As expected of the main branch of the immortal realm—so vast, deep, and dazzling I apologize for offending our senior

Boom! Boom! Boom!~~~

Stepping into the main current of the River of Time for the first time, the majestic sight left Chen Yi utterly awestruck.

The first impression was its sheer vastness!

The boundless river surface rippled endlessly, with countless tributaries spreading outward like a spider’s web—some diverging from the main flow, others converging like rivers returning to the sea.

The second impression was its unfathomable depth!

Chen Yi was no stranger to the River of Time, yet never before had he encountered one so profoundly bottomless. It felt like staring into an abyss—one so deep it defied comprehension, impossible to fully perceive.

And finally, its dazzling brilliance!

The Time Veil of the Immortal Realm’s River of Time shimmered with unparalleled radiance!

In most worlds, the Time Veil is colorless—or rather, time itself should not possess color. But when hues appear, it signifies a world of extraordinary rank, one capable of influencing the fabric of space and time!

Take the Divine Realm, for example. At its peak, the River of Time there bore a Time Veil of kaleidoscopic colors, symbolizing the indelible marks left by its mighty overlords throughout history!

But the Immortal Realm?

Nine colors!

What did this mean?

It meant the Immortal Realm had now far surpassed even the Divine Realm in its golden age!

Truly worthy of its title as the supreme hegemon above all realms—its reputation was well-earned!

"Though the colors of the Time Veil don’t directly reflect a world’s current strength, they symbolize its accumulated heritage. That said, after losing the Divine Realm as a rival, the Immortal Realm’s progress has slowed considerably. Even the enigmatic Heavenly Dao has retreated into obscurity, no longer interfering in worldly affairs..."

Zhang Bairen explained in a low voice, but as he spoke, he suddenly sighed, his tone tinged with melancholy:

"Ah, time itself is colorless. It is the stars—the heroes—who etch their brilliance upon it, giving history its hues!"

"Though these imprints may one day vanish beneath the endless tides of the Spacetime Sea, at least the past and present remain eternal!"

"And what of you, Chen Yi?"

"You are absent from past, present, and future alike. It’s as if you don’t belong to this ancient history at all. Time leaves no trace of you. By all logic, you shouldn’t even exist—yet here you stand before me, alive and real. It defies all understanding..."

"I can’t help but wonder... just what kind of creature are you?"

Chen Yi pondered for a moment before replying gravely, "Senior, I know you’re curious, but save your curiosity for later. I sense Wuji’s presence. I suggest you sever all ties with me immediately and focus on your own mission. Stay safe!"

Zhang Bairen fell silent briefly, then added with lingering concern, "The mark I bear cannot be erased. You could only have entered here with my help—that fact alone will invite suspicion. And if suspicion turns to certainty, given that one’s will, my fate is sealed. At best, exile to the fringes; at worst, annihilation. My life matters little, but we cannot risk a chain reaction!"

"So... tread carefully in all things!"

Chen Yi sighed. "Rest assured, Senior. I truly know what I’m doing."

What else could Zhang Bairen say?

He could only place his trust in him.

With that, he began the necessary severance, meticulously erasing all traces of their connection before departing.

Meanwhile, Chen Yi wasted no time.

In a place as perilous as the main current of the Immortal Realm’s River of Time, caution was paramount.

After all, one could never predict what kind of ancient powerhouse might emerge from the most unassuming stretch of the river!

Not that Chen Yi feared them. If he didn’t fear Wuji, the reigning Immortal Emperor, why would he fear these relics hiding in forgotten corners of history?

But provoking them would only invite trouble—not just drawing Wuji’s attention, but potentially implicating Zhang Bairen as well.

Thus, in the River of Time, discretion was the wiser path.

Fortunately, after studying and experimenting with Zhang Bairen’s Spacetime Umbrella, Chen Yi had taken the liberty of refining his Cloak of Concealment!

The earlier version could hide his presence within the River of Time, but crossing the Time Veil still produced faint ripples—an unavoidable flaw.

As everyone knew, Chen Yi excelled at deciphering mechanisms but was less adept at wielding them seamlessly.

He forced his way through the Time Veil by prying open gaps, not gliding effortlessly through it. No matter how careful he was, traces would remain.

But the upgraded Cloak of Concealment 2.0 solved this perfectly!

It could now smoothly deflect the pressure of the Time Veil while absorbing all temporal disturbances, allowing him to pass through undetected.

"Good. Now no one should disturb me. Let’s see... where is Senior Cui Changsheng hiding?"

Donning the Cloak of Concealment 2.0, Chen Yi drifted like an invisible specter across the main current.

Cui Changsheng was neither in the past nor the present—and certainly not in the future.

The Sea of Infinite Possibilities in the future bore too great a karmic burden. Countless Immortal Emperors existed within its boundless potential. Chen Yi had once peered beyond the karmic barrier and glimpsed fragments of what lay ahead: Fang Fan ascending to emperorship, Xu Jinghong slaying Ling Xiao with a single sword strike, Ye Wuchen attaining the Dao, and Gu Yuan scheming for eons to overthrow him and seize the throne...

Though these were merely possible futures, setting foot there would turn potential into reality. The karmic weight of even one Immortal Emperor would be unbearable—let alone the collective backlash. Not even Wuji, the true and reigning Immortal Emperor, could withstand it.

"So where exactly is Senior Cui Changsheng? Or rather, where has that Red Heaven Immortal Emperor imprisoned him?"

"What place could evade the countless Time Inspectors and even escape Wuji’s notice?"

"The Celestial Stele holds a wisp of Cui Changsheng’s true spirit. It should resonate with his original self, but the infinite distances of time and space distort this connection, making precise localization impossible..."

"Bringing the Celestial Stele here would solve the problem, but the risk is too great. A single misstep could doom Cui Changsheng forever. Not an option."

"That leaves only one solution: I’ll act as the conduit, guiding the way with my will!"

Gazing into the unfathomable depths of the River of Time, a bold idea took shape in Chen Yi’s mind.

Cui Changsheng’s will suffered from latency, especially within the River of Time, where endless spacetime amplified the delay. By the time he adjusted for it, Cui Changsheng’s grave might already be overgrown with weeds!

So, relying on the Celestial Stele’s faint resonance to locate him was less practical than waiting for his original self to perish and his spirit to return via the stele. At least that approach carried no risk—inaction guaranteed no mistakes.

But...

Would Chen Yi choose inaction?

As all knew, Chen Yi’s will transcended time without delay!

So what if Cui Changsheng’s will lagged?

He would simply take control of the Celestial Stele himself!

Inside the Illusory Star Cave, Chen Yi's true form seized the Celestial Robe Stone Stele.

"Senior, I apologize for this, but I must overstep my bounds!"

As his words faded, he refined it in an instant!

......

PS: In his dazed state, Prisoned Fish has only fleeting moments of clarity and can only do his best. But rest assured—Prisoned Fish will return sooner or later!