Reverse flow of the Yellow Springs

A total solar eclipse? Li Yelai frowned subconsciously.

When Chang Le Xianjun and Li Yelai were chatting, they mentioned that celestial phenomena could occasionally serve as the ritual components of a certain formation.

Such as the alignment of nine planets, a total solar eclipse, etc.

In the ritual, the planets represent different zodiac signs; for example, the Fire Star (丁火) and the Earth Star (戊土) are elements that can constitute the ritual.

Legend has it that, according to the records of the ancient Heavenly Court, a madman in a certain world once used a total solar eclipse to refine an entire dynasty, tens of millions of people.

Could it be that the enemy behind Mirror River, whose real target is this total solar eclipse a few days later?

Could this special astronomical opportunity be used to construct some dangerous or even destructive ritual?

That's not right. The preparation for the ritual is very tedious and complicated, requiring a lot of preliminary arrangements, such as offerings or energy guiding devices. These things can't be hidden.

Moreover, the authorities have taken precautions in this regard.

Humanity has experienced a technological gap, but its knowledge of the mystical world remains abundant.

Especially after experiencing so many calamities. After all, the pressure of survival is the best teacher.

Of course, this also means that the current development path of human technology and mysticism may seem a bit off.

However, the authorities have a mature system and contingency plans in place to prevent large-scale malicious rituals.

"The observatory had already issued a forecast regarding this total solar eclipse. The assessment report from the Psionic Research Institute indicated that during the eclipse, within the shadowed area, the normal psionic environment might experience abnormal fluctuations similar to 'tides,' and some psionic phenomena or curses might be temporarily amplified or triggered. Therefore, the Great City has issued orders to recall most of the Night Scout squads operating in the shadowed area and has required all border cities to enter a level two state of combat readiness. The city defense system and rapid reaction forces will be on high alert, ready to clear out any virtual creatures or strange phenomena that might suddenly become active in the wilderness due to the unusual celestial phenomena."

Liu Yun paused for a moment and continued, "At the same time, Her Highness the Sister will also enter the deepest part of the Black Prison during that period to personally oversee the situation and prevent any disturbances from those forbidden objects in the Black Prison that are sensitive to changes in spiritual energy."

The Extinction Ones are a miracle of humankind.

With her around, the Black Prison really can't cause any trouble.

However, due to her unique spiritual nature, she is not very good at protecting herself.

Furthermore, many medications that should be able to regenerate severed limbs are ineffective for her.

The authorities have devised numerous enhancement plans, but with limited success.

It's very difficult to even give her a protective treatment.

We can only send some True Martial Path psionicists to protect her safety.

Under her influence, the psionicists could no longer use their psionic powers, but their physical bodies remained unaffected.

“Be careful. The enemy’s move at this time is definitely related to the total solar eclipse. Both the unorthodox faction and the Heavenly Evolution Walkers have enough knowledge of the mystical world.” Li Yelai said after pondering, “I’m going to visit Captain Yang Chen. I suspect that he may be one of the enemy’s targets.”

"Are you planning to use the 'Chosen One's Face' to detect any potential problems with Captain Yang Chen?" Zu Chao asked.

“I do have that idea. The Demonic Path Mask allows me to temporarily possess the perception of a Demonic Path Chosen One, which might allow me to glimpse some ‘traces’ that cannot be detected by conventional means. If the enemy is from the Demonic Path faction, then the perspective of a fellow ‘Chosen One’ might yield unexpected discoveries. But if Captain Yang Chen is currently acting on instinct, he’ll probably punch me when he senses the chaotic aura.” Li Yelai grinned: “Then I’d be so wronged.”

The people in the command room imagined the scene, and their expressions were somewhat subtle.

If the two champions were to play like this, it would be a real laughing stock in the penalty area.

After deciding on the action plan, the team leaders went back to work. Well, the workload increased again.

Cheese pinched Li Yelai's lower back and reminded him, "Prepare some gifts for the captain and the pale captain."

She then began to review the documents.

The champion team is getting stronger every minute and every second.

Now, they need to quickly digest these forces.

The light of the Heaven-Deceiving Array quietly faded, and the command center reconnected to the normal monitoring network.

After leaving behind some local specialties from the lost territory, Li Yelai walked out of the command room, with Little Mad King following closely behind, like a little tail.

After seeing Li Yelai and Little Mad King walk away, Liu Yun asked in a low voice, "Given Jiang Ling's situation, it's like you've raised a daughter ahead of time, right?"

