Journey of the Fate Destroying Emperor

Chapter 1623: Catching Up

"What does it have to do with me?"

"Apparently, Stone Face has recently found a new concubine who gave birth to a son," Yan Liling explained. "It still baffled me how so many women could like that man. Anyway, his young son is an Empyrean, and he wanted one of your trial tokens. He even suggested that the tokens shouldn’t belong to the individual and become public property.

"The ancestors rejected his proposition, but he was not happy. He doesn’t dare show his dissatisfaction with me because I’m the Yan Clan Matriarch. The Li Clan protects Li Wenling, but Dong Lifen is the only one without a deep background; it also didn’t help that she didn’t mention her relationship with you.

"So, while he hasn’t done anything, he’s been staring and giving her dirty looks during meetings and so on."

Wang Wei groaned softly. "No need to worry about it, especially now that you’ve been invited to my mountain, he should understand you’re one of my people." Stone Face — well, that wasn’t even the man’s title, but something people called him behind his back — was actually quite politically savvy. While he had much power, he also understood who he could and could not offend. That’s why he survived for so long despite his terrible attitude.

"I understand that, but I would be more at ease if you could be a bit more direct," Dong Lifen stated.

"Alright," Wang Wei nodded before snapping his finger. Red Mask slowly ascended from his shadow. "Go talk to him." Red Mask silently nodded before slowly dissipating. This issue was not that big of a deal, especially since Wang Wei was about to become a Primal and ascend to the status of [Ancestor].

"Thanks."

"No problem."

"Here."

Wang Wei received a wine bowl and slowly smelled it. The aroma alone instantly washed away all the fatigue from the previous battle, so he did not hesitate to taste this nectar of the gods. No, even the gods would be ashamed to compare their creation to this wine.

"Your craftsmanship has improved so much," Wang Wei praised.

"Wine-making and pill refining aren’t that different at their core. As a Guardian, I had a lot of free time on my hands and endless material because of the Dream World."

"Well, it was time well-spent."

"Indeed," Yan Liling nodded before taking out a small pill bottle.

"This is?" Wang Wei asked as he opened the bottle to check the contents. "You did it?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, the Ascension Gate Pill currently only has a 25% chance of success — even after the sect’s alchemists helped me perfect the formula."

"25%? Can it be taken more than once?"

"Three times before the pill becomes useless."

"Well, that’s more than enough," Wang Wei said. Three chances to recondense the Gate of Ascension were more than enough. Above all, this formula was the first of its kind. Soon, there will be many, including actual techniques to help the process.

"How is that old man treating you?"

"Sir Wang Bo" — Yan Liling ensured to pronounce the name while giving Wang Wei a glare — "is very kind. He treats me better than his daughter."

"Another one was fooled," Wang Wei shook his head. He could not take that old man seriously after a few encounters. "I’m glad I won’t have to kick his butt. What about Li Jun — any news?"

"The last I heard about him was about 250 Yuan Epoch ago. He said he had reached the Paragon Peak and would start his Primal Training. He’ll return once he’s done."

Wang Wei sighed. "I understand his enthusiasm to become stronger, but he could have contacted me as well."

"This is for you," Yan Liling said, handing him a sealed information jade talisman. Wang Wei’s eyes lit up as he removed the seal, which was a password he and Li Jun established long ago. As he read the content, a smile crept on his face, followed by a chuckle. "How naughty." He was glad that his old friend hadn’t changed much.

He sensed a power secretly trying to peak, so he immediately sealed the talisman and put it away. In return, he received a deathly stare. Wang Wei coughed awkwardly before changing the topic. "I sensed my nephew’s karmic line. He finally ascended?"

"Yes, he wanted to follow in your and Sect Master Wang Tian’s footsteps to become an Immeasurable Emperor, so he spent most of his time raising his willpower to the Peak Great Emperor Realm. Once that was done, the final battle was easy for him."

