Chapter
As Wang Wei walked through this desert, he began to review many of his memories, not all of them, but a few that had a deep impression on him–consciously or subconsciously–throughout his cultivation path.
The first memory he saw was his meeting with Li Jun. He watched how many young children of the sect bullied the little fatty, and the latter did not resist or complain. So, he asked him why he did not respond and fought back.
"What's the point of fighting back besides adding more unnecessary injuries to me," responded the three-year-old Li Jun. Wang Wei immediately noticed Li Jun's wisdom as the young child understood his current state was due to his status in the sect. If he fought back, the only result would be more beating by retaliation. So, the best course of action is to accept his beating and bear with it.
"I remember that day," muttered Wang Wei. "Li Jun's wisdom at such a young age caught my attention." Wang Wei knew the intelligence displayed at a young age was not because he was a prodigy but more of the result of the fact he was an adult in a child's body.
However, Li Jun was different; he was genuinely a 3-year-old child.
"I also remember the unwillingness and desire in his eyes; that's why I chose him."
Wang Wei sighed as he reminisced about the past. He looked at the memory one last time before continuing. The following core memory he experienced was the first person he ever killed: a prisoner.
This was the first life he ever took, and to this day, he remembers how the sticky blood felt in his hand as he stabbed that prisoner; he remembered the moment life disappeared from the prisoner's eye, the vivid emotions displayed on that prisoner's life.
'Is this the exact moment when life was no longer sacred to me?' he analyzed. After the first kill, he had nightmares for days. But now, his hands were stained with trillions of lives, but he could still sleep peacefully.
"I felt something die inside me on that day. Was it my awe and reverence for the beautiful thing known as life?" Wang Wei sighed. "Although I know this was inevitable the moment I reincarnated in this world, it's still sad to think how much I've changed from my Earth self."
Wang Wei continued his journey. He saw the memory of when he ordered Wang Ju for the sect to experiment on Han Li for him to acquire a Heavenly Physique.
"This was my first act of pure selfishness where I ruthlessly trample on another person for benefit; the first opponent I step on for my rise on the Emperor Road."
Wang Wei calmly looked at the memory before continuing. The following was his confrontation with the Wrath of Heaven during the last section of the Pagoda Trial. In that event, he experienced more than 10,000 consecutive failures, but he never gave up.
"I learn to never give up in this trial. I learn through hard work, intelligence, and unyielding Willpower, I can create miracles."
Wang Wei's eyes lit up as his aura became even more peaceful and restrained. He continued walking.
He then saw the young girl he killed during the Spirit Road Trial. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
"The first innocent life I took," he commented. The girl was a pampered Young Lady and came to the trial with guards probably as a marvel experience. Her parents were probably new to the cultivator world and did not know much about the trials' rules and ruthlessness.
"Unfortunately, she was only one of the many innocent bystanders that suffered as a result of my Emperor Road." He shook his head as he moved forward.
The following memory occurred not long after the girl's death–it was a battle with a gladiator. This was the first real life and death battle he had, but this was not the reason it was a core memory.
"The world is truly unfair. I have spent more than 8 years as a gladiator, forced to kill every day to buy my freedom. It took me 8 long and painful years to summarize that dodging method, yet you learned it in less than 5 minutes. I'm not willing," said the gladiator as he died, full of unwillingness.
"This is the first time I realize how unfair Fate can be," commented Wang Wei. "Some people spend their entire life striving for something, but others are born with it. Some people have to struggle their entire life, but others are born destined to achieve greatness."
As he reviewed these memories from a higher cultivation standpoint, he understood many things and saw these events in different lights.
So, he continued his journey.
The subsequent memory was his battle with Ji Song, where he almost died because of the latter's mighty fleshly body.
"Truth be told, this is probably the second most difficult battle I experienced throughout my entire life," he muttered as he watched his body lying on the ground with a shattered spine. Only two people of his generation pushed him to such a miserable state.
Wang Wei re-experienced that battle before continuing to walk. The memories in front of him changed to after the Spirit Road Trial as he stayed in a mortal village.
"This village is where I experience the vast difference between Mortals and Cultivators; it is the place where I awakened my ambitions to change this era," muttered Wang Wei as he realized the importance of that village to him.
"Cause and effect, Karma," he continued. "I planted a tree on a whim, but 300,000 years later, it turned into a precious World Tree. The villagers were friendly and welcoming, so I placed a Feng Shui Formation on their village to bless them with luck. Now, they are a Supreme Land with great potential to become an Emperor Lineage.
"Everything is connected, one way or the other."
Wang Wei's aura was utterly restrained inside his body; he now looked like an ordinary mortal with no cultivation. However, upon closer observation, people with keen observation could detect he was fusing with Heaven and Earth as if the two were the same.
The following core memory was a confrontation between him and Heavenly Dao when he entered the Duyi Realm. Heavenly Dao tried to stop him by influencing his Willpower. From the records he knew, the trial to enter the Duyi Realm should not have been so severe. Then, there is his odd black Qi Luck Dragon.
Wang Wei looked at this memory with a frown.
"This event might be the confrontation between my future self and Grand Dao," he suddenly uttered. "No, the first confrontation was my battle with the Wrath of Heaven."
Wang Wei knew many anomalous things that happened during his life, most of which were weird and unexplainable. But today, he had a theory on the reason.
"A battle that spawns across time and space," he muttered before continuing; it was not time to care about these things that he could not control.
The next memory was a meeting in the Li Clan Mountains after entering the Divine Altar Realm.
He tasked Li Jun to suppress all the famous disciples in the sects, including the Contemporary Sacred Sons. Then, someone from the Li Clan called him, and he had a meeting with a beautiful middle-aged woman dressed in all white; she had a doting and motherly aura emanating from her body.
"I want to thank you," said Qian Xifen, Li Jun's mother, with a gentle and kind smile that could put people at ease.
"Thank me? For what?" asked Wang Wei as he placed his teacup on the table.
"For giving my son a chance to shine."
"I thought you would blame me."
"Oh, why is that?"
"After all, I could guarantee him a safe and peaceful life with my status. However, he will now follow me on a dangerous road with a high probability of death."
Qian Xifen briefly paused, "As a mother, I also want my son to live a peaceful life. However, I also understand that strength is necessary to survive and have dignity in the cultivation world.
"So, I'm glad you showed the world he was no worse than any Heaven Chosens. As for the danger, this is unavoidable."
"Since you don't blame me, I'm relieve."
Wang Wei calmly looked at this scene; he did not think this memory was this significant to him. Back then, he had some guilt about Li Jun following him. After all, he knew the Emperor Path he chose to walk on was full of danger and uncertainty. So, he often pondered that it may be better for Li Jun not to follow him and live a safer life.
"Madam Qian, I did not disappoint your expectation. I protected your son, and he is now one of the brightest stars in this generation," muttered Wang Wei, who suddenly felt more peaceful.
He smiled before continuing his journey.
Wang Wei continued his journey on the [Asking Heart Road], further tempering his Dao Heart and state of mind. The following core memory he experienced was during the Qi Luck Trial in the Warring Kingdom World.
The memory was when he watched how millions of innocent people died by poisoning in Bless Wings City. He learned of the cruelty of the world from this experience and how little cultivators valued mortals' lives.
That event also taught him never to be careless and treat things like a game; he learned unexpected things often occur, and he should be prepared for them.
Wang Wei watched these events from a different perspective. And with each memory, he has a better understanding of his mind and self. So, he continued forward.
Next, he relived the day he met Wu Hong at the Academy. Although it was the first time he saw her, she was breathtaking, captivating, mesmerizing, and enchanting. In an instant, he was enamored with her and felt they were destined to be together.
