NOVEL NEXT Chapter 50: The Calm Before the Storm
Wang Heng gazed calmly at the unfolding scene, unsurprised by the discord among the quasi-Immortal Kings.
Within the Ancient Realm, the atmosphere for cultivating the Dao was quite admirable, with the characteristics and ambiance of a true path of immortality. However, contradictions and undercurrents were equally abundant.
When it came to the Immortal Kings, beings of this level were not as united as one might imagine. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been systematically defeated by the otherworldly forces in later generations.
Today’s confrontation between the quasi-Immortal Kings at the South Sea’s Purple Bamboo Grove verified this truth.
"With his level of cultivation, he should be able to protect himself," he murmured to himself, worried about the safety of Wang Heng’s father.
After all, his father was the great tree that shielded the Wang family from the storms. Should he fall, their heavenly warship would sink.
Wang Heng sighed deeply. He had already foreseen the outcome of the border conflict and attempted to ask if it was possible for him to visit the border.
Unsurprisingly, his request was denied.
"Please rest assured, young master. The Immortal King is supreme, unmatched throughout the ages. He will be fine.
Before leaving, he instructed that no one from the Wang family should go to the border, so unfortunately, Wang Mian cannot fulfill your request. I apologize for this."
"Alright, I understand."
Wang Heng nodded and let out a long sigh towards the heavens. It seemed he had not come at the right time. If he had arrived a bit earlier, before his Immortal King father went to the border, he might have attempted to dissuade him, however futile it might have been.
But now, it was too late for any words to change the situation.
He could only silently wait for the already determined outcome, calmly preparing for the impending storm.
"Senior, let's go back." Wang Heng suddenly spoke up.
Wang Mian noticed that his mood was not high, assuming it was due to concern for his father's safety. He nodded in agreement.
With a single command, nine purebred Heavenly Horses at the Dao Fusion level neighed towards the sky, pulling a bronze ancient war chariot marked by battle scars and arrow holes toward the entrance.
There was no restriction on mounts coming and going here, so there was no need to worry about offending the local lord.
"The Heavenly Horse of the Wang Family! It must be Wang Ancestor returning. His father, the esteemed Celestial King, has gone to the border. As his son, he must be very worried," someone whispered.
"A great upheaval is imminent. In times like these, we should also head home and make our preparations." Other creatures whispered among themselves, also preparing to leave.
Wang Mian smiled as he greeted those prospective Immortal Kings and true immortals, then respectfully stood behind Wang Heng, waiting for him to board the chariot.
At this moment, Wang Heng did not know what the future held, whether his friendships would last, if they would still be able to share drinks and sincerely discuss the Dao as they did today. So, he sighed and waved goodbye to a group of Dao-seeking prodigies.
"Everyone, a chaotic world is approaching. I hope that in the future, we may still have a day to sit together and drink heartily."
"Why is Wang Ancestor so pessimistic? If it truly comes to the life and death of the ancient realm, I believe all the Celestial Kings will not stand idly by. It's not that easy for the otherworldly forces to invade us," said Li Daoqing, the heir of the Qian Kun Sect.
Wang Heng heard this and smiled, not replying immediately. After a long pause, he finally responded.
"Perhaps."
He then looked at Shi Jintian and said, "Fellow Daoist Shi, the situation at the frontier is not looking good. It's best to stay here. With your current realm, you wouldn't be able to help much even if you returned."
Shi Jintian, dressed in golden armor, though young, exuded an extraordinary valor and presence.
He laughed heartily, his eyes softening with a hint of gratitude, as he replied, "Thank you, Ancestor Wang, for your suggestion. My appearing here during this time is precisely because the family lacked confidence in the Ancient Realm and left me as a contingency. Sending me here ensures the family's legacy won't be broken."
"I see," Wang Heng realized, having suspected this all along, now confirmed.
As for the grateful look from Shi Jintian, Wang Heng could understand. The danger at the frontier had Wang Family's Celestial King risking his fall to guard it, assisting the Stone Clan and others in resisting otherworldly invasions. Regardless of motivations, the clans at the frontier ought to feel gratitude.
Afterwards, Wang Heng bid farewell to others one by one. Having completed these farewells, he slowly ascended the ancient bronze war chariot, with Wang Mian following closely behind.
With the powerful fiery hooves of nine heavenly steeds trampling the void, the bronze war chariot roared away, vanishing into the sky in the blink of an eye.
The remaining young prodigies on the battlefield saw this and followed Wang Heng's footsteps, leaving one after another. The quasi-Immortal Kings at the forefront of the battlefield also left discontented due to earlier disputes and confrontations.
Some left without a word, their figures vanishing into thin air. Others murmured softly, gathering the young prodigies they had brought along, and departed together. The two quasi-Immortal Kings, who nearly clashed, snorted coldly before swiftly retreating into the distance.
In the brief span of half a cup of tea, the sprawling realm was almost abandoned, leaving only a handful of people behind.
Hua Yun, the true immortal residing there, couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
"The unity within the Ancient Realm is lacking and will eventually lead to suffering, especially now with the Otherworldly Forces launching a major assault. If the frontier clans suffer great losses due to isolation and lack of support, dissatisfaction will surely brew, likely causing unimaginable upheaval across the Thirty-Three Heavens."
Not far from her, a quasi-Immortal King who had yet to leave nodded in agreement.
“It can't be helped. As long as the crisis from the outside world isn’t severe enough or deeply felt, the Ancient Realm can never truly unite. To stabilize the frontier clans after this conflict, all powers and families must come together to offer compensation; only then can their fury be appeased. Such a task requires the intervention of those few supreme figures."
"Fairy Hua Yun, you have always been on good terms with those two lords, enjoying a profound relationship. Could you perhaps offer some counsel and make this issue known?"
"In fact, Lord Wu Zhong and Lord Samsara have already discussed this matter. Their final deliberation suggests bestowing the title of kings upon the frontier clans, with blessings from all the tribes within the Thirty-Three Heavens, forming marks of honor etched into their bloodlines, acknowledging their contributions."
(End of Chapter)
