340: Chapter 340 Time Shatters Illusions

"It's almost gone too..." Chu Lan murmured, tears welling in her eyes.

Although they hadn't known this Time Vine for long, in the battle just now, it had exhausted its strength to help them block time Spells, even slaying several Time Clan soldiers in return. Without it, the two would have died under that time freeze long ago.

While she was sad, she suddenly felt a large amount of time power remaining in the surrounding air. It was scattered from the battle, chaotic and violent, but containing extremely pure time energy.

Her heart stirred; she struggled to sit up and placed the Time Vine in the place where the time power was most dense.

The Time Vine seemed to feel something, its soft vines trembling slightly. Then, it began to slowly absorb the surrounding time power.

One strand, two strands, three strands...

The chaotic time power was absorbed into its body, transformed into the purest energy, nourishing its nearly withered main body. The withered vines began to glow again; the dim leaves began to turn emerald green again; the dying root system began to grow and extend again.

Chu Lan was overjoyed at the sight. She quickly circulated her remaining bit of spiritual power to help the Time Vine absorb the time power. One person and one vine quietly absorbed the residual time power on the battlefield.

Gao Feng didn't disturb them. He sat cross-legged to the side, recovering his spiritual power while acting as their Protector. The corpses of the Time Clan soldiers were still there; although they had been scared off, who knew if other enemies would be attracted by the commotion of the battle.

Time passed slowly.

One hour, two hours, three hours...

When the last bit of time power was completely absorbed, the Time Vine suddenly erupted with a brilliant silver light!

That light was stronger and purer than ever before! Within the light, the Time Vine's main body began to undergo a transformation—its vines became thicker and tougher, growing from three feet to five feet; its leaves became more lush, with mysterious silver patterns appearing on them, flowing slowly like living things; its roots became more developed, digging deep into the ground, as if reaching for the Spiritual Vein deep underground.

The entire plant emitted an unprecedented aura! It was an aura of a higher level—the Time Holy Vine!

Chu Lan's eyes widened in surprise. She could feel that the Time Vine before her had evolved from an ordinary Time Vine into a Time Holy Vine! From now on, it could actively control weak time power to accelerate the growth of spiritual plants, and even set up time Formations to assist in battle!

The Time Holy Vine affectionately rubbed against Chu Lan's wrist, then turned into a streak of silver light and dove into her spiritual plant bag. It found a comfortable spot in the bag, stretched out its vines, and fell into a deep sleep. It was also exhausted from this battle.

Chu Lan turned her head to look at Gao Feng, her face full of smiles.

"It's a success," she said softly, her voice carrying hard-to-hide excitement. "The Time Vine has evolved into a Time Holy Vine! In the future, our Spirit Plant Garden will no longer have to worry about growth cycle issues. It can accelerate growth, allowing spiritual fruits that would take a year to mature to be harvested in just one month!"

Gao Feng looked at her with relief and said, "That's wonderful. Our trip wasn't in vain."

Chu Lan nodded, then looked off into the distance.

There, at the end of the prairie, a silver lake was faintly visible, shimmering with a faint light in the dusk. The light was soft and mysterious; even from dozens of miles away, one could feel the majestic aura of time.

"That's..." she murmured.

Gao Feng followed her gaze, a light flashing in his eyes.

"The time spirit spring," he said in a low voice.

The two walked toward the silver lake at the end of the prairie, following the direction guided by the Time Holy Vine.

As they got closer, the majestic aura of time became increasingly dense. The surrounding scenery began to grow more bizarre—in some places, green grass grew wildly, reaching a person's waist in the blink of an eye; in other places, plants withered, and a lush patch of grass would turn yellow and dry in an instant. An indescribable sense of pressure permeated the air, a pressure created by the excessive density of time power.

"Be careful," Gao Feng whispered, gripping his vajra sword.

Chu Lan nodded and took the Time Holy Vine out of the spiritual plant bag, letting it wrap around her wrist. Sensing the dense time power around it, the Time Holy Vine excitedly stretched its vines, greedily absorbing the scattered energy.

Finally, the two reached the edge of the lake.

This was a lake about a hundred zhang across. The lake water was a pure silver, as heavy as mercury yet crystal clear. The surface was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the distorted bands of light in the sky, as beautiful as a fairyland.

But what was truly shocking was the terrifying aura of time contained within the lake water.

That aura was majestic and pure, so dense it almost condensed into substance. Standing by the lake, both could clearly feel their heartbeats slowing, their breathing slowing, and even their thoughts becoming sluggish. It wasn't the effect of some Spell, but a change in the flow of time itself—near the lake, time passed much slower than in the outside world.

