Chapter 122 - 121: Zhuang Zhou’s Butterfly Dream

Chapter 122: Chapter 121: Zhuang Zhou’s Butterfly Dream

Flying swords filled the sky, their movements as fluid as if they’d been programmed.

One by one, the test targets hanging in the test field were obliterated.

Drones swarming from all directions were helpless before the flying swords. They were shot down one after another, unable to even get close to Li Ye on the ground.

In just a few moments, Li Ye had left the entire test field in shambles.

Yang Feng and the technicians watching from behind the scenes were left breathless, gasping in astonishment. The values scrolling across the supercomputer’s screen had already blown past their limits.

...

"Li Ye, do you have any other methods of attack?" Yang Feng’s voice boomed from the loudspeaker. "If so, please continue the test."

"That’s all. I’m just a Sword Cultivator," Li Ye replied.

’He couldn’t hide his cultivation level, but he could certainly hide his various techniques.’

’Especially his Simulation Technique. That was his private patent, and he had absolutely no intention of handing it over.’

...

Next, Li Ye’s Sword Box and the remaining Storage Pouches—which contained plenty of Spirit Stones, Elixir Pills, talismans, flying swords, and the like—were all confiscated by Yang Feng, including the pouches themselves, and handed over to the technical staff for research.

Li Ye didn’t mind.

After all.

’Most of these items get lost in the chaotic currents of spacetime during a jump. It’s not like I could take them with me next time anyway.’

’It was better to hand them over and curry some favor.’

’Isn’t that exactly why he’d gathered so many Storage Pouches before coming back?’

’As for the Sword Box, he didn’t care about handing it over. It required a Harmonization Realm cultivation level to even operate.’

’At this stage on Earth, no one but him could use it. It would still be his when he returned.’

’Besides, after traveling through a few more worlds, he might not even give a damn about that Sword Box anymore.’

...

"Storage Pouches, Spirit Stones, Elixir Pills, a Harmonization Realm Cultivation Technique..." Yang Feng looked at Li Ye, as excited as a child. "Li Ye, I knew you were someone who could perform miracles! Your contribution this time is immense."

"Do you have any idea? The things you’ve brought back can elevate our national strength by at least three tiers."

"I’m just glad I could help," Li Ye said with a smile.

"Quick, tell me, what exactly did you go through in the last world? What kind of Derived Skills did you awaken?" Yang Feng asked.

"I was pretty lucky this time. I arrived in a marketplace for Cultivators. There, I met a Cultivator named Yang Tianrui, and thanks to the Mental Tranquility Spell, he got me into a Sect called the Cyan Sun Sect..."

Gazing at the nearby camera, Li Ye slowly recounted his experiences from the previous world, albeit with a few alterations. For instance, he changed the Cyan Sun Sect from a subordinate of a Daoist sect to a subordinate of the Sword Sect.

After all, he was now presenting himself as a Sword Cultivator.

But these were minor, harmless details that didn’t affect the main plot of his story.

In Li Ye’s telling, he used the Wenda Alliance to gather a group of like-minded companions. By promoting the watch, he successfully drew the attention of the Wenda Alliance’s leadership. Step by step, he integrated himself into the world’s main plotline, eventually becoming a high-ranking member of the Sword Sect.

In the end, he allied with the Upper Three Sects and used the watch’s one-second Time Acceleration to eliminate the Ninth Elder, who possessed another Demon Puppet Silk.

The story was full of ups and downs, leaving Yang Feng in awe. During the exciting parts, his face lit up, and he looked as if he wished he could have been the one to experience it all.

"Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Quick-witted and adaptable... Li Ye, it would be a waste of talent for you to be anything but a Time Traveler," Yang Feng said, looking at him with a hint of regret. "It’s just a shame the Derived Skills you awakened aren’t very good."

