Chapter 104: The Ancestral Regressor

The sudden appearance left Qing Yue and Pang Ren utterly speechless, their mouths agape, eyes wide with shock, unable to close. It was as though their minds had been wiped blank, incapable of thought.

Just a moment ago, the divination with the five turtle shells predicted that Gu Wu Di would perish with no chance of survival and vanish along with the Immortal King's relics. Yet, here he stood alive before them.

After a brief pause, they jolted back to their senses, triggering a cascade of thoughts. "What's wrong? Don't you recognize me?" Gu Wu Di asked with a smile.

"Of course! Congratulations on your triumphant return, Brother Gu," Pang Ren responded immediately, adopting a warm smile.

Meanwhile, Qing Yue stood where she was, her beautiful eyes blinking, quietly observing Gu Wu Di's every move. "Thank you. This journey has been immensely rewarding, bringing about an unimaginable fortune.

Unfortunately, these fortunes cannot be shared, for they bear no tangible form like materials, elixirs, or treasures, leaving me with nothing for you to take back. Please consider that I owe you a great favor, Pang Ren. I promise to repay it in full at the first opportunity," Gu Wu Di explained.

"Haha, that's a minor issue. Your safe return matters the most," Pang Ren replied with a stiff laugh.

Candidly, Qing Yue noted, "Although your realm hasn't advanced to the Dao Origin level, there's a transcendent aura about you now, a palpable pressure. I'm genuinely curious about what kind of fortune you uncovered in the Immortal King's relics to cause such a transformation."

Her inner flame, the Qing Yue fire, imparted crucial information: the Gu Wu Di once imbued with intense Celestial Seed aura had vanished, leaving in his place someone peculiar, mysterious, powerful, yet no longer led by the Celestial Seed.

Gu Wu Di glanced at Qing Yue, then manifested the results of his journey.

Pure light emerged, seemingly from another world, forming a realm with great power.

In his hands, two flames appeared: the gray flame of myriad sins and the white Heavenly Flame. Above his head, an expansive firmament materialized, seemingly able to subdue eons. "Myriad Sin Flame? Is that... the Heavenly Flame? Is it possible? The real Gu Wu Di might have perished, then?" Pang Ren stared wide-eyed, witnessing this unbelievable scene.

A being had fused several perfect ancient seeds, defying all logic.

Qing Yue, too, was startled, suggesting that with the appearance of the Myriad Sin Flame, Gu Wu Di might no longer be himself.

However, they soon learned from Gu Wu Di's explanation that he inherited the will of the King of Ten Thousand Tribulations. He had defied fate, establishing a path where his own body could become a seed, shattering the ironclad rule of housing only one seed, creating an unprecedented marvel. "A body as a seed!"

Pang Ren echoed the phrase, voice trembling slightly. Though his cultivation wasn't high, his experience was vast enough to understand the significance of such a trailblazing feat.

Qing Yue was equally moved, stunned by the monumental feat accomplished by Gu Wu Di.

As for whether Gu Wu Di was still the same person, both had reached their judgment—he remained unchanged in spirit, and his demeanor had not shifted due to the journey to the relic. The only difference was his immeasurable strength, which far surpassed the Boundless Realm.

They showered him with words of praise, feeling fortunate to witness such a miracle.

After a moment of reflection, Pang Ren excused himself and did not travel with the pair. Yet, after this expedition to the Immortal King's relic, he formed a strong bond with Qing Yue and Gu Wu Di, promising to reunite for a joyful feast when next they meet.

Gu Wu Di, on the other hand, accompanied Qing Yue back to the dwelling of her master. From Qing Yue's descriptions, her master was a reclusive figure of remarkable talent, possibly an immortal. This was evident from the celestial tortoise shell bestowed upon Qing Yue. Gu Wu Di had long been curious about visiting this legendary elder, and now he had the perfect opportunity to do so.

In the celestial domain, at Hun Yuan City on the summit of Mount Celestial, within an ancient hall permeated with chaotic aura, Wang Heng sat quietly in meditation, eyes slightly closed, engrossed in profound cultivation.

His body was in a state of unconsciousness, yet a faint crimson glow enveloped him.

This was the pinnacle representation of transcending the Dusk Blood Realm, with a vermilion light coursing over his skin, akin to wielding the heavenly astral forces.

