259: I have no choice but to

On a lone boat.

Figures stood, watching the vast Time River flow past, their expressions devoid of joy or sorrow.

They had been on the Time River for too long, so long that some had forgotten time, their black hair turning white, their straight backs becoming hunched, exuding an aura of old age.

“Three hundred million years.”

“It’s been three hundred million years.”

“Do you know how I’ve spent these three hundred million years?”

“Ying Qi, you’ve tricked me so badly. Where are the so-called Yu God Clan in this Time River?”

“We’ve all been deceived by you. I want to leave here now.”

At this moment, a white-haired old man on the boat suddenly spoke, his tone filled with sorrow and endless resentment.

At their Realm, Lifespan was close to eternity, so there was no such thing as aging.

But appearance is born from the Heart-Nature; the older one's Heart-Nature, the more their outward appearance will align with their Dao Heart.

As the old man spoke, the others’ gazes also turned blankly towards the boat cabin.

A middle-aged man in luxurious clothes walked out, looking eight parts similar to Huang Ji, and his aura had also reached the Nine Stars Giant Realm.

He gave a bitter laugh: “Brother Zhang, don’t be anxious. This Time River is precisely where time is most chaotic. You may seem to have passed three hundred million years, but in the outside world, it’s merely a blink of an eye.”

“If we leave now, we will surely be killed by the Demon Lord, and the outcome will be miserable.”

The old man, referred to as Brother Zhang, heard this and angrily stepped forward two paces, walking to the edge of the boat and said: “Even death is better than wasting a lifetime in the Time River. If I stay here any longer, my Dao Heart will shatter!”

As Heavenly Mandate Protagonists, they rose extremely quickly, and staying in the Time River for a full three hundred million years had an unimaginable impact on their Dao Heart’s tempering.

It wasn't just him; after seeing the old man's actions, some of the Heavenly Mandate Protagonists who were maintaining the boat's body also had their blank eyes waver. They instinctively stepped to the edge, feeling an urge to throw themselves into the Time River and merge with it.

Seeing them in such a state, Ying Qi’s expression grew even more bitter.

They couldn’t endure just this much hardship?

He had experienced Rebirth multiple times and spent an unknown amount of time, enduring countless years, in the Time River.

But he could also understand their actions, as even he had jumped into the Time River a few times and knew that jumping in meant certain death.

He quickly walked to them, grabbing the collars of these Heavenly Mandate Protagonists and pulling them back with force.

“Don’t worry, according to Fellow Daoist Ye Tian, we are not far from the Yu God Clan.”

At this moment, a hoarse voice rang out: “What can be done? I’ve tried my best.”

“If it were just me, the Yu God Clan would have directly guided me back.”

“Being with you all, there are too many people, and time and Karma are mixed. The Yu God Clan coordinates on me have almost been worn away.”

“It’s also fortunate that I’ve Breakthrough to the Nine Stars Giant Realm; otherwise, finding the Yu God Clan again would be almost impossible.”

“Furthermore… Brother Ying, constantly staying on the boat in such solitude indeed makes one’s Dao Heart prone to shattering.”

“Based on the information you provided, I’ve traced the Karma line of that Demon Lord. Why don’t we, while deep within the Time River, try to strike at him before he grows powerful? Even if we don’t succeed, it can be a way to vent our frustration.”

Hearing the suggestion from this voice, everyone looked over.

They saw a middle-aged man with ancient eyes, dressed in green, standing proudly with a puffed chest.

Ye Tian!

This Heavenly Mandate Protagonist was connected to the Yu God Clan.

He was also the third person to reach the Nine Stars Giant Realm in the Time River, possessing incredibly terrifying talent, following the Grand Dao of Karma, and having astonishing combat power.

Hearing his suggestion, all the Heavenly Mandate Protagonists’ eyes lit up.

What he said made sense.

The Time River simultaneously contained the past, present, and future, all mixed together.

Previously, they dared not cross the Time River to attack the Demon Lord because they were weak, and Ying Qi had also said that striking would be meaningless.

But now, three hundred million years had passed.

Even the weakest Heavenly Mandate Protagonist had grown into a Nine Stars Giant.

Their Heart-Nature had undergone significant changes!

Moreover, their current location was deep within this Time River. Even if their attempt failed, the Demon Lord would have no way to track them.

