Chapter 350 VS Time Stop 2

This master-level time-manipulation user's "time stop" did not involve stopping time in the entire universe with his own magic, but rather entering a universe where time had stopped.

Take movies as an example. What we see in a movie appears to be a continuous series of moving images, but it is actually composed of a series of still frames connected together. By rapidly flipping through the pages, the discontinuous images appear to be continuous.

While real-world time and movie time cannot be equated, some scientists argue that real-world time is not continuous but exists in a smallest unit. This smallest unit of time is called "Planck time." Quantum theory generally holds that there is no shorter time than this; if our world were a movie, then "one Planck time" would be "one frame."

His special ability, if explained scientifically, is that he can enter a Planck time and perform multiple actions within it. Of course, being able to perform multiple actions within a Planck time implies "timekeeping within the smallest unit of time," a contradiction in its very definition. If there is motion within a static world, then it means that the world is not static.

However, the incredible power lies in its ability to fundamentally destroy logic. Moreover, since he entered a world where time had stopped, it is equivalent to "stopping time in the entire world," and in some aspects, it even surpasses the latter.

Because this skill doesn't interfere with others, but merely moves oneself to another realm, it doesn't, in principle, provide the precondition of "allowing the opponent to break free." Furthermore, even for the Great Impermanence, his consciousness speed is definitely not fast enough to be perceived even within a single Planck time. In a world where time has stopped, he is almost completely free, and combined with the basic abilities of a Great Completion level cultivator, he could wipe out a city in an instant, or even an entire nation in a single moment.

Considering that the cost of this ability is likely to be very low, he might even be able to kill everyone in the world in an instant... However, I'm not sure if this ability has any other conditions or costs, so I can only think about it for now.

He has at least one weakness, which is his unpredictability.

While the Great Impermanence cannot perceive a world where time has stopped, because his perception transcends time and space to a certain extent, when he unleashes murderous intent towards me—that is, towards the Great Impermanence—in the stopped world, I can perceive his activities in the still world in reverse. This is why I can think normally in the still world at this moment.

To elaborate further, since my body is composed of flames, and my flames are my spirit, the fact that my consciousness can function normally means that my body can also move around here. Previously, I didn't understand my situation correctly, habitually emphasizing the materiality of this pseudo-body and trying to break free from a force that didn't even exist, which is why I couldn't move. Once I found the right angle to enter this world, being able to move freely is only natural.

"Can you move around in a static world forever?" I asked.

"You can stay here for up to three months..."

He answered reflexively, then immediately covered his mouth in shock. My question was imbued with the power of words, so once it was asked, he couldn't help but answer.

I then asked, "So, if you bring Mingzhuo into this world where everything has stopped, will his lifespan also stop counting down?"

"..."

He didn't reply this time. The power of words is not very effective against those at the Great Completion level. It was only through a surprise attack that he was able to answer. Now that he's on guard, it's the same reason why hypnosis in normal psychology doesn't work on people with strong psychological defenses.

Even if he didn't answer, I could imagine that if doing this was all it took to stop Mingzhuo's lifespan countdown, I would never have had the chance to meet this precious time-manipulation user here.

His eyes grew increasingly terrified, as he must have realized that I was not at the Great Completion level at all.

"After becoming a Great Impermanence, I may have become a bit arrogant. I thought that as long as I had great power, I could deal with any enemy, and the only ones who could pose a threat were other Great Impermanences... You've taught me a lesson," I said.

If he hadn't intended to confront me directly, but instead planned to use this ability to escape from the start, or to kill all the people I valued, I truly wouldn't have been able to do anything about him. There are always stronger beings out there; even a Great Impermanence cannot be underestimated by someone at the Great Completion level. Thinking of this, I made a firm decision in my heart—I absolutely cannot let this enemy return alive.

Flames suddenly appeared in the air, transforming into a giant hand that reached out to grab the time-manipulation user. At the same time, true to his time-manipulation abilities, he instantly unleashed a speed more than ten times faster than his previous full-force attack with the Divine Spear, crashing into the wall and fleeing madly.

Perhaps because he was focused entirely on escaping, he stopped the pointless time-stopping. The gray filter in my vision faded, and time began to flow again. The walls offered no resistance whatsoever; he smashed through them as if they were air, even crushing the bodies of two guards who couldn't get out of the way.

However, he was destined not to escape my grasp. The giant fiery hand ignored even the concept of spatial distance, grabbing him in its palm as if he were something right next to it, even as he had fled to a distance.

