"Fellow Daoist Ling, just what exactly do you want us to do? There's no need to beat around the bush anymore," Mo Jianli said, his gaze flickering.
"Since Brother Mo has put it so directly, I'll speak plainly then. This king currently requires the legendary 'Threads of Time' to preserve his life. A single Thread of Time in exchange for one Three Purities Thunderclap Talisman from my hand — what do you fellow daoists think of that?" After several subtle shifts in expression, the white-robed elder finally revealed what was being offered.
"Threads of Time? Surely you jest, fellow daoist. How could we possibly obtain something so legendary, a supreme treasure of the Nine Heavens, and deliver it to you?" The group was stunned by the Spirit King's words. Black Scale spoke up, his voice laced with both shock and anger.
The Threads of Time, as the name suggested, were wondrous treasures born within the River of Time — a river that contained the laws of time itself.
But the River of Time could never appear in a lower realm like the Spirit Realm. Only in the True Immortal World might there exist a few such rivers, containing the supreme power of the Great Dao's laws.
"Spirit King Brother, could it be that you never had any sincerity about making this deal at all?" Mo Jianli said, his expression turning grim.
Han Li had read about the Threads of Time and the River of Time in several ancient texts, and hearing this now, he stroked his chin, astonishment mixing with the rapid cascade of thoughts spinning through his mind.
The Threads of Time, even among the myriad legendary treasures, were things that defied heaven and earth. Their greatest known power was that of extending one's lifespan!
It was said that the temporal force contained within a single Thread of Time could extend the life of an ordinary mortal or a low-to-mid-level cultivator by over a thousand years.
But for mighty beings such as themselves, the Threads of Time possessed an even more extraordinary effect — the power to delay heavenly tribulations. A single Thread of Time could postpone a minor tribulation by more than five hundred years, and a major tribulation by over a century.
Of course, these were merely legends. No one had ever personally confirmed the specific effects.
One thing was certain, though: the River of Time had truly never appeared in a plane like the Spirit Realm.
Now, for the Spirit King to suddenly bring this up — could it be that…?
After turning the matter over in his mind, Han Li glanced at the white-robed elder, and an involuntary flicker of something unusual crossed his face.
The very next moment, the Spirit King's light chuckle immediately dispelled Han Li's conjecture.
"Heh heh, how would I dare joke with you fellow daoists? The highest-grade Threads of Time are indeed born only within the River of Time, but I have absolutely no requirements regarding their grade. Even if you fellow daoists can find only the lowest-grade Threads of Time, I will exchange the Thunderclap Talisman for them immediately. Obtaining innate Threads of Time naturally would be nearly impossible. But Threads of Time that have been refined and purified from other sources — for the likes of us, that may not be beyond the realm of possibility." The Spirit King narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke in measured tones.
Black Scale and Mo Jianli were taken aback and fell into contemplation.
But Blood Burn, upon hearing the elder's words, suddenly recalled something, and a look of surprise flashed across his face.
"It seems Fellow Daoist Blood Burn has already remembered!" The Spirit King shifted his gaze onto this Mahayana-stage alien and spoke unhurriedly.
"Brother Blood?" Black Scale turned to look at Blood Burn in surprise.
Han Li and Mo Jianli exchanged a glance, both remaining silent.
"If I'm not mistaken, the Spirit King is referring to the Small Asura World that appeared once many years ago, and the Asura Spiders unique to that world. Besides that, I cannot think of any other source from which one might obtain those refined Threads of Time," Blood Burn said after a long pause, enunciating each word carefully.
"The Small Asura World…"
"Asura Spiders!"
Mo Jianli and Black Scale cried out almost simultaneously.
Han Li, on the other hand, blinked in confusion, looking thoroughly baffled.
These two names — it was the first time he had ever heard of them.
"That's right. The Asura Spiders are born with an innate ability to manipulate space and time. If several of those creatures are slain, it should be possible to refine a single Thread of Time from their crystal cores. That is immeasurably easier than asking you fellow daoists to seek out the River of Time," the Spirit King said in a leisurely tone.