Ash never imagined that fate could be so peculiar.

Legends that had risen to the pinnacle of magecraft were swimming desperately in the Flowing Gold River.

The remnants of the Gray Fox from the previous era, upon waking up, immediately turned on each other.

Enemies who hadn't wanted to breathe the same air or share the same sky just half an hour earlier now suddenly found themselves forced to cooperate in order to face the adversity.

It was only now that Ash, the intruder, finally sorted out what had actually happened.

Without a doubt, the Silver Lamp had no idea about the Fangyuan Cicada's plan to divide and consume. She only knew that there was a Divine Fire System that could be activated at nightfall but that to activate it, one needed citizenship identity verification—hence why she broke into the Transcend Sect to steal the Sonic Strum Great Skill.

As for how she knew that the Sonic Strum Great Skill could grant her citizenship, and that there was a Divine Fire System at nightfall... There were too many possible sources of that information: the Mage's Handbook in the Void Realm, secrets from the sect she had obliterated, or perhaps she herself was a mage related to the prophecy-wielding factions.

In this world, even the dead could not keep secrets.

Moreover, although Ash didn't like Silver Lamp, he had to admit that she indeed possessed extraordinary perseverance and the power to act. Someone like her, as long as she set her mind to something, the whole world would make way for her.

It was like what she said in the Transcend Tower: Fate is the echo of a cry to the Void Realm.

But Silver Lamp only wanted to become a Divine Fire Seed, not anticipating that the Divine Fire was merely a subproject of the trials here. Because she became a Divine Fire Seed with ultimate time talent, instinctively stirring the resonance with the Void Realm, even the Gate of Truth couldn't hold back any longer, wide open and directing the waters of the Flowing Gold River.

The other Legendary Mages were in the same predicament—they were sealed in statues, not just to halt aging, but more importantly to use external elements to forcefully close the Gate of Truth... Ash thought of a ludicrous comparison but held back from continuing that thought.

This was also why legends who had slumbered for over two centuries did not suffer from any 'non-specific, intermittent, full-body dysfunctional syndromes' or other aftereffects, because essentially, those aftereffects were the result of the poison of the Flowing Gold River waters. But maintaining their ultimate time talents, they could swim through the Flowing Gold River with ease. How could they possibly be poisoned by its waters?

Although both were accidents, the Silver Lamp was an 'unwanted occurrence that happened,' while for the legends, it was 'what should have happened but didn't.'

For these legends who clung desperately to life, the Fangyuan Cicada's Eternal Life Plan was their last lifesaver. They were resigned to the idea that if the plan failed, so be it. They didn't anticipate that the plan had never progressed to its final step.

Ash guessed that the Fangyuan Cicada faction wouldn't dare to fool these legends. After all, the legends weren't lone wolves; they had friends and disciples. If the Fangyuan Cicada dared to pull any stunt, the mages outside had not been sealed as Technique Spirits.

However, the wheels of the world are unpredictable—the Senluo Wasteland suffered an 'apocalyptic disaster,' and all mages, even adults, disappeared. Thus, the Cicada plan was indefinitely shelved until he and Silver Lamp broke in, reinitiating an ancient Eternal Life Plan that had been buried for over two centuries.

Thinking about this, Ash couldn't say he had no regrets—if he hadn't entered, then the result would surely have been Silver Lamp's own doing, dying here. They could have waited above for a few days, found out that the Blood Seed had disappeared, happily sought a way home, and made a swift exit from Senluo Wasteland to head towards Gospel, Dazzling Star, or even Blood Moon.

Back then, faced with the Blood Frenzy Hunter Gerard, I was caught like a minion, but now, I am a Holy Sanctuary Mage. If I were to meet him again, I would definitely make sure...he couldn't catch me.

Ash would be a fool to oppose the Blood Saint Clan, after all, Gerard wasn't targeting him, but the Cult Leader Heath. No matter what, Gerard was just doing his duty. If Ash really returned to the Blood Moon, at most he'd help Harvey get revenge and visit friends like Freyja, then continue trying to cross kingdoms.

