NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 283: The River of Time
Chapter 283: The River of Time
After everyone entered the passage carved out by the Origin Tracing Light, they were engulfed in complete darkness. Nothing was visible except the Origin Tracing Light, which resembled a small white dragon, tirelessly darting forward without an apparent destination.
“Where is this abnormally robust Origin Tracing Light taking us?”
“Be careful. I have a bad feeling!”
The Origin Tracing Realm experts wore grave expressions, seemingly facing such an unprecedented situation for the first time. Xu Lian and Ye Rushang also followed with caution.
No matter how much everyone increased their speed, they couldn’t catch up to the Origin Tracing Light at the front. It always maintained a constant distance, as if bound by an invisible limit.
Time passed—perhaps an hour, or maybe just an instant—and eventually, a speckled radiance appeared in the distance ahead.
Like a determined little white dragon, the Origin Tracing Light forged ahead without hesitation.
The powerful experts exchanged uncertain glances before reluctantly following.
As they approached the speckled light, the surrounding darkness gave way to a dramatic change. A large city – Wuguang City – suddenly came into view. Moments later, they were caught in a series of vivid scenes.
They saw the scene of mighty experts entering the passage carved by the Origin Tracing Light.
They saw Ye Rushang sending away his wife and daughter.
They saw Xu Lian leaping into the sky, grabbing at hundreds of streams of Origin Tracing Light.
They saw hundreds of Origin Tracing Lights appearing, neatly aligned.
They even saw the scene of Ye Rushang and his wife recommending their illegitimate daughter to Xu Lian.
And then scenes of powerful experts hiding in the ruins of Wuguang City to cultivate appeared…
Clearly, all these scenes were playing in reverse.
“This seems to be the legendary River of Time,” a female expert stammered, her voice trembling. “This Origin Tracing Light has taken us into the River of Time within Wuguang City, and we’re being carried upstream.”
At these words, the Origin Tracing Realm experts’ faces turned grim. Their bodies tensed as they quickly pulled out various weapons and artifacts, activating layers of protective secret techniques on themselves.
Ye Rushang also brought out a black war spear, gripping it tightly before donning a black suit of battle armor.
When Xu Lian saw this, he curiously asked, “Is the River of Time that dangerous?”
“Dangerous doesn’t even begin to describe it-it’s practically a one-way ticket to death!” Ye Rushang’s face was bitter. “Traveling upstream in the River of Time, if it’s only a few thousand or tens of thousands of years, it’s manageable. But the further back we go, the more certain it is that we’ll run into danger!
“Wuguang City was once the place where the Saints and the Supremes fought over the Origin Tracing Lights. If we end up in that era, their clashes will undoubtedly affect us.
“In the past, Wuguang City might have witnessed even worse disasters. Any of them could spell doom for us.”
Hearing this, Xu Lian felt a chill run through his body, his hair standing on end. Thankfully, he had two divine bones and the laws of the Divine Nation protecting him. Among all the experts present, he was probably the safest one. If even he couldn’t survive, then none of them could.
“Aren’t the scenes in the River of Time an illusion? Can events from the past really affect us? And… is there no way to leave the River of Time?” Xu Lian asked hastily.
Ye Rushang’s face turned pale, his eyes brimming with worry, anxiety, and unease. “The River of Time gets its name because it’s like swimming through actual time—there’s no difference from reality. The crises within it will, of course, affect us.
“Once you’re in the River of Time, you’re like a fish in the current. You can’t decide when to leave – it could end quickly, or you could spend your whole life trapped here, dying of old age.
“Of course, before you die of old age, you’ll probably face countless dangers and meet a tragic end.”
Xu Lian felt his heart sink even further. This was a disaster waiting to happen. Encountering hundreds of Origin Light Beacons at once was clearly not a stroke of luck.
Ye Rushang sighed heavily. “Son-in-law, with the protection of the Divine Kingdom’s laws, you have the best chance of surviving. If I perish in the river of time, I entrust my family to you. Please look after them.”
It was an unmistakable farewell. Ye Rushang’s pessimistic view of their situation left little hope for his own survival.
Xu Lian forced a smile. “Father-in-law, stay strong! You’ve only reached the sixth stage of the Origin Tracing Realm. You haven’t entered the Sage Realm, achieved supremacy, or embarked on the path to immortality yet. It’s not that easy for you to die!”
Ye Rushang’s eyes turned red. “The saying that entering the River of Time is a nine-in-ten chance of dying isn’t just an exaggeration. It’s documented in ancient texts.
“Promise me – on behalf of my daughter Qingyu and my little grandson – that you will protect my family.”
Xu Lian nodded. “All right. If anything happens to you, I’ll take Beining and the others to the Divine Clan’s ancestral land. It’s a safe place where they can cultivate in peace.”
Hearing this, Ye Rushang took a deep breath, the redness in his fiery eyes slowly receding. “I’m at ease with your word.
“I was born into a mid-tier family, endured countless trials, and managed to elevate myself to the Origin Tracing Realm, transforming my family into a prominent clan with a mighty expert.
“Later, I guarded Wuguang City for thousands of years, relying on scattered Origin Tracing Lights to reach the sixth stage.
“My life has been both arduous and glorious. I have no regrets. But if Heaven wants to take me, they’ll have to try harder!”
Xu Lian chuckled. “That’s the father-in-law I know! We’re not only going to survive this, we’re going to claim the Origin Tracing Lights!”
Ye Rushang regained his composure, his spirit rekindled. “Exactly! Not only will we survive, we’ll also take the Origin Tracing Lights!”
In just this brief exchange, the Origin Tracing Realm experts also steadied themselves. Despite their initial fear, they were seasoned veterans who were used to dealing with life and death situations.
By now, they had already traveled several decades upstream in the River of Time.
They had witnessed the scene where the “nest” of Origin Tracing Lights had last appeared.
The experts unleashed their speed techniques to the fullest, scattering like countless afterimages across the ruins of Wuguang City in search of the hiding place of the Origin Light Beacon.
One figure quietly entered a small courtyard, split open an ancient tree root, and revealed seven Origin Beacons.
Who else could it be but Xu Lian?
Feigning innocence, Xu Lian had cursed loudly at that time, “Damn it, who’s this lucky?!”
Seeing this scene, the experts of the Origin Tracing Realm froze in shock, their gazes unanimously locking onto Xu Lian.
Even Ye Rushang shot him a resentful look.
Another massive embarrassment… Xu Lian was mortified. Back then, he thought his actions had been discreet. And they had been – until the River of Time revealed everything in Wuguang City without exception.
Ye Rushang sighed. “Son-in-law, you haven’t done anything wrong. Who isn’t a little selfish? If I’d found a ‘nest’ of Origin Tracing Lights, I’d have hidden it too. I understand your actions.”
Hoping to avoid any rift with his father-in-law, Xu Lian explained, “At that time, I thought I’d secure my own cultivation first. Once I’m strong enough, I’ll help you compete for the Origin Tracing Lights.”
Half-convinced, Ye Rushang decided not to push any further. Even if Xu Lian was lying, he didn’t want to sow discord. With a faint smile, he said, “It’s the thought that counts.”
Sometimes, politeness—even if insincere—is better than hostility. After all, no one starts a confrontation with curses right off the bat. Humans are civilized; only beasts resort to biting at first sight.
The Origin Tracing Light continued forward, the River of Time flowing ever backward. No one knew which era they would eventually reach.