"Time is up," the old man said, his figure beginning to turn transparent. "You have completed the initial anchoring. Now, your existence stretches through the past, becoming a continuous line within time. But to resist annihilation, this is still not enough."
"What else do I need?" Qian Renxue asked. Her voice echoed in the space, carrying an unprecedented weight of composure.
"You need a future," the old man's figure had almost completely faded, leaving only his echoing voice. "Not a future dictated by fate, but one you actively choose. A future so solid, so certain, that it almost already exists. When you anchor that kind of future, your existence will span the three dimensions of time—past, present, and future. Only then will you truly become an unerasable anchor within time."
The old man vanished entirely. The Corridor of Time began to tremble, and the space started to collapse. Qian Renxue knew this was the natural dissolution of the relic after fulfilling its purpose. With no lingering attachments, she turned and walked out.
With every step, she felt herself growing "heavier." It wasn't a physical weight, but the weight of existence. It was the gravity of precipitated time, the accumulated reality of countless anchored moments.
When she stepped out of the Corridor of Time and returned to the normal space of the God Realm, a pillar of golden light descended from the heavens, enveloping her. It was not the power of the Angel God, but something far more ancient and fundamental—Time's acknowledgment of her existence.
The pillar of light lasted for about a quarter of an hour before slowly dissipating. Qian Renxue stood there, seemingly unchanged on the surface. Yet, anyone who saw her would sense a difference—she had become more "real," so real that it was almost glaring. It was as if, within a painting, she alone was three-dimensional; within a dream, she alone was awake.
"Qian Renxue?" a familiar voice came from behind.
Qian Renxue turned to see Tang Wulin standing not far away, his eyes full of surprise. He had clearly sensed the changes within her.
"You... you found your path?" Tang Wulin approached. His own presence had been steadily growing as well, but its texture was entirely different from Qian Renxue's. If Tang Wulin's existence was like an outward-radiating light—warm and all-encompassing—then Qian Renxue's existence was like an inward-condensing metal—cold and unyielding.
"I found it," Qian Renxue nodded. "Not your path, but my own. You chose expansion; I chose condensation. You chose connection; I chose anchoring. You chose to become the incarnation of 'Is'; I chose to become the fulcrum of time."
Tang Wulin carefully sensed the changes in Qian Renxue, a light of understanding gradually appearing in his eyes. "An anchor of time... I understand. There is more than one way to resist the Void. Your path might be just as effective as mine, perhaps even stronger in certain aspects."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because of time," Tang Wulin said solemnly. "For the Void to erase an existence, it must erase all its traces within time. If you have anchored yourself at every increment of time, then erasing you would require simultaneously erasing every version of you across the entire timeline—that is practically equivalent to erasing a segment of history itself. The Eye of Annihilation might truly not be able to pay such a price."
Qian Renxue nodded slightly. This was exactly her goal. But she knew she wasn't finished yet. The old man's words still echoed in her ears: she still needed a future—a future so solid that it almost already existed.
"The rift in the Douluo Continent is expanding," Tang Wulin suddenly said, his expression grave. "The God of Destruction told me that in ten years at most, it will erode the Life Core. We must be prepared."
"I understand," Qian Renxue gazed into the distance, toward the direction of the Douluo Continent. Though she couldn't see it, she could feel the world's call. "Before the final battle arrives, I must complete my path. I need a future, a definitive future."
"How do you plan to do that?"
Qian Renxue fell silent for a moment before saying, "I'm going back to the Douluo Continent."
"Now? But your divine throne..."
"The divine throne can be temporarily sealed," Qian Renxue's tone was resolute. "I need to experience it all over again as a mortal. Not as the Angel God, but as Qian Renxue, as a living, breathing person. I need to experience life, forge connections, and create a future I truly desire. Only when that future is solid enough can I anchor it and complete my path of existence."
Tang Wulin looked at her deeply, finally nodding. "I understand. But be careful. The situation in the Douluo Continent is complex right now, and the effects of the abyssal rift are already showing. Furthermore, you cannot reveal your identity, or it will cause unnecessary trouble."
"I will be careful," Qian Renxue said. "This isn't just about fighting annihilation; it's for my own sake. For thousands of years, I've been playing various roles—Crown Prince, Holy Maiden, Deity, Guardian. Now, I need to know what kind of future I want when I strip away all those identities and am just 'Qian Renxue.'"
The two looked at each other, both seeing the unwavering resolve in the other's eyes. They were so different—Tang Wulin chose to embrace everything, becoming the network of existence; Qian Renxue chose to refine herself, becoming the anchor of time. Yet their goal was the same: to resist the Void and protect existence.
"When will you leave?" Tang Wulin asked.
"In three days," Qian Renxue replied. "I need time to prepare and temporarily seal my divine throne. Also, I need a new identity, one that won't arouse suspicion."
Tang Wulin pondered for a moment. "I can help you. There is an ancient art in the God Realm that can temporarily seal a divine throne, allowing you to walk the mortal world in a mortal body. As for your identity... the Douluo Continent has changed a lot over the years. The Spirit Hall is long gone, and the Tian Dou Empire has gone through several transitions. You could take on the identity of a wandering scholar. It's a very common occupation on the continent now and won't draw any attention."
"A wandering scholar..." Qian Renxue repeated the words, a glint in her eyes. "Very well. I will use the identity of an ordinary wandering scholar to look at this world anew, and to search for my future once more."
Over the next three days, Qian Renxue prepared everything with Tang Wulin's help. The ritual to seal the divine throne was complex and dangerous. It required her to strip away most of her divine power, retaining only the most fundamental strength. This meant that in the Douluo Continent, she would no longer be the invincible Angel God, but merely a slightly stronger mortal. She could be injured, she could grow exhausted, and she could even die.
But Qian Renxue did not hesitate. To anchor the future, she had to truly immerse herself in it, rather than acting as a high-and-mighty bystander.
At dawn on the third day, Qian Renxue stood before the passage connecting the God Realm to the Douluo Continent. She wore a simple white robe, her long hair casually tied up with a wooden hairpin. There was no divine radiance about her; she looked just like an ordinary young woman.
Tang Wulin had come to see her off. "Remember, no matter what happens, do not easily break the seal. Unless it is a matter of life and death, you must complete this journey in a mortal body. Only then will the future you find be a genuine future, not a fate imposed by a deity."
"I understand," Qian Renxue nodded, then looked at Tang Wulin. "What about you? How is your path coming along?"
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