Library of Heaven's Path 2: Eternal Fate of the Heavens

"Good!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

He had already reached the pinnacle of the Dharma Form Realm, just one step away from breaking through. As long as he entered the Galaxy Realm, given his current pace of practice, it shouldn't take too long.

"Do I need to prepare anything?" Hesitating for a moment, Zhang Xuan asked.

After a moment of silence, the voice continued, "In the Heaven Mandate Hall, there is an artifact called the Concentrating God Mirror, if you have the chance, try to get it and bring it here. It should help speed up the progress of forging the Zhilan Valley."

"Good!" Zhang Xuan nodded, etching the name into his mind.

"I can't stay in contact for long while I'm here. After your cultivation improves, come and find me."

Empyrean Kong shi's voice grew fainter until it finally disappeared.

Dispelling the sword qi, Zhang Xuan exhaled deeply.

Truly worthy of being Empyrean Kong shi, others feared the Heaven Mandate Domain like scorpions and snakes, yet he thought of forging it. More importantly, he had found the key artifact.

Now that he knew the situation of the other party, there was no need to worry too much. Zhang Xuan was no longer anxious. While continuing his practice, he waited for news from Sun Qiang, and at the same time practiced the Flowing Light Heavenly Destiny, trying to see if he could break through to the third level.

Not for how formidable the practice was, but to try the breakthrough methods of the heavenly destiny.

In the small courtyard, Zhang Xuan held the tail end of the spear in one hand, the tip pointed horizontally, standing quietly in place like a bridge.

Hum!

Just then, a fly buzzed by, and Zhang Xuan seemed to sense it, suddenly retracting and thrusting the spear in quick succession.

Then, as if it hadn't been touched at all, the fly shook itself and flew away unsteadily.

"Did you fail?" Sun Qiang approached, full of curiosity.

"Take a closer look..." With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan shook the spear, retracting it to his side.

Releasing his Spiritual Perception in confusion, Sun Qiang only took one look and couldn't hide his astonishment, "You cut off one of the fly's legs?"

The master's swift spear thrust had directly cut off one of the fly's legs, leaving its body completely undamaged.

To spear a flying fly to death was impressive enough, but to cut off a leg without harming the rest... Such control over strength was nothing short of terrifying.

"Still lacking some, if I could manage to only slice off a single leg hair, I should be able to break through..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Sun Qiang was deeply shocked. He knew that there was still a gap before reaching the third level.

The Flowing Light Heavenly Destiny should be a Sixth-level Destiny, clearly a higher grade than the Mo Dao. Furthermore, with Han Qianye's death and no one else using it, making progress without observation would be extremely difficult.

Simply infusing Heavenly Mandate Vitality had become useless; only by breaking through this level could one continue to infuse the stream.

Expanding the river channel had always been the most difficult part.

"Forget it, I won't study it for now. I'll focus on breaking into the Galaxy Realm first," he thought.

Shaking his head and as he was about to return the spear to the New World, his body suddenly shivered, and countless fragments of the heavens' vitality surged around him, madly flowing into the Flowing Light stream within the Library of Heaven's Path.

In the blink of an eye, this heavenly destiny had doubled, releasing a powerful aura.

Flowing Light Heavenly Destiny, third level!

Flowers do not bloom for the anxious heart but flourish unexpectedly for the man without intentions.

His deliberate practice had failed to succeed just moments before, yet unexpectedly, he had broken through without any preparation...

"It's... Zheng Yang! He has made a breakthrough to the second realm with the Flowing Light Spear Technique!"

Soon, Zhang Xuan realized what had happened.

The sudden receipt of such a large reward could only mean one thing – Zheng Yang had made a breakthrough, which had caused his rapid progress.

"They must have arrived at the Wanxiang Sect headquarters by now, right?" Zhang Xuan speculated in his heart.

It had been five or six days since he'd parted ways with Ouyang Hai. Even if the speed of traveling with a group was much slower than flying solo, Zheng Yang and the others should have arrived by now, right?

He just wondered how the other side was training them and what kind of heavenly destiny inheritance they would be offered.

However, as long as they hadn't contacted him, there likely wasn't a problem; they were probably safe.

...

At the Sea of Moment, in the headquarters of the Wanxiang Sect.

Atop the grand and majestic hall, three ethereal figures were seated, indistinct and inscrutable.

Below them sat a middle-aged man with cold brows and eyes.

"Elder Ouyang, are these the talents you brought back?"

The middle-aged man looked down at Zhao Ya and the others standing in the middle of the hall, a trace of confusion in his eyes, "They seem to be quite old, yet their cultivation is so low..."

When Ouyang Hai returned to the Wanxiang Sect, he sent a message stating that he had found several talents. He didn't specify how talented they were, only that he hoped they could receive excellent training.

This elder's strength was well known to him; ranking high even within the vast Wanxiang Sect, the elder wouldn't take someone of importance lightly. But after observing these three for quite some time, he couldn't see what made them exceptional.

All in their twenties, yet only at the Jade Bone Realm, Sevenfold of the Source Pool—many of the menial disciples in the Wanxiang Sect could achieve this.

As one of the largest forces in the Source World, what was considered a talent in the eyes of others might not even meet the entrance threshold here.

"The sect leader can test it!"

Ouyang Hai clasped his fists.

The person who had just spoken was none other than the current leader of Wanxiang Sect, Bai Xiaosheng.