Cheese recalled the extra 'soothing' work he'd done last night, and the intense soreness that lingered in his body. He coughed lightly and said, "Whatever you say."

"Why is she so reliant on Night General?" Zu Chao asked. "Shouldn't she be closer to Councilor Pang Yu or Old Mad King?"

Because of the curse, Jiang Ling's parents had long since abandoned her.

They worried that Jiang Ling would poison them, and suspected that she was behind some of the bad things.

As a result, the girl who was once pampered ended up on the streets.

The authorities discovered and located her, and the old mad king personally adopted her. The person who taught her was Councilor Pang Yu.
In theory, they are closer to the Little Mad King.

"It was instinct, her curse. Even a king would be affected. The old Mad King relied entirely on his own strength to hold on. Even if he suspected poisoning or betrayal, he was confident that his king-level body would not be harmed. But that wasn't trust."

“And Xiaoye is her only partner. The only comrade she can trust,” Cheese said calmly. “Like a straw in a dark, hostile ocean, the only one that won’t hurt her, and might even protect her.”

"We, as bystanders, may never be able to fully comprehend the fear and obsession she felt when she was doubted and distrusted by the whole world, clinging to only a glimmer of light. Any attempt to harm that 'straw' would trigger her most frantic and reckless attacks. This is both dependence and a distorted protective instinct."

"Is this... the Shield of Champions?" Several team leaders shook their heads slightly and did not continue the discussion.

On the edge of the new urban area of ​​Dongcheng, there is a secluded and safe house built on a hilltop with a wide view.

Li Yelai finally met Captain Yang Chen, and the pale-faced Captain who was by his side.

Yang Chen was dressed in loose casual clothes, yet his muscles remained strong and his blood and energy were powerful. Even in this extraordinary state, the oppressive aura emanating from his physical body was still terrifying.

Before even reaching the mountain, Li Yelai felt an attack; the health bar was practically poking his face.
This is the champion of the True Martial Path. It also boasts unparalleled prestige among its peers.

Once the firepower is unleashed at full strength, the body's energy and blood will burn everything away like an erupting volcano!
But Yang Chen's eyes remained lifeless, making Li Yelai feel guilty and sigh.

The plan by Tianyan Walker to kill Li Yelai also included a plan targeting Yang Chen.

While Li Yelai was fighting in the simulated universe and the Land of Chance, Yang Chen, who was guarding the outside, was also targeted.

While Tianyan Xingzhe wanted to eliminate Li Yelai, this "variable," he also wanted to remove Yang Chen, the champion who had already completed his mission, from the stage.

One of the key figures in carrying out this plan was none other than Zhou Tian Bazhu, who had known Yang Chen for many years and regarded him as an old friend!
He is a Celestial Walker, or rather, a follower of the 'Book of Destiny' behind him.

This person was even secretly involved in the tragic battle where the champion was defeated.

In the end, the human megacity emerged victorious, while the Celestial Walkers paid a devastating price, losing two Supreme Beings and over a dozen Overlords! However, the contingency plans they left behind also successfully influenced Yang Chen.

Further investigation revealed this information, as well as from Yang Chen's occasional, one-sided responses.

Tianyan Walker's initial plan was to first trap Yang Chen, and then quickly launch a sneak attack and assassinate a large number of champion team members.

They wanted to recreate the tragic scene of the 'champion's defeat' and attempt to use this shock to twist and out-of-control Yang Chen.

They might even be planning to have the out-of-control Yang Chen slaughter powerful humans.

However, the humans had anticipated this, and with the help of the Wilderness Rangers, the plan failed completely.

However, the moment Yang Chen broke out of the Ghost Realm, the Heavenly Evolution Walker's backup plan was activated.

Body and soul separation
Between consciousness and body, it was as if a viscous medium, which hindered thought, had been forcibly injected.

All reactions, from consciousness to the body, are slowing down.

He might want to say something, but it could take hours for his lips to tremble slightly.

He saw the attack coming from his left and wanted to raise his hand to block and counterattack. It might take several hours for that thought to travel to his arm.

This is a vicious method to fundamentally cripple a top-tier warrior.

Even if the physical body is immortal and the consciousness is clear, in this state one is no different from a cripple, only able to watch helplessly as one is killed by the slow-motion world, completely losing the ability to intervene in the outside world, becoming a harmless bystander.

But they didn't expect that Yang Chen would deliberately sever his connection with his physical body, allowing it to kill instinctively.

