Chapter 170: A Small Step for Mu Wanxuan

Mid-stage of Illusory Core Realm, late-stage of Illusory Core Realm, peak of the Illusory Core Realm...

Mu Wanxuan's cultivation continued to rise steadily. She didn't even have to absorb primal qi from the outside world. On the contrary, she only had to keep refining that trace of celestial radiance.

Is she truly about to form her Golden Core?

After waiting for more than ten hours, Wang Sheng began to grow a little restless. He contacted his master, who had already arrived at Mount Pingdu.

In response, Qing Yanzi just told him not to disturb Mu Wanxuan. He also ordered him to remain there and protect her while she cultivated in peace.

The methods of the immortals were beyond their understanding.

Wang Sheng couldn't help but wonder if she would use this opportunity to repair her damaged innate essence. Once she emerged from seclusion, perhaps she would finally be able to speak fluently.

Mu Wanxuan's aura surged for an entire day and night before finally stabilizing at the peak of the Illusory Core Realm.

While Mu Wanxuan was cultivating, Wang Sheng's mother woke up with no recollection of what she had seen the night before. Instead, she complained that their new home was a shoddy construction project and grumbled about how their balcony could have collapsed when the building was barely two years old.

This saved Wang Sheng's father a considerable amount of explanation. Together with Wang Sheng, he began persuading her to sell the apartment and move to a city with better air—where she could rest during her pregnancy.

Wang Sheng's mother likely sensed that something was wrong. After all, upon waking, her husband was preoccupied; her son had a grave expression; Mu Wanxuan—a beautiful young girl—had appeared at home and was sitting completely still, seemingly frozen in place; and there were several "soldiers" standing guard outside.

She didn't press them for answers, though. She only responded gently and agreed. That very day, she instructed Wang Sheng and her husband to pack up all their belongings. They handed everything over to the Special Investigation Unit for transport.

Mou Yue used her authority in the unit to alter the records of Wang Sheng's parents. Not only were their names and personal histories changed, but all their traces in banks, hospitals, hotels, train stations, and other public facilities were also wiped clean. Fortunately, they didn't go as far as using forbidden tech to modify memories.

The Special Investigation Unit also removed Wang Sheng from the household register and quietly erased all records connected to him. Moreover, they planned to stage a future accident that would allow Wang Sheng's parents to fake their deaths and completely leave their original social circles to begin a peaceful new life.

Wang Sheng was deeply grateful for all they had done. Nevertheless, he still had no intention of betraying his senior sister. Instead, he focused his report on a few key things that he had learned from the female corpse.

According to the female corpse, the Heaven-Deceiving Array, a formation made by immortals, is protecting Earth. She also revealed that she fell due to severe wounds. Only a remnant of her soul remains, which now seeks the Reincarnation Stone to attempt reincarnation. Moreover, she mentioned Lu Dongbin and the Ziwei Emperor, evidencing that immortals had once walked on Earth and that the various Daoist heritages had truly come from them.

It appears that the primal qi of heaven and earth returned because the female corpse had unlocked the Heavenly Qi Seal. Based on its name, there could also be an Earth Qi Seal and a Human Qi Seal. Searching ancient texts for clues could prove worthwhile...

Wang Sheng then stated that he wasn't sure why the female corpse called Mu Wanxuan an old friend. Though he revealed that Mu Wanxuan's innate deficiency stemmed from damage to her divine soul, he deliberately emphasized that she didn't have any particularly close connection with the female corpse in her past life.

Finally, Wang Sheng reported that the immortals of the era had long since vanished. Although no one knew what had happened in the cosmic space beyond Earth, the immortals had likely lost. Fortunately, a place where immortal souls could reincarnate should be at the female corpse's location.

Whether the elders of the research institute believed him or not was up to them.

On the first day of the lunar new year, Wang Sheng never let the incense on the Divine Position Diagram go out. Whenever it burned low, he replaced it.

Mou Yue left in the afternoon. Since corrupt cultivators had been spotted around Mount Pingdu, the Special Investigation Unit had to organize righteous cultivators to seize the opportunity to eliminate them. Explaining the matter revolving around the female corpse to the righteous sects also required careful consideration.

Due to this incident, rumors about the female corpse from the moon had started to spread online. Fortunately, just like in Wang Sheng's previous life, the rumors only mentioned that the Hua Republic had brought back an immortal corpse from the moon and that the sudden return of the primal qi of heaven and earth was likely related to that.

The next day at noon, Qing Yanzi hurried back from Mount Pingdu. He would personally escort Wang Sheng's parents to a sunny coastal city, where they would begin their new lives.

Qing Yanzi checked on Mu Wanxuan's state, then spent some time in deep thought.

Her cultivation realm had stopped advancing, and her cultivation technique remained unchanged—it was still based on the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra. However, the Dao Rhythm emanating from her reflected an understanding of the Dao of Yin and Yang even more profound than the Yin-Yang Secret Scroll.

Qing Yanzi transmitted a few reminders to Wang Sheng, telling him to guard the place and watch over Mu Wanxuan.

Right now, Mu Wanxuan wasn't comprehending the Great Dao of the Golden Core; she was immersed in understanding the changes of Yin and Yang. Though she could be simple-minded at times, she was always rational in cultivation and would never recklessly attempt a breakthrough.

