Guarding the River of Time

Chapter 466 - 456: Through the Hardships of Time and Space, I Choose to Follow

I have pursued it for countless years, through unknown epochs, traversing numerous times and spaces, bitterly searching for "it."

Now it truly appears before me, just within reach, this feeling is somewhat dreamlike and a little unreal.

Because I imagined that even if I succeeded in obtaining it, it would certainly be after much sacrifice and effort to force it into submission.

But never would I have thought it would come willingly to "die," to fulfill me voluntarily.

That’s why it feels unreal.

...

Looking at the "sapling" transformed by Ah Fei before me, suddenly, Su Mu seemed to understand everything.

It didn’t want to burden me or for me to become entangled with Li Qiye...

Perhaps, for Ah Fei, upon knowing Su Mu’s stance and realizing its existence mattered to someone, it came to understand.

"To repay your noble intentions with death," this proverb was once again sublimated at this moment.

Wandering, hiding, a rootless floating life—this was Little Sheep Ah Fei’s life; it was an "awareness" that should never have emerged, a "life" that should never have appeared, thus it feared, feared losing, feared disappearing, hence the hiding...

Once possessing life, thought, and the qualification to perceive the world, one would develop attachment to the world...

Ah Fei was just so; it was meant to be a "rule," one of Li Qiye’s most important entities, never meant to develop consciousness.

Therefore, it hid, hiding through various times and spaces...

Ah Fei had lived enough, had seen much of the world’s variety, realized the value and meaning of life, but still had attachments in its heart.

But that sliver of attachment vanished when it learned that Su Mu would pay any price to confront Li Qiye just to protect it; it willingly used its life to exchange for a favor from Li Qiye, leaving a grace for its master.

Ah Fei was not foolish; on the contrary, it was very smart. Because of its unique abilities, it could traverse various worlds, with top-notch senses and acuity, it realized the Ten Thousand Realms were becoming increasingly unstable.

This instability, a large part of it was directed against its master.

Therefore, it hoped to use all of itself to help its master, at least ensuring one more powerful ally for its master.

After fulfilling Li Qiye, Li Qiye would become whole and take that step, with power becoming stronger, having the qualification and ability to be its master’s right hand.

Viewing it from another angle, wasn’t it also becoming its master’s right hand after merging with Li Qiye? Even though it no longer had "thought," it didn’t matter anymore.

....

Li Qiye stared at the "sapling" in front of him, not reaching out, just looking dazedly.

At this moment, he seemed to understand why Elder Su could guard the River of Time...

Why Elder Su has always had many loyal and powerful followers...

Even "it," to prevent him from finding it, to preserve its "thought," after hiding for such a long epoch, chose to willingly "die."

This demonstrates Elder Su’s charismatic personality, his character.

Thinking carefully, because it followed Elder Su, and Elder Su shouldered this responsibility, never handing it over to him, even knowing it would lead to enmity, still willing to stand for his subordinates.

Such a predecessor, such an adult, wasn’t he someone truly worth following?

So, in Li Qiye’s heart, a decision also emerged, and the scale in his heart began to tilt...

.....

He extended his right hand and plucked the only seven-colored glowing leaf from the sapling’s three leaves.

As this seven-colored leaf was plucked off, Li Qiye’s face turned pale, his body trembled slightly, but he quickly stabilized himself.

Then he walked to Su Mu, handing the seven-colored leaf to Su Mu.

Su Mu’s gaze fell on this seven-colored leaf in an instant, startled for a moment, because this leaf contained Ah Fei’s breath.

"Elder Su, this is Ah Fei’s ’thought,’ an ’awareness.’"

"I have stripped it out."

Ah Fei was naturally part of his essence, its consciousness evolved from part of the "essence."

The correct approach would have been to directly refine its "thought" to maintain the "essence’s" integrity.

But he didn’t do so, instead forcefully stripping its "thought" from the essence.

This was akin to Li Qiye forcefully carving out a piece of his own flesh, a bone, and a very important piece of flesh and bone at that...

.....

By doing this, Li Qiye still couldn’t become entirely "whole," still missing a tiny part.

But he didn’t regret doing so.

This action also demonstrated to Elder Su his determination; Ah Fei is yours, Ah Fei chose to die to fulfill me, and I will try my best to preserve Ah Fei’s thought.

"By doing this, you remain incomplete," Su Mu said slowly, gazing at Li Qiye.

Upon hearing this, Li Qiye smiled: "No creature is absolutely complete."

"The parts I lack, I will find and supplement from another path, perhaps... at that time, I will be the truly complete me, to truly take that step."

Upon hearing Li Qiye’s words, Su Mu was taken aback.

For some reason, at this moment, he suddenly felt that this young man who appeared not so old had a heart realm that transcended and sublimated, commanding respect and admiration.

When what one has chased a lifetime appears easily within reach, choosing calmness is something most cannot achieve; even Su Mu himself couldn’t say if he could manage it....

"Ah Fei’s consciousness and thought should never have appeared, should never have been born, defying cosmic rules."

"Thus, it cannot enter reincarnation, as it is not permitted by the reincarnation rule."

"There is only one way..."

Here, Li Qiye paused.

"What way?" Su Mu asked, frowning slightly.

....

"Only by finding the creator of the reincarnation rule, the one who wields reincarnation, can we let her guide Ah Fei into reincarnation, allowing it to be reborn."

"To truly have its own life, a life entirely its own."

At this point, Li Qiye softly sighed.

The one who wields reincarnation, "she," stands atop the pyramid, at the pinnacle of reincarnation rules, not someone he could contact.

Even if he could contact her, on what grounds could he ask her to assist him?

Therefore, he could only pin his hopes on Elder Su.

Because, if it’s Elder Su, he can definitely reach such a level of existence.