Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 1696: Chapter 1691: Patience-Based Elimination Technique

There might not be an absolute solution, but there is a solution nonetheless.

Fu Qian has never been naive enough to think that reality would be like playing house, where every dilemma must have a loophole that can be easily solved once found.

Although even before setting out, it was noted that this would be a confrontation that stops at a certain point.

Each side harbors their own motives and probes each other, aiming to expose themselves the least while learning the most about the opponent.

This judgement hasn’t changed until now, though in a situation of such magnitude, the definition of "stops" might become quite exaggerated.

Like when the other party, without saying a word, directly revealed a trump card.

A member from the Second Phase charged ahead, while another from the Second Phase spied from the side; theoretically, such a situation is almost unsolvable.

Directly killing them would be simple, perhaps even killing both of them.

But don’t forget that this Second Phase who appeared abruptly almost certainly proves that everything might be the worst-case situation Fu Qian once mentioned to Chief Yuan—one with not just the one conservative lurking behind the event.

Once handled with bloody means, it might not matter for himself, but Chief Yuan, who just took on the heavy burden of clearing internal traitors, would probably have no chance to present Corin’s head to the Council.

With the current situation, to deal with it as originally planned—by hiding his identity as Grimshaw as much as possible—taking risky moves is almost a necessity.

And the core definition of a so-called risky move is that it cannot be guaranteed to absolutely succeed, no matter how high the confidence is.

...

Regarding the operation of the Time Cage, he indeed had some guesses earlier.

The method that is impossible to resist yet accumulates damage, even to a Second Phase, seems a bit unreasonably strong.

Theoretically, as long as one is patient enough, it can almost take down anyone using this method.

Attacking covertly, fighting head-on, no matter the means, as long as damage is inflicted on the target, the Instant Prison Kill is directly triggered to amplify this point...

Unless the ranking is vastly superior to it, making everybody’s attacks and Blood Bars incongruent, otherwise it’s hard to imagine how to cope.

And for such an excessive situation, the first problem Fu Qian thought of is how the cage is initiated.

Because there’s a special point here—since the Prison Angel Commander’s method was first demonstrated, Fish suffered a full twenty-nine times.

In comparison, when successfully severely injuring Wen Li by leveraging her unawareness of damage accumulation, it was repeated only eleven times.

If the number of cycles can be freely chosen after damage appears, then the only explanation is "showing mercy, merely applying pressure."

But what if not?

Fu Qian doesn’t think that with Yuan Shan as Undying, Corin needs to be so conservative as to "have a grasp like an arm".

So even though it’s only a small anomaly, Fu Qian naturally had another conjecture popping into his mind, which is that the Time Cage needs to be initiated in advance.

Simply put, when Lord Angel wants to use this move, it’s similar to needing to make an advance application—what time it starts, what time it ends, how many cycles it undergoes.

Once submitted, it can’t be changed.

And what follows is to cooperate with this plan through action, completing the damage in a node known only to it in advance, thus creating the effect of Instant Thousand Strikes.

Just now, in the confrontation, although no damage was dealt to me, the exchange process was repeated nine times, which is proof.

As for the hard-won moment forcing me into action, why only looped nine times instead of pulling up to the intimidating twenty-nine times more?

This seemingly unreasonable point actually explains why Yuan Shan only looped eleven times, even exposing the biggest secret of this move and leading to the second conclusion—damage accumulation is equally effective on the initiator.

Eating fish does not matter; the more times, the more intimidating, creating a tense atmosphere.

When truly engaging, because of the variability of fighting, not wanting to suffer extra damage oneself, ensuring maximum controllability, filling this number conservatively is indeed quite reasonable.

Of course, these are conclusions obtained after "taking risky moves", and when I decided to confront head-on, there were only some guesses.

So once they are invalidated, having a missing limb or two can still be managed, but the risk I truly face is SAN Points.

At the time in the dungeon, hitting like beams, yet each strike caused me to drop a full 5 points in SAN Points.

Once damage accumulation is actually ineffective against the opponent, leading to a battle without any fear, or even if effective but still decided on mutual devastation, at that time, even if I try to dodge my best, if I get hit by one or two, the final actual loss is hard to say.

This is the risk I mentioned earlier without absolute assurance.

And the reason to still execute as such lies at the core in expectation assessment.

Though not much, at least with a three-digit SAN Points, plus ranking upgrade through Pseudo-Divine Being, the probability of covering this risk is still great.

It was after this instant calculation that I began my action.

And received the result at this moment.

Though it’s not the final outcome yet.

...

It is apparent that Wen Li might seem congenial generally, but exceedingly strict in some aspects over subordinates.

Ordering no interruptions from others, even amidst massive movements right now, not a single person dares to come take a look.

Of course, it’s good for the servants, consistently untraceable in their sense, but Lord Angel fears possibly appearing again anytime.

The enemy is hidden, while one’s exposure; it seems to start competing patience with me again.

Yet unfortunately, as universally known, in terms of inducing impatience, I’ve always been a pro.

"Full defensive posture on, don’t stop unless I say so."

Glancing coldly at Yuan Shan, Fu Qian gave an icy command, and as the other party remained silent, directly wove the black belt into a ball, smoothly triggering the Blood Conquest.

Now I’m in the dark too.

...

Time passes with each minute and second; this night appears exceptionally tranquil.

The will of the Prison Angel Commander seems exceedingly firm, yet still showing no sign of appearing.

"Not bad."

Regarding this performance, Fu Qian in the Blood Domain, observing as well, didn’t withhold praise despite differing stands.

Clearly, that hidden opponent, though not showcasing attacks that could track down here, practicing empathy, wouldn’t easily believe I was truly gone.

Even because of an awaiting purification state on me, directly might have a way to detect it.

Naturally, this doesn’t mean the situation will remain stagnant—after Fu Qian wraps his praises, he directly raises his hand and detaches the Messenger.

Even then, upon returning to the warehouse, seamlessly activated the mark on the wrist.

Now, go ahead and try probing once more.