Bai Xiaosheng, the inheritor of the title of Statistical Destiny, was a name carried by all the leaders of Wanxiang Sect generation after generation. As for his real name, it had been forgotten as no one used it, and it faded from memory as time passed.

"Test the talent?"

Bai Xiaosheng nodded, "It's possible..."

As he spoke, he flipped his wrist, and a jade tablet floated out. It was just about to land on the ground when Ouyang Hai's voice sounded again, "I hope the sect leader will bring out the 'Wanxiang Map'!"

Withdrawing his hand, the jade tablet vanished, and Bai Xiaosheng frowned slightly, "As an Elder, do you understand what it means to request the Wanxiang Map?"

The Wanxiang Map is the Wanxiang Sect's treasure of treasures. It is also essential for practicing Statistical Destiny and was crafted by the first Bai Xiaosheng using treasures from all over the world.

Usually placed in the Wanxiang Tower at the sect's headquarters, it is guarded by three grand elders and is rarely shown to others.

Unless there is a significant event, it is essentially not taken out. At this moment, it is almost inconceivable to bring it out just to test talent.

Ouyang Hai nodded, "I am fully aware, and I also know that the Luminous Jade Tokens have failed to accurately determine the true talents of these three. That's why I hope we can use the map!"

Bai Xiaosheng said, "The Luminous Jade Token is the best object for testing talent in the Source World. Even Emperor-grade talents can be perfectly evaluated with it. Are you suggesting that the talents of these three might surpass Emperor-grade?"

The talent he referred to was a combination of multiple factors, including the Source Pool, Furnace, and fragments of the heavens, not simply testing a single item, and thus, it was more comprehensive.

Similar to the tier of a Furnace, talent levels are divided into daylight robbery, middle-tier, high-tier, Spirit pinnacle, Imperial-grade, and Emperor-grade.

Emperor-grade talent is already the pinnacle of the mainland, sufficient to inherit a Third-level Heavenly Destiny.

Such geniuses are exceedingly rare in the entire Source World. Who knows how many billions of cultivators there must be for one to emerge. To surpass Emperor-grade is almost impossible to see, and each is an extraordinary individual unparalleled in history. The current 24 Second-level Heavenly Destinies were comprehended by such individuals.

As for the eight First-level Heavenly Destinies, they have existed since the birth of the Source World and are not included for consideration.

As an inheritor like himself, his talent had only just reached Emperor-grade!

Successors rarely surpass their founders, and even those who revitalize the sect fall short. It is normal for their talents to be somewhat weaker.

That is to say, his talent could be tested with the Luminous Jade Token, but this Elder Ouyang comes claiming that it isn't possible...

If you managed to find one such individual, I might believe you, but to find three all at once, it seems unbelievable.

"Exactly!" Ouyang Hai nodded.

"Very well!"

Knowing that this Elder wouldn't fuss about such matters, Bai Xiaosheng spoke no more. With a point of his finger, a massive strength spread out, forming a special current that surged toward the three silhouettes behind him.

As if space was ripped apart, the silhouettes gradually solidified, revealing the figures of three old men.

The three strongest grand elders of Wanxiang Sect!

They were responsible for guarding the Wanxiang Tower and the Wanxiang Map.

"What matter disturbs us?" The elder on the far left spoke up in an indifferent voice.

"Reporting to the grand elders, Elder Ouyang has brought three talents and wishes to use the Wanxiang Map to test their abilities. We ask for your approval..."

Bai Xiaosheng bowed with clasped fists.

Even as the sect leader, he did not dare to act presumptuously in front of these three.

"Using the Wanxiang Map to test talent?"

The elder on the far right frowned, "Are you certain they can withstand the pressure that this artifact brings?"

"Of course!"

Bai Xiaosheng nodded.

"Then so be it... We will now bring forth the Wanxiang Map. If these talents you speak of cannot withstand it, no matter if it's you or Ouyang Hai, you will both be punished!"

The grand elder in the middle waved his hand lightly, and everyone immediately felt a tremendous pressure spread throughout the great hall. At once, an item resembling a book, emitting a dazzling light, appeared within the room.

The Wanxiang Map... the strongest treasure of the Wanxiang Sect.

"Zhao Ya, Zheng Yang, Wang Ying, the three of you, now approach the map and try your best to touch it..."

Ouyang Hai gave detailed instructions. He spoke halfway, paused, then transmitted his message directly into the ears of the three.

"In a moment, no matter how much effort it takes, be sure to touch the Wanxiang Map. If you do, this artifact will reveal the shadows of a fitting heavenly destiny based on your physique and talents, making it much easier to find your destiny later, and avoiding a lot of trouble..."

While the Luminous Jade Token could test talent, it could not infer destiny. The Wanxiang Map, encompassing all under heaven, unparalleled, can combine powers upon contact to deduce the most suitable destiny for their physique, greatly benefiting their future practice.

Therefore, this was the fundamental reason he insisted on requesting this celestial treasure from the sect leader.

Of course, such intentions could not be spoken in front of everyone.

"Understood!"

Zhao Ya and the others, acknowledging his good intentions, nodded in gratitude.

Despite their brief acquaintance, this Ouyang Hai had treated them quite well, and his character was trustworthy.

"Which of you three will go first?"

Just then, Bai Xiaosheng's gaze fell upon them.