From Fanwu to Xinghai

Chapter 35 Time Guardians

It took Lin Chen a long time to process what Lin Yuan had just said.

"Are you me from the future?" he asked again to confirm.

"Yes." Lin Yuan nodded. "Or rather, you in a certain timeline."

"Does that mean... I'll become you in the future?"

"No." Lin Yuan shook his head. "To be precise, it was 'me' who chose to go back to the past and become 'your' guide in your growth."

He paused, then continued, "In that timeline, your parents left no clues. You groped in the dark for far too long. By the time you finally awakened your bloodline power, it was already too late."

"Too late?"

"The dimensional ascension failed." Lin Yuan's voice was calm, but Lin Chen could hear the suppressed sorrow within it. "The entire civilization failed to complete the dimensional ascension within the fifty-year window. The higher-dimensional civilization intervened, compressing the entire universe back into three dimensions."

"Everyone...is dead?"

"Not dead," Lin Yuan said, "but erased. Completely wiped out from the river of time. Just like that sacred cultivation ground from three thousand years ago."

Lin Chen fell silent.

He recalled a sentence from his father's manuscript: "I failed to protect this family."

If what Lin Yuan said is true, then his father, Lin Yuan, must have also experienced something terrible.

"So you came back," Lin Chen said, "to change all of this."

"Yes," Lin Yuan said, "but traversing the river of time comes at a price. Each journey consumes a significant amount of lifespan."

He rolled up his sleeve, revealing his arm. Lin Chen saw that beneath that pale skin, there were strange gray lines, as if the blood vessels had been eroded by something.

"This is the price of time travel," Lin Yuan said. "The erosion of time."

"Every time I use my time-manipulation abilities, I accelerate this erosion. So…" he smiled, "my time is running out."

Qin Mo, who had been listening for a long time, finally spoke up: "So that's why you've been helping Lin Chen?"

"It's not just about helping him." Lin Yuan looked at Lin Chen, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "I'm making up for past regrets."

"Did you not have your parents' guidance back then?"

"No," Lin Yuan said. "My father had already disappeared when I was born. My mother was trapped in the forbidden area of ​​the Qingyun Sect, and I couldn't see her. I've been alone all my life."

"That kind of loneliness..." he whispered, "I don't want Lin Chen in this timeline to experience it again."

Lin Chen looked at him, a complex emotion welling up inside him.

In a sense, this person is himself.

Lin Yuan has already experienced the loneliness he has endured, the suffering he has suffered, and the despair he may face in the future.

His purpose in returning was simply to spare "himself" from experiencing those things again.

"Thank you," Lin Chen said.

Lin Yuan paused for a moment, then smiled.

"You're welcome," he said. "This is what I owe you. It's also what I owe to this civilization."

After daybreak, Shen Qingluan gathered everyone and reported on the events of the previous night.

"Lin Chen and his companions went out of the city to scout last night and encountered three Time Eclipses," she said. "The good news is, our bloodline power has a restraining effect on them. The bad news is!"

She looked at everyone, her expression solemn.

"These three are just the vanguard. The real enemy is yet to come."

"How many?" someone asked.

"According to the detection, there are at least thirty," Shen Qingluan said. "And the number is still increasing."

An uproar erupted in the hall.

Thirty Time Eclipses—that's enough power to wipe out a city.

"Elder, what should we do?" someone asked.

"Two choices," Shen Qingluan said. "First, retreat entirely and await reinforcements. Second, stay and launch a preemptive strike."

When will the reinforcements arrive?

"I don't know. The situation with the royal family isn't optimistic either."

silence.

Everyone is thinking.

"I choose the second one," Lin Chen suddenly said.

Everyone looked at him.

"Take the initiative," he said. "Dragging it out will only make them stronger. We must strike first before they are fully prepared."

Shen Qingluan looked at him: "Do you know what this means?"

"It means risk," Lin Chen said, "but it also means opportunity."

He stepped forward and stood in the center of the hall.

"Last night's battle made me realize something. While the Time Eclipses are powerful, they are not invincible."

