I tried to kill the heroines of destiny, but they ended up chasing after me.

"No!! No!!!" Huang Quan tried his best again, but it was still no use.

He was desperate and in great pain, suffering more than his dying father and mother.

Because he couldn't save them, because there was nothing he could do.

It is the helplessness that is truly tragic.

He is now a pathetic person.

Even more tragically, he discovered that he was unable to take revenge, not because of his strength, but because the murderer... was himself.

Chapter 212 We Still Have to Take the Front Line

The cloud thinks it is free to drift because it doesn't know that it is forever bound to the sky.

Fish think they can swim freely because they don't know that they can only exist in water.

Closing the window is like isolating a space; everything that can be seen becomes blurred as it passes through the window.

When the lights are off, in the darkness, it seems as if another version of myself has emerged, and I can't tell if it's real or not.

Closing the door seems to open up a new world. Things that look the same may not be the same. They may actually be changing all the time. It's just that because the door is closed, there is no origin, no beginning... and not even a self.

The Tree of Time didn't want to test Huang Quan, but rather to see into his heart, to delve into his heart, before finally giving Huang Quan his consent.

This sounds somewhat formulaic, and it seems like this test is optional, because no matter the outcome, the Tree of Time will agree to Huang Quan's request. However, this test holds a unique importance for both Huang Quan and the Tree of Time.

After a flash of gray light, Huang Quan appeared before the Tree of Time for the third time.

Same timeline, same trees and people, but different attitudes between the two.

In reality, the Tree of Time is truly afraid of death. Under normal circumstances, he shouldn't have let Huang Quan experience time travel so quickly. He should have waited until Huang Quan did something beneficial to him in the future before presenting the truth of cause and effect he had created to Huang Quan. In that case, it might have increased the success rate of the cause-and-effect cycle.

However, he did not do that. Instead, he brought Huang Quan into this stage ahead of time, which made Huang Quan have to doubt these things. After all, it is difficult for a person to immediately believe what they see, even if these things are their future, even if these things seem very real.

Huang Quan is a suspicious person, which makes the success of the Tree of Time even less likely.

But the Tree of Time also knew that Huang Quan only had two years left to live, and if anything happened during that time, the time could become even shorter, so he couldn't help but feel anxious.

Fortunately, after learning about these things, Huang Quan did not hate the Tree of Time, nor did he become its enemy. Instead, he did his best to make the Tree of Time believe in him. This determination and perseverance truly moved the heart of the Tree of Time slightly.

At this moment, the two people stood facing each other, one under a tree. After a moment of silence, Huang Quan asked with some doubt, "Did you do this on purpose?"

"You could say that when you decided to accept my test, I had already planned to agree," the Tree of Time replied.

"I see! Thank you! I am very satisfied with this part of my life," Huang Quanming said.

"You're welcome. In short, we're on the same side now. Before you leave, I want to tell you three things, as a small token of my sincerity!" said the Tree of Time.

"Three things? What are they?" Huang Quan asked, puzzled.

"The first thing is about a person named Huang Sheng, who is a member of the Huang clan from the outside world."

"The Huang clan?" Huang Quan frowned and murmured.

“Yes! Huang Sheng, the patriarch of the Huang clan, is a cultivator with a cultivation level comparable to a perfected Heavenly Monarch. It was he who created a space that allowed all the people of my hometown to hide inside, thus escaping my cycle of cause and effect,” said the Tree of Time.

"This person seems really strong!"

"Of course, he's that person's second disciple. Although he's not as talented as his senior brother, his intelligence is absolutely not to be underestimated. He was the first to discover my disloyalty and told that person. Unfortunately, that person didn't believe him. Otherwise, the cultivation world of the True Profound Continent might never have seen..."

"Tsk tsk tsk, I really need to be careful," Huang Quan said seriously.

“Hmm.” The Tree of Time continued, “The second matter concerns Huang Sheng’s senior brother, whom I just mentioned. Since their master arrived on the True Profound Continent, he and another person connected to my master have disappeared. As far as I know, they have only appeared when the teleportation array is in operation…”

"Two people?" Huang Quan frowned and asked.