How he felt about her was odd by all accounts. He was a person from Earth and knew love at first sight was superficial. He was a person who wanted to transcend fate and achieve ultimate freedom. So, how could he allow fate to determine his Dao Companion?
However, he did not care. For a man of his intelligence and rationality, he should have been instantly weary of her. But he made the illogical choice and decided to believe her despite how often his mind told him he was wrong.
'I took a leap of faith, and it paid up,' he pondered with a smile as he reviewed the memory of when the two first met. 'Our love story has just begun. As you said, our bond will transcend fate and last until eternity.'
With a reassured mind, he continued forward. The next memory was brief but also vivid–the first time he met Di Tian. Although he only looked at the latter from a distance through a door, he knew this person was extraordinary and might become his greatest obstacle to proving the Dao and achieving eternity.
Wang Wei glanced at Di Tian standing at the entrance door to Xu Shi's Heaven Chosen Poetry Meeting before continuing forward.
Subsequently, Wang Wei saw the scene when he killed Ji Song. He was overwhelmed by anger because someone like Ji Song actually tricked him, which deeply hurt his pride; he was always the one who schemed over others, so he could not control himself once someone did it to him.
"How immature I was back then," he muttered, shaking his head. Then, he continued his journey.
The next memory involved Di Tian again; it was the battle at the Heavenly Abode World. In that fight, Wang Wei experienced his greatest failure since his cultivation journey; that event was a turning point in his life.
He experienced humiliation, pain, and despair; he had never come so close to death in his life. In that fight, he felt Di Tian was an insurmountable mountain, crushing him physically and spiritually. Many times, he felt despair not only because he was close to death but because he could not see the hope of overcoming this monster.
'Without his pressure, I would never reach my current height,' he commented. 'There is a saying back on Earth that a hero is only as good as his villain. Batman would not be as great as he is without the Joker, and the same for Superman and Lex Luther.'
Wang Wei agreed with this saying. Of course, in the case of Di Tian and him, they were two villains.
Wang Wei continued watching the battle.
'This is the second time someone successfully schemed against me. And this, I completely lost and suffered immensely.'
Wang Wei had hundreds of ways to justify his loss. However, a defeat was a defeat; no matter his justification, it did not change the fact Di Tian bested him.
'This event is also the time I killed the most lives–innocent lives.' Although most of these deaths resulted from Di Tian's control, he also had no time to consider the lives of the countless mortals in the Heavenly Abode World, thus actively killing trillions in the process.
'In the cultivation, human life is truly one of the most worthless things,' he muttered with a sigh. Over the years, he had long overcome the guilt of his actions.
'It can be argued that I've become more ruthless and unfeeling' people have the right to call me a [Mass Murderer], and they would be justified. However, the way I see it, I've come closer to achieving my goal of being unfettered by things like human morality.' freewebnovel.cσ๓
Wang Wei was calm and peaceful; the only thing that mattered was not people's perception of him or how the world viewed him.
'The only important thing is my heart: I am at peace with who I am and my actions and that's all that matters.'
Wang Wei felt his Dao Heart strengthened, so he continued forward. The next memory was his mental breakdown after learning about his grandmother's upcoming passing.
Due to Heart Devil and inexperience regarding losing his loved ones, his mental state collapsed, and he went on a rampage.
"Well, I may have overreacted," he muttered with some embarrassment; he could not help despite how thick skin or shameless he was.
'During that mental breakdown, I learned about the antithesis of my Fate Dao and pursuit of freedom–Free Will or Choice,' he analyzed the memory.
'It's also because of this event I realize the weight of the burden placed on my shoulder: my parents, Li Jun, Yan Liling, and countless people were counting on me to prove the Dao.'
Wang Wei watched the scene where he planned an Emperor Path for the other people in his family. His eyes became firmer as he reinforced his ambition of becoming an Emperor and ensuring his family's prosperity and longevity.
He continued walking, and the following core memories were all about the Supreme Outlaw Trial. The entire event was highly stressful for him. Death loomed over him at all times, and this time, it was for real.
During many of his near-death experiences, a small part deep in his mind always reassured him since he knew he could rely on his luck, his background, and Wu Hong to survive. However, none of these were helpful in the trial, and he had to rely on himself.
'I cannot believe how closed I came to death; one wrong step and I would become one of the countless souls fallen while walking the Emperor Path.'
Wang Wei shivered as he remembered the pressure he faced when Empyrean Black Heart showed up. If he were one second late and missed the opportunity, the latter would have eradicated him from the mortal world.
And since it was a Supreme Outlaw Trial, Wang Wei knew Wu Hong would not be able to revive him with [Existence Reconstruction]--unless she had the power beyond Grand Dao.
"Really closed," he muttered before focusing on the next core memory: Zhen Chao.
"Karma, the idea that actions have consequences,' muttered Wang Wei as he looked at the young man full of hatred. In this situation, he was undoubtedly the villain since he ordered Zhen Chao's death.
"Could all of this be prevented?" he asked himself. If he did not order the killing of Patriarch Zhen Yong and the death of the entire Zhen Clan, Zhen Chao would not have any reason to hate and desire to kill me.
'This question is meaningless,' concluded Wang Wei. With his power, maybe he only needed to control the Zhen Clan and not kill them. However, it would become more difficult to have absolute control of the Great Xia Dynasty.
'Human greed is endless. Even if spared Zhen Yong and the other noble clans, there is the possibility that they would take my kindness for weakness and secretly try to intervene in the dynasty's power.
'Without killing the noble clans, I would never have established such a prosperous dynasty and achieved Rainbow Luck in the trial. So, I don't regret my decision.
'Furthermore, even if I did not create Zhen Chao, Heavenly Dao would have created another [Avenger] to destroy because of the trial. This person could have been from all the lives destroyed in the Heavenly Abode World or the devil cultivators I killed after losing control.'
Wang Wei did not regret his decisions; all actions have consequences–that's karma.
"And since I have not transcended Karma and become free and unfettered, I must obey this law."
He had long accepted that he must play the game before winning it. And one of the rules of the game is being restricted by karma.
Wang Wei's Dao Heart once again sublimated as he continued his journey. The next memory he saw was when the mysterious masked man attacked him along with numerous Emperors.
'For the second time, I lost someone dear to me,' he pondered as he watched Ancestor Wucheng's death. 'And this time, it was my fault. I realized how weak and insignificant I was in the grand scheme of things.'
Then, he watched how he died.
'Death–the end of life. I never thought it would be such a quiet and peaceful thing,' commented Wang Wei.
Another important aspect of this memory was the conversation he overheard while in a state of Limbo. Unfortunately, he did not know the meaning of that conversation despite having thousands of theories. So, he did not let this event affect him too much. Anyway, he will one day find the answer.
The memory moved forward and stopped to a recent event: Wu Hong's parting. Wang Wei relived that moment, and his heart still ached. A small part of him wanted to relive that memory over and over so he could still be with her in some shape or form.
Sadly, he knew he could not live forever in his memory. So, process his pain and loss before moving on.
'The tempering is finished, but I have not found my answer.' During his Mortal Dust, he wanted to know whether there was a reason he was so obsessed with attaining freedom and hoped to find an answer.
'In that case, let's go back even further to Earth.'
Wang Wei's memories changed to his time on Earth. He saw a 5-year-old version of himself talking to a few kids at the orphanage while playing in the mud, trying to catch bugs and worms.
"When I grow up, I want to be an astronaut and go to the moon," said Big brother Sun Tian, a slightly chubby little boy that looked about seven years old.
" Xiao Yun, what do you want to be when you grow up?" he asked, looking at a cute little girl about four years old with twin braids.
"Hmm, let me think. I want to be a doctor and save lives," replied Wei Yun, with dirt all over her pink cheeks. Despite being a girl, she did not care about the mud on her face and clothes.
