Chapter 642 - 623: Garden of the Gods

Wang Meng approached the Five-Transformation Qilin Beast. The Qilin Beast lay lazily in its magnificent cage. In truth, a beast that had reached the Fifth Transformation possessed considerable intelligence and usually didn’t require a cage. It was just that no one in Wang City could yet tame a Fifth Transformation True Essence Beast. Of course, it was also possible no one could agree on how to divide the prize; whoever took it would become a public target.

’Still, the power of a Fifth Transformation is truly extraordinary. If I had one to use, I’d have all the Five Elements True Essence I need.’

Almost immediately, the main gate of the Bai Family residence grew bustling with activity.

"Nephew Bai! Haha, it’s true what they say—heroes are born from the young!"

"Uncle Zhuu, hehe, it was just luck. Nothing more."

"Nonsense! Luck is a form of strength! From this day forward, the Bai Family will be added to the list of families who have supported an Auspicious Qilin Beast!"

"Hehe, thank you for your kind words, Uncle Zhuu. By the way, about the next joint hunt, the Zhuu Family..."

"We’re in! I was planning to agree all along, but with the Divine Beast Festival so close, I intended to discuss it afterward. Since you’ve brought it up now, Nephew Bai, I’ll be frank. The Zhuu Family can’t commit a great deal of our forces, but we can certainly spare twelve Jingwei Dog Beasts."

Fatty Bai took a deep breath. Before, the Zhuu Family had given him the runaround when he asked for just two Jingwei Dog Beasts. Now, they were offering twelve in one go!

The Bai Family was truly about to soar in Wang City.

He had just seen off the Zhuu Family Patriarch when he was greeting the Young Master of the Wui Family, who also held a special status in Wang City...

"Brother Bai, congratulations! Please, take me to see the auspicious beast. I’m hoping some of its good fortune will rub off on me."

Fatty Bai was swamped, but he was also overjoyed. Family after family that had previously snubbed the Bai Family now came to visit, each of them expressing, to some degree, an interest in cooperating.

Fatty Bai had already been planning to organize a large-scale joint hunt for the smaller families. It would be difficult for the Bai Family to do it alone, and he couldn’t rely on Wang Meng every single time. A joint effort would benefit all the participating families.

However, due to pressure from the Kun Family, none of the factions had been willing to participate. Now, things were different. These same factions were practically begging to cooperate with the Bai Family.

Zhan Yingluo was also feeling quite smug. She deserved a great deal of the credit for this, after all!

"So, how are you going to thank me?" Upon entering Wang Meng’s room, Zhan Yingluo found him drawing a Qilin—and a particularly ugly one at that. ’How can he have the time for such leisurely pursuits at a moment like this?’

"I’ll give you Fatty Bai. He can warm your bed," Wang Meng said with a smile.

"Pervert!"

"How is that perverted? The fatty is all soft flesh. He’d be warm and comfortable," Wang Meng joked.

"You damn scoundrel, don’t try to fob me off with jokes. I know you’re using the Bai Family to prove your abilities, and I helped you in a huge way. You have to show your appreciation!"

Zhan Yingluo wasn’t easy to fool. She wasn’t going to let him off the hook with a few jokes.

Wang Meng smiled. "Nothing’s set in stone yet. Who knows if something unexpected will happen? If everything goes smoothly, then whatever you want to do, I’ll go with you."

Zhan Yingluo clapped her hands. "You said it! No backing out!"

Wang Meng gave a faint smile and returned to his drawing.

While the Bai Family was overjoyed, things around Wang Meng quieted down. The Five Elements God Festival entered its formal preparation stage, and Zhan Yingluo, as a representative of the Spirit Control Association, became busy as well. The Zhan Family’s interests were at stake, after all. Wang Meng, by contrast, became the most idle person there.

However, Master Wang wasn’t truly idle. He had been on the verge of a breakthrough for a while, and after his recent accumulation of power, he had reached the final leg of the race. This might be a major event for others, but to Wang Meng, it was just a small hurdle. All he needed was to choose the right moment, and success would come naturally.

Speaking of which, he had the Pill Immortal Alliance to thank. In addition to being fed Pills, the Five-Transformation True Essence Beast had specialized Pill Masters casting the Rain Dew Technique on it to keep the Qilin Beast in peak condition, leaving it full of vigor.

