Chapter 473: Like a Dream, Like an Illusion

Half a day later, Wang Sheng drifted away from the seclusion palace. With a calm and relaxed expression, he stood with his hands behind his back.

He finally felt at ease.

After half a year of hard work, he had helped his senior sister in her cultivation. The sense of accomplishment made him feel at peace.

His own cultivation barely improved in those six months. Still, Wang Sheng felt as though he hadn't lost anything.

Where yin and yang merged, all paths began.

If Mu Wanxuan could use this to create a "Dao of Imbalanced Yin and Yang," her future achievements could far surpass those of her past life.

Studying the Great Dao, Wang Sheng could faintly see towering peaks down the long path. If his senior sister could climb just one of those summits, she would one day leave her name and legend across the world of immortals and the endless space.

Helping her had finally undone the knot in Wang Sheng's heart.

From now on, he would also continue to comprehend the Dao of Yin and Yang. He would delve deeper into its creation and transformation to refine and perfect his Dual-Polarity Sword Intent.

The path he sought was the Dao of the Sword. It had always been his highest priority; he would never abandon it partway.

"Did Senior Sister really understand what I told her?"

He turned back and looked at the palace. Mist was already swirling around it, a sign that Mu Wanxuan had begun secluded cultivation.

She had understood!

As expected of his senior sister. Even though a third of what he had said was barely coherent, she still managed to grasp its meaning.

He returned to the corner where he had stayed for half a year. Looking at the stack of books worn from his constant reading, he raised a finger. Two clusters of white flame, formed with Pure Yang Enchanted Power, burned the books.

Finally, he was free.

Inside the palace, Mu Wanxuan sat on a meditation cushion. A faint light flickered in her eyes, as though she was hovering between understanding and confusion. She then closed her eyes and sank deep into contemplation.

Wang Sheng had only pushed open a door for her and guided her to a new Dao. How far she'd walk into the path ahead depended entirely on her understanding and effort.

Building on the foundation of balanced yin and yang, she would explore the meaning of imbalance. She would then use it to step out of the narrow space of equilibrium and onto the vast, open road of the Great Dao of Yin and Yang itself.

Balance offered only a small range of outcomes. Its changes were limited. On the contrary, imbalance brought countless variations. The possibilities were far greater, but relying on it to walk the path to immortality would be much more difficult.

This process could take a very long time. It could even render all her previous experience useless, forcing her to tear everything down and start over.

Mu Wanxuan faintly felt as if her junior brother had tricked her.

She laughed softly, then sank fully into comprehending the Dao. Insights rose and fell in her heart as the Yin-Yang Enchanted Power within her began to change. Now that she had released the balance that she had always carefully maintained, the yin and yang qi inside her started to intertwine and circulate freely.

Wang Sheng had only studied the Dao of Yin and Yang for half a year. All he had gained was a conceptual direction for Mu Wanxuan to consider.

Unlike him, Mu Wanxuan had spent years understanding this Dao. Her foundation, which she had spent a long time building, was the main reason she benefited so much from his guidance.

Little did Wang Sheng know, her senior sister's secluded cultivation that day would become a source of long-lasting regret and deep frustration for him.

After all, it lasted nine full years—the same length as compulsory education in the secular world.

***

Despite being able to visit the palace, Wang Sheng never dared disturb Mu Wanxuan, who remained completely immersed in her cultivation.

Throughout her seclusion, her aura fluctuated several times. Each one signaled a breakthrough in her realm, proving that everything was proceeding smoothly.

Meanwhile, Wang Sheng, who had once advanced through realms as easily as drinking water, spent the nine years consolidating his cultivation. He reached the peak of the Grand Immortal-Ascension Realm, putting him a step away from becoming an Ascended Immortal.

Taking that final step proved difficult. Without the right opportunity, it could take him a hundred or even a thousand years.

