Versatile Mage: I Awakened Nine Stars

Chapter 409 Time Never Flows Backward
The seven emotions of bitter bamboo cause it to wither and die.

The once lush and verdant bamboo forest has withered and died.

In the center of the bamboo forest, the mother fox curled up in her little nest woven from emerald green bamboo leaves, her eyelids drooping, her nine fluffy tails swaying unconsciously.

Yu Mian sat sideways, holding Xu Shen in her arms.

The already translucent little dawn nestled on Xu Shen's shoulder, sobbing, and didn't forget to point and whisper at the fox mother.

The power of faith accumulated by the Linglong Ball over thousands of years had already been largely depleted due to Linghu's mother's rebirth.

Today, the forced recreation of the illusion has completely drained it.

Unbeknownst to Xu Shen, the buff of +1 to his mental strength had quietly dissipated.

If the Seven Emotions Bitter Bamboo hadn't given up at the crucial moment, he might never have seen Xiao Chenxi again.

After calming Chenxi down, Xu Shen looked into Yu Mian's gentle and serene eyes and said softly, "Yu Mian, is there anything you want to ask?"

Yu Mian thought for a moment and said, "There really is. In the illusion, I saw two Xu Shen, one old and one young. I want to know which one is you, or which one you think you are?"

Her voice was soft, and her tone was curious.

The paradox of the Ship of Theseus came true when time flowed backward.

When this philosophical proposition became a reality, even Yu Mian, who had a clear mind, was somewhat bewildered.

Xu Shen was stunned.

He thought Yu Mian would ask about Liu Xian, but he didn't expect her to ask this.

However, this question seems more difficult to answer.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Maybe both, maybe neither. I prefer a comedic ending, even in life. I don't seek a dramatic process, but a happy and smooth ending. If I had to choose one, I would lean towards the older one. The younger one is too impulsive, too indecisive, too sharp-edged, and has too many regrets."

Yu Mian stroked his hair, her tone slightly playful: "So, the one I'm in love with is actually just a decrepit old man with a youthful appearance, but who's actually delusional about having a harem and having women on both sides?"

Xu Shen was slightly taken aback, but when he saw the smile in Ding Yumin's eyes, he couldn't help but smile as well.

He suddenly remembered what Yu Mian had said when he first woke up: sticking to one's attitude towards life is much more important than distinguishing between truth and falsehood.

Does it matter whether the soul within the physical body is young or old?

It's important, and it's not important.

The essence lies in whether that "I" remains true to itself.

"Yes, a greedy, lustful, and utterly vulgar old man. Little girl, if you follow me, you'll regret it."

"A medicine to undo regrets?" Yu Mian's voice was gentle yet firm: "If time could turn back, and I still remember everything, I would definitely go to Bocheng to find you."

Those eyes were so pure and passionate.

Xu Shen's heart skipped a beat, a surge of heat rushed to his ears, and he became somewhat flustered.

“I am an ominous person, and I have never had any expectations of humanity. Ah Shen, you don’t understand at all. The moment I saw you in the Holy Judgment Prison, I only felt absurdity.”

Back then, you were a prodigy, full of youthful vigor and ambition. As for women, you were constantly showered with love letters; as for wealth, the 404 Trading Company you built was a miracle in business history; and as for power, you were a formidable force that subdued countless geniuses.

How could someone like you risk your own life for me?
I'd rather believe it was a pathetic hallucination I had before I died!

But I saw it with my own eyes after all!
Especially after witnessing all the illusions today, that soul that even loneliness couldn't kill, that old and stubborn you who cherished your life so much, actually gave up your life for me!

If this isn't love, then what is love?!

I love you, so your soul is not allowed to sacrifice even a fraction for me! I want you free, I want you to live selfishly forever! Be greedy, be lustful, be vulgar—what does it matter? I love you, not some saint! My love is possessive; I only want you, I have only you!

Xu Shen had never seen Yu Mian so emotionally agitated, her burning hot body tightly embracing him.

Holding her tear-streaked face in his hands, Xu Shen didn't know what to say.

His mind was still not fully clear, and he instinctively pressed his lips to those luscious, beautiful lips.