To put it bluntly, the Qilin Beast in Wang City wasn’t a True Essence Beast meant for combat, but a divine object of worship. Other Fifth Transformation True Essence Beasts would rarely receive such treatment. But then again, who could blame them? The Qilin was a symbol of good fortune.

However, Wang Meng had learned a method for restoring True Essence Beasts from the Pill Immortal Alliance’s Rain Dew Technique. This gave him a way to obtain sufficient Five Elements True Essence to break through his bottleneck.

The Five Elements True Essence Beast, its power fully restored, provided Wang Meng with a continuous stream of energy. Anyone else breaking through from the Profound Wheel Realm to the Earth Wheel Realm would have been ecstatic, but for Master Wang, it was a piece of cake. He couldn’t even find a thrill in it.

The Five Elements True Essence converged on his Life Wheel and instantly detonated. The rotation of the Life Wheel was clearly more forceful, but once was not enough.

One after another, lotuses of light bloomed. The exhausted True Essence Beast was instantly restored to full vigor, and Wang Meng used Borrowing Spirit once more.

RUMBLE!

Letting out a slight breath of relief, Wang Meng could feel the changes in his body. At these low levels, the greatest change from a realm advancement was the strengthening of the physical body and the sharpening of the five senses.

Through Master Wang’s efforts, his current body was gradually growing stronger, his features becoming more defined. He was faintly starting to regain the bearing of the Wang Meng of old. His gaze could pierce the night, and his aura grew more and more substantial.

Although the five True Essence Beasts were exhausted, it seemed that they had also progressed along with Wang Meng’s advancement. In fact... their progress seemed even greater than his. He wondered if it was because a trace of his Divine Sense had merged with them, but all five True Essence Beasts had now reached the peak of the Third Transformation.

This was especially true for the Red Melt Bird. Its feathers had become even more brilliant, and though it was exhausted, a glint of arrogance had appeared in its eyes.

Wang Meng gave a wry smile. ’I’m not sure who’s benefiting more here,’ he thought. This realm breakthrough didn’t bring any particularly special sensation. Not that he expected to gain any profound insights from such a low-level advancement—that would be far too easy.

Just when Wang Meng thought it was over, his Life Wheel abruptly began to spin. He wasn’t controlling it; it was moving on its own.

A light emanated from Wang Meng’s abdomen, and the space before him visibly resonated in response. ’This is... a fluctuation of the Laws.’

HUMMM...

A flash of white light filled his vision; even someone like Wang Meng had no time to react.

But the daze lasted only for an instant. Wang Meng quickly regained his senses to the bustling sound of what seemed to be a large crowd.

Wang Meng had barely steadied himself when several people swarmed over. "Young brother, where are you from? Which esteemed Master is your teacher?"

Wang Meng didn’t answer. He seemed to have appeared in the middle of a city. He had felt a spatial fluctuation, and by his judgment, it was an application of the Law of Space of a much higher level than he himself had mastered.

This place was even more peculiar. The Small Thousand Realm had its Space Secret Realms, but this place was not so simple. Wang Meng was especially sensitive to the Laws, and the level here felt even higher than that of the Middle Thousand Realm. The Spiritual Qi was so abundant it was several orders of magnitude greater than in the Small Thousand Realm.

’How can this be?’

"I am a Loose Cultivator from Great Zhou. Where is this?"

The middle-aged man was momentarily stunned, then broke into a heartfelt smile. "Such a young Loose Cultivator is truly a rare sight. It’s only natural that you’re confused. Come, our meeting is fated. It’s too crowded here; let’s speak over to the side."

Wang Meng nodded. A wave of disappointed sighs came from the surrounding crowd, but no one else approached them.

"My name is Lim Wu. My friends call me the Rude Taoist, though I’m actually quite polite."

"Senior, what is this place? I was pulled in here right after my breakthrough from the Profound Wheel Realm."

"Haha, this is precisely why our Heaven-Reaching Realm is known as the Garden of the Gods! This *is* the Garden of the Gods! Only those with extraordinary talent, those with the potential to attain Godhood, can enter. Surely you can feel the abundant Elemental Qi?"

