Chapter 1912 - 984: Miserable Wretch

Whoa, golden jackpot, folks!

Ji Jue was instantly overjoyed.

This was clearly the precious material monopolized by the Star Core Association, known as an all-purpose item!

It's used to restore one's spiritual essence through soul energy, and to accelerate the healing of many wounds physically, but these are just its basic and crude uses. Its true value lies in the meticulous processing and honing of skills—used for curses, it can refine resentment and evil; used in alchemy, it becomes a precious consumable that accelerates all processes of catalysis and reaction!

In short, anything that requires time can be more or less solved with Time Sand!

Because it itself is some kind of crystallization originating from time.

In the creations related to the Gate of Eternity, it is an essential foundation for various large storage creations.

Such a tiny piece, if its quality were even better, could probably fetch a few million Federation Coins easily if tossed onto the Association's platform! Perhaps not considered bizarre compared to other materials, but it's crucial to understand that such a piece counts for almost nothing; to truly use it for creation, you start measuring by the ounce!

To gather enough, money is irrelevant; what's important is the availability of stock.

Even with all his experience as a craftsman, Ji Jue hadn't seen many people adorned with related creations over the years. Only the likes of Young Master Lou from wealthy families occasionally showcased two pieces, which they treasured and shielded like little darlings of their hearts, not even allowing Ji Jue to touch or stroke them usually!

Yet here he was, unexpectedly enjoying a windfall day!

Ji Jue's eyes lit up with a gleam.

Who do you think invented such wonderful stuff?

Why can't they give me more...

"Wer! Wer! Wer! Wer!!!!"

Just as Ji Jue was lost in reverie, the Beagle at his feet started shrieking loudly once more.

A shattering sound rang out.

In the air, cracks snaked out from afar, bursting forth... soon after, it was like a breach had burst open, as dozens of dark mud rivers came pouring down, winding their flow and converging toward Ji Jue.

And Ji Jue...

was almost unable to suppress his grin.

He bent down, picked up the little red bucket beside him, and laughed heartily:

"I love cleaning!!!"

With the experience from the previous monster, dealing with the ensuing trouble became much easier.

The mud state caused by the chaotic remnant shadows might seem troublesome, but it's actually the easiest to resolve.

With the anchor's lock in place, Ji Jue simply increased his firepower, relentlessly bombarding with Zanlu.

Instead, breaking the mud state of the cocoon introduces hatchlings that can be more troublesome. Unlike the previous partially-developed one, these better-conditioned cocoon hatchlings often carry some Gate of Eternity or Shadow Sun powers.

Reversing space, accelerating themselves, slowing down attacks, either widening or shortening distances, self-splitting, even flickering, and short time jumps...

Nevertheless, still too monotonous.

They merely attack instinctively, trying to interfere with Ji Jue through their inherent mutant essence, attempting to steal his time, but unable to break the anchor's positioning, often resulting in them becoming food deliveries.

At this moment, Ji Jue more deeply appreciated the preciousness of the [Anchor].

Without the anchor, even Ji Jue in the past could only endure passively with the Circle Realm. A slight inattention could see him swept away from 'now' by the time chaos, turning directly to ash.

In just a few short minutes, the cleanup was complete.

The clawing mud monsters vied to become one by one crystal clear Time Sands, which Ji Jue gleefully accepted into the little red bucket.

Making the arc at Ji Jue's mouth harder and harder to suppress.

Why does this bucket feel more powerful the more I lift it?!

After tossing the last piece of Time Sand into the bucket, Ji Jue reflected on the recent experience, contemplating various details and the peculiar nature of those mud monsters, furrowing his brow, pondering a moment before turning to look at the nearby picture frame:

"Is this the worm?"

"Hmm, although it might touch on it, it's far from the point of being called a worm. Just like the gap between an ordinary White Deer Demon and a wolf."

The Dispatcher slowly replied: "These guys, instead of saying they are worms, it's better to say they are already dead eggs, not even reaching the larval stage."

"So, is there a possibility I'll see worms in the Border Hell Layer later?"

"This is the one thing that won't happen. Under the Jiedi Law's suppression, the eggs are destined not to hatch. That's exactly why the [Well] constantly dumps things from chaotic time here to seal them."

The Dispatcher reassured: "So, rest assured, though the things in the Border Hell Layer can be troublesome, they are within your solving range."

"But what about the worm? The real worms?"

Ji Jue pressed further, since with the presence of the [Anchor], everyone was brought to the same level, but dealing with such things was a breeze for Ji Jue, it made him more cautious.

Accelerating time, decelerating time, manipulating and severing space, twisting and elongating or shortening it into bizarre loops...

Having personally experienced the bizarre powers contained within those mud eggs, he gained a clearer guess and understanding of the worm's power.

Be generous in assessing the enemy.