"Big brother Wang Wei, what about you?"
"I want to be a famous football player like Ronaldinho, Zidane, or Rivaldo," replied Wang Wei with shining eyes. "I want to win the World Cup and be the best player in the world."
"Really? That's awesome," replied Wei Yun. "I believe you can do it."
"Me too," said Sun Tian as he patted the thin Wang Wei with a little too much force. "Don't forget to send me tickets to your games."
"I will," replied Wang Wei with a smile. Then, his attention switched to something else as he yelled, "Caught one."
"Really? Let me see."
The scene broke, and Wang Wei saw another scene where he was a seven-year-old. He sat before his class teacher, and the latter looked at him with a frown.
"Wang Wei, I heard you want to become a football player?"
"Yes, it's my dream."
"It's such a waste of your intelligence," said the teacher. "Plus, you have no chance."
"What? Teacher, what do you mean?"
"Do you know how low of a chance it is to become an international football player?" asked the teacher before spending the next ten minutes telling Wang Wei about the current situation of China's Football League, about the lack of funding, the low statistic to enter well-know leagues like La Liga, and his lack of talent in the department. The teacher even showed him videos of children his age displaying remarkable talent and abilities.
"Wang Wei, I'm not saying this to affect you negatively–I just want you to be realistic. You are one of our best students. As long as you keep your grade consistent all the way to High School, you have the opportunity to enter the best University in the country and even study abroad.
"By then, you can become a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or scientist; that's the best way not to waste your talent."
The young Wang Wei's face was pale, and his body trembled.
"Wang Wei, children from your background cannot change their destiny through sport," the teacher said reassuringly. "Only through hard work and study can you succeed in life."
Wang Wei left the office with his head lowered. From that day on, he never mentioned his dream of becoming a football player; he became more taciturn and focused on his study.
The memory changed to another scene. Wang Wei was in his last year of high school, having dinner with his parents and little brother.
"Wei'er, have you decided on a major to study?" asked his mother in a gentle voice.
"Yes, I decided on Civil Engineering," he replied.
"Any reason?"
"No, I find it interesting." Wang Wei lied; his reason was that he wanted to build a football stadium. Although he could not be a player, he decided to build the stadium they played in.
"I have already decided you will be studying business," said his father in an unquestionable tone.
"Why would I do that?" argued Wang Wei, not hiding his annoyance and anger.
"Otherwise, how will you help your younger brother manage the company?"
"I–"
"No need to say anything: it's already decided."
Wang Wei gritted his teeth before lowering his head. Meanwhile, his left hand clutched so hard that his nails cut into his skin. But he did not care about the pain.
He secretly looked at his mother, hoping she could say something. However, she also had her head lowered.
The scene flashed forward to Wang Wei during university; he visited his parents during vacation. The four had dinner, but the room was quiet, with only the sound of chewing and swallowing.
After dinner, his father looked at him and directly said, "I have arranged a marriage for you. Her name is Liao Zhenzhen, and she is the beloved daughter of Liao Nianzu, the owner of Shinbei Group.
"This marriage will strengthen our group's alliance."
Wang Wei looked at his father with a deadpan expression. In his mind, he was wondering where the man he knew and loved went, the man who adopted and doted on him.
"So, it was not enough for you to decide my major, you also want to control my marriage too?"
"What did you say?"
"I don't think I stuttered."
"You unfilial son," roared his father, slamming his hand on the table. "I raised you since you were little, put food on the table, clothed and housed you. Is this how you repay me?"
Wang Wei clenched his hand as he looked this stranger in the eyes.
His father snorted coldly, "Since when is it wrong for a father to decide his children's marriage?"
Wang Wei did not say anything, and he did not speak to anyone in the house for the next week of his vacation; he did not even eat in the house. He returned to school and continued his life as if nothing had happened.
However, three months later, a scandal shocked the country. Liao Zhenzhen, the princess of the Shinbei Group, was caught doing numerous illegal drugs and entering a hotel while snuggling intimately with another man.
The news spread like wildfire as countless news outlets, and online blogs talked about this event. Although some influential people tried to control the situation, it was useless.
After that incident, his father never mentioned the marriage again, or any arranged marriage for that matter.
Wang Wei calmly watched these events. He realized many things from these few memories. For example, he subconsciously buried many of his Earth memories because of the pain and trauma.
Secondly, he finally understood why it was so easy for him to integrate into this world and accept his new family. For once, he genuinely wanted parental love and concern–he wanted a happy and loving family with no strives. But it's also because his situation on Earth was not ideal.
"When I first reincarnated into this world, I had no urge to return to Earth. I knew I could do it once I was strong enough, but I was not in a hurry, nor did I have any longing for life on Earth. Now, I understand why."
He sighed as he felt more at peace.
Then, the scene changed one last time.
A slightly obese middle-aged man threw a stack of paper at his chest. The action popped a button on his undersized shirt.
"What is this?"
"The report you asked for," he replied, trying to control his anger.
"Is this how I told you to do it?" screamed Manager Zhang; everyone in the office could hear him.
"This is what's best for the client?"
"Says who? You?" continued the manager with his loud voice. "Listen up, boy. I heard you spread rumors you were the President's son. Do you think I would fall for such a low-level tactic?"
Manager Zhang once saw the president and his son during a company meeting and knew the latter looked nothing like Wang Wei.
"I didn't spread any rumors."
"Then, who did?"
"How would I know?"
"Boy, watch your tone," said Manager Zhang. "Redo the report. As punishment for your insubordination, you will have a three months pay cut."
Wang Wei glanced at the manager, making the latter shiver for a moment. Then, he went to his desk without saying anything else. A month later, the company arrested and fired Manager Zhang for corruption and bribery. The odd thing is they found numerous information, but Manager Zhang insisted to his last breath he was innocent.
"No wonder I want freedom," muttered Wang Wei with a sigh. "Restricted by the people I trusted, controlled by my family, and pressured by society. In my previous life, I was incapable of controlling my fate."
He thought of the major decisions he could not make, and there were a few. For many years, he felt powerless and bottled up many emotions. Although he would strike back, but only when pushed to the edge. However, he went along with the flow most of the time and accepted his fate.
'My life on Earth was suffocating. So, when given a chance to acquire power beyond human understanding, it's normal for me to want absolute freedom.]
Suddenly, Wang Wei frowned. After this tempering, his Dao Heart should have been perfected. And in some ways, it was. However, something in the back of his mind was itching.
"Things are not so simple," he muttered. "I'm missing something. My experience on Earth is not the only reason for my desire to control fate."
Wang Wei reviewed his memory from the moment he was born all the way to his death, checking every detail to see if he missed any vital component. Regrettably, he found nothing.
He frowned, 'Could it have something with my sealed memories?' He looked at the memories after the space crack swallowed him, and he entered the void-like space. He saw a seal similar to the one containing all his Spiritual Power.
'These memories are larger than even my time in the cultivation world,' he pondered whether to remove the seal. With his current soul and overall power, it should be no problem.
'No, let's wait.' These memories were vast and spawned eons, thus requiring more time to view and analyze. Furthermore, he will see how he acquired his immense Willpower, making it easier to control. However, this process requires a slow and long process; he did not know whether he could complete it before the Heaven Will Battle.
So, Wang Wei reviewed his memories from Earth, focusing on the tiniest detail. He wanted to know if his memories in life subtly influenced his current self.
'My Earth memories formed my core personality and ideals despite how long I've spent in this world. Over time, I have been assimilated by my experience in the Myriad Emperor World, but certain core ideologies and personality traits remained the same.
'So, how much influence do my Earth memories have on me?'
Wang Wei reviewed his memories, focusing on how the Earth has influenced his cultivation journey. And in the process, he found many subtle influences he did not notice before.
