111: Shizun

As Trace-less took the final step across the Starlight Boulevard, a silver divine temple, so towering it seemed to support the very edges of the Universe, suddenly appeared floating in the boundless starry sky before him!

Nineteen heaven-propping divine pillars rose from the ground, their surfaces flowing with materialized Time Dao patterns that coiled around them like a frozen River of Time, supporting a magnificent temple gate that seemed to connect to the source of Chaos! Above the lintel, four Taichu Divine Scripts spelling out "Time-Space Divine Temple" flowed and shifted like living creatures, emitting a supreme Dao charm that governed the temporal order of the myriad heavens and transcended all Daos!

Even more Soul-shaking were the nineteen heaven-reaching statues standing on the temple square like primordial stars! They had different forms and distinct auras—some with time power surging like a sea, others with Space Laws cutting through the Universe. These were clearly the Great Dao Holy Statues of the nineteen supreme Hall Masters of the Time-Space Divine Temple! Each statue radiated a terrifying pressure that dimmed the galaxies and made the myriad worlds bow down; their mere presence seemed to suppress the rise and fall of ancient history itself!

Buzz—

Suddenly, the space in front of Trace-less rippled like a still lake into which a stone had been thrown, layers of ripples containing the rhythm of time shimmering. A figure condensed from the void, slowly emerging.

The newcomer wore a mysterious robe that seemed woven from billions of stars, flowing with the light of the galaxy. Their face was completely hidden behind a roiling, impenetrable mist of Chaos that blocked all prying eyes. Only a pair of silver-white eyes, so pure they contained no Impurities, pierced through the Chaos to gaze indifferently at Trace-less. That gaze was cold and profound, as if it had traversed the endless River of Time across the past, present, and future. Just being watched made Trace-less feel as though everything from his Physical Body to his Soul, and from his cultivation to his secrets, was exposed under absolute light with nowhere to hide!

“Trace-less.” The voice sounded like a whisper settled at the deepest part of the River of Time, echoing clearly in his ears yet seeming to cross the dust of billions of years, carrying a sense of vicissitude that transcended time and space.

“Who are you?” Trace-less’s mind suddenly tensed, as if locked onto by a primordial Vicious Beast! The time origin dao seed within him spun frantically, and a time barrier flowing with silver light instantly enveloped his body, constantly flickering between existence and non-existence.

“I am the projection Clone of the Time-Space Divine Temple’s Time Hall First Hall Master—‘Time Venerable’.” The figure’s voice was as calm as a still well, without any emotional fluctuations. “Your performance at the primal divine stele piqued a sliver of interest in my true self, so I was sent to observe you.”

Time Venerable!

Trace-less felt a massive wave of shock in his heart! The Time-Space Divine Temple was the foremost of the ten supreme divine temples. Its nineteen Hall Masters each governed a domain, and all were supreme titans who suppressed the Taichu Divine Realm and looked down upon the rise and fall of eras! The name “Time Venerable” was especially renowned throughout the ages for wielding the Great Dao of Time Origin and reversing the Myriad Heavens Life and Death Wheel! Legends said he once reversed time in an entire world with a single thought, bringing billions of annihilated Souls back to life! Such an existence, the power of his true body, was nearly equivalent to the Heavenly Dao itself!

“No need to be on guard.” The silver eyes of the Time Venerable’s projection seemed to perceive every flicker of his Soul and flashed slightly. “To condense tenth-Rank divine sense in the Spirit Refining Realm and receive the title ‘Son of the Primordial’ from the Heavenly Dao—your talent is indeed rare throughout the ages. However...”

Before he finished speaking, the Time Venerable’s projection flicked his sleeve with extreme casualness.

Crack—

Trace-less felt as if everything in heaven and earth, including his own existence, was instantly frozen and solidified! His thoughts became as thick as sludge; even forming a single idea became incredibly difficult! He felt as if he had truly become a tiny insect trapped in the amber of time, his life or death depending entirely on the other's whim!

“Within the Time-Space Divine Temple, Prodigies are as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, and monstrous talents are like carp crossing a river. Without a supreme heart to reach the peak and crush the myriad Daos, even with Heaven-Defying talent, it is difficult to escape the fate of falling midway and turning to dust.” The indifferent voice was like a cold Law, imprinted directly into the depths of Trace-less’s frozen consciousness.