The response was very enthusiastic.

The bamboo grove swayed gently, and a light breeze came, gradually soothing the two passionate souls.

Xu Shen awkwardly withdrew his hand and gently straightened Yu Mian's disheveled clothes.

This broken bamboo...

That interruption was perfectly timed!

Xu Shen gritted his teeth, about to use the fox's power, when he looked up and saw the fox mother squatting in front of them, her eyes filled with mockery.

Xu Shen responded with an awkward yet polite smile.

This is fine bamboo.

That was a very opportune moment to interrupt. "Fox Mother, are you leaving?"

Xu Shen asked this question because he had already discovered that the broken contract, the contract space that once belonged to the fox mother, was full of cracks, and it would probably take several months to repair itself naturally.

The fox mother nodded and said, "I'll go see the Eye of Time in your memory."

Xu Shen was silent for a moment, then said with some sadness, "Will he come back?"

"Perhaps yes, perhaps no," the fox mother said. "Who can say for sure what the future holds?"

"The future is uncertain?" Xu Shen retorted, somewhat unconvinced. "Isn't there a legend that the power of time can predict the future..."

The fox mother said, "You have overestimated the power of time and underestimated this world. The true universe is always characterized by the unknown and uncertainty; the future is always unpredictable."

"The future is unpredictable?" Xu Shen pointed to himself and said, "But now I have memories of the next few decades, although I obtained them by going back in time. In a sense, doesn't this mean I can foresee the future?"

“The future is never certain,” the fox mother said, “and time never flows backward.”

"!!!"

Xu Shen and Yu Mian were both stunned.

Hsu Shen raised his hand and drew a constellation based on time.

A phantom clock ripples with the passage of time.

He casually picked up a withered bamboo leaf, which instantly became crisp and vibrant.

"Nu'e, if time cannot be reversed, then what is this? Then what am I?"

The fox mother said, "I can tell you, but I hope you can figure it out yourself."

It means I'm not going to say anything.

The riddle-maker is dead.

Xu Shen rolled his eyes inwardly, but given the Fox Mother's strength, he didn't show it on his face.

"Before you leave, let me help you one last time."

As the fox mother spoke, she glanced at the Seven Emotions Bitter Bamboo Forest.

The bamboo grove swayed even more vigorously, almost trembling slightly.

In the unseen outer regions, the bamboo forests covering 30 square kilometers are shrinking at a visible rate.

Suddenly, a bamboo shoot the size of a thumb sprouted from the ground in front of Xu Shen.

This bamboo shoot resembles a delicate little golden tower, with only the tip shimmering with a tender green luster.

"These are... the seeds of the Seven Emotions Bitter Bamboo?"

Xu Shen was somewhat surprised.

He hadn't expected to obtain this thing so easily.

Plant seeds are very interesting.

If a plant-type demon were to sacrifice its life force to condense this seed, its quality would only be one minor realm lower than when it was alive.

For example, the Frost Lotus in its lifetime was probably between an advanced-stage general and a minor commander, so the seeds it condensed were definitely among the top-quality of all spirit seeds.

As for plant species that are conceived over a period of time, much like animals giving birth to offspring, their quality will be a whole level lower than that of the parent plant.

For example, the Immortal Vine Seed that Yongzun gave him came from this.

That soul seed granted him a power boost of 6 times the maximum for a soul-level plant species, suggesting that the Immortal Vine located at Cape Storm in South Africa was at least a Supreme Monarch in strength.

This bamboo shoot may look small and unremarkable, but the mother that nurtured it was a genuine imperial creature.

In other words, its worst quality is still a pseudo-heavenly seed, and it might even be stronger!

This little gadget is so coveted that even most high-level mages can't obtain it, which shows how precious it is.

Xu Shen's eyes burned even hotter.

His plant-based magic was modified by the Lotus of Immortality.

Although due to insufficient essence, all 729 plant-type stars have not yet been fully enhanced.

However, because of the sheer number of star particles that far exceeds that of ordinary people, absorbing them beyond one's level is not difficult.

He was already quite eager to experience the new magic that the Seven Emotions Bitter Bamboo Seed would bring him.

(End of this chapter)