Chapter 698: The Home Was Stolen

Chapter 698: The Home Was Stolen

As soon as Wang Sheng flew out of the primal qi passage on Jinhua, he immediately sensed that something was wrong. A heavy, oppressive feeling pressed down on him. Below, a squad of celestial soldiers rushed toward him at once, clearly intending to check his identity.

When his immortal perception swept over them, he frowned.

Why are all the banners here those of the Celestial Wind Sect? What happened while I was away?

"Daoist Friend, please halt!"

Wang Sheng snorted coldly. "

Hmph!

"

Two streaks of sword radiance flashed across his eyes, and the squad flying toward him abruptly stopped, retreating in alarm under his terrifying Heavenly Immortal Realm pressure.

Wang Sheng had no intention of attacking cultivators who were merely hired hands for the Celestial Wind Sect. He turned into a streak of flames, used his Soaring Red Feathers, and vanished from Jinhua at extreme speed.

"Why did he look so familiar?"

"That Heavenly Immortal has to be an outsider. Report this to our higher-ups and do not meddle further. Our lives come first."

"A few days ago, two powerful figures already caused trouble on Tianfeng. Now, another Heavenly Immortal has appeared. Is the Celestial Wind Sect really stable?"

"We should make sure we have an escape route."

After a brief exchange, the squad noticed more people emerging from the primal qi passage. They hurriedly reformed their ranks and continued their inspections.

So the Celestial Wind Sect has taken control of the primal qi passage on Jinhua?

A faint sense of dread rose in Wang Sheng's heart as he sped toward Fengmo at full speed. His immortal perception spread far ahead.

Yaoyun asked, "

Do you remember Li Tianyao? Or was it Li Xingyao? When he appeared at the divine tree's array, a female Heavenly Immortal was with him. Things probably changed here.

"

Could that woman have truly taken a liking to the young master of the Celestial Wind Sect? Has Li Tianyao really used his looks to bring the sect another powerful supporter?

If that were true, Wang Sheng would have to commend Li Tianyao. In his previous life, when things went poorly, he had indulged in similar fantasies, only to wake up, look in the mirror at his ordinary face, and return to his online cultivation.

Ahem.

Back to the matter at hand.

"

Worrying will not help now,

"

Yaoyun advised.

"

Yao Xingzi's divination skills are exceptional. He may have already foreseen this.

"

Wang Sheng responded affirmatively. He could only hope for the best.

With his cultivation greatly deepened, he now flew dramatically faster. Combined with Soaring Red Feathers, he reached Fengmo in less than half a day.

The moment he arrived, the veins on Wang Sheng's forehead bulged, but he quickly suppressed his emotions and descended toward the planet below.

He flew straight above the former mountain gate of the Xinghai Sect and Xinghai City. Looking down, he saw that the sect had been completely wiped out, leaving behind only a massive crater.

Xinghai City had also lost its former prosperity. Its defensive array remained active, yet only a handful of people moved within. Of the hundreds of thousands of unaffiliated practitioners who once gathered there, fewer than several tens of thousands remained.

The Xinghai Sect...

Soon, Wang Sheng appeared above where the mountain gate had once stood. Using a stealth technique to conceal himself, he stared down into the crater, which looked like the result of an overwhelming impact. Ashes and ruins were all over the bottom of it. Moreover, he could still see dried blood and corpses in some areas.

Celestial Wind Sect!!!

His eyes instantly turned blood red. The Myriad-Slaying Sword Intent within him trembled softly as all six great sword intents surged in agitation.

"No, don't!" Yaoyun appeared in front of him and grabbed him just as he was about to move. "Let's find out what happened first. We have to prioritize finding Huai Jing and the others."

Through clenched teeth, Wang Sheng growled, "I can wipe out the Celestial Wind Sect first and search afterward!"

Yaoyun replied urgently, "What if they need help right now? I know your anger is overwhelming, but this has to be handled carefully. If the Celestial Wind Sect was the one that completely destroyed the Xinghai Sect, then they probably gained powerful reinforcements.

"Let's gather information in the city first, then investigate the Fengli Sect! If they truly met with disaster, I will not stop you from destroying the Celestial Wind Sect. Ling Sheng alone could make their planet desolate!"

Wang Sheng's fists tightened, but Yaoyun refused to yield an inch. After a moment, he took a deep breath and glanced down at the crater. His small wooden sword glowed faintly as it suppressed the restless Myriad-Slaying Sword Intent.

He turned and headed straight for Xinghai City. Seeing the Celestial Wind Sect banners flying above the walls, he could not help but snort coldly once more. He had only been away briefly, yet his home had already been stolen.

Right now, nothing angered Wang Sheng more than that.

Still, Yaoyun was right. He had to learn what had happened first and determine whether anyone required immediate rescue. More importantly, he had to confirm whether their great Buddha statue was still safe.

Landing before the city gates, Wang Sheng walked forward with a grim expression. Two True Immortals of the Celestial Wind Sect guarding the entrance frowned at once.

They found him familiar, but they could not immediately recognize the infamous "Pi Kachew."

"Identify yourself."

Wang Sheng spread the fingers of his left hand and pressed downward. Arcs of lightning shot into the ground and surged outward like chains, instantly knocking over a hundred celestial soldiers and sealing the two True Immortals in place. He then extended his hand forward and pulled back. The middle-aged man on the left was dragged straight toward him.

The man's eyes widened as he furiously shouted, "P-Pi Kachew!"