However, he had the misfortune of entering the trial, and although he did meet the Observer, which was a stroke of luck, there was no escaping now!

The Flowing Gold River erupted, the Fangyuan Cicada was resurrected, but the trialists couldn't feast on the Fangyuan Cicada for Eternal Life; instead, they'd become its snack!

And before the Fangyuan Cicada even caught up to them, they already began infighting. The current of the Flowing Gold River was related to the number of tributaries; the slower the current, the further they could swim, and the number of tributaries was linked to the life and death of mages. Hence the more people who died, the further the survivors could escape!

This group of Legendary Sanctuaries, who could reverse laws and invert cause and effect in the outside world, began an unprecedented escape in the Flowing Gold River.

"Ibaken, Casnas, I'll go ahead to the Ruby Mountain and wait for you!"

With a piercing curse, a Legendary nearly three meters tall was washed downstream by the Flowing Gold River. He might have had some peculiar bloodline, or possibly reinforced his body through arduous Miracles. Outside, his enormous physique would certainly be a high resistance, even magic-immune armor, but in the river, his large size only made him the best target.

His arms and legs were broken, his joints twisted to a terrifying angle, and even his wrists were bleeding, clearly having been deliberately severed. Otherwise, it would be impossible to completely immobilize this Legendary Mage.

At that moment, the Fangyuan Cicada had just finished eating its small snack, and nature immediately brought it this chewy, large dish, even making its chirping sound lively.

But as the Legendaries anticipated, it didn't move while feeding, so it remained at the end of the Flowing Gold River.

Feeling the current slow down, everyone ended their fight and hurried to swim upstream. However, after the underwater melee just now, everyone instinctively separated, with Ash and Weiser even staying at the very back, not daring to get close to the main group.

When Mes at the front encountered extreme resistance again, he turned back to look at everyone.

"It's tragic."

He said, "I, Mes Fogwhite, am a three-element Legendary, the director of the Blood of Immortal Research Institute. I've traveled through four kingdoms, explored Angelic relics, and been hailed as the 'Time Gear'. Before me, no time Legendary could match me, and after me, Scatty, Yunni, you're just followers in my footsteps."

Those pointed out by Mes did not rebut, showing that Mes truly was second only to the Great Skill of the Divine Era in the Gray Fox Era.

"Now, the era we knew has passed, and we remnants will pay the price for our fear of death and desire to cling to life, becoming nourishment for the Fangyuan Cicada," Mes said, "Tearing at each other like fish and shellfish, just for a glimmer of hope... But if we cannot consume a piece of the Fangyuan Cicada, even if we get out of the Flowing Gold River, how long could you and I live? A month? Or an hour?"

The Legendaries' expressions changed subtly; unlike Ash and Weiser, they had not much time left, which is why they joined the Cicada's Resonance Project. Once they left here or if their Talent of time ceased to function, they would be like those antiques sealed in tombs—quickly rusting or even decaying, bursting like a bubble at a touch.

"Only Death is an unavoidable Fate," Ash heard Silver Lamp whisper beside him, "Only Eternal Life is the sole salvation."

Ash almost forgot he was still holding Silver Lamp's hand. They, not having the life span of Legendaries, had to join forces to barely withstand the reversal of time. Ash was already very dissatisfied and self-reproaching that he had to cooperate with Silver Lamp to survive, and now Silver Lamp was preaching (actually talking to himself), the feeling of retaliation welled up in him, and he—

He gripped her hand tightly.

Weiser turned her head in surprise, and Ash, coming back to his senses, couldn't help but blush—should he let go of her hand to slap someone, or keep holding on tight to fight side by side? What kind of skill was this childish revenge? This was Flowing Gold River, not a kindergarten class.

Just as Ash was embarrassedly about to let go, he felt a pain in his hand; Silver Lamp was squeezing back forcefully. The two of them were playing a game that even kindergartners would scorn, squeezing each other's hands in retaliation underwater.

