Yes, the times have changed.

One could even say that this "change of times" happened right before Jiang Ye's eyes.

It's just that the disconnected Guiwen clone didn't know about it.

Of course, now that his memories have synchronized, the Witch Gui Jiang Ye naturally understands the meaning of "the times have changed" more profoundly.

However...

From the perspective of Cheng Lin Jiang Ye, his first reaction was one of confusion—

After all, based on the "transmigration" situation he personally experienced...

In this new era, everything about the transmigrated players has been "formatted"!

Not only did Jiang Ye's clones lose their former talent abilities;

Other transmigrated players also lost everything and could only start over from scratch as complete newcomers.

So, following this pattern...

Under these "changed times" circumstances, how could "Chen Cang" still possess the [Protagonist Halo]?

Shouldn't his so-called [Protagonist Halo], like the talent skills of other transmigrated players, have been formatted as well?

But soon, Jiang Ye naturally realized...

The "transmigration" achieved within that Reincarnation Mirror Palace was probably quite different from the transmigration within the Forbidden Zone!

And this might also be the reason why the Light players chose to "go all out," swarming into the Reincarnation Mirror Palace in droves!

Otherwise...

If their Light talents were formatted...

These Light players who had schemed for so long would probably feel like dying!

The facts indeed confirm this, at least Chen Cang did not lose his [Protagonist Halo].

After revealing the information "the times have changed" to the Witch Gui, he suddenly reached his hand into his own throat, pulling at his tongue...

The tongue in his throat was pulled out very, very long, making his whole person appear as eerie as a hanged ghost!

Just as the Witch Gui Jiang Ye was horrified by this action.

He saw a huge pustule bulge at Chen Cang's throat!

As if something was connected to his tongue, being forcibly pulled out from his throat!

Soon, that extremely elongated tongue was finally completely pulled out of his throat.

Simultaneously, the bulging pustule at his throat slowly subsided.

And at the end of the pulled-out tongue...

Was connected to an extremely ugly toad!

Its two round, bulging eyes looked utterly bizarre.

Its bluish-black skin was covered in pustules!

Even the entire toad body clearly emitted a foul odor!

And that long tongue pulled out by Chen Cang transformed into the toad's tongue...

The toad retracted the tongue back into its throat, then let out a "croak," its cheeks puffing in and out.

The entire toad then transformed into a watch, which Chen Cang directly put on his wrist.

And that strange watch recording Chen Cang's information...

From the current perspective of the Cheng Lin version Jiang Ye, he naturally knew—

That was a prison watch!

And only by wearing the prison watch could Chen Cang finally leave that sealed ice coffin.

Relying on the watch, he walked out of that Reincarnation Mirror Palace with its six constantly, rapidly rotating mirrors.

Leaving the Reincarnation Mirror Palace, he appeared in a deep, abyssal seabed-like environment, surrounded by icy cold water with a turbulent current.

Relying on his [Protagonist Halo], Chen Cang simply followed the flow of the water.

Soon, he stepped into this Forest of Oddities through a spatial passage.

Of course, during these actions, the Witch Gui Jiang Ye, who possessed the [Nesting Inner Demons] on Chen Cang, naturally continuously obtained information from Chen Cang.

First, he learned—

That toad-transformed watch pulled from his body was a temporary watch with only a 1-year usage period.

Or more accurately, a temporary prison watch.

It was precisely because of this temporary watch's existence that all of Chen Cang's abilities were preserved.

Including his gorgeous data panel, his SSS-grade [Divine Assistance] skill, and those skills including the [Protagonist Halo]...

These were all preserved through that temporary watch.

However, when the one-year usage period passes, that temporary watch will become invalid.

At that time, all of Chen Cang's abilities will also disappear along with the temporary watch's invalidation!

Therefore, according to that "Mysterious Existence"—

If Chen Cang wants to preserve the identity of "Chen Cang," and all the abilities attached to this identity...

Then he must, within the one-year deadline, transform the temporary watch into a permanently effective watch.

And the only way to complete this transformation is... to subdue the "moon" of this era!

So obviously, the task that "Mysterious Existence" demanded Chen Cang to do was to subdue the moon of this era within one year!

Of course, for this arduous task, the Mysterious Existence also gave Chen Cang quite sufficient strategic information.

The first and most crucial point is—

The act of subduing the "moon" of this era must be completed during the 「solar eclipse」 of this era.