A silver light flickered with difficulty in the depths of Trace-less’s pupils, and an unyielding will burned stubbornly in the solidified space-time! He forcibly activated the time divine sense tree to resist the omnipresent, terrifying pressure, squeezing out each word through gritted teeth: “The Hall Master’s... Clone... comes... surely... not... just... to... warn... this Junior?”

“Heh...” From behind the Chaos mist came a faint, almost imperceptible low chuckle of approval. “Your Heart-Nature is acceptable.”

The Time Venerable’s projection tapped his finger lightly toward the void in front of Trace-less.

Buzz!

A token flowing with liquid silver light, its surface engraved with Time Dao patterns so complex they were dizzying, emerged silently from the void. The token radiated heart-palpitating Law fluctuations; its mere presence caused slight ripples in the surrounding solidified space-time.

“This is the ‘First Time Hall · Disciple Command’.” The Time Venerable’s projection returned to an indifferent tone. “From this moment on, you are under the command of the First Time Hall.”

The moment the pressure eased slightly, Trace-less immediately reached out and caught the token. It was bone-chillingly cold to the touch, as if he were holding time itself! On the front of the token, an ancient sundial pattern that spun slowly as if measuring the eras of the heavens was clearly visible. However, below the sundial pattern, two cold characters were exceptionally jarring—

【Outer Sect】!

An Outer Sect Disciple?!

Even with Trace-less’s mental state, he couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of bewilderment and frustration! He had thought that with the supreme title of “Son of the Primordial,” he would at least be a core true Disciple or even a Saint candidate! As it turned out... he was just an outer sect member?

“This command is one of the Foundations of the Divine Temple, possessing infinite uses which you can realize for yourself,” the Time Venerable’s projection continued, as if seeing through the waves in his heart. “Firstly, it automatically determines a Disciple’s Rank based on their current Realm. Therefore, even if you have Heaven-Defying combat power, since your cultivation is still in the Spirit Refining Realm, you can only be an Outer Sect Disciple. To reach a higher position, your Realm is the Foundation.”

“Thank you, Hall Master.” Trace-less suppressed the turmoil in his heart and cupped his hands in thanks, but a deep doubt flickered in the depths of his eyes—the competition among the ten halls of the Time Divine Temple was incredibly fierce, so why did the Clone of the most prestigious First Hall Master come in person? And why give him only an outer sect status?

“Time Origin is mysterious and unfathomable; those who can touch it at this Realm are as rare as phoenix feathers, and you indeed have the potential to be nurtured.” The Time Venerable’s projection spoke as if stating an objective fact. “However...” His voice suddenly became solemn and distant, as if carrying the weight of eternal ages: “Since its birth, the Taichu Divine Continent has passed through nine hundred and two eras. One era is one hundred million years! In the long River of Time, how many peerless Prodigies and Heaven-Defying monstrous talents have emerged? Yet, in the end, how many have been able to ascend to the position of Hall Master?”

Boom!

These words were like Chaos divine lightning, striking hard against Trace-less’s heart! Only at this moment did he truly and deeply realize what kind of terrifying height the existence before him stood at! That was a peak ascended after ninety billion years of baptism, stepping over the bones of countless Prodigies!

“Do not overestimate yourself.” The Time Venerable’s projection’s silver eyes remained indifferent. “Before becoming a powerhouse, talent is nothing but a reflection in a mirror. However—” his tone shifted, carrying an unquestionable will: “I will temporarily elevate your authority, placing you in the position of First Time Hall · Dharma Seed!”

The Disciple Command in Trace-less’s hand suddenly erupted with silver light. Below the words “Outer Sect” on the surface, a line of small characters flowing with noble purple light appeared: 【Temporary Dharma Seed · Authority】!

“I give you one year of time.” The Time Venerable’s projection’s voice carried the majesty of judging all things. “The First Time Hall’s resource treasury is at your disposal! One year from now, I will come in person to inspect your progress. At that time, whether you can keep this ‘Dharma Seed’ position and withstand the challenges of the countless covetous people in the hall will depend on your own fortune.”

