NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27: Immortal Vine
Walking along the weathered stone steps, one gets the sensation of traveling through the long river of time. Everywhere are the scars left by swords and knives, marks of past glory, baptized by endless flames of war, sealing away an ancient and poignant history.
Wang Heng walked, attuning himself to the past and reaching out. In a fleeting moment, it was as if he heard the sounds of great battles—the earth shaking, ferocious beasts roaring, divine creatures tearing through the sky—a message conveyed across the ages.
A supreme Immortal Vine rooted itself in the chaos, bravely confronting towering figures alone. Its leaves were like swords, sharp and piercing, unleashing unrivaled sword energy, flooding forward, and staining the sky with blood.
It was extraordinary, exuding chaotic energy. Its roots were robust, akin to a real dragon's body. Even when struck by radiant, celestial weapons, they could not sever it.
Eventually, all beings came to fear this vine. Just a glimpse of its form would cause them to flee in desperation.
The final scene was striking—a towering Immortal Vine stood amidst the chaotic sea, blotting out the sky and the sun, terrifying and immense. Its numerous vines danced in the air, each impaling an immortal corpse, dripping with vibrant, brilliant blood.
Clearly, the Immortal Vine had unleashed a massacre, slaughtering more than one True Immortal.
Suddenly, Wang Heng snapped back to reality. The awe-inspiring visions had vanished, and he, along with Wang Mian, was approaching the last step.
“Young master, did you just trigger the mark on the stone steps and witness the images of the Immortal Vine senior's past battles?” Wang Mian suddenly asked.
"Hmm, I saw a vast battlefield strewn with countless bodies, all felled by a single Immortal Vine. Among them were even a few immortal corpses," Wang Heng nodded, responding solemnly.
"You must understand, the Immortal Vine is a being that has followed the Immortal King through endless campaigns, having aided in slaying innumerable enemies. The rise of every supreme being is accompanied by mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.
Even now, serving as a sacrificial spirit for a domain, it displays divinity before innumerable creatures. It is only when facing you that it shows a gentle, human side," Wang Mian remarked wistfully.
To the Immortal Vine, Wang Heng was undoubtedly special, regarded as one of its own.
Speaking thus, the two descended the last step, arriving at a hardened pebble field.
This place lacked the birdsong and floral scents one might imagine, with only desolation and sterility in its stead. Stones covered the barren land haphazardly.
It was as if they had arrived in a desolate and uninhabited wasteland.
Wang Heng's face revealed a look of surprise, for this was completely different from the sacred scene he had envisioned.
Wang Mian had visited before and was not taken aback.
In the barren pebble field, there was silence, with no thriving life in sight, making it seem like a forbidden zone for life.
In the distance, a towering figure stood out sharply against the horizon. It was the only living entity in the area and the very reason for Wang Heng and Wang Mian’s journey.
With a sense of awe, the two slowly approached the base of the massive figure and looked up.
This was an extraordinary Immortal Vine, rooted firmly in rocky soil, shrouded in mist-like chaotic energy, and reaching impossibly high into the skies.
Words were unnecessary; any being that came near would be overwhelmed by the vine’s presence. Even someone as powerful as Wang Mian felt a slight chill, knowing he was no match for it.
“You have arrived.”
Suddenly, an ancient voice echoed in their ears.
“True Immortal Wang Mian greets the Immortal Vine Elder. I have come by the Immortal King’s order. Once the young prodigy succeeds in his path, I am to bring him to you for your blessing.” Wang Mian respectfully responded.
“Very well, I understand.”
At this point, Wang Heng also cupped his hands towards the Immortal Vine and said, “Wang Heng pays respects to the Immortal Vine Elder.”
His greeting created an awkward atmosphere on the scene.
The Immortal Vine did not respond immediately. In its impression, Wang Heng and it were never so distant. The two were both mentor and friend, and Wang Heng had never addressed it as "senior."
The Mystical Vine Elder scrutinized Wang Heng carefully, suddenly gaining insight.
"He has lost his memory."
The elder spoke, its aura, terrifyingly close to that of an Immortal King, suddenly permeating the area.
Wang Heng felt as if a pair of eyes were incessantly scanning his body, extremely penetrating, as if trying to uncover all the secrets within him.
He knew this was the Immortal Vine examining his condition, searching for the source of his amnesia.
Wang Heng was powerless against this and could only endure silently, hoping that the ancient Immortal Vine, who had followed his Immortal King father for endless ages, would not discover the secret of his possession by another soul.
After a long while, the Immortal Vine withdrew its gaze, remaining silent for a long, long time, as if pondering something.
To Wang Heng, this was akin to years passing by. It should be noted that the Immortal Vine had once breached the realm of the Immortal King; though it had since fallen, it was still incomparable to an ordinary quasi-Immortal King. If it discovered anything unusual, Wang Heng would face severe consequences.
Luckily, in the end, it was a false alarm. The Immortal Vine showed no signs of discovering Wang Heng's secret.
"Is this... the Primordial Spirit Sword Technique?"
The Immortal Vine spoke, unable to conceal its shock.
Only then did Wang Heng realize that the Immortal Vine was silent because it was overwhelmed by the power of his primordial spirit, left in a daze.
Having followed the Wang Family's Celestial King for countless ages, the Immortal Vine understood all too well the strength and terrifying nature of the Primordial Spirit Sword Technique, as well as the stringent conditions required for its cultivation.
Typically, even the direct progeny of an Immortal King must reach the third or fourth realm of cultivation before they could begin practicing the Primordial Spirit Sword Technique, and cultivating it to completion demanded an enormous price.
Yet Wang Heng, having just established his path, had miraculously condensed his primordial spirit into a black sword embryo and unleashed a peerless sharpness without precedent in history.
This achievement, one that even an entity as august as the Immortal Vine, close to becoming a Celestial King itself, couldn't help but marvel at, recognizing it as a miracle.
"Yes, esteemed predecessor, this indeed is the Primordial Spirit Sword Technique,” Wang Mian replied, “When the young master established his path, he simultaneously mastered the Immortal King's Sword Technique, his talent astounding the world—unmatched through time."
Upon hearing this, the Immortal Vine trembled. Its leaves emanated dazzling divine light, clearly showing that the formidable ritual spirit was deeply unsettled, astonished by Wang Heng's extraordinary talent.
"Such achievement can truly be described as unprecedented and unparalleled."
"Even when the Immortal King was your age, he wasn't nearly as powerful as you are now. It's truly astonishing.\n
However, don't become arrogant and complacent. History is rife with beings of supreme talent who embarked on the path of cultivation only to fail in the end."
(End of Chapter)
