None of those from the four great sects with cultivation bases lower than the God domain dared to enter the area where Mo Heng and Grand Monarch Primal Demon were engaged in a fierce battle.
After all, a mere wisp of their violent flesh power or pure spiritual power could cause Saint domain cultivators injuries that would be hard to heal.
For that reason, none of the Saint domain observers dared to enter the battle zone in their flesh forms.
Instead, they cast profound magics that were similar to the Star Eyes, and sensed the changes in the battle zone from a safe distance.
At this moment, their shrewd perception allowed them to detect the unusual time power fluctuations.
Time power was the most mysterious power there was in heaven and earth.
Those who were able to solve the wonders of time power and practice it were as rare as phoenix feathers or qilin horns throughout the history of mankind. It seemed that they only existed in legends.
Therefore, everyone was shocked upon realizing that someone had channeled from the river of time and mastered time power.
It wasn’t very long before numerous fancy air-transportation spiritual tools were gathered around the mountaintop where Nie Tian and Wu Ji were. Some experts just floated in the air without external help. All of them were renowned figures from across the human world.
Huang Jinnan, Lou Hongyan, Hou Chulan, He Lianxiong… as well as elders of the Five Element Sect, the Void Spirit Society, and the Heaven Span Pavilion.
Even Wei Lai, Yan Zhan, and other elders of the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace flew over from the distance.
They had been observing the battle from locations that were closer to the battle zone, but now they had all turned around and gathered to this place, all because of the unusual time power fluctuations they had sensed.
Upon arriving, they all fixed Wu Ji with deep, measuring looks.
At this point, Wu Ji had already withdrawn his gaze from Nie Tian’s eyes.
With the help of Time Trace, he had seen scenes of Nie Tian’s experiences in the depths of Nie Tian’s eyes, and learned all about his incredible encounters over the years.
Landing next to Nie Tian, Wei Lai fixed Wu Ji with a look and asked with a serious expression, “Nie Tian, this is…”
“My master from the Domain of the Falling Stars,” Nie Tian answered.
Many of those who had just gathered to this place marveled like Dou Tianchen had. “His master…”
Dou Tianchen smiled as he stepped forward and explained to Wei Lai, Yan Zhan, and the other new arrivals, “He sensed my seventh martial brother’s arrival, and thus came over here from that ethereal river of time. He only wanted to see and catch up with my seventh martial brother. Who would have thought that would stir so many of you?”
Upon hearing these words, the crowd of Divine Sons and Daughters and Saint domain experts gasped and clamored.
“The river of time?!”
“He channeled the river of time?!”
Wei Lai’s face grew even more serious as he looked at Wu Ji now. He even seemed a bit apprehensive.
“Elders…” Rubbing his chin, Nie Tian looked somewhat displeased. “You didn’t all come here because you’re unhappy about my master being here, did you?”
“You’ve misunderstood,” Yan Zhan said hastily. “We’re not unhappy at all. We were just shocked. After all, the river of time is said to be extremely difficult to channel. Those who can must have unearthly talents. Usually, hundreds of thousands of years goes by without a single person winning its acknowledgment.”
Nie Tian was taken aback. “Hundreds of thousands of years…”
Since Wu Ji was Nie Tian’s master from the Domain of the Falling Stars, those from the Void Spirit Society, the Five Elements Sect, and the Heaven Span Pavilion quietly gathered around the mountaintop, even though they were also full of questions.
They deemed that it would be more appropriate for Wei Lai and Yan Zhan to ask the questions.
After a moment of hesitation, Wei Lai fixed Wu Ji with a somewhat embarrassed look and said, “There’s a saying about the river of time that those who can establish connections with the river of time will be able to see into the past, examine the present, and even peek into the future…”
Wu Ji pondered briefly, then nodded. “It’s fairly easy to see into the past. But a great price has to be paid if I want to peek into the future.
“And since the future isn’t unchangeable, what I see is not necessarily what will happen.
“What’s in the past can’t be changed.
“However, the future is full of possibilities, and can be influenced or altered.”
These words revealed Wu Ji’s profound knowledge of time power.