"My bloodline power can subdue them. If I act as the vanguard, drawing their attention and creating opportunities for those behind!"

"Too dangerous." Someone interrupted him, "You're only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, how could you possibly be a match for them?"

"They're not a match," Lin Chen said. "They're bait."

"And I'm not alone."

He looked at Qin Mo and Lin Yuan.

"The three of us can form a tactical team. I'll be in charge of holding the line, Qin Mo will handle the harassment, and Lin Yuan will deliver the decisive blow at the crucial moment."

"this……"

"It's worth a try," Shen Qingluan said, "but you'll need backup."

She looked at the crowd, her gaze sweeping over the young faces.

"Who wants to join this suicide squad?"

silence.

A moment later, a cool, clear voice rang out: "I'll go."

Everyone turned around and saw Xiao Yan walking out of the crowd.

"You?" Lin Chen frowned.

"What, not welcome?" Xiao Yan's lips curled into a cold smile. "Don't misunderstand, I'm not helping you. I just... want to see what those things are."

"And another thing," he lowered his voice, so only Lin Chen could hear, "I want to know if this power within me is related to them."

Lin Chen looked at him, his gaze slightly narrowed.

Xiao Yan's divine-grade fire spirit root comes from the power of the dimensional rift. That power seems to have some inexplicable connection with the Time Eclipse.

"Okay." Lin Chen nodded. "Welcome to the team."

In the afternoon, the four-person group quietly left the city.

This time, they didn't hide their tracks, but instead swaggered into the depths of the desolate land.

"Are you sure this will lure them out?" Qin Mo asked.

"I'm not sure," Lin Chen answered honestly, "but it's the most direct way."

"Those guys aren't very intelligent, but their instincts are incredibly strong," Lin Yuan analyzed. "They can sense the bloodline of the Time Guardians, just like sharks can sense blood."

"As long as Lin Chen's bloodline aura is strong enough, they will definitely pounce on him."

"Then I'll begin."

Lin Chen took a deep breath, and the mark between his eyebrows suddenly lit up, releasing a light even stronger than the night before.

A pale golden light spread in all directions, enveloping the four figures.

The effect is immediate.

Less than fifteen minutes later, a series of neighing sounds came from afar.

This time, there were more than three figures.

Instead, ten, twenty, thirty...

Countless wisps of gray mist surged forth from all parts of the desolate land, swarming towards them.

"They're here." Lin Chen clenched his fist. "Are you ready?"

"Anytime." Qin Mo and Lin Yuan answered simultaneously.

Xiao Yan didn't speak, but simply raised his hand, and a ball of crimson flame ignited in his palm.

It was a spiritual fire far more intense than ordinary flames, carrying an aura that did not belong to this dimension.

Thirty eclipseers swarmed in.

Lin Chen was the first to be hit, the light from the mark between his eyebrows colliding with the gray mist.

A piercing screech rang out, and the first few Time Eclipses were scorched by the light, their movements momentarily halted.

"Now!" Lin Chen shouted.

Qin Mo moved like lightning, darting out from the flank. His movements were incredibly fast, allowing him to weave freely through the horde of Time Eclipses, yet he avoided direct confrontation, instead constantly harassing and restraining them.

Lin Yuan was poised and waiting for the perfect opportunity.

And Xiao Yan.

He charged straight into the Eclipse horde.

"Xiao Yan!" Lin Chen exclaimed.

But the next moment, he was stunned.

The crimson flames on Xiao Yan's body began to "devour" the gray mist the moment they came into contact with it.

The gray mist seemed to be drawn by some force, involuntarily surging towards Xiao Yan, and then being completely consumed by the flames.

"This..." Lin Chen's eyes widened.

Xiao Yan's divine-grade fire spirit root can actually "devour" the Time Eclipse!

"Interesting." Xiao Yan's voice came from within the flames, tinged with a hint of maniacal laughter. "So that's how it is... so that's what this power within me is all about!"

He opened his arms as if embracing something.

"The power of the dimensional rifts... the Time Eclipses also come from there... they are all of the same origin!"

"I see!"

His laughter grew louder and more manic.

"I see--"