In other words, if within the one-year deadline, no 「solar eclipse」 phenomenon occurs in this era...

Then this task will be fundamentally impossible for Chen Cang to achieve!

However, the Mysterious Existence believed that since Chen Cang possesses the [Protagonist Halo]...

Then under the effect of the [Protagonist Halo], the year following his current point in time would most likely have a 「solar eclipse」!

And what Chen Cang needs to do is to make ample preparations for subduing the "moon" before that potentially arriving 「solar eclipse」!

Apart from the prerequisite of the 「solar eclipse」, the most crucial preparation for subduing the "moon" is...

The tool for plucking the moon.

According to the Mysterious Existence, this tool can only be the "toad's tongue"!

Therefore, Chen Cang's primary task is to search for the "Moon-Devouring Giant Toad" of this era!

And the "Moon-Devouring Giant Toad" is not that easy to find.

Even according to the Mysterious Existence's own words...

His understanding of the "Moon-Devouring Giant Toad" is also very limited.

However, despite knowing little, the Mysterious Existence still stated—

Relying on Chen Cang's [Protagonist Halo], he would definitely be able to find the "Moon-Devouring Giant Toad" before the 「solar eclipse」...

The main idea is one of "trust"—you have the [Protagonist Halo], you can succeed at anything!

When the Witch Gui Jiang Ye learned this, he felt somewhat speechless internally...

Even a bit suspicious that Chen Cang might have intentionally concealed something from him.

However, although the Mysterious Existence didn't know much about the "Moon-Devouring Giant Toad," he was still quite responsible in pointing out several clear paths for Chen Cang—

Either, Chen Cang searches through the various spatial passages scattered across the Moon River's riverbed in this era;

Or, Chen Cang chops down hair trees in the misty Forest of Oddities;

Maybe the moment he chops down a hair tree, a colossal tongue will stretch over, snatch away the hair tree, and he must ensure to be swept away along with the hair tree by the giant tongue!

This way, there's a considerable probability of entering the stomach of the "Moon-Devouring Giant Toad"!

As for how to survive inside the giant toad's stomach...

Well, with the [Protagonist Halo], he definitely won't die anyway!

In short, it's all about trying your luck!

Under the guidance of the [Protagonist Halo], you can court death recklessly, definitely won't die, and instead turn every danger into an opportunity!

That "Mysterious Existence" gave Chen Cang a truly god-level brainwashing!

To be honest, Chen Cang originally strongly believed his [Protagonist Halo] would definitely help him succeed!

And after the Mysterious Existence's brainwashing...

He believed it even more!

In his view—

Even a Mysterious Existence he couldn't normally access held his [Protagonist Halo] in such high regard...

This naturally proved his [Protagonist Halo] was indeed outrageously powerful!

Then, under the deterrence of the [Protagonist Halo], the Mysterious Existence definitely wouldn't dare scheme against him!

He could only choose to assist him, and then, after Chen Cang achieved fame and success, reap benefits from the crumbs falling through his fingers!

In Chen Cang's view, the Witch Gui's [Nesting Inner Demons] on him was essentially just attaching another "portable old grandpa" to him!

This Witch Gui wasn't here to control him, but to aid him!

Hmm...

To some extent, Chen Cang thinking this way doesn't seem entirely wrong.

Take those three Sun People players who threw the [Time-Limited Instant Kill] at him...

If not for the Witch Gui Jiang Ye being unaffected by the [Time-Limited Instant Kill], using his Conscious Soul Body to occupy that temporary prison watch...

Those two mechanical eyeballs would probably have already put on that prison watch and directly replaced Chen Cang's identity by now!

Yes, after synchronizing the Witch Gui's memories, Jiang Ye directly understood the reason why the mechanical eyeballs couldn't put on the prison watch dropped by Chen Cang.

It wasn't because it was a temporary watch.

But simply because the watch had not become "ownerless" due to Chen Cang's "death."

At this moment, the Witch Gui was still on the watch, so naturally the mechanical eyeballs couldn't take their turn to wear an "owned" watch...

However, the three Sun People players didn't know about the Witch Gui's existence...

Watching helplessly as that dropped watch couldn't be worn by the Enforcer eyeballs...

The expressions of the three Sun People players shifted unpredictably!

For once, they showed caution when facing lowly Moon People players.

Not daring to approach to inspect that abnormal prison watch, the Sun Person with "Cheng Lin's" appearance said in a deep voice:

"Regardless of the reason causing the abnormality, for safety's sake..."

