Chapter 1204: Azure Crossing Continent, yet the final outcome was the same.
He himself was the ultimate winner.
It was only that Chen Yan, on the current timeline, was still utterly unable to understand whether everything that version of himself who had struck a deal with the End Beast could truly be called "victory."
Like Shen Xuanwei, keeping company with the Outer Dao?
"I know what you're thinking."
The Purple Mansion Heavenly Monarch's gaze fell upon Chen Yan once more, her eyes seemingly carrying a hint of mockery.
"You're wondering why, on that timeline, the End Beast ultimately chose to make a deal with you rather than Shen Xuanwei..."
That was indeed the case.
At this very moment, Chen Yan was indeed troubled by this matter.
"That is because It was placing bets on both sides."
The Purple Mansion Heavenly Monarch continued.
"Betting on both sides?"
Chen Yan voiced his confusion again.
"Unlike Void Creation Realm cultivators such as myself, the End Beast, which had existed even before Heaven and Earth were created, had from the very beginning been an existence detached from the River of Time... This also meant that It could traverse multiple different timelines at once and influence them through one another, thereby accomplishing certain goals."
The Purple Mansion Heavenly Monarch said:
"On some timelines, such as the current one, It chose Shen Xuanwei. On other timelines, It chose you. Perhaps that was precisely why It had done nothing to you."
The mutual influence of multiple timelines.
"..."
Chen Yan merely remained silent. He had not even figured out the situation he was currently in, much less concepts such as timelines or multiple timelines.
"You don't understand, do you?"
The Purple Mansion Heavenly Monarch once again saw through Chen Yan's thoughts and continued.
From the perspective of