"Mess," Scatty opened one eye, revealing the clockwork pupil inside, "Speak your mind."

"We can't run. It's no use," Mess said. "The plan continues; we must consume the Fangyuan Cicada."

"How do we eat it?" another person interjected. "I didn't replace my teeth with those of the Violent Slash Dragon."

"Didn't you bring any knives and forks?" Mess produced a dagger, its Blade's grey light somewhat familiar to Ash, "Even though they're strong enough to resist the Flowing Gold River, they can't withstand the Corrosion of the Fangyuan Cicada, but if we can make even a single cut, drink a bit of its juices, that's a victory for us."

It was then that Ash suddenly realized that their clothing and weapons, even Silver Lamp's mask, had not been eroded by the Flowing Gold River. Otherwise, the massacre would have turned into a big mixed bath. However, the Flowing Gold River couldn't possibly only affect living beings, which meant the design of their clothes and weapons had taken into account the river's effects.

Ash looked at his own blade with sweet words and a hidden dagger—naturally, it was in perfect condition. It seemed that the products from "Aurora's Mage Manual" were also quite reliable.

"So you mean, we go back together and seriously injure the Fangyuan Cicada, eat as much as we can?" Casnas asked anxiously, "But—"

"Do you think we have any other way to live?" Mess countered, "To walk out of Flowing Gold River, take a glimpse of Senluo two hundred years later, and then have our souls extinguished. Does that appeal to you?"

"We no longer have a past," Mess bit down on the dagger, "we cannot lose our future as well!"

"While it's still feasting!" He leaped forward, rushing with the current toward the Fangyuan Cicada, "Time Gear, Mess!"

Ash and Weiser heard several sighs rising in the legends, followed by a series of grand finales one after another:

"Moon Shadow Blade, Disco."

"Night and Flame, Baofang."

"Illusion Bird Soaring, Cecil."

"Silver Triumph, Kathleen."

In an instant, nearly ten Legendary Mages followed Mess in their assault on the Fangyuan Cicada, which continued to feed on the giant's legend, seemingly ignorant of their actions.

Clang!

When the Legendary Disco swung his Blade, a series of continuous sword shadows appeared as if cutting into the Fangyuan Cicada in a flash. Even from a distance, Ash felt chills across his body, a cool sensation running down his spine as if he were the one being cut!

Legendary Realm swordsmanship!

Without Technique Spirits, without Miracles, simply swinging the Blade with a combination of his own temporal ability pushed to the limit, he managed to strike a cut that twisted time itself, even causing a Mental Shock from afar!

If he swung his sword recklessly outside, just witnessing his slashes could kill a large number of bystanders!

"Coward."

Silver Lamp's mockery was always timely. Ash gave her a cold glance, suddenly grabbing her wrist—impressive, how did you manage to have only your palms without goosebumps?

You bastard are scared by the Legendary swordsmanship as well!

Although the others were not of Legendary swordsmanship caliber, they had more or less Holy Sanctuary Level close combat abilities, continuously injuring the Fangyuan Cicada, actually managing to cause wounds from which juices flowed!

Could it actually work!?

Just when Weiser was also itching to act, Ash suddenly grabbed her hand and swam frantically forward!

"Know—"

Before the legends could even stick out their tongues to lick, the Fangyuan Cicada let out an unprecedented cry, instantly healing all its wounds!

"Gone—"

Following the second cry, all the Legends besieging the Fangyuan Cicada turned into piles of skeletons still dressed in clothes!

Even those Legends who hadn't jumped onto the Fangyuan Cicada but were merely closer to it also turned into skeletons!

What was notable was that the water of the Flowing Gold River around the Fangyuan Cicada briefly cleared, but was quickly refilled.

The Trialists were almost speechless from the sight, when a middle-aged Mage suddenly emerged near Ash and Weiser; it was Mess.

Mess stared intently at the Fangyuan Cicada, his eyes filled with both fear and frenzy.

"The Fangyuan Cicada... can it actually cast spells?"

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