading the patrol.

“Captain Chen, this relic here is incredibly well-preserved. For hundreds of thousands of years, barely any dust has managed to bury it. “

“It must be protected by some kind of power. “

Yang Zicang’s first thought was of Hong Haocheng.

｛Boppoli intends to make an active investment on my behalf.｝

If that damned thing left any tricks in this evolving world, these should be the bait meant to lure me into stepping on the trap.

But I have no choice but to step into it anyway.

Damn thing…

Yang Zicang wondered in his heart if this was too much of a coincidence.

However, from a chronological perspective, even if Hong Haocheng woke up a few days earlier than him, he wouldn’t have had the time to complete an incident worth of Radiance.

Wait…

A sudden realization struck Yang Zicang.

“That bastard—he used Moli to achieve an information relay within the dimension of time, something that almost only exists in myths…!“

A wave of tingling chills ran across his skin.

This was absolutely worth of Radiance, if Hong Haocheng’s intel contained information about Yang Zicang’s own future.

｛Boboli wants to invest 1N in me.｝

Feeling somewhat dazed, Yang Zicang connected the boy’s Telepathic Link.

{Big brother, I still need at least two months to get there. You have to wait for me. }

Yang Zicang let out a dry laugh.

｛Yeah, don’t worry. I wouldn’t dare go in alone without you.｝

He waved to those behind him, leading the eclectic group of skeletal soldiers—tall and short—into the well-preserved ruins of the city.

{Heh, keep lying if you want. You obviously plan to go in alone first, don’t you? I don’t know others, but I know you well enough. }

Saying he might have said a bit too much, Boboli stuck out his tongue. But Yang Zicang didn’t realize there was anything off about that remark.

“You know the enemy we’re facing… what kind of information he has.“

Yang Zicang’s tone was a mutter, this rare sound of bewilderment immediately caused the eyes of the Magic Sword fragment bound to the stone pillar behind him to snap open collectively before instantly dimming.

Before him was once a cooling structure where he and Mori often taught primitive people under a tree, now reduced to only a colossal ring-shaped raised disc. A crude “Council Stone Platform ” built beside it was now nothing but a particularly flat stretch of foundation, riven with crack-like patterns.

{He only acquired intelligence from the future. Though he obtained the Blood-line Circuit as well, he hasn’t awakened the power of all the pulsating rings. Big Brother, don’t let his single successful scheme shatter your confidence. }

“Yes, I now know some things about bloodlines too. His true strength might not be that much greater than mine. But sometimes, the importance of the enemy’s intelligence outweighs mere strength. A bee positioned correctly can kill an ox. I only… “

His murmuring abruptly halted.

Feeling the slight peculiarities among the Magic Sword fragment in the upcoming retinue through the dispersing Musing Night, he silently thought:

｛I only fear that he left something here for us, something sure to plunge us straight into irreversible doom. The more I think about it now, the more convincing it seems this is an arrangement specifically aimed at me.｝

Taking a deep breath, Yang Zicang gazed amid the ruins, mountain ranges, and scattered snowflakes, then spoke heavily:

｛Everything happening lately—every godforsaken deed—all pushes me to reach this place step by chapter into the trap laid down by Hong Haocheng.｝

In the heavy atmosphere, Boboli, who had been watching everything from a distance, awkwardly rubbed his nose.

-｛Distributor Loki·Tata Mingqi says: 「Turn your head.」｝

｛So, Boboli!｝

Yang Zicang turned his head, silently speaking in his heart like a general admonishing a new recruit who disregards danger:

｛I plan to establish a new stronghold nearby. When spring comes, we’ll send people in first to scout the situation there. After the intel is gathered, we can devise a detailed plan. Honestly, if there’s danger in store, the first person I’ll send away is you.｝

{Absolutely not! }

After shouting from afar, Boboli yanked back his instinctively raised hand, then coughed twice while tilting his head.

{Oh, well… If you dare do something like that, then I won’t go easy on you. }

｛A little squirt like you? What could you possibly do?｝

{Hmph, I’m not that little. This old man is already over forty. Anyway, if you dare try to send me away, I’ll report to the Rose River immediately and tell Xu Aiyuan all about you dating some girl over here! }

“What!” Yang Zicang exclaimed in shock, hurriedly clearing his throat with a showman-like wince.

｛So… how is she?｝

Boboli, who had read through a certain book, let out a soft, sharp hiss. Fingers pinched together, then splayed apart, he responded with a strained laugh:

“Well… um… Brother Yang, honestly, falling out of love is totally normal… We’re not exactly the main characters of some novel, so you should go ahead and date whoever you want, and when heartbreak comes, just roll with it. No big deal. Oh, and I, I heard, you know… A cabin owner called the Black Dragon King has been getting pretty chummy with Rose Creek recently. He’s been going there regularly for the past half-year to order cloth~“

Boboli cautiously gauged Yang Zicang’s reaction, trying to deftly steer the conversation away from the previous topic.

The demon sword sensed the ever-shifting aura radiating from the young man.

Who is this guy talking to? The demon sword pondered, searching through its deep-seated memories and knowledge, but found precious little that related to this.

Just as I thought… the demon sword mused, matters concerning the Holy Sword and its abilities are something ordinary people cannot discern.

……

Winter faded, and spring arrived.

Yang Zicang trained almost nonstop, perfecting the techniques from those few secret manuals.

Finally, one day in mid-spring, the climate here took an unusual turn. A whirlwind gathered within the city for several consecutive days.

“That’s it. Hey, humans… you can use your bodies to get close to it. It should trigger the hidden passageway.“

The Demonic Sword, Ten-Thousand-Eyed God-King, spoke in a well-behaved manner.

Boboli leaped up nervously. He was terrified that Yang Zicang had the ability to psychically banish him from the leyline field. So he quickly followed behind Yang Zicang and the alliance of skeletons as they moved toward the whirlwind, which had grown much deeper today.

“Wind also belongs to the element of Wood.“

Yang Zicang approached and halted the advance of the others, moving forward alone. He suddenly turned his head to look at the fragments of the magic sword behind him.

“Do you want to come with me? “

{No, please, no! I’m already like this! }

“Hmph. Bring it to me. “

A skeleton raised a small stone pillar and walked over to hand it to him. After accepting it, Yang Zicang felt the trembling will emanating from the magic sword’s eyes as he reached out his hand toward the whirlwind.

“I know you aren’t really scared. ” Yang Zicang whispered. “So stop pretending. I know you said that on purpose just so I’d take you along. Don’t worry—I’m also afraid you’ll cause me some trouble out in the world. “

{What… you… you bastard… }

Stunned, the magic sword opened all its eyes. Suddenly, a boom ripped through the gale, revealing a man-high path through the wind.