"Oh? So, he’s the third Immeasurable? I wonder if his reward was as ordinary as my father’s," Wang Wei asked. Unlike him, his father merely received Empyrean Luck.

"He’s the fourth, and yes, he also received Empyrean Luck."

"Has someone else in the Chaos Universe also done it? Well, that makes sense," Wang Wei nodded. He was the first, and his accomplishment demonstrated to the world that it was possible. Now, others will strive to emulate his actions.

"What’s his title?"

"Chaos Manipulator Emperor."

"Chaos? As in Greater Chaos?"

"Yes, and survived the Outlaw Trial."

"Now I’m intrigued," Wang Wei said.

"Apparently, in the last stage, he was being hunted by an Empyrean Projection," Yan Liling explained.

"Hunted? Not just show up?"

"Yes, hunted. He used your Empyrean Artifact to survive the first few attacks."

"His soul and body didn’t collapse? Well, with all the Emperors that nourished his body, he should be able to survive using the artifact as long as he was in the Supreme Realm."

"Exactly, but that’s not how he survived. Remember your Array Virus? He modified and disseminated them to all the Minor Constructs in the lower dimension, secretly stealing their powers. Then, he lured his enemy into the right spot and used all their powers to seal the projection."

"That’s pretty brilliant," Wang Wei praised. The best way to survive the trial is to utilize all available resources to overcome the initial danger, followed by quick thinking and innovation to survive the last and most perilous phase.

"Where is he now?"

"He’s now the Li Clan’s supreme treasure," Yan Liling said while rolling her eyes. "They almost wanted to keep away from all the danger until he grew up. Luckily, the ancestor intervened. Now, he should be in one of the trials, preparing to enter the Emperor Battle Taboo Realm."

"I always said I would spoil him, but he’s already grown, and I’ve never met him," Wang Wei sighed to himself.

"He has adored you since he grew up hearing about your legend. So, I doubt he’ll mind too much."

"Even so." Wang Wei decided to spend more time with his nephew once they met for the first time.

One thing he was curious about was Su Ai, his nephew’s mother. However, Wang Wei did not ask, but checked himself. She had ascended with him, and the Li Clan was taking great care of her. He even detected an Emperor Fate on her, meaning the clan was probably planning on using the exchange list to change her into the Emperor Path.

’She might turn into a great talent,’ Wang Wei thought. When all the Emperors nourished his nephew, Li Xingwei, he was still in the wound, meaning some of their powers also leaked or helped Su Ai. So, as long as she becomes an Emperor and uses those leaked powers, she will be a force to reckon with.

"What about you, Cai Song. How are you doing?"

"Great. I’ve built so many puppets."

"That’s it? Nothing new or exciting?"

"Like what?

"I don’t know: new scenery, new friends, or maybe a loved one."

"Nothing you said is as interesting as building puppets," Cai Song replied calmly. "However, I did meet many friendly people who taught me new ways to build puppets.

"I wish I had your mindless devotion to a craft," Wang Wei shook his head. "Alright, what’s the best puppet you’ve recently created?"

"Hmm, I had some ideas for the self-replicating puppets you told me to make, but you also said not to talk or reveal any information about them until I’m above the Paragon Realm."

"That’s right, so you don’t have to say anything," Wang Wei swiftly said. She was his ticket to bringing a formidable force similar to Skynet to the cultivation world. "Keep your ideas or any blueprints deep in your mind and do not write anything down."

"I will," Cai Song nodded.

Wang Wei felt relieved. Although this girl looked a little naive, he knew she was reliable. "I heard your Proving Dao Artifact is a pretty unique puppet."

Cai Song’s eyes lit up. She immediately summoned a humanoid puppet that looked like a clone of herself. "It’s one of my best works."

"You used your own body?" Dong Lifen asked.

"My flesh is the thing closest to me, meaning it’s the material with the highest affinity with my soul and Dao," Cai Song said. "So, I spent years tempering my body and shed it to use as material for the puppet."

"What about the core? It seems pretty unique as well," Yan Liling asked.