Clarke was calm, unafraid despite facing a cultivator with Venerable comprehension.

Clarke said flatteringly:

•"I greet the great Lord."

The man looked at Clarke. He wore a robe of pure white with tied-back hair.

He clearly had the appearance of the righteous.

He said:

•"I didn't expect the River of Time to exist in your mind! It's truly strange."

Clarke looked utterly shocked upon hearing this. The Venerable continued:

•"In truth, the River of Time exists in everything, even in the dream world. But its existence specifically in your mind..."

Clarke asked:

•"What does this mean exactly?"

The Venerable replied:

•"It means that in some miraculous way, you will inherit my legacy in the Path of Time."

Clarke laughed:

•"So, what is the legacy?"

The Venerable replied:

•"My legacy is the 'Mantis of Illusion', the extreme technique... I'll give you a hint: use it only as a last resort."

•"And the other is the recipe for the Cicada."

•"But which do you choose?!"

Clarke was put in a difficult position, perhaps difficult for fools. But Clarke's determination to create the Path of Theft was something he would never abandon.

Clarke replied:

•"I will go for the Cicada. Thank you, sir."

The Venerable laughed and said:

•"You've done well! After all, you came for it. But listen: I am Chen Jia Jin, the great Demon Venerable of the Time Scroll."

•"And my true legacy has a key, which I will bestow upon you. The Mantis is the key to my legacy. If you can comprehend it, you will become a Venerable."

•"What I mean is that you will obtain my comprehension."

Clarke laughed and said:

•"What? And how do I find it? Tell me."

The Venerable replied:

•"I am part of the true Will. And where exactly the true body disappeared... this is something I still don't know. As I mentioned, I am part of the complete Will, but the key is the Mantis."

Clarke replied:

•"Then how do I refine the Cicada???"

The Venerable replied:

•"The River of Time grants humans much and exciting inspiration."

•"If you advance, you will find your way. Don't worry..."

The Will began to dissipate.

Clarke was furious! If he had obtained the Cicada earlier, he could have stolen the Venerable's Will and gained much useful information. But at least he had obtained this strange Mantis.

The small island also dissipated! In the end, it represented his power and lifespan, and its dissipation meant he had truly died.

Clarke asked himself as he walked:

•"I wonder, is this perseverance? For how long had Time waited for someone to reach him, and by mere chance, I found my way to him?! Thanks to pure coincidence, nothing more."

•"But I am truly happy! What gives my life beautiful charm and pleasure are the challenges I undertake tirelessly, despite all these difficulties. We still struggle, we fight despite everything! After all, no life is devoid of challenges."

•"In the end, humans live a hundred years, so why do they get angry that life is hard?"

•"We all still struggle, we still strive and clash among the waves! It's funny, really!"

•"But that is the joy of life."

Cha Wu Yai appeared behind Clarke, crying.

She grabbed Clarke's shoulder. He turned to her.

She was horrified by his disfigured face.

• "Clarke, please, let's stop! Have mercy on yourself, you don't need to do all this!"

Clarke moved again, saying:

•"Get away from me, woman! You truly are annoying restraints! Are you trying to stop me?!"

Cha Wu Yai fell into the water, crying.

Clarke didn't look back at her even once, instead continuing on his path.

In truth, he didn't think of turning back even once.

Clarke reached a place that was extremely dark, unlike before.

He felt something touching his heart.

He felt something flying around him.

The sounds of explosions! A fierce battle was taking place.

But Clarke had obtained the Cicada recipe.

Despite the danger, he sat in the middle of the river without any concern, saying:

•"What's the use of life if it doesn't contain some risks?"

•"Perhaps my previous self chose a better path! I emerged with a disfigured face and a dire condition, but I still want more!"

•"Every time I reach a new peak, I say there's still something above it."

•"An unknown journey full of tears and wiping them away..."

•"Today I walk on a river,"

•"Tomorrow I ride the dragon,"

•"Reaching the highest heavens."

•"A madman laughing in the face of adversity,"

•"Persevering despite hardships! What leads him to the summit is his perseverance."

Refinement knowledge flowed into Clarke's mind.

Spiritual flames appeared miraculously from his hand.

He began refining, taking out several cold spiritual materials like the "Cold Silkworm,"

the"Frigid Fox Blood,"

and finally the"Wu Yai Family Wine" made from the coldest materials.

Clarke felt something moving on his shoulder.

He moved his single eye to the right.

It was the Cicada! After all, it would be attracted to all this. But it was still in its non-material state, meaning he had to refine it to become material and part of his body.

