# Chapter 777: Time Imprint and Space Imprint
Since the other party had already called out his name, they must have sufficient certainty. Zhang Ruochen saw no point in continuing to conceal himself and said frankly, "How did you recognize me?"
Xue Wuye's appearance was extremely handsome, his skin very fair, his facial features more delicate than a woman's. His jet-black hair was neatly tied behind him, giving him both an unrestrained and ethereal temperament.
"Since you are the Heir of Time and Space, you must know about the Future Buddha, right?" Xue Wuye said.
Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred. "Legend has it that Xumi Saint Monk is the Future Buddha. Although he passed away many years ago, he could control the power of time, thus leaving many traces in the future. Even tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of years later, one might still encounter him."
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen seemed to think of something. His gaze sharpened as he stared at Xue Wuye with some surprise. "Could it be that you have met Xumi Saint Monk?"
Xue Wuye smiled and nodded lightly. "When I was twelve years old, I met the Saint Monk once and studied swordsmanship under him for a month."
So he had indeed met Xumi Saint Monk.
"Instant Without Trace."
Without any warning, the smile on Xue Wuye's face vanished, replaced by a sharp glint in his eyes. His right hand formed two fingers into a sword seal, striking out like lightning. In an instant, his fingertip was already at Zhang Ruochen's brow.
Sword qi rapidly circulated on his finger, forming the shadow of a white sword.
It was the most basic time sword technique, the Instant Sword Art.
However, Xue Wuye's finger sword stopped three inches from Zhang Ruochen's brow, unable to advance any further.
Zhang Ruochen sat calmly in place, placing his wine cup on the jade table. He raised one palm and struck the void. With a bang, he sent Xue Wuye staggering back.
Xue Wuye looked at his own palm, then at Zhang Ruochen, feeling quite surprised. "Was that 'Space Freeze' from the power of space that you just used?"
"Correct."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Your Time Sword Art has not been cultivated to perfection. Otherwise, even if I mobilized the power of space, I might not have been able to block that strike of yours."
Xue Wuye seemed unconcerned and laughed. "I haven't activated the Time-Space Divine Martial Mark, nor have I primarily cultivated the Time Sword Art. Naturally, the Instant Sword Art I used wouldn't be perfect."
"Back then, when the Saint Monk taught me the Time Sword Art, it was only for me to learn some different sword dao knowledge from it, nothing more. If I had used Sword Three just now, could you have blocked it? The power of Space Freeze must have its limits, right?"
"Have you successfully cultivated Sword Three?" Zhang Ruochen raised his eyelids and glanced at him.
Xue Wuye was quite proud. "Though it hasn't reached Great Perfection, I have achieved a certain level."
Just like Zhang Ruochen, Xue Wuye had also hidden his strength.
Outsiders all thought he hadn't even reached Great Perfection in Sword Two. Who would have guessed he had already cultivated Sword Three to a certain level?
This showed that Xue Wuye's talent was more than a match for the Sword Emperor of that era.
If Xue Wuye had truly once studied swordsmanship under Xumi Saint Monk, then everything made sense.
Because Xue Wuye must have been quite familiar with the power of time and space. From beginning to end, he had never believed that the Heir of Time and Space had died.
Therefore, he deliberately pursued Huang Yanchen, likely trying to force Zhang Ruochen out this way. After all, Huang Yanchen was Zhang Ruochen's fiancée.
Anyone who opposed him or deliberately got close to Huang Yanchen could potentially be Zhang Ruochen in disguise.
Recently, Zhang Ruochen had been too obvious. Not only had he been protecting Huang Yanchen everywhere, but he also frequently appeared at Xuanji Sword Saint's residence. How could he avoid suspicion?
Of course, the most important point was that Xue Wuye knew Zhang Ruochen wouldn't die so easily, while others firmly believed Zhang Ruochen was dead.
It was this difference that allowed only Xue Wuye to guess Zhang Ruochen's identity, while others could not.
Just like Kong Lanyou back then. Because she believed the Zhang Ruochen from eight hundred years ago was dead, even if the current Zhang Ruochen revealed many flaws, she wouldn't suspect him.
Or like Orange Moon Star Envoy. Because she knew Zhang Ruochen wasn't dead, as soon as Lin Yue showed any flaw, she could immediately recognize him.
Did that mean Orange Moon Star Envoy was smarter than Kong Lanyou?
Zhang Ruochen looked at Xue Wuye. "I'm more curious about how you can capture time imprints and use the Instant Sword Art."
