Chapter 126: Fruits of the Future
The moment Hun Yuan Immortal King and Wuji's eyes fell upon the unprecedented domain of Wang Heng’s celestial worlds, they were immediately captivated.
Twelve celestial worlds, each of different colors and origins, possessed unique functions and continuously absorbed the cosmic forces from the outside universe to supplement Wang Heng’s needs.
It was evident that Wang Heng, who had reached the realm of opening celestial worlds, was significantly more powerful than other beings at the same level. In terms of vitality and strength, he far surpassed them, showcasing the superiority of this realm. Such accomplishments justified his inclusion among the top ten.
However, these were not ordinary individuals; they too had experienced pioneering new pathways, akin to Wang Heng’s achievements. As such, they were not overly astonished.
Over countless ages, the Celestial Domain's systems have always been evolving, perpetually refined and innovated by many.
For Immortal Kings, such events have become commonplace and hold little intrigue.
In truth, they hardly concern themselves with who achieves what at any given level, being solely focused on how they might advance further and transcend their current states.
Only if a new Immortal King were to emerge in the Celestial Domain or some ancient realm would they turn their gaze. Otherwise, matters beneath the Immortal King level are deemed fleeting and irrelevant, hardly worth their attention or time.
Hun Yuan and Wuji regard Wang Heng differently for two reasons. Firstly, they share a connection with his father and feel a slight obligation to watch over his descendant, forging a bond of goodwill. Secondly, Wang Heng has displayed extraordinary talent, especially his immense potential in spiritual strength, leaving them deeply impressed.
Hun Yuan believes there is every reason to think this Immortal Prince could break limitations and create a dual Immortal King myth.
Hence, he ordered his son, Hun Hong, to deliver the Hun Yuan Dao Sutra to Wang Heng, offering him a helping hand—an investment in Wang Heng’s future.
Currently, Wang Heng’s performance is immensely satisfying to Hun Yuan, causing him to nod in approval. Wang Heng not only pioneered the Blood Movement in the Dawn Blood Realm but has also dramatically innovated within the Creation Realm, creating the Celestial World Realm. Such extraordinary talent undoubtedly merits continued investment.
“Wonderful. This celestial world domain is fascinating. Creating a world outside one's body to draw the creative forces from the greater universe is indeed much more efficient than the prior Creation Realm. I imagine it won’t be long before the Celestial World Realm spreads across the Celestial Domain, igniting a wave of creation-drawn celestial worlds,” Hun Yuan Immortal King said with a smile and admiration.
Wuji Immortal King, seated on the stone throne, also nodded in agreement, a hint of approval evident in his gaze towards Wang Heng.
Upon hearing their remarks, Wang Heng hastily responded with modesty, acknowledging their compliments with a few humble words.
Hun Yuan, smiling, was about to speak when his expression suddenly froze, gazing intently at Wang Heng’s largest celestial world—the Spiritual Soul Celestial World.
Wuji Immortal King had even earlier detected something amiss, his grand and discerning gaze already fixed on Wang Heng’s mysterious Spiritual Soul Celestial World.
Both Immortal Kings concentrated deeply, seriousness etched on their faces, causing the atmosphere in the hall to grow tense and heavy.
“Elders, is there an issue with this Spiritual Soul Celestial World?” Wang Heng asked, a slight shock in his heart, as he felt fully exposed, with all his secrets laid bare before their eyes.
But, faced with Immortal Kings, what could a mere mortal being do?
After a long silence, the two Immortal Kings finally responded.
“Rest assured, this is no ill fate for you. Instead, it is a tremendous blessing,” Wuji remarked with a smile.
“Indeed, your Spiritual Soul Celestial World is no ordinary one. Even we cannot fully discern its depths.
Of course, if one were to forcibly explore it, they might obtain the answers they seek, but doing so would mean you would not survive,” Hun Yuan nodded, saying something that sent a chill down Wang Heng's spine.
He understood that Hun Yuan was warning him that if a powerful being with ulterior motives set their sights on him, it could very well be a matter of life and death.
“Did you see anything at the deepest part of the Celestial World, Wuji Daoist?” Hun Yuan Immortal King asked, shifting his gaze to Wuji.
“There's a thick mist shrouding everything, chaotic and indistinct, like a primordial world yet to be formed. Everything is quite vague.
However, I did make a discovery. It seems there is a shadowy humanoid figure holding a dark sword embryo standing there,” Wuji mused.
