On the battlefield.

Reneedol was hiding inside an underground burrow.

------this couldn't be helped, as the cultivators around her were still being massacred by the monsters in the sky despite them being much stronger than herself.

This was a one-sided slaughter.

She had been struck directly, crushed to death, cut in half from across her waist, became completely amputated, beheaded, pierced through the heart, diced to bits, bled to death, and exploded to bits. This was the only safe place she had managed to find in order to survive.

The sound of resounding explosions echoed from outside.

Desperate screams, cries of battle, and endless suffering, none of this had stopped for even a second.

While hiding in the underground burrow, Reneedol covered her face with her hands.

This is impossible.

How would I be able to hold on for an hour and survive like this?

Even she didn't believe in that.

Suddenly, the cultivators outside gradually began to organize a retaliation.

They were able to exert unprecedented strength in the moment of absolute despair.

In a short period of time, the situation of the battlefield reached a weak balance.

A human commander shouted: "Hurry up, this is our only chance, everyone attack with everything you have!"

The sound of explosions from the battle gradually became more rapid.

Reneedol hesitated for a few moments.

Should I get out of here to help them?

Although my power has been suppressed to be equal to Rhode at this point in time, I've learnt plenty of unique skills that will allow me to become the spearhead in war.

------Star Force techniques.

Shroud did teach me many war-related Star Force techniques.

Reneedol couldn't help but begin reminiscing.

What did Shroud say at the time?

…

"Reneedol, remember this well. This Star Force technique that I created for you would allow you to greatly improve everyone's strength, and since your own strength far surpasses them, it would be very easy for you to become a war commander"

"Hm, I've grasped it already, but I most likely won't be able to ever personally use it"

"Ahaha, that's obvious. With me here, you would never need to head into a battlefield yourself"

…

Reneedol was stunned for a short moment.

If.

Hypothetically.

If Shroud was still by my side to protect me.

How would I fall so low into my current state?

My original Fate was to become his companion.

…No, even without him, I would be able to achieve victory!

Reneedol clenched her teeth and put her hands together to recite an incantation:

"With the power of the stars in the sky, direct-------"

Hoh!

A strong gust of wind blew, howling as it passed the burrow that she was hiding in, carrying with it the smell of blood and death.

The head of a cultivator landed in front of Reneedol's face.

"---the Laws of Reality…"

Halfway through Reneedol's incantation, she saw the head as well as the stiff expression of absolute despair and death it carried.

The blood flowing from it forced her to retreat as well.

A thought flashed through Reneedol's mind.

-------if I act right now, wouldn't I become the center of the battlefield?

Those monsters full of eyes would immediately surround and attack me.

What would happen then?

Who could guarantee that the others will fight together with me?

"… stand by my side-----"

At this point, Reneedol stopped reciting.

Starlight had manifested from the void of space around her, silently waiting for her incantation to finish.

But as Reneedol stared at the severed head, she didn't continue for a very long time.

The starlight gradually became dim before it faded away completely.

Reneedol hung her head low and fell into thought for a long while.

At a certain point, she suddenly recalled another Star Force technique.

That's right.

At a time like this, there's another technique that's much more suitable.

Reneedol immediately chanted: "With the power of the stars in the sky, direct the Laws of Reality and obscure my existence!"

Starlight lit up around her.

Her figure was instantly hidden away.

This was an extremely potent obscuring technique, but since she was the Grand Empress, she had unfortunately never had to use it before.

Time slowly went by.

Sure enough, not a single monster came to bother her.

Even after all the cultivators outside were dead, Reneedol continued to survive hidden within the underground burrow.

The world had returned to complete silence.

The monsters had already left.

When Reneedol climbed out, she saw nothing but a large number of severed arms and legs laying all over.

Not a single hint of life could be felt.

Suddenly.

Her vision became blurred once again.

All the corpses disappeared.

Someone called out from not too far away:

"EVERYONE, READY YOURSELF!"

Reneedol abruptly turned around.

Only to see a general clad in flaming armor silently hovering in front of the military formation. He had just drawn his weapon to loudly order the cultivator troops.

Reneedol was stunned.

In the sky, the monster's entire body appeared in front of everyone again.

It had no body, only a single head. Every time one of its numerous eyes opened or closed, a white ray of light would shoot towards the cultivator army on the ground, causing an intense explosion.

All the cultivators charged towards the monsters disregarding their own survival.

Reneedol panicked.

All the monsters and cultivators had reappeared, which means-------

It's going to happen all over again!

A flash of white light.

Boom------

Reneedol's body was ripped apart.

…

Within the drifting sand sealed room, she opened her eyes again.

