The Immortal King's Probe

Above the Immortal Realm.

An old man dressed in a black robe appeared in a grand hall.

Here, strands of Primordial Qi hung down, extremely hidden, and although it was within his immortal kingdom, no one knew of it.

The Mingluo Immortal Palace!

The King Mingluo had returned to his immortal kingdom. He entered the main hall, and with a wave of his hand, the lower half of the Immortal Lord Senluo instantly appeared inside.

"I will nourish your body with the Primordial Qi of the Daoist realm. Perhaps it will take three months for you to fully recover."

Ming Luo spoke calmly.

The remaining two legs of the Immortal Lord Senluo were now kneeling before the King Mingluo.

Despite being severely injured, he was still conscious!

"Very well, I have other important matters to attend to."

After saying that, the King Mingluo left.

Before long, he had entered another equally secluded place.

This is the ancestral land of the Guangwu Immortal Kingdom!

"King Guangwu, an old friend has come to visit--"

The King Mingluo spoke directly.

In that secluded place, after a very long time, a soft yet aged voice finally spoke:

"Ming Luo, it has been ten thousand years since we last met. What brings you here this time?"

The King Mingluo:

"I'm giving you an unparalleled fortuitous opportunity!"

At the same time.

A Daoist palace, situated in the primordial chaos, beyond the perception of ordinary people, transcending all living beings.

This place is called the Tianji Immortal Palace!

The immortal king Yu Lan cultivated here.

At this moment, in the Heavenly Mystery Hall of the Celestial Palace, two extremely terrifying figures are sitting facing each other!

One of the middle-aged men held Taiji Formation Disk in his hand, which seemed to be surrounded by countless great Dao principles. On his forehead was a natural Taiji pattern!

His aura was extremely profound. With a wave of his hand or a flick of his finger, a terrifying aura would arise, and cause and effect would collapse and vanish around him.

Opposite him stood a man dressed in a celestial robe, with long, flowing hair. The man's eyes were weathered and vast, reflecting countless years of experience and the vicissitudes of life he had witnessed. Yet, at this moment, a deep anger lurked in his eyes.

The middle-aged man with Tai Dao Patterns on his forehead looked at the person opposite him and said:

"Antuo, have you thought this through? This matter involves enormous implications!"

"Although the avatar you left in the lower realm was left over tens of thousands of years ago and its cultivation level is far inferior to your current level, the fact that you were able to destroy it is enough to show that the other party was at least a King of Immortality."

"Since you're dealing with beings of my level, the price you'll have to pay is likely to be enormous..."

Upon hearing this, King Antuo replied indifferently:

"We've been preparing here in this hall for over a month, how could I possibly give up?"

A resolute look appeared on his face:

"I will search heaven and earth for this person and kill him without hesitation!"

"Since he destroyed my clone, the cause and effect have already been established!"

"I know your rules, Yu Lan. This is three drops of Immortal King blood. Now, go!"

He raised his hand, and instantly, three terrifying drops of blood appeared in his palm!

The three drops of blood, like rolling crimson gold, exuded an unimaginable aura. If it weren't for the terrifying Immortal King formation set up in this Immortal Hall, this entire space would probably have collapsed because of the appearance of these three drops of Immortal King blood!

A complex look appeared in King Yulan's eyes as he said:

"Alright, since you insist, I'll do my part to deduce this person's existence!"

With a wave of his hand, he acquired three drops of Immortal King blood.

One of the drops landed on the Taiji Formation Disk!

"The Dao Derives the Infinite, cause and effect cycle, tracking and finding, Nine Nether Yellow Springs!"

Yu Lan spoke in a low voice, her hands rapidly forming hand seals.

In an instant, the entire Heavenly Immortal Hall was shaken.

One terrifying array after another instantly emerged from the space surrounding the Immortal Hall, with millions of terrifying Dao principles resonating in unison!

He's deducing cause and effect against the grain!

In an instant, this space changed drastically, as if it had entered some terrifying river of time and space, with light and shadow intertwining!

A ferocious beast roars from millions of years ago, while light and shadow intertwine tens of millions of years later...

Countless causes and effects are intertwined.

"A drop of Immortal King blood led me to the truth!"

Yu Lan and Antuo struggle through the long river of time and cause and effect, guided by a drop of Immortal King blood.

They seemed to have entered a Void Sea, and seemed to have seen a hazy new world, formed by some kind of impact...

However, everything ahead was shrouded in some kind of impenetrable fog!

"Even within the long river of cause and effect, it cannot be seen through?! How is that possible!"

King Yulan was taken aback.

"I must find out the cause and effect, and use every means at my disposal to see clearly what lies ahead!"

