Chapter 1201: Heavenly Dao
"Su-Supreme? This, this..." Ding Zhicheng nervously stammered.
Ding Chunqiu glanced at Ding Zhicheng with disappointment and snapped, "Kneel down now!"
Ding Zhicheng fell to his knees in front of Wang Xiaoqiang, trembling all over, unable to control himself.
Wang Xiaoqiang asked, "Ding Chunqiu, just now, what were you doing?"
Ding Chunqiu was in a panic, but didn't dare to lie, and stammered, "I-I was in closed-door cultivation..."
"Ah, it seems I guessed right. You indeed prioritize cultivation above all," Wang Xiaoqiang exchanged a look with Lotus Princess and then turned his gaze to Ding Chunqiu, "How long have you been in seclusion?"
"More than three months," Ding Chunqiu was sweating on his forehead, as a sovereign of an empire, neglecting state affairs and spending three months in seclusion is definitely dereliction of duty. Previous emperors' derelictions went unnoticed, but now it's different. Now, there's a Supreme Sky-Pride, Wang Xiaoqiang overseeing everything, and this just happened to be discovered by him, so it's natural for Ding Chunqiu to be nervous.
"Then, do you know about this Crown Princess Consort?" Wang Xiaoqiang pointed to the tree spirit cringing under the Spirit Fixing Disk.
Ding Chunqiu's eyes and Divine Sense enveloped the figure, and upon confirming the beauty was a tree spirit, he became both shocked and furious, "C-Crown Princess Consort, how is this possible..."
"I hope you were unaware, otherwise you would also be implicated," Wang Xiaoqiang coldly stated, "Ask your good son..."
Ding Chunqiu turned his gaze to Ding Zhicheng, eyes filled with menace, as if wishing to strike him down right then. "Zhicheng, what is the meaning of this? You are at the Immortal King Stage, can you not tell she's a tree spirit?"
Ding Zhicheng, trembling under Ding Chunqiu's gaze, stammered, "Father, I-I am wrong, I deserve death. I only pretended to be the Crown Princess Consort for a few days, I-I never intended to take her..."
"Rubbish!" Ding Chunqiu waved his sleeve, and a gust of wind knocked Ding Zhicheng away, drawing an arc in the air before he fell heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.
As Ding Chunqiu was about to further reprimand his son, Wang Xiaoqiang said, "Enough, spare him, but someone like this can never inherit the throne, depose him, and elect anew..."
Ding Zhicheng, grievously injured and now hearing his position as Crown Prince was to be taken away, felt a wave of despair and fainted on the spot.
"As you command," Ding Chunqiu bowed deeply in obedience.
"Additionally, this matter should be expedited, choose a new Crown Prince, nurture him with dedication for a while, and prepare for abdication..." Wang Xiaoqiang said, "When I advance to the Immortal Emperor Realm, you'll accompany me to Biluo Realm to kill the Sky Obscuring Lord."
At these words, Ding Chunqiu was filled with joy and excitement. He had disregarded the rivers and mountains of Hetu Kingdom, cultivating day and night, for the sole purpose of one day entering Biluo Realm, to see Biluo Realm's Immortal Realm, taste Biluo Realm's Immortal Pills, and admire Biluo Realm's Immortal Maidens.
It is said that Biluo Realm is filled with immortal lands everywhere, Biluo Realm's Spiritual Energy is several times denser than that of the Immortal Realm, Biluo Realm's immortal fruits ripen faster than those of the Immortal Realm, and Biluo Realm's women possess exquisite grace, generally more beautiful and full of spirit than those of the Immortal Realm.
Although Ding Chunqiu was not fond of women, he still yearned to visit the Immortal Realm. Once cultivation reaches his level, worldly fame and power no longer hold sway over him, pursuit of the Heavenly Dao has become his ultimate goal.
Wang Xiaoqiang, too, upon breaking through to the Immortal Emperor Realm, has reached the pinnacle of "Immortal Dao." The next step is to stride toward the "Heavenly Dao." The Heavenly Dao is about the so-called Unity of Heaven and Man, immersing body and mind into the world, sharing fate with heaven and earth, breathing with sun and moon. Sensing the veins of mountains and rivers. Comprehending the true intention of nature's dew and rain.
The Heavenly Dao is a profound and wondrous realm.
