The path to the Rift of Time is more bizarre than imagined.
The closer they got, the more chaotic the flow of time became. Sometimes, with a single step, the flowers and plants around them would wither and bloom again instantly, as if experiencing the cycle of the four seasons; other times, after pausing for a moment, the distant mountains would be reduced to ruins by the erosion of time. The Soul-Stabilizing Bell, summoned by the Thunder Realm Lord, hung above their heads, its body emitting a soft golden light that isolated the chaotic power of time, allowing them to move forward steadily.
"This place is too eerie." A Realm Lord controlled the wind element couldn't help but click his tongue. He had accidentally touched a wisp of temporal turbulence, and his sleeve instantly turned to ashes. The exposed arm even showed signs of aging wrinkles. Fortunately, the Thunder Realm Lord purified it in time with the power of thunder, so it did not cause any serious harm.
Xiao Yan frowned, and the Heaven Burning Sword trembled slightly in his hand. The flames on the sword flickered, clearly also affected by the power of time. He could sense that at the core of the Rift of Time, there was a warm aura of the same origin as the Heart-Clearing Jade, but it was surrounded by layers of time barriers and difficult to reach.
"The entrance to the Rift of Time is just ahead." Thunder Realm Lord pointed to a distorted gate of light ahead, through which multicolored rays flowed, and behind which one could vaguely see a chaotic void. "The power of the Soul-Stabilizing Bell can only protect us as we enter the entrance; what lies inside depends on our individual fate."
Everyone took a deep breath and stepped into the portal of light together.
The moment he passed through the portal, the surrounding scenery changed drastically. The people who had been traveling with him had vanished, leaving Xiao Yan alone in a vast white space. There were no up, down, left, or right in this space, only countless flowing "rivers of time," each reflecting a different scene—some were scenes of him cultivating on the Dou Qi Continent, some were his initial confusion upon entering the Great Thousand World, and others were his figures fighting side by side with Lin Dong and Mu Chen.
"An illusion?" Xiao Yan gripped the Heaven Burning Sword tightly, unleashing six-colored flames in an attempt to dispel the scene before him. But the images seemed to have truly occurred, and he could even feel the emotions he had experienced: the tedium of cultivation, the joy of their first encounter, the exhilaration of the final battle...
"This is not an illusion, but a reflection of time." An aged voice echoed through the space. "What you see here depends on the past that you cherish most."
Xiao Yan looked in the direction of the sound and saw the phantom of the Flame God emerging in the thickest river of time. The phantom sat cross-legged, confronting a giant beast whose body was wrapped in the Law of Time. The beast's aura had actually surpassed the Advanced Realm Lord and reached the legendary " Quasi-Sovereign " realm!
"That's... the Time Behemoth?" Xiao Yan's heart trembled. In the memories of the Flame God's remnant will, this was a supreme being who controlled the Law of Time. Even the Flame God at his peak could only barely contend with it.
"That's right," the illusory figure of the Flame God said. "Back then, I fought it for three days and three nights to obtain the Heart-Clearing Jade. Although I finally obtained the jade, I was also seriously injured, which gave the villains an opportunity to shatter the Heaven Burning Sword."
The illusory image shifted, and the Flame God was seen holding the Heart-Clearing Jade, merging it into the Heaven Burning Sword. The flames on the sword instantly became docile, and the originally violent aura softened considerably.
" The Heart-Clearing Jade's function is not only to suppress inner demons, but also to allow you to maintain absolute clarity regarding the laws while controlling the Heaven Burning Domain." The Flame God's illusory gaze fell upon Xiao Yan. "What you see now is the lingering remnant of my will left in the Rift of Time. To obtain the Heart-Clearing Jade, you must traverse three rivers of time, each corresponding to a past you must confront."
