Lucian and Rover followed the other two to Hongzhen.

It had to be said—the scenery here was uniquely beautiful.

Through Jinhsi and Changli's introductions, they learned that Hongzhen was an isolated, self-sufficient, rustic town nestled within Mt. Firmament.

Elegant structures stood scattered among crimson leaves and white snow, serene and picturesque.

Surrounding Hongzhen were abundant natural hot springs known as Spirit Sand Springs.

Since the nearby mountain walls often bore a cinnabar-red hue, and the springs had therapeutic effects—soothing muscles and alleviating fatigue—they were named as such.

Lucian whispered to Rover, "How about we get a house here? We could even soak in the hot springs!"

Rover replied with something completely unrelated, "Haven't you had enough of 'soaking' with girls? Now you want to soak in hot springs too?"

Lucian: "???"

Jinhsi, being a Resonator, naturally overheard their conversation. She turned around with a smile. "If you like it here, after we resolve matters at Mt. Firmament, we can check if there are any vacant houses in Hongzhen and allocate one to you."

Hearing this, Lucian's expression turned solemn. "Magistrate Jinhsi, if it's for this house, I swear I'll ensure your safety."

Jinhsi chuckled. "In that case, I'll thank you in advance."

Changli smiled faintly. "What's the matter? Do you two not find Jinzhou City comfortable?"

Lucian pondered. "It's not that. It's just that Jinzhou is a crucial stronghold. The Midnight Rangers are always coming and going, and the streets have this perpetually serious atmosphere."

"That's why I wanted to find a quieter, more leisurely place to live."

Changli nodded in understanding. "I see. To me, Mt. Firmament is indeed the most scenic place in Jinzhou—ethereal and refreshing to the soul."

Lucian: "Plus, I noticed Hongzhen has a Resonance Beacon too. Once activated, traveling between the two places will be convenient."

The four arrived before the "Mountain Gate"—a simple administrative office organized and staffed by the villagers of Hongzhen to handle local affairs.

There, they met Xinyi.

She had once been an important official in the City Hall but later requested to retreat into the mountains for recuperation due to health reasons.

Now, she oversaw all matters within Mt. Firmament.

Along the way, Jinhsi mentioned that during her early years at the City Hall, Xinyi had taken great care of her—almost like a mentor—so Jinhsi had always been grateful.

Rover handed the Core to Xinyi, who placed it atop the control mechanism.

Xinyi turned to the group. "Now that the Mianloong Chamber is open, it's time to set off."

"However, before you depart, there's something else I must tell you."

Lucian mused, "Has there been progress regarding the Fractsidus imprisoning the Sentinel?"

Xinyi gave him an approving look. "Precisely."

She had long heard of Lucian—given how active he was on forums and in newspapers, it was hard not to.

She had also been delighted when Lucian and the others helped Jinzhou resolve the incident in Norfall Barrens.

With an assistant like him, Jinhsi's path forward would surely be smoother.

"The Fractsidus did indeed bind the Sentinel within its hibernation site using research from the Court of Savantae."

Rover asked, "How did they manage it?"

Xinyi: "Through the Chronosorter."

"According to the captured Engineer, the Fractsidus first dispatched a group of Dead Soldiers to invade Mt. Firmament—a move meant to kill two birds with one stone."

"First, the intruders could plant an active Chronosorter within the Mianloong Chamber. Second, with external enemies at hand, the Sentinel would have no choice but to return to Mt. Firmament."

"Though those Dead Soldiers were no match for the Sentinel, all they needed was to provoke it into action. The clash between its Resonance power and the Chronosorter's energy would rebound, injuring the Sentinel itself."

Changli thought to herself—just as she had suspected earlier.

Lucian frowned. "An ordinary Chronosorter couldn't possibly oppose the Sentinel."

"Did the Fractsidus modify it?"

"Or did they use a large number of Chronosorters?"

Xinyi nodded slightly. "That's correct. But even that wouldn't be enough to restrain the Sentinel."

"After wounding it, specially crafted Luminous Runes, prearranged alongside the Chronosorters, formed a unique force field within the Mianloong Chamber."

"It was this force field that prevented the Sentinel from replenishing its energy through the chamber, ultimately restricting its movement and perception."

Jinhsi contemplated. "So, we must first find a way to free the Sentinel from the force field…"

But Xinyi shook her head. "…It may sound simple, but it's far from it."

"The people of Hongzhen live alongside the Sentinel day and night. Even if they don't know the full picture, they can sense whether it's doing well or not."

"If the Fractsidus are targeting the Sentinel, their ambitions surely extend beyond just Mt. Firmament."

"Magistrate, your coming here isn't solely to resolve this immediate matter, is it…?"

It seemed Jinhsi hadn't yet informed Xinyi of her decision when she first arrived at Mt. Firmament—after all, the Sentinel's condition had been unclear then.

But after uncovering the truth within Truthseeker's Pass, Jinhsi had already resolved to fulfill the prophecy.

She shared her discoveries, as well as the group's speculations and decision, with Xinyi.

Xinyi was stunned. "The Sentinel is wounded… and to such a severe degree? Old injuries unhealed, new ones added—the Fractsidus' scheme strikes directly at its vitals…"

Lucian pondered. "Seems like beating up Scar is more urgent than ever. And that Phrolova—we have to catch her, then—"

Rover crossed her arms. "Then what?"

Lucian scratched his head awkwardly. "Throw her in prison to keep Scar company, of course."

Rover: "You'd better mean that."

Lucian: "…"

He had been thinking something else—Phrolova's cold expression did give off a certain… conquerable vibe.

Xinyi sighed. "The Sentinel's intentions are inscrutable, but back at the City Hall, many theories circulated."

"Otherwise, I can't fathom why it would go to such lengths to bring you from Mt. Firmament to the City Hall and raise you as its successor—and as Magistrate."

Indeed, Jinhsi had been the Sentinel's resolute choice, cultivated as both heir and leader.

Perhaps, beyond its power over Time, the Sentinel also possessed foresight?

But did it foresee this incident?

Or was the destined battle between Magistrate and Sentinel always meant to be today?

Xinyi continued, "Looking back now, the reason it chose you as its successor was precisely so that one day, you could complete the Time Method and ensure Jinzhou's civilization endures."

"Still, I never imagined… you'd be willing to follow that prophecy…"

At that moment, Lucian suddenly asked, "If the Sentinel recovers, does that mean Jinhsi won't have to fight it?"

He wanted to use Healing Art to cure the Sentinel, sparing Jinhsi from such a dangerous ordeal.

After all, this involved Overclocking—if a battle truly broke out, survival would be a slim hope.

But he didn't know the extent of the Sentinel's injuries. When he healed Jinhsi at Truthseeker's Pass, it had only cost a small amount of energy.

The Sentinel, however, was no ordinary being. If Mt. Firmament's Timeflow could hold out for a while longer, perhaps he could gradually heal it.

Though puzzled, Xinyi answered, "If the Sentinel fully recovers, then naturally, the Magistrate won't need to inherit its Time Power."

"After all, the Sentinel is an existence as eternal as the heavens. But precisely because its injuries are so severe, it chose Jinhsi as its heir."

"Are you suggesting the Sentinel can be healed?"

Then, she shook her head in self-denial. "Even if possible, Mt. Firmament's Timeflow won't last more than a few days. Soon, it will spread across all of Jinzhou."