Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Passing through the portal, they entered a gray space. The colors that met everyone's eyes were pure and dead, without any vitality at all.

A lone altar stood in the center of this space. It wasn't considered too large; its highest point was only around a hundred meters tall.

Like the space around it, it was also gloomy and gray. No…to be more accurate, there was an even deeper gray to it.

Exaggerating a little, it was like this altar was the source that dyed this mystic realm gray.

Beneath his black robes, Qin Yu furrowed his eyebrows. In his eyes this altar was right in front of him. Yet, for some reason he felt that it was far away.

As if no matter how hard he tried, he would never arrive in front of the altar.

This was a strange and marvelous feeling. Qin Yu hesitated for a moment and then took a step forward. His movements didn't seem fast, but he actually moved faster than lightning.

Several steps later, Qin Yu stopped. As he thought, the distance between him and the altar didn't reduce in the slightest.

The Shadow Clan Patriarch said, "Fellow daoist, this Time Altar contains an unknown and mighty power. Although it exists here, no one is able to approach it."

Qin Yu was silent for a moment. Then he asked, "Patriarch, may I ask what the origin of this altar is?"

The Shadow Clan Patriarch shook his head, "It already existed here before my clan entered Dragon City. So, the Shadow Clan has no comment on this."

He turned and said, "That's enough. My clan only serves as watchers for this altar, and now we have opened the entrance for the Hidden Fog Sect and Radiance Temple. Our mission can be considered accomplished. From here on out, everything will depend on your own abilities."

Hu Fu took a deep breath and bowed low. "Hidden Fog Sect Master Hu Fu is willing to offer a sacrifice in order to exchange for the opening of the door of time and to borrow the power of time!"

He waved his hand. With a flash of light, countless spirit stones, materials, and treasures all gushed out. They burst forth like a broken dam, their glory immediately soaring to the heavens.

"Sect Master!"

Behind him, several Hidden Fog Sect Elders widened their eyes, their faces full of stunned shock.

Although everyone knew that healing the dark star ice serpent was the key to victory, they still found it difficult to accept paying such a steep price.

Hu Fu didn't turn his head back. He said, "If the Hidden Fog sect can obtain the position of leader, any price is worth it! I am willing to shoulder any consequences from this; there is no need to say anything!"

Some matters still couldn't be exposed. But since this was the final chance, he wouldn't miss out on it.

Hum -

Light shined up above the altar, condensing into a tray. It swallowed up all the treasures that were offered, like a bottomless abyss that would never be filled up.

…

In the far off distance, in a small world surrounded by endless nothingness.

Within a great hall, a light-covered figure opened his eyes.

"The power of time!"

There was a dignified tone in his voice.

When he chose to help Qin Yu before, it was because he felt a dark pull from some aura.

Although he couldn't clearly see what this aura represented, he could faintly feel that it was some kind of beneficial factor.

But he never imagined that such an astonishing discovery would arrive so soon.

The power of time. Even throughout the myriad heavens, this was considered a peak strength. Only genuine peerless powerhouses had the possibility of controlling it.

This world actually had the power of time within it. Was this really just a lucky chance, or was there some other reason behind it all?

After a long silence, the light-covered figure lifted a hand and pointed at the void.

A spatial channel opened up. A palm-sized grass flew out, pitifully screaming, "My lord, your methods are too violent and cruel! My waist was almost torn off!"

"I have no time to banter with you right now. There is something you must do." The light-covered figure said.

The little grass' attitude changed. "I will follow my lord's orders!"

"I will take a blade of your grass and give it to Qin Yu. If you notice anything wrong, immediately cut off contact with it."

Star Cutting Grass - a leaf could shatter the stars. It didn't rely on just its own strength to do this, but it could also be said to be blessed by the world in some way.

By relying on this blessing, it could easily sever its aura, blinding yin, yang, and chaos, and jumping free of the three worlds and five elements.

The green grass grinned painfully. It took a long time for it to grow just a single leaf. But since the lord asked, it had no reason to refuse. The little grass simply nodded and put on a pitiful expression.

"Do not worry, you will not suffer a loss. If there are harvests this time, I will deliver you a good fortune." This was the power of time. If he could absorb it then he could restore a good amount of his strength. He would no longer need to sneak around and hide away like he was currently doing.

…

Space of the Time Altar.

As the massive amount of top quality materials and treasures fell onto the tray, a transparent balance scale appeared in the air. It gradually tilted to one side.

Hu Fu drew in a deep breath. Once the balance scale completely tilted to one side, the Hidden Fog Sect would obtain the rights to borrow and use the power of space.

Not too far away, the Radiance Temple Master coldly snorted, her face chilling.

Although the two sides hadn't yet fought, they had already completely torn apart any pretense of cordiality. There was no need for them to conceal their thoughts anymore.

"You want to borrow the power of time with just this? Keep on dreaming!"

Taking a step forward, the Radiance Temple Master bowed, "Radiance Temple is willing to continue offering sacrifices. We implore that the altar grants us the right of use!"

She waved her hand. Space tore open and countless treasures violently poured out.

In terms of wealth, not even the First Moon Mountain Range's Sky Declaring Pavilion that was said to excel at business could necessarily compare with them. Who could blame their ancestors for being so lucky and digging up the largest spirit vein found in the entire world so far? And it was in the sole control of Radiance Temple. For them, it could be said that spirit stones billowed out like an endless tide, inexhaustible!

Countless beautiful Radiance Temple Elders all revealed looks of disdain. They never feared anything when it came to wealth.

After all, they were the filthy rich Radiance Temple…

The Shadow Clan cultivators all sighed inwardly. With how things were going, it seemed that the Hidden Fog Sect had no chance at all.

Hu Fu had a calm expression. He had already expected this. But since he dared to do it, he naturally had a backup plan.

The backup plan…was himself.

He was a dying person to begin with. For the future of the sect, he was willing to withstand anything.

"I, Hu Fu, am willing to sacrifice my lifespan in exchange for the right to use the power of time!"

Above the altar, the floating balance scale fluctuated for a moment. Then, a thought fluctuation spread out into everyone's minds.

"You. Speak truth?"

Hu Fu bowed. "I am willing. I will not go back on my word!"

"Sect Master, please wait. You cannot be impulsive about this!"

"I ask Sect Master to retract your words!"

"You cannot sacrifice your lifespan!"

The watching Hidden Fog Sect Elders were shocked.

Hu Fu didn't take back his words. "I have already made my decision. There is no need to try and persuade me!"

His gaze was calm and his eyes were as firm as iron.

In the end, he wasn't able to achieve the best outcome. He was bound to be discovered after today. There wasn't much time left…

But Hu Fu didn't regret this. Even if he had to meet a cruel and horrible ending, being able to save the Hidden Fog Sect with his death was still worth it.

"Fine!"

Weng -

An invisible strength rushed out from the altar, covering Hu Fu. He stuffily coughed and his complexion instantly paled. As everyone watched, he began to age at a speed visible to the naked eye.

His hair withered like dried grass and wrinkles stacked up on his face. His straight back bent over and his appearance became lethargic and tired, as if he were on the verge of death.

The scene turned deathly silent!

No one thought that just to obtain the right to use the power of time, Hu Fu would go this far.

Even Qin Yu looked at his back with admiration.

He had once withstood the pain of having his lifespan sucked out. And what Hu Fu experienced now was ten times, a hundred times more terrifying.

But Hu Fu didn't make a single sound. Even if his body shook from pain, even if blood flowed out from his head.

The balance scales rapidly tilted.

Life was meaning. After death, everything became meaningless.

The value of lifespan was far from being comparable to material goods.