214: Chapter 214 We All Have a Bright Future

"I know, of course, but it's exactly because it's difficult that it's worth the challenge!" Fighting spirit burned in Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor's eyes.

"If it were easy, wouldn't everyone be able to achieve Immortal Ascension? Why would it be my turn? I, the Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor, will take the hardest path and challenge the difficulty!"

Jiang Hao and Heavenly Venerable Lingbao: ...

Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi sighed and offered a gentle persuasion.

"Fellow Daoist, we have also deduced this method. Opening a Sixth Secret Realm in the human dao domain to transform it into a Great World requires too massive a foundation; it cannot be accomplished in a single lifetime. This is something that can only be considered after achieving Immortal Ascension at the very least. You should reconsider the Transformation Method; it is more stable."

Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi meant well and did not want Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor to go astray.

However, Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor shook his head. "Thank you for the warning, Heavenly Venerable, but the Transformation Method requires living out life after life. While powerful, it is also very dangerous and too slow. I have a premonition that transforming the Sixth Secret Realm into an Immortal Domain is the true path to becoming an immortal!"

Saying this, Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor looked at Jiang Hao again, his eyes filled with expectation.

"Heavenly Emperor, how about it? Are you interested? If this method succeeds, then in the future, we won't need to go through the trouble of life-after-life transformations.

If the Heavenly Emperor can work with me to perfect this Sixth Secret Realm method, we can ascend to the Immortal Dao Domain together!"

At this point, Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor became increasingly excited. "This method is the Path to Immortality. Let's research it together; then we will all have a bright future!"

This was also one of the reasons Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor came to the Heavenly Court; challenging the Heavenly Emperor was only one of his goals.

More importantly, he wanted to discuss a new path. He, the Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor, was no brainless brute.

Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor believed that in all the heavens, only the Heavenly Emperor was qualified to open and perfect his Sixth Secret Realm method with him.

If successful, then he, the Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor, would be a true invincible myth!

At that time, he could rival the Heavenly Emperor or even surpass him. At the thought of that scene, Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor grew somewhat agitated.

Hearing this, Jiang Hao fell silent again, speechlessly complaining in his heart.

"Bright future? A dark future is more like it."

"Your idea is good," Jiang Hao finally spoke, his tone calm. "But the path must be walked step by step. The Sixth Secret Realm is not something you should be considering right now."

Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor was stunned, then showed a disappointed expression. "Does the Heavenly Emperor think... I can't do it?"

"It's not that I think you can't do it," Jiang Hao shook his head. "But the time has not yet come."

Jiang Hao also saw that Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor's character was decent; although he was stubborn at times, there was nothing else wrong with him.

Furthermore, it wasn't easy for a relatively normal Sacred Spirit Great Emperor to appear, which was why he offered the advice.

Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor gritted his teeth, a hint of stubbornness flashing in his eyes.

"It seems the Heavenly Emperor is unwilling to walk this path. Since the Heavenly Emperor won't walk my path, I'll do it myself. As for the Lesser Immortal Realm, I will not be going there."

Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor was actually somewhat disappointed in his heart; he believed the Heavenly Emperor was afraid and didn't dare to try.

As expected, the higher a person stands, the less they dare to take risks.

Since that was the case, he would do it himself!

Looking at Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor's headstrong attitude, Jiang Hao knew that persuasion was useless.

Everyone has their own path to walk. Since Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor had chosen this path, then let him walk it.

Once he hits the southern wall, he'll naturally know to turn back.

"In that case, I wish you success." Jiang Hao didn't persuade him further; if Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor wanted to leave, he would let him go.

Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor bowed, then turned and strode out of the Lingxiao Palace.

Watching his departing back, Heavenly Venerable Lingbao shook his head. "What a stubborn temper."

Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi lamented, "Most of the Sacred Spirit Clan are like this. Once they've set their minds on something, ten oxen couldn't pull them back."

Jiang Hao picked up his teacup, took a sip, and a flash of thought crossed his eyes.

The Sixth Secret Realm... Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor's imagination was indeed quite large.

In that regard, he was indeed a talent.

Because ordinary people simply wouldn't think on that level.

However, thinking and doing are two different things.

"Let him be," Jiang Hao said finally. "The path is his own choice, and he must bear the consequences himself."

...

Outside the Heavenly Court.

As Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor stepped out of the South Heaven Gate, a confident look returned to his face.

Although he had failed to challenge the Heavenly Emperor, he had gained something more important: the path of transforming a Secret Realm into an Immortal Domain did indeed exist; it was just that the Heavenly Emperor and the others didn't dare to act.

This solidified his determination to transform his Secret Realm into an Immortal Domain!

"The path you don't dare to walk, I will!"

Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor thought to himself, "When I succeed in transforming the Sixth Secret Realm into an Immortal Domain, I will become an immortal in the mortal world. At that time, you will know how great my path is!"

Thinking of this, Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor was in high spirits as he turned into a streak of light and disappeared into the starry sky.

The various parties across the heavens were stunned to see Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor looking pale and clearly injured, yet full of confidence.

"What's the situation? How can he be so happy after losing a fight?"

"Could it be that something special happened? Is there a reward for losing?"

"With that expression, it feels like he's found some treasure?"

"Who knows, maybe he has some special hobby and enjoys being suppressed?"

Amidst the discussions, this disturbance gradually settled down.

But no one knew that a seed had already been planted in Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor's heart.

A seed to open the Sixth Secret Realm and become an immortal in the mortal world.

As for what kind of flower this seed would bloom into, or what kind of fruit it would bear...

Only time would tell.

In the Heavenly Court, Jiang Hao and the other two continued to drink tea and discuss the Dao, debating the methods and preparations for their next life's transformation; this was currently the most important matter for them.

As for everything that just happened, it was merely a small interlude in the long passage of time.

Insignificant.

Another five thousand years passed.

Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor sat on the star where he was born, his face ashen.

In the void before him, countless Dao laws intertwined, attempting to fuse a Secret Realm with his own Small World.

But every time the two drew close, an inexplicable repulsive force would arise, as if some invisible rule were preventing it all.

"Damn it!"

Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor gave a low roar and waved his hand to scatter those Dao laws.

Five thousand years.

From the moment he resolved to open the Sixth Secret Realm and become an immortal in the mortal world, a full five thousand years had passed.

Forget transforming it into an Immortal Domain; he couldn't even manage the most basic step of Secret Realm Fusion.

Every attempt met that mysterious resistance, as if this path itself were forbidden by heaven and earth.

"Why is it like this? Is this the reason the Heavenly Emperor didn't act?"

Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor sat on his stone throne, covering his face with his hands.

He finally understood.

He understood why the Heavenly Emperor had that kind of expression when he heard his idea of transforming a Secret Realm into an immortal realm.

He also understood why Heavenly Venerable Lingbao and Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi both advised him to think twice.

It wasn't that the Heavenly Emperor and the others didn't dare; it was that they had known all along that this path was simply impassable!

"I was really... too naive."

Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor began to laugh bitterly.

He remembered the scene years ago in the Lingxiao Palace, where he had high-spiritedly declared he would open the Sixth Secret Realm and lead the Heavenly Emperor toward a bright future.

Looking back now, it was so embarrassing he could curl his toes.

"No wonder the Heavenly Emperor let me go back then..." Heavenly Horse Saint Emperor murmured, "He probably couldn't be bothered to crush my spirit."

The reality of five thousand years without progress woke him up like a bucket of cold water.

Surpassing the Heavenly Emperor, becoming an immortal in the mortal world—it was all just his pipe dream.