"Yeah," Li Ye sighed in agreement. "When I chose the watch, I was hoping to awaken one or two time-related Derived Skills. I didn’t think I’d get one that *was* time-related, but it’s Precise Timing, which is pretty damn useless."

"If it weren’t for ’Taking One for the Team’ from the last world, which helped me raise my strength, I’m not sure I would’ve made it back alive this time."

He concealed his Time Immunity Derived Skill, revealing only Stars Surrounding the Moon and Precise Timing.

Both of those Derived Skills were practically useless, so there was no point in hiding them.

Stars Surrounding the Moon only worked when he was in a position of leadership, and there was no way he would ever become a leader in the Demon Hunting Bureau.

As for Precise Timing, it was just a timekeeping ability.

And Time Immunity was even more useless unless he ran into some powerhouse who could control time. The Time Stop ability came from the watch, not from him.

’You could say all three Derived Skills I awakened in the last world were pretty useless.’

...

"You can’t say that. At least Precise Timing can help you in combat," Yang Feng said with a comforting smile. "None of the other Demon Hunters using the watches have awakened a single Derived Skill!"

"Besides, you already have four Derived Skills. After a few more trips, you’ll probably hold the record for the most Derived Skills in the entire Demon Hunting Bureau."

"I hope so," Li Ye said. "Director Yang, could you let me use the Team Emblem again?"

"Why?" Yang Feng countered. "A Demon Hunter is not allowed to use the same demonic artifact twice. That’s the rule."

"’Taking One for the Team’ helps my teammates and I increase our strength at the same time. It’s how I reached the Harmonization Realm," Li Ye said with a wry smile. "But I had no idea the skill consumed Demon Qi."

"In the last world, I used the skill so often that the Demon Qi the Team Emblem left in my body is almost completely gone."

"I was hoping to use the Team Emblem to recharge it. Otherwise, I don’t know how I’ll manage in the next world."

"You know how it is—as time goes on, the demons only get more powerful. If I run into a strong one, I’m afraid I won’t be coming back."

"’Taking One for the Team’ consumes the Demon Qi from the Derived Skill?" Yang Feng was stunned.

"Yes, I didn’t expect it either," Li Ye sighed. "It’s probably because I used it so frequently. After all, I managed to raise my cultivation to the Harmonization Realm in a single year. If you let me use the Team Emblem to replenish my Demon Qi, I guarantee I’ll bring back even more resources next time."

"That is a problem. I was hoping you could use that Derived Skill to help our Demon Hunters raise their Skill Levels, but it seems that’s off the table now." Yang Feng looked at Li Ye apologetically. "Given your situation and your immense contributions, making an exception for you wouldn’t be an issue. The problem is... the Team Emblem was already taken by another Time Traveler."

"Huh?" Li Ye’s brow furrowed. "Director Yang, you’re not pulling my leg, are you? My contribution this time was significant. I single-handedly brought back the Secret Manuals of an entire Sect..."

"Li Ye, I know you made a huge contribution, but the Team Emblem was genuinely taken by a Time Traveler," Yang Feng said. "I have no reason to lie. The records are in the Monster Room."

"The Team Emblem is such a powerful demonic artifact, and you were willing to let it go?" Li Ye was aghast. "It can help the whole team build up Demon Qi!"

"It could in the beginning, but not anymore," Yang Feng said. "It’s likely just as you described—the Demon Qi consumption was too high, and with no way to replenish it, it stopped working. After all, last time you mobilized the resources of an entire world to help the Team Emblem recharge its Demon Qi. We don’t have that luxury."

’Son of a bitch!’

’The Team Emblem must have done this deliberately.’

’That thing has regained its intelligence and is hell-bent on escaping the Demon Suppression Tower to find a suitable world to call home.’

’How could it possibly be content serving the people on Earth indefinitely?’

Li Ye understood the reason almost instantly.

’I hope the world the Team Emblem went to isn’t too nice, and that the Time Traveler brings it back!’

