The masked figure exuded a formidable aura, and his words were sharp. He thought that this could be an opportunity to let this border world bumpkin know how huge the universe was. Little did he expect to be faced with a sharp blade of sword ki.
Shang Hongyu was awed by the blinding sword. Ah Zu’s swordsmanship proficiency has advanced considerably. I could still barely understand his swordsmanship before, but now, he has already surpassed this world’s limits.
She knew that if she were in the masked figure’s place, she would have been sliced in two before she could make sense of what was happening.
However, her smile soon froze. The masked figure casually tilted his body, and the sword ki simply passed by him.
Zu An frowned too, but his sword ki didn’t stop there. It abruptly changed its trajectory to move upward.
But once again, the masked figure casually stepped back and avoided the attack.
Zu An unleashed several more attacks, but the other party could always avoid his attacks using the subtlest movements.
Shang Hongyu was stunned. The first time could have been a coincidence, but the other party pulled it off every time. It showed how sharp the masked figure’s judgment was. She didn’t want to admit it, but the other party’s swordsmanship proficiency likely far surpassed Zu An’s. The difference could even be at a fundamental level.
Zu An was shaken up too. Could the power levels in the universe be so drastically different?
When he saw Zu An stop his aggression, the masked figure smiled. “Do you see now that my words are no lie...”
“What you lookin’ at?”
“I’m looking at you, shithead!”
The masked figure was interrupted by the ‘What you lookin’ at’ ability before he could finish his sentence. Zu An didn’t hesitate to use this opportunity to strike. He drew the Tai’e Sword and created countless afterimages to attack the masked figure from all directions.
Initially, the masked figure could still dodge his attacks with casual steps, but over time, his dodging stances became increasingly flustered. He was no longer as relaxed as before.
Shang Hongyu also began singing, layering debuffs on the masked man. She knew that with her current cultivation, engaging the masked figure close up would only result in her being one-shot, so she wisely focused on supporting Zu An instead. Fortunately, the Mermaid race was skilled in support.
The masked figure was already flustered from Zu An’s attack. Shang Hongyu’s intervention placed him in a dangerous position. He immediately retaliated by drawing a brush to deflect Zu An’s sword. At the same time, he flipped open a book and chanted aloud, “Fear arrogance and shackle yourself with humility. Fear narrow-mindedness and be all-embracing like the ocean...”
His forceful words evoked a harrumph from Shang Hongyu as fresh blood seeped from her lips. She had suffered a backlash from the other party’s soulspeak.
“What you lookin’ at?”
“I’m looking at you, shithead!”
...
Zu An hurriedly interrupted the other party’s soulspeak before rushing to Shang Hongyu’s side to examine her condition. Upon confirming that she hadn’t hurt her cultivation base, he exhaled in relief.
The masked figure secretly wiped off his sweat. He didn’t use this opportunity to attack Zu An. “How did you know I couldn’t dodge the subsequent attacks?”
His earlier trick had never failed him. He had used it countless times and shattered many dao hearts, leaving his enemies with no fighting spirit.
Zu An laughed. “I have met and fought many powerful entities, and I don’t believe you’re stronger than them. You probably have an ability to foresee the future, allowing you to predict my attacks, but such abilities either have restrictions or come at a cost. That’s why I sped up my attacks to test your limit. Clearly, I have overestimated you.”
The masked figure fell silent for a moment before replying, “You’re right. I have such an ability. It’s called ‘Constellation Reading’. It allows me to foresee the enemy’s next move. You have an unwavering heart and sharp wits. Such traits are rare in the world. I am in awe.”
He hadn’t revealed the downsides of the ability, but Zu An had hit the nail on the head.
Zu An calmly replied, “The pleasantries are belated.”
The masked figure held a brush in one hand and a book in the other, looking as relaxed as ever. “You might have seen through one of my abilities, but surely you don’t think you can apprehend me with just this much.”
“How would I know if I don’t give it a try?” Zu An took out a formation plate and moved his hands so quickly that they formed afterimages. In the blink of an eye, he constructed a formation channeling the energies of the nearby islands, mountains, and ocean to trap the masked figure.
As the world’s master, he already wielded the ability to control the laws of the world. With the support of his formation, he could intertwine the formation’s laws with the laws of physics.
The masked figure suddenly couldn’t sustain his flight anymore and plummeted into the raging ocean.
“Let history be the mirror that pierces through the veil!” a calm voice echoed.
A light shone amid the waves. The light slowly intensified, which revealed the masked figure’s silhouette in the water. He was upside down like a hanged man, but he remained calm. He flipped open his book as he casually walked on the waves.
The scenery suddenly distorted. A second later, he suddenly emerged from the formation, regaining his previous stance.
Zu An suddenly realized something. “You’re a Time Scribe?”
The other party’s clothes and skills resembled that of the Time Scribe he'd met in the Monster World. With this realization, he finally understood why the other party was after Shang Hongyu. Sun Goddess Xihe had killed that Time Scribe in the Celestial Court world, and Shang Hongyu was Xihe’s incarnation. No wonder the masked figure had come looking for Shang Hongyu!
“Time Scribe?” Those words appeared to agitate the masked figure. He vehemently shook his head as he shouted, “No no no, I’m nothing like those hateful things! I am a Mirror Scribe!”
Zu An was startled by the masked figure's intense disgust. “Is there a difference?” Why are you coming after us if you aren’t on the same side?
“Of course there’s a difference!” the masked figure shrieked. “We, the Mirror Scribes, record true history, whereas the Time Scribes alter history at their whim. They are our nemeses, so how can we be the same?”
“Alter history?” Zu An was perplexed. Is what I did in the other spacetimes considered altering history?
“Hold on, how do you know about the Time Scribes?” The masked figure eyed the duo with suspicion.
“We crossed paths with one recently. You said you wanted to avenge your comrade, so I wondered if it was him.” Zu An and Shang Hongyu exchanged looks.
The masked figure widened his eyes. “Could that fellow be a spy?!”