'Wu Hong once told me how certain Paragons' repressed memories have influenced their mind and Dao Heart, so a few of them will erase or seal the memories of their past life to prevent this from happening. Maybe, she already saw my situation,' he thought before as he continued to comb through his mind and analyze how his past experiences influenced his current self.
'Even though I have used many ideas from Earth, I usually treat my experience there as if it had no relationship with this life; it was as if I had cut off my karma with my past.'
Wang Wei treated his past life as such–his past life. Besides a few regrets he had and hoped to make up for one day once his cultivation reached a certain level, he cared little about his experience on Earth and did not think they had such a significant influence on him.
As for his obsession with controlling Earth? Before the Mortal Dust, he did not think it was an obsession; he thought it was a common goal or ambition he had after coming to this cultivation world. It was only after experiencing Mortal Dust he realized his desire to control Fate was abnormal and wanted to find the cause.
'Was I wrong? Was my desire to become free and unfettered a product of my environment on Earth, or is there something more to it?'
He frowned as he reviewed his memories over and over but found nothing. 'Do I need to review my seal memories? No, it will take too much time to search; I have a better way.'
A projection of the River of Fare manifested above his head as he divined the truth he wanted. Wang Wei's mind traveled through the river made of white and silver strings, combing through the universe.
He searched for the truth he wanted but was unsuccessful. But he did not give up. He pushed his body, soul, and Dao to the limit for this divination.
Crack!
His Dao Tree cracked, and blood spilled from his eyes, mouth, ears, and nose. His hair turned dull gray like an old man, but he did not care. Wang Wei continued roaming through the River of Fate to find the answer he wanted.
Bang! A vast amount of information entered his mind when he was on the verge of reaching his limit.
[Fate Seed: Chosen individual scattered throughout the Chaos Universe with the destiny to one day take control of the River of Fate–to become one of the Six Cardinals–The Abjucator of Fate.]
More information entered his mind, such as Fate Seeds are often people that do not like to be bound by rules and restrictions, people who pursue freedom. Most Fate Seeds are True Devils, but not all True Devils are Fate Seeds.
'Another taboo,' pondered Wang Wei, who was now numb since it was like the fifth or sixth one. So, he focused on the crucial information.
'Fate Seeds, controlling the River of Fate. Why does the River of Fate need control?'
Dang!
He did not finish his thought as he saw the River of Fate's projection suddenly turn into a real one. Then, he heard a loud voice full of killing intent.
"You little ant. The River of Fate protects the seeds from my eyes, but you were stupid enough to divine the truth."
As Wang Wei heard the voice, he suddenly found himself unable to move, and his thoughts slowed down.
'Shit,' he cursed as he knew he might truly be in trouble this time. Furthermore, he no longer has his powerful wife to protect him. Wang Wei quickly calmed down as his intuition told him Wu Hong would also be powerless if she were present.
He then saw a man with dark gray hair, pure black eyes, and short hair, handsome and ethereal, appearing from the River of Fate. The man sat on a throne, his eyes exuding the pride of someone who has looked down on all myriad beings.
The young man looked at Wang Wei directly from the River of Fate that flowed throughout the entire Chaos Universe. A terrifying killing entered Wang Wei's mind, almost collapsing his soul; he could feel even his Willpower was useless in front of this young man's gaze.
'Is this what true power is?' he thought calmly. In this brief situation, he realized how powerless he was. All his intelligence, cunningness, and power were useless before this person.
His mind tried to work and find a way out. Unfortunately, even his thinking had drastically decreased; he felt it took millions of years to think of a single word.
'A desperate and impossible situation,' he concluded. Regardless, he did not give up trying and remained calm.
"It's you," said the ethereal young man, his voice full of fear, anger, and hatred; his eyes–who seemed to have been calmed and without fluctuation for millions of Yuan Epochs–suddenly shook, displaying his uncontrolled emotions.
He looked at Wang Wei with gritted teeth. He snorted before leaving. The River of Fate disappeared as if it had never appeared.
Wang Wei exhaled deeply, his mind working correctly.
'This person knows me? No, it should be future me,' he postulated. 'This finally concluded my future self truly reached transcendence. At least, took a half step like Maitreya and Supreme Unity.'
This person gave him a feeling similar to Grand Dao–grand, noble, supreme, and irresistible. Although his aura was not the same as the Grand Dao Eye, their essence was similar. As such, he did not doubt the latter surpassed the power of Paragon.
'Transcendence–a being that has escaped the shackles of space-time, of the River of Time,' analyzed Wang Wei as he realized why this person knew him.
As for why this person did not kill him? There are many possibilities, but the greatest is he could not; most likely, his future self would intervene.
'Paragons can travel to the past and kill Emperors before they prove the Dao. So, they could technically do the same with other Paragons. So, a battle between Paragons can quickly turn into a battle to protect their past selves.'
Wang Wei frowned as he could imagine his Paragon Future Self is currently fighting many enemies trying to travel downstream of the River of Fate trying to kill the current him.
'In the future, I might have the power to fight Paragons at the Empyrean Level. However, I should never reveal my identity.' He could foresee that he could defeat a Paragon, but the latter ran to the past to kill him, but he will be powerless since he's only an Empyrean. Maybe he could protect himself to some extent since he controls Time Dao, but he did not want to take risks.
So, he warned himself to be cautious.
'I need to focus on the more important thing. Paragons should have some limitations on how much they influence the past,' he continued. 'However, Half-Step Transcendence might not have such restrictions.' fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
His mind worked faster now he was free.
'This person is probably the current Abjucator of Fate. However, for some reason, the River of Fate or Grand Dao is not satisfied with him, so they are already planning his replacement. So, he wants to eradicate all the Fate Seeds to ensure his position.
'So, why does the River of Fate want to replace him? Did he do something? Could there be any relations with the Ultimate Taboo?'
His mind calculated numerous possibilities, but he could not conclude anything because of the lack of information.
'I just acquired some answers, but I also have more questions. If my future self took a half step into transcendence, why did he not take control of the River of Fate?'
Wang Wei paused as he realized the reason. Since he found the existence of Fate Seed, he would probably refuse to take control of the river. After all, he wants true detachment, so he despises the River of Fate that has been planning against him since birth.
'So, instead of controlling the River of Fate, I should….' His eyes squinted as he began to plan for his path of Transcendence. Although he only has vague ideas and no concrete plan, it was more than 99% of sentient beings in the Chaos Universe.
Wang Wei breathed out as he found his Dao Heart was perfected about finding his status as a Fate Seed. He looked at his terrible state and knew he would soon visit Elder Dao.
So, he prepared to return to the sect. But his step suddenly stopped.
'No, things are not so simple as it seems on the surface,' he pondered as he thought of something that made him see the chess game that spawns across space and time.
Wang Wei asked himself: how did he acquire the title or position of Fate Seed? The logical answer is Grand Dao, or the River of Fate, saw his personality and desires after he reincarnated into this world and gave him the position.
There is even a high possibility he became a Fate Seed once he was in the void, trying to survive by swallowing these purple orbs, meaning someone or something had determined his life and destiny eons ago.
'However, what if things were worse than I anticipated,' thought Wang Wei, looking at the world through complete malice. 'What if I was a Fate Seed ever since I was a mortal on Earth? What would be the implications behind this notion if it were true?'
Despite how horrifying this theory was, he calmed down to ponder the significance behind this possibility.
'Firstly, it will mean the Prehistoric World is not completely sealed or out of Grand Dao's control. Instead, the latter has been planning how to deal with and regain control of the Prehistoric for a long time.'
Wang Wei's mind entered a state of absolute calm, and his soul began to evolve the changes of the entire Chaos Universe. In the process, his understanding of Yin-Yang Dao–especially regarding the changes in the world.