"Yes! It's two people. These two people also have the ability to resist my power of cause and effect. One of them even specializes in the Dao of Cause and Effect. Furthermore, their cultivation levels are infinitely close to those of a Great Emperor. It can be said that they are even more terrifying than Huang Sheng..."

"You mean they might do something in the future?" Huang Quan guessed.

"It's not possible, it's certain. That senior brother isn't someone who follows the crowd, and the other person would never want to die in the destruction of the universe, so they will definitely make a move. Unfortunately, I still don't know their whereabouts or their purpose. But no matter what, I hope you will be careful," the Tree of Time said solemnly.

“Okay! I understand.” Huang Quan nodded heavily, then asked, “What are their names? Or… do you know anything else about them?”

"I'm sorry! I only know they exist. As for other information, I don't have a clue yet. In fact, the reason I call the person who created me 'that person' is not because I want to be mysterious, but because I really don't know his name..."

"Huh?" Huang Quan was surprised.

Seemingly anticipating Huang Quan's expression, the Tree of Time sighed, "When he created me, perhaps to give me consciousness, he gave me some memories of himself, which is why I know of those people's existence. But unfortunately, apart from Huang Sheng and the names of some insignificant individuals, the names and information of everyone else are almost nonexistent..."

"Alright!" Huang Quan said helplessly, "It seems that person wasn't entirely unprepared for you, was he? What about the third thing?"

"The third thing..." At this moment, the Tree of Time suddenly paused, and after a couple of breaths, it replied as if reminiscing, "It's about a woman."

"A woman?" Huang Quan asked again, puzzled.

“Hmm,” the Tree of Time replied, “Actually, among the memories he left me, besides those useless ones, there’s one that I’m quite interested in. It’s about a woman, and some things I didn’t understand at first. Fortunately, after all these years, I finally understand now. It seems to be the feelings between a man and a woman…”

"Feelings between a man and a woman? Hey, hey, hey! You don't mean you want me to find this woman, do you?" Huang Quan guessed again.

But he guessed right. Almost without hesitation, the Tree of Time said, "That's right, I want you to find this woman. I want you to bring her here. I want to see her."

"Do you want to see her?" Huang Quan murmured softly, then raised an eyebrow and asked again, "Then I need to figure out whether it's you who wants to see her, or the person from that part of your memory that's affecting you... who wants to see her?"

"Uh? Is there a difference?" Tree of Time was taken aback and asked in return.

“Of course there’s a difference. If you want to see her, it means you like that woman. But if you want to see her because of that memory, then you’re just being influenced by that memory,” Huang Quan explained.

Although the Tree of Time can control time and understand cause and effect, it doesn't seem to understand matters of the heart as well as it claims.

"What...does this mean?" Tree of Time asked, completely bewildered.

But his reaction made Huang Quan a little depressed.

"It's just...it's just..." Huang Quan was also conflicted, not knowing where to begin.

Feelings are complicated enough, but if he can't explain himself clearly, it will only make things more complicated. So, to avoid trouble, he chose to... give up.

"Sigh! Alright, alright! I can grant your request, but if I'm truly not meant to be with him, you can't blame me. After all, you know about karma; sometimes, you can't force it," Huang Quan said.

The Tree of Time has no control over the karma of outsiders, so even if it doesn't want to agree, it has no choice but to.

“Okay,” the Tree of Time replied.

"That's settled then. See you... in two years!"

"See you in two years," the Tree of Time replied.

At that moment, a white halo appeared around Huang Quan's body again, but Huang Quan could clearly sense that this time... it was not time travel.

The Unknown Lands of the Imperial Demon Realm.

A middle-aged man and an elderly man.

"The Tree of Time has failed," the middle-aged man said.

"Its causal power is insufficient, and it can only influence too few things, so failure is quite normal," the old man replied.

“But it seems he’s reached an agreement with Huang Quan,” the middle-aged man said, raising an eyebrow.

"It's alright. Even if he learns of our existence through the Tree of Time, his karma will not change..." the old man replied dismissively. "I know what you're worried about, but don't worry! The karma of the Tree of Time cannot affect my karma. My elder brother did not give the Tree of Time such powerful strength."

“No, I’m not worried about that. I’m just thinking about Huang Sheng and my master,” the middle-aged man said, shaking his head.