"As soon as that guy revives, we'll use our authority to kill him!"

This way, they wouldn't get the converted Sun and Moon People player, nor that abnormal watch...

But at least, they could strangle all risks in the cradle!

Jiang Ye, currently acting as a watch on "Cheng Lin's" wrist, did have a way to save Chen Cang.

However, he was more curious—

Could Chen Cang, possessing the [Protagonist Halo], use his [Protagonist Halo] to break the ironclad rule that Sun People hold absolute power of life and death over Moon People?

The parasitic Witch Gui wasn't afraid of death.

After all, he was the [Eternal Witch Gui], as long as his cremains remain, the Witch Gui does not die!

In this current era, even he himself didn't know where his cremains were...

So he probably really couldn't die even if he wanted to!

Furthermore, his Conscious Soul Body could randomly "seize the body" of players!

Even if "seizing the body" of the three Sun People players might carry risk.

But those legions of mindless "Sun and Moon People" following behind them...

Were practically the Witch Gui's reserve army for body seizure!

Therefore, the Witch Gui Jiang Ye simply ignored Chen Cang's life or death, and directly seized the body of a featureless bald version Sun and Moon People player afflicted with the [Curse of Despair].

Actually, with this wave of body seizure, Jiang Ye also wanted to further understand—

Did that [Curse of Despair] really only turn Sun and Moon People players into featureless bald beings, without any other effects?

After the Witch Gui seizes the body, he should gain a deeper feeling of the [Curse of Despair], right?

The facts proved... indeed so!

And this "deep feeling" almost caused him to expose himself on the spot!

The moment he seized the body of the featureless bald version Sun and Moon Person, the Witch Gui synchronized with a pain close to Lightburn agony from the Sun and Moon Person's body!

This pain seemed to act directly on the soul entity, so the soulless Sun and Moon People showed no signs of pain.

But after his seizure, his soul entity was instantly filled with that terrifying pain!

In that instant, the Witch Gui Jiang Ye in Conscious Soul Body state almost thought his consciousness had been torn to shreds!

He almost couldn't help but scream out using the Sun and Moon People player's body!

He even revealed a flaw—

On the face of the Sun and Moon People player he had seized, which should have had no thoughts, an expression of "pain" actually appeared!

Of course, on a face without facial features, the "pain" it displayed was simply a kind of facial contortion...

Fortunately, at this time, the three Sun People players' attention was on the soon-to-revive Chen Cang.

And the Witch Gui Jiang Ye, after instantly experiencing that wave of pain, decisively abandoned the Sun and Moon People body afflicted with the [Curse of Despair], and instead seized the body of a Sun and Moon People player with normal facial features.

This time, that soul-deep pain quickly dissipated.

But Jiang Ye still felt a kind of fear, his entire soul trembling...

Simultaneously, he felt some regret—

Among this reserve army for body seizure, only those not afflicted with the [Curse of Despair] were usable...

Thinking this, he saw Chen Cang, who had just been [Time-Limited Instant Killed], had now revived.

Due to the vision limitation of the misty environment, he didn't even see the Sun People players and the Sun and Moon People army ten meters away.

However, the moment he put his watch back on, he noticed a pair of mechanical eyeballs staring at him with predatory intensity!

The Mysterious Existence had introduced the situation of this era to him...

So he naturally knew—

For Moon People wearing watches...

These mechanical eyeballs are also called "Enforcers"!

They hold absolute power of life and death over Moon People players!

In that instant, the hairs all over Chen Cang's body stood on end!

For the first time, he realized with utmost clarity...

That when a person infinitely approaches death...

Time itself seems to automatically slow down!

It was also the first time his heart wavered—

Could the so-called [Protagonist Halo]... really make everything go smoothly for him, turning misfortune into fortune?

The facts proved that, at least this time...

It seemed to have really let him escape death!

He saw those two mechanical eyeballs that should have erased Chen Cang...

Right before completely erasing Chen Cang, as if suppressed by an invisible force, suddenly fell uncontrollably from the air!

Then soon, the two eyeballs completely merged into the scalp-like ground below!

This scene left Chen Cang dumbfounded!

And made him believe once again—

Holy crap! My Protagonist Halo! Is truly awesome!

Limited by the mist's obstructed vision, what Chen Cang didn't see was—

In that area over ten meters away from him, a large number of eyeballs growing in players' eyes also fell uncontrollably in that same instant!