68: Chapter 68 Genesis! When the Nine Nether Hound Meets the Willow Goddess

Wang Teng stopped ten zhang away from the old willow tree. Here, the sense of oppression was even more intense.

It was an absolute gap in the hierarchy of life. Even though he was already in the Zhanwo Realm, and even though he possessed the bloodline of the Nine-Nether Ao, he still felt as small as dust before this former Immortal King.

Moreover, he could feel that the Willow Deity was examining him.

Those dozens of emerald-green willow branches were swaying gently to a certain rhythm, seemingly deciphering the secrets within his body.

Especially when the Willow Deity's perception touched the wisp of the World-Destroying Elder's aura of nirvana within him, as well as the wisp of the Ruthless Empress's obsession with immortal flight.

"Swish..."

The willow tree vibrated, and its green leaves glowed.

A voice that could not be distinguished as male or female, yet was full of magnetism and majesty, rang directly in the depths of Wang Teng's heart:

"A variable."

Merely two words, yet they seemed to encompass all karma.

Wang Teng took a deep breath. He did not kneel because of the other's pressure, nor did he shrink back from the other's scrutiny.

He was the Nine-Nether Ao; he had his pride. But he was also a junior, and he had the due respect for the strong.

Thus, he cupped his hands and bowed deeply to the charred willow tree:

"Junior Wang Teng, a descendant of the Nine-Nether Ao clan."

"Greetings to the Ancestral Sacrificial Spirit — Willow Deity!"

This bow was neither servile nor overbearing, calm and magnanimous.

Silence. A long silence.

After a while, that voice sounded again, carrying a trace of inexplicable meaning:

"Nine-Nether Ao..."

"On you, there is the scent of that person (World-Destroying Elder). That is one of the sources of darkness."

"But upon you, there is also the obsession of the Human Emperor (Ruthless Empress). That is the firewood to resist the darkness."

"Light and dark, god and demon, have actually reached a strange balance within your body."

"Who... exactly are you?"

The Willow Deity did not attack, but this question was sharper than any assault. It was questioning Wang Teng's heart. Do you want to be a lackey of darkness? Or do you want to walk your own path?

Wang Teng straightened up and looked directly at the glowing willow branches. In those gray-white double pupils, there was no evasion.

"Who I am is not important."

Wang Teng spoke indifferently, his voice filled with a determination to cut through all confusion:

"What is important is what I want to do."

He pointed at himself, then pointed at the sky:

"Power has no inherent good or evil. Whether it is darkness or light, in my hands, they are all tools."

"That old thing (World-Destroying Elder) wants me to be his chess piece, but I, Wang Teng..."

Wang Teng curled his lips into an arrogant smile:

"Only want to be the one who holds the chess piece."

"Even... if this chessboard is not pleasing to the eye, I will overturn it!"

"Swish—"

Hearing these words, the Willow Deity's branches swayed even more violently. It seemed to be surprised, and it also seemed to be... appreciative.

"What an 'overturn the chessboard'."

"You are walking a path that no one has ever walked before."

"It is very dangerous, but also... very interesting."

As the voice faded, the terrifying pressure locked onto Wang Teng receded like the tide.

Replacing it was a gentle acceptance, like a spring breeze brushing against the face.

"Come in."

"Since you are a relative of Little One (Shi Hao), you are a guest of Shi Village."

The willow branches automatically parted, clearing a path leading into the village.

Wang Teng felt a sense of relief, though his back was actually covered in a thin layer of cold sweat.

This was only because the Willow Deity was still in the nirvana period; if it were the Ancestral Sacrificial Spirit in her prime, he probably would have been purified into dust by that one glance earlier.

"Many thanks, Senior."

Wang Teng cupped his hands again, then strode into this small village that had nurtured a legend.

Just as he entered the village, a group of children wearing animal skins and looking robust and lively surrounded him.

"Wow! Big brother, who are you?"

"Did you fly down from the sky?"

"Do you know Brother Little One?"

Looking at these simple and honest children, Wang Teng's heart, which had been filled with slaughter and schemes, surprisingly calmed down for a rare moment.

He smiled and rubbed the head of a snot-nosed kid.

