The Strongest Gene Chapter 877 - Decisive Battle (4)

Before the temporal vortex, Luo Yuan revealed himself, having concealed a significant truth: he too had replicated Duma’s temporal abilities. Luo Yuan had once contemplated delving into this power, but Duma’s temporal abilities proved too feeble, akin to Kong Bai’s lesser skills in transmigration. Consequently, Luo Yuan abandoned the pursuit, though he retained the capacity to subtly manipulate time.

Chen Feng was capable of repeated self-annihilation to evade Luo Yuan, a feat Luo Yuan could also achieve through minor temporal manipulations. Thus, he had employed a cycle of self-inflicted death and resurrection at regular intervals. This was the very strategy Chen Feng had used against Luo Yuan previously, now turned against him. This ensured Chen Feng’s inability to pinpoint his location, guaranteeing his perpetual concealment.

Admittedly, this was merely a clone. However, in Luo Yuan’s estimation, only its physical form was that of a clone; it possessed the complete consciousness and memories of his true self. Furthermore, this minor temporal ability was exclusive to this clone. Luo Yuan had deliberately left this capability behind before embarking on his journey to the Crystal Palace world, specifically to keep it hidden from Chen Feng.

After all, this was an exceptionally potent trump card. With this temporal power, his thought processes became indistinguishable from those of his original body. This cloned form was now, effectively, the primary self. Barring the memories of events within the Crystal Palace world, he was identical to Luo Yuan.

Therefore, upon his full reawakening, Luo Yuan executed the contingency plan he had meticulously prepared, which involved ambushing Chen Feng. He had materialized here after detecting the presence of temporal energy, lying in wait. The moment he had anticipated had finally arrived.

Though currently weakened, he possessed the inherent ability to command the world. The sole missing element was the power that originated from misfortune – a power currently held by Chen Feng. From Luo Yuan’s perspective, Chen Feng represented a crucial key, the very catalyst required to initiate the temporal rewind. Ultimately, the identity of the initiator was secondary.

What mattered profoundly was the controller of time *after* the key had been turned. Luo Yuan had orchestrated events to ensure Chen Feng would be the one to activate the process. Chen Feng had succeeded, he had won. But alas... he was merely the key.

Bang!

A formidable surge of power erupted from Luo Yuan’s hand, instantly spanning the globe to permeate the temporal vortex encompassing Chen Feng and Wang Yao. This was the force capable of altering reality itself. Chen Feng had exerted his entire might to initiate this phenomenon, his aura and divine power wholly dedicated to controlling the world's energy. Luo Yuan's role was limited to imprinting a temporal marker on the ongoing process.

His sole alteration was the point of cessation; nothing more. The temporal marker Chen Feng had established in the Genetic Era was reverted to the period of Luo Yuan’s youth. This was his ultimate objective. Did Chen Feng believe he had triumphed? Indeed, he had emerged victorious from their direct confrontation. But to what end? With this outcome, Chen Feng remained the ultimate loser.

To achieve his goal, Luo Yuan had to overcome two significant obstacles. The first was Chen Feng, whose unyielding nature precluded any compromise. Defeating Chen Feng and seizing the power of misfortune would have demanded an immense duration.

The second challenge was Wang Yao. Despite her confinement and coerced cultivation, her compliance stemmed solely from his superior power. The instant Wang Yao attained true godhood, wielding terrifying power, how could he compel her to rewind time according to his will? This posed a substantial problem.

Consequently, initiating a temporal rewind presented a formidable task for Luo Yuan. But what if Chen Feng undertook this endeavor? All elements would align perfectly. And so, Luo Yuan met his end, allowing Chen Feng to personally manage the entire sequence.

Wang Yao would undoubtedly lend her assistance, enabling Chen Feng to flawlessly initiate the temporal rewind. Yes, Luo Yuan was undeniably weak at this juncture. So what? All of Chen Feng’s power was now consumed by initiating this process. Numerous variables demanded control: the rewind itself, the flow of time, the temporal markers, system stability, and so forth. The demands on his focus were overwhelming. Luo Yuan, conversely, merely needed to expend his full strength to adjust the temporal marker. That was the extent of his involvement.

His success was effortless. In the final analysis, this world remained his dominion. Chen Feng? Ha. He would succumb to exhaustion during the temporal rewind, his essence drained by the very power of time! All would perish. Only Luo Yuan would return to his rightful era, not only intact but with his current formidable strength.

Hum—

The vortex of time spun slowly, its subtle temporal power beginning to permeate the surroundings.

Wang Yao's expression darkened. “This is problematic. The timestamp is now fixed.” At this juncture, her control over the rewind process was compromised. Influenced by Luo Yuan, the rewinding was being steered in a particular direction. The timestamp Luo Yuan had left behind was like an immovable anchor, subtly altering the course of the entire event.

Chen Feng finally grasped the situation. “So, this was your true objective.” How could he not understand now? This had likely been Luo Yuan’s grand scheme all along. From his invasion of the alien world to his current interference with the rewind, had it all been meticulously planned? Had he gambled his life to ensure Chen Feng would initiate this process? What a merciless individual. To even conceive of such a ploy after his clone’s betrayal, permitting the clone to seize control by sacrificing his own real body – truly a madman.

“Haha, you’re only realizing this now? It’s far too late,” Luo Yuan declared with a boisterous laugh. “I finally understand. When one becomes exceedingly powerful and virtually unmatched, they invariably overlook certain details. This holds true for both my past self and your current situation. Haha, despite suffering a single defeat, I emerge as the ultimate victor. My apologies, Chen Feng.”

Luo Yuan raised his hand, accelerating the passage of time.

Bang!

The temporal vortex began to whirl with increased velocity, expanding in magnitude.

“No wonder…” Chen Feng’s realization dawned. It explained why Luo Yuan had succumbed so readily. It turned out he had intended his demise all along. What a chilling strategy. He had anticipated Luo Yuan’s personal intervention but never foresaw his mastery over the power of time.

The corner of Luo Yuan’s mouth lifted into a grin. “A flawless plan, wouldn’t you agree?” This was his ultimate stratagem, a final design conceived through improvisation upon the blueprint provided by Luck Aura, tailored to the hot-headed template.

Bang!

The timestamp he had solidified acted as a nail, firmly embedded within the temporal rewind. Now, the entirety of the world would revert according to his desires.