sinovels Chapter 32 Wang Paopao Emerges from Seclusion
Chapter 32 Wang Paopao Emerges from Seclusion
After several cautious (and costly) probes, the major powers of the human realm have reached a more accurate assessment: although the spatial storm at the core of the Heavenly Wind Sea has weakened significantly, the spatial structure of its core area and the path leading to the "Void Heaven Palace" remains extremely fragile, harboring unpredictable risks. It will take at least another year before Nascent Soul cultivators can pass through relatively safely.
This more specific timeframe quickly spread throughout the entire human realm and the cultivation world. In an instant, more high-level cultivators who had previously been observing or were far away began to set off, converging on the Chaotic Star Sea and the Heavenly Wind Sea from all directions like rivers flowing into the sea. The number of Nascent Soul cultivators increased dramatically, and even some late-stage Core Formation cultivators, clinging to a sliver of hope, attempted to try their luck. The outer reaches of the Heavenly Wind Sea became more bustling than ever before, but this also sowed the seeds of greater chaos and conflict.
Meanwhile, deep underground on a remote island tens of thousands of miles away from the core area of the Tianfeng Sea.
In the makeshift, simple cave dwelling, Wang Tianlong, who had been sitting cross-legged for three years, slowly opened his eyes.
He exhaled a long breath, his aura much stronger than when he fled three years ago, but upon closer inspection, one could still detect a subtle, almost imperceptible, obscurity in the flow of his spiritual energy, especially near his heart in his left chest, where a faint yet remarkably persistent wisp of spatial cutting power remained. Clearly, the injury to his Dao foundation caused by that spatial rift could not have been completely healed in just three years.
"My injuries have recovered to about 70-80%. Although I haven't reached my peak, I can now easily engage in ordinary combat. However, this spatial injury still requires time and effort to heal." Wang Tianlong examined himself internally, his brows furrowing slightly. His original plan was to go into seclusion for at least ten years to fully recover from his injuries, and even attempt to break through the bottleneck of the late Nascent Soul stage.
However, in the past six months, even while in deep seclusion, he keenly sensed that powerful auras passing through the waters near his deserted island were becoming increasingly frequent. At first, it was just one or two Nascent Soul cultivators occasionally, but later even the undisguised escape light fluctuations of Deity Transformation cultivators appeared! Moreover, the direction seemed to be pointing towards the core of the Heavenly Wind Sea!
"Such a large gathering of Nascent Soul cultivators...this is no ordinary event!" A sense of unease crept into Wang Tianlong's mind. He immediately recalled the massive spatial collapse in the core area that occurred three years ago after he and Qingmu Shangren took the Qinglan Fruit.
"Could it be... that the collapse of space back then triggered an even greater upheaval? That it attracted the attention of the entire human realm?" This thought made it impossible for him to continue his seclusion in peace.
Opportunities often come with risks, but they may also conceal the chance to uncover the truth or even gain greater benefits. Although he is injured, if he can find a spiritual object or opportunity related to the place where the incident occurred, it might greatly benefit his healing.
Wang Tianlong's gaze sharpened, and he made a decision: "We must go and find out what happened there! At least we need to find out what exactly happened."
He waved his hand to remove the restrictions on the cave, and in a flash, he appeared on the deserted island. Feeling the more active and chaotic spiritual energy fluctuations in the air than three years ago, and the oppressive feeling of numerous powerful auras converging in the distant sky, Wang Tianlong's eyes became even more profound.
With a slight sense, he pinpointed the direction of the cave where Master Qingmu was in seclusion and found that its restrictions were still intact, indicating that he had not yet emerged from seclusion.
"Fellow Daoist Aoki's injuries are probably more serious than mine, and he is likely still at a critical stage. Very well, I will go and check on him alone."
With this in mind, Wang Tianlong no longer hesitated. A gentle breeze swirled around him, transforming him into an inconspicuous streak of azure light, silently merging into the air and cautiously flying towards the center of the sea area where the "Void Heaven Palace" had gathered its forces. He needed to ascertain the situation before deciding on his next move.
Wang Tianlong concealed his aura, transformed into an ordinary mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and blended into the island on the outskirts of the Tianfeng Sea, which had become a temporary market and intelligence center.
The island was teeming with people, far more bustling than before. In addition to a large number of Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators, Nascent Soul cultivators were also everywhere, and occasionally, one could even sense the subtle divine sense of a Deity Transformation expert sweeping across the island. In teahouses, taverns, temporary stalls, and gathering places of cultivators, everyone was enthusiastically discussing the same topic—the Void Heaven Palace.
Wang Tianlong discreetly stopped at several crowded places, listened attentively, and "casually" chatted with several seemingly well-informed Nascent Soul cultivators. After paying a few insignificant mid-grade spirit stones, he quickly pieced together the whole story.
When he heard the words "Void Heaven Palace" and the descriptions of it "descending from the void," "suspected to be an ancient or even upper realm relic," and "causing a spatial storm," he was shocked.
"The Void Heaven Palace...it's actually it!" Even with Wang Tianlong's thousand years of cultivation and his unwavering will, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. He naturally knew that in the original story, Han Li had obtained a crucial opportunity in this Void Heaven Palace, including the renowned Void Heaven Cauldron!
"I never imagined... that it was because I took the Azure Orchid Fruit that the spatial balance was completely broken, which led to the Void Heaven Palace being brought out of the void..." Wang Tianlong's mind raced, filled with a mix of astonishment, realization, and a subtle, indescribable feeling. It seemed that the flapping of his "butterfly's" wings had triggered a storm far beyond expectations.
He looked up at the distant area of spatial turbulence, which, though weakened, was still unsettling, and at the faint outlines of majestic palaces within it, his gaze gradually sharpening.
The Void Heaven Palace is an ancient treasure land that is described in detail even in the "original work" and is full of opportunities! It may contain not only treasures that can help him completely heal his injuries and even break through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul stage, but also other unimaginable inheritances and resources!
"Since this opportunity arose because of me, how could I possibly miss it?" Wang Tianlong made a decision in an instant. His previous caution and hesitation vanished in the face of the three words "Void Heaven Palace".
He didn't linger, his figure silently disappearing into the crowd. He found a secluded corner and began to carefully sort through the information he had gathered: the spatial storm was expected to take about a year to pass safely; the major powers had reached a temporary agreement, but undercurrents were swirling; demon and human cultivators were mixed together; and there were rumors of a mysterious force secretly collecting souls...
"A year... is enough." Wang Tianlong calculated. "Although my injuries haven't fully healed, with the Sky-Stepping Boots and Wind Escape Technique, I should be able to protect myself. The most urgent task is to refine the 'Four Flames Fan' as soon as possible and prepare more life-saving talismans. The Azure Mist Fruit is not suitable to be taken for now. I'll refine it after entering the Void Heaven Palace and finding a safe place. Perhaps then I can break through the bottleneck in one fell swoop."
"As for the force that secretly collects souls..." A cold glint flashed in Wang Tianlong's eyes. He instinctively felt that this matter was strange and might be related to the Black Wind Old Ghost he had encountered before and the mysterious organization behind him. He had to be more careful.
"The Void Heaven Palace... I, Wang Tianlong, am going to get a piece of the pie too!" He gazed towards the eye of the storm, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. Originally, he had only come to heal his wounds and investigate, but now his goal was clear—to enter the Void Heaven Palace and seize that earth-shattering opportunity that belonged to him!