Even so, the old man named Zhang looked at Ying Qi and asked: “Fellow Daoist Ying, you have experienced Rebirth many times. Have you ever had a similar experience of attacking the Demon Lord after we all reached this Realm?”

Even though his Dao Heart was on the verge of collapse, he still maintained a cautious mindset.

Ying Qi pondered upon hearing this and said faintly: “Never.”

“This Rebirth, gathering so many like-minded Fellow Daoists, mutually assisting each other, and exchanging unique Cultivation methods, is an unprecedented event.”

“Naturally, I’ve never made a move at such a time.”

He was speaking the truth.

Currently on the boat, there were over a dozen Heavenly Mandate Protagonists, each possessing the combat power of a Nine Stars Giant. In the Hongmeng Divine Alliance, they could even form a new lineage and establish their own territory.

All of this was due to the crisis forcing everyone to exchange their trump cards and help each other, coupled with a full three hundred million years of tempering, which allowed so many Nine Stars Giants to appear simultaneously.

Among them, some had even broken through their limits and reached Ten Stars!

Ji Xianzi!

Ying Qi’s eyes narrowed as he recalled that Exquisite Woman, feeling her talent was too terrifying.

Although Ji Xianzi’s strength was relatively low among all the gathered Heavenly Mandate Protagonists before entering the Time River, she was the one among them who Breakthrough to Nine Stars faster than even he, a Rebirth who had undergone 99 Rebirths.

The Ten-Star Ji Xianzi!

And him, an old-brand Giant who was about to Breakthrough to Ten Stars.

It could be said that the strength he had gathered this time surpassed every previous Rebirth!

Their power was unprecedentedly strong!

It also made his thoughts stir.

What if they joined forces and crossed the Time River to try?

Now, the people on the boat were restless; even if some died, it would be acceptable.

“I support this.”

“The Yu God Clan is ethereal; instead of placing hope in the void, it’s better to act ourselves.”

“Our great momentum has already formed, and we are deep within the Time River. Why should we fear him?”

“…”

One by one, the Heavenly Mandate Protagonists looked at each other, speaking their opinions.

Their eyes were filled with confidence and arrogance!

Before joining the Hongmeng Divine Alliance, they were all arrogant individuals who had overcome countless obstacles and suppressed countless peers, possessing a proud spirit and an unyielding backbone.

Three hundred million years had driven many to madness; they needed to let out their frustration!

“I have only just reached Nine Stars, and my Foundation is unstable, so I will not participate.”

At this moment, a plain-faced, white-browed old man spoke faintly, quietly retreating and choosing to withdraw.

Chen Fan!

The last Heavenly Mandate Protagonist to reach the Nine Stars Giant Realm.

The others all glanced at him disdainfully, their gazes finally turning towards the boat’s interior.

A purple-clad, cold-faced, still youthful Exquisite Woman slowly emerged from the shadows within the boat, her rounded, slender legs moving gracefully.

“Slaying the Demon Lord is our duty.”

“Ye Tian, determine the Karma, then kill.”

She lightly opened her cherry lips, her almond eyes calmly looking at the green-clad man.

Ye Tian looked at Ji Xianzi with fervent eyes, nodding: “Understood. Get ready and await my command.”

He tossed his palm.

A profoundly mysterious compass appeared in his palm.

The compass flew.

Under everyone’s gaze, it manifested a supreme profound technique.

Black and white Karma lines flew out from the compass.

A long axe appeared in Ying Qi’s hand, its blade shimmering with cold light, erupting with extremely terrifying green Dao principles, dazzling and eye-catching.

The cool, purple-clad Exquisite Woman's jade hand hung slightly, and a divine sword in her hand flashed with lightning, its leaping arcs of light like dancing fireworks.

The other Heavenly Mandate Protagonists were all poised, supreme Dao principles surging around them, their fingers stirring to summon various supreme treasures.

Even against the past Demon Lord, they remained united, without the slightest carelessness, determined to kill the Demon Lord.

Under the gaze of more than ten pairs of eyes.

Ye Tian’s clothes billowed, and the compass in his palm began to tremble violently, the Karma lines twisting like a braid.

He strained his hand, his face turning green, and veins bulged on his forehead.

Then…

The Karma lines tangled like messy threads.

Bang!

The compass exploded!

Above the small boat’s sky.

A Silver River Dao Sword suddenly appeared, descending calmly, splitting the treasure boat’s hull like tofu, causing cracks to appear and breaking it into two halves.