Quickly, Clarke gently grabbed it with his left hand and threw it into the fire, which had turned cold due to the refinement materials.

The refinement continued for fifteen breaths.

It was exhausting to maintain the flames, especially the strange freezing sensation.

But soon Clarke heard a voice calling him:

•"You! Hand over the Cicada, or else..."

Clarke quickly realized these were invaders in his dream world.

But the real Cicada was still forming in his hands! He was in real trouble.

Clarke laughed heartily:

•"Fuhahahahahahaha! You think you've trapped me? Well, let me show you my true power at the Soul Integration stage!"

Soon, the Heaven-Stealing Heavenly Fists materialized!

And charged at them, attacking.

Clarke was only trying to buy time, nothing more.

He had two opponents: one cultivating the Path of Luck,

and the other cultivating the Path of the Blade.

The Luck Path cultivator laughed and said:

•"Let me show you true misfortune!"

Clarke was shocked! The abilities of misfortune...

Soon, the water under Clarke's feet turned strangely acidic.

Clarke began moving quickly to alleviate the pain, laughing as he said:

•"Is this all you have? It seems your pitiful group sent some fools to kill me!"

But the spiritual flames and the Cicada began to interact strangely! The Cicada became stubbornly resistant.

He was furious! He couldn't die, because he would lose the Cicada permanently.

Soon, the Blade Path cultivator charged at Clarke.

But Clarke summoned the World to protect him!

He was fighting face-to-face with death!

The World grew stronger and stronger due to the increased cultivation stage, its strikes fast and dense.

The Blade Path cultivator screamed:

•"Damn it! Why is he so strong?!"

The Cicada in Clarke's hands began its final stages! Nothing remained.

"Grrraaahhh!"

The Blade Path cultivator managed to stab the World in its abdomen.

Clarke spat out a lot of blood, but he laughed!

Because the World managed to grab his opponent's sword!

Bam! Bam! Bam!!!

The World's directed punches shook the River of Time with their intensity and great impact.

The opponent's body was thrown far away. Clarke managed to steal his sword!

It didn't affect his opponent; on the contrary! He possessed an extreme technique for storing swords and drew another one.

Clarke gripped the sword and decided to fight as well.

But he didn't notice the Luck Path cultivator! That wretched man was cultivating another path: the Path of Blood!

There was a drop of blood on Clarke's shoulder, and what happened...

Boom!!!!

Clarke was sent flying! His injuries worsened! They were much stronger than him.

He could no longer fight.

He felt it was the end, saying:

•"Hahahahaha! And what if I really die in the end? Who can escape death? After all, I've struggled all my life! Perhaps this will be my relief."

Clarke looked angrily! If he could gain just one minute, the Cicada's refinement would be completed! Only its head remained to form.

But, shockingly, luck smiled upon Clarke!

For Cha Wu Yai had brought her clansmen to help!

Clarke laughed! Finally...

The Luck and Blood Path cultivator charged at Clarke.

He was terrified and nervous! He felt the hair on his hands stand up from terror, but despite that, he laughed!

He was laughing in the face of adversity! He hadn't tasted such excitement in a long time!

That madman wounded his own hands to pour blood on Clarke and detonate it insanely!

But Clarke shouted loudly:

•"World! Stop time!!!"

Time stopped! Clarke laughed! Only a few seconds remained until the refinement was complete!

He lifted the sword and approached the Luck Path cultivator. He had to kill him! If he didn't, he would meet a tragic end.

In a swift glance! A powerful move severed his head!

Clarke managed to kill him!

But he couldn't stop time for long! After all, he had lost much of his strength, and his soul was severely injured.

Now Clarke resembled a man fighting on the edge of death!

Time was up! Five seconds! Even at his peak, he could only stop it for ten seconds.

But, shockingly, Clarke's body glowed! The Cicada's refinement was complete!

It rose to the sky! Everyone turned to look at Clarke.

The Blade Path cultivator looked terrified, saying:

•"I won't be Song Baijun if I don't kill you now!"

But Clarke laughed! He raised his hands with full dignity:

•"No surrender! This man's reward after all those difficult circumstances! For he emerged victorious!"

His appearance was overwhelming with majesty and dignity! Despite his injuries, he still radiated determination.

He finally grasped the Cicada! It was fully refined and submitted to his will.

Clarke laughed:

•"Now accept your defeat!"

Clarke waved his hands! His comprehension in the Path of Dreams was high, and he could leave the dreams! And because he achieved the scene's objective...

And Clarke had achieved it and triumphed despite all those circumstances!!!

To be continued.....

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