Chapter 529: The River Surfaces

Yan Jing thought about the issue of transmigration for a moment, then set it aside.

This wasn't his main concern right now.

He already had a stable life in this world. If he hadn't transmigrated, it made no difference to him. If he had, he held no lingering desire to return.

He cared more about what was right in front of him.

Namely, whether or not he was actually inside the River of Time.

Only by figuring this out could he decide his next step: search for an anchor point, or find someone to enter the River of Time and help retrieve them. I should ask someone...

The next day.

"I don't have any method to help you determine if you're in the River of Time."

The Rabbit held a newspaper in one hand and a coffee in the other, moving with consummate grace.

"You could ask someone else. Though, naturally, only someone at the Demigod Realm or above would even have a chance of knowing."

"You do have good taste, though. This coffee is excellent."

It scanned the news in the paper, rapidly familiarizing itself with this Domain, looking completely at ease.

Unlike the others who had emerged, it didn't have anyone it wanted to retrieve from the River of Time, nor would it attempt to step into that river.

It had only exited the Great Curtain to stay alive.

Of course, it still offered Yan Jing some inspiration:

"Actually, things aren't always so complicated. It's a simple process of elimination."

"Take the few who emerged earlier as an example."

"Like you, they wanted to step into the River of Time. Like you, they didn't know whether they were already in it. But they would still step into it anyway."

"Because there are only three possibilities."

"Suppose they were just illusory reflections generated by someone else stepping into the River of Time, and this place is that river. In that case, stepping into the river again wouldn't matter. As illusions, getting lost or not getting lost means nothing."

"Suppose they are the original bodies, and this isn't the River of Time. Then, of course, they would step in, because they have people they absolutely must retrieve. Suppose they are the original bodies, and this place actually is the River of Time. They would still step in."

"That is their obsession. Even if it's a gamble, they'll do it."

Yan Jing grew thoughtful.

"So you're saying I will definitely step into it?"

"You're different." The Rabbit smiled.

"Like I said before, you no longer have any way to enter the River of Time."

"That is why I can't give you any advice."

"Just rest well. Some things must ultimately be let go."

"Enjoy your life. Sometimes you struggle forward your whole life, and what do you gain in the end? One day, dust will return to dust, and earth to earth." Yan Jing pressed his lips together.

Give up?

Unable to figure it out for now, he decided to set the question aside. Instead, he pulled out the crystal Wang Yu had brought him that morning and placed it in front of the Rabbit. "Senior, I have one more thing to ask you. Do you recognize this?"

The Rabbit looked at the crystal in Yan Jing's hand—roughly the size of a one-carat diamond—and set its newspaper aside.

It leaned in close, inspecting the gem from every angle. A moment later, it frowned.

"You plan to use this thing to advance? Did I use too much of your divinity back then? It's fine, I know a few other places that might have Divine Items. Don't be too eager for quick success."

Hearing this, Yan Jing knew the Rabbit had definitely recognized the crystal's origins, so he explained the whole situation.

The Rabbit laughed after hearing the story.

"You want to fight a bunch of Eighth Tier experts? Are you just bored? Or are your enemies in there?"

"There is always someone stronger. You can never be absolutely certain of anything."

Yan Jing's gaze was calm. "This world is too big."

The Rabbit nodded.

"That's the truth. This world is indeed too big."

"This thing is no good. If finding one's own path is like a seed that sprouts once it's fully complete, and eventually blooms into a Divine Throne, then what you have in your hand is a bad seed."

"A bad seed is still a seed, but it can never sprout."

"The one who invented this thing must have been a total bastard, or rather... a whole group of total bastards. They injected some fabricated paths into it. Even they definitely couldn't say for sure what would happen."

Yan Jing nodded.

"Then I understand."

"Do you really need a large faction?" Seeing through Yan Jing's desire to consolidate forces, the Rabbit tossed the crystal back into his hand. "Resources are important."

His recent experiences in the Great Prison had made Yan Jing realize that a large faction could save him a lot of trouble.

Take Mao Si building the Ship, for instance. Without sufficient resources and manpower, there was no way to speed up the process.

"Then you've gone about it the wrong way."

The Rabbit had lived through far too many eras; it saw the problem at a single glance.

"Being strong alone is useless."

"Only by establishing a virtuous cycle can a faction truly become effective."

"That requires experience, which I lack. I could learn the basics easily enough, but the deeper intricacies would take time," Yan Jing spoke truthfully, then shot the Rabbit a sidelong glance.

