1030 Hope
"To what do I owe this visit?" asked Wang Wei, who was fishing but not in his small pond next to the garden. Instead, he was in a desolate star in his [Starry Sky Universe], and his fishing line had traveled millions of light years away, hooking a strange life form that could survive in the void.
"Please, don't tell me you came to complain because your husband did not win the competition," he teased.
"Is this how you see me in your mind?" asked Xu Shi, almost rolling her eyes. She sat next to him and also began to fish; she was daring as she immediately went after the same fish.
"Love is a powerful thing. I know that's what I would do if I were you," said Wang Wei with a smirk. Their competition lasted for a few minutes before Wang Wei cheated without any remorse or shame.
"It's not like you to be this hesitant," he said.
"I just don't want to be disappointed by the answer," she replied.
"Would you feel better if you never know?"
"No, false hope is even worse than the truth," replied Xu Shi before sighing. "Okay, tell me."
"You haven't asked anything, so how do I know what you want to know?"
Xu Shi did not stop herself from rolling her eyes, "You know I want to know about the unborn child: is there a way to save them? Is it possible to revive him?"
"Depends," replied Wang Wei. "Can he accept this child if he recreated it with Creation Dao?"
"We had this conversation, and he was not willing." One of their plans was for Lin Fan to cultivate Good Fortune Dao before transitioning into Creation Dao as a means to revive the child. However, after many years of contemplating and talking to Xin, they concluded this was not what they wanted.
Wang Wei thought for a moment and said: "The world, as we know it, is more complex than what we see. Every major decision we make creates an alternate universe or timeline where our lives are entirely different based on that choice - the Infinite Trichiliocosm."
Xu Shi's eyes shone brilliantly as many things finally clicked in her mind; a few of her questions regarding the River of Time were just answered, and that opened her mind to a new level of understanding of the universe.
The concept of 'alternative timeline' was not new to her as she had battle techniques to create them, but they were temporary; she never knew the world actually contained an infinite number of them.
"So, is there a timeline where the child was born and is healthy?" she asked.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Not just one of them."
Xu Shi's beautiful brow furrowed, "What about our timeline? Is it not possible to change the past?"
"Our timeline is special and is heavily protected by Grand Dao Itself and other powers," explained Wang Wei. "So, even after you become a Paragon, which was the pinnacle of the cultivation world, the best you could do was take another version of the child from another timeline and bring it here."
Wang Wei has only known one person or group of individuals who has changed the timeline, and that's his ancestor, Qiyuan. However, to this day, he did not know how the latter did it and what price he paid. So, he did not tell her about that.
"What realm is Paragon?" asked Xu Shi; she knew about Empyreans but not Paragons.
"It's the one after Empyreans."
"Is Paragon the end of cultivation? Are there no other realms after that?" continued Xu Shi, and Wang Wei gave her a look, "The path of cultivation is technically endless."
Xu Shi immediately understood the implications behind these words, and she felt more hopeful. She swiftly controlled her emotions and asked for more information: "What realm has your ancestor reached?" she asked.
"They are Paragons."
Her happiness and hope were immediately gone. She did not think she was any less talented or dedicated than these people. Yet, after so long, they are still Paragons. This fact may not indicate their ability but the difficulty of the path afterward.
"You don't have to worry since we live in a great era," reassured Wang Wei after feeling her slightly agitated emotions.
"What do you mean?"
"Our ancestors have opened a new way forward for us, albeit they paid a heavy price. Now, as long as we care for the pests in the upper dimension and they can return, the path forward will no longer be unknown or muddy."
"I understand, and thank you."
Wang Wei waved his hand to indicate it was nothing, and Xu Shi soon left to tell Lin Fan this news.
"So, we need to go beyond the Paragon Realm?" he murmured, not even considering the first option; he wanted his child and nothing else.
"Yes. Although this path will not be easy, it's still hope."
"I am happy as long as there is a way," replied Lin Fan. Now that he has a direction or goal, that's all that matters. As for how difficult it was to reach that realm, he would do whatever was necessary as long as he knew it was possible.
"Do you think what he said about these people preventing the ancestors from returning to the world to be true?" asked Lin Fan. He was not stupid and guessed Wang Wei was using this opportunity to turn them into pawns or advanced parties for his war against these people.