Historically, few have reached this pinnacle, most relying on intense bloodline power.

Wang Heng, however, surpassed them all, and in some ways, he exceeded the Dusk Blood Realm, earning a new moniker "Blood Transportation."

Nearby, the Black King watched intently, scrutinizing every nuance of Wang Heng's cultivation.

Having accompanied the Boundless Immortal King numerous times to the celestial domain, the Black King had witnessed countless prodigious talents, yet none could match Wang Heng in the Dusk Blood Realm.

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, the crimson glow intensified, reverberating with the roar of a great river. It was hard to believe this was the sound of a Dusk Blood Realm being's blood flow, so vast and majestic, with the faint echo of resounding chants.

In the next instant, Wang Heng opened his eyes, releasing a dazzling red beam.

The surrounding crimson glow descended into tranquility, enveloping him in a divine aura as if a celestial god had descended.

"Perfected in Blood Transportation."

Wang Heng exhaled gently, staring at his hands and murmuring to himself.

"Blood Transportation? That description suits it well," remarked the Black King beside him.

Only then did Wang Heng realize he was not alone in the ancient hall.

These days, the Black King appeared and disappeared without a trace, and as a true immortal, its movements were beyond the comprehension of a Dusk Blood Realm cultivator like Wang Heng.

"Blood Transportation, Blood Transportation... I find this naming rather apt. If it could spread in the Celestial Domain, it would surely become an eternal legend." The Black King mused to himself.

Wang Heng smiled without speaking, as he knew many realms within the Celestial Domain Methodology where he could make similar breakthroughs. With his advantage of foreknowledge, he could totally lead the evolution of the Celestial Domain in this era.

However, this didn't mean that the Celestial Domain Method was his ultimate choice. He understood that creating his own path was the strongest route; the Celestial Domain approach was merely a safeguard to maintain this 'divine' body's top-tier combat power.

"You have now reached the pinnacle of the Blood Transportation realm. It's time to go out and witness the strength of celestial prodigies.

Mixing Element City is vast, yet within the same realm, there are few who can match you. Only the descendants of the Immortal King have that qualification, so you should directly seek out such beings for a match, to test yourself." The Black King stood up, shook his head, ready to take Wang Heng out of the ancient hall to meet the heirs of the Boundless Immortal King.

The descendants of the Boundless Immortal King have proliferated over the ages, becoming incredibly vast. Many young prodigies have emerged, among whom the ancestral regressors from either the direct or collateral lines are heavily invested in and trained, possessing the strength and potential to dominate the younger generation.

Throughout history, the supreme prodigies emerging from Mixing Element City have always ranked within the top twenty of the Celestial Domain among those of the same realm.

Sometimes they were in the top three, sometimes the top ten, and there were slumping times too, but they never fell out of the top twenty.

Among the most brilliant generations, some became one of the top ten in their respective eras, now standing upon the verge of becoming Immortal Kings, overlooking all living beings.

For instance, Hunhong, the direct child of Hunyuan, was one such top ten in his time. Unfortunately, his future fulfilled the foresight of the Boundless Immortal King, halting at the verge of becoming an Immortal King, never advancing further in his lifetime.

Thus, the descendants of the Boundless Immortal King are of genuine value, certainly not mere nobodies.

"From what I know, the Hunyuan family recently had a youth whose bloodline harks back to the ancestors. Before the age of ten, he was unremarkable, unnoticed, yet at ten, he suddenly awakened.

His bloodline power was as blazing as the scorching sun, his potential earth-shattering.

Now, with the help of the strong within the family, he has stepped into the Dawn Blood realm, reputed to have profound potential, being one of the future key figures the Hunyuan family will nurture heavily.

Such an opponent should certainly be of substantial value."

"Ancestral Regressor, huh?"

Wang Heng whispered, a hint of anticipation rising in his heart.

For, based on past experience, the bloodline power of an Ancestral Regressor could potentially be even more formidable than that of the direct line.

In a realm like Blood Transportation, the importance of bloodline power speaks for itself; it can enhance a cultivator's strength very directly.

For Wang Heng, the stronger the opponent, the better, as only then can he push himself to become mightier.

After being led out of the ancient hall by the Black King, Wang Heng followed it through twists and turns, descending the Celestial Mountain, traversing streets, and finally arriving at a grand immortal residence.