Wang Sheng coldly exclaimed, "Speak! What happened to the Xinghai Sect?"

The man clenched his teeth and spat back, "

Hmph!

Kill me if you wish. I will never share the same sky with you!"

Wang Sheng nodded. He slightly increased the flow of heavenly tribulation power. Lightning instantly engulfed the man, erupting in a blinding radiance.

"Spare me, Immortal Master! Please! I-I'll tell you everything!"

Wang Sheng quieted down. A short while later, he entered Xinghai City, circled through the streets once, then tore open the array. He flew toward the ancient battlefield.

According to the Celestial Wind Sect's True Immortal, the sect that had already been in total decline before Wang Sheng left had somehow stirred up major trouble. Both the Celestial Wind Sect and the Fengli Sect, which had broken their alliance, were responsible for the Xinghai Sect's destruction.

The incident had taken place on a peaceful day about a year earlier.

At the time, the thirteen qi planets remained much as they had been when Wang Sheng departed. The alliance between the Fengli Sect and the Xinghai Sect continued to pressure the Celestial Wind Sect.

However, the Fengli Sect's mountain gate suddenly experienced violent spatial fluctuations, and their two planets vanished into thin air. Millions of unaffiliated practitioners and tens of millions of mortals disappeared along with them.

In truth, there had been signs beforehand. Months earlier, the Fengli Sect had quietly withdrawn its resources from its branches and recalled forces stationed in other areas. It also instructed all of its members to bring their relatives and families to Fengli, where the sect arranged new homes for them.

They carried out every order in secret. Even most of the sect's members did not know what was happening; they simply obeyed their sect master.

Only when the two planets vanished from the outskirts of the ancient battlefield did everyone realize the truth: the Fengli Sect had left.

Its powerful backer had most likely taken it away.

The unaffiliated practitioners of the thirteen qi planets were pleased. With one major sect gone, they could claim a larger share of the resource sites in the ancient battlefield.

However, it was a catastrophe for the Xinghai Sect. The Celestial Wind Sect mobilized its forces and advanced on Fengmo within half a month. Fortunately, by the time the Celestial Wind Sect arrived, the Xinghai Sect had already evacuated, bringing Wang Sheng some relief.

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

They had even left behind a trap at their celestial gate. A deadly array had been prepared, and when thousands of the Celestial Wind Sect's soldiers charged into the mountain gate, vast quantities of Spirit Stones hidden underground unleashed surging primal qi and detonated.

The massive crater was the result of that explosion.

The unaffiliated practitioners in Xinghai City also received word before the attack began and fled the area. Afterward, the Celestial Wind Sect hunted the remaining Xinghai Sect forces across the ancient battlefield. The region was so vast that even with many profound experts assisting them, they could not locate the scattered remnants.

Wang Sheng searched the city but failed to find traces of Fei Lianzi or the others. He concluded they had likely evacuated as well.

Finally, his rage subsided enough for him to think clearly.

As long as they are alive, everything else can be rebuilt. With the Daoist Canon of dozens of Golden Immortals in my possession, founding several new Xinghai Sects would not be difficult. Still...

He murmured, "The Fengli Sect's backer went too far. From now on, I will no longer have goodwill or expectations for her[1]."

"That person is far too selfish," Yaoyun agreed. "I wonder who that Heavenly Court senior is. Perhaps the Heavenly Court's downfall drove her crazy."

"Celestial Wind Sect..." Wang Sheng laughed coldly, transformed into a fiery phoenix, and rushed toward the ancient battlefield. Soon, he concealed his presence.

He headed straight to the great Buddha statue—his main concern.

As he traveled, he probed the surroundings and found many Celestial Wind Sect immortals searching the battlefield. The Buddha statue was fortunately in a remote corner; few had reached its vicinity.

Half a day later of piloting his Shadowless Shuttle, Wang Sheng arrived before the statue and received a voice transmission.

"Fei Yu, is that you in the Shadowless Shuttle?"

Recognizing Qinglin's voice, Wang Sheng finally felt a weight lift from his chest. He put away the shuttle and advanced toward him with Yaoyun. One of the Buddha's toes opened like a gate, and the two flew inside.

Voices immediately rang out. Figures appeared one after another. A large number of people had gathered there.

"Well, I'll be damned! Brother Sheng is really back! That trash Celestial Wind Sect is finished!"

"

Amitabha...

"

"Elder Pi, you have finally returned! The Celestial Wind Sect has really gone too far! The ten-thousand-year foundation of our Xinghai Sect!"

"

Hahaha!

Didn't I say Fei Yu will be back any day now?"

"Everyone, calm down! Let my wife come through first!"

A roar cut through the noise. Just as Linyuan and Fei Lianzi were about to step forward, Hu Chang charged ahead and blocked them.

Relying on his superior cultivation, he rushed straight to Wang Sheng, took out a folding fan, and fanned him attentively. "Big Brother, you must be exhausted from your long journey. Would you like me to fetch you a seat?"

Wang Sheng glanced at him. "If you have something to say, say it."

"Where is Ling Sheng? Big Brother, a single day without her feels like three years. Of course, three years without you is also—"

Wang Sheng pointed to the side, and Ling Sheng slowly formed amid a soft green glow. Seeing the crowd, she couldn't help but feel a little shy.

Grinning, Hu Chang immediately left Wang Sheng and hurried over to her.

"Come, Ling Sheng. Let me introduce you. These people may not be very strong, but they are a lot of fun."

1. The raws actually used "him" here, but we believe this is an inconsistency. ☜