“The past can’t be changed, but the future can…” Many Saint domain experts and talented chosen ones from the four great sects had contemplative expressions on their face, as if they were attempting to understand a bit about the wonders of time power themselves.
“Well…” Wei Lai said with a wry smile, as even he himself reckoned what he was about to ask was inappropriate. “Is it possible for you to peek into the future to see the result of the battle between our grand elder and Grand Monarch Primal Demon? We really want to know whether our grand elder will survive the duel.”
Upon hearing this, everyone understood what Wei Lai had been meaning to ask, and why he had been so hesitant.
As Wu Ji had said, it was fairly easy to see into the past.
Just earlier, he had cast Time Trace, and seen what Nie Tian had experienced over the years without much effort.
However, if he wanted to see into the future, he would have to pay a heavy price, even with the help of the river of time.
Meanwhile, it was understandable that the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace was eager to learn the result of the battle between their grand elder and Grand Monarch Primal Demon.
If they knew that Mo Heng was going to die, and since the future was changeable, perhaps there was something they could do something to prevent that from happening…
After all, Mo Heng would be considered victorious as long as he survived the duel. Even if he lost, the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace’s profound reserve power would give him unlimited possibilities.
“Peeking into the future…” Wu Ji gazed up in the direction where he had come from, and could vaguely sense the existence of the river of time. “I’ve actually never tried it before, but I did derive a method from the river of time. It’s just that the cost…”
A bitter expression appeared on his face.
“Whatever it is, I’m sure our sect will be able to provide,” Dou Tianchen said hastily.
The others chimed in, agreeing with him.
Wu Ji said a word with great weight. “Lifespan.”
“Lifespan?!”
“That’s the most valuable thing for cultivators like us!”
“What?!”
After a clamor of astonishment, the crowd fell silent again.
Humanity’s greatest weakness lay in their limited lifespans. Their cultivation bases were usually limited by their lifespans. They could easily run out of their lifespan before their next breakthrough in cultivation.
Furthermore, treasures like Fruits of Life that could extend one’s lifespan were extremely hard to find. Those that had been found had been mostly consumed.
Many powerful experts from the four great sects were currently facing insufficient lifespans, and were seeking to extend their lifespans by making new breakthroughs in their cultivation.
Any treasure that could prolong their lifespans would be taken to them as soon as they were discovered.
Wei Lai, Dou Tianchen, and the others remained silent as they searched their memories for such treasures that their sect might have in stock. However, it appeared that they had none left.
Furthermore, they hadn’t learned how much lifespan it would cost Wu Ji to peek into the future with the help of the river of time.
Among everyone present, Nie Tian was the only one who had a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth upon hearing the word ‘lifespan’.
“So it costs lifespan to see into the future. Limited lifespans are humanity’s greatest weakness and shackle.”
“However, that’s a problem I can solve…”
As his train of thought came to this point, he suddenly realized something.
He jerked his head towards Wu Ji.
Wu Ji was looking at the ground, as if there was nothing he could do to solve that problem.
Apparently, he didn’t want to get a glimpse of the result of Mo Heng’s battle at the cost of his own lifespan.
However, he had just seen what Nie Tian had experienced over the years with Time Trace.
He must have seen the time when he had activated Life Grant to prolong Master Blood Spirit’s lifespan with his Blood Essence.
He must know that he had a solution to the lifespan he would consume to peek into the future.
So…
Nie Tian suddenly realized that Wu Ji must have a plan by putting this problem forth.
Wei Lai sighed and shook his head. “I suppose what I’m asking is a bit too much. After all, lifespans are far too important for cultivators. Even our sect has run out of such lifespan-prolonging treasures long ago. I’m sorry. That’s a price we can’t pay.”
Wu Ji looked up at Wei Lai and said, “Perhaps I can try and see if I can help you out this time. I’ve made a series of breakthroughs lately, which have pushed the limits of my lifespan by a large extent. And I have a feeling that it won’t be long before I enter the Saint domain.
“Once I do, my lifespan will be further prolonged.”
Upon hearing these words, all of the elders and Sons of the Stars of the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace were greatly spirited, their eyes lighting up.
“So what do you want us to do for you?” Wei Lai asked with all seriousness.
