"Thank you, esteemed deity! We bid you farewell!"
By the riverbank, Zuo Qiu Yue and her companions bowed low, while Longma flicked its tail, gazing upward.
Just as before, Wang Hui transformed into a beam of light, rising high into the sky before vanishing into the depths of the night.
The fleeing Huyan cavalry also bore witness to this spectacle in their frantic escape.
"Truly, he is a genuine deity…"
Huyan Qingbai, the bald man's deputy, tugged at the reins while extending his neck to watch Wang Hui's departure.
Renowned for his keen eyesight, he was nicknamed "Eagle Eye" among the Huyan Clan.
Seeing that Wang Hui did not pursue them, Huyan Qingbai felt a discreet sigh of relief, yet a sense of confusion crept in.
"That fellow's body seemed to have become significantly more translucent… Could it be that he is weakened?"
Lost in thought, he noticed several comrades congregating nearby, drawing in their thoughts as they began to whistle.
Before long, the troops were reassembled.
One brave soul suggested, "Lord Qingbai! The deity has likely departed; if we return now, we can undoubtedly capture Zuo Qiu Yue…"
"No!"
Huyan Qingbai sharply waved his hand, speaking in a grave tone:
"We still do not understand the deity's true nature, and that Longma creature alone poses a formidable challenge!
We must return to the clan and report this matter to Young Master Gui and the chief!"
Buzz—
Within his small courtyard, Wang Hui's body swayed slightly as consciousness returned.
Beneath the glass dome, a nondescript display screen illuminated at the side, revealing the image of the black-and-white fish along with several lines of small text.
"Phew, this blind box was indeed worth the purchase…"
Wang Hui exhaled, his eyes sparkling with renewed vigor.
Upon his unexpected arrival in the miniature world, his focus had been drawn to the time disparity between the two realms.
One minute outside equated to a full day inside, significantly extending his lifespan amidst his terminal illness!
Moreover, acquiring the sacred relic, the "Yin Yang Fish," had granted him greater agency.
Casting his gaze downward, the text on the display screen caught his attention.
[Source Quality: A special substance generated from vitality and spiritual power; the more active the biological activities in the miniature world, the greater the yield of source quality.
Note 1: Only by possessing a sacred relic can one perfectly absorb source quality. If source quality accumulates without harvest for an extended period, it will crystallize and scatter throughout the land.
Note 2: The sacred relic consumes source quality; when the user's source quality is depleted and not replenished, damage will ensue.]
[Current Available Source Quality: D-37%]
"Using the Yin Yang Fish to fuse the lizard and the horse consumes the strength of my true form?"
Wang Hui clenched his fingers, feeling indeed more fatigued than before, although he remained uncertain of the exact extent of his depletion.
After all, his condition was already poor due to his illness.
Yet with the sacred relic in hand, all the source quality produced by the creatures of the miniature world would be ripe for him to reap!
Following the prompts on the display screen, Wang Hui placed his hand upon the image of the "Yin Yang Fish."
Instantly, a tempest of change erupted within the glass dome!
The once-floating wisps of translucent gas above the clouds rapidly evaporated.
Simultaneously, the weariness etched on Wang Hui's face transformed visibly, becoming flushed with vitality!
Meanwhile, in the miniature world, within the grand tent of the Huyan Clan, Huyan Qingbai knelt upon the ground, breathless as he recounted the events of the previous night.
"…You say Zuo Qiu Yue gained the recognition of the sacred relic and summoned a deity from the heavens?"
A young man clad in leather armor paced restlessly within the tent, his expressions fluctuating.
Huyan Gui, the most outstanding among the younger generation of the clan, was also the recognized heir to the leadership!
In fact, most of the clan's affairs had already fallen under his jurisdiction, and he was merely a formality away from actual succession.
The plan to incite the Nalan Clan to ambush the Zuo Qiu delegation was devised by Huyan Gui himself.
This should have been a glorious achievement before he officially took the reins of the clan, yet he never anticipated such a sudden twist!
Not only had they failed to seize the sacred relic, but that Zuo Qiu girl had also outshone him spectacularly!
The cavalrymen returning from defeat appeared as if their souls had been stolen, their chaotic tales inciting panic among the clan members—utterly infuriating!
"Whether he is a true deity can only be determined after I encounter him myself! For now…"
Huyan Gui halted, fixing his gaze on the kneeling Huyan Qingbai, his voice icy:
"Silence those foolish babblers at once! If anyone dares to spread malicious rumors, you shall personally behead him!"
"…Yes!"
Huyan Qingbai felt a chill run down his spine.
Initially hesitant to elaborate on the deity's specific manifestations, he dared not speak further upon witnessing Young Master Gui's wrath, hastily exiting the grand tent.
At that moment, Huyan Gui turned to glance towards the tent window, where an elderly man with graying hair sat at an angle.
His leather armor appeared exceedingly worn, and his body bore countless striking scars that spoke of the passage of time.
"Father, what are you observing?"
"Ah, I'm watching the clouds change; they resemble the snow of early spring, melting away unnoticed…"
The old chief gazed at the night sky, his mutterings indistinct.
At his words, Huyan Gui glanced out at the clouds above but found nothing of note.
His father had aged; the future of the Huyan Clan now rested heavily upon his shoulders.
"Hah, how refreshing!"
Outside the glass dome, Wang Hui felt as if he were experiencing a long-awaited rain after a drought, unable to refrain from stretching his body vigorously.
Since the onset of his symptoms from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, he had not felt such a surge of vitality in a long time!
Looking once more at the value of the "Current Available Source Quality," he noted it had silently transformed to D-92%.
"D must indicate a life tier; I wonder what changes occur when the source quality reaches 100%?"
Wang Hui's gaze shifted back to the interior of the glass dome.
It was now the afternoon of the next day in the miniature world, and the cloud layers were distinctly visible, the filaments of translucent source quality seemingly drained by his influence.
"None of the three clans have utilized the capabilities of the Yin Yang Fish; after centuries of neglect, most of the source quality has likely crystallized and scattered…"
Wang Hui reluctantly withdrew his hand, squinting as he surveyed the glass dome.
Measuring two meters in length and one and a half meters in width, the three-square-meter area was divided into three sections by the "Y"-shaped Pinchuan River.
Estimating roughly based on the size ratio of the creatures within, this miniature world was approximately equivalent to three ordinary prefecture-level cities in the real world.
However, due to the low population density and lack of advanced transportation, this world felt quite expansive for its diminutive inhabitants.
Even the most robust horse could not traverse its entirety in a day and night!
"Currently, I remain unaware of the appearance of the source quality crystals; they might have already sunk to the riverbed or buried underground, making it impractical to rely solely on my magnifying glass to search…"
Wang Hui pondered, stroking his chin.
Though he could project himself into the miniature world, he was still not an omnipotent deity.
The task of searching might require enlisting the assistance of those tiny humans!
Overlooking the glass dome, he surveyed the diverse territories of the three clans, contemplating which among them would hold the most value for collaboration.