Chapter 1148: The Constraints of Timeline Alteration
“So it really is timeline alteration? What an intractable ability.” The Epoch Immortal frowned. Such an ability is practically impossible to guard against.
“And it’s only one of the mastermind’s abilities,” Lu Yang added. “The Immortal Fairy’s demise likely had nothing to do with timeline alteration.”
“How so? Is it because when she perished, the world forgot her, yet the four of us still remembered? If it were timeline alteration, the four of us shouldn’t have been able to remember her, right?”
“That’s not the only reason. Judging by what we’ve seen so far, the mastermind’s timeline alteration isn’t without constraints either.
“During the hundred thousand years between the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s disappearance and the fall of the Ember Legacy Dynasty, he never altered the timeline to one where the ‘Four Ancient Immortals’ never existed. This suggests that timeline alteration has its limits. As for what those limits are, that remains unknown for now. Perhaps it’s impossible to directly erase the existence of powerful beings or alter distant temporal nodes.”
If even the Four Ancient Immortals couldn’t be erased, how could the Everlasting Immortal Fairy be?
“How did you reach the conclusion that distant temporal nodes cannot be altered?” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy was a bit confused.
“Let me give a very simple example. If the mastermind wanted to erase the Heaven Mandate Immortal through timeline alteration, what would be the easiest way?
“Senior Heaven Mandate was once buried as a burial object and later escaped. The easiest method would be to alter the timeline such that he never escaped and died in that tomb.
“But the mastermind didn’t do that.
“That’s why I said the mastermind might be unable to alter distant temporal nodes. As for how the mastermind can alter timelines, I suspect it’s the ability of the Karma Dao Fruit to reverse karma.”
Everyone nodded. Lu Yang’s reasoning was sound.
“However, I still can’t figure out why the mastermind altered the timeline this time.”
Lu Yang’s gaze fell on the time fragment featuring Jin Caiwei and Lord Shi.
~~~
“Jin Cuoshi, are you sure that the black market’s supernatural legend originated from you?” Lu Yang sought out Lord Shi once more, causing the man to shudder in terror.
Although I have no idea who this person is, the fact that he could even placate the enraged Little Ancestor shows how terrifying his stature is.
“It really was me.” Lord Shi trembled like a sieve. Hasn’t this matter been settled already? Why is it brought up again?
Lu Yang was certain that Lord Shi wasn’t lying. He had visited the black market himself, and the supernatural legend there matched Lord Shi’s account perfectly.
But in the original timeline, Lord Shi denied it, which means that the supernatural legend was not his doing but someone else’s. The mastermind wants to cover up this person’s identity.
Has the mastermind shifted the karma onto Lord Shi?
“Does this supernatural legend exist only in this city? What about other cities?”
“It naturally only exists in this city,” Lord Shi affirmed with certainty. I’d hidden female ghosts in the recording orbs to boost sales. I’m not in charge of other cities, so why would I care about their sales?
Lu Yang lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then shook his head with a sigh. It seems I won’t get anything more out of asking him. With the available clues, this is as far as I can infer.
Besides, if we really deduce what the mastermind is trying to conceal, they’ll likely alter the timeline again.
With no way to pursue the next lead, there was no longer any need for Yun Zhi and the Epoch Immortal to remain.
“In that case, Little Junior Brother, cultivate diligently and strive to reach the Fusion Stage as soon as possible,” Yun Zhi reminded Lu Yang before departing. Her cold gaze swept over Lu Yang and the Everlasting Immortal Fairy.
I’m a bit worried that Little Junior Brother would one day truly succumb to temptations and pledge himself to the Everlasting Immortal Fairy. But since Little Junior Brother has sworn fealty to the Everlasting Immortal Fairy in an impossible future, that means it would never happen... right?
“Use methods like Clairvoyance sparingly,” Yun Zhi cautioned again, concerned that Lu Yang’s curiosity would push him to view the fragment she had blocked earlier.
“Will do!”
“I’ll take my leave as well. If you encounter any difficulties in the Buddhist Kingdom, feel free to seek me out,” the Epoch Immortal said. Prior to this, he wasn’t even aware that Lu Yang had come to the Buddhist Kingdom.
After Yun Zhi and the Epoch Immortal's departure, Lu Yang returned to the ancestral temple.
At the gate, Yun Mengmeng and Jin Caiwei were planting trees; their faces smudged with dirt.
“So this is how you can grow Everlasting Spirit Fruits. How amazing.” Yun Mengmeng was learning from Jin Caiwei how to grow Everlasting Spirit Fruits.
“Of course. This is how I grow Planarity Spirit Fruits. I just wonder what it would taste like to add Everlasting Immortal Spirit Fruits to biscuits.”
“Second-in-Command, you’re back!” Yun Mengmeng looked up and saw Lu Yang. She happily wiped the dirt from her face with her arm, which only made her look messier.
“I’m back. I made some progress with my temporal spells just now. This ancestral temple is too small to practice in, so I stepped out for a bit,” Lu Yang replied, subtly bragging.
“Temporal spells? So impressive!” Yun Mengmeng was dumbfounded. She had never seen temporal spells before.
Lu Yang sat on the lotus platform in the ancestral temple. His thoughts were in disarray, the impossible futures he had witnessed replaying ceaselessly in his mind.
“Immortal Fairy, are you really unable to use the power of faith to form an immortal body?”
“P-probably not?” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s gaze darted around nervously. What to do, what to do? I’m not good at lying.
“Oh, right, Little He, come over here for a moment.” A sudden idea struck the Everlasting Immortal Fairy, and she called Qing He in from outside the ancestral temple.
“Greetings, Mistress.” Qing He flicked her sleeves, rolling them up around her arms. She bowed slightly, overlapping her hands to block her view, showing that the imperial countenance must not be beheld.
“Just now, Xiao Yangzi said I could use the power of faith to form an immortal body. Little He, you’re the most adept with faith power. Do you think it can work?”
Qing He’s eyes lit up. She could barely conceal the smile spreading across her face. Has the Mistress finally come around? Does she plan to leave Lu Yang?
“In response to the Mistress, of course, it can...”
“Hmm?” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy let out a questioning hum.
“It can... or can it?” Qing He was somewhat uncertain of the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s intent. Despite having served the Everlasting Immortal Fairy for so long, she had never encountered a situation like this.
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy avoided Lu Yang’s gaze and frantically winked at Qing He. “I’m asking you.”
“Of course it cannot be done,” Qing He declared solemnly. “The Mistress’s immortal body is so ineffably exalted that even a glance is an offense. To use faith power would be to defile the Mistress’s noble body. State Pillar Lu, do not speak of this matter again!”
“Is it really not feasible?” Lu Yang eyed Qing He suspiciously. “Senior Qing He, you don’t seem to be in a good mood?” He couldn’t help but feel that tears were welling in Qing He’s eyes as she spoke.
Qing He forced back her tears, refusing to show weakness before Lu Yang. “I’m not in a bad mood. I just feel sad that the Mistress is unable to form an immortal body.”
Comments