'Grand Dao placed countless Fate Seeds in the Prehistoric World, and I was one of them. Unfortunately, I had an accident and should have died. However, through sheer Willpower, I created a miracle and reversed my fate.
'However, Grand Dao did not allow such a pawn with great potential to escape so easily and granted me the Fate Seed Position for the entire Choas Universe.
'I guess I should be happy my position elevated from the potential manager of a small branch (Normal Chaos World) to the potential leader of the entire Chaos Universe.'
Wang Wei could not hide the sneer in his eyes, but he soon calmed down. Although he did not know 100% whether he was correct, he knew his conjecture had a high probability of being the truth. So, he continued to theorize based on his previous assumptions.
'My death might not be an accident, but the Prehistoric World's Heavenly Dao way of cleaning up cancers.'
The Fate Seeds chosen by Grand Dao were similar to viruses in the Prehistoric World and were potentially harmful.
'If that conjecture is true, why did Hongjun save me? According to mythology, he should have fused with Heavenly Dao and become the embodiment of the Dao.'
Wang Wei frowned as his theory began to collapse once he thought of this.
'So, either I am wrong, or the mythology is unreliable, and Hongjun did not fuse with Heavenly Dao. Of course, there is a third possibility: he let me live for another reason.'
Wang Wei was more inclined to the third reason.
'According to my previous predictions, Hongjun reincarnated multiple people from Earth, or the Prehistoric World entered different Chaos Worlds for some reason. Whatever that reason might be why he chose to let me live.'
Wang Wei took a deep breath before continuing to theorize.
'Grand Dao's purpose is leaving so many pawns in the shape of Fate Seeds in the Prehistoric World is most likely for them to control the branch of the River of Fate in that world, thus allowing it to regain absolute control of the Prehistoric World.'
However, Wang Wei frowned:
'Does the Prehistoric World even has a River of Fate?'
Wang Wei would not usually ask such a question, but after seeing the development of the Science and Technology World, he understood the Prehistoric World might be a place where the laws of the entire world are different from the entire Chaos Universe. So, it's not out of the realm of possibility that it did not have a River of Fate.
'River of Fate might be a module only for this Choas Universe,' thought Wang Wei as he remembered his theory on what existed beyond the Chaos Universe. However, this was not the time to get into these things, so he focused on the task at hand.
'It does not matter whether there is a River of Fate. As long as these Fate Seeds are intelligent enough and have the same mindset as me, they would want to control the fate of all living beings. So, they will most likely create their personal River of Fate,' he sneered, thinking how he would behave if he stayed in the Prehistoric World and reached the pinnacle of the cultivation path.
'However, there is another flaw to this theory: how can Grand Dao control the Prehistoric World through the River of Fate? If a Fate Seed successfully created the river, the power that protects the Prehistoric World should completely isolate Grand Dao's power; this meant that the River of Fate would be an isolated branch of the main river.
'For countless years, Grand Dao has not been able to breach that power. So, how could it control the Prehistoric World from the inside? Unless there is something wrong with the body of these Fate Seeds.'
A look of horror flashed in Wang Wei's mind, but he used his terrifying Willpower to calm down.
'Calm down; this is only one possibility.'
His mind rushed to the limit as he tried to figure out other possibilities.
'Fish bone stuck on the throat,' he suddenly thought as his eyes lit up.
'Whatever power that protects the Prehistoric World is on par or can compete with Grand Dao. This power could be from Hongjun or the legendary Pangu, who opened the world. However, its origin does not matter for now.
'Because of that power, the Prehistoric World is like a bone stuck in Grand Dao's throat–a bone it cannot swallow or get rid of. However, Grand Dao can do the same to the Prehistoric World and plant a bone it cannot swallow–a River of Fate.'
Wang Wei's soul began working faster and harder than ever since he started his cultivation journey. He used his Spirit Particles to divine his mind into trillions and achieved accelerating thinking. Furthermore, his 365 [Future Buddha Self] also contributed.
As such, Wang Wei felt he was closer to the truth.
'The Prehistoric World's River of Fate is like a seed for Grand Dao's plan. And once a Fate Seed controls the river, the seed will activate, and the plan will be completed. By then, the Prehistoric World will become of the many Normal Chaos Worlds in the universe and probably no longer be a taboo.
'Then, the fate of Earth will be determined. If Science and Technology is a taboo because it originated from the Prehistoric World, it will be fine. If it is because of something else, then Grand Dao will erase it from existence.'
Wang Wei exhaled as his soul slowed down; he felt he was closer to the truth of the universe.
'Although this possibility has a higher chance of being true, there is also the possibility of the first one or a combination of the two. So, how to deal with it if it's true?"
He frowned again as he realized unless he reached a similar level to Grand Dao, he would never know whether the latter placed something inside his body or soul due to his status as a Fate Seed.
'Two options: use outside help like the Dark Truth. However, I cannot rely on unknown power for everything.'
A ruthless light flashed in his mind.
'The second option is to abandon my body, soul, and even Existence. Find another body and implant my memories, thoughts patterns, goals, ambitions, and ideologies into it, turning it into me.'
With this method, Wang Wei would essentially be dead since even his [Existence] would be different.
ραпdǎ Й?νêl(сòm) 'However, this is another way to break the game.'
The chosen body will be someone else dominated by his memories and ideologies, so in some ways, it is him. The only issue is the face, but that can easily be changed. Wang Wei did not want to use a clone to prevent the possibility of failure, so it had to be an entirely different person.
Wang Wei took a moment to refine this desperate plan; he decided the chosen body should be from his world of Science and Technology to prevent possible errors or tempering from Grand Dao.
"Grand Dao is ruthless, and everyone in their eyes is equal, so an ant and a Paragon are essentially the same. So, it can use the entire Chaos Universe as a chessboard.
"Only by taking a step into transcending can it barely be qualified as a Chess Player," muttered Wang Wei as his Dao Heart became perfect, and his state of mind reached its final sublimation in the Mortal Stages of his cultivation journey.
He sighed as he felt his body become lighter and easier to use.
'However, I have still not overcome my bottleneck. Could I really have to wait for the final battle?' His intuition told him he might have to wait until the battle to find what he was missing.
Suddenly, he caught a whim of fate and made a divination:
"Two battles, two breakthroughs, one useless, one successful, forming a cycle–finally breaking the shackles of death."
'Interesting,' thought Wang Wei as he realized he might have to change some of his tactics for this final battle.
Wang Wei sat cross-legged on the floor as Elder Dan injected energy into his body, repairing his injured body, soul, and Dao Tree. Then, Origin One suddenly appeared in the room.
He looked at Wang Wei and felt he was different; he felt a sense of peacefulness and completeness. Origin One secretly nodded as he guessed he must have significantly benefited during his outing.
"You really are a troublemaker," he said as he looked at the latter's terrible state.
"Trouble follows me like a vulture to dead meat," shrugged Wang Wei.
"So, who made you in such a state?"
"Unless you want to be involved in a taboo, don't ask."
"No need," he shook his head; he already felt something wrong when he saw Wang Wei was the only one who returned. However, after seeing no deep sadness emanating from him, and his Dao Heart was intact, he felt relieved.
"You remind me of a young Qiyaun," added Origin One.
"Oh, was my ancestor a troublemaker as well?"
"I was the Dao Protector of these three little brats as they traveled throughout the Endless Void," said Origin One with a look of reminisce.
"Yan Hai had quite the temper when she was young, and with her unparallel talent, she got into a lot of trouble. Wang Qishan was a very curious individual, and with his ideas that often contradicted the time, he also made a lot of enemies.
"Only Li Ming was the voice of reason; he was the calm and rational one of the group. However, once you angered him, he was truly a scary individual.
"Three of them were people of great destiny. So, once they were together, they were as bad as you when it came to attracting trouble."