Xue Wuye gently touched the tip of his nose with his finger and smiled. "I've already told you so many secrets. Shouldn't you answer one of my questions first?"
"Go ahead," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xue Wuye asked, "Why did the Empress personally issue an imperial decree and dispatch Wan Zhaoyi to arrest you?"
Zhang Ruochen remained very calm and said indifferently, "Hasn't the imperial court already announced that I killed Ruins Realm warriors from the Ministry of War in the Ruins Realm battlefield, committing an unforgivable crime?"
"Alas!"
Xue Wuye sighed. "I offer my sincere heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon never shines on my heart. Can't we have a bit more sincerity between us? Honestly, given your cultivation level at the time, in the Empress's eyes, you weren't even worth an ant. For the little trouble you caused, the Ministry of War could have sent anyone to capture you. Why would the Empress need to give the order herself?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Then what do you think the reason is?"
Xue Wuye gently stroked his chin. "After news of the Heir of Time and Space 'Zhang Ruochen' reached Ten Thousand Fragrance City, I became quite suspicious. So I specially went to look through the archives to find the connection between the Heir of Time and Space and the Empress. Surprisingly, I actually found something. These things would have been destroyed by the imperial court in other territories, but Ten Thousand Fragrance City preserved them."
Zhang Ruochen's expression remained unchanged, still wearing a faint smile.
Xue Wuye kept watching Zhang Ruochen's expression, hoping to see some flaw. "I found that the name 'Zhang Ruochen' is exactly the same as the Crown Prince of the Sacred Bright Central Empire from eight hundred years ago. Even more crucially, the relationship between the Empress and the Sacred Bright Crown Prince back then was extraordinary."
"Could it be a coincidence?"
"But aside from this connection, I can hardly think of another reason why the lofty Empress would personally order the arrest of a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist."
Zhang Ruochen picked up the glazed wine cup and brought it to his lips. "Perhaps the Empress thinks the same as you. She feels that the name 'Zhang Ruochen' offends her taboos, so she wants to have me killed."
Xue Wuye stared at Zhang Ruochen for a long time without finding any flaw. He frowned slightly and nodded. "If that's the case, then the name 'Zhang Ruochen' carries quite some weight in the Empress's heart."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Now it's your turn to answer my question?"
"The reason I can use the Instant Sword Art is actually very simple."
Xue Wuye extended his right hand, palm up, and placed it flat on the jade table.
As sacred qi rapidly circulated, a white imprint emerged from his palm.
"A Time Imprint," Zhang Ruochen said.
Within the white imprint, tens of thousands of time marks overlapped, releasing a faint power of time.
Then, Xue Wuye extended his left hand. On his palm was also an imprint.
"A Space Imprint," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xue Wuye withdrew both hands and nodded. "The Time Imprint and Space Imprint were bestowed upon me by the Saint Monk back then. He said that only with the assistance of the power of time and space could swordsmanship unleash its greatest strength."
"However, it requires a large amount of sacred qi to activate the Time Imprint and Space Imprint. So I still envy you more, being able to activate the Time-Space Divine Martial Mark and freely control the power of time and space."
Having obtained the Time Imprint and Space Imprint, Xue Wuye was like someone who had refined two extra drops of divine blood, forming two special divine imprints. The benefits were endless.
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "I see. So what is your purpose in meeting with me this time?"
Xue Wuye pointed at the wine on the table. "Didn't I make it clear from the start? Besides drinking, is there another purpose?"
Zhang Ruochen stared at him for a moment, then stood up. "Farewell."
"No need to see you off," Xue Wuye said.
Zhang Ruochen walked straight out of the carriage. Suddenly, he stopped. "Thank you for the wine."
Then he quickly left.
Inside the carriage, a very seductive woman walked softly to Xue Wuye's side like water, filling his cup. "Young City Lord, is this person really the legendary Heir of Time and Space, Zhang Ruochen?"
Xue Wuye smiled. "My beauties, you've all heard clearly what Zhang Ruochen and I just said. This matter involves not only Xumi Saint Monk but also the Empress. So you'd better pretend you heard nothing and know nothing. If some words accidentally get out, even I, the Young City Lord, won't be able to protect your lives."
All the sword attendants in the carriage fell to their knees in fear.
One of them asked, "Then is this person friend or foe?"
Xue Wuye took a deep breath and nodded. "He is indeed a formidable opponent."
Opponent?
Was he friend or foe? Xue Wuye did not give a clear answer.