NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: The Secret Chamber
A face made of flames roared with venomous eyes, wishing it could peel Wang Heng's skin, devour his flesh, and drink his blood.
Though somewhat uneasy, Wang Heng felt no fear.
After all, the real entity had been dead for countless years, leaving behind only a trace of spite raging impotently within the lamp's flame, hardly anything to fear.
“Haha, just a defeated subordinate of my father, yet you dare bark and howl here.” Wang Heng sneered.
“Little runt, one day I'll catch you and crush you like an insect,” the face twisted in rage, inflamed by Wang Heng's taunt, spewing this vicious vow.
“You've already been reduced to lamp oil, fated to be trapped here, never to reincarnate. Why boast such empty words?” Wang Heng chuckled, shaking his head dismissively, no longer bothering with the lingering resentment.
Only when he moved away from the boiling lamp did the raging howl fade away.
Not only that lamp, but all the lamps lining the passage were unnaturally lit. Wang Heng suspected that the oil came from foes vanquished by his celestial father.
Wandering through the dim corridor, he couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched.
In the oppressive darkness, eyes like venomous snakes lay in wait, making one's skin crawl.
Not all grievances roar with rage as the one before; they understand the futility of such displays.
Finally, Wang Heng reached his personal retreat, a secret chamber. Unexpectedly, the stone door embedded in the wall ahead began to glow and then swung open with a rumble.
He knew this was the secret chamber Wang Mian had told him about, so he stepped inside.
The space within was vast and well-equipped, exuding a rich aura of immortality; even a casual breath contained celestial brilliance.
This exclusive training chamber for the progeny of celestial kings was undoubtedly extraordinary.
In the corner of the chamber sprawled a stone bed, solid and imposing, enveloped in chaotic energy. Before Wang Heng even neared it, he felt a weighty presence.
As he approached, he was astonished to discover his affinity with the Dao was rising, enhancing his comprehension efficiency.
The myriad truths of Dao merged, coalescing into chaos.
“Could this stone bed be crafted from chaos stone?” Wang Heng wondered in disbelief.
He was certain that meditating upon the stone bed would greatly amplify his practice and insights.
This stone bed is undoubtedly a supreme treasure.
Wang Heng sat upon it and, as he expected, the effects were phenomenal, greatly aiding his path of cultivation, allowing him to sense all forms of existence.
If just a mere bed could be so extraordinary, what wonders would the other objects hold?
He looked toward a stone table. It appeared ordinary, nothing seemed particularly special about it, yet when approaching, one could distinctly sense something inexplicable emanating from its surface, dispersing into the void, soothing one's spirit and subtly enhancing it.
Wang Heng was astonished. What material was this stone table made of that it could strengthen the cultivator's spirit? Although the effects were not apparent in a short period, difficult to detect, but accumulated over time, they would be terrifying.
He then glanced at the top of the stone table, where two fruit plates were placed, each holding a number of divine fruits. A fragrant aroma wafted from them, intoxicating one's senses with just a whiff, making self-control impossible.
Wang Heng pondered; since they were in his secret chamber, it meant he could consume them at will.
Such divine fruits, if placed in the outside world, would lead to fierce competition among cultivators, fighting to the death, yet here in his chamber they were casually arranged, no more than ordinary refreshing fruits.
Wang Heng had foreseen the future and knew in advance that his immortal king father would suffer severe injuries from another realm and eventually pass away. However, he was unable to change this fate.
Who would ever believe the supposed "nonsense" of a ten-year-old boy who hasn’t even begun cultivation?
Moreover, his father, the Celestial King of the Wang family, traveled to the frontier to deter foreign realms. Such significant matters are not influenced by mere words, and Wang Heng is well aware of this, so he didn’t even attempt it.
Not just because of this reason. He believed he couldn’t bluff his way through in front of a Celestial King. Perhaps his father would discover that he is an "outsider," not the original soul of his own child.
This concern has always weighed on Wang Heng’s heart. Even now, he has no better way to handle it. He can only take one step at a time, hoping that succeeding in cultivation will provide him with a trace of confidence to face what lies ahead.
With these thoughts, he couldn't help feeling a bit frustrated. He casually picked up a divine fruit and began to eat heartily.
The divine fruit was sweet, juicy, and melted in his mouth, leaving a refreshing and smooth feeling in his throat. It was the most delicious fruit Wang Heng had ever tasted.
Most importantly, this fruit was rich in life essence and contained many substances beneficial to the primordial spirit. Just one divine fruit cleared Wang Heng's mind, and his eyes shone with a divine light.
An accumulation of large amounts of materials beneficial to the primordial spirit became Wang Heng’s foundation, which would slowly erupt in his future cultivation.
Opening his eyes, Wang Heng gently exhaled, his breath filled with the fragrance of the divine fruit.
He couldn't help but marvel at how different people truly were; some are born standing at heights others could never reach.
The treatment of celestial kings' offspring was beyond imagination—divine fruits prized by outsiders were mere thirst quenchers for them; only the celestial royalty could indulge so extravagantly.
Feeling somewhat unsatisfied, Wang Heng casually picked up another divine fruit, and in the blink of an eye, only the core remained.
After quenching his thirst a little, his gaze turned towards the center of the secret chamber.
There lay a meditation mat, woven from unknown slender branches and bearing sprouting buds, seemingly indistinguishable from an ordinary mat except for a tinge of green.
However, Wang Heng knew that this mat was anything but simple. As the son of a celestial king, the mat he used for meditation must have its mystical qualities.
He sat upon it, and before he could do anything further, his turbulent thoughts immediately settled, like a once-rolling lake turning as tranquil as a still pond in an instant.
Soon after, Wang Heng found himself involuntarily immersed in a state of enlightenment. The ancient celestial script he had previously comprehended emerged before him, floating in and out of focus in his gaze, as profound truths of the grand path flowed through his heart.
After this deep enlightenment session, Wang Heng gained much insight. He understood Wang Mian's words; unless a solid foundation was established prior to planting the 'Dao,' it would inevitably lead to imperceptible flaws in its execution.
He slowly regained consciousness and looked at the meditation mat beneath him, gently caressing it with his hand.
Truly a treasure, this mat aids in enlightenment.
Wang Heng recalled that one among the ten dire beasts, Kunpeng, possessed a similar mat, woven from the tender shoots of the Kun wood.
Rich with divinity, it calms the mind and heart, facilitating enlightenment.
(End of Chapter)
