Chapter 380: Life and Death Bind Us; With You, I Make This Vow

Wang Sheng had thought that everything would calm down once the Dark Faction had been dealt with. However, he ended up facing even more matters.

First, he received a medal, then he discussed the Daoist sects' future sustainable path with several senior figures. Afterward, he had to deal with the top-grade materials that Xi Lian had hoarded. Once Wang Sheng had pacified her and reached an agreement with Chi Ling about how to proceed, yet another issue surfaced.

The Daoist masters had already sent the captured corrupt cultivators' souls to the Hidden Earth Sect. In turn, the Hidden Earth Sect delivered them to the Eighteen Levels of Hell. Now, they were waiting for Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan to set a date to go to the Small Nether Realm as its temporary judges. They would record the proceedings and broadcast them as a warning to foreign corrupt forces.

This was a matter of great significance; it could not be delayed. After consulting his senior sister, Wang Sheng decided that they would head to the Small Nether Realm in three days. All preparatory work in the meantime was fully entrusted to the Special Investigation Unit and the Hidden Earth Sect.

With everything finally settled and Shi Qianzhang and Liu Yunzhi sent on their way, Wang Sheng, who was weary from the recent battles, sank into the sofa and closed his eyes for a short rest. He planned to return to the confidential intelligence archive, but drowsiness soon crept in. Before he knew it, he had drifted into sleep.

Half asleep, Wang Sheng seemed to hear Xiaomiao and Xi Lian talking upstairs.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Big Sister, come quick! My big brother's too hot to the touch!"

"That's fine. His Nascent Soul is just recovering. This is normal for those who cultivate using a Pure Yang cultivation method."

In the blur of sleep, Wang Sheng felt a small hand brush his face and then the sound of water. A coolness spread across his brow.

This faint, refreshing scent... Must be Senior Sister.

He then heard Xiaomiao and Xi Lian again.

"Big Sister, my big brother seems to be cooling down now."

"That doesn't make any sense.

Tsk...

I just remembered. This is backlash from the Pure Yang cultivation technique. We have to balance it with Pure Yin power. Little Xuanxuan, carry him back into the room quickly! Do this, then that..."

Believing Xi Lian, Mu Wanxuan anxiously held Wang Sheng in her arms. If Xiaomiao had not burst out laughing, things could have gone just as Xi Lian planned.

Even so, in his half-sleeping state, Wang Sheng commended Xi Lian. If he ever had the chance to leave Earth and learned that Daoist Master Qinglin and the other Heavenly Court immortals were still alive, he promised to make Yaoyun strip Qinglin of his cultivation and toss him into Xi Lian's boudoir.

The thought had barely faded when Wang Sheng's consciousness sank back into sleep. He was simply too exhausted. Although sitting in meditation could restore some vigor, sleep was still the best recovery method. His Dao Body, Nascent Soul, and spirit all needed rest.

***

Wang Sheng had planned to go to the Small Nether Realm with his senior sister in three days, but he ended up sleeping for four days and five nights. He had fallen asleep on the sofa, but when he awoke, he was on the long wooden couch by the window in his senior sister's room.

His spiritual consciousness circulated in his Heavenly Abode, which had been fully repaired. Immortal light drifted everywhere, giving it a golden glow. While sleeping, his spiritual perception seemed to have advanced significantly.

His Nascent Soul brimmed with vigor, with ribbons of Pure Yang Enchanted Power connecting subtly to parts of his Dao Body. Floating beside it were three small swords formed of sword intent. The Heavenly Ziwei Sword Intent had become more complete than when he had last left the villa; it now seemed like an unstoppable force that could shatter and break anything.

To his surprise, his Dual-Polarity Sword Intent had also improved. Even though he had not used it in the battle, it had nearly become perfect. Opposing forces wrapped around it, sometimes manifesting as harmonizing water and fire, sometimes as the simple yin-yang qi of the Great Dao.

Thinking it through, Wang Sheng realized that his breakthrough in the Human Dao of the Sword had caused it to advance. Though he had not practiced the specific techniques or formed a sword intent related to the Human Dao of the Sword, the breakthrough had expressed itself through the Dual-Polarity Sword Intent, an unexpected yet welcome gain.

If he honed it now, many insights would follow, and his comprehension of the sword intent would deepen. He'd essentially be boarding the ship first and buying the ticket later.

His qi sea had also expanded even further. The purple-golden vortex inside it slowly rotated, converting surrounding strands of primal qi into usable enchanted power. The stars above his qi sea gleamed brighter, their changes seemingly subtly inspired by the Heavenly Ziwei Sword Intent.

He recalled his strange dream while sleeping at the Aukuili Mountains' summit.

The words "Dao Traces" surfaced in his mind, and the faint impression that had come to him remained as clear as ever. Perhaps it was a mark that Ziwei had left using some unfathomable means. His cultivation was still too shallow to understand the emperor's mysterious methods.

Maybe this is another one of the ways that Emperor Ziwei used to pass down his Daoist heritage.

Wang Sheng lay thinking for a while. His spiritual perception spread outward, allowing him to perceive his surroundings.

