Chapter 1162: The New Xuanhuang Realm
Chapter 1162: The New Xuanhuang Realm
The probability of reeling in a treasure from the Fishing Pond had nothing to do with one's cultivation level.
It depended far more on the sincerity of the angler and their understanding of the Dao of Fishing itself.
In fact, the more one desired a specific outcome, the smaller the chance of achieving it became.
It was an art as profound as it was mysterious, not unlike ordinary fishing in that regard.
The winners of the Sage Dynasty's fishing competition would be granted the opportunity to cast their lines into the Fishing Pond.
Most of these individuals were only at the Qi Refining stage, with the strongest barely reaching the Nascent Soul realm.
Given their limited knowledge and experience, they could never have imagined that this small, unremarkable pond was an immortal artifact, capable of yielding world-class treasures.
Any prize they reeled in would naturally be seen as a generous gift from the great Saint Emperor.
Aside from a few exceptional finds that might tempt Li Ping, he intended to let the anglers keep whatever treasures they caught. He might even choose to cultivate them as key assets.
"In this lifetime, let me see if the treasures within this Fishing Pond are truly endless. And also..."
"Whether the fortunes of all the heavens can overwhelm the Xuanhuang Realm!"
As his gaze fell upon the ten thousand eager anglers in the Sacred Capital, each clutching a different kind of fishing rod, Li Ping envisioned countless celestial treasures flying into the Sage Dynasty.
While the Sage Dynasty's fishing competition was in full swing, on a desolate hill in the northwestern border of Yongyun Province, inside a dilapidated temple at its summit, Zhong Shentong, who had just cast his line and come back empty-handed, suddenly felt a wave of drowsiness.
He was about to call for the Daoist child, Liuli, but found that she too had fallen into a deep sleep.
Zhong Shentong chuckled, checked the temple's protective formations to ensure everything was in order, and then lazily settled into his reclining chair for a nap.
He didn't know how much time had passed...
When he awoke with a start, he found himself in a dark and unfamiliar space!
He instinctively reached for his storage ring to pull out his most treasured protective artifact, only to discover that he had been stripped stark naked at some point!
Zhong Shentong's face twitched. He knew he had fallen completely into a trap this time. His opponent was ruthless, leaving him no room to maneuver.
"But I'm still alive, which means they don't intend to kill me. On the surface, I'm just an impoverished Qi Refining cultivator nearing the end of his days; dealing with me shouldn't require such elaborate measures. So, is this about the Fishing Pond?"
Zhong Shentong's mind raced, and he understood in an instant. Yet, no matter how hard he wracked his brain, he couldn't figure out how news of this supreme treasure could have leaked.
There had been no warning whatsoever!
"Right, where is Liuli?"
He had come to see the little girl, whom he had personally fished from the pond and watched take human form, as his only family. Now that he was imprisoned, he feared the worst for her...
Just as Zhong Shentong's thoughts were in turmoil, a voice, colder than ice, echoed through the darkness.
"Break through to the Foundation Establishment stage within seven days."
"Or die!"
The voice had no intention of conversing. After those two sentences, silence fell once more.
But the chilling killing intent that surrounded him, so palpable it felt solid, made Zhong Shentong understand this was no mere test.
If he failed to break through, he would truly be killed!
"I've been stuck at the peak of Qi Refining for over fifty years. On the surface, I'm an old man with no hope of a breakthrough. No sane person would make such a demand of me. Unless..."
"He's guessed that I cultivate the [Life and Death Profound Technique]!"
The more he thought about it, the more unfathomable his mysterious captor seemed. He had never met this person before, yet they appeared to know everything about him as if reading an open book.
...
While Zhong Shentong was trapped in endless dread, in another dark space, the Daoist child Liuli seemed oblivious to the danger, still sleeping soundly.
Li Ping appeared before her, observing her in silence.
After a long moment, Li Ping spoke softly, "Daoist Baihua, please show yourself."
The space remained quiet. There was no reply.
Li Ping's eyes narrowed. "Must I say it a third time, Sect Master of the Tianlian Sect from the Wansheng Realm?"
His tone was light, but to certain ears, it struck like a clap of thunder.
Finally, the concealment ended. A brilliant golden light flared, and a figure emerged from the body of the Daoist child Liuli.
Daoist Baihua stared intently at Li Ping. "Who are you?"
She was certain she had never seen this man before, yet he had stated her identity with unerring accuracy.
In that instant, countless faces flashed through her mind, but none matched the man before her.
"I am merely a fellow wanderer of the stars, one who has also lost their home," Li Ping said. "What is past is past. Why must you dwell on it, fellow Daoist?"
His words sent Daoist Baihua's mind reeling, as if she were thrown back to the terrifying time when world-ending calamities erupted one after another.
"What is more important," he continued, and his next words completely captured her attention, "is the future."
"The future?"
"In this decaying Star Sea, this is the only sanctuary left. But the Xuanhuang Realm of today is not the same one as before. Over these many years, it has been constantly patched together and fused with the fragments of countless other worlds. This new Xuanhuang Realm has long since transcended the concept of an ordinary cultivation world," Li Ping explained, his voice deep and resonant.
"If you were to search carefully, fellow Daoist, you might even find fragments of the Wansheng Realm of old."
Baihua's expression changed. "What are you trying to say?"
"Since the Xuanhuang Realm has absorbed the fragments of all worlds... then by right, this new Xuanhuang Realm should have a place for us as well. If they will not grant it, then we must fight for it ourselves," Li Ping declared proudly.
"The native powers of the Xuanhuang Realm are too immense. Only by uniting can we hope to reclaim what is ours."
"Besides the Wansheng Realm, I have also found allies from the Tianji Realm..."
Li Ping spoke with calm confidence.
Daoist Baihua was clearly moved.
"If the Xuanhuang Realm truly absorbed fragments of our world to resist the Immortal Ruins... then this place could indeed be my new home."
A tremor ran through Baihua's heart—the irrepressible emotion of a homeless wanderer who, after years of drifting, had suddenly found a new place to belong.
"But... the cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm are not so easy to reason with." After some thought, Daoist Baihua remained hesitant. She could still vaguely recall the lone immortal who had single-handedly barred them, the survivors of all the other worlds, from entering.
Though times had changed and that immortal was nowhere to be found, this Xuanhuang Realm now had a new Dharma Spreading Heavenly Venerate...
Could a group of outsiders like them truly stand a chance against him?
(End of this chapter)
Comments