"Did you just glance at me?" The Rabbit raised an eyebrow.

"Did I? I don't think so."

Yan Jing said, shooting the Rabbit another glance.

"Don't even think about it. Don't you dare," the Rabbit said, an ominous premonition rising in its heart.

"I came here to enjoy my retirement, not to work for you for free."

"No, really, I wasn't thinking anything."

Yan Jing glanced at the Rabbit again.

"I've exhausted myself for a whole lifetime! Do I still have to work after coming out of the Great Curtain?!"

The Rabbit sighed.

"Just let your old senior off the hook."

"Guidance. Just providing some guidance."

Yan Jing smiled and blinked.

"You have to find some form of entertainment, right?"

"How is this entertainment? I'd say it leans more toward business." The Rabbit was deadpan.

"Actually, it includes a bit of exercise too," Yan Jing chuckled.

"If you agree, you'll hold a position like a holy teacher in this faction."

"I've been a State Preceptor before!"

The Rabbit felt Yan Jing was underestimating it. A moment later, as if recalling something, it spoke.

"Though, it really is a bit boring."

"Then I'll leave it in your hands," Yan Jing smiled.

"Let's get this straight right now: if anything goes wrong, I take zero responsibility."

After saying that, the Rabbit paused to think, then added, "I'll take half the responsibility."

It felt it had traded away its friendship, and as a friend, taking half the responsibility was reasonable.

"Thank you."

Yan Jing gave a slight bow and turned to leave.

Just as he reached the door, the Rabbit set down its coffee cup behind him and spoke in a slow, drawn-out tone.

"Think again about what I said earlier—about letting it go."

"Unless someone is in the Demigod Realm, no one knows if they're actually inside this river, and no one can say for sure if they're in their true original body."

"With some things, ignorance is bliss."

"Perhaps, there isn't anyone in the river at all."

Yan Jing froze for a moment after the Rabbit finished speaking, then nodded.

"Thank you for the guidance."

He then walked out the door without looking back.

The Rabbit's final words had given him a flash of insight.

He truly didn't know anyone in the Demigod Realm.

But among the people he knew, there was one who admitted to having entered the river.

That person might know whether this place was currently inside the river or not.

He found Wang Yu and Long Quezhou and relayed the Rabbit's analysis to them.

"It's not a good item, but it's not entirely terrible either. If you have someone suitable, you can give it to them to at least boost their combat strength." He didn't explain where this conclusion came from.

If they trusted him, no further explanation was needed.

If they didn't, then even bringing the Rabbit out wouldn't necessarily convince them.

"I see..."

Wang Yu's expression darkened; clearly, she believed him.

Long Quezhou spoke evenly.

"They'll probably hold a meeting over there soon. Domain Lord Yan, have you thought of any countermeasures?"

"It's fine. Worst comes to worst, I just won't go."

Yan Jing smiled.

He only wanted to consolidate resources. If the others didn't want him in their game, it didn't matter.

Hearing Yan Jing say this, Wang Yu looked visibly surprised.

After all, in her eyes, Yan Jing wasn't the type to swallow a loss.

"You... wouldn't happen to have some other plan, would you?"

She looked at Yan Jing.

"Me?"

Yan Jing chuckled.

"What other plan could I have? Since I can't go, I simply won't go."

"Staying in Yueyin is perfectly fine too."

"But the two of you should be careful. For them to hand over a crystal like this without mentioning the dangers... they probably aren't good people." Hearing Yan Jing's words, their faces both sank.

Indeed, if it was exactly as Yan Jing said, giving them such a crystal was tantamount to severing their paths of cultivation. Calling it a blood feud wouldn't be an exaggeration. But the core problem was...

How could they make the others believe them?

The two left, heavy with worry.

Yan Jing found a secluded spot and shifted into the Inner World.

[Haidu]

"Captain!!!"

Seeing Yan Jing personally arrive at the shipyard, Bobo instantly perked up.

During this period, all available hands had been reassigned to build the Ship, while the territory-assault missions had been outsourced. This had drastically accelerated the construction speed.

By now, the hull's general outline was visible. A massive vessel fully ten thousand meters long stretched across Yan Jing's field of vision, its ends stretching beyond sight. "Not bad."

Yan Jing nodded.

"Roughly how much longer? Has Master Su given an estimate?"

