Everyone fell silent in their own way.
Indeed, the ability to freely control time was an immense temptation.
With such power, no matter what trouble one encountered, it could be overcome through endless trial and error by reversing spacetime—if it still failed, then it simply meant one hadn't traveled far enough back!
But the butterfly effect brought about by altering time was enough to fill anyone with dread. Who could say for sure that one of their ancestors wouldn't vanish from history because of it?
Even if it were merely a simple do-over, could one truly guarantee that their parents would conceive them again at the exact same moment?
If it were even a minute later, would the one born still be you?
Faced with all the possible outcomes, the group felt both anticipation and unease.
Some yearned for its overwhelming power, yet the risks of such an ability were something no one could ignore.
"You don't need to be that afraid." Sylvester spoke with half a tease, half a joke when he saw their expressions constantly shifting. "[Time Zero] isn't in your pockets yet."
Hearing this, Feixiao let out a self-mocking laugh. "That's true."
It was all speculation anyway. If one worried over things like this, they'd never find joy in this lifetime.
After all, who could say that a trash can wouldn't one day directly spit out a universe reset and send everyone off to reincarnate in one go?
If that were the case, then every trash can opening would be a heart-stopping ordeal. There was really no need to take it so seriously.
Jingliu silently nodded, then continued to idly play with the wicked blade in her hands, as though contemplating who to use as a test subject.
The three from the IPC took a few deep breaths, quickly regaining their composure.
Jade smiled alluringly at Sylvester. "Such a powerful Word Magic—we wouldn't dare touch it lightly. But as for the others…"
[Time Zero] was simply too dangerous. No matter who held it, as long as it wasn't herself, she could never truly feel at ease.
Still, Sylvester had already said that the Word Magic system almost matched the periodic table, numbering over a hundred types. Surely not every single one of them was unusable?
"There are naturally other powerful Word Magics."
Sylvester chuckled softly, satisfying Jade's curiosity. "For example, [Pure Land], which constructs an air vacuum that expels everything away from the releaser. The user can use it offensively to crush others against a solid surface, or repel all enemy attacks from outside. Of course, just how strong it becomes depends on the user's own capability."
"And if it's pure combat power you want, there's the ultimate flame authority that only Dragon King–level beings can wield—[Candle Dragon]. Or the ultimate wind and lightning authority—[Wrath of Indra]. If you could obtain a universe-adapted version of those…" He gave a low laugh. "Shattering several star systems with a casual gesture wouldn't be impossible."
"Mmm~~" Jade's spirits lifted noticeably.
Compared to [Time Zero], this kind of straightforward violence was far easier to control—and far more reassuring to use.
And the power to annihilate star systems was already more than sufficient!
"So?" Jade turned her head and met Aventurine's thoughtful gaze as he pinched his chin. With interest, she asked, "Feeling confident?"
"Do you even need to ask?"
Aventurine crossed his legs, eyes lazy, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
"My luck has never failed me."
Jade nodded in satisfaction.
By Aventurine's own logic, luck was closely tied to confidence. And judging by his current state, even if it wasn't peak fortune, it was at least top-tier condition.
Unfortunately, today's trash cans were already sold out.
She smiled at Sylvester. "With today's matters concluded, we won't trouble Shopkeeper Sylvester any further. We'll save our anticipation for tomorrow."
With that, she handed over her phone to settle the bill.
Sylvester swept his hand once, and nineteen million Credits were transferred into the account.
Listening to the electronic confirmation tone, his heart remained utterly unmoved.
At some point, he had lost all interest in money. These enormous sums were nothing more than numbers now.
Jade retrieved her phone, offered Sylvester a polite smile, and left together with Aventurine and Topaz & Numby.
"Hey! Sylvester."
Once the IPC group had departed, Feixiao's general-like aura dissipated considerably, her whole body relaxing.
She flashed Sylvester a bright smile. "There's a banquet at the Seat of Divine Foresight tonight. It's to celebrate Miss Li Sushang of the Cloud Knights for achieving a major breakthrough in swordsmanship. If you're free, you should come take a look."
"Mm, an official banquet?" Sylvester frowned slightly when he heard that. "Then my schedule isn't guaranteed…"
This sort of event was almost certainly all about social maneuvering. If he went, he'd probably be forced to give a speech.
For subordinates, leaders speaking was a disaster. For leaders themselves, it was a symbol of authority. Jing Yuan definitely wouldn't deny him this kind of "face."
But honestly? He really didn't want it.
"You'd better think carefully." Feixiao said earnestly. "Jing Yuan spared no expense tonight—he ordered the finest top-tier brews!"
Hearing that, Sylvester's expression changed instantly. "Oh? There's alcohol too?"
Then that made it even more of a no.
A banquet with you, fine.
A banquet with alcohol, also fine.
But a banquet with both you and alcohol—who would dare go?
Anyone who did was simply fearless through ignorance!
But Feixiao clearly didn't catch his thoughts and continued on her own. "Of course! Jing Yuan said everyone can drink to their heart's content—no leaving sober! Back on Xianzhou Yaoqing, the General's estate is busy to death every day. An opportunity like this absolutely can't be missed!"
Sylvester nodded in stunned admiration, his expression filled with reverence, as though gazing up at a lofty mountain.
Jing Yuan had guts, that much was certain. He dared promise Feixiao something like this—was he not afraid she'd tear the Seat of Divine Foresight apart on the spot?
Sylvester turned to Jingliu. "Your chance to reverse roles with her has arrived."
Wasn't she always annoyed that Feixiao treated her like a child?
Tonight, she'd get to experience what it felt like to be her guardian.
"?" Jingliu tilted her small head in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"
Sylvester shot Feixiao a sideways glance and said mysteriously, "You'll know tonight. Remember to keep your cursed blade properly stowed away. Turning a celebration into a funeral wouldn't be good."
Hearing this, Jingliu grew even more puzzled, her plump little face blinking as her cherry-red eyes fluttered.
After thinking it over carefully, she more or less understood.
Sylvester wanted her to keep an eye on Feixiao?
Jingliu sized up the valiant foxian woman who always styled herself as Jingliu's guardian, her thoughts wandering.
Could drinking alcohol actually exacerbate Moon Rage?
Sylvester, meanwhile, felt rather helpless.
He couldn't exactly say it outright in front of Feixiao—that after drinking, a perfectly good fox tended to show signs of evolving toward something between a cat and a mouse.
That kind of destructive power would be their headache.
…
At dawn, when the sky had only just begun to lighten.
A shrill alarm rang out from the Alchemy Commission's confinement room.
"Ding—klik."
The alarm rang for barely a second before a small hand shot out like lightning and slammed it off.
Bailu sprang out from under the covers in a flash, fully dressed in the blink of an eye.
She stuffed a body pillow beneath the blanket, then fished out two pieces of purple coral from under the bed and stuck them into the covers, leaving only tiny horn tips exposed.
Bailu admired her handiwork with satisfaction. A perfect disguise—wasn't it complete?
Giving herself a small compliment in her heart, she swallowed the [Breath-Holding Pill] and tiptoed out the door.
Hehehe.Curio Trash Cans Shop, here I come!
===BREAK===
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