185: Chapter 185 A Glimpse of the Future!

Lin Yuan stood on the training grounds, guiding Xia Bingning in her cultivation.

"The key to fusing the powers of ice and fire lies in balance."

He adjusted Xia Bingning's posture manually.

The soft, warm touch caused his heart to stir slightly, but he remained focused.

"Like this?"

Xia Bingning blushed, trying her best to control the power within her body.

Ice and fire flickered alternately in her palm.

...

On the other side!

Xiao Qi had awakened.

Luo Qinghan sat by the bed, holding the weak Xiao Qi in her arms.

That snow-white Time Pet had been in a deep sleep for a long time.

She carefully channeled energy using the S-Class Energy Core Lin Yuan had given her.

"Master..."

Xiao Qi's voice rang out in her mind.

This was the effect of the Soul Contract; they could communicate directly.

"Xiao Qi, you're finally awake."

Luo Qinghan felt a surge of joy.

"I... I feel like I've become stronger..."

Xiao Qi stirred in her arms:

"The power of time is ten times stronger than before!"

"I can see even further into the future now!"

Xiao Qi transmitted excitedly through her soul:

"Master, do you want to see that man's future?!"

"Let's see how powerful he will become!"

"Xiao Qi, wait—"

Luo Qinghan wanted to stop her, but it was too late.

Xiao Qi's eyes began to glow.

The power of time flowed around her, forming a mysterious halo.

Terrifying Gaze!!

Suddenly, Xiao Qi's expression changed.

She saw a vision—

Atop a ruined skyscraper, Lin Yuan stood alone.

Beneath his feet was a world full of devastation, mountains of corpses, seas of blood, and crumbling walls.

The entire Jiang City had been reduced to ruins.

And he, like a king ruling over all, looked down upon this broken world.

Xiao Qi marveled, wanting to see more clearly.

Just then—

The Lin Yuan in the vision slowly turned his head.

That movement was very slow, eerily slow.

It was as if he had known all along that someone was watching.

When he fully turned around, Xiao Qi saw his face clearly.

It was still Lin Yuan's face, but his eyes...

In that instant, his eyes turned an eerie gold.

It wasn't an ordinary gold, but a suffocating golden light that seemed capable of devouring everything.

Deep within his pupils, countless mysterious runes were flowing.

Those runes did not belong to this world, radiating an ancient and terrifying aura.

In those eyes, Xiao Qi saw an endless abyss.

She saw things more terrifying than the Apocalypse.

She saw the destruction of countless worlds and the wailing of countless living beings.

That was not a look a human should have.

That was an absolute ruler, standing above all else.

Even more frightening—

The future Lin Yuan curled his lips into an eerie smile.

He slowly raised his hand and lightly tapped the void.

As if saying: I see you.

That's... That's...

"Ah——————!"

Xiao Qi's blood-curdling scream entered Luo Qinghan's mind through the Soul Contract.

That heart-wrenching pain made Luo Qinghan feel it as well.

A terrifying pressure bore down through the long river of time.

Xiao Qi bled from her seven orifices, her small body trembling violently.

It was as if some terrifying existence was staring at her through the long river of time.

"Xiao Qi! Xiao Qi!"

Luo Qinghan held her tightly in terror, frantically using her healing abilities.

Green life energy continuously poured into Xiao Qi's body.

But Xiao Qi's injuries were too bizarre.

Not just her body, but even her soul was trembling.

"Don't... don't look at him..."

Xiao Qi's voice rang out weakly in Luo Qinghan's mind:

"It's too scary... He... he's not human..."

Luo Qinghan could feel the fear deep within Xiao Qi's soul.

That fear was so real, as if it were about to swallow her whole.

"Xiao Qi, tell me, what did you see?"

"Gold... golden eyes..."

Xiao Qi's consciousness was trembling:

"He saw me! The future him saw me!"

"Through time, he is watching me..."

"Those eyes... like the abyss staring back..."

"He's no longer human... He's... He's..."

Before she could finish, Xiao Qi's consciousness fell into chaos.

