https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-514-Fishing-for-Fifty-Thousand-Years/13451942/
Chapter 515: True Face of Time
Chapter 515: True Face of Time
The Time Essence Divine Tree remained silent. Before her, in the sky above this secret realm, shards of time began to appear.
The fragments depicted the young man's life from his 1st Rank stage.
In the Imperial Hall, the infant in his arms was given a name, and from the moment of his birth, he was known across the empire by imperial decree.
Born into a glorious manor, countless people envied him, his life destined to be filled with endless honor and wealth.
Yet, his courtyard was extremely simple, reflecting the frugal ways of his military noble family.
He played chess, fished, and romped around...
He did not cultivate like other children, nor did he train in horseback riding, archery, or study military strategy and combat techniques.
Born unable to Foundation Build or War Body, he could grasp all kinds of Sword Techniques and Cultivation Techniques at a glance.
Despite having a background that many envied, he lived a simple life.
Until his distant relatives returned victorious from their expedition, the young man's fate took a turn. The glory of the War God shone over Qingzhou City, and the snow of Early Winter fell early, covering the footprints the young man left as he stepped out of his manor...
The Time Essence Divine Tree silently observed these flying shards of time. She could tell that this young man was a reincarnation, with an unusual early wisdom that could not be explained by mere talent.
However, despite his life being extremely glorious, it was not a happy one.
As a time essence tree, she had seen many prodigies and their pasts.
Some suffered great hardships, losing both parents from a young age, like a star of misfortune, yet they rose from adversity, found opportunities, and mentors, and eventually shone across the land.
Others were born into the Imperial Clan, with countless opportunities and a life of comfort, but their minds were resolute, unswayed by external temptations, and they ultimately forged their own cultivation paths.
Still others bore deep blood feuds, suffering various abuses from a young age, yet they fought their way out, breaking free from their cages!
She had seen all kinds of bizarre backgrounds.
To her, the young man's birth was nothing extraordinary.
The so-called glorious Divine General Manor was, in her eyes, just a scrap of royal brocade, nothing special.
If the young man had smoothly progressed through the Divine General Manor or faced some setbacks and ultimately risen from adversity, she would not have cared.
She had seen too many such examples.
But this young man was different.
To say he suffered was not quite accurate, as he had a life of luxury from a young age.
To say he was happy was also not true, as the childhood companions who cared for him eventually left him, embarking on their own paths.
In the end, he could not even keep his own name, and his situation was even worse than those who bore deep blood feuds.
She saw only sorrow and the solitude of a lone figure in the world.
In the vast river of time, no matter how brilliant one's life, it would ultimately end in annihilation.
No matter how extraordinary a prodigy, they would eventually become withered bones.
No matter how powerful an emperor, suppressing the world, they would ultimately fall and fade into nothingness.
Time leaves nothing behind, only the end of countless brilliant, happy, hopeful, and striving lives—annihilation.
This is the fate of all things, a sorrow and a loneliness.
The young man seemed like a miniature reflection, a drop of amber falling into her heart, stirring a moment of emotion and contemplation.
"Looks like you're not as cold-hearted and impartial as I thought, Sister. You do have exceptions."
The Space Essence Tree Incarnation smiled gently.
The Time Essence Divine Tree's gaze returned, focusing on the shards of time showing the young man's battles against demons in the Mortal World Imperial Dynasty.
She whispered, "You gave him the Divine Tree Dao Fruit so easily, without even a contract. That's not like you."
"Gentleness is the sharpest blade. The young man received help from the five in Five Dao Origin City, and I secretly probed him. Don't forget, after spending so much time with you, I've learned a little about time."
The Space Primordial Dao Tree Incarnation smiled.
The Time Essence Divine Tree looked at her sister, knowing that beneath her gentle appearance, she was the sharpest and most ruthless in the world.
"Are you feeling sympathy for him, Sister? The young man's life is indeed difficult. I've seen prodigies who suffered greatly, some who lost their parents at a young age and were sold to lowly kilns, enduring all kinds of abuse. But those were just pain and hatred. This young man's situation is hard to describe."
The Space Primordial Dao Tree said.
Time Essence Divine Tree remained silent, knowing that pain and sorrow were two different feelings.
Pain is the act of holding on, while sorrow is the act of letting go.
"Sympathy? Do you think I would feel that?"
Time Essence Divine Tree heard her sister's mocking voice, but her eyes turned cold as she said, "Can't you see that there's an extraordinary Power watching over this young man?"
