Chapter 1132: The Constraints of Modifying the Timeline

"So, it is indeed timeline manipulation. What a tricky ability," said Immortal Years, frowning. This ability is incredibly difficult to guard against.

"And that's just one of its abilities," Lu Yang said. "The Immortal Fairy's demise shouldn't be related to timeline manipulation."

"How so? When the Immortal of Immortality fell, the world forgot her, but the four of us still remember her. If it were timeline manipulation, shouldn't we four have forgotten her too?"

"That's not the only reason. From what's been revealed so far, the mastermind's timeline manipulation isn't arbitrary."

"During the hundred thousand years between the Immortal Fairy's disappearance and the fall of the Tinder Dynasty, he didn't alter the timeline to create a non-existent one with the Four Ancient Immortals. This indicates that timeline manipulation has limitations. What those limitations are is currently unknown; it might be an inability to directly erase extremely powerful beings, or perhaps an inability to modify time nodes that are too far apart."

If even the Four Ancient Immortals couldn't be erased, then erasing the Immortal Fairy would be impossible.

"How did you conclude that time nodes too far apart cannot be modified?" The Immortal Fairy sounded a bit confused.

"Let me give you a simple example. If the mastermind wanted to erase Immortal Ying Tian by modifying the timeline, what would be the simplest way?"

"Senior Ying Tian was once buried as a funerary object and later escaped. The simplest way would be to modify the timeline so he couldn't escape and died in the tomb."

"But the mastermind didn't do that."

"That's why I said the mastermind might not be able to modify time nodes that are too far apart."

"As for why the mastermind can manipulate timelines, I suspect it's an ability of the Karmic Dao Fruit that reverses cause and effect."

Everyone nodded, agreeing that Lu Yang's deduction was very logical.

"However, I still don't understand why the mastermind chose to modify the timeline this time."

Lu Yang's gaze fell upon the time fragments involving Jin Caiwei and Elder Shi.

"Jin Cuoshi, are you certain the bizarre legends of the black market originated from you?" Lu Yang asked Elder Shi again, startling him into trembling.

Although Elder Shi didn't know Lu Yang's identity, the fact that he could appease even the enraged Young Ancestor indicated how terrifying his presence was.

"It really was me," Elder Shi stammered, shaking like a sieve. Hadn't this matter been resolved? Why was he asking about it again?

Lu Yang was certain Elder Shi wasn't lying. He had also visited the black market, and its bizarre legends perfectly matched Elder Shi's actions.

However, on the original timeline, Elder Shi had denied this. This meant that the original bizarre legends of the black market were not caused by Elder Shi, but by someone else. The mastermind was trying to conceal that person.

Did the mastermind transfer the karma onto Elder Shi?

"Do these bizarre legends only exist in this city, or are there similar ones in other cities?"

"Of course not," Elder Shi stated with certainty. He had hidden female ghosts within the 'Shadow-Retaining Orbs' to boost their sales. He wasn't in charge of other cities, so why would he care about increasing their orb sales?

Lu Yang lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then sighed and shook his head. It seemed he couldn't extract any more information; the existing clues could only lead them this far.

Furthermore, if he were to truly deduce what the mastermind wanted to hide, the mastermind would likely continue to modify the timeline.

With no further clues to pursue, there was no need for Yun Zhi and Immortal Years to remain.

"Then, Junior Brother, focus on your cultivation and strive to reach the Integration Stage soon." Yun Zhi instructed before leaving, her indifferent gaze sweeping between Lu Yang and the Immortal Fairy. She was a little worried that one day her junior brother might truly succumb to temptation and pledge allegiance to the Immortal Fairy.

However, since Junior Brother pledged allegiance to the Immortal Fairy in an 'impossible' future, that must mean this future won't happen... right?

"You should use methods like future sight sparingly," Yun Zhi cautioned again, concerned that her junior brother might become curious and watch the fragments she had previously blocked.

"Understood!"

"Then I'll be leaving too. If you encounter any difficulties in the Buddhist Kingdom, feel free to find me," Immortal Years said. He hadn't known Lu Yang had come to the Buddhist Kingdom until now. After Yun Zhi and Immortal Years departed, Lu Yang returned to the Ancestral Temple.

At the entrance of the Ancestral Temple, Yun Mengmeng and Jin Caiwei were planting trees, both with dirt smudges on their faces, likely from the planting process. "This way we can cultivate immortal spirit fruits. It's so amazing!" Yun Mengmeng was learning from Jin Caiwei how to grow immortal spirit fruits.

"Definitely. This is how I cultivate flat spirit fruits. I just wonder what it would taste like to add immortal spirit fruits to cookies."

"Second Boss, you're back!" Yun Mengmeng looked up and saw Lu Yang, happily wiping the dirt off her face with her arm, making it even dirtier.

"I'm back. My time magic just made a breakthrough. The Ancestral Temple is too small to practice it, so I went outside for a bit," Lu Yang said, boasting casually.

"Time magic, how incredible!" Yun Mengmeng stared wide-eyed; she had never seen time magic in her life.

Sitting on the lotus platform in the Ancestral Temple, Lu Yang's mind was a mess, constantly replaying the 'impossible futures' he had witnessed.

"Fairy, can you truly not condense your immortal body using the power of faith?"

"Sh-shouldn't be able to, right?" The Immortal Fairy's eyes flickered with panic. What should she do? She wasn't good at lying.

"Oh, Xiao He, come here for a moment." The Immortal Fairy had a sudden idea and called Qing He inside from outside the Ancestral Temple.

"Greetings, My Lady." Qing He shook her sleeves, rolling them up her arms, and bowed slightly, her hands clasped together to block her vision, signifying that the sacred countenance should not be seen. "Just now, Xiao Yangzi said I could condense my immortal body using the power of faith. Xiao He, you're most skilled with the power of faith, tell me, is this feasible?"

Qing He's eyes lit up, and she couldn't hide the smile on her face. Had My Lady finally come to her senses? Was she going to leave Lu Yang?

"Reporting to My Lady, of course this is possible..."

"Hmm?" The Immortal Fairy hummed questioningly through her nose.

"It's possible... right?" Qing He was a bit unsure what her Lady meant. She had served the Immortal Fairy for so long and never encountered a situation like this. "I'm asking you!" The Immortal Fairy winked at Qing He, avoiding Lu Yang's gaze.

"...Of course not," Qing He stated solemnly.

"My Lady's immortal body is beyond reproach and indescribably noble; even a glance is an offense. To use the power of faith would surely defile My Lady's precious body! Commander Lu, you must never mention this again!"

"Is it really not possible?" Lu Yang looked at Qing He suspiciously. "Senior Qing He, you don't seem to be in a very good mood?"

He had a feeling Qing He's eyes were welling up with tears as she spoke those words.

Qing He swallowed her tears, determined not to show weakness in front of Lu Yang: "I'm not in a bad mood. I'm just saddened by the thought that My Lady cannot condense her immortal body."