Even in her coma, her body continued to tremble slightly.

Luo Qinghan bit her lip and continued the treatment.

It took a full half hour to stabilize Xiao Qi's injuries.

But after Xiao Qi woke up, she would instinctively feel fear whenever she thought of Lin Yuan.

"Master... don't let me see him..."

Xiao Qi shivered in her arms:

"On him... there's that aura..."

"I'm afraid..."

Luo Qinghan's heart was in turmoil.

What exactly did the future Xiao Qi saw mean?

She had to hide this matter.

If Lin Yuan knew Xiao Qi was heavily injured because she looked at his future...

He would definitely question her to the end.

And that truth was far too terrifying.

Luo Qinghan took a deep breath and adjusted her expression.

She had to act natural and not let Lin Yuan suspect anything.

Soon, she saw Lin Yuan again.

She had actually told Lin Yuan about Xiao Qi before.

After all, if she kept it hidden, this man would definitely trust her less and less.

Therefore, weighing the pros and cons, she had told Lin Yuan long ago.

At this time, Luo Qinghan said:

"Xiao Qi's time ability has grown stronger."

She spoke calmly:

"She saw many visions of the future."

"Including the secret realms that will appear in three days, as well as the movements of various factions."

Lin Yuan nodded:

"What specifically?"

"In three days, a large number of secret realms will open in the city."

"The S-Class secret realm in the east of the city has Void Stones, and the A-Class secret realm in the west has Dragon Blood Grass."

"And the movements of various factions..."

She reported in detail, as precise as if she had seen it with her own eyes.

"The Tang Family and other factions are plotting; their target is your supplies."

"Although the Heavenly Secret Pavilion has been destroyed, the Tang Family's ambition has grown even larger."

"Other Shelters are also restless."

Lin Yuan nodded thoughtfully.

"This information is very useful."

He looked at Luo Qinghan:

"Where's Xiao Qi? Why don't I see her?"

"She's tired and resting."

Luo Qinghan said nonchalantly:

"Using time abilities to see so many visions takes a huge toll."

"She'll probably need to sleep for a few days to recover."

She forced a light smile:

"The little one got overexcited seeing how powerful you'll be in the future."

She paused and added meaningfully:

"Xiao Qi showed me a lot... besides your future."

"What do you mean?"

Lin Yuan keenly sensed something.

"Nothing."

Luo Qinghan shook her head:

"She said your future is too dazzling to see clearly."

"She only saw you standing in a very, very high place."

Lin Yuan was thoughtful but didn't press further.

After all, the power of time was inherently mysterious; it was normal not to see clearly.

In fact, at this moment, Xiao Qi was hiding in Luo Qinghan's room, shivering.

Whenever she thought of those golden eyes, she would fall into fear.

"Right, there's another important piece of information."

Luo Qinghan continued her report:

"SSS-Class Beast Kings in other cities are also awakening, not just in Jiang City."

"The whole of Huaxia, and even the world, will welcome the third evolution of the Apocalypse."

Lin Yuan frowned slightly: "Third evolution?"

"Yes, zombies will gain intelligence, and Evolved Beasts will become even stronger."

"Humanity's living space will be further compressed."

Luo Qinghan paused:

"But this is also an opportunity; more secret realms will appear, and more chances will descend."

"The strong will become stronger, and the weak..."

She didn't finish, but the meaning was obvious.

The weak would be completely eliminated.

This was the cruel law of the Apocalypse.

Luo Qinghan left after reporting the information.

Lin Yuan returned to his room and stood alone by the window.

The information Luo Qinghan reported circled in his mind.

The SSS-Class Beast King was about to awaken.

The third evolution was coming.

Various factions were restless.

And... the future Xiao Qi saw.

Although Luo Qinghan spoke nonchalantly, he could feel she was hiding something.

Was Xiao Qi really just tired?

Why did fear flash in Luo Qinghan's eyes?

"Forget it."

He shook his head.

Everyone has secrets.

If Luo Qinghan didn't say, she had her reasons.

