"So, in a certain sense, I really can be an Aeon… But why is that? A being capable of forging a new Path must be an Aeon, yet the power I currently possess hasn't even reached the level of an Emanator. At best, I can only rely on my tens of millions of years of lifespan to outlast a few Emanators, and then return to the Land of Nothingness for a resurrection tournament."
Xin Yu sipped his drink nonchalantly, his words causing Welt's eyes to widen slightly. Aren't you going to listen to what you're saying?
Raiden Mei, having connected to the interstellar network with her phone, had been browsing a vast amount of information online. She then looked curiously at Xin Yu beside her, wanting to know what kind of existence her beloved was in this universe.
"In a normal life-and-death battle, I would naturally not be a match for an Emanator-level opponent. But unfortunately, I command conceptual power over space and time. Let's not even talk about the method of physically扼杀ing an opponent in their infancy, a method that consumes an extreme amount of lifespan."
Xin Yu was naturally willing to answer this doubt.
"I can also interfere with myself, fixing my own temporal properties. No matter what kind of damage I sustain, no matter how much energy is consumed, it will all just revert to my state from the previous second. Unless you can deplete my entire lifespan of tens of millions of years, you can only endure me chipping away at you, bit by bit."
"If the opponent has exceptionally high defense, or is extremely fast, rendering all my attack methods ineffective, then I can only regrettably use the power of time. After all, in this universe, not many can outrun time."
"I will accelerate the opponent's flow of time. Although it's only a slow acceleration at first, as the torrent of time subsequently stacks up, the opponent will ultimately only be able to watch their own body and soul decay and crumble, bit by bit, eventually turning to dust."
"Of course, this method is only effective against ordinary Emanators. If they are even slightly more outstanding, or can even faintly interfere with temporal properties, then I can only manage a one-for-one trade with them."
Xin Yu's judgment of his own level was never based on mere destructive power or combat strength, but on the most fundamental essence of life and energy hierarchy to determine his current standing.
So, if Xin Yu were truly pushed to the brink, like when he fought the Herrscher of Thunder in Nagazora, a state where he completely disregarded his own life and death…
Then it could only be said that either you were already stronger than the current Xin Yu at birth, or your future self could support your past self.
Otherwise, you would die, while Xin Yu would definitely go participate in that resurrection tournament in the Land of Nothingness—who knows if he could emerge alive—and outlast his formidable opponents.
In summary, below an Aeon, it's a one-for-one trade.
"Besides, I'm not an idiot. Why would I fight a strong enemy I can't beat to the death? At worst, I'll just leave this timeline, go to the past, and come back to the future to fight him after I've grown stronger."
Xin Yu swirled the now-empty glass bottle in his hand. Spotting a trash can in the distance, he casually tossed it. The glass bottle, thrown with just the right amount of force to avoid shattering, landed accurately in the bin. Xin Yu then continued.
"And you don't need to think I'm that overwhelmingly powerful. As far as I know, among the blessings bestowed by the Aeon of the Hunt upon others, there is a power that can transcend time, striking the past from the future."
"I've just walked a bit further in this aspect, that's all. It's far from being invincible."
Xin Yu didn't feel any particular pride in this immense power he possessed. He had told others back in Teyvat that he was merely an ordinary person who had gained power.
His sense of reality regarding this power wasn't strong. From the moment he opened his eyes, he possessed this ability to interfere with time and space.
Every subsequent increase in strength, though stemming from cultivation, was also more of an initial miracle.
Although he had lived for two hundred years, it was merely as a lofty, revered deity in a village for those two hundred years.
He hadn't experienced the various buffetings of wind and rain, nor the scheming and plotting, nor the diverse trials of the mortal world.
He didn't possess a heart as firm and unyielding as a bedrock.
All he had was an ordinary heart, one that beat for others, and for himself.
Welt looked at the smiling Xin Yu before him. Even with immense power, he wasn't arrogant, never considered himself special, and still saw himself as an ordinary person.
This kind of disposition was truly rare.
"I came over this time just to tell you about this. Fortunately, the descriptions of your appearance in various current bounties are quite vague. Coupled with your self-concealed presence, most people won't notice you."
"Otherwise, Penacony might soon face a full-scale intervention from the Corporation and the Xianzhou Alliance. The Family internally would also likely become interested in your existence. At that point, these three major factions might engage in an all-out conflict."
"Then I won't disturb you any further. Have fun, and don't be like college students who, after a bit of fun, forget all the knowledge they previously learned."
After giving his reminder, Welt also smiled, nodded at the two, and turned to leave.
Raiden Mei watched Welt's departing figure. She truly hadn't expected that the seemingly ordinary history teacher from school would one day travel to the cosmos.
"Xin Yu, what kind of strength do I have in this universe?"
"You should be considered quite good among Pathfinders. If you go through a period of travel and tempering, you could even make a name for yourself in the universe."
Xin Yu and Raiden Mei continued their conversation as they walked through the Golden Hour. Before long, their figures disappeared into the crowd.
And from beginning to end, the bustling crowd hadn't noticed the three people who had been talking by the roadside just moments ago.
It was as if those three individuals had never existed at all.
…
"Clockwork trick!"
The little gray-haired raccoon proudly puffed out her chest, using her newly acquired ability on the gangster boss before her. As a result, this initially imposing gangster boss suddenly burst into uproarious laughter.
His underlings looked at each other, not knowing why their boss had suddenly started laughing.
Finally, amidst these people shouting lines like "Welcome to Penacony!" and the gangster boss's laughter, an unexpected trouble came to an end.
"Wow! Thank you, my new friend! You successfully helped us solve the trouble!"
Clockie, a cartoon character resembling an anthropomorphized clock, was currently standing cheerfully beside the hotel attendant Misha, speaking to Star.
Yet, this bizarre scene didn't attract the attention of anyone present.
It was as if no one could notice this famous cartoon superstar, Clockie.
Even that peculiar Miss Acheron was no exception.
"What happened here?"
Xin Yu, carrying a bag of snacks, walked over with Raiden Mei. He had seen this area surrounded by people just a moment ago, but then, not long after, those people suddenly started laughing and dispersed.
Then he saw Star with her hands on her hips, Firefly beside her, and…
"Long time no see, Miss Acheron. It's been many days. Do you still remember me?"
Xin Yu looked at Acheron, who was almost identical to how she was when they first parted, and greeted her with a smile.
"…I remember you. It's very strange. Before I saw you, I shouldn't have had you in my memories. But when I saw you, those forgotten memories resurfaced."
Acheron spoke thus, her gaze then shifting to Raiden Mei beside Xin Yu. At this moment, the two women with similar appearances looked at each other.
"Hello, I am Raiden Mei."
"…Acheron."