"The ancestors' stories seemed quite interesting," nodded Wang Wei. "I always felt it was a pity Battle Maniac did become an Eternal Emperor."
"He was destined to have such an achievement," replied Origin One.
"Oh? His talent should have been more than enough."
"Heavenly Dao cannot tolerate a sect to have three Eternal Emperors–let three consecutive ones; it would break the power balance of the entire lower dimension."
He had his suspicion after the sudden and legendary rise of the Sword Casting Villa's founder. And after Li Ming only became a Pseudo-Emperor, he affirmed his suspicions.
Origin One sighed with some helplessness, "It's all about balance. Back in their era, most worlds had just survived the Null Era, leaving them with broken civilizations. If the Dao Opening Sect had three Eternal Emperors, it would have the power to conquer the Endless Void.
pàпdá-ň?νêι.сóМ "Even to the present, there have been only two factions with Two Eternal Emperors. I guess if it were not for the current situation, it would have become a hundred times more challenging for you to become an Eternal Emperor."
"No, the Spirit Genesis Sect is probably going to have a third one as well, so it's balanced out," replied Wang Wei with a frown. "The only issue is my father and the others."
"Your father's talent is also unparallel. With your destiny protecting him, he won't have an issue. However, if you want the others to become Eternals…." Origin One shook his head.
Wang Wei grunted as he predicted this outcome. With Li Jun, Yan Liling, and his mother's talent, they met the requirement to become Eternal Emperors. However, there is a tiny chance they will succeed.
'Heavenly Dao is on my side, but it is still a program that will execute its orders. So, it will not be lenient on me and maintain the balance. So, my only option for the others might be the Dusk Emperor's method of becoming a Boundless Paragon.'
"Let's not mention these things for now," added Wang Wei. "Does the sect has good ways for me to temper my body?"
He wanted to see if there was a way to increase his strength as much as possible in the last few hundred years. Currently, only his body and Law Comprehension have room for improvement.
However, Law Comprehension takes time, and the body is difficult to temper unless he used the method he's been preparing for after becoming a Great Emperor.
For example, the poisons Yan Liling raised for him. Or, began cultivating the [Fiendgod 12 Revolutions]. Over the years, he modified this method and even created the embryonic form of the 10th Revolution.
However, he still wanted to wait until he became an Emperor before completing the technique and cultivating it.
Origin One frowned before saying, "I can think of one method that Mortal can use. However, there might be some hidden dangers, so you decide whether to use it or not."
"What method?"
"Follow me."
Origin One led him to a secret realm in the sect where he saw nine pools of blood. Some were golden, pure red, white, and even black. And from each blood, he sensed a different power or Dao.
"Is this?"
"Yes, Emperor Bloods from the ancestors."
Wang Wei's eyes lit up after seeing this; this should be some good stuff. "If we have such a thing, why not baptize young children with the Emperor's Blood to increase their talent?"
"We have done this before," said Origin One. "However, the blood contains their imprint. After entering the Void Shattering Realm, the imprint will forcibly change the Law of these children.
"So far, only two people successfully fought against that process–Hell Judgment and Rainbow. However, I suspect it is the reason they are only First Class Emperor and not Pseudo Eternal."
"Is this the hidden danger you said?"
"Yes. Although you have Great Emperor's power, your essence is still Mortal and can be influenced by their imprint. So, you decide whether to take the risk."
"Forget it," replied Wang Wei. He was so close to the final battle, and he did not want to take risks that could complicate things.
"It's up to you."
Wang Wei did not waste time and left to see his family.
"Wei'er, you're back? Where is Hong'er?" asked Yu Yan, who was sewing a new set of clothes; she was almost done with the process and planned to refine it into an artifact afterward.
"She's gone."
She paused, "We knew this day might come. Are you okay?"
"I will manage."
"Your grandfather left his retreat. Let's have a family dinner."
Wang Wei walked to the backyard and saw his father slowly practicing the sword. Meanwhile, his grandfather was reading a book. He immediately frowned as he saw the latter. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"What's wrong with you?" he could feel a breath of decay on his grandfather's body, which only appears to people close to their lifespan limit.
"I overdid it a little," replied Wang Chang, and Wang Wei knew what he meant. His grandfather's talent was genuinely subpar compared to his and his father's. As such, even with the method created by Wang Wei, the final result of his training would be 1 to 2 Leaf.
However, he was ruthless and sacrificed his lifespan to increase his potential, thus achieving 3-Leaf Peak.
"In your current situation, even Elder Dan can't easily fix you." Sacrificing life span for potential was not the same as doing for a sudden burst in power. The damage was more severe.
"Don't worry. With your Health Preserving Art, I can live for a few thousand more years," replied Wang Chang calmly; he had made his choice and was at peace with it. Furthermore, he still has hope as long as his grandson becomes an Emperor.
However, he did not say these words because he did not want to put more pressure on Wang Wei.
"I'll give you some Chaos Qi to absorb."
"No need; use it before the battle."
"Alright," Wang Wei said as he no longer persuaded him.
The family had dinner, and they reassured Wang Wei everything would be alright without Wu Hong. Finally, Wang Wei prepared to spend the remaining 400 years in retreat.
However, he suddenly had the idea of checking out the Source Qi Space.
'With my current strength, it should be no problem to take a long.'
Without hesitation, he used his Qi Flower Ability to access the Source Qi Space. Wang Wei found himself in a world that was blue and white; the ground, sky, and air seemed the color blue.
He looked in the distance and saw a towering mountain.
'Is this mountain made of Qi?'
He used his Divine Sense to check, and his assumption was correct; this mountain was not composed of matter but pure energy or Qi.
'This is fascinating,' he commented as he tried to teleport before the mountain. However, he discovered it was a thousand times more challenging to teleport to the distance, and it was easier to fly.
'What a great restriction.'
Wang Wei flew to the mountain to analyze it. However, he suddenly felt a sense of danger and flew into the distance.
Boom!
The mountain exploded out of nowhere.
"This power is very close to Third Class. Is this place so dangerous? Moreover, what are the rules and regulations?" he muttered. Wang Wei pondered for a moment before deciding to check the other areas.
However, he suddenly stopped as he noticed an abnormality in his body.
'My lifespan is reducing with each passing minute,' he thought with a frown. "Is this because I'm still a mortal and do not have the Immortal Essence of a Tier 11 Cultivator?'
Wang Wei weighed the pros and cons of the situation before deciding to return once he became an Emperor. So, he left the [Source Qi Space] and returned to his retreat.
The sect's Emperors left the unique status of them Preaching the Dao. He decided to use them during this retreat.
Time passed, and the world became quiet as every Heaven Chosens prepared for the final preparations. Everyone thought this peace would remain the same until the time of the final battle.
However, three years before the date, something happened that caught the attention of the entire world.
Wang Wei left his place of retreat as he floated above the sect. Many people followed him as they looked at the sky.
A cloud of purple shrouded the entire world. Dao Lotus, music, and golden clouds scattered above the Heavens.
"Someone prove the Dao," commented Wang Chang.
"Xu Shi," suddenly said Wang Wei.
"You think it's her."
"Very likely."
"In that case, she's most likely an Eternal Emperor."
Once an Emperor appears, there will be visions and auspicious signs throughout the world and even the entire World Community. However, once an Eternal Emperor appears, their vision will also spread to nearby World Communities.
As such, Wang Wei believes this sign is from the Emperor of the Martial Hegemony World Community.
"I wonder how far her vision spread," added Wang Tian.
"She's very talented and might become an Eternal Supreme," commented Wang Wei. "So, it should be pretty far."
"What about your vision?" asked Yu Yan with a smile.
"You can wait and see," replied Wang Wei with a confident smile. "Anyway, it will truly be brilliant and a sight to see."
