Chapter 787: Chapter 435: Like a Fish... (Part 2)

It gave off an odd feeling, as if it were a patchwork of various spiritual objects—

[Name]: Temporal Aberration Fish

[Mood]: Eternally Joyful

[State]: A special spiritual object from the "error" segment of the River of Cosmic Light, only birthed in the presence of great discrepancies.

The areas they pass through will see time and space become indistinct, and they always exist in different currents; what can be seen is merely their projections.

[Bindable]: Spirit of the Seasons, whereby only one Temporal Aberration Fish can be bound to each different spirit of the seasons. When all twenty-four seasonal spirits are collected, the errors can be corrected.

Oh?

Li Ye’s eyes lit up.

He quickly stepped forward, first patting Zhuge Ya’s shoulder to ensure the latter was still alive, then bit his finger to draw a special mark on his forehead.

He then said, "This is a special Dharma method of mine, able to protect you. Thanks, I’ll now head off to catch a Temporal Aberration Fish!"

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to linger.

Every minute and second the portal remained open was consuming Zhuge Ya’s life force and primordial qi, and even Li Ye couldn’t withstand such depletion.

Thus, a swift conclusion was imperative.

Zhuge Ya was entirely devoid of strength, barely managing to pull out a cushion for support, and weakly watched Li Ye’s figure vanish into the River of Cosmic Light.

He muttered to himself, "I hope it succeeds."

As he spoke, he spat out a mouthful of black-tinged blood.

Peering into heavenly secrets is an exceedingly difficult endeavor.

Especially since... he also discovered that Li Ye was not of this world. In his view, likely a reincarnation of a certain great being, but one who has yet to awaken memories of a past life.

Calculating up to this point was already as much as Zhuge Ya’s painstaking divination studies could achieve.

He thought thus.

His body involuntarily falling backward.

Thankfully, the peculiar brand on his forehead was faintly glowing.

Forcefully preventing his body from disintegrating.

Otherwise, his flesh might have scattered like ash by now.

"Could this help stabilize my body?"

This discovery further astonished him.

At the same time, a bold idea emerged in his mind—if this mark could grant immortality, couldn’t he divine more?

Suffering mattered not.

As long as he could obtain answers, nothing else mattered.

...

Li Ye was, of course, unaware of Zhuge Ya’s dangerous thoughts.

He found himself somewhat exasperated, looking at his hand—his previously fair and slender fingers had become rather youthful, even his body was shrinking, and his entire demeanor was undergoing a stark transformation.

Changing from a tall, graceful youth into a younger boy.

Even his Taoist robe had to shrink slightly to fit his current form.

"The blessing of the Cosmic Light, is it."

He casually summoned a water mirror, peering at the handsome lad reflected, he smirked and waved his sleeve, dispersing it.

Legend says that the River of Cosmic Light would not attack anyone, but it would grant you a blessing—your life span would consistently reverse until... it ceased to exist.

For mortals, this is certainly a good thing, allowing an aging body to return to its youthful state, while retaining memories deemed useful or otherwise.

But for a cultivator... this wash would strip away even their mana, reverting to youth without mana would indeed be unbearable.

Fortunately, Li Ye shielded with Jianmu.

Still, he could not linger here.

He turned his gaze towards the swimming fishes.

Cautiously approaching.

However, they had evidently noticed this uninvited guest, with a gentle flick of their tails, the already turbulent waters erupted into towering waves, crashing towards Li Ye.

Were he to be struck, the power of time within would further erode his strength, potentially rendering his Jianmu ineffective.

Li Ye’s expression shifted, swiftly stepping aside in a flash of golden light.

Observing them from afar.

Seeing him evade, the fishes did not flee but continued to swim unhurriedly, though there was a very conspicuous glimmer of wisdom flashing through their fish eyes.

These creatures clearly possessed intelligence.

Meaning they could be communicated with.

"Seems the Emotion Song will still be needed."

"No wonder communication is considered so rare."

Li Ye sat cross-legged on the ground.

Placing the Treasure Lotus Lamp before him, he held the Emotion Communication and played it softly.

The melodious notes and warm firelight spread together.

In this perpetually chaotic, forever cold, and absolutely devoid of temperature River of Cosmic Light, a "dam" was forcibly formed.

Even the phantom of a beaver was digging cavities within the dam.

That cavity looked quite comfortable.

Not only nestled in the warm embrace of the firelight, it wasn’t too dark, yet not glaring, perfectly pleasant, and with the branches of the Emotion Communication obscuring prying eyes from all sides.

A gentle rain pattered around.

"Drip, drip~"

Bronze-colored raindrops cast ripples upon the River of Cosmic Light.

One side enwrapped by the gentle melody and warm firelight, a "cavity," the other incessantly swirling, exuding cold, river flow.

Even the Temporal Aberration Fishes felt somewhat... tempted.

Very peculiar.

By rights, they are special spiritual entities dwelling amid worldly mistakes, devoid of such biological inclinations to seek shelter because of cold or find safety in cavities.

Yet at this moment, they couldn’t suppress the urge to enter the dam’s protection, to nestle into the warm cavity—however, they also knew this would mean yielding to that strange human cultivator.

Thus, the fish became restless.

At this time, Li Ye conveyed a thought through the melody—

"Help me out, and I will build this nesting place for you."

"Moreover, I can ensure its permanence here."

After finishing, he patiently waited.

He believed these intelligent fishes would make the right choice.

Sure enough.

Before too long.

From the school swam forth a fish of considerable size.

It approached Li Ye.

A gleam, as though countless layers of differing light, assembled within its crystalline fish eyes—the source of their innate talent, through their eyes they easily discern the different branches of the River of Cosmic Light.

"Coo coo coo~"

Yet what emerged from its mouth resembled the cooing of a dove.

The general meaning being—

"What do you need us to do?"

Li Ye felt a sense of delight.

But maintained a calm demeanor, responding, "I want you to assist me in finding two souls from the branched worlds of the River of Cosmic Light. They appear to be hidden away by the river waters."

Upon hearing this, the fish had an impulse to turn away.

But after pondering, especially casting a glance at the Treasure Lotus Lamp, it did not depart.

"Coo coo coo!"

"What? You say... there are many hidden souls."

The fish nodded.

Then opened its mouth, releasing a bubble.

The bubble burst before Li Ye, revealing a fleeting scene—somewhere, in the unknown depths of the river, numerous souls encased within amber-like bubbles.

Gently swaying with the wash of water.

The boundless, potent spiritual power belonging to them nourished the River of Cosmic Light.

This sight drastically changed Li Ye’s countenance.

"What?"

The River of Cosmic Light actually requires external forces to function?

How can this be?

The River of Cosmic Light is a fundamental Tao law!

It existed long as time itself, even should spatial collapse render all things to ash, it should not be in distress.

Time flows infinitely, its power too should be boundless.

Yet it was absorbing those souls’ power.

Superior knowledge informed Li Ye of two possibilities here.

First: It is being controlled.

Second: It has developed its own spirituality.

Neither of which Li Ye wished to see—more dreadful was the sense of the surrounding forces...

Like a cold, coiling serpent sneaking up on him.

Accompanied by a peculiar presence—

"Stay here."

"Accompany me."

Unexpectedly, his body began to transform into a fish!