He casually took out a handful of spirit fruits he had brought from the Kunpeng Nest and stuffed them into the children's hands.

"Take them and eat."

"I am Little One's... hmm, brother-in-law."

"Wow! Hello, brother-in-law!"

"Brother-in-law is so generous!"

Just at this moment, an old man with gray hair and a vigorous spirit walked over with a cane; it was the old village chief, Shi Yunfeng.

"Young Master, the Willow Deity sent a message saying you are an honored guest."

The old village chief looked at the imposing Wang Teng; although he could not see through his cultivation, he could feel the man's extraordinary nature:

"My humble abode is simple. If you do not mind, please come in and drink a bowl of beast milk tea."

"You are too polite, old sir."

Wang Teng smiled and nodded, without any airs of a powerhouse:

"Being able to drink Shi Village's beast milk is my honor."

"After all..."

Wang Teng glanced in the direction of the Shi Kingdom Imperial Capital, a trace of a smile flashing in his eyes:

"This is the 'divine milk' that raised a future Huang Tianhou into a talent."

That day, Wang Teng stayed in Shi Village.

He was not in a hurry to cultivate, nor did he go to explore the secrets of the Willow Deity.

He was just like an ordinary guest, chatting with the old village chief, teaching the children how to box, and even cooking personally (of course, letting the Enchantress help).

He treated the whole village to a seafood feast brought back from the Kunpeng Nest.

And the Willow Deity did not talk with him deeply again.

Only in the dead of night, the old willow tree would sprinkle a soft radiance, enveloping Wang Teng's storied boat.

It seemed to be helping him... cleanse that body of overly complex karma and baleful aura. This was a silent transaction, and also a tacit alliance.

The night deepened.

The night in the Great Wilderness always carried a kind of primitive ruggedness and loneliness. Stars hung low over the plains, beasts roared and insects chirped.

Shi Village fell into a deep sleep; only the charred old willow tree at the village entrance swayed gently in the night wind.

Wang Teng did not sleep.

He sat cross-legged on the top deck of the storied boat, bathing in the starlight, regulating the somewhat restless primordial nirvana power within his body.

Although he appeared relaxed and at ease during the day, he knew very well that being looked at by that quasi-Immortal Emperor-level "World-Destroying Elder" was no child's play.

That was karma, and also a Damocles sword hanging over his head.

Just when the moon was in the middle of the sky and everything was silent.

"Hum—"

Without any warning, a wave that was gentle to the extreme, yet grand to the point of being indescribable, instantly covered the entire Shi Village, even enveloping the vast mountains for ten thousand miles around.

But this fluctuation did not wake any mortal, and even Saintess Yue Chan, who was meditating in the cabin, and the Enchantress, who was sleeping, did not notice it.

Only Wang Teng suddenly opened his eyes.

He saw a scene that would be unforgettable for the rest of his life.

The Willow Deity had manifested.

That old willow tree, which was usually charred and withered with only a few dozen tender branches, was now glowing.

That was not ordinary mana radiance; that was immortal light!

Billions of wisps of pure white auspicious mist gushed out from inside the trunk, instantly washing away the mottled marks of time and the scorch marks of lightning strikes.

The charred bark seemed to turn into transparent jade, with rich life essence flowing inside.

Immediately after, those dozens of emerald-green willow branches began to grow wildly, intertwining and wrapping around each other in the void.

"Swish..."

Accompanied by the sound of order chains colliding like heavenly music.

Those light rains gathered together and actually... condensed into a human figure under the tree.

It was a woman.

A supreme goddess of peerless elegance, one who made the heavens and earth lose their color.

She had not truly fully transformed into a solid entity, but was in a semi-transparent, light-spirit state.

She wore a snow-white garment, her sleeves fluttering, as if tailored from the purest moonlight.

Her figure was slender and graceful, shrouded in a hazy chaos, making it impossible to see clearly.

Yet, one could feel those breathtakingly perfect curves.

Around her floated three thousand huge orbs of light.

Each orb of light was a world!

And within each of those worlds, countless living beings were prostrating themselves before her, chanting her true name.

"Three thousand divine kingdoms, circling her body."

"Respected by ten thousand worlds, Ancestral Spirit Willow Deity."