Shrouding the Heavens: The Ultimate Daoist Venerable

Chapter 169 Recruiting Yuanxiang King

After everyone left to begin their own cultivation, Liang Yu, who was away, found King Yuanxiang.

Although Yuanxiang King had been defeated by Yuanshi Tianzun several times, he was indeed a peerless genius who would surely achieve enlightenment in a different era, similar to Chuanying, Ningfei, Dique, and Gai Jiuyou in later generations.

However, when Chuan Yingningfei was born, the Emperor and the Undying Emperor were at their peak, and they were simply unable to shake him; when Gai Jiuyou was born, although the Azure Emperor had already entered the Desolate Tower, his remaining Dao imprint was still there, which firmly restricted his further progress.

Di Que and the Fighting Saint Emperor were evenly matched until Di Que was finally defeated. However, he was also the only one of the four to attain enlightenment in later generations. It can be said that they were all born at the wrong time.

Compared to them, Yuanxiang King was unfortunate, after all, he directly encountered Yuanshi Tianzun and competed with him in his own time, making it difficult for him to even retain his invincible spirit. But he was also lucky, because Liang Yu came to his rescue.

Of course, Liang Yu valued him partly because of the uniqueness of his path of proving the Dao through force. Over the years, Yuan Xiangwang has indeed gone further and further down this path, achieving profound accomplishments.

If the current Yuanxiang King can attain Dao, he might go even further, becoming a more powerful and unique Dao-proving individual. In other words, his potential is already no weaker than that of Zhulong, the strongest supreme being of Kunlun who was killed by Liang Yu, and he might even surpass most ordinary Dao-proving individuals. Of course, until his potential is realized, it remains just potential and cannot be considered true.

However, this true young demon lord encountered the Primordial Heavenly Lord, who possessed the potential of a mortal immortal, and despite his best efforts, he could not defeat him, ultimately stopping at an unconventional path to enlightenment.

After all, to be honest, his talent was not as good as that of Yuanshi Tianzun. If he hadn't forged his own unique path of proving the Dao through force, and if these differences hadn't been so obvious in the early and middle stages, it would have been a pipe dream for him to compete with Yuanshi Tianzun.

However, it is still quite inspiring that he was able to reach this level with a aptitude that is at most equivalent to that of an ordinary king, and at one point even rivaled the Primordial Celestial Venerable.

Moreover, he had already been defeated by Yuanshi Tianzun three times: the first time by a half-saint, the second time by a quasi-saint at the ninth level of heaven, and the third time by someone who achieved enlightenment through an unorthodox method. But even so, his Dao heart remained steadfast, and he did not succumb to despair. He still wanted to continue to improve and continue to challenge.

It was precisely because of his overall performance that Liang Yu decided to bring him into the plan, just like the Three Lives Supreme, either to be left for future generations to prove his Dao, or to ascend to a strange world with his help.

Moreover, if you really think about it, he was actually mentored by Liang Yu.

Yuanxiang Wang, who was constantly pursuing the ultimate path to enlightenment through unconventional means, was blocked by the deceased Liang Yu.

He stared at the figure opposite him, terrified. Firstly, because the opponent's strength was unfathomable, he couldn't muster even the slightest thought of resistance; secondly, because this person looked very familiar.

Since Liang Yu hadn't made any attempt to conceal his appearance, Yuanxiang King recognized him immediately as Wuji Tianzun. After all, as the previous Daoist, Liang Yu's true face was depicted in numerous portraits and sculptures. And these prodigies naturally aimed for the previous peak, so he was extremely familiar with Liang Yu's appearance.

He asked tentatively, "The Supreme Celestial Venerable Wuji? Is it really you?"

Liang Yu said, "What do you think?"

Looking at the unfathomable depths of the other party, whose every word and action flowed naturally, as if guided by the very Dao, and the terrifying power contained within him that seemed capable of crushing everything, Yuanxiang King knew that this was most likely the real person. After all, even the current Yuanshi Tianzun did not possess such an aura. Having achieved Dao through an unorthodox means, he could still glimpse Liang Yu's strength. Furthermore, the vast, unfathomable blood and qi, the vigorous vitality, and the sense of perfect naturalness all told him that the other party was likely not a fully severed entity.

Upon confirmation, King Yuanxiang was filled with shock, joy, and sorrow. He was shocked that after hundreds of thousands of years, the Supreme Celestial Venerable Wuji was not only still alive but had become increasingly unfathomable; he was joyful that such a towering figure still stood firm, at least giving them, the later generations of cultivators, a goal to strive for; he was sorrowful because even the legendary Supreme Celestial Venerable Wuji, who was said to have ascended to immortality, had not become an immortal but was still in the mortal world, making immortality a truly impossible path.

Thanks to the Dao heart he had cultivated over the years, Yuanxiang King quickly composed himself and said, "Greetings, Great Heavenly Venerable. I have heard that the Great Heavenly Venerable has already ascended to immortality, but now that I see you, does it mean that the Great Heavenly Venerable has not yet become an immortal?"

Liang Yu said, "Not yet."

Yuanxiang King said, "I wonder what business the Great Heavenly Venerable has with me?"

Liang Yu said, "I have a plan that might give you a chance to become an immortal. Do you want to join?"

Although King Yuanxiang was lost in thought, he still said, "If the Great Heavenly Venerable invites me, wouldn't it be incredibly ungrateful of me to refuse? But why did the Great Heavenly Venerable choose me?"

Liang Yu smiled and said, "Because you have shown great potential. Moreover, in the Great Dream Array, I also saw your unwavering Dao heart. With these two qualities, you could achieve even greater things in a different world. I don't want you to stop here."

King Yuanxiang was startled upon hearing this, but then said, "That illusion array was set up by the Great Celestial Venerable? In that case, the Great Celestial Venerable is my great benefactor. Without this array, perhaps I would not have had the opportunity to reach this level."

Liang Yu said, "No, that great formation only accelerated your growth, it didn't bring about a decisive change. It was you who surpassed your past self."

King Yuanxiang said, “But if I hadn’t had this experience, I would probably have fallen far behind Yuanshi Tianzun and wouldn’t have been able to compete with him. Since we have this connection, I should treat him with the respect due to a teacher. I am willing to be at the beck and call of the Great Heavenly Venerable without any objection.”

It was only because Yuanxiang King still had some sense of shame that he didn't want to immediately bow down and call him his master. However, the title of Wuji Datianzun was still quite prestigious, so even though he didn't reveal any details, Yuanxiang King wasn't worried about being deceived.

Liang Yu laughed and said, "Alright, then you may declare yourself immortal. When I summon you to the world, you will reappear. At that time, I will help you become an immortal."

King Yuanxiang cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Great Heavenly Venerable."

Immediately, Liang Yu vanished without a sound, without even the slightest notice from Yuanxiang King. He was once again awestruck by the terrifying power of the Limitless Heavenly Venerable, but at the same time, a glimmer of anticipation rose in his heart.

After all, his path was essentially blocked. Judging from Yuanshi Tianzun's performance, even if he continued to break through like Ying Shenxiao, he wouldn't be a match for Yuanshi Tianzun. Now, he could only place his hopes on Liang Yu's plan.

Thus, King Yuanxiang vanished from the world.

(End of this chapter)