"We are waiting."
—-
END OF VOLUME
NEXT VOLUME: FATE DOMINATING EMPEROR
Wang Wei sat cross-legged in the air with a book in his hand. Throughout his years in retreat, he focused on reading cultivation systems from other World Communities. He learned many things–especially from the Emperor Dao World, the Star Beast World, and Ji Lanfang's World.
The Emperor Dao World's cultivation system was beneficial to his Fate Palaces since the Spiritual Foundation was the source of their creations.
The Star Beast World's reached an extreme in refining the body, so it helped immensely. In the past 500 years since his breakthrough into the Quasi-Emperor World, he increased his strength by one Fiendgod Force to reach 20.
Ji Lanfang's cultivation system was interesting because of the Dao Treading Realm in which cultivators create a Heaven Path toward the Grand Dao Source. He theorized the creator tried to develop a way for people to use this road to become Great Emperors without relying on the [Heaven Will].
Wang Wei became inspired by this technique and thought of creating a Heaven Road leading to the Source Qi Space and relying on it to bring Innate Qi to the Myriad Emperor World; this method might be more reliable than the one he thought. Or a combination of the two.
After reading and understanding another cultivation system, Wang Wei put it away before taking out an ordinary-looking book. He did not immediately open it but caressed the cover.
He flipped the first page and stared at the handwriting; for a moment, he was dazed–lost in his memories. He subconsciously touched the handwriting before sighing.
He had read this book more than a thousand times, so people would think it would be some peerless technique. And in some ways, the information contained was as precious as any peerless Emperor Scripture. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Wu Hong left him this notebook with many reminders and a few pieces of information. Many of which he could only open after proving the Dao. However, the ones he could read were indeed important.
For example, she reminded him that Willpower was very important to body refiners after opening the Gate of Power and Gate of Flesh. According to her, it is one of the core power of Indestructible Empyreans and Inextinguishable Paragons.
Willpower–along with obsession and other strong emotions–is considered one of the few powers in the Chaos Universe capable of creating miracles.
Another critical knowledge she left for him was her understanding of the Emperor's Body and the technique of [Awakening].
Finally, it was her warning that anything could happen in the final battle, and he should be psychologically prepared for the worst-case scenarios.
Wang Wei calmly read the notebook, not impatient in the slightest despite already memorizing every word. In the process, he felt she was next to him, teaching him; he remembered the days when she tried to be serious and teach him something, but he purposely acted like a rascal and secretly harassed her.
"Hmm?" muttered Wang Wei as he felt something. A token appeared before him, sending him more information.
"Only three days? It's finally time," muttered Wang Wei; he knew the decisive moment had arrived. After cultivating for millions of years, all cultivators with ambitions will fight in a decisive battle.
The winner becomes king, proves the Dao, attains immortality, and becomes an existence that stands above myriad races and worlds, a being that escaped the shackles of death, sickness, and aging.
Meanwhile, the loser will either die or suffer in agony after missing this opportunity; they have to slowly watch as their lifespan runs out and enter reincarnation.
"The Emperor System is truly cruel. Trillions of cultivators fighting in a cage match like animals, doing their best for one opportunity."
Wang Wei sighed. Many years ago, he described the Heaven Will Battle the same way Poison Dao cultivators raised Gu: placed a bunch of venomous and poisonous insects into a cage and had them fight and absorb each other's poisons. The final winner will be the most poisonous creature.
'This method disgusts me, but I also understand one must play the game to win it.' His current self was nowhere near the stage where he could make or even bend the rules.
Wang Wei regained his composure before waving his hand to send the message to the sect. With this single move, the entire Dao Opening Sect began to operate at an unprecedented height. And it was not only them. All factions in the world participating in this battle began to move: Emperor Lineage and Supreme Lineages, Devil Cultivators, Demons, and even Loose Cultivators.
Wang Wei walked out of his mansion and went to see his parents. If things went wrong, he might only have the last three days with them. Although he had already made multiple preparations, things often went wrong, so there was no perfect plan.
He walked into the room and saw his family waiting for him. His mother and father looked the same. Meanwhile, his father's aura had improved but by not much.
Sacrificing lifespan for potential was not a simple thing and had severe consequences. No matter the World Community, the lifespan limit of Quasi-Emperors is One Yuan Epoch or 1.269 trillion years. However, after what his grandfather did, his limit was reduced to 10 million years. And unless extraordinary measures are used, this fact cannot change.
Furthermore, his remaining lifespan was less than 3000 years.
'If I lose, this old man might not live long,' thought Wang Wei. With his grandfather's current state, sealing himself with Blood Stones might aggravate his situation instead of prolonging his life.
"How are you feeling?" asked Yu Yan.
"Calm and ready."
"That's good. You have prepared to the best of your ability, and that's all that matters."
Wang Wei sat at the diner table.
"I have imparted all my experience to you, and you have read the experience of the sect's predecessors, so I have no other way to help you," added Wang Chang, who looked at his grandson with satisfaction and guilt; he realized he should have hidden his actions during the training to not put pressure on Wang Wei.
'If I stayed inside and waited until he left for the final battle, it would have been the best,' thought Wang Chang before secretly shaking his head. He understood his grandson would have checked on him before the final battle. So, the current situation is due to his selfishness.
"You don't need to overthink about anything else," reassured Wang Wei, who guessed what was on his mind.
"That's right," added Wang Tian, who gave everyone a jar of wine. "Ever since he was born as the Young Master of the sect, he was burdened with the hope, dream, and ambitions of millions of people; this is a destiny he could not escape from."
"Wei'er has always been an understanding child," said Yu Yan with a smile. "To be honest, I hoped you did mature too soon or display your intelligence at such a young age. If it were up to me, I would want you to have a normal, peaceful, and ignorant childhood."
"We cannot change the past," said Wang Wei with a calm smile. "Plus, I had a great childhood." His reincarnation into this world fulfilled his desire for maternal and paternal love, so, despite the immense pressure he faced, his childhood was one of his most precious memories.
The family drank while eating. Soon afterward, Wang Tian became drunk.
"Hahaha, Wei'er, you have no idea how proud I am of you," said Wang Tian in a loud voice. "I suppress a generation. Meanwhile, my son is one of the most brilliant Heaven Chosen this world has ever seen.
"Even if you don't become a Great Emperor, your story will forever be entrenched in the annals of history; you will be a legend in the cultivating world."
Wang Tian took a sip of his wine, "My only regret is I could not be more helpful to your cultivation path. My job as a father should be to protect you from winds and clouds. Unfortunately, you grew too fast and beyond my capabilities."
"You did your best," said Wang Wei. "Without your support, love, and guidance, I would not be who I am today."
"Hahaha, is that so? I'm glad you feel that way."
"I thought you would say you regret he did not practice the sword," added Yu Yan.
"Don't bring up my sore spot." Wang Tian could not help but remember his dream of father and son fighting Heaven and Earth, both supreme Swordsmen that have reached the pinnacle of the Sword Dao.
"What a shame, what a shame," he muttered softly before falling asleep.
"He's been paranoid recently that the Heaven Will Battle will suddenly be canceled at the last minute," said Yu Yan as she looked at her husband's state.
"It's understandable, given what happened to your generation," commented Wang Chang."
Wang Wei did not say anything and continued drinking. The family spent the next few days together. One day before the due date, Li Jun, Yan Liling, and their family came to have dinner.
Finally, it was the due date.
"Are you ready?" asked Wang Wei as he looked at the four of them.
"Yes," replied Li Jun. Yan Liling and Wang Ju nodded, and Tie Gang was too nervous to answer.
"Then, let's go."
------
The battle finally begins. Let's hope things go smoothly for Wang Wei and for me--the author--who is stressed out hoping this volume will be well written.
