NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Immortal King’s Estate
Wang Heng's mind was in turmoil. From the official historical accounts of the Ancient Immortal Era, it was known that the downfall of the Wang family's Immortal King, who mastered the Primordial Spirit Sword Techniques, was linked to a probing attack from foreign realms.
In a fierce battle, the Wang family's Immortal King unleashed the "Peace Outbreak Technique," demonstrating extraordinary power. He slew the immortal king of the foreign realm and repulsed their armies, quelling the chaos. This earned the Primordial Spirit Sword Techniques the name "Peace Outbreak Technique," and secured the Immortal King's place in history.
However, though the Wang family's Immortal King didn't fall in battle, he was gravely injured, left clinging to life. He lingered until the late stages of the Ancient Immortal Era before passing away, dust returning to dust, earth to earth.
In the chaotic eras that followed, the Wang family rose as a True Immortal lineage, yet no one spoke of their ancestor's status as an Immortal King.
What transpired during that time remains a mystery, but it is easy to speculate. With the Immortal King severely wounded, life for the Wang family must have been harsh, their illustrious ancestor's deeds all but erased.
With these thoughts, Wang Heng felt an immense pressure. If the foreign realm disturbances mentioned by the True Immortal were truly a prelude to the probing strike in the historical accounts, his father, the Immortal King, would soon suffer severe wounds, and the Wang family would face decline.
It's known that the rise of an Immortal King is always accompanied by endless bloodshed and vendettas. If the Wang family's Immortal King were to fall, lose his fighting strength, and merely struggle on the brink of death, the Wang family would be subjected to unimaginable pressure.
As the son of the Immortal King, carrying his father's high expectations, Wang Heng anticipated that most of the external pressure would ultimately fall on his shoulders.
“Young master, what's troubling you?”
Seeing Wang Heng with furrowed brows and flickering eyes, the True Immortal beside him inquired with concern, thinking he was worried about his Immortal King father's safety.
At these words, Wang Heng's furrowed brow smoothed out, and he regained his composure. After a gentle cough, he replied, “It's nothing, really. It's just that the term 'Foreign Realm' feels so familiar. It invisibly exerts a pressure that makes it hard to breathe.”
“Everyone knows the power of the Foreign Realm, with its terrifying number of Immortal Kings and immortals defending it. They are skilled in warfare, and in the past three eras, they have annexed and annihilated several ancient worlds, dyeing the sky red with blood and leaving countless corpses in their wake. They've clashed with both the Immortal Domain and our world, wreaking havoc wherever they go.
At its most dire, even beings of Immortal King level have perished in battle. If it weren't for several renowned figures and many Immortal Kings from our world holding the line, the Foreign Realm might have attacked long ago.
Such a fierce realm naturally exudes a menacing aura that leaves listeners anxious and those who hear it trembling. It's only natural,” explained the True Immortal.
Wang Heng smiled but didn't respond immediately. After a moment, he casually said, “The renowned figures you mentioned, could they be the Six Paths Reincarnation Immortal King, the Endless Immortal King, and the Ancestral Spirit of Sacrifice?”
The man nodded in affirmation.
“These esteemed lords, along with my master, are giants among the Immortal Kings. Their might and fame are renowned across myriad worlds, so much so that even the many immortal monarchs of the Foreign Realm dare not declare full-scale war against us,” the True Immortal said confidently.
Wang Heng couldn't help but chuckle to himself at such self-assuredness. If everyone in this realm shared this belief, including those Immortal Kings, then the day the Foreign Realm's army arrives would mark the day of their downfall.
“By the way, young master, these lords are supreme beings in the Ancient Realm. All creatures must revere them and are forbidden from uttering their revered names directly, for doing so would trigger phenomena and alert the Immortal Kings. Here, due to the Immortal Kings' suppression, such phenomena remain unseen, but bear this in mind outside,” the True Immortal continued.
During their conversation, they had already left the Immortal King's medicinal garden. Guided by the True Immortal, Wang Heng silently followed as they passed imposing palaces. He had no idea where he was being led, but from the current conversation, it seemed there was no malice toward him. Of course, this could be a facade.
However, Wang Heng reasoned that, being someone powerless, a genuine Immortal would have no need to feign friendship for any sinister plot.
They walked for a long while, passing many magnificent ancient buildings, yet the Immortal Kings' estate showed no sign of ending. This left Wang Heng astounded, as such an estate would easily rival many great cities in his own world.
It stands to reason that the mansion of a powerful Immortal King would contain its own universe. Just think of the legendary city of Pan King in the Immortal Domain.
As expected, guided by the True Immortal, Wang Heng witnessed one splendid scene after another.
There were arenas, chaotic inns, and ancient streets suffused with immortal aura, bustling with throngs of people and endless streams of traffic. A multitude of strange and exotic items were put up for sale, a sight so novel and unheard-of that Wang Heng’s eyes were indeed opened to a whole new world.
Whenever he and the True Immortal passed by, the people around them respectfully performed grand salutes, clearly aware of his identity as the Immortal King's heir.
Some even attempted to engage him in conversation, from the young to the old, but all were politely turned away by the True Immortal.
He wished to keep the Immortal King's heir’s amnesia a secret, for such matters would tarnish the dignified aura of an Immortal King.
After a long walk, the two arrived at a pair of gigantic gates. Standing on weathered stone slabs tinged with dark red, when Wang Heng looked up, he was profoundly struck by his own insignificance, as if an ant gazing up at an unreachable peak.
Noticing Wang Heng staring intensely for a prolonged moment, the True Immortal suddenly spoke.
“This gate is crafted from an ancient, illustrious immortal mountain, refined from several epochs ago.
It was born on a stormy, lightning-filled night, causing endless phenomena from the moment it emerged, leading immortals to battle fiercely, all vying for this supreme treasure.
At that time, the master had already reached the realm of the Immortal King, his might shaking the realm, universally revered.
With just a single hand, he defeated all the contenders and grasped that immortal mountain, thus creating this gate to the Immortal King’s estate.”
Wang Heng nodded, unable to calm his heart for a long time.
If the highest peak from his former world were brought here, it would not measure even a fraction against this gate.
Just what sort of dream was he in? What vast divine and demonic world had he entered?
As he followed the True Immortal up the broad, endless steps, the sound of the Great Path abruptly resonated in his ears, echoing in his heart.
His entire being responded, exuding wisps of immortal essence, his soul utterly enthralled, ready to comprehend the Way instantly.
However, the True Immortal beside him intervened, halting his enlightenment.
“Young master has lost all memories; everything must begin anew.
Entering the state of enlightenment now is unsuitable and would be detrimental to your future path.
Moreover, this place is not benign.
The stones beneath our feet are sourced from the Immortal King battlefield, some stained by the blood of eternal kings, long since spiritualized.
They may unwittingly guide the young master astray.”
(End of Chapter)
