The River of Time and Space

"..."

The Origin Will showed no sign of retreating, still watching over this place with the vigilance of a facing a great enemy.

Thus, the mysterious Green-Robed Being ignored it and continued speaking directly to Shi Yan: "Alright, the background introduction ends here. Now for the key part. My Three Saints Palace is a powerful faction from the Ancient Civilization that specializes in the Path of Time and Space. Naturally, the disciples we train also cultivate in time and space—though the separate paths of time alone and space alone also count."

"The so-called 'Three Saints' are the earliest three Ancestors of our Three Saints Palace lineage. One excelled in the path of time, one in the path of space, and the last in the path of time and space—these are the three statues you saw in the Divine Temple. When the three Ancestors founded the Three Saints Palace, they were already existences worthy of being called 'Saints,' and two of them even advanced further afterward, reaching..."

At this point, the Green-Robed Being glanced at the Origin Will, which was still intently watching, then said: "I can't say more. Saying too much would be overstepping. But we've almost arrived."

By now, the Green-Robed Being and Shi Yan were standing before the two-story elegant pavilion.

"Follow me inside. This is the inheritance treasure of our Three Saints Palace lineage—the Guardian Tower."

The Green-Robed Being pushed open the door and led Shi Yan into the two-story pavilion.

From the outside, the two-story pavilion didn't seem large, but once inside, Shi Yan realized it contained a hidden world.

The interior of the pavilion was an utterly vast starry sky, filled with "rivers" of varying lengths. The longest river stretched over a hundred light-years, while the shortest was only a few billion kilometers. In total, there were 344 rivers.

Beyond that, Shi Yan noticed that the celestial bodies scattered across the starry sky were no ordinary things either. A quick scan revealed 821 black holes and 1,422 planets.

"These rivers, black holes, and planets are the legacies left by the successive Ancestors, Inheritors, and most outstanding disciples of our Three Saints Palace. The rivers are 'Rivers of Time and Space,' the black holes are 'Primordial Black Holes,' and the planets are 'Stars of Worlds,' corresponding to the paths of time and space, time alone, and space alone, respectively," the mysterious Green-Robed Being explained as he flew to Shi Yan's side.

"As for the size of each legacy site, it represents the strength of the one who left it. For example, this one."

The Green-Robed Being pointed to the shortest river, about a few billion kilometers long, and said: "This is the legacy I left. I am the weakest among all the Inheritors of the Three Saints Palace, and also the last... Of course, once you inherit the Three Saints Palace, I'll become the second-to-last."

"Inherit the Three Saints Palace?" Shi Yan's heart stirred. Though he had already guessed as much, hearing it from the Green-Robed Being himself still settled something within him.

Inheriting the legacy of an Ancient Civilization faction—this was an absolute super-opportunity for any life in the Universe Ocean. With his growing desire for the future, Shi Yan naturally looked forward to this inheritance even more.

"Of course, you're the one to inherit it." The Green-Robed Being glanced at him and sighed: "After endless Reincarnation Eras, I've finally waited for someone who passed the Maze Lock's trial. I doubt there will be a second before the world itself is destroyed."

"Since you cultivate the Path of Time and Space, I'll first take you to the most important 'River of Time and Space.' Follow me." With that, the Green-Robed Being flew toward a River of Time and Space about forty-plus light-years long.

"Senior, you said the size of the legacy site represents the strength of the Ancestor who left it... The one who left this legacy shouldn't be the strongest in the Path of Time and Space among the successive Ancestors, right? Then why do you say it's the most important?" Shi Yan asked curiously as he followed the Green-Robed Being into that river.

"Indeed, it's not."

The mysterious Green-Robed Being pointed to another River of Time and Space, over 170 light-years long, and said: "That is the legacy left by the 21st Ancestor of our Three Saints Palace's Space-Time Lineage. That Ancestor was the strongest in the Path of Time and Space in the history of the Three Saints Palace, and also the first to cultivate the Path of Time and Space to the ultimate level."

Cultivating to the ultimate—that meant God King.

Shi Yan understood. It seemed that among the three founding Ancestors of the Three Saints Palace, the one from the Space-Time Lineage had indeed not stepped into the God King realm.

But even so, that was terrifying enough.

The other two founding Ancestors, plus this 21st Ancestor of the Space-Time Lineage—in other words, the Three Saints Palace had produced at least three God Kings in its history.

Moreover, Shi Yan noticed that among each type of legacy site, there were one or two of similar size. It was likely that the Three Saints Palace had seen even more than three God Kings.

In the original story, the Duan Donghe lineage that Luo Feng inherited had only one God King in its history, and that was already a top-tier inheritance in the Ancient Civilization.

Beyond that, there was the Jin Kingdom founded by the Jin God King, Mountain Guest. In that vast kingdom, only Mountain Guest was a God King, along with over ten Saint-level Existences.

Compared to the Three Saints Palace, it was clearly far inferior.