These unhatched eggs are merely underdeveloped coupled with incompetence, but if they truly encounter an expert, can they truly solve the problem relying solely on the [Anchor]?

If it were that simple to sort out, those insects would likely have long become rare creatures being domesticated by various families.

"Perhaps it's time to shed the filter, Ji Jue."

The dispatcher sighed softly, "Insects are not powerful.

The Gate of Eternity and the Shadow Sun are where the strength lies; as for those insects, at most they're just a bunch acting recklessly, relying on some pitiful aspects of themselves.

You're merely lacking understanding of them, yet even through these eggs, you should be able to sense it. Even once hatched successfully, breaking out of the cocoon, what's hatched still possesses defects."

He said, "Fatal defects."

Ji Jue was momentarily stunned, recalling the details he had recorded.

No matter how perfect the egg that emerges from the sludge appears, its interior ultimately remains fragile—can even say it's on the verge of collapse with a mere touch!

Appearing fierce and raging, yet the residual shadow aggregate inside is constantly on the brink of collapse and rapidly consuming energy.

You could say, lingering in the sludge stage is tolerable, but once fully born, almost counting the days until death, time is already limited!

He was incredulous, "Isn't this just a flaw of incomplete development?"

"Flaw? Indeed, but incomplete development? Hah, fundamentally they're mutant entities, a distortion of logic and space-time, no matter the development and growth, what completeness can there be?"

The dispatcher scoffed, "This inherent defect is their original sin, how can they escape this?!"

The small lessons of craftsmen's self-immolation, spinning a cocoon and acting foolishly, have become common knowledge; the saying 'don't bring ruin upon yourself' exemplifies this principle.

The manipulator of time, too, will inevitably face punishment by time!

Superior never shows mercy, so does Great Evil, even more harshly.

The Shadow Sun never displays generosity, on the contrary, it is stringent and venomous.

If Wolf is a monster that can consume and seize everything except itself, and the Tower is a tyrant that must brutally dominate everything but itself, then the Shadow Sun is the world's most stingy and cruel loan shark!

Its favorite gifts are those without marked prices, when people immerse themselves in them, often they fail to realize borrowing even a fraction of its time demands repayment a hundredfold, a thousandfold!

A lifetime isn't enough to repay!

Know that even if Great Evil is sealed off, it simply can't actively manifest.

The Gate of Eternity holds down the Shadow Sun on one hand while maintaining the mess of the Star Core Association on the other, yet it can still develop business in the present world, the Shadow Sun similarly.

Even knowledge barriers cannot isolate the multitude's resonance through their actions and experiences with Them.

In the space-time represented by the Gate of Eternity and the Shadow Sun, although space is riddled with holes, it can at least be managed cautiously with careful deliberation, leaving no hidden dangers.

Yet time is far too terrifying.

Even the slightest alteration could spread endless poison.

Even with strict prohibitions from the Star Core Association against any unauthorized time manipulation, violations still occur frequently.

Because the power and potential it holds are too immense. Despite countless tragic precedents before them, people still continuously trigger taboos, immerse themselves in it...

The Punishment Team knows this all too well; even with notorious reputations, it can't stop some from going down a dark path.

Once tasted the sweetness, there's no turning back.

Even if there truly are heroes capable of drastic action and wise decisions, how could they allow themselves to fall into such a state?

Existing matters will inevitably repeat, this is the norm. No matter the restraint, even decades happen just once, but if interference with time occurs, the corresponding dire consequences will undeniably manifest in the future!

Yet the Chosen Ones, once they rely on time, already show that things have escalated to a certain extent, with no other solutions left!

There is simply no small issue!

Initially, perhaps it's for loved ones, ideals, or a future of bright justice, but eventually, things will spiral out of control, waking up to realize that their 'time is running out'.

"Time is equal, Ji Jue, it is for everyone, the more you interfere with time, the more your own time gets disturbed...

If you wish to take risks, you must pay dearly, borrow loans from the future through seemingly convenient methods.

But the loan amount is never yours to set, and the interest will only increase until you can no longer pay, get completely crushed, lose control, becoming a repayment slave tearing down eastern walls to fix western ones throughout your remaining life."

Once crushed by your own 'debt', you degenerate into an insect, your time begins to rapidly evaporate under the violent attraction of the Shadow Sun.

To continue sustaining yourself, you must constantly use others' time as replenishment.

This is the ironic part, looking like the least bound by space and time, the insects, are actually each short-lived and doomed, having to exhaustively use their every second in the most critical way!

The dispatcher suddenly asked, "Do you remember why Cancha was attracted to that kid from your family? Why even when risking being lured, it refused to give up?

Now, look again at these eggs going completely frantic and desperate after seeing you; with your ability, can't you see the answer?"

After a brief silence, Ji Jue finally came to realize.

"It... wants to seize the youngster's time!"