’Otherwise, I’m afraid this "Taking One for the Team" skill is going to become a truly Limited Skill.’

’No, not just a Limited Skill.’

’It’ll be a skill I can never use again, because it also consumes the Demon Qi stored in my other Derived Skills.’

’If it burns through the Demon Qi for my Space-Time Immunity and I can’t find the watch to recharge, then no matter how many Derived Skills I collect, this one ability could ruin them all...’

At this thought, Li Ye suddenly wasn’t so bothered by the Team Emblem’s absence.

"Demonic artifacts are always prioritized for Time Traveler use," Yang Feng explained awkwardly, sensing Li Ye’s disbelief. "Of course, we also hoped that by having a Time Traveler take the Team Emblem to a new world, it might get a chance to fully recharge its Demon Qi and be brought back for us to use again."

"As you said, the thing is just too useful. Nobody wants to see it become a dud."

"If it’s gone, it’s gone." Li Ye shook his head, feigning indifference. "I can’t rely on a single Derived Skill for everything anyway. Worst case, I’ll just have to awaken new ones."

"Li Ye, I’m glad you can see it that way," Yang Feng said with an apologetic smile. "But I will pass your request up the chain. When you return, if the Team Emblem is back, we will absolutely prioritize letting you recharge."

"Mm," Li Ye nodded, his expression completely noncommittal.

Sensing Li Ye’s foul mood, Yang Feng grew even more awkward. "Li Ye, don’t be so resentful. Is there anything else you want? We can grant any other requests."

"The Sword Sect’s legacy comes from Zhou Qingyun, and the Buddhist Sect’s from Amitabha Buddha." Li Ye looked up at Yang Feng, changing the subject. "There’s clearly a connection between our two universes. Does the Demon Hunting Bureau have any data on this?"

"We do," Yang Feng said after a moment’s pause. "Other Time Travelers have found legends of many mythological figures in other worlds—the Eight Immortals, the Underworld, and so on. Considering Earth’s civilization is much younger than that other world, we suspect that Earth’s myths and legends most likely originated from another universe."

"I can understand the Eight Immortals and the Underworld, but what about *Swordsmen of Mount Shu*?" Li Ye asked. "Zhou Qingyun is clearly a character from a novel, a work of fiction."

"The worlds I’ve visited have, at most, one or two mythological figures, yet Earth has nearly complete lineages and traditions based on them."

"Don’t tell me Earth is actually the center of the universe, and all those legendary Immortals really paid a visit, even establishing the Celestial Court and Spirit Mountain right here..."

"Have you ever heard of Zhuang Zhou’s Butterfly Dream?" Yang Feng countered, looking at Li Ye.

"What do you mean?" Li Ye froze.

"Earth is ages behind that other universe, so it can’t possibly be the center," Yang Feng said. "Our scientists speculate that some people from our world unconsciously projected their consciousness into that other universe. They witnessed certain events, and upon their return, they created those written records and founded various religious organizations..."

"How do you explain the timeline, then?" Li Ye asked.

"In nature, lightning and magnetic ores can create electromagnetic effects that record events from a certain period. Under specific conditions, these recordings can replay, showing scenes like ancient battles or the passing of Yin Soldiers..." Yang Feng explained.

"Does that sound reasonable to you?" Li Ye cut him off, speechless.

"Not in the slightest," Yang Feng admitted with a dry laugh. "Our scientists can only make deductions and analyses based on the information you all bring back. The real work of uncovering the truth falls to you, because you’re the ones experiencing it firsthand."

"Perhaps uncovering that truth is the only way to truly resolve the hidden threats facing Earth."

"The Demon Hunting Bureau has never fully believed that the Demon Suppression Tower and Pandora’s Box can re-seal all the Demon Qi once it’s been collected. Even if it’s possible, accomplishing that task would be nearly impossible."

"Li Ye, the Time Travelers are humanity’s only hope..."