Unexpectedly, Yang Chen, who relied on his instinctive anger, also possessed terrifying combat power.

Even when they're not at their peak, without tactical thinking or refined skills, they still utterly annihilated them. They even attempted to penetrate the penalty area at one point!
That madman-like figure became a nightmare on the battlefield.

However, after the war, he remained in this state of separation between body and soul.

Consciousness is trapped in the slow flow of time, the body sits still by instinct, only the terrifying blood and qi silently proclaim the power contained within this body.

Yang Chen, sitting in the rattan chair, showed no reaction to the arrival of Li Yelai and Little Mad King.

His gaze remained vacant as he looked at the undulating mountains and swaying tree shadows.

“You have no need to feel guilty, Night General.”

The pale captain, dressed in a loose and comfortable long dress, slowly walked out of the house.

Her belly was already noticeably protruding, and her pregnancy made her originally aloof temperament a little softer.

She walked over to another chair next to Yang Chen and sat down, gently stroking her slightly protruding belly: "He is extremely angry about the truth of what happened back then and needs to vent. Moreover, at least this time, the battle took place within our control, and we won. If 'Zhou Tian' hadn't jumped out and exposed his true colors this time, Yang Chen would probably still regard him as an old friend he could entrust his back to, and that would have been the real danger."

"As for the future," Pale paused, "I don't want my children's lives to be determined by the Book of Fate. So, move forward, Night General."

In the future that Zhou Tian revealed, Yang Chen and the pale child will be a daughter.

In the future, she will also possess great talent and captivating charm.

She will meet a man of exceptional talent, and they will fall in love.

She gave birth to a son. That child was said to be a powerful figure capable of suppressing an entire era. He was a hero.

Of course, he was also a 'hero' specially chosen by the Book of Destiny.

In a way, Yang Chen and Cang Bai would be the maternal grandparents of that hero.

But would they agree to such a preordained life of mating?

“I will.” Li Yelai nodded and took out the gifts he had brought: some spiritual plants and two overlord-level weapons. These were all specialties of the Lost Lands.
As for the spoils obtained by the Overlord soldiers from killing the Overlord of the Lost Lands, they are naturally considered special products of the Lost Lands.

Afterwards, Li Yelai set up the Heaven-Deceiving Array and said, "Next, I will use the power of the Chosen of the Deceptive Path to test Captain Yang Chen's condition."

"I know, don't worry, he recognizes you. He won't hurt you." Pale nodded.

So, Li Yelai activated the Deceptive God's Chosen Mask. Yang Chen's muscles seemed to swell slightly, and his blood and qi surged faintly, but he ultimately did not make a move.

Taking this opportunity, Li Yelai activated the blessing power of the God of Deception and carefully examined Yang Chen.

Unfortunately, no ritual or formation involving the separation of body and soul was observed; this is some kind of unusual state. The unorthodox blessing was ineffective.

The good news is that Yang Chen doesn't have any other formations or rituals on him.

Perhaps the enemy hasn't made a move yet, or perhaps Immortal Lord Chang Le has eliminated him?

After all, Immortal Lord Chang Le only suddenly appeared after secretly visiting Yang Chen.

Did he discover something about Yang Chen and choose to hide it?
So, Li Yelai turned his attention to the safe house.

This is the quiet residence that Jucheng prepared for Yang Chen. It has ample security facilities, and there is also a group of night watchmen on standby nearby.

Apart from a few defensive formations, Li Yelai did not see any other special formations or rituals.

Could it be because Immortal Lord Chang Le has already taken action to clean it up?
Or am I just overthinking it?

Li Yelai's eyes flickered, but he ultimately removed the face mask.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t break Captain Yang Chen’s abnormal state, but I’ve confirmed that the area should be safe,” Li Yelai said to Cang Bai.

Pale nodded slightly: "It's nothing, just an abnormal state. Once that immortal lord finishes his seclusion, he should be able to come up with a way to break it."

Amidst his pale earnestness, Immortal Lord Chang Le was still in hibernation, struggling to break the separation of body and soul.

Li Yelai had no choice but to nod.

Then, they prepared to leave with Little Mad King.

As he stood up, Li Yelai saw a golden light flash in Yang Chen's lifeless eyes, and the corners of his mouth seemed to be slightly raised.

But in an instant, everything returned to normal, as if it were all just an illusion.

Li Yelai was shaken, but seemed oblivious to everything. He withdrew the Heaven-Deceiving Array, bid farewell to Yang Chen and Cang Bai, and left. (End of Chapter)