"One last question. I want to use your prophetic ability to know what might happen in the future world."
"If it is too distant a future, my prophecies are not precise."
Jué began deducing, speaking only after a long while:
"But what I can accurately answer is that, for at least the next year, Jinzhou will be peaceful and free of worries."
One year, huh.
Noah started calculating.
Daily quests give 800 Astrite; one year is 365 times 800, approximately 300,000 Astrite.
Holy shit! So much! And that's not counting the occasional Chronicles tasks that might trigger on normal days.
Noah instantly made up his mind—he would hunker down in Jinzhou and develop stealthily.
"Alright, I have no more questions for now."
"Traveler who has passed through Jinzhou, the tides are vast and boundless. You will eventually follow the guidance to the place you are meant to go."
Jué gazed deeply at Noah, then soared away.
"I'm not going anywhere—I'm staying in Jinzhou!"
Noah sneered in disdain. As long as he didn't want to leave, no guidance would work on him.
He felt fingers poking his back. Turning around, he saw Jinhsi holding an ancient-looking ring, appearing both joyful and shy:
"Um, Noah..."
"With the time sequence power, it will be easier to use the creation left by the Sentinel earlier to restore the people of Hongzhen on Mt. Firmament, who were under control, to their previous state."
Jinhsi pointed at the ring in her hand, feeling her cheeks burn as if roasted by fire:
"I'm worried my power alone isn't enough. Could I borrow some of yours?"
"So that's what it is—of course, no problem."
Noah smiled freely, reaching out to clasp hands with Jinhsi. Surging resonance energy from his body poured forth.
"Mm~ G-Gently..."
Jinhsi let out a soft moan, her slender hand quietly gripping Noah's tighter, channeling the energy into the Sentinel's creation. Thoughts raced in her mind.
He just said he wants to stay in Jinzhou?
That's great, hehe.
Jinhsi couldn't help but giggle inwardly. Noah's concerned question reached her ears:
"Are you Overclocking?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"I saw a few dragon scales on your hand. Could it be that you're... shy?"
"Ah, this... yes, I'm slightly Overclocking."
The time sequence power activated, forcibly retracting the emerged dragon scales.
Gentle golden light precisely enveloped the location of Hongzhen on Mt. Firmament.
===✧✦✧===
On the other side.
The Fractsidus members finally located Phrolova's position. Phrolova stood silently on a peak at the edge of Mt. Firmament.
"Did you see it?"
The usually taciturn Phrolova actually initiated conversation with this Fractsidus member:
"That person is too terrifying."
"He actually used the Sentinel like a whip, swinging Her back and forth..."
Speaking of this, Phrolova fell into a daze, as if recalling that demonic figure.
"This subordinate saw it, Overseer Phrolova."
The Fractsidus member nodded vigorously, immensely relieved:
"Thank goodness this subordinate listened to you and didn't rashly go to the Mianloong Chamber to disturb them. But Overseer, what should we do next?"
"Leave Mt. Firmament and Jinzhou. This place is already beyond what the Fractsidus can provoke. Fortunately, this trip wasn't without gains—at least it proved that secondary resonance is not impossible."
Phrolova sighed, her figure transforming into Red Spider Lily petals and vanishing.
Watching the gradually dissipating petals, the Fractsidus member stiffened all over. Only then did he realize that the real Overseer Phrolova had long escaped.
What remained here was merely a clone.
What... what kind of joke is this!
Tap, tap.
The Fractsidus member heard the sound of high heels behind him. A scorching heat slowly approached.
"Human sight probably weighs about one-tenth the thickness of a hair strand. This is also how I found you."
A mature voice, clear as a spring, sounded behind him. He turned to see an exquisitely beautiful face.
"Coming uninvited—whether to Mt. Firmament or Jinzhou—is somewhat impolite behavior."
The woman wielding Fusion fire slowly closed her umbrella. A fiery red sword drew from the umbrella handle, carrying undisguised killing intent:
"Allow me to teach you—the etiquette of Huanglong."
Time passed minute by minute.
The residents of Hongzhen returned to normal. The remaining Fractsidus members on Mt. Firmament were completely purged.
Mt. Firmament was no longer plagued by chaotic time flow, but the people of Hongzhen still needed to repay the compensation of time.
After all, they were the primary victims affected by the time flow. They might have spent only one day inside Mt. Firmament, while the outside world had passed several years.
If they left Mt. Firmament, the time difference inside and outside would immediately correct, potentially causing them to age decades instantly or turn directly to bones.
But this wasn't a major issue—they simply needed to stay within Mt. Firmament's range.
Now, for outsiders, Mt. Firmament was no longer a forbidden land one could enter but not leave.
The only thing Noah regretted was not catching Phrolova.
Now, he possessed S6 Jinhsi and even time sequence power.
If he encountered Phrolova again—if she didn't run, she would get this [thumbs up].
If she ran away, then he, Noah, would get this [thumbs down].
His grudge with the Fractsidus was already profoundly deep.
Scar—he personally eliminated.
Jinzhou—he personally saved.
The Threnodian resurgence—he personally stopped.
He wasn't Rover; it was impossible for every Fractsidus member to be his fanatic fan. So he had formed a feud with the Fractsidus.
Add to that the Fractsidus's consistently cruel style.
Noah made a decision: in the future, upon encountering Fractsidus members—males directly beaten to death; females, he'd decide on the spot.
The night gradually brightened.
The residents of Hongzhen were very warm and hospitable. Led by Xinyi, a group grandly hosted Jinhsi and the other two.
"I never imagined that so much happened after we lost consciousness."
Xinyi tightly held Jinhsi's hand, her gaze filled with deep emotion.
The child she had once taught hand-by-hand had now grown capable of standing alone:
"Jinhsi, you've grown up."
Hearing Xinyi's sentiment, Jinhsi also felt nostalgic. She was about to say something when Xinyi's next words choked her.
"Having passed the flowering age, it's time to talk about marriage."
"Cough, cough."
Why do the older generation always like urging young people to marry?
Jinhsi felt somewhat shy:
"I'm only sixteen—not in such a hurry, right? Teacher Changli isn't married either, and I don't see her rushing..."
Eh? Where did Teacher Changli go?
Jinhsi looked left and right, finally spotting Changli's figure nearby.
Changli's hands rested on the table, fingers interlaced supporting her chin. Her smile was gentle as a flower. Opposite her was Noah:
"Honored guest, after this battle on Mt. Firmament, we can be considered to have shared life-and-death bonds. Continuing to call your full name feels somewhat distant. I wonder if the honored guest has any preferred nickname?"
"I do—brothers, some, nicknames like this—I have a total of nine!"
Noah downed a cup of very low-proof fruit wine and spoke:
"People from my side have all sorts of online names. My former online name was Phaeton—you can call me Phaeton."
"Phea... ton?"
Changli savored the name carefully. "Phaeton" was easy to understand, but what did "Phaeton" mean?
Could this nickname mean acting on behalf of someone, performing heaven-reaching deeds?
She didn't understand, but it didn't stop her from continuing the conversation:
"Then, what nickname does Phaeton think I could take?"