Chapter 1509 - 814: Absorbing Yang Energy (Two-in-One)

The clear light shrouded them as they retreated swiftly through the chaotic, mottled Dream Sea.

Chen Yi's Sword Intent was restrained, protecting himself as he sharply surveyed the surroundings, the Dream Sea limitless, the path seemingly endless. Shattered pavilions, inverted mountains, frozen flames, faces silently wailing... All sorts of surreal dream fragments fluttered like snowflakes, only to be gently pushed aside by the clear light.

Retreating further, a peculiar feeling suddenly brushed over Chen Yi's mind.

The surrounding scenery... seemed increasingly familiar.

The half-floating pillar carved with Exotic Beasts, the copper mirror reflecting a vague smile, the bolls of shadowy light that continuously appeared and vanished like gray dandelions, and the pavilion where they once lingered...

The path they followed was precisely as it was before.

The female crown's Daoist robe fluttered, her complexion even more translucent than usual, eyes slightly closed, surrounded by shimmering clear light.

"Are we..." Chen Yi sent a voice transmission, "Returning the way we came?"

This return route, flawless as Taiyuan Road, was astonishing.

The Taichua Goddess glanced sideways at him, gently prompting:

"You are a stick of incense time younger than before."

Her voice resonated directly in his Heart Lake, more ethereal than usual.

Chen Yi was suddenly enlightened, realizing they were indeed traversing the River of Time countercurrently.

"Each step taken initially created ripples in the river, leaving reflections. Now, as we trace back and move upstream, we can return as if we never came.

...Thus, in this river, we never approached that Imperial Palace. No matter how great one's Divine Skills, in tracing cause and effect, can only find emptiness."

Seeing his enlightenment, Yin Weiyin ceased cryptically hinting, and after a brief pause, explained directly.

Before enlightenment, there was a need for hints, but once enlightened, everything was explained clearly.

This is called abandoning the ferry upon reaching the shore; can he perceive this deeper level?

Seeing Chen Yi deep in contemplation, Yin Weiyin sighed inwardly, clearly realizing he hadn't grasped her deeper meaning.

Unaware of the female crown's inner sigh, Chen Yi pondered the method of manipulating time; his comprehension of the River of Time was limited to a few rumors and its brief application in the Southern Border battle. Of the Bright Hall's brilliance, he only knew it was akin to "wishes coming true," never imagining this level of application.

Speaking of which, during the incident at the Annan Royal Mansion, he had asked Zhu E to contact Gongsun Guan for clarity, but the reply remained clouded in mystery, ambiguous in its wording.

Unexpectedly, on Great Yin's initial encounter with this, they seemed to grasp it more fluidly than his "Ming Venerable's true self."

He couldn't help but glance at Yin Weiyin's profile.

Her countenance remained serenely cool.

With the clear light flowing back, the Dream Sea surged and fell, time losing its measure here; it was unclear how long passed, perhaps a moment, or several hours.

Finally, the shimmering clear light around Yin Weiyin quivered slightly, and her floating figure came to a halt.

The two stopped.

They had returned to the starting point of this segment of the River of Time, precisely within the dreamscape where the Year Beast lurked. Looking around, the Year Beast's whereabouts were unknown, seemingly vanished.

Having traveled from afar safely, they paused briefly, where the clear light extended distantly, an endless horizon. Grand pavilions, carved with intricate balustrades like ocean waters, pressed against each other, gently undulating. Closer views showed clear outlines of their fluctuation, but further away, they became indistinct, perhaps due to the great distance, or simply unformed. Sometimes people aren't aware of their own thoughts, leading to uncertainty of what they dream, just knowing it's elusive, all wrapped in Chaos. Seawater extended in all directions, blending into a misty gray-white at the edge of vision, free of distinctions—no up or down, no cardinal directions.

Yin Weiyin glanced sideways at Chen Yi, recalling the "Celestial" character he wrote before, readying to reprimand him.

Now, in his guise as an eight-year-old child, it's akin to an Immortal enlightening a naive child.

Summoning the Immortal Palace, her state was no longer ordinary; Yin Weiyin discovered her mood akin to that of a True Immortal, possessing myriad wisdom, knowing the wondrous law of impermanence. It was the right time to speak, fortuitously having formed her thoughts.

The destiny led to this moment; it was time to speak.

"Do you know..."

Before she completed her sentence, a ball of light flew out from her body, landing in Chen Yi's palm.

Yin Weiyin was suddenly speechless.

In an instant, she forgot what she intended to say.

"Hmm?" Chen Yi looked at her, "Know what?"

Yin Weiyin furrowed her brow, frustration rising. He must have done it on purpose, guessing her intention to reprimand him, thus snatching away the light ball, and in a surge of emotion, she couldn't recall it.

She was genuinely angry now, yet might not be angry later, thinking of this fueled her frustration even more!

"Don't be angry." Chen Yi casually comforted, contemplating as he examined the light ball, "You mentioned inside this Dream Sea..."

"It won't!" The pitch was a bit high; Yin Weiyin calmed her tone, "At that time, I sensed... someone obscuring the Heavenly Secret, who seemed more intent than us on evading detection by the True Heavenly People." She accurately guessed his thoughts, predicting beforehand.

Chen Yi instantly recalled Yin Weiyin's words before they departed about someone stirring the River of Time, his eyes narrowed. To reach such a level would place one among the world's top ten, likely neither purely martial nor secular, neither wholly Buddha nor Dao.

Among the non-purely martial top ten, very few exist; only four out of ten align with this, excluding Zhou Yitang, Gongsun Guan, Xu Qi... leaving just one.

Yet, Chen Yi was instantly puzzled. Despite being fifth on the Martial Arts List, with a mystery like that of a dragon's tail never shown, must it be this way?