Chapter 407: The Curtain Opens

Holding the jade slip engraved with Pure Yang Sword Song, Wang Sheng once again sat beside the Platform of Immortal Dreams. He couldn't help but feel as though he had almost gained too much from this trip to the Moon Palace.

He had already been cultivating at an extraordinary speed back on Earth. Now, thanks to his senior sister's favor, he got to follow Yaoyun to the Moon Palace.

He first experienced a thousand-year dream on the Platform of Immortal Dreams, tempering his mind and paving the way for his path toward ascension. Afterward, he got an endless supply of celestial pills, each one capable of replenishing seventy percent of his depleted enchanted power.

Still, the greatest reward of all was when he "tricked" the spirit of the Pure Yang Palace into revealing the research journals on the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra, which his forefather had left behind. He also obtained Soaring Red Feathers from them—a flight technique perfectly suited for the Dao of Pure Yang. As a bonus, he received two soul lamps as well.

If Wang Sheng were given ten years to cultivate quietly in the Moon Palace alongside his senior sister, he was confident that he could reach the Tribulation Realm with an unshakable Pure Yang foundation. He'd even face the heavenly tribulation and refine his Nascent Soul into a Primordial Spirit.

Thinking that far ahead was a little too ambitious, though. Wang Sheng calmed his restless heart, compared his strengths and weaknesses, and decided to fill in his shortcomings and study Soaring Red Feathers for now.

Flight techniques generally had similar principles. For instance, controlling an object to fly relied on imbuing one's spiritual consciousness and enchanted power into the object. A cultivator could then use it to lift and pull themselves through the air, achieving flight.

Flying with the Sword-Controlling Art was more profound than simple object-control flight. After all, it relied on one's flying sword, a weapon forged and refined with one's painstaking effort and devotion.

Once a cultivator reached the Rebirth Realm, their Nascent Soul would unleash their first wisp of immortal light, improve their spiritual perception and enchanted power by leaps and bounds. From that moment onward, the cultivator would be able to soar through the skies without flying objects. It consumed vast amounts of enchanted power, though, making it difficult to sustain for long.

Eons ago, cultivators on the Dao of the Primordial Spirit had already devised the most fitting flight technique for this realm: the Rainbow Transformation Technique, also known as the Rainbow-Light Flying Technique.

A "rainbow" was the very first glimmer of immortal light. It was the condensation of a Nascent Soul's essence and the sublimation of a cultivator's spirit, mind, and energy into a single radiant glow.

To use the technique, cultivators had to refine that immortal light into a beam of rainbow light and anchor it beside the Nascent Soul. The rainbow beam would then burst from their Dao Body and pierce through the skies. It was hundreds of times more efficient than propelling themselves using physical strength or enchanted power.

In the eyes of Earth's modern cultivators, it was the ultimate energy-efficient, high-output flight technique.

The "Soaring Red Feathers" had similar principles.

Condense a wisp of immortal light and transform it into a strand of rainbow light. Then, following the Dao of Pure Yang, manifest the form of the Golden Crow.

After several days of contemplation and over ten failures, Wang Sheng finally condensed a strand of fiery crimson light that resembled a flame. Around his Nascent Soul appeared a tiny flickering ember. Following his will, it revolved gently as it linked with his own Pure Yang enchanted power.

Wang Sheng then refined the ember according to the immortal sutra's instructions. He spent half a month enlarging it several times over, then another seven days shaping the crimson flame into the three-legged Golden Crow.

He had only just started, though. He still had to spend tremendous enchanted power and effort to grant the lifeless figure the true speed of the Golden Crow.

In the Dream Realm, Wang Sheng had learned and mastered the Rainbow Transformation Technique in half a day, allowing him to soar freely through the heavens. Now, he had devoted over a month to learning Soaring Red Feathers, yet he had only grasped a small portion of it and barely even completed the preparatory stage.

To truly control the Golden Crow's "scarlet wings" would require a lot more time and understanding.

At that moment, immortal light flared around the Platform of Immortal Dreams, and the lotus petals slowly opened. After five months and six days in her dream, Mu Wanxuan finally woke up and sat upright on the platform.

Wang Sheng quickly stood up, his heart tightening.

Mu Wanxuan looked dazed, and her eyes were red. She sat up in confusion, and tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"Senior Sister..." Wang Sheng called out in concern.

Mu Wanxuan wiped her tears, rose hastily from the platform, and went down the stairs. Her eyes trembled with emotion as she looked at Wang Sheng intently.

What happened? What did she go through in the Dream Realm?

Before Wang Sheng could ask, Mu Wanxuan suddenly rushed forward, threw herself into his arms, and sobbed on his shoulder.

Nearby, immortal light flickered. Spiritless rushed over and stopped beside them. Yaoyun manifested on its hilt, frowning at the pair.

Seeing Wang Sheng's anxious expression, Yaoyun asked, "Hua—Wanxuan, what did you experience in your dream?"

Mu Wanxuan just kept sobbing. After a while, she finally managed in a trembling voice, "My past..."

Wang Sheng froze. He exchanged a glance with Yaoyun before looking at the Platform of Immortal Dreams.

Did the platform make her relive Fairy Hua QIng's story? That would mean our theories about the Platform of Immortal Dreams are completely wrong. Maybe she simply regained her past incarnation's memories?

Her emotions were still unstable. Unsure how to comfort her, he simply held her gently and waited for her to calm down. Once she regained her composure, everything would naturally become clear.

Her phone and ten power banks had long run out of charge, but they had plenty of paper and ink here. Whatever she wanted to say, she could simply write it down.

***

"Big Sister, have you noticed there are more and more detector-like things around our villa lately?"