The dark figure of light stood on one side, silently observing her.

「 You just died again 」the dark figure of light stated.

Its voice contained no tone, but it caused Reneedol to instinctively feel hurt.

"You can't blame me for this, that is an infinitely looping fragment of time"

She explained.

The dark figure of light stayed silent for a brief moment before answering: 「 Indeed, that fragment of time was indeed troublesome. I suspect that you will have to make a great contribution in that war for the fragment of time to recognize you and let you out 」

"You can see what I went through?" Reneedol asked in surprise.

「 Of course, this is part of my ability 」the dark figure of light replied.

Reneedol suddenly rushed forward to grab the dark figure of light's hand.

The dark figure of light instantly became cautious and asked: 「 Huh? What are you doing? 」

"Can you come with me!?" Reneedol asked.

「 Me? 」the dark figure of light asked in surprise.

"That's right, with our cooperation, it would definitely be much easier to pass that fragment of time" Reneedol said.

The more she thought about it, the more excited she became and said: "You might not know, but I know many Star Force techniques that can make you at least ten times stronger! You would definitely be able to help me pass that fragment of time"

The dark figure of light was speechless for a long while.

「 I've already told you before, this ability can only be used once, and I've already used it on you, so I can't use it on myself 」it said.

"Not even once? I only need one chance!" Reneedol insisted.

「 Even so, I would only be able to help you during that fragment of time. Once you've entered the Age of Old in search of the true Heaven sword, I would really have no way of showing up 」it spoke seriously.

Reneedol firmly said: "You definitely won't need to act again later on! I simply am helpless against this fragment of time since those monsters are so much stronger than myself"

「 Really? 」

"Really, I guarantee it"

The two of them stared straight at one another.

A few moments later.

The dark figure of light sighed and muttered: 「 This is too… 」

It didn't say anything else and just shook its head.

A flash of darkness surged forward like a tidal wave that enveloped both it and Reneedol.

…

On the battlefield.

The dark figure of light's strength was reinforced with several layers of Star Force techniques.

With its strength being greatly boosted, it easily eliminated all the monsters.

「 Alright, I'm going to be sent back very soon, you can rely on no one other than yourself from this point on 」it reminded her.

"Don't worry, I will definitely be able to proceed ahead from this point" Reneedol resolutely vowed.

「 That best be the truth 」

The dark figure of light mumbled in complaint and vanished without a trace.

A flash of light appeared.

Reneedol had left that fragment of time.

A surprised voice called out from the sky: 「 You're still alive? 」

Reneedol looked up.

Only to see the Spirit Tortoise hovering in the sky while looking down at her.

「 And you're only at Virtualized realm-------- 」

「 Say, how exactly did you survive during that battle? 」

「 No, even if you had found somewhere to hide and survive until the very end, that fragment of time would not have let you out. You would have had no choice but to remain inside, continuously experiencing everything from the beginning over and over again 」the Spirit Tortoise pondered.

"I have a secret technique that was very effective in a war" Reneedol explained.

Hearing that, the Spirit Tortoise's gaze slowly changed.

--------so that was the reason. Although she was as weak as a speck of dust, she had a Thaumaturgy that could control the flow of battle.

She must have contributed greatly to the war in order for the fragment to let her out.

How impressive.

The Spirit Tortoise sighed emotionally: 「 After countless years, someone had finally been able to survive outside the Heavenly Palace, could I be dreaming? 」

Its tone was filled with sorrow and vicissitudes, so Reneedol didn't know how to follow up at all.

Reneedol tried asking: "Senior, can you allow this humble one to enter the Heavenly Palace?"

The Spirit Tortoise regained its senses and explained: 「 There are two methods to enter the Barren Clouds Heavenly Palace. Unfortunately, as you are female, I cannot teach you my [Untraceable Head & Tail] Thaumaturgy, so there's no other choice but to resort to the second method 」

「 The second method was something the master of the Heavenly Palace arranged to test newcomers. You must take the trial of passage like a completely new member of the sect, only after passing it will you be granted entry 」

It added: 「 This is an exceedingly arduous trial, I will not be able to help you at all, and if you are unable to pass, you will immediately be killed by the lock seals inside 」

Reneedol's complexion became pale.

I've only just escaped from a life-threatening fragment of time, so why do I have to face another deadly trial?

It is only a sword.

Why would obtaining such a thing be so difficult?

Shroud had never been like this.

Whatever I wanted, all I had to do was ask------

Reneedol shook her head and forced herself to stop thinking any further.

However, the various scenes of the past continued to resurface in her head, reminding her what kind of Fate she had given up.

-------

TN: In case anyone is curious, these events originally occurred in chapter 730