After hesitating for a moment, the hunter recognized as Feng Yuan spoke up to explain,
"We encountered a group of strangely dressed travelers who wanted to go to the Chiyun Mountain Range. Just as we were about to ask them what they wanted to do, they acted against us."
"And then... did you flee back here, or...?"
Feng Yuan looked at the group with suspicion. Although they were injured, there were hardly any severe wounds—almost all were minor. If those were the work of a mastermind’s men, Feng Yuan didn’t believe they could have escaped their attacks alive.
"We counterattacked and killed them, and on their bodies, we found this."
As he gazed at the spherical object that the other party was holding, Feng Yuan’s face changed. Hua Yiyou happened to walk by, his expression turning from concern for the injured to shock and anger as he saw the object in the person’s hand, loudly exclaiming,
"Where did you get what you’re holding in your hand?!"
"Xiao Yi, what’s wrong with this thing?"
The hunter looked at the item in his hand with some confusion while Feng Yuan glanced at Hua Yiyou and said,
"Those guys are still not giving up, but it’s strange..."
Hua Yiyou snatched the spherical object from the other’s hand and shouted,
"Who else has one of these? Bring it out quickly, don’t accidentally harm the villagers!"
Hearing Hua Yiyou’s serious tone, everyone hastily took out the spherical objects. Seeing a ground full of small spheres, Feng Yuan, even more baffled, said,
"So many? And allowed to be transported by just anyone? What is he thinking?"
"His target this time is likely not here, but there must be something here that he wants to destroy,"
Hua Yiyou said as he looked at those spheres, clearly aware that his villagers had a certain strength, capable enough to seize those spheres. It was likely that those enemies had been wiped out, but Hua Yiyou wouldn’t believe that his villagers had the power to annihilate the opponent’s regular troops.
However, if tasked to merely any individuals, there was a possibility. After all, in this period, there was a significant gap between a regular army and ordinary people, with most regular forces having the power of Spirit Beasts infused within them, able to wield some decisive techniques when necessary.
"Purposely using ordinary people, is it a smokescreen or..."
Feng Yuan was puzzled while Hua Yiyou pondered the intentions of their adversary and said,
"The Chiyun Mountain Range is not under Great Li’s control; it belongs to Great Cang and Chi Yu, but I haven’t heard of any conflicts between Great Li and them..."
"If it were an attack, that would be wrong too, as Great Li has always been in conflict with Great Yan. To also take on Great Cang and Chi Yu... can they really hope to win?"
"What is in the Chiyun Mountain Range that makes it worth using this?"
Looking at the pile of spheres, Feng Yuan was baffled, not believing there could be many of such things. Since they’re so rare, yet so many were taken out and brought there by ordinary people...
Just moments ago, the people recounted the incident to Hua Yiyou. Based on the account of the battle they provided, Feng Yuan easily guessed that the enemy was merely a group of ordinary people.
"Speaking of which, it’s also strange that the Chiyun Mountain Range isn’t particularly famous; it doesn’t even have a similar area..."
As he spoke, Feng Yuan seemed to remember something, closed his eyes, and while Hua Yiyou continued to ponder the other’s intentions, after a moment Feng Yuan opened his eyes and softly said,
"I see, so that’s how it is, although if that’s the case..."
Thinking, Feng Yuan discreetly glanced at the phantom of Agunas, took out the black Ancient Book, and tossed it into the sky. Moments later, three giant Rune Circles spread out from the dark Ancient Book. The cloaked figure on the throne slowly tilted the Sickle forward, and countless chains came cascading from the sky. Time throughout the world came to a halt.
Xiao Ji, puzzled, looked towards Feng Yuan. Just as Agunas’ phantom was about to speak, a colorless yet all-colored sphere abruptly appeared in the sky. The sphere seemed to be there and yet not in any particular place, as if emitting and yet absorbing light, an entity of extreme contradictions.
"What exactly have you done? Why would He come down personally!"
After glancing at Agunas’ phantom, Feng Yuan calmly stated,
"This is just an avatar."
"Of course, I know that! But..."