Wang Wei and the group teleported to the Sky Blue Domain on the eastern side of the Central Continent. Their destination was the Blood Fish River, a relatively famous river in the continent because of a special fish called Blood Fish.
The fish was an excellent resource to temper the body, so many Divine Body Realm cultivators will use it. Furthermore, it is also beneficial for healing injuries.
A crack opened near the river, and Wang Wei's group suddenly appeared. Immediately, everyone suddenly became tense. Because of Wang Wei's fame and prestige, most people regarded him as the biggest threat to this battle.
So, thousands of eyes secretly looked at him once he arrived. Some bold people even tried to test his power with their Divine Sense. Unfortunately, these stupid people suffered the consequences of their actions as Li Jun released a terrifying killing intent that destroyed their Divine Sense, thus giving these people a small penalty.
'Did you notice?' asked Yan Liling through Divine Sense.
'Yes, poison,' replied Tie Gang. Many Heaven Chosen secretly released poison to affect the surroundings.
'I'm speechless some people use this kind of f low-level tactic,' added Li Jun. Any factions with any experience in participating in the final battle know to be weary at the entrance. So, guarding against things like poison and spiritual hints was basic common sense.
'This tactic might useless for us, but it might work for some of the Supreme Lineages–especially the ones who only cultivate a Quasi-Emperor in this generation," commented Wang Wei.
Not all Supreme Lineages participate in the final battle. After all, as long as a faction has a True Monarch, they are a Supreme Lineage. As such, many do not have the experience to guard against such tactics.
'True.'
Wang Wei looked around and recognized the participants–especially the one he had dealt with. However, he frowned when he realized there were a few he had no information on.
'Young Master, I'm sorry for my dereliction of duty,' suddenly said Wang Ju.
'It's fine. There is no absolute, so it's normal if you don't information on some people.'
Wang Wei knew the final battle was full of uncertainty. Some factions would hide behind the scene and show up at the last minute. As such, he would not blame Wang Ju for something outside of her capabilities.
Wang Wei then paid attention to Mo Xingyun and Yu Zhou. The Heaven Devouring Emperor showed in his true form and did use a puppet. Yu Zhou had acquired a new body, but his soul aura was easily recognized.
He knew why these guys were so confident to show before him–they were protected. The moment the final battle's date arrived, the participants' Entrance Token turned into the best defensive treasure in the entire Myriad Emperor World.
Even if an Eternal Supreme attacked them, the latter would be unsuccessful because these participants were protected by Heavenly Dao. And during this period, the power of Heavenly Dao was at an all-time high. If anyone dares to threaten the accomplishment of the battle, Heavenly Dao has the right to borrow power from True Heavenly Dao and eliminate the threat.
So, before entering the place of the battle, competitors can scheme against each other but cannot kill one another.
'I wonder whether Maitreya and Supreme Unity can interfere in the battle? Heavenly Dao should not be able to stop them, but would Grand Dao show up if they tried?' thought Wang Wei before focusing on another strange person covered in a hood, hiding from head to toe.
'This aura seemed familiar, but I couldn't recognize who it was.' The person stood alone, so he could not tell who it was based on their generals. Suddenly, Wang Wei's eyes changed, and he saw something.
'Him? Why did he change so much?' He frowned as another variable that he did not account for appeared. Although he was not worried, he knew it was taboo to be careless during such an important event.
'Keep an eye on him,' warned Wang Wei to Li Jun.
'I will.'
A crack appeared, and Di Tian's group arrived, followed by four people following him. Wang Wei glanced at him, resentment hidden deep in his eyes.
A part of him blamed this bastard for Wu Hong's departure. If he was not so powerful and such a threat to him, how would she be forced to use her Emperor's Strength twice because of him?
Of course, he blamed himself more. After all, if he was not so weak and forced into terrible situations multiple times, maybe she would still be with him. Even if she would one day dissipate, the time could be extended to before he ascended to the upper dimension.
Wang Wei took a deep breath to control his emotions; he knew he had to be in the best state of mind for this battle, so he entered a state of intense focus and no distraction.
Less than half an hour later, a scroll appeared above the sky with the rules of this battle.
"A One Last Man Standing Battle," Yan Liling stated.
"We already theorized this was the possibility," commented Li Jun.
"In this way, luck has no effect on who can prove the Dao in this generation," added Wang Wei. According to the sect's records, there are different types of Heaven Will Battle.
The most common one is everybody fights, and at some point, the Heaven Will will appear, and the participants will rush over to get their hands on it. With this method, some lucky individuals might be closer to the Heaven Will and be lucky enough to be the final winner. However, they still have to survive until it appears.
This is what happened in Wang Chang's generation. When there were less than five people battling it out, the Heaven Will appeared. However, Emperor Nine Suns, who was playing dead, suddenly appeared and released a devastating illusion on the remaining contestants before taking the Heaven Will.
The other type of battle is [One Last Man Standing]. As the name implies, the Heaven Will will not appear until all participants are dead or defeated. The Heaven Will will then appear in the palm of the last man standing.
For this type of battle, luck is meaningless, and only strength and strategy matter. This type of battle is considered the cruelest of the bunch and usually cultivates the highest quality of the Great Emperor.
"I thought the rules would much crueler," said Tie Gang as he looked at one of the rules that state participants can give up and receive protection. However, they will no longer be able to interfere in the battle nor receive the Heaven Will. Furthermore, the participant cannot give up in the midst of battle and right before dying.
Wang Wei understood the reason for this rule; Heavenly Dao wanted to save as many Heaven Chosens of this generation as possible since many had the potential to become Eternal Emperors.
'Young master, Wu Ming sent us a secret signal,' said Wang Ju through Divine Sense.
'Ignore him for now; there are too many eyes on us now.'
'I will secretly contact him after we enter.'
'Alright, but cautious of his possible betrayal.'
Wang Wei knew Wu Ming's objective was to use his power to destroy the Origin Rune Palace and avenge his ancestor. And he did not mind helping the latter. After all, no matter how weak the current Origin Rune Palace was, it was still an Emperor Lineage created by one of the Ancestors from the Ancient Emperor Era.
The destiny of reestablishing the Formation Dao in the Myriad Emperor World would greatly benefit the sect. Regardless, he still needed to have his guard against possible treachery.
Bang!
An enormous white portal suddenly manifested before the group. Then, their entrance token suddenly appeared before everyone, emanating a brilliant light. freёwebnoѵel.com
'Finally.'
One by one, the participants entered the portal, including Wang Wei's group.
"Is this the battleground?" muttered Wang Wei and the others, who found themselves on a deserted planet with no one in sight. They took one step and appeared outside of the planet's atmosphere.
The group saw countless planets, comets, stars, and galaxies.
"A cosmic world setting? This is rare," commented Yan Liling, who knew such a setting for the final battle was rare according to the sect's record.
"This place is as large as 3 continents," commented Li Jun as he used his Divine Sense to sense the trillions of galaxies in the surroundings. "Moreover, there seems to be other stuff."
Li Jun felt the space was extremely solid that even ordinary Quasi-Emperors could not teleport. Moreover, his Divine Sense was also restricted in the size it could be spread.
"Isn't this place a little extravagant for a battle?" asked Tie Gang.
"Not really, if you consider big brother and Di Tian's strength," responded Li Jun.
"Heavenly Dao canceled the previous generation's battle and cut off their Supreme Path to preserve more World Source and condense more destiny for this generation," said Yan Liling with a sneer. "However, it never considered two anomalies like big brother and Di Tian, so it must have been forced to use extra World Source to create this battlefield."
"Let's not waste time. We have a plan for a setting such as this, so let's start," calmly said Wang Wei. The others agreed, so they took action.
A hundred million troops appeared on the planet, including professionals like Cai Song.