"You'll get used to it. They're just being cautious since I'm known as a walking human-shaped nuclear bomb. Let them watch all they want. I don't even go out anyway. Come on, log in already."

"Alright, then. My brother has been gone for six hundred and ninety-seven days, though. Why isn't he back yet?"

"Follow me, Miaomiao! Let me carry you! I'll wipe out all these monsters alone!"

In the virtual game, a female knight in holy light armor charged ahead with a frosty longsword. Around her, men and women dressed in Daoist robes, monk's robes, or plate armor followed her closely toward a horde of monsters in the distance.

They were currently playing the most popular game in existence. It perfectly combined the cultures of the cultivation world and the martial world. Its classes were so balanced that players from the Hua Republic often complained. After all, the game insisted on keeping things balanced with the Western professions even though the Hua Republic's Daoists were immensely more powerful.

"Alright."

Wang Xiaomiao sighed softly. With her wooden staff in her arms, she slowly walked. Several young men followed cautiously behind her.

She no longer had to eat thanks to her cultivation, but two hours later, she still felt mentally exhausted. She removed her helmet and stretched her wrists and ankles. Dressed only in light sleepwear, she looked every bit like an ordinary girl.

Xi Lian, who was in the form of a young girl, was sprawled across the gaming chair beside hers. With a silly smile, she watched her character on the screen dance around a campfire with several other players.

Wearily, Xiaomiao said, "Keep enjoying your drunken dream of decadence, Big Sister. I'm going to take a bath and rest. I've been cultivating in seclusion for several days already."

Xi Lian naturally didn't respond. The phrase "drunken dream of decadence" suited her perfectly.

Humming a tune, Xiaomiao left the entertainment room. She extended her spiritual consciousness and scanned the villa's perimeter, her eyes revealing a trace of helplessness.

She knew things had been unstable lately. Major incidents were rare, but there were constant minor troubles. It was only natural for the Special Investigation Unit to become more cautious and set up surveillance around their home.

She walked lightly back to her room, still humming a popular song. After picking a few clean clothes, she stepped into the bathroom. The sound of running water echoed through the room. Her exclamations soon followed, brimming with childlike enthusiasm.

"Amid the boundless heaven and earth, I soar to the skies on a sword! With Daoist arts, I rise and fall at will!♪

"I, Hongjun[1], existed long before heaven did! With one strike, I can blast my opponents to the sky! Hu! Ha!♪"

Moments later, Wang Xiaomiao came out of the bathroom in clean pajamas and with her hair still wet. With a thoughtful look, she sat down at her desk. A sheet of white paper was in front of her, covered in several drawn boxes. Inside each box were notes related to recent incidents reported in the news.

She stared blankly for a while, then took out her phone. After hesitating for some time, she finally made a call.

Before long, she heard Qing Yanzi's weary voice.

—Hello? Who's this?

"It's me, Master Bu Yan," Xiaomiao said softly. "Is there anyone else beside you?"

—Oh, Xiaomiao.

The fatigue in his tone vanished instantly, replaced by warmth.

—What's wrong? Have you run into trouble with your cultivation?

"No, nothing like that," Wang Xiaomiao quickly replied. "I just wanted to ask if there's been any news from my brother."

He lightly chuckled.

—We haven't heard from them yet, but don't worry. They're most likely still in seclusion. I'm sure they're safe.

"Is there any way to contact them?"

—Is something urgent happening?

Qing Yanzi sounded puzzled.

—Xiaomiao, don't treat me like an outsider. I'm your brother's master. If you have any concerns, just tell me.

Wang Xiaomiao blinked and sighed softly. "I just feel uneasy, as if something bad is about to happen. The news has been reporting nothing but chaos everywhere lately. I was thinking, if my brother came back soon, he could probably deal with all this quickly. What do you think?"

A reassuring chuckle came from the other end.

—Don't worry. They're just small disturbances. Everything will settle down soon.

Wang Xiaomiao frowned. It seemed like she wanted to say more, but she eventually gave up the thought. Right after, though, her eyes quickly darted around. "Actually, Master Bu Yan, I had a nightmare yesterday. I dreamed that my parents were taken away. If possible, could you have them moved somewhere safer and assign some trustworthy people to look after them?"

A few seconds of silence followed. Ordinarily, no one would agree to spend resources and manpower just because of a young girl's nightmare, especially to relocate an ordinary couple and assign guards to them.

Still, Qing Yanzi agreed.

—Can do. I'll go there myself. You don't have to worry about them.

"Thank you, Master Bu Yan. I'll go meditate now."

In a gentle tone, Qing Yanzi offered a few words of comfort before the call ended.

—

Mm.

Go meditate in peace.

Wang Xiaomiao furrowed her brow, crossed her arms, and stared at the paper on her desk.

"So it's really come to this. Considering Master Bu Yan agreed to move my parents without hesitation, the situation has to be serious. There's too little information. Without intel, I can't analyze anything properly."

She fiddled with her phone, wondering how she could get some intel from the investigation unit. As a young girl, real connections were exactly what she lacked most.

While she was deep in her thoughts, her phone buzzed, and a virtual screen appeared in front of her, showing a headline from a news channel that she had subscribed to for updates on cultivators.

Half an hour ago, the Hidden Earth Sect announced that it'll be closing its mountain for ten years. A great formation has sealed off the area around Mount Pingdu, cutting all contact with the cultivation world.

Hidden Earth Sect? Why would they seal their mountain and cut all ties with the cultivation world?

Wang Xiaomiao shot to her feet. "Oh no! Lady Meng!"

1. Hongjun Laozu is a legendary Daoist figure often portrayed as the teacher of the Three Pure Ones ☜