"If we maintain our current pace, two to three weeks should be about enough, but..." Bobo pursed her lips, seemingly hesitating over whether she should say something.

She was wearing a purple gauze dress today, with a pair of purple goggles resting on her forehead, giving her a chaotic sort of beauty.

"Are a lot of the humans preparing to back out?"

Yan Jing's expression was calm.

Bobo was startled. She hadn't expected Mao Si to know these things like the back of his hand when he barely seemed to step out of the cabin.

"Yes. Many of the humans who agreed to come back next time haven't returned. Master Su and Diplomatic Envoy Liu Ye have tried numerous ways to recruit more hands, but it's still not enough."

"It's fine."

Yan Jing's expression remained calm.

He could step in right now, detain those domain lords one by one, and force them to keep sending people over.

But there was no need.

"Have everyone pour all their efforts into production. As for the humans who left and aren't returning, don't pursue the matter."

"I will bring in help as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir!" Her heart tightening, Bobo nodded immediately.

Desolate Forest.

Yan Jing opened his eyes.

He summoned Huo Tong.

After a brief inquiry about the situation, he cut straight to the point.

"Organize your forces. We're marching on Sand Tower."

"We're attacking right now?" Huo Tong was taken aback.

She had originally assumed that after conquering the Wasteland, Yan Jing would immediately insert himself among the Ninth Tier experts to discuss how to breach the Great Prison.

But now it seemed Yan Jing's ambitions lay elsewhere.

Yan Jing nodded.

"We move out tonight. Let's make it a swift battle."

"Will two days be enough?"

"Two days..."

Huo Tong swallowed hard. This was an even tighter timeline than last time.

Of course, the Wizard Tribe also had far more people now.

"It won't be a problem."

She agreed, though her expression quickly turned hesitant.

"Your body... can it still hold up?"

She had witnessed Yan Jing's duel with Merkel last time and worried that back-to-back battles would cause issues.

"I'll be fine."

Yan Jing's face was indifferent.

Then was then. Now, he had mastered a much faster method.

"Inside here is my blood."

He tossed out a small vial, handing it to Huo Tong.

Huo Tong stared at the vial of gleaming golden blood, a bit bewildered. She didn't quite understand why Yan Jing was giving this to her.

Yan Jing spoke slowly.

"After drinking my blood, you will gain a tenth of my power. But at the same time, you will be bound to me."

"I'm giving it to you, but you don't have to drink it. If you run into a danger you can't handle later on, it might be able to help."

Gripping the vial of blood, Huo Tong didn't know what to say for a moment.

Yan Jing giving her the choice was, in itself, a form of respect.

With his strength, forcing her to drink it wouldn't have been difficult at all.

"This subordinate may need to go back and think about it. Thank you, My Lord."

Huo Tong returned to her tent.

She sat blankly alone at the tent entrance, thinking from noon until the fragmented light of the setting sun faded away.

She thought of many things, recalling the severed eras from thousands of years ago, starting from when she was still ignorant and naive, all the way to the present, thousands of years later.

Standing atop the volcano, gazing out at that dead, silent land.

What had it all amounted to?

Her family had long since fallen into eternal slumber deep underground, and those friends of the past were no longer here either. Her once-innocent feelings had vanished without a trace. And she had, indeed, reached the Celestial Immortal realm.

But why wasn't she as happy as she'd imagined?

She had sacrificed so much. Why did it result in this?

In her memory, her uncles and aunts had always loved to call her a foolish girl.

They said that aside from cultivating, she didn't know how to do anything else. They'd laugh and say they didn't know when she would finally come out of her shell.

But now it felt like she finally had come out of her shell, so why was there no one left to see it?

Vaguely, a river seemed to appear before her eyes. Its waves surged and crashed as it rolled relentlessly forward, flowing out from some deep, unknown place and surging toward another mysterious, unknown destination with an unstoppable force.

Every time a wave crested into the air, it seemed as though a world manifested within it.

Subconsciously, she reached out to touch it, only to feel an obvious sense of rejection.

Just as she stood up in a daze, the river vanished before her eyes before she knew it.

She was too weak. The river was rejecting her.

Huo Tong's expression remained somewhat dull and blank, making it impossible to tell if she felt sorrow or joy.

A few seconds later, she pulled out the vial of blood Yan Jing had given her, poured it into her mouth, and drained it in a single gulp.

It was sweet.

She stuck out her tongue, sweeping away every drop of liquid clinging to the corner of her lips.