King Antuo roared, forcing out three more drops of Immortal King essence blood!

"Burn this blood, let it light the way forward!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Lan nodded; even he was curious now.

What exactly is involved that even the Immortal King blood cannot penetrate it...?

He ignited three drops of Immortal King essence blood in Antuo, and in an instant, the River of Cause and Effect boiled, countless heavenly secrets unfolded, and terrifying scenes seemed to come back to life.

Ahead, countless wisps of mist seemed to be vaporizing from the burning of the Immortal King blood!

--

Right now.

Above the Immortal Realm, atop a certain ancient and primeval mountain range.

A celestial palace was built here.

However, the celestial palace was not so grand and magnificent; instead, it resembled a farmhouse courtyard, where many rare and precious spirit medicine grew.

Some birds perched on the roof tiles.

Below, in a palace courtyard, an exceptionally beautiful figure was planting a rose bush with her own hands.

She wore a white dress that flowed like a waterfall of tassels, her long, black hair draped casually over her shoulders, and her graceful figure was like a masterpiece of nature.

With her delicate, translucent hands, she gently sprinkled the last drop of nectar onto the roses. Then she smiled, her lips parted slightly, revealing her pearly teeth. Her smile was like a crescent moon, causing all the flowers in the garden to bloom!

Her eyes were like the purest lake in the heavens, her nose was delicate and straight, and her eyebrows were like the moon.

"This time next year, these roses should be in bloom."

She smiled.

Just then, in a birdcage hanging under the eaves behind, a parrot with colorful feathers suddenly opened its eyes and squawked loudly:

"Cause and effect, cause and effect, cause and effect!"

The woman in the white dress turned her head slightly, and a ripple gently passed through her beautiful, lake-like eyes:

What major event has occurred in the long river of cause and effect?

She thought for a moment and decided to go and see for herself. So, she suddenly made a gesture with her slender, jade-like hand, and the light and shadow around her suddenly changed!

She is already in the long river of cause and effect throughout eternity.

--

"Burn away all the fog!"

Yu Lan shouted, his hands constantly forming hand seals, various terrifying ancient hand seals, stirring up the cause and effect of time!

Everything around them began to boil and burn; the three drops of Immortal King blood seemed to transform into three terrifying suns, evaporating everything.

However, the fog ahead seemed to stretch on and on!

To this day, they still cannot see the truth of history.

The Immortal King essence blood were almost completely burned away!

A thick fog obscures everything; nothing is visible!

Seeing this, Yu Lan's eyes became extremely solemn:

"Antuo, this cause and effect is too strange. Even at this point, we still can't figure it out... I suggest you give up!"

He sensed something was wrong!

However, in the eyes of the King Antuo, divine light shone brightly!

"Impossible!"

"The more this is the case, the more I need to see it clearly!"

"The cause and effect have been laid; a battle is inevitable in the future. It will be either him or me who dies!"

"I, Antuo, am willing to bear all the consequences with the body of a Celestial King. I will surely witness the truth!"

Antuo roared, taking a step forward, ready to burn even more of his Essence Blood!

Yu Lan's expression changed drastically!

Antuo was truly going all out by doing this, burning too much of the Immortal King blood, which would have terrible effects on him!

It must be understood that each drop of Immortal King blood requires tens of thousands of years to cultivate!

In that case, Antuo's cultivation level would probably regress by three points!

But he did not stop them, because he understood that this cause and effect might involve the life and death of both parties in the future!

Antuo's Blood Qi boiled!

But at that moment, a faint voice rang out:

"Can you bear the full weight of cause and effect?"

In an instant, both King Yulan and King Antuo were taken aback and turned around sharply to look in the direction from which the sound came.

Then, a woman in a white dress slowly walked towards them. She was stunningly beautiful, ethereal and otherworldly, and Qingcheng beautiful.

"Who are you... and why are you here?!"

King Yulan spoke in a deep voice, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty!

It must be understood that this River of Cause and Effect King Antuo, and almost all the cause and effect within this river belongs to Antuo!

Only he, and the King Antuo, are allowed to set foot there.

The river of cause and effect is a mystery within a mystery, the Unseen within the Unseen, which no one can interfere with or see.

The biggest secret!

But then, a woman appeared!

This is too bizarre!

Moreover, Yu Lan, King of Immortality in the Immortal Realm, had never seen this woman before!

Those who can traverse the river of cause and effect are all beings beyond immortality, so why doesn't he recognize them?

"Why can't I be here? Heaven and earth, the Nine Nether Yellow Springs, I can go wherever I want."

The woman in the white dress spoke calmly, looking at King Antuo, and said:

"Let me give you a piece of advice: don't be courting death."