Strangely, although the time-stopping gray filter had faded from all the scenery, only his entire body remained shrouded in a gray hue. Only after touching him did I realize that he had stopped time within his own body. In this state, external forces could not alter his body, meaning they could not harm him in any way.

At the same time, in this unchanging state, his movement could not be stopped. I felt as if my giant fiery hand was about to be pierced through the air by his body.

It's contradictory. He's supposed to have stopped time in his body, yet he can still move freely, as if he's only enjoying the convenience of time stoppage without suffering its side effects. Can time manipulation be used like this? If so, his body isn't just an invincible shield, but also an invincible spear.

While Silvermoon's ability to "turn fantasy into reality" is already outrageous enough, compared to his power, it's hard to tell which is more cheating. I wonder if using the "guaranteed hit and penetration" of the Divine Spear to attack him would be enough to break through his defenses?

I wasn't helpless because of this; the other party probably understood this, which is why they turned and ran without a word. Now, I can even burn metaphysical things like "cause and effect," so abstract things like "time" are no problem either. Since he has frozen his time, then I will burn him and that frozen time to ashes.

Just then, a large cloud of murky blackish-red smoke burst forth from a seemingly empty space next to the time-manipulator.

As soon as the smoke appeared, it ripped apart the fiery hand that had grasped the time-manipulating ability user, and then part of it enveloped the user, protecting it inside. Then, another figure emerged from the blackish-red smoke.

It was a somber-looking man in his thirties or forties, dressed in a black and red burial shroud with long black hair. He stared intently at me, uttering a low, guttural voice as if he had just crawled out of a grave: "Zhuang Cheng..."

This was the first time I had ever seen this face. Although it was our "first meeting," I recognized his true identity at first glance. The familiar fluctuations of magical power and the familiar sense of immense size told me that this person was none other than the Great Impermanence, Mingzhuo, who had once invaded Mazao's dream and nearly killed both Mazao and me.

It's unclear whether he was in a highly soundproof laboratory or busy elsewhere, but it seems he finally realized the anomaly that had occurred at the research institute and rushed to the scene.

Upon witnessing this scene, the nearby guards fell silent, none daring to step forward. Some even seemed to be secretly retreating, as if afraid of being drawn into the dark fury that Mingzhu was about to unleash.

"You should be grateful I didn't come looking for you. How dare you come here on your own? Are you tired of living?" Mingzhuo said sinisterly.

“‘I, Zhuang Cheng, will come to find you’—I’ve come to fulfill that promise,” I said.

"Now that you've found me, what can you do next?" Mingzhuo's voice was icy. "To become the Great Impermanence in such a short time, I admit your achievements have exceeded all my expectations, but so what?"

"After becoming the Great Impermanence, instead of honing your skills properly, you lack the patience to lie low and grow slowly, you don't know the preciousness of life, you don't know the gap between you and me... and you dare to run wild on my turf. Even your shallowness exceeds my imagination. Such a powerful talent is wasted on a fool like you. It's a huge waste."

"It's as if you'll let us go if I just lie low," I said. "You only have less than ten years left to live. The one who's really anxious to come knocking on our door isn't me, it's you, isn't it?"

"This matter is practically public knowledge, so what if I admit it? Yes, I am indeed anxious."

Mingzhuo, however, possessed some composure, acknowledging his predicament and continuing, "So I'm giving you a chance now. Although you say I won't let you go, that's a misconception. At least there's no irreconcilable conflict between us. My target isn't you, but your little girl."

"Hand that girl over to me, and all the grudges between us, including the killing of my sharpshooter and your rude intrusion into my research institute, will be forgiven."

"Not only that, you'll also gain my friendship. Whatever you want, I can find it for you. What do you want? A beautiful woman to replace that little girl, or a powerful magic weapon? As long as I have it, you can ask me for it."

In stark contrast to his arrogant attitude when he invaded Mazao's dream last time, this time he actually tried to negotiate with me, which shows that my becoming the Great Impermanence is no small matter in his eyes.

"There are indeed some things I want that you have, but I don't need you to deliver them; I'll take them myself."

I stretched out my right hand and pointed at the time-manipulation user he was protecting.

"His life comes first."

Before everyone's eyes, flames suddenly erupted from inside the time-manipulation user's body, turning his body and soul to ashes.

"—Zhuang Cheng!!!" Ming Zhuo was furious.

“Your fate is next, you ill-fated one,” I said.

(End of this chapter)