"Is Sister interested in that extraordinary Power?"
Space Primordial Dao Tree raised her eyebrows slightly. Knowing her sister well, she was eighty percent sure that was the case.
Sympathy, as a feeling, was impossible for her sister, who had witnessed countless ages.
"Even I can't discern his past identity, but he can master numerous cultivation techniques at a glance, which means he must have retained his memories from his previous life. His cultivation in his past life wasn't low either."
Time Essence Divine Tree believed that Li Hao was a reincarnated strong individual, and such a situation wasn't uncommon. Many prodigies or powerful figures reincarnated into major clans for certain bloodlines, a practice that wasn't unusual. However, it required prior negotiation with the major clans; otherwise, if the clans discovered it, it could lead to disaster.
In the True World, major clans would measure the soul age of children from a young age, and a normal child's soul age would match their actual age.
But for a reincarnated person, their soul age would not.
This helped prevent powerful individuals from reincarnating and becoming spies for the major clans.
Those who had negotiated in advance would be carefully nurtured from a young age, essentially forming a partnership.
"Indeed, that is quite incredible. To block Sister's probing, it would at least require an Immortal King Realm Eighth Level or higher, perhaps even higher!"
Space Primordial Dao Tree said with a serious expression.
Time Essence Divine Tree said coldly, "Moreover, some First Rank shards of time are restricted by a certain Power, unable to manifest. He fell into that forbidden demon valley, yet managed to climb out. There must be a reason. He must have inherited a significant legacy. From his performance, it could be the legacy of a top-tier Immortal King Realm powerhouse, or even the legacy left by the Emperor who created that pseudo-realm."
Space Primordial Dao Tree's eyes flickered, and she nodded slightly, not doubting this hypothesis.
"If he truly obtained that Emperor's legacy, with his talent, he could very well forge his own path and become a new Emperor. Granting him a portion of Nectar would be worth it."
Time Essence Divine Tree said.
Space Primordial Dao Tree said softly, "It's uncertain if he can find his own opportunity. Relying solely on the Nine Sequences Immortal Seal is still insufficient. Without refining it into a Dao Source Immortal Seal, he has no hope."
"Time is still on his side. Although the Immortal Lord Realm immortal seal is fixed and cannot be changed, the Nine Sequences transforming into a Dao Origin is a different matter. As long as he doesn't reach the Immortal King Realm and his immortal seal hasn't transformed into an Immortal Kingdom, it's still possible!"
Time Essence Divine Tree said.
"His soul age is only a century, yet he is a prodigious talent, having reached the peak of the Immortal Lord Realm. Even at the fastest pace, it would take a thousand years, which should be enough. I hope he doesn't end up like those other prodigies who fade away midway."
Space Primordial Dao Tree said, shaking her head and sighing lightly.
They had seen many prodigies who initially advanced rapidly, leaving everyone in awe, but then faced setbacks, never recovering, or getting stuck at a certain bottleneck, gradually becoming mediocre over time.
Time Essence Divine Tree remained silent, her gaze fixed on the shards of time, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.
...
On the Time Essence Divine Tree.
Li Hao, having obtained the time Nectar, wasted no time and immediately consumed it on the Divine Tree.
As the Nectar flowed into his body, a great aura of the Time Great Dao permeated his entire being. His pores seemed to tremble, as if he were undergoing a baptism by the river of time.
His body felt like it was turning into countless grains of sand, merging with the surrounding tidal waves of time. Every grain of sand and every inch of his skin delicately felt the nuances of the Time Essence Great Dao.
Immersed in this delicate sensation, Li Hao gradually realized that the river of time wasn't a linear flow from its source, continuously moving forward.
Time was a constant, yet chaotic power.
It seemed to be a cycle, endlessly repeating.
The endpoint is the beginning, and the beginning is the endpoint.
Or perhaps, time is a painting.
Wherever your gaze lands, that is the origin!
With this realization, Li Hao suddenly felt a chill. If this were true, wouldn't it mean that everything was predetermined?
If one has an extremely strong grasp of time, could they even wander through the river of time?
Would the past still be called the past?
Would the future still be called the future?
If the past is the future and the future is the past, who am I?
Every pore on his body was trembling, but at this moment, he felt lost, terrified, and awe-struck, a feeling that was hard to describe.