"Heh!" The old man chuckled and continued, "Huang Sheng is just a little brat. Even if he has some kind of plan, he can only take action when my elder brother appears. As for my elder brother, I don't think he can break through the seal of the Endless Wasteland in just two years. After all, that seal was specially prepared for him!"

“That being said…” the middle-aged man said hesitantly, “but I think we should be more careful. Things have already come to this point, and if we accidentally capsize, it won’t be good for either of us.”

"Tch! You're really overthinking things. Do you really believe Huang Quan will break free from our plans? Hmph! Don't be naive! We are beings who can even control True Gods, let alone this pawn who hasn't even reached the Great Emperor level. Or do you think something will happen after he reaches the Great Emperor level?" the old man retorted.

"No, I just feel that there's something about him that we can't predict," the middle-aged man said calmly.

"Unpredictable things? What else is unpredictable? Our homeland is on the verge of destruction, and the true god who sustains it is now nearing death after we used her to initiate the cause and effect of drowning and the underworld..."

"Our elder brother has been sealed away by us and cannot be harmed. Huang Sheng is not a threat at all. Even the God of Life and Death created by our elder brother using a wisp of his Xuan Soul is just an unconscious being that controls the cycle of reincarnation in the True Profound Continent. He will surely be destroyed along with the True Profound Continent in the near future..."

"So what are you worried about? There is no one who can stop our plan right now. There are no accidents. Unless the universe is destroyed faster and the True Profound Continent is destroyed within the next two years, but if that happens, there's nothing we can do, right?" the old man said seriously.

His words plunged the middle-aged man into silence. After a while, he shook his head and sighed, "Alright! Maybe... I really was overthinking it!"

……

Icefield, Icefield Cave.

Not far from the Emperor Sword Clan, there was a desolate and barren land.

The area is a mix of trees, grass, and vines, and the surrounding towering peaks constantly block out the sunlight, so it is perpetually shrouded in gloom. The air is also very humid and stuffy, and the thick layer of decaying leaves on the ground adds a slightly rotten smell to the surrounding air.

It seems that no one has been here for many years.

However, at this very moment, there were five people constantly moving around here.

Judging from the blue robes worn by these five people, they should be members of the Emperor Sword Clan.

"We've arrived!" A short while later, one of the middle-aged men among the five stopped slowly after spotting an open space.

Perhaps for that reason, the four people behind him also stopped one after another.

"Are you sure this is the place?" The only woman among the five who was reasonably good-looking looked around and asked doubtfully.

"Zhang Lian! Are you saying this to doubt my words?" The middle-aged man's tone turned cold, seemingly very dissatisfied with Zhang Lian's words.

"The Fourth Master is Zhang Kun! I don't know if the Fifth Master meant that... but you're arguing over such a small matter, aren't you being a bit too narrow-minded?" The speaker was a handsome young man, clearly speaking up for Zhang Lian.

"Hmph! Lord of the Six Meridians? Don't think I don't know about your affair with Zhang Lian..."

"What did you say?" Zhang Lian frowned and shouted.

"Zhang Kun! You're going to get into trouble for saying that, you know that, right?" Zhang Jun's tone suddenly lowered when he heard Zhang Kun's words.

"Hmph! I told you! So what?" Zhang Kun ignored Zhang Jun and Zhang Lian and snorted coldly again.

The three of them stared at each other, and the atmosphere instantly became somewhat deathly heavy, as if there were sparks on an oil drum, which could easily ignite a fire if not handled properly.

And just then...

"Alright! We've just arrived and haven't even seen him yet, and we're already arguing. Everyone, don't panic. Remember, this is his first time meeting us. If any of you think you can beat him, then I won't waste any more words..."

"But if not, then please shut up! Otherwise, walls have ears, and we'll become a laughing stock. Even if they're generous, they probably won't negotiate with us anymore after seeing our rabble." The speaker was an old man.

His name was Zhang Hu, and he was the head of the third branch of the Emperor Sword Clan.

Although his cultivation level is not the highest here, he is the oldest and has the richest life experience, so no matter what, the other Emperor Sword Clan leaders will give him some face.

So after Zhang Hu finished speaking, Zhang Lian and the others gave each other a cold look and then fell silent.