"Chaos Tavern."

Wang Heng blurted out as he glanced at the iconic ancient wooden sign.

"This tavern is no ordinary place. The power behind it is immense, complex, and deeply entrenched. It has branches in many celestial king cities. It's best not to cause any trouble here; otherwise, one would find it hard to survive in the celestial domain."

The Black King whispered a reminder.

Wang Heng nodded and asked, "Senior Black King, the bout you mentioned wouldn't happen to be in the Chaos Tavern's arena, would it?

The opponent is a lifeform the Hunyuan Family plans to nurture heavily in the future. Having just embarked on the path of cultivation, they ought to hide their skills. It's only logical they would emerge when fully matured. How could they possibly duel with me here?"

"Leave such matters to this king. All you need to do is fiercely thrash the opponent in the arena and make a name and reputation for yourself." The Black King waved its paw as it spoke.

Seeing that the Black King seemed earnest, Wang Heng nodded in agreement.

The two then entered the Chaos Tavern, where they were immediately greeted by an ethereal, daoist youth who inquired about their intentions.

After a few casual words from the Black King, the youth showed a shocked expression, nodded repeatedly to indicate understanding, and then turned to leave.

Not long after, a true immortal floated over, exuding a dense aura of celestial brilliance, clearly indicating his profound expertise in the realm of true immortals.

"You are... the one following Senior Boundless?" The true immortal recognized the Black King immediately.

"Indeed, it is I."

The Black King acknowledged with a nonchalant air before discussing the details with the true immortal.

...

Shortly after, the Black King settled Wang Heng in the inn within the Chaos Tavern, before quickly departing.

Wang Heng, aware of the Black King's departure, did not mind, knowing it had gone to invite the Ancestral Regressor youth.

Given the strong protection of major powers over their young prodigies, the Ancestral Regressor youth was unlikely to leave his seclusion, let alone compete in a fighting arena.

With little expectation, Wang Heng sat alone in the inn to quietly cultivate his energy.

Having reached the grand completion stage in the Blood-Changing Realm, he was now poised for the next critical stage of his cultivation journey.

In the realm of Creation, the goal is to seize all the mysteries of heaven and earth, harness them for personal gain, and strengthen oneself.

As of now, cultivators rely on their physical bodies as a bridge to absorb the essence of creation from the external world.

However, the foresighted Wang Heng has long known how to construct an external conduit, allowing for a more efficient absorption of cosmic energy.

Transmuting Creation into a personal dimension represents a revolutionary change, one that could cause ripples throughout the Celestial Domain.

The Black King did not keep Wang Heng waiting for long, suddenly appearing in the inn.

"How did it go, Senior Black King?"

Wang Heng asked.

"Success," replied the Black King, "Tomorrow at this time, you'll face the Ancestral Regressor youth in the arena."

Its eyes darted around the walls, as if wary of eavesdroppers, before it leaned closer to Wang Heng to inform him of the great significance of tomorrow's fight.

"Rumors of your showdown with the Ancestral Regressor have already spread, and the betting odds are set.

I've wagered a hefty sum on your victory—ten divine herbs. So, don't let me down," the Black King warned.

Realizing the Black King's emphasis on the fight was tied to its bet, Wang Heng nodded slightly, demonstrating his determination not to disappoint under the watchful eyes of the masses.

With such innate advantages and his acquired breakthroughs and accumulations, losing to an Ancestral Regressor would be a significant embarrassment.

"Haha, that's enough of an assurance," the Black King beamed with satisfaction.

Should Wang Heng conquer his opponent successfully in this gamble, the Black King would profit enormously, emerging as the biggest winner.

From the outset, its intent in bringing Wang Heng to the arena was to exploit the hype of this battle between the Celestial King's offspring and the Ancestral Regressor youth for substantial gain.

Yet, for Wang Heng, this battle serves as a crucial test of his Blood Transfer Realm cultivation.

Having reached the pinnacle stage, he is on the verge of entering the next realm of cultivation.

Without facing a worthy adversary in this interim, this domain would remain regretfully unfulfilled.

Thus, Wang Heng eagerly anticipates this battle.

Once he tests the strength of his Blood Transfer Realm in combat, he can advance to developing the Cave-Heaven Realm.