Earlier, he had only sensed the vastness of the Time Essence Great Dao, but now he truly felt it enveloping him. In the river of time, he was just a speck of dust!
See true self, know vastness!
At this moment, Li Hao truly transcended the third level of the Time Essence Great Dao, catching a glimpse of the true veil of time!
Soon, it seemed only a brief moment had passed, and Li Hao was squeezed out of the vast torrent of time. He felt drained, his body filled with terror, fear, and trembling.
But at the same time, his understanding of the Time Essence had undergone a qualitative leap compared to before.
Time is not a continuous flow, but is static!!
When he realized this, his Time Essence advanced from the third level to the fourth, truly entering the hall of mastery and gaining control over the Time Essence!
Li Hao sat on a branch, not feeling the joy of a realm breakthrough, but only a mix of shock and complexity. If everything is static, what is the point of one's struggles and the countless people's efforts in cultivation?
If everything has a predetermined outcome, what is the meaning of all the hardships and struggles?
Perhaps, the lack of meaning is the meaning that time gives?!
He sat there, lost in thought, completely forgetting that every second was precious cultivation time.
After a long time, a long time.
Li Hao gradually calmed down from his state of confusion, fear, and shock. A glimmer of relief slowly appeared in his eyes, grateful for his initial choice.
If everything is predetermined, if the end is the beginning, if everything has no meaning, then perhaps living a good life is the greatest meaning.
So, along his journey, watching the flowers bloom and the snow fall was not a waste of time, not a neglect of cultivation, but something he did because he enjoyed it. Thus, his life had a meaning of its own.
Thinking of this, he felt a sense of clarity and liberation, as if a voice that occasionally echoed in his heart, though often ignored, had finally vanished.
Since time is static, and everything has no meaning, then everything has meaning!
With this realization, he smiled, though a faint hum still resonated in his mind.
At this moment, his Dao Heart seemed to have undergone a cleansing by time, radiating a more brilliant light as it took another small step toward the highest Heavenly Dao Emperor Heart Realm.
This change in his Dao Heart did not directly enhance his strength, unless it was through certain Immortal Arts specifically targeting the Dao Heart.
In the Time Essence Divine Tree Secret Realm.
The Space Primordial Dao Tree watched the young man on the branch, whose expression kept changing, and couldn't help but laugh. She had seen this scene too many times and said:
"Sister, it seems your Nectar worked very well. His Time Essence realm has broken through to the fourth level, almost matching the level you bestowed with the Dao Fruit, right?"
The Time Essence Divine Tree gazed intently and said calmly:
"Only when he reaches the fifth level will he be qualified to eat my Dao Fruit. And I've run out of Dao Fruits. Unlike the five siblings in the Five Dao City, who can condense one every ten thousand years, it takes us thirty thousand years to refine one. The two I had accumulated were already given to that little girl."
"The one who recently traversed over? She indeed deserves it. I didn't expect her to survive that great battle. In this life, she might even achieve the Emperor realm, surpassing her Master!"
The Space Primordial Dao Tree said.
"Given the path she cultivates, it's difficult, but if she truly succeeds, she won't be an easy opponent even among Emperors."
The Time Essence Divine Tree said.
"Too bad for this little guy, he came a step too late. He has only glimpsed the tip of the iceberg of time and is probably trembling with fear right now. I wonder if his Dao Heart will deteriorate."
The Space Primordial Dao Tree looked at the young man, whose face showed shock and fear, and said with a teasing tone.
The Time Essence Divine Tree remained silent, having witnessed this scenario numerous times before. She knew that the Time Dao, in addition to being difficult to comprehend, becomes increasingly profound as one delves deeper into its mysteries. This often results in a complete overturning of one's previous perceptions, making it challenging for many to cope.
And Fate, standing at the pinnacle of all Dao, has driven countless prodigies mad. When one sees through Fate, it can drive them to insanity, with even more dire consequences.
As they conversed, the Time Essence Divine Tree suddenly noticed that the young man on the branch was gradually calming down and suddenly burst into laughter.
It was a laugh of relief and lightness, which left her momentarily stunned.
The Space Primordial Dao Tree was also taken aback, her eyes filled with surprise.
After a while, the Time Essence Divine Tree's lips curved into a rare smile, and she said calmly:
"It seems he is indeed different from the others. He deserves this Nectar."
The Space Primordial Dao Tree fell silent, her gaze fixed on the young man, her assessment of him rising even higher.
(End of Chapter)
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