Xi Lian was also stuck at the same threshold. However, though they suffered together, Wang Sheng's bottleneck had begun to loosen, while Xi Lian's still seemed almost locked in place.

Xi Lian couldn't help but be quite frantic. She even rushed to the Pool of Transcendence several times but could never bring herself to jump in.

Wang Sheng told her to let things happen naturally. After all, breakthroughs always came unexpectedly. The more one forced it, the less likely it would appear.

During these nine years, three more groups of cultivators "graduated" from the Small Immortal Realm and returned to Earth, sharply widening the strength gap between the Daoist sects. The Daoist masters and elders who had entered the Small Immortal Realm now composed nearly the entire top fifty of the Heavenly Rankings.

The Fourth Immortal Dao Conference's influence could now be felt.

The fourth group was sent away a month ago, and the fifth group arrived at the Moon Palace fifteen days later. There were a total of twenty-six cultivators.

Aside from the fifteen that the Daoist masters and elders had selected, Wang Sheng also gave the Special Warfare Unit seven spots. Moreover, he invited not only Gao Shixing and Fei Lianzi but also Shi Qianzhang and Liu Yunzhi, who had finally caught up to the older generation after years of secluded cultivation.

Upon finally meeting Wang Sheng again, the immortal aura he now exuded astonished the two. Even the fifth batch of Daoist masters and Special Warfare Unit instructors all believed he was now an immortal.

Though shocked, they still offered him congratulations.

Wang Sheng could only tell them that he had merely set one foot across the threshold. To complete his ascension, he still required more time and effort. That alone made it clear that he was confident about reaching the Ascended Immortal Realm, immediately making the Daoist elders and masters a little envious.

As usual, Wang Sheng asked the hot-tempered Xi Lian to be their guide. After greeting the Daoist masters, he took Shi Qianzhang and Liu Yunzhi out to tour the scenery.

With age, cultivation, and experience, Shi Qianzhang had become much steadier and more mature. However, his playful nature remained the same. Liu Yunzhi, the heartthrob of the cultivation world, was still as graceful and elegant as ever.

After chatting for a while, Shi Qianzhang and Liu Yunzhi left to cultivate. They planned to condense their Nascent Souls in the seclusion palace and then go to the Platform of Immortal Dreams to see if they could benefit from it.

Wang Sheng was about to begin his own seclusion near Mu Wanxuan when two familiar Special Warfare Unit instructors came to see him. They simply chatted for a bit. According to them, the unit wanted to use the facilities of the Small Immortal Realm to strengthen their instructors steadily. Their ultimate goal was to extend this benefit to their entire elite force.

Wang Sheng simply asked, "Is the unit not strong enough to protect our borders?"

The instructors fell silent.

Wang Sheng shook his head. In a serious tone, he said, "I won't fully open the Small Immortal Realm to the cultivation world. That decision is final. You can interpret my goals however you want, but I won't stop executing my plans."

Zhang Zikuang frowned. "Fei Yu, I know you're not the type to keep benefits to yourself. Wouldn't it be better to quickly empower the cultivation world and the unit at the same time?"

"This matter must be looked at from two sides," Wang Sheng explained. "First, consider the defensive strength Earth needs. Second, remember that Earth's supply of primal qi is limited.

"The most practical approach is to nurture a small group of top experts first and help them reach the Ascended Immortal Realm while we still have the advantage of concentrated resources. You don't have to try to persuade me further. I respect you all, which is why I have given you a detailed explanation. Even so, I won't change my mind."

Zhang Zikuang and the others looked at each other. He could not help but mutter, "What if the first few Ascended Immortals go rogue?"

Wang Sheng smiled. "Do you not trust our seniors' character?"

"Of course we do, but the higher-ups have their concerns..."

"That's no longer my business," Wang Sheng replied calmly. "The Special Investigation Unit is responsible for the relationship between the cultivation world and the secular world. If a problem arises, you'll have to depend on them to