CHAPTER 1735: CHAPTER 479: AGAIN AND AGAIN

The next second.

The Black Prison Stronghold walls collapsed with a roar.

In midair, Alpha and the dean of Starry Sky Academy were trapped in a pale gray barrier; the Paradise Mountain summoned by Dean Atlas had been banished outside the sky, now transformed into a faint illusion; the three-headed and eight-armed Giant Ape continued to roar, resisting attacks from several Great Demons and Dark Councilors from all directions; the pure-blooded Mi-go glared angrily at the Rat Immortal, while Zhu Si held one of its joints, curiously observing the kindly-looking Big Mouse opposite.

The biggest difference from the previous scene was that, in Zheng Qing’s view, there was more gold than blood in the sunlight, which offered tremendous support to the ordinary wizards, with the battlefield echoing with stirring battle songs, and in the distance, the miserable howl of the Multi-Armed Giant, KOTOS, arose.

But what was the same as the previous scene was the increasingly intense feeling of bizarre fantasy spreading across the world.

The airwaves stirred by the stronghold walls’ collapse arrived as expected, and the fine sand repeated the previous action, striking the young warlock’s cheeks and arms, rubbing more fine strands of blood into his earlier scars.

In the distance, a low and clear spell faintly echoed through heaven and earth:

"Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang..."

Boom!

The colorful lights, the swirling heavens and earth, the chaotic yet vast flow of information all happened just as before. Only this time, Zheng Qing didn’t close his eyes immediately, but held on for one more second.

Then he saw the law book in his hand burst into dazzling light, faintly heard the sound of the sapling sprouting and its roots spreading in his soul lake, and his soul’s unbearable moan.

Bang!

The warlock fell back, bleeding from all seven orifices.

This time, Zheng Qing spent an even longer time in a daze before gradually regaining consciousness—or rather, he was forcibly awakened by a burst of intense sneezing.

"Awake! Awake!"

"I told you the Fizz Revitalizer was powerful! Even Old Yao used it!"

"Don’t talk nonsense... Who knows what actually happened to Brother Qing? Why is there so much blood on his face? Is he hurt somewhere?"

"No idea, wasn’t he fine just now?"

"That pocket watch in his hand..."

A furry paw rudely flipped open the young cost student’s eyelids, and the glaring light made Zheng Qing’s pupils instinctively contract, a surge of heat welled up from the bottom of his eyes, unsure if it was tears or blood.

"What’s this?"

The black cat extended a claw, vigorously shaking the warlock’s shoulder: "Do you understand what I’m saying? Did you see something you weren’t supposed to see?"

Zheng Qing strugglingly nodded, repeatedly nodded, while opening his mouth, barely answering with a number:

"Three."

As soon as the words came out, the others hadn’t reacted, but Zheng Qing was startled first. His voice sounded like a traveler who had been thirsty for a long time in the desert, dry and feeble, even carrying a hint of hoarse loss.

Clearly, everything was fine before!

"Don’t speak!"

The black cat seemed to notice the confusion and alarm in the warlock’s eyes, comforting him with a pat on the shoulder. At the same time, a sturdy arm reached out with a transparent ampoule bottle in hand.

"Fizer’s Energy Supplement, enhanced version."

Xin Fat Man removed the ampoule bottle cap, poured the slightly thick light red potion inside into Zheng Qing’s mouth, boasting half-heartedly, half-pityingly: "This is the last one... funny, I distinctly remember preparing four or five of them."

The potion was slightly sweet, and after ingesting it, a surge of warmth quickly spread through his body, and in a short time, Zheng Qing felt his physical strength was restored, clearing his mind considerably as well.

"Mirror." He said succinctly.

Being in tune with him, the black cat swiped its paw, and a water mirror appeared before Zheng Qing. The young cost student examined the unfamiliar yet familiar face in the mirror, the varying depths of blood stains on his face raising a suspicion in his heart.

"What happened?" He needed further confirmation.

"Everyone was discussing the fact that the black cat used to be your shadow," Xiao Xiao immediately replied with clarity and rapidity: "Dylan hadn’t seen it before, so he had some argument with the black cat first... then you suddenly fell backward without a word, even bleeding from your eyes."

"But strangely, the bloodstains on your face weren’t left at the same time."

Possessing the ancient O’Brien family lineage, Dylan clearly held strong authority on this matter; he extended his fingertip to smudge the blood on Zheng Qing’s cheek, then brought it to his nose to sniff, lowering his eyelids, clenching his teeth, and answering word by word:

"And I’m certain, previously your face was clean."

Zheng Qing laboriously tugged at the corner of his mouth, presenting a helpless smile: "I’m just as sure about that... What’s happening outside now?"

While speaking, he felt a slight discomfort under his hand.

Lowering his head, the silver pocket watch lay in his palm, the complex runes on its case flowing like fish in water, emitting seven-colored radiance.

"Outside? Which outside?" Xin Fat Man clearly didn’t understand the warlock’s question.

"Where’s my law book?" Zheng Qing raised his head, looking at the black cat, and asked back: "Where’s my law book?"

"How should I know!" The black cat anxiously swung its tail, pacing in the small shallow pit, its voice sounding somewhat irritable: "Something’s definitely wrong... I also remember that you had the law book earlier!"

Zheng Qing took a deep breath, reaching into the grey cloth bag to feel around.

The next moment, he pulled out a law book with a creamy white cover, its leather clasp tightly fastened. Like the pocket watch, the law book was emitting seven-colored radiance, though its glow flickered, seeming like it would extinguish the next second, yet also appeared to explode like a supernova the next.

Zheng Qing hurriedly shoved the book back like he seized a burning iron.

"It’s full." He looked at the black cat, replying with a hoarse voice: "The law book is full... the pocket watch too is about full... Help me up. I need another look."

The black cat showed an incredulous expression in its eyes.

"That’s impossible!"

It shouted, seemingly trying to make its voice heard across the battlefield: "Didn’t the school stabilize all the dimensional lines in the Black Prison World? Why is there power altering the timeline! Who’s causing trouble!! You’re playing with fire!"

No one answered its roar.

Outside the shallow pit, on the battlefield, the voices of ordinary wizards chanting spells and howling demons charging rose and fell, the great wizards in confrontation exhibiting exceedingly serious expressions, ignoring the black cat’s warning. Only the Great Druid of the Dark Council curiously glanced at the black cat, inhaling deeply.

"Smells delightful."

It praised softly, like a gourmet facing delicious food: "This mingled scent of power and wisdom... makes one seemingly sniff the fragrance of future."

In the shallow pit, Zheng Qing, with the support of his companions, struggled to stand.

Click, click.

The crisp and monotone sound of the watch needle’s movement echoed once more through heaven and earth.