Chapter 677: Wang Hong

Capable of cultivating both artifact and array arts to such profound realms.

Throughout the entire Tiandou Prefecture, such individuals are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Even those who reach such mastery are typically over a hundred years old.

Who else but Jiang Ming, at less than twenty years of age, has surpassed the accumulated efforts of others over a century?

Fortune is certainly important, but the profound insight needed to absorb fortune and transform it into one's own foundation is even more crucial!

If one's aptitude for artifact and array arts is insufficient, even possessing two great legacies would make such rapid progress nearly impossible.

At this moment, Jiang Ming sat cross-legged on the ground, eyes tightly closed, immersed in his contemplation of the true script of the array art.

Under the stimulation of his spiritual sense, his insight grew ever deeper.

Yet just as his array realm was about to break through again, an unexpected change occurred!

"Hahaha! Such a magnificent body—truly perfect! All my long wait has not been in vain!"

A voice suddenly echoed from all directions!

Hearing this, Jiang Ming's heart jolted—he sensed grave danger!

He immediately halted his contemplation and snapped open his eyes, scanning his surroundings.

Before him, not far away, a phantom figure hovered in midair.

It was an old man clad in a gray robe.

His hair and beard were pure white, his face benevolent, his bearing ethereal and transcendent—like an ancient immortal!

Yet the first words spoken by this figure sent a chill down the spine.

Jiang Ming's face darkened; he clenched his fists and instantly guessed the man's identity: "Wang Hong?"

Wang Hong chuckled lightly: "Boy, you're not foolish—but it's far too late."

"When you touched these array true texts to accept my legacy, you triggered the hidden array seal embedded within this stone pedestal, thus awakening me..."

His words faded.

Wang Hong threw back his head and laughed loudly, freely, with unbridled delight!

Long ago, in battle with Nangong Sheng, I suffered grievous injuries and was forced to hide within this cave-world, barely clinging to life!

During that time, my physical body gradually decayed.

To preserve my life, I exhausted all my resources before my body collapsed completely, crafting this legacy site!

Yet due to the laws of heaven and earth, cultivators cannot achieve immortality—once their lifespan reaches its limit, calamity is inevitable.

Lifespan does not refer merely to the physical body—it also encompasses the true spirit.

When the true spirit's destiny reaches its limit, it begins to wither, eventually perishing, returning to heaven and earth, erasing all traces, entering reincarnation, and beginning a new life.

Thus, to prevent the true spirit from gradually withering, losing lifespan, and losing its true self over countless eons,

I combined the array true texts containing all my array insights with the legacy stone pedestal, arranging them into a Spirit-Nourishing Array!

Through this Spirit-Nourishing Array, I resisted the passage of time and shielded myself from the erosion of years.

I was also forced into slumber, to slow the loss of my true spirit's lifespan.

Only when an outsider contemplates the array true texts can the Spirit-Nourishing Array be activated, thereby awakening me!

Even upon awakening, even if I possess another cultivator's body through possession,

My true spirit's lifespan will not be reset—it remains severely limited!

Yet to use my remaining true spirit lifespan to find a new body and elevate my realm and cultivation base to the Saint King level, thereby increasing my true spirit lifespan—how difficult is that?

Moreover, due to the laws of heaven and earth,

Even the strongest Saint Realm cultivators may perform possession only once!

If one forcibly attempts a second possession, it will summon a Lei Jie, resulting in total annihilation of body and soul!

Under these circumstances, Wang Hong had no choice but to be extremely cautious—his requirements for a possession target became exceedingly high!

The nine preceding trials arose from this necessity.

Their primary purpose was to test whether the challenger's physical aptitude met the standard, whether it was suitable for possession.

To ease the challengers' suspicions, I even embedded fragments of memory within the array true texts, enhancing their authenticity!

After making all these preparations, to find a suitable possession target in the shortest possible time,

Before falling into slumber, I spread word of this cave-world, hoping to lure seekers to compete for the opportunity.

Yet after countless years passed, not a single person ever passed all nine trials!

Wang Hong's true spirit lifespan, even with the Spirit-Nourishing Array slowing its loss, had dwindled in this waiting period to only a few hundred years remaining.

When that time came, if no qualified possession candidate appeared, he would inevitably face death.

Fortunately, heaven favored him—at this critical moment, he finally encountered a prodigy who not only met his requirements, but far surpassed them!

Thinking of this, Wang Hong's face could not help but break into a look of wild elation.