NOVEL WEB Chapter 17: Malice
Seeing Wang Heng's indifferent demeanor, the young man and the three beings behind him felt a vague sense of doubt.
To know, the old "Wang Heng" would have, at the very least, exchanged a few words with them, acknowledging familial ties.
Yet now, Wang Heng responded coldly, his eyes full of unfamiliarity, which made them uneasy.
At that moment, Wang Mian's voice whispered to Wang Heng's ear, providing information about the identities of the people before him.
They were the branch of the Wang Family sent away from the Immortal Realm long ago, descendants of Wang Geng, the Immortal King, who was a brother to their ancestor.
The young man leading them was a prodigy from this lineage, with boundless expectations placed upon him from birth due to his exceptional talent, believed capable of one day proving his worth as an Immortal King.
The three standing behind the young man were prominent figures from the Wang Family: one a True Immortal and the other two Supreme Sovereigns.
Beyond their identities, Wang Mian revealed the connection between them and Wang Heng, hinting at a competitive tension, particularly with the young prodigy considered to rival Wang Heng.
The Wang Family cherished three perfect seeds, sought after by both Wang Heng and the young prodigy.
However, due to Wang Heng's superior standing and seniority, he had the privilege of first choosing which seed he desired.
In such a situation, anyone would naturally harbor resentment. However, the young prodigy displayed a willingness and respect for his elders, seemingly without complaint.
As Wang Mian observed from the sidelines, he mused that the youth was either genuinely magnanimous and understanding, or he was deeply shrewd and tactful in disguise.
After listening to Wang Mian's introduction, Wang Heng pondered, recalling that peculiar glance he had received earlier.
His intuition told him that the young prodigy likely belonged to the latter category—one of profound cunning.
Upon scrutinizing the True Immortal and two Supreme Sovereigns again, their faces adorned with smiles and respect, there remained an unsettling feeling that lingered.
It was then that Wang Heng realized; the people from this branch of the family were more foes than kin, despite sharing the same surname.
Sometimes, conflicts over resources could easily overshadow the ties of blood—a far too common occurrence.
Wang Heng couldn't help but feel a tinge of disdain for this lineage. Benefiting from the protection of the Immortal King and the resources that accompanied such power, they ought to be content and grateful, rather than displaying one demeanor in public while harboring another in private.
Currently, it was only the presence of the Immortal King that intimidated them into submission, preventing any displays of resentment. Should the Immortal King meet any mishaps, Wang Heng might find himself in peril, not from external enemies, but from internal conflicts that would likely erupt first.
Remembering these matters, Wang Heng felt even more displeased with the people before him.
“Wang Yue, you've been prepared to plant the Dao Seed for half a year now.
It must have been hard for you waiting so long. Your uncle-grandfather is about to choose the seed now. Be patient, your turn is coming soon.” Wang Heng spoke with a smile to the young man grinning before him.
Hearing this, the young man's expression and that of the three powerful figures behind him remained unchanged, yet their faces visibly stiffened, clearly provoked.
They had waited six full months to find the perfect Dao Seed for the young prodigy, anticipating Wang Heng’s seed planting. Now, Wang Heng mentioning it struck right at their hearts.
The young prodigy did not show any rage but respectfully replied, “Uncle-grandfather speaks too highly. As a younger family member, Wang Yue should naturally respect his elders.
If uncle-grandfather is indeed about to plant the Dao, then allow me to congratulate you in advance on achieving divine mastery and becoming invincible.”
Just as Wang Heng was about to leave, brushing past these individuals, the True Immortal behind Wang Yue suddenly asked, “Uncle Heng, do you have an eye on which flawless Dao Seed?
I observe uncle-grandfather’s flesh and blood are strong with astonishing potential. If you choose the embryonic seed of the ancient universe to integrate with your body, surely it would unleash immense power, paving an invincible path.”
Wang Heng listened intently, gazing at the True Immortal. Appearing somewhat aged, with white hair, eyebrows, and beard, he was clad in a loose-fitting daoist robe that exuded a transcendent aura, truly embodying the legendary immortal demeanor.
His eyes and expression were kind, exuding benevolence and making him seem approachable.
Yet, Wang Heng felt unease, especially when the True Immortal spoke of the power of flesh and blood and the primordial cosmic seed.
Logically, Wang Heng's talents leaned towards the spiritual and soul realms, and to fully maximize these strengths, he should choose a dao seed aligned with this direction, rather than developing physical prowess.
It was clear that the True Immortal had ulterior motives.
Nonetheless, Wang Heng did not dwell on it. He simply nodded, turned, and left.
After he and Wang Mian had walked some distance away, the young Wang Yue and the three powerful figures behind him began to whisper among themselves.
"Ancestor, do you think Wang Heng will consider your suggestion to choose the primordial cosmic seed? It's one of the most prevalent perfect seeds, appearing frequently in history, and all its past wielders have made a great name for themselves," one of the supreme sovereigns inquired.
The True Immortal's expression shifted from benevolence.
He replied, "Most likely, no. While the primordial cosmic seed is indeed one of the top-tier perfect Dao seeds, it pales in comparison to that rare and supreme soul seed.
Moreover, it seems there have been subtle changes in this granduncle of ours; he feels different than before. However, since he is cloaked in the aura of immortality and Wang Mian is present, I can't delve deeper into investigating him."
"Is the ancestor implying that Wang Heng will inevitably choose the supreme soul seed?" Wang Yue asked at this moment.
The True Immortal nodded, his brows furrowing tightly.
"This is inevitable. It seems you are destined to miss out on that supreme soul seed and lose the opportunity to master one of the three great sword techniques of the ages, the Primordial Spirit Sword Technique."
After a long sigh, he continued, "I originally thought that if Yue'er sowed his Dao first, he'd be ahead of the game and obtain that soul seed. Once Yue'er demonstrated unmatched talent in the realm of the primordial spirit, the Supreme Immortal King would impart onto him the unsurpassed secret art, the Primordial Spirit Sword Technique.
By then, Yue'er could roam the ancient realms and reign supreme above all.
Who would have thought Wang Heng would appear suddenly and shatter these dreams. It's infuriating."
"Why won't the Immortal King impart the supreme sword technique to me? He clearly praised my talent back then." Wang Yue muttered to himself, deeply vexed.
“Why? Isn’t it because our branch has always maintained ties with the Immortal Domain's main family, connections that are neither severed nor clear.
The Immortal King himself has grievances with the main family of the Immortal Domain, and naturally, he is displeased upon learning of this.”
(End of Chapter)