As Agunas’ phantom was about to say something, Feng Yuan closed his eyes. Xiao Ji, positioning himself in front of Feng Yuan, eyed the large light sphere with a vigilant stare. Even though the entity in the sphere gave Xiao Ji a feeling of deep familiarity and friendliness, he couldn’t reduce the wariness in his gaze.
The Little Green Snake, struggling, swam next to Xiao Ji, seemingly menacing as it glared at the large light sphere, while Agunas’ phantom watched the two little creatures silently.
Pomiti, looking like she was scared stiff, kept her eyes shut and remained motionless. Sensing a growing power within Pomiti, as if trying to break through the Rune Circle laid down by Feng Yuan, Agunas’ phantom hurriedly spoke to Pomiti,
"Don’t worry, he will be fine. He would not suddenly harbor any ill intentions towards him."
After a long time, the light sphere vanished as abruptly as it had appeared, as if a segment had been lost in a transition between two video clips.
Feng Yuan slowly opened his eyes, looked at his own hands, and said,
"I don’t know what will happen this time..."
"What are you thinking of doing again!"
Agunas’s apparition sensed something amiss and stared at Feng Yuan with a cautious face. Sighing, Feng Yuan, looking into the distance, said
"I know their goal, as well as the reason why Chiyun Mountain Range has no corresponding location in the modern world..."
"Could it be you want to..."
Glancing at Agunas’s apparition, Feng Yuan said with a faint smile,
"I want to change history."
"No! Can’t you at least wait until you regain some of your strength!"
"But... he is already about to make his move on it..."
"What exactly is it?"
Agunas’s apparition kept a fixed gaze on Feng Yuan, if the former did not make things clear, although it couldn’t act, the nearby Xiao Ji could probably still stop Feng Yuan.
"Karnas? Why would it be here!"
Agunas’s apparition appeared surprised for a moment, and then, as if recalling something shocking, said,
"Wait! By what you mean, Karnas is going to be killed by him?! How is that possible! As an entity like Yognot, it... how can it die?"
After sweeping a glance at Agunas’s apparition, Feng Yuan pointed at those spheres and said,
"Under normal circumstances, it indeed wouldn’t, given that they each represent a law that hasn’t been clarified. However, if tainted, regardless, they can only be abandoned..."
"So that’s how it is!"
A ferocious look rarely seen appeared on Agunas’s apparition’s face. Now, discarding its usual peaceful demeanor, it stared viciously at the spheres, its claws constantly moving as if to unleash a killer move.
The noise of chains swaying rang out, Feng Yuan glanced at Agunas’s apparition and said,
"Even if you destroy these things, it will be useless. In history, that is indeed how it died. If you want to save it..."
Agunas’s apparition stopped in its tracks, falling silent for a long while before looking gravely at Feng Yuan and said,
"I, can I take your place?"
Shaking his head, Feng Yuan refused,
"No, if it were you, you might not be able to withstand the cost."
Looking at Xiao Ji, Agunas’s apparition hesitated, then after a moment, stared at Feng Yuan and said,
"You can’t do everything by yourself! Let me act this time!"
"No, the Golden Book still depends on you; Lorraine Tower is incapable of writing the Golden Book."
Just as Agunas’s apparition was about to argue again, it suddenly froze, and after a while, with a look of surprise, said,
"He has decided to bear the cost of altering history alone."
Feng Yuan looked puzzledly at Agunas’s apparition and said,
"That cost is no small matter. Is He really willing?"
"If there is a chance for salvation, He also wishes to save Karnas, and besides, He does not want you to shoulder everything alone."
With a slight smile, Feng Yuan looked at the still sky and said,
"Well, if He is willing to do so, that’s fine by me."
Feng Yuan waved his hand, and the chains locking heaven and earth slowly faded away, time began to flow once more, and Hua Yiyou and the others had no idea what had just happened.
Looking at Hua Yiyou with furrowed brows, Feng Yuan said with a smile,
"I know their purpose now. Tell the villagers not to go near Chiyun Mountain Range for the time being. I’ll send them away and that will be the end of it."