“I saw that figure as well. I thought it was just a trick of the mind. However, it vanished in an instant, as if it were merely a shadow, flowing with the traces of time,” Hun Yuan added.
“Perhaps it is a reflection from the river of time, and what we see is the fruit of the future.”
Among the Immortal Kings, no one is more versed in the path of time than Wuji, lending high credibility to his words.
“The fruit of the future...” Hun Yuan murmured in wonder. Could it be true? Have they witnessed a reflection of Wang Heng's future Dao fruition within a Celestial World created by a mortal? Does this mean his destiny is to ascend to Kingship?
“Respected seniors, are you speaking about me? What humanoid figure? Is there someone in my Spiritual Soul Celestial World?” Wang Heng asked. Due to the Immortal Kings switching to telepathic communication during the crucial part, he only heard Wuji mention seeing a humanoid figure.
“Nothing much, many things will be clearer once you reach the necessary realm,” Wuji replied vaguely.
Hearing this, Wang Heng immediately decided against probing further since the Immortal Kings’ words made it clear that he wasn’t allowed to know yet.
Therefore, he could only let it go.
Shortly thereafter, he emerged from Hun Yuan Palace, holding an immortal artifact ring. This was a gift from Hun Yuan Immortal King, containing cultivation resources beyond the imagination of worldly beings.
Undoubtedly, this was Hun Yuan Immortal King's second wave of investment in him, affirming that Wang Heng had the potential to become a Dao-confirming Immortal King in the future.
Adding embellishments pales in comparison to offering help in times of need. By providing significant assistance during Wang Heng's humble beginnings, the Hun Yuan Immortal King can easily bring him into his faction once Wang Heng attains the status of an Immortal King, thereby strengthening their power.
Wang Heng's divine sense probed into the ancient ring, and he was immediately astounded. Known as a preeminent Immortal King across the Immortal Domain, the generosity was unparalleled. Various resources were casually placed within the ring's space, piled up like mountains, a dazzling array, everything imaginable, none of it ordinary.
Even a True Immortal would be stunned by the contents of this ring.
“Such great generosity. Accepting and using these means binding myself to great karma.
However, the Hun Yuan Immortal King is considered one of the better Immortal Kings in the Immortal Domain, so I need not worry too much.” Wang Heng muttered to himself slowly as he put away the ancient ring, then retraced his steps down the mountain to return to the ancient palace where he was temporarily staying.
The Black King had been waiting for quite some time. Seeing Wang Heng return, it eagerly dashed forward to inquire about his experiences at the Hun Yuan Palace.
Upon learning that the Hun Yuan Immortal King had once again invested in Wang Heng, the Black King showed a knowing expression.
“What did I tell you? In the Immortal Domain, where alliances are complex, adding one more Immortal King could break the balance and give one side an advantage.
In the future, as long as you maintain this fierce momentum, cultivation resources won't be a problem. Just come to Upper Heaven Mountain to collect them; the Hun Yuan Immortal King would be delighted for you to take more.
Moreover, you can seek refuge here in times of crisis. As long as it’s not too severe, the Immortal King can handle it for you.” The Black King patted Wang Heng on the shoulder, congratulating him.
Wang Heng nodded absent-mindedly, but his mind was occupied with the black humanoid figure mentioned by the two Immortal Kings.
It was surely related to his Spiritual Soul Realm. Could the black humanoid figure described by the Wuji Immortal King be his own soul?
He longed to dispel the mists and see what was hidden in the deepest parts, yet he couldn’t do it, at least not now.
Wang Heng speculated that it was probably due to his low level of cultivation.
As he pondered, a large black paw waved in front of him, snapping him back to reality.
“Kid, what are you so engrossed in?”
“Nothing much, I was just thinking that twelve Celestial Realms aren’t the pinnacle of the Celestial Realm.” Wang Heng replied.
“Twelve isn't enough? Are you planning to open up eighteen of them?” The Black King widened its eyes, unsure how to evaluate this young man.
Cultivating these Celestial Realms is already an extraordinary achievement, with ten outside, one for the flesh, and one for the soul. The Black King couldn't fathom where the breakthrough could occur.
“Twelve Celestial Realms may seem formidable, but they are ultimately scattered. An organism's strongest state is when it integrates back into one.” Wang Heng responded.
"You plan to merge all twelve caves into one?" The Black King exclaimed in astonishment.
Ever since Wang Heng embarked on the path of the Cave Heaven realm, the Black King had conducted considerable research on this level. The twelve caves, each considered an extreme, naturally reject each other. Even connecting them is a formidable challenge.