Beneath him was a soft cushion. A folding screen shielded him from drafts, while a narrow window slit let in light. His senior sister was sitting in front of him in meditation, wrapped in immortal light and poised at the verge of a breakthrough.

The instant Wang Sheng opened his eyes, Mu Wanxuan also opened hers and looked at him. Seeing Wang Sheng awake, she smiled gently. Her expressive eyes seemed to ask how he was feeling.

"I've completely recovered. How long have I been asleep?"

Wang Sheng sat up slowly, his thin blanket slipping. Feeling a coolness on his skin, he looked down and found himself naked under the blanket.

"Five days," Mu Wanxuan softly replied as she averted her gaze, unable to meet Wang Sheng's eyes. Her cheeks flushed faintly.

Wang Sheng grinned. He leaned forward and spread his arms, seemingly about to embrace her.

She huffed softly and floated away as lightly as willow catkins on the breeze. Turning her head, she gave Wang Sheng a playful scolding before darting behind the screen.

At that moment, Wang Sheng's spiritual perception naturally extended beyond the villa and detected the auras of his master and the Hidden Earth Sect's sect master nearby, making him furrow his brow.

Qing Yanzi's voice came from outside the window.

"You're finally awake. You said three days, but you slept for five. Anyway, stop fooling around and get ready. We're going to the Small Nether Realm."

Wang Sheng's face flushed. He hurriedly replied and used enchanted power to lift a barrier that blocked spiritual perception, revealing the neatly laid out clothes and Spiritless at the bedside.

Wang Sheng quickly washed up. Soon, he was dressed and ready. The blue Daoist robe appeared to be an artifact that could absorb the surrounding primal qi, but its boost was negligible.

Mu Wanxuan peeked her head from behind the screen. Seeing Wang Sheng already dressed, she waved a small fist at him, then gracefully walked over to tie up his hair and straighten his robes.

Whether by some trick of fate or a sudden burst of courage, Wang Sheng sat on the edge of the bed and, while his senior sister slowly smoothed his long hair, blurted out, "Senior Sister, let's get married."

Mu Wanxuan paused, and Wang Sheng felt his heart tighten.

Was that too casual? Should I have made it more formal? Maybe Senior Sister has just never thought of me as anything other than her junior brother!

Two small hands rose over his shoulders and then crossed gently before him.

Wang Sheng felt his senior sister embrace him from behind. A few strands of black hair fell across his face.

"Wait," Mu Wanxuan whispered in his ear.

Wang Sheng breathed a small sigh of relief, then realized that she meant "not now."

"You accept?" Wang Sheng turned and fixed his eyes on the pretty face before him. "You didn't refuse! Doesn't that mean you accept?!"

Mu Wanxuan bit her lip lightly. Seeing Wang Sheng so pleased with himself, she headbutted him. Nevertheless, Wang Sheng's eyes still turned into hearts.

Mu Wanxuan rubbed her brow, straightened up, and made a funny face at Wang Sheng. She then took out her phone and typed a few lines.

Let me first figure out whether I am Hua Qing or Wanxuan, whether I am an immortal of the Heavenly Court or a cultivator from Earth. I still haven't accepted that I am the reincarnation of Hua Qing. Once I have, we will inform heaven, earth, and our parents. We'll also ask our master to witness, and then...

A little impatient, Wang Sheng asked, "Then what?"

Mu Wanxuan's face turned so red it seemed about to melt. Hesitantly, she lightly typed a sentence.

Life and death bind us; with you, I make this vow.

Wang Sheng was about to pull the fairy before him into his arms, but Mu Wanxuan's fingers danced as swiftly as phantoms. On the shimmering screen, lines of commentary leapt out one after another.

I still feel these are nothing more than conventions. If a master and disciple are like father and child, wouldn't that make martial siblinghood the most intimate bond? Why must we become husband and wife instead? You care far too much about worldly prejudice!

Wang Sheng fell speechless. With a serious expression, he said, "Senior Sister, let me ask you a question."

Mu Wanxuan blinked, as if gesturing for Wang Sheng to ask away.

"If Master were to take in another disciple, a junior brother, then..."

Mu Wanxuan's delicate brow furrowed. She had never considered the idea before, but the longer she thought about it, the paler her face became.

Wang Sheng continued, "And if Master were to accept a female disciple, which would become our junior sister, then what would I—"

Mu Wanxuan instinctively stepped forward, seized Wang Sheng's arm, and declared firmly, "Marriage!"

Wang Sheng's eyes curved with delight. He felt truly fortunate to have corrected a deeply rooted misunderstanding in his senior sister's heart.

Gazing gently at her, he whispered a few words. Mu Wanxuan nodded softly and leaned into his embrace.

They stood together by the window, holding one another in silence and savoring the fleeting moment of peace. It lasted until the remnants of Wang Sheng's recently released enchanted power faded away. Outside the door came the dry cough of the Hidden Earth Sect's sect master, followed by Qing Yanzi's hearty laughter.

***

"

Senior Sister, once you accept that you are the reincarnation of Fairy Hua Qing and put aside the burdens in your heart, let us marry.

"

"

Hm?

"

"

I am willing to wait for you. The path of cultivation is long, and immortality lies at the end of it. As long as we're together, that will be enough.

"

"

Mm.

"