Upon hearing this, the King Antuo's face darkened, and he said:

"Since you are not my enemy, please do not interfere in my affairs, lest you create karmic ties!"

His words carried a threatening tone.

Upon hearing this, the woman in the white dress smiled and said:

"You fear cause and effect like a tiger, yet you dare to attack this fog? How laughable."

"Whether it's laughable or not, I don't need your esteemed opinion!"

Antuo snorted coldly, turned around and continued, taking a step forward directly into the mist!

He intends to use the Dao Fruit of the Immortal King's Path to break through the fog of cause and effect!

His entire body erupted with terrifying light, and the eternal power of immortality bestowed upon him, making him impervious to all magic!

Even the fog seemed unable to stop him!

"Is it really possible? What's hidden behind this...?"

King Yulan was somewhat looking forward to it.

"Break--"

King Antuo roared, shaking the mist!

But, in that very instant!

Suddenly, a phoenix cry rang out from within the mist—

Its clear and melodious sound is like the voice of the heavens, its profound mystery like the voice of the Great Dao, piercing through all illusions and resounding throughout the long river of cause and effect!

Suddenly, King Antuo abruptly retreated from the mist. He staggered, almost unable to stand, and a trace of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth!

An incredible light shot out from his pupils!

"Brother Antuo, what's wrong? What did you see?!"

Yu Lan rushed forward!

Antuo's eyes flickered with uncertainty as he said:

"The True Phoenix Clan still has remnants...!"

He uttered eight words!

Upon hearing this, Yu Lan's expression changed drastically!

The True Phoenix Clan still has remnants...

He was shocked!

"I understand now. You participated in the great war that annihilated the True Phoenix Clan back then, so this karmic connection was formed hundreds of thousands of years ago... and it's only now manifesting!"

Yu Lan spoke slowly and deliberately, revealing a secret!

In High Antiquity times, the King Antuo participated in a war that wiped out his entire race!

"The causes and effects of the past are understood in this life... Although the scene within the white mist is not yet fully clear, I understand everything..."

King Antuo murmured, looked at Yu Lan, and said, "Brother Yu Lan, let's retreat."

King Yulan nodded.

The two turned around and looked at the mysterious woman in white who had appeared in the long river.

"I hope there is no karmic connection between you and me!"

King Antuo spoke coldly, and then they vanished from this world in an instant.

The woman in the white dress, however, looked towards the mist.

"The True Phoenix Clan? I have a feeling that he hasn't discovered the truth hidden in the white mist. Perhaps he's only scratched the surface?"

"That's interesting..."

After saying that, she left.

The next moment, she reappeared in her garden, for a fleeting time, as if she had never left.

"Wangcai requests an audience with its master!"

At that moment, a respectful voice suddenly rang out from outside.

"Come in."

The woman in the white dress spoke softly.

An elderly man in white robes entered. His eyes held a wild glint, yet he was extremely respectful at this moment, and said:

"Master, Wangcai is here to ask for leave for my grandson..."

"Oh? Which one?" the woman in the white dress asked.

The old man said, "Wangcai!"

"The one who guards the nursery for you is named Bai Shaoyang... Our clan is about to hold a 'True Lord Blessing Ceremony' to bestow blessings upon various branches and help them purify their bloodlines. Bai Shaoyang wants to select a few promising individuals so that they can serve their master in the future."

The woman thought for a moment and said:

"Go ahead, and have him look for traces of the phoenix along the way."

"Keeping a phoenix as a pet would be quite nice."

After she finished speaking, she entered the main hall.

The old man, "Wangcai," bowed deeply to her retreating figure and said:

"Yes, Master!"

He then left the celestial palace.

As we passed the palace gate, two Golden Lion sitting guard at the entrance opened their mouths:

"White Tiger Immortal King, how is Master's mood today?"

The old man, "Wangcai," pondered for a moment and said:

"It should be quite nice. The master planted roses and even sent my grandson, Bai Shaoyang, down to the mortal realm to search for traces of the phoenix!"

The other Golden Lion nodded and said:

"That's good. White Tiger Holy Emperor, please go and return quickly. It's your turn to guard the gate tomorrow."

The White Tiger Holy Emperor said, "I know!"

A once mighty immortal king has been reduced to a mere watchdog named "Wangcai" in this place, yet his expression is so natural, as if it were his natural state...

And at this moment.

The lower realm.

Heaven.

In Small Mountain Village in the Southern Domain.

In the Small Courtyard, a chicken that had been resting with its eyes closed suddenly opened them.

"Giggle giggle~~~"

It crowed a few times, and suddenly all the chickens around it turned to look at it...