"Yes, thank you, Supreme, for nurturing me," Ding Chunqiu bowed deeply again, deeply moved, his age has already exceeded the limit for entering Biluo Realm, but with Wang Xiaoqiang's lead, he can enter.
For those entering Biluo Realm, each can bring one person as an Immortal Slave to serve them, and Ding Chunqiu didn't mind being called a slave as he was already a slave to Wang Xiaoqiang whether he went to Biluo Realm or not.
Wang Xiaoqiang pointed to the tree spirit under the Spirit Fixing Disk and said, "This tree spirit seduced the Crown Prince with beauty and infiltrated the palace, her sin warrants death, but there's no need for you to worry, I will handle it."
"Yes, yes, everything is entrusted to the Supreme's decision," Ding Chunqiu immediately responded, not daring to ask further.
"Mm," Wang Xiaoqiang nodded, then with a wave of his hand, the Heaven and Earth Whip binding Ding Zhicheng was withdrawn, returning to Wang Xiaoqiang's hand. With a flick, he swung the whip toward the tree spirit, tightly binding her.
Then, Wang Xiaoqiang collected the Spirit Fixing Disk, pulled the whip, and drew along the tree spirit, and flew with Lotus Princess towards the City of Heavenly Pride through the night.
...
On the afternoon of the next day.
They finally arrived back at the City of Heavenly Pride.
Princess Hua Shao knew that Lotus Princess had disappeared the day Wang Xiaoqiang left the City of Heavenly Pride, so she realized Lotus Princess had gone with him, feeling sour for a moment, but eventually coming to terms with it. Thinking of her mother's loneliness and solitude, she felt regretful for feeling jealous of her mother, believing her mother had the right and freedom to pursue love, which no one could hinder.
Therefore, when Wang Xiaoqiang and Lotus Princess returned to the City of Heavenly Pride together, Princess Hua Shao didn't make a scene, silently accepting everything. Seeing that they had truly brought back a tree spirit, she was overjoyed, knowing her severed arm could be restored.
Jin Qiaoqiao was equally pleased.
Wang Xiaoqiang brought the tree spirit to a secluded back garden, where there was a plot of fertile land originally reserved for planting Spirit Grass, so no trees or plants had been planted, it remained vacant.
Wang Xiaoqiang removed the Heaven and Earth Whip, placing the tree spirit on the vacant land. Knowing she couldn't escape his grasp, the tree spirit kneeled and continuously pleaded, "Spare me, Supreme, spare me, Supreme..."
"Ha, a little tree spirit, and you know me?" Wang Xiaoqiang admired the tree spirit's beauty, taking in the fragrant scent emanating from her, feeling quite reluctant to kill her.
"The Supreme is the celebrated prodigy of the Immortal Realm, whose existence is known to all under heaven... I've long heard of you... and today, I see your reputation was well deserved." The tree spirit flattered him.
"Hehe, your sweet talk is commendable, but unfortunately, I must borrow your body." Wang Xiaoqiang said.
"Spare me, Supreme, spare me, Supreme..." The tree spirit's face turned pale, frantically pleading.
"Rest assured, I only need two pieces of Fragrant Wood from your body, not your life," Wang Xiaoqiang said, "Transform back into a tree now, taking root in this back garden. Once you've healed your injuries and new branches have grown, restoring to human form, I will let you go."
The tree spirit, seeing that Wang Xiaoqiang did not intend to kill her, but only wanted pieces of Fragrant Wood from her, gritted her teeth and said, "Thank you, Supreme, for sparing my life. I hope the Supreme will keep his word."
"How dare you," Lotus Princess shouted angrily, "The Supreme's words are absolute, how dare you question them."
The tree spirit dared not say more, immediately transforming into a tree, taking root in the soil.
The tree was thick and large, full of branches, some as thick as a child's arm, others as thick as an adult's arm, exuding waves of fragrance.
This is what's called Fragrant Wood.
Wang Xiaoqiang summoned Princess Hua Shao and Jin Qiaoqiao, swept his Divine Sense over the two girls' arms, and then over the branches of the Fragrant Wood, quickly selecting two suitable branches. With a wave of the Immortal Sword, he cut them down.
The tree spirit let out a strange cry of pain, the leaves on the tree trembling. It was as if a person was shaking.
With the Fragrant Wood, he then summoned the chief sculptor of the Immortal Realm, instructing him to carve two arms from the Fragrant Wood to match Princess Hua Shao and Jin Qiaoqiao's arms. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)