As soon as he finished speaking, three rivers of time appeared before Xiao Yan. The first river showed him fighting against the Hun Tiandi on the Dou Qi Continent; the second river showed him rushing around to find Xun'er when he first arrived in the Great Thousand World; and the third river showed him fighting fiercely against the Darkness Heavenly Emperor and nearly perishing.
"These three rivers represent your 'obsession,' 'confusion,' and 'fear,'" the phantom of the Flame God said. "Only by facing them calmly can you overcome them."
Xiao Yan took a deep breath and stepped into the first long river.
The icy river water instantly pulled him into the depths of his memories. The Hun Tiandi's sinister smile, the sacrifice of his comrades, Xun'er's longing... countless emotions surged into his heart, almost tearing his Dao heart apart.
"All of that is in the past!" Xiao Yan roared, unleashing the Heaven Burning Sword, its six-colored flames shattering the illusory image of the Hun Tiandi. "My obsession has long since transformed into the power of protection!"
As his words fell, the first long river gradually disappeared.
In the second long river, confusion surged like a tide. The weakness of being new to this Great Thousand World, the uncertainty of the road ahead, the disappointment of not being able to find Xun'er... these emotions made his steps heavier and heavier, and he even began to doubt his own choices.
"I have never been lost!" Xiao Yan clenched his fist, the Heart of the Flame Realm erupted, and the flames of the small world in his sea of consciousness burned fiercely. "Every step I have taken has been with a clear conscience!"
His resolve grew stronger as he stepped out of the second long river.
In the third long river, the Darkness Heavenly Emperor's oppressive aura reappeared, and the fear of death was ever-present. The despair and helplessness of yesteryear returned, almost causing him to give up resistance.
"I am no longer the person I once was!" Xiao Yan roared to the sky, Heaven Burning Sword high, its complete blade bursting with dazzling light. "All the life and death I have experienced have transformed into the power I possess today!"
With a single sword strike, the phantom of the Darkness Heavenly Emperor dissipated, and the third river vanished as well.
When the three long rivers completely disappeared, a piece of pure white jade slowly rose from the center of the space. The jade radiated a warm glow; it was the Heart-Clearing Jade.
Xiao Yan grasped the Heart-Clearing Jade and felt a gentle power surge into his body. The restlessness in his sea of consciousness instantly subsided. The domineering power of the Heaven Burning Domain and the gentle power of the Heart-Clearing Jade merged perfectly, eliminating any worry about backlash.
"Very good." The phantom of the Flame God smiled with satisfaction. "You have passed the test. Remember, no matter what difficulties you encounter in the future, you must stay true to yourself."
The phantom gradually dissipated, and the white space began to collapse. Xiao Yan's figure appeared at the exit of the Rift of Time, where Thunder Realm Lord and the others were anxiously waiting.
"Young friend, are you alright?" Thunder Realm Lord hurriedly stepped forward, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes when he saw the Heart-Clearing Jade in the young man's hand. "You found the Heart-Clearing Jade?"
Xiao Yan nodded and integrated the Heart-Clearing Jade into the Heaven Burning Sword. The flames on the sword became more condensed, faintly revealing a warm luster.
"We should leave the secret realm," Xiao Yan said. "We've already secured our spots in the Law Secret Realm; there's no point in staying any longer."
Everyone nodded and flew together toward the exit of the secret realm.
After leaving the Rift of Time, the flow of time around him returned to normal. But Xiao Yan knew that his state of mind was completely different. Having crossed three rivers of time, his Dao heart was more stable, and his understanding of the Realm Lord Realm was also deeper.
For him now, a spot in the Law Secret Realm is merely icing on the cake.
When Xiao Yan stepped out of the Law Secret Realm, the sky over the Realm Capital remained clear. But his gaze was already fixed on the endless void beyond the Realm Capital.
There, there is a wider world, more powerful enemies, and a mission he must complete.
He gripped the Heaven Burning Sword tightly in his hand; the blade shimmered with six colors in the sunlight, as if telling the story of a new journey.