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Wang Sheng slowly sensed, summarized, and gradually condensed sword intent to pursue the Dao of the Sword. Compared to that, what Mu Wanxuan was experiencing right now was more like a sudden enlightenment. It was hard even for Qing Yanzi to say how long she would take to fully digest it.

That afternoon, Wang Sheng bid farewell to his parents. Since he couldn't help feeling uneasy about his pregnant mother having to travel so much, he decided to reduce his visits from now on to avoid disturbing their lives. If he missed them, all he could do was secretly check in on them from afar.

After his parents and Qing Yanzi got into the cars, Wang Sheng knelt in the stairwell and kowtowed twice. When he stood back up, the two cars had already disappeared.

He stood still, lost in thought. After a long sigh, he returned home to continue watching over his senior sister.

Soon, the Special Warfare Unit also withdrew. A few Special Investigation Unit members and over a dozen plainclothes officers stayed nearby, remaining on the lookout for any danger that could be making its way to Wang Sheng and his senior sister.

When Wang Sheng got back, he noticed that his father had posted a written note on the door. It informed neighbors who might come to ask questions or visit for the new year that the family had gone on a trip. Fortunately, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan didn't have to turn on any lights or go outside, which should be enough to avoid suspicion.

Wang Sheng sat on the sofa and cultivated with his sword beside him, waiting for Mu Wanxuan to awaken.

A day passed, and then another. The festive bustle of the New Year gradually faded, and most people returned to their routines of work and study.

The first lunar month was packed with traditional customs, varying by region. Most people were familiar with the New Year celebrations, which were mainly centered around exchanging greetings. However, rituals like offering sacrifices to the kitchen god on the 4th day, welcoming the god of wealth on the 5th day, and sending off the god of poverty on the 6th day had largely faded from public attention.

While his senior sister was in seclusion, Wang Sheng also gradually settled down. He had stopped dwelling on the incident with the female corpse, who seemed to have disappeared for good after vanishing into Mount Pingdu.

Though modern technology could drill and explore underground, the research institute avoided taking reckless actions. After all, they could accidentally pierce through to the underworld and damage some sort of arrangement, releasing a horde of half-dead monsters or devils. It would be an unthinkable disaster.

Currently, even the strongest cultivators were still only at the Golden Core Realm, and for most older cultivators, progress significantly slowed upon reaching that realm. The only exception was the Celestial Master, who was considered far stronger than the norm.

After the Golden Core Realm came the Heavenly Abode Realm. Somewhat akin to the Illusory Core Realm, it served as preparation for forming the Nascent Soul.

As time passed, cultivators like Mu Wanxuan, who had exceptional talent, sharp insight, and significant fated opportunities, would gradually surpass most of the older generation. Still, right now, those who would rise to the peak of the cultivation world and command the forces of heaven and earth in a few decades or even centuries remained unknown.

Wang Sheng had no intention of competing for the top spot of the Heavenly Rankings. There was no benefit in chasing after such fame.

His destiny lay in the Dao of the Sword. Though he excelled in swordsmanship, he was not bound by it. He followed the Dao as his foundation, ascending step by step toward immortality. His upcoming cultivation plan revolved around strengthening his core and further utilizing the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra to build a solid foundation. He would also focus on mastering the Sword-Controlling Art, which still had vast room for improvement.

Now that he had perfected the Heavenly Ziwei Sword Intent, he required time and insight to further advance it. Moreover, after much contemplation, he decided to gradually master the Dual-Polarity Sword Intent rather than forcefully develop it.

The Dao of Dual Polarity was far too profound and expansive. To perfect its sword intent would likely take decades or even centuries of dedicated study, which was clearly unrealistic at his current realm. Even without it, though, his regular and reversed Seven-Star Sword Formations and Sword-Controlling Art were more than sufficient to protect the Dao.

His senior sister remained in seclusion.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival quietly brought back a wisp of the fading New Year atmosphere. Colorful lanterns were hung throughout the residential area and along the streets.

As night fell, fireworks began to shoot up from a nearby park. Brilliant bursts of light filled the sky, dazzling and radiant.

It was just as the ancients once said, "With the east wind, a thousand trees bloom by night as stars fall like rain."

Wang Sheng, who had been sitting cross-legged and meditating on the sofa, couldn't help but be drawn to the explosions. He got up and looked out from the balcony at the fireworks bursting in the sky. Thinking of the video of his parents catching crabs by the sea, which he had received that afternoon, he smiled peacefully.

Perhaps the fireworks were a bit too loud. As Wang Sheng watched in a daze, he heard someone softly call out from beside him.

"Junior... Brother..."

Startled, Wang Sheng turned toward the source. Mu Wanxuan, whose small face was blank with surprise, was pointing to her slightly parted lips.

"Senior Sister, you can talk again?!"

"I'm... fine..."

Mu Wanxuan immediately frowned and took a breath. After a few tries, she quickly realized she could only say two words at a time, making her look frustrated.

"It's fine, Senior Sister. I'm sure cultivating just a bit more would be more than enough to solve that problem!" Wang Sheng smiled. "But hey, two words at once is a huge leap forward. Just think about it, the length of your sentences has already doubled!"

Mu Wanxuan blinked, then broke into a smile. She stood up and stretched, a delicate fragrance unlike any she had ever released before spreading through the room.

"Come watch the fireworks," Wang Sheng urged.

"Okay..." Mu Wanxuan cleared her throat, paused for a few seconds with great seriousness, then corrected herself with a fuller sentence. "Watch together!"