"This is the time spirit spring..." Chu Lan murmured, her eyes filled with shock and excitement.

She crouched down and reached out to touch the water, but Gao Feng pulled her back.

"Careful," Gao Feng said solemnly. "With such dense time power, direct contact might be dangerous."

Chu Lan nodded and withdrew her hand. She took out the spiritual plant containers she had prepared—several jade bottles refined from special Materials that could isolate the erosion of time power. She dipped a jade bottle into the lake and carefully began to collect the spirit spring water.

The silver spring water slowly flowed into the jade bottle, shimmering with a soft light. Every drop of spring water contained incredibly pure time power, a treasure rarely seen in the outside world.

One bottle, two bottles, three bottles...

Chu Lan collected them focusedly, her face full of joy. With this time spirit spring, her Spirit Plant Garden would completely escape the constraints of growth cycles. Various rare spiritual plants could be cultivated in large batches, and the Cultivation resources of their fief would be greatly enriched.

Just as she was collecting the seventh bottle, a sudden change occurred!

The originally calm lake surface suddenly surged violently! The silver lake water tumbled as if boiling, a huge vortex forming in the center and spinning madly! A terrifying aura shot up from the vortex, making the entire lake tremble!

"Not good!" Gao Feng's expression changed drastically as he pulled Chu Lan behind him.

From within the vortex, an ethereal figure slowly rose. It was the image of an old man, hunched and haggard, but his eyes were as brilliant as stars, emitting a heart-palpitating light. He was surrounded by silver light so dense it reached its limit, and wherever the light passed, even the Void Realm was twisting and distorting!

A Time Clan remnant soul!

And it was a guardian remnant Soul left behind by an ancient powerhouse of the Time Clan!

The remnant Soul's gaze fell upon the two, a flash of cold killing intent in his eyes. His gaze lingered for a moment on the jade bottle in Chu Lan's hand, and the corners of his mouth curled into a mocking arc.

"Those who steal the time spirit spring shall die."

His voice was hoarse and ancient, as if coming from endless ages ago, carrying an indescribable sense of eeriness.

He raised a withered palm and gave a light wave.

"Time Deprivation."

As soon as the words were spoken, Chu Lan felt an invisible force instantly envelop her! That force was bizarre and overbearing, madly draining her life force! She could clearly feel her skin losing its luster, her hair turning white, and her strength vanishing!

"Ah—" She let out a scream, her whole body instantly withering.

Gao Feng's face changed drastically. Without hesitation, he stepped in front of Chu Lan, using his own body to protect her!

The power of Time Deprivation fell upon Gao Feng, also beginning to madly erode his life force! His hair turned from black to gray, and from gray to white at a speed visible to the naked eye! His skin went from firm to loose, and from smooth to wrinkled! His entire person seemed to age dozens of years in an instant!

But he didn't retreat, didn't hide, and didn't even let out a scream.

He gritted his teeth, enduring the terrifying erosion force head-on while madly circulating his Star Battle Body and Myriad Weight Hegemon Body to resist that power!

Seeing this, the remnant Soul's eyes flashed with surprise, then he sneered, "Interesting, to actually be able to withstand my Time Deprivation. But how long can you hold out?"

He waved his hand again, and the power of Time Deprivation grew several points stronger!

Gao Feng's hair turned completely snow-white, deep wrinkles appeared on his face, his back began to hunch, and his aura began to decline. But he still stood in front of Chu Lan, like an unshakeable mountain!

"Senior Brother Gao Feng!" Chu Lan cried out, her eyes full of tears.

She wanted to rush out, to bear the pain for him, but Gao Feng's arm firmly blocked her, not letting her take a single step.

"Don't move," he gritted out, his voice hoarse and ancient, as if he truly were a dying old man, "I can hold on."

Just then, a strange power suddenly surged within him!

It was the Time Insight power he had just comprehended! Though weak, at this critical moment, it began to circulate automatically, starting to absorb the time power that was eroding him!

The life force drained by Time Deprivation was actually sucked back by this power! His hair changed from white back to gray, and from gray back to black! His skin went from loose back to firm, and from wrinkled back to smooth! He returned to his youthful appearance once more!

But in the next moment, the remnant Soul exerted force again, and the power of Time Deprivation increased once more! Gao Feng's hair turned white again, and his skin wrinkled once more!

Repeatedly like this, turning old one moment and young the next—the pain was simply indescribable! Every change felt as if his Soul were being torn apart, the pain so intense it made one almost faint!