"His words might have some logic behind them," said Xu Shi.
"What makes you say that?"
"We don't know much about the upper dimension, but we do know how scary such a place would be with all these powerhouses. Now, how did seven - no, nine - individuals take absolute control?"
"Yes, if the ancestors disappeared, it could explain their rise in power," concluded Lin Fan.
"The situation might be more complicated than we thought?"
"You mean the 2 Suns?" Wang Wei gave them a brief summary of the situation and promised to give them more detailed information after their return.
"Yes. The way he spoke about them was different from others. I remember his tone was both disdainful and warry."
"Do you think these two are people who have gone beyond the Paragon Realm? The crux of this rebellion is them?"
Xu Shi's silence told Lin Fan what she thought.
"In that case, the situation will be more complicated than we thought," he groaned.
"You need to be careful," said Xu Shi. "And if something happens, contact me, and I will ascend."
"Don't worry, I will be fine." He was determined never to ask her for help. If the situation is as they analyzed, she will be way safer in the lower dimension until Wang Wei ascends. By then, her strength should have drastically increased, thus also improving her chances of survival.
Xu Shi could tell what he was thinking and could only sigh to herself. They only had three days to themselves and must make the best of the situation.
Three days later, Heavenly Court:
Wang Wei looked at the Immortal Venerable before him: "I have explained everything. Do you have any questions?"
"No, Patriarch. I won't fail in this mission," replied Wang Qi.
"Remember: keep a low profile and only do what you're instructed to."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"I will."
Wang Wei and Wang Qi walked out of the room where everybody else was waiting. "Are you ready?" asked Wang Wei, and they nodded. Wang Qi put everything inside a special space ring made from the power of the Dao Burial Ground. He also surrounded himself with that treasure's power as he disappeared from the court.
Once he opened his eyes, he was in an unknown location. He immediately checked around:
"No vision, so this space ring worked," he muttered. He exhaled deeply, immediately feeling lighter; no, he felt better than he had ever in his life. It was like he was always carrying a heavy burden that was suddenly lifted; he had had problems with his visions for so long and had acquired brand-new glasses.
'What kind of energy was in this environment? It's so intoxicating.'
Wang Qi took a breath to control himself and not get lost in the comfort of this world. He did as he was instructed to gather as much information from the nearest populated place before heading to the designated location.
The process took more than a week despite his ability to tear open space and the talisman the patriarch gave him - that's how vast this world was. Of course, his situation was unique as he was instructed not to use any official Transmission Array from any city.
At his destination, Wang Qi left a communication mark before staying in a hotel. The next day, when he opened his eyes, he discovered he was in an unknown location and was immediately worried. He did not sense or detect when these people took him away from his inn, which greatly scared him. Luckily, they soon proved their identity through the secret codes and marks the patriot gave him, so he handed these Heaven Chosen.
...
Pei Lang held a piece of paper with information on it while Old Ma was on the screen opposite him.
"When that kid said he was sending us talented individuals, I did not expect they were on that level," said the old man with a wide grin. "An extremely talented pure body refiner, a Nine Extremity Foundation with a physique better than the Absolute Chaos Physique, an unparalleled swordsman of the Ultimate Sword Path, a Taoist Priest with a dual personality, one of which is a Pure Heart."
His eyes were about to shoot fire.
"Even the others are uniquely talented in their own right."
Pei Lang groaned softly, "You only focus on their talent but haven't mentioned the trouble with their background?"
All these people have Paragon Tier Lineage behind them, except for Lin Fan and Yang Guowei. Although these lineages have closed off their mountain, they will still be interested in these talents once they've learned of them.
"Didn't we already expect this?" rebutted Old Man. "Anyways, we are only in a temporary alliance. As long as they signed the contract and fought for our cause - that's all that matters."
"You're looking at the situation shortsightedly. We must begin to look at the future after the war."
"You want to start building power? Isn't that a little too early?" asked Old Ma, not hiding his worry.
"Maybe." His eyes focused on Yang Guowei and Xiao Songxi. These two had the highest hopes of recruiting from the information they gathered.
Old Ma sighed before asking, "What do we do with them? Give them the Heaven Will?"