Lim Wu laughed, his beard quivering with mirth.

’The Garden of the Gods?’ Wang Meng surveyed his surroundings. The magnificent architecture, the potent Elemental Power... if anything, *this* felt like a true Middle Thousand Realm. The world outside seemed so pale in comparison.

"Haha, it’s amazing, isn’t it? Everyone’s like this their first time here. It’s just that most people are informed by their masters beforehand. For a solo cultivator like you to run into me, that’s just good luck!" Lim Wu said.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior. But how do I get back? Or can I stay here permanently?"

Others might have been ecstatic, but Wang Meng had seen far too many grand spectacles. He was pleased, of course. This place might just be the Middle Thousand Realm’s path to ascension. It was certainly special.

"Don’t be hasty. We can talk as we walk. Just being able to come here means you have a boundless future. First, you need to go to the Soul Gathering Hall to receive a god’s reward. Follow me."

Lim Wu was incredibly enthusiastic, chattering away nonstop as they walked.

The entire Garden of the Gods had always existed. Everything here was a remnant left behind by the gods and, of course, it held the secret to ascension. Not only were there Cultivators from Great Zhou, but also powerful figures from every corner of the continent.

The Life Wheel was the key.

There were quite a few people at the Soul Gathering Hall. The circumstances of everyone’s arrival were different. It was rare to see someone like Wang Meng arrive the moment they entered the Earth Wheel Realm. According to Lim Wu, this meant Wang Meng was in for a huge reward and had a very promising future.

Four other Cultivators were waiting for Lim Wu outside the Soul Gathering Hall. After hearing Lim Wu’s introduction, they all rushed to congratulate Wang Meng.

"Go on in. Focus your mind. This is the first step of Foundation Establishment and is incredibly important for us Cultivators. A good start is half the battle!"

Lim Wu patted Wang Meng on the shoulder.

’Might as well see this through,’ Master Wang thought, striding into the Soul Gathering Hall.

As he stepped inside, the world went pitch-black. Gradually, tiny points of light, like stars, began to appear.

There was no killing intent, and his body was indeed changing. Wang Meng was no fool; this place was suffused with the presence of the Dao Laws, something no ordinary Cultivator could create.

’That group’s enthusiasm was a bit over the top, but they were telling the truth. This Soul Gathering Hall really is a good place.’

The points of light surrounded Wang Meng, spinning without end as more and more starlight emerged from the darkness.

「Outside the Soul Gathering Hall.」

"Old Lim, the kid’s been in there for a while. Looks like we really hooked a big one this time!"

"Haha, every little bit helps. Once we take him out, we’re in for a great supplement."

"He got in right at the Earth Wheel Realm. His potential must be limitless. Too bad for him, it’s all for our benefit now."

"A catch like this doesn’t come along for years. He can only blame his own bad luck."

"No master, no faction to back him up. If we don’t slaughter this fat sheep, someone else will!"

"True. It’d be a real shame if he fell into the hands of the White Bone Sect. Better for us brothers to profit instead."

The Cultivators outside were delighted, and inside, Wang Meng was just as pleased.

His Primordial Spirit stirred, and Wang Meng understood. This was the karmic effect of the Dao Laws. He had always felt the Middle Thousand Realm was a bit too wretched and far too enmeshed in worldly affairs—even more so than the Small Thousand Realm. ’How is anyone supposed to ascend in a place like that?’ he had wondered.

But now it seemed there were considerable benefits after all, because this was the place where one obtained a Fate Grid!

The so-called Foundation Establishment was, in fact, the construction of one’s Fate Grid. By now, Wang Meng was surrounded by countless points of starlight, all pouring in a continuous stream into his Primordial Spirit.

And what Wang Meng possessed was a Godhood!

Power. Tyrannical power was returning. Wang Meng felt the descent of the Three Great Laws. It was a blessing in disguise. He had been at a loss, trapped here by the Dao Laws, but who would have thought such an opportunity was hidden within his predicament? Surviving a great disaster truly does bring good fortune!

Moreover, the Elemental Qi here was more than enough to sustain his Power of Laws!

(Master Wang will seek the mysteries of Godhood in this world. A new arc begins! To my fellow Daoists, please vote with your monthly tickets!) (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)