Obviously, the Three Saints Palace lineage was much stronger than the Duan Donghe lineage and the Jin Kingdom.

Yet, a faction like this, allied with the "Wu Kingdom" against an enemy, was still hunted and forced to flee into the Universe Ocean. What kind of existence was that enemy?

The Three Saints Palace wasn't a direct branch of the Wu Kingdom, but the Duan Donghe lineage was a genuine internal faction of Wu. Clearly, the Wu Kingdom was likely not a mere kingdom like Jin, ruled by a single ordinary God King.

Thinking this, Shi Yan silently marveled at how deep the waters of the Origin Continent truly were.

While Shi Yan was lost in thought, the mysterious Green-Robed Being continued his explanation: "The 21st Ancestor was the strongest in our Space-Time Lineage's history, but the path he walked was pioneered by the First Ancestor. The River of Time and Space we're heading to now was left by the First Ancestor. His cultivation method is the foundation for all the Space-Time Lineage's strong throughout the ages. Therefore, the First Ancestor's legacy is naturally the most important."

"Senior, which of the three statues in the Divine Temple is the First Ancestor of the Space-Time Lineage?" Shi Yan suddenly pressed further.

"The one in the middle," the Green-Robed Being said succinctly.

"The Headless Statue?"

Shi Yan was taken aback. He hadn't expected that statue to be the First Ancestor of the Three Saints Palace's Space-Time Lineage. Then why was it headless? Could it be that the First Ancestor had a form similar to Xing Tian?

"It's related to the cultivation method the First Ancestor created. That statue was carved that way on the First Ancestor's explicit instructions. As for the peculiarities of the method, you'll find out soon enough." The mysterious Green-Robed Being seemed to guess Shi Yan's confusion but only offered a brief explanation before falling silent.

Shi Yan felt a faint unease: "I'm afraid this cultivation method of the Three Saints Palace's Space-Time Lineage has some anomalies..."

But having come this far, there was no turning back. Without a doubt, if he insisted on refusing the inheritance, the Green-Robed Being would not hesitate to kill him.

Yet, as a True God, faced with such an opportunity, no one would retreat—and Shi Yan was no exception.

The two moved quickly, and before long, they flew into the River of Time and Space left by the First Ancestor.

The moment he entered the river, Shi Yan felt a fleeting chill, as if he had passed through countless times and spaces, each infinitesimal point a world unto itself.

But Shi Yan knew this was likely just an illusion. If it were truly possible, the First Ancestor would be far more than a Saint-level Existence.

Once inside the River of Time and Space, Shi Yan found himself standing on a cloud. Looking around, he saw a world of white clouds, empty except for a massive, crystalline statue in the far distance.

The statue was carved from some unknown material, crystal-clear and exuding an aura of pressure. Shi Yan vaguely felt that the stone was more extraordinary than any material he had ever seen.

As for the subject of the carving, Shi Yan recognized it from its form—it was the Headless Statue from the Divine Temple, the First Ancestor of the Space-Time Lineage. But here, the statue was complete.

The First Ancestor was an exceptionally heroic and handsome man, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, quite striking—the only issue being that atop the statue's neck sat two identical heads.

"This is the First Ancestor of our Three Saints Palace's Space-Time Lineage, and the true core among the three founding ancestors. Though he was not the strongest of all Space-Time masters throughout the ages, the cultivation method of our lineage originates from him. Now, kneel and pay your respects to him."

The mysterious Green-Robed Being walked over to Shi Yan's side and pulled back the hood of his green robe, revealing a middle-aged face—also bearing two identical heads.

The next moment, Shi Yan felt the world shift around him, and the two of them had already arrived not far before the statue of the First Ancestor.

Shi Yan couldn't help but ask, "Senior, what is this about the Ancestor?"

If it were only the First Ancestor, that might be one thing, but even this Green-Robed Being had two heads—this was clearly not normal.

"It has to do with the cultivation method created by the First Ancestor." The Green-Robed Being dispelled Shi Yan's doubt, then added an explanation: "Rest assured, with your potential, this cultivation method will only benefit you."

With that, the Green-Robed Being extended a hand, and a Silver Prayer Mat appeared not far in front of Shi Yan.

Hearing this, Shi Yan hesitated no longer. He stepped forward to the mat and knelt respectfully several times before the statue of the First Ancestor.

For an existence capable of creating such a unique cultivation method, and since he was about to inherit the Ancestor's legacy, Shi Yan held great reverence for this First Ancestor.

"Excellent. From today onward, you are the 345th 'Sage' of the Three Saints Palace's Space-Time Lineage... It has been far too long since I took on the role of Sage. This heavy burden can finally be set down..." The Green-Robed Being—or rather, the Old Sage—his voice suddenly sounded much lighter.

At the same time, billions of rays of light blazed across the entire River of Time and Space. The light reflected endlessly between heaven and earth, ultimately converging toward Shi Yan's body.