The twelve markers of the Doomsday Clock, each inhabited by an Ancient God, hold the power of time.
Twelve Ancient Gods, representing twelve skills! What a massive gain!
Chu Yi was immensely pleased.
But in the next moment, he frowned, discovering that the skills of these Ancient Ones had a usage limit; they were exhausted after only three or four uses.
Once depleted, the Ancient One would dissipate, and a new Ancient God would replace it on its designated marker, replenishing the number to twelve.
This also meant that the number of Ancient Ones whose power could be borrowed was not limited to twelve—perhaps even hundreds or thousands, an infinite number—but the limited uses made them seem rather underwhelming.
Chu Yi felt a complex array of emotions.
The Golden Body was lost, the prophecy was gone, and the Evil Fall Time Stop was also gone. However, comparatively, his overall power had significantly increased.
This reminded Chu Yi of Boundary Zuo Ci from that infamous card game, who could refresh transformation cards.
If I’ve killed everyone on the opposing side, do I even need the Golden Body?
Wait, can the Retrospect of the Clock Eye be used on a Deceit Beast?
Chu Yi calmed himself. A golden light of time enveloped the Clock Eye, dazzlingly brilliant, but there was no reaction.
Indeed, Retrospect cannot be used on Deceit Beasts.
Otherwise, Chu Yi could have returned to the first stage of the Clock Eye, re-establishing mastery over prophecy, the Golden Body, and Time Stop.
Suddenly, a spark of inspiration surged into his mind.
A beam of Twilight Light enveloped his entire body, returning him to his state from one minute ago.
He felt the changes throughout his body, but there was no actual alteration. The cycles of sun and moon began to turn, unleashing a series of Bika’s skills. A surging Crown Flame rose from behind him, transforming into an immense, mighty wild dragon that spiraled upwards!
"Bika, attack me," Chu Yi commanded, his entire demeanor like that of a deity wielding fire, his handsome face exuding a subtle majesty.
Understanding its master perfectly, Bika knew he was conducting an experiment. It immediately transformed into a Crown Flame Six-Tailed Fox. Six astonishing wild dragons pounced towards Chu Yi, unleashing a terrifying heatwave that radiated outwards, igniting everything in its path!
However, the six ferocious wild dragons, baring fangs and claws, couldn’t even scratch Chu Yi’s Armor.
"Use your claws," Chu Yi said, rubbing his temples. He extended one hand, lowering his defenses.
Bika paused for a moment, then instantly flashed before him, trailing a crimson ribbon behind it. With a claw encased in Crown Flame, it gently scratched Chu Yi’s arm.
Droplets of blood splattered.
Chu Yi gazed at the half-foot-long bloody mark and murmured, "The past state can also be injured."
Bika, distressed, came closer, sticking out its small pink tongue to lick the wound. It seemed to blame itself, wondering if it had used too much force.
"It’s okay, Bika. You did well," Chu Yi said, patting its head. After a moment, the Retrospect’s duration ended, and the engulfing, formidable flame dissipated instantly.
He returned completely to his pre-Retrospect state, unharmed.
"I see," Chu Yi mused. "During Retrospect, any power can be used, and any injuries sustained during that time are illusory, having no connection to my present self."
Chu Yi raised his hand, looking at his fair, jade-like arm, a sudden realization dawning on him.
This is much better than the Invincible Golden Body.
I can summon my past self to fight you, and after my past self is done, I can personally step in to fight you again.
I’m just not sure if my past self dies during Retrospect, would it be a real death?
Bika, staring at the fully restored arm, leaped onto Chu Yi’s shoulder and lay down lazily.
A fox tail darted out, wrapped around a succulent plant, and swayed it back and forth.
After that, Chu Yi searched the desolate land but found nothing.
He took out a Short Spear, about two feet long and seemingly made of cast iron. He was perplexed.
Qin Zheng had contracted a King of Deep Red disguised as a Pet Beast. An accident had occurred, and his fate—whether he was alive or dead—was unknown.
Chu Yi felt that his grandfather was most likely still alive.
After all, according to Jiang Qiuyun, his grandfather had long been a peak Dawn Star Beast Tamer with exceptionally high talent.
「Abandoned Courtyard.」
Jiang Qiuyun sat on the cleaned stone steps, her legs together and her chin resting in her cupped, jade-like hands. Her eyes were fixed on the exposed moss on the stone wall, lost in thought.
After a lecture from her grandfather, her thoughts were complex; she could no longer see Chu Yi as just a mischievous little brother.
The Dragon Eagle was playing in the manor; it wasn’t its first time here.
It flapped its wings, purple lightning flickering around them as it blasted fish in the pond.
Water splashed several meters high, and unlucky, plump fish floated to the surface.
These were black crucian carp, mid-level Servant-class Pet Beasts. They possessed ornamental value, and their tender flesh made them a delicacy whether fried, braised, stewed, or grilled.
The Dragon Eagle proudly clutched a few fish in its talons, quickly flying to Jiang Qiuyun with a haughty look, clearly seeking praise.
"You went blasting fish again?" The Scumbag Female Knight paused, then flicked the Dragon Eagle’s forehead with her delicate hand. Speechless, she said, "Those are Grandpa’s fish... Sigh, never mind."
Under the Dragon Eagle’s pleading gaze, Jiang Qiuyun chided it in exasperation. She then summoned her Pocket Grass, took out a set of cooking utensils, and decisively gutted the fish.
After cleaning them, she placed them into a large pot to stew, adding tofu, edamame, ginger, scallions, garlic, and other ingredients.
By the time Chu Yi and her grandfather came out, the meal would be ready.
In the pot, steam was rising.
The eyes of the fish emitted an eerie light.
Numerous plants began to rot, their roots writhing...
The entire manor seemed to have undergone some strange changes.
"Sure enough, the King’s Spear is the key to opening this door!" Chu Yi exclaimed, tightly gripping the Blood Spear. He marveled at the Mighty Power contained within the Short Spear.
This is the core of the Time Ecosystem Domain!
With power channeled in, it activated the ancient times of the past, filling this world.
Now, his vision changed drastically. A period of time, hidden by the Crimson Old Gods, was now revealed.
The surrounding environment blurred, as if he were in a deep red, starry void. A crimson light, vivid as dripping blood, shone on Chu Yi’s handsome face, lending it a hint of malevolence.
Bika’s fur bristled in terror, as if it were directly confronting a distorted, treacherous, and bizarre entity. Its Extraordinary Life, newly advanced to the King level, felt on the verge of shattering.
Chu Yi quickly fed it several Spirit Cores, which managed to stabilize its Spiritual essence.
Before him, mass upon mass of grotesquely twisted flesh and blood, interspersed with organs, formed enormous planet-like spheres floating in the void.
This was the collection room of the Crimson Old Gods.
Within each of these flesh-and-blood planets were valuable collectibles.
With sparkling eyes, Chu Yi saw piles of materials, along with Pet Beast Eggs of various special attributes.
Strangely, these materials were, at most, Red Copper-grade. The Pet Beast Eggs were nothing but empty shells; the Extraordinary Life that should have been inside seemed to have been devoured.
When an outsider arrived here, the flesh-and-blood planets trembled, spurting out streams of scarlet blood. From this blood, countless bizarre things crawled out, writhing grotesquely as they transformed into strangely shaped creatures.