The moonlight spilled over him, casting a long shadow.

At the same time.

In Luo Qinghan's room.

She held the shivering Xiao Qi, her eyes full of worry.

Xiao Qi's voice rang out in her mind:

"Those eyes... were too terrifying..."

"He will destroy everything..."

Luo Qinghan gently caressed Xiao Qi:

"Don't be afraid, that's just one possibility for the future."

"The future can be changed."

But she knew in her heart.

Xiao Qi's premonitions had never been wrong.

That terrifying future was very likely to come true.

"Whatever."

She made up her mind:

"Even if he really becomes like that..."

"I will still stay by his side."

She walked to the window and looked toward Lin Yuan's room.

Through the window, she could see his figure standing alone.

Lonely, yet powerful.

Suddenly, a thought surged in her heart.

Maybe... she should go find him.

Tell him the truth?

No, that was too frightening.

But at least... at least let him know that no matter what happened, she would be by his side.

Luo Qinghan stood up and changed into a thin white nightgown.

The moonlight through the sheer fabric made her figure look hazy and alluring.

She took a deep breath and walked toward Lin Yuan's room.

A moment later.

Lin Yuan's room.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Enter."

Luo Qinghan pushed the door open, her hand trembling slightly.

Not because of the cold, but because of nervousness.

And... fear.

The vision Xiao Qi saw had been circling in her mind.

"It's so late, is something wrong?"

Lin Yuan was somewhat surprised.

"I..."

Luo Qinghan bit her lip and walked up to him:

"Lin Yuan, I want to tell you something."

She looked up, fear in her eyes, but even more determination:

"No matter what you become in the future..."

"No matter what terrible thing happens..."

She took a deep breath:

"I will always stay by your side."

Lin Yuan was stunned.

Where was this coming from?

Luo Qinghan stood on her tiptoes and gently hugged him:

"I know you have secrets."

Her voice was trembling, but her tone was incredibly firm:

"Even if you really become... become another existence..."

"I won't leave you."

She stepped back, her face flushed red.

Lin Yuan looked at the woman before him, his heart full of complex emotions.

What exactly did she know?

"You don't need to say anything."

Luo Qinghan placed her finger on his lips:

"I just want you to know that you're not alone."

"You never will be."

...

Early the next morning.

Lin Yuan woke up early and began patrolling the Shelter's defenses.

The alien alloy city walls were being rapidly constructed, the silver-gray metal gleaming in the morning light.

He stood at the highest point, overlooking the entire Shelter.

Last night's conversation still echoed in his mind.

Xiao Qi's fear, Luo Qinghan's information, Xia Bingning's tenderness...

All of this reminded him that the future was full of unknowns.

But no matter what the future held, he had to protect the present.

Protect these people who were willing to accompany him.

"System."

He thought silently:

"Does my power really come with no price?"

The system remained silent, giving no response.

Lin Yuan smiled bitterly.

It seemed some answers could only be found by himself.

"Whatever."

He shook his head:

"I'll take it one step at a time."

"The priority is to deal with the upcoming SSS-Class Beast King."

In the distance, the morning sun slowly rose.

Golden light spilled over the earth.

But deep underground, where the sunlight couldn't reach, something seemed to be stirring.

Faint, low vibrations could be heard, one after another.

That was the sign of the SSS-Class Beast King awakening.

The ground of the entire Jiang City was trembling slightly.

Lin Yuan squinted his eyes, looking toward the horizon.

There, countless figures of Evolved Beasts were swaying.

They were waiting, waiting for their king's call.

"The countdown has begun."

He murmured to himself.

According to Luo Qinghan's information, there were less than three days left until the Beast King fully awakened.

These three days would determine everyone's life or death.

At the same time.

In Luo Qinghan's room.

Xiao Qi was still curled up in her arms, not daring to open her eyes.

"Master..."

Her voice came through the Soul Contract:

"I can feel it... something terrifying is awakening underground..."

Luo Qinghan gently stroked her:

"Don't think about it, just rest well."