Attempting to unify these twelve extremes seems almost impossible.
The greatest obstacle, however, is not this incompatibility. It’s whether Wang Heng's body can withstand the collision and reverberation caused by the merging of these extremes.
No matter how you look at it, Wang Heng's idea seems suicidal.
"Boy, make sure you think this through. The unification of Cave Heavens is not a simple matter, or rather, it's virtually impossible," the Black King advised earnestly.
"Senior Black King, rest assured. I know my limits. This path should be feasible," Wang Heng replied with resolve.
Seeing his determination, the Black King refrained from further persuasion. In truth, it too was curious about whether the Cave Heavens could truly be unified, holding a faint hope that a brave soul would attempt it.
Throughout history, the advancement of systems and the evolution of cultivation methods have always relied on pioneers.
Wang Heng was currently playing such a role, and the Black King admired him for it.
"By the way, there's something I need to inform you," the Black King suddenly mentioned.
"Lord Wuji sent me a message: our journey to Mount Supreme is nearing its end. Matters between the Lord and the Hun Yuan Immortal King are mostly settled. After a few more days of discussing the Dao, we'll depart. Therefore, you should refrain from attempting the Cave Heaven unification for now and take this time to consolidate yourself," the Black King advised.
Wang Heng nodded.
"Yes, senior. I understand that the conditions for this unification cannot be met overnight."
"It's good that you grasp this concept.
Our next destination is not a serene place. We're headed to the legendary Pan Wang City in the Immortal Domain, where a grand Peach Festival will soon be held. Immortal Kings, True Immortals, and exceptional talents from all directions will gather there, creating a chaotic mix.
Your identity is quite unique; as someone from the Primal Ancient World, not of the Immortal Domain, you’ve risen boldly among its top ten. This move is bound to provoke the Immortal Domain's talents, seeing you as a rival, which inevitably leads to conflict.
"However, it's also a great opportunity to expand your retinue," the Black King chuckled mischievously, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Wang Heng chuckled in response, well aware of the Black King's peculiar interests.
"Don't worry, Senior Black King. For those who blindly challenge me, I won't hold back."
"Very well, it's best to subdue some of the more talented ones now, so that in the future, this king will have a whole host of true immortal pets. Whenever I go out on expeditions, I will be served by true immortals. Just thinking about that scene is thrilling," the Black King said, laughter splitting his face.
Then, it took off the bell hanging around its neck, giving it a shake. A crisp ringing sound echoed.
"This is a magical artifact crafted for me by Lord Wuji. Through this, I can establish an unbreakable blood vow with my immortal pets. Not only them, but their descendants, for generations, must kneel at the sight of this bell."
Upon seeing this, Wang Heng recalled the depiction in the original text of that True Immortal from the Immortal Domain's Hong family.
He was one of the victims, becoming one of the Black King's immortal pets.
His descendants' behavior upon encountering the bell exactly matched the Black King's description, sending a chill down Wang Heng's spine. To be a pet to a big black dog for generations was truly terrifying.
No wonder the Black King didn't dare venture into the Immortal Domain after being reduced to a mere pup; it feared being torn apart by its true immortal pets.
Time passed quickly, and five days went by in a flash.
During this period, Wang Heng polished the twelve new Cave Heavens he had established and pondered the idea of merging the Cave Heavens.
After much thought, he concluded that the Black King was right; it's always good to accumulate more.
Though he was ready to tread into more defiant realms, his Cave Heavens might not be fully prepared.
It was better to accumulate more before proceeding.
The grand Peach Festival was approaching, and he was at the very center of the whirlpool, having no time to attempt to merge the Cave Heavens. Once the festival concluded, it would be nearly time.
"Dong!"
The Boundless Bell, symbolizing the passage of time, rang out powerfully over the Upper Heavens of Hun Yuan City.
This indicated that the Wuji Immortal King was about to take his leave from the gathering.
All creatures in Hun Yuan City looked up to the sky with reverence, silently chanting the names of the Wuji and Hun Yuan Immortal Kings.
Bidding farewell to Hun Yuan Immortal King and others like Hun Hong, Wang Heng joined Wuji and the Black King on their journey to Pan Wang City.
How swift is the speed of an Immortal King giant? With each step crossing worlds, they arrived in an unfamiliar universe in an instant.
The magnificent and towering Pan Wang City stood steadfast amid the vast cosmic starry sky.