His silver eyes suddenly narrowed, and the roiling Chaos mist seemed to instantly turn into an all-consuming abyss. A terrifying killing intent that froze the Soul and annihilated existence descended with a crash:

“If in the future, you dare to betray the Time Hall...”

“My true self will personally take action...”

“And your name, your trace, your very existence...”

“From all branches of the River of Time in the past, present, and future...”

“Will be completely erased!”

As the final word fell, it was like the tolling of a doomsday bell! The figure of the Time Venerable’s projection, along with the terrifying pressure that froze space-time, instantly vanished like a shattered bubble. The solidified space-time also resumed its flow.

Trace-less tightly gripped the now scalding Disciple Command, his knuckles turning white from the force. He could clearly feel that this token was now closely linked to his Soul Origin, and the authority and functions contained within were like an endless treasury waiting to be explored.

“The Time-Space Divine Temple is much more interesting than I imagined.” In Trace-less’s eyes, a sharp edge flashed and vanished. Far from being intimidated by the threat of erasure, it instead ignited a deeper fighting spirit and desire to investigate.

With a slight thought, the familiar data panel expanded before his eyes:

【Name】: Time Without Trace

【Cultivation】: Peak Hunyuan Realm

【Divine Sense】: Tenth-Rank · Time divine sense tree (Perfection)

【Base Combat Power】: 300,000 Yu

【Time Origin Law Mastery】: 32% (Combat Power Boost +96,000 Yu)

【Time Origin Law Affinity】: 5000%

【time origin dao seed Fusion】: 0.001%

【Special Title】: Son of the Primordial · Time (Time-type skill effects *10)

Looking at the panel, Trace-less marveled inwardly: “‘Son of the Primordial,’ the power bestowed by the Heavenly Dao is indeed terrifying! The title suffix is ‘Time’; does that mean there are also ‘Space’? ‘Life’? ‘Destruction’? The waters of the Taichu Divine Continent are unfathomably deep! Before I have enough power to protect myself, keeping a low profile is the best strategy!”

He keenly noticed that since fusing with that time origin dao seed, his comprehension of the Time Law had been slowly improving every moment! “In that case... I might as well go into secluded cultivation! Once I have completely mastered the Time Origin Law, I will then make a Breakthrough and forge a supreme Dao Foundation!”

Just then!

Buzz—

The First Time Hall · Disciple Command in his hand suddenly erupted with a searing silver light, and a highly condensed light screen was projected out:

【First Time Hall · Outer Sect Disciple: Time Without Trace】

【Authority Rank】: Temporary Dharma Seed

【Available Contribution Points】: Infinite (Time Venerable’s Decree · Special Approval · Limited to Cultivation Resource Exchange)

“Infinite resources?!”

Even though Trace-less’s will was as firm as a rock, his pupils shook violently and his heart raced wildly! This meant that within this precious year, he could unscrupulously and recklessly utilize the First Time Hall of the Time-Space Divine Temple—the top-tier cultivation resources accumulated over nine hundred and two eras, as vast as a sea of stars! What an immense fortune this was!

Swish!

A gaze as sharp as a literal blade, containing cold scrutiny and a hint of hidden hostility, suddenly pierced through space and locked firmly onto Trace-less!

Trace-less abruptly turned his head.

He saw a middle-aged man dressed in a deep purple Daoist robe embroidered with space-time wave patterns, walking slowly from the depths of the temple on frozen time ripples. With every step he took, layers of space-time ripples silently emanated from beneath his feet, as if he were walking in the cracks of time, showing an exquisite and almost instinctive mastery of space-Time Laws!

“Peak Hunyuan Realm!” Trace-less’s heart chilled as he instantly judged the newcomer’s Realm. An existence like this, if placed in the East Pole Sky Ruin Continent, would be an absolute hegemon who ruled over ten thousand domains and whose word was Law!

The purple-robed middle-aged man stopped about ten feet in front of Trace-less, his gaze coldly sweeping over the Disciple Command in his hand. His voice was like ten-thousand-year-old ice:

“I am Mo Tianxing.”

“By the Hall Master’s decree, I am to lead you...”

“Into the ‘Eternal Instant’ cultivation room!”