Chapter 30: The Ancient Tree
Wang Mian was startled. Through the hazy outer edge of the light orb, he sensed a pure power of the immortal path, which would have great use even for a True Immortal.
Upon gazing at the spiritually alive and constantly moving silvery true dragon, a few words emerged in his mind.
"Immortal Spring Eye!"
Wang Mian uttered these three words, revealing the origins of the light orb and the silvery true dragon.
Beside him, Wang Heng immediately recalled his memory regarding the Immortal Spring Eye.
In the perfect world, the remnant immortal of the Bronze Immortal Palace, after ambushing the Ten Vicious Kunpeng, survived through the ages significantly due to an Immortal Spring Eye in hand. Even within the shattered Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, it could spew forth immortal aura, nourishing the immortal body of the remnant immortal in a defiant manner; such a thing had barely appeared a few times throughout history.
To his unexpected surprise, he was now witnessing a complete Immortal Spring Eye first-hand, right in the hands of the Chaos Immortal Vine.
"Indeed, this is the Immortal Spring Eye, extremely rare, with only seven or eight to be found in the ancient world.
In the past, the Immortal King traveled across the primordial ancient realm for the sake of this artifact, but unfortunately, returned empty-handed.
Yet just moments ago, a prospective Immortal King delivered it right before us, as if guided by fate."
The Immortal Vine handed the luminous orb hovering over its leaves to Wang Heng.
A refreshing and invigorating aura enveloped him, as if both his body and soul were being cleansed.
“With this Immortal Spring Eye, you are destined to lay the foundations of an Immortal King and rise swiftly in this era,” the Immortal Vine spoke optimistically about Wang Heng's future.
He was already exceptionally powerful, surpassing his peers in talent and other aspects, leaving them far behind. Now, with the boon of the Immortal Spring Eye, it boggled the mind how far Wang Heng would eventually reach.
“Thank you, Senior Immortal Vine, for your gracious favor. I assure you, Wang Heng will not fail your expectations.”
Wang Heng received the Immortal Spring Eye and respectfully bowed to the Chaos Immortal Vine, sincerely grateful.
“I've watched you grow up and once fought alongside your father, battling across the heavens. Naturally, I hope to see the day you rise to the pinnacle.”
The Immortal Vine responded warmly.
Wang Mian, standing aside, was speechless. Considering Wang Heng's current achievements and the resources at his disposal, Wang Mian was convinced that Wang Heng would one day shatter barriers, break the heavy chains worn by the progeny of Immortal Kings, validate his path as an Immortal King, and fulfill the legendary tale of father and son both being Immortal Kings.
“As the saying goes, hone your sword for ten years, and it will astonish the heavens. You have reached the age of ten, accomplished in planting your path; now is the time to show your edge. Without experiencing the storms, you'll remain a flower in a greenhouse.”
The Immortal Vine spoke with a kind and loving gaze towards Wang Heng. Though they shared no blood relation, it always regarded Wang Heng as its own descendant.
“What do you mean, Senior Immortal Vine?”
Wang Mian asked, faintly guessing the Immortal Vine's intention.
"It's time to let his name resonate through the Thirty-Three Heavens," the Immortal Vine replied.
Without further ado, it began to cast its spell, emitting strands of immortal light from its vine body that cascaded downwards.
Where Wang Heng stood was once a barren gravel ground, but now it was engulfed in immortal mist, brimming with life force, as if he had stepped into a terrestrial paradise.
"Buzz!"
Intricate and profound ancient characters rose from the leaves of the Immortal Vine. Each character shone with a brilliant glow, as if forged from celestial gold, exuding a metallic essence.
Every ancient character held unparalleled power, capable of stirring the fundamental essence of the heavenly paths.
Yet, these characters differed from the ancient immortality scripts Wang Heng had learned, conveying different paths of the Dao.
"These are Sacrificial Spirit Scripts," Wang Mian explained. "As the name suggests, they can only be understood and comprehended by those who have embarked on the path of the Sacrificial Spirit. They contain the core principles of this system, vast and profound.
Creatures like us, who walk the path of Dao cultivation, can study the Sacrificial Spirit Scripts through form and try to grasp their meaning, but we cannot harness them unless we change our cultivation approach and become a Sacrificial Spirit."
"So that's it. These are ancient characters belonging to the Sacrificial Spirit system, no wonder they felt unfamiliar," Wang Heng nodded, realization dawning in his mind.
"Sacrificial Spirit Scripts not only describe the Dao but also possess incredible powers. They serve as the medium for the Sacrificial Spirits to communicate effortlessly."
"It's said they can use this Dao language to break spatial barriers, allowing them to converse over thousands or even millions of miles," Wang Mian imparted another crucial piece of information.
"So, does that mean the Immortal Vine is currently using the Sacrificial Spirit Scripts to converse with a distant Sacrificial Spirit?" Wang Heng asked.
He could tell that the Chaos Immortal Vine was deeply focused, seemingly communicating with some existence.
"Yes, if my guess is correct, the entity communicating with the Immortal Vine from afar is another renowned and immensely powerful Sacrificial Spirit. Its true form is a tree, rooted beside the World Tree.
That place can be considered the center of the entire primal ancient world, inhabited by multiple supreme beings."
"A tree rooted beside the World Tree?" Wang Heng was slightly surprised.
"Indeed, its power ranks among the top-tier Sacrificial Spirits in my realm, on par with the Immortal Vine, both nearly breaking into the Immortal King realm."
"It is said that if they go mad, they can even hold off an Immortal King for a while."
Wang Heng pondered. If his guess was correct, the Chaos Immortal Vine of the Wang Family and that tree spirit by the World Tree were on par with the Ten Fiends in terms of realm mastery. They all possessed bodies comparable to an Immortal King's, albeit having a weaker primordial spirit.
However, unlike the Ten Fiends, they lacked exceptional, peerless talents that allowed them to rival Immortal Kings with pure might.
For instance, the berserk nature of the Heavenly Horned Ants and the lightning speed of the Kun Peng lineage.
Even so, when facing a prospective Immortal King, they were overwhelmingly dominant, far more powerful than most beings at that level.
Suddenly, the sacrificial spirit script on the leaves of the Immortal Vine altered, unleashing an oceanic force, ripping through layers of void and reaching infinitely far away.
Following this force, Wang Heng's vision captured an awe-inspiring scene.
An indescribable ancient tree towered on the distant horizon, its branches luxuriant and vibrant, exuding dense immortal energy and a formidable aura.
Clearly, this ancient tree was neither a divine medicine nor an elixir of longevity, but a potent entity capable of seizing stars and devouring worlds.
"This is the ancient sacrificial spirit tree that nearly became a king," Wang Mian sent a telepathic reminder.
"Huh? Senior, isn't it rooted near the World Tree?" Wang Heng gazed across the large spatial rift but could not see the World Tree’s silhouette.
"Indeed, it is right behind it, not far away. It's just that the tree is so massive that you can’t perceive its entirety."
(End of Chapter)