Guarding the River of Time

Chapter 442 - 432: I Demand Justice for My Disciple!

After hearing this address, the old man was visibly taken aback and said with a bitter smile, "Ah Ming, you call me master, but I have not taught you anything."

"Master has taught me many, many things, and I have remembered them in my heart."

The young man seemed to realize that the old man intended to leave, so he wanted to seize the opportunity to speak today, realizing he might not have the chance in the future.

The old man was a teacher who five years ago had come to the young man’s small town to open an academy.

However, the young man’s family was poor and couldn’t afford tuition at the academy, so he could only eavesdrop from outside.

Later, the old man discovered him and allowed him to audit the classes for free, and this continued for five years.

In Ah Ming’s growth journey, the old man played a guiding role, although he often thought the old man was eccentric and frequently contradicted him. Still, deep down, he always regarded the old man as his master.

A teacher and a master are not the same.

In the academy, students in the hall may call someone a teacher.

But a master is different; a master represents responsibility, lineage, and a deeper significance and legacy.

....

The old man looked at the young man for a long time, then eventually smiled and sighed.

With a wave of his large hand, an invisible light flew from his fingertip and entered his brow. After doing all this, he slowly said, "Ah Ming, I have to go."

"Master, where are you going?"

The young man inquired.

"To get justice for an unworthy disciple of mine."

Having said that, the old man waved his large hand, and the world spun around; the young man’s mind felt dizzy, and soon he fainted.

....

Subsequently, the old man rose into the air and walked towards the void step by step.

Before today, he had always wanted to take Ah Ming as his disciple.

But after this incident, he suddenly realized that even if he became his disciple, grew to great heights, and achieved much in the future, the ultimate outcome would be the same—a mere pawn, a sad fate...

So, rather than that, it was better to let him choose the life he wanted to live.

Leaving this time, he knew there was a high probability he would not return alive, so he left a legacy for Ah Ming. If one day he truly wanted to walk this path, at least the road would be open for him.

.....

Meanwhile, in a certain chaos space.

Three chaotic shadows whose outlines could only be seen stood facing each other in silence.

After a while, an aged voice arose:

"It seems we have miscalculated."

"Even without relying on the River of Time, his own power remains enigmatic...."

Upon these words, a second voice slowly emerged: "What surprised me was how easily he was defeated."

As he spoke, the second shadow looked towards the third chaotic shadow.

"Your underestimation cost me a very important pawn."

In the third voice’s tone was a clear hint of anger.

Upon hearing this, the second chaotic shadow paused for a moment, then said with a smile, "So he was just a pawn in your eyes too."

"I thought he was your carefully cultivated seedling."

As the words fell, rule particles burst forth in the chaotic void, signaling the third chaotic shadow’s anger.

Seeing this scene, the first voice resonated, "I know you have also lost a lot. Next, let me test the waters."

With this voice, the previously tense atmosphere was subdued.

"The time left to us is running out..." Through this recent failure, the third shadow felt an inexplicable urgency, yet couldn’t pinpoint its source.

For countless epochs, he had forgotten that he could feel urgency too.

"Why say this?" the second shadow inquired.

....

"I can sense..... his control over the River of Time might have ascended another level."

"Because the River of Time itself exerts a suppressive force, for him to exert strength beyond his inherent cultivation on the River of Time means... the suppressive effect of the River of Time on him is already minuscule."

"If he continues to grow, the situation will slip out of our control."

The third shadow slowly spoke.

.....

These words brought silence among the three.

They hadn’t expected that all the heavens and myriad realms would produce such an uncertain "anomaly," forcing them to unite against it.

The critical point was, this "anomaly" just happened to occupy the most important "path."

This was the "path" they couldn’t bypass, something they had to find a way to eliminate the "anomaly" from, clearing the "path" so they could vie for it.

This was also the primary reason for their temporary alliance.

"We must hurry...." After a while, the first aged voice resonated.

.......

At this point, a wave of spiritual power emanated in the void.

Upon sensing this fluctuation, the second chaotic shadow smiled at the third and said, "It seems someone has come looking for trouble with you."

"Need help handling it?" the first aged voice inquired.

"No need, it’s my matter, you two should leave; I’ll handle it myself."

With those words.

The other two chaotic shadows disappeared from this space.

.......

After a while.

A crack appeared in the void, and an elderly man in rough clothes slowly stepped out from the void.

The old man looked up, gazing at the Shadow of Chaos above, a flicker of candlelight and sacred fire in his eyes.....

"You should know why I have come."

The old man looked at the Shadow of Chaos and slowly said, his voice ethereal, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

...

"It was his own choice."

The Shadow of Chaos’s voice echoed down.

....

Upon hearing this, the old man suddenly laughed loudly: "Hahahahahahaha"

"Such a grand ’own choice.’"

"Do you even believe your own words?"

The voice suddenly turned cold, and the surrounding void began to twist, as specks of law light quietly blossomed in the chaos, the atmosphere becoming tense and hostile.

"He is a free being; how he chooses is beyond my control, and I will not interfere."

Facing the old man’s aggressive questioning, the Shadow of Chaos’s voice remained calm, without any discernible emotion.

"Free?"

"Perched aloft, overlooking the ants in the mire, you dare speak of such a laughable term."

"You are well aware of how he was brought into this world."

"He was supposed to have his own Great Dao, to forge his own ’path.’"

"But you, for the so-called ’end,’ that illusory ’end of the path,’ easily erased a pitiful child."

"Senior Uncle!"

"In doing so, do you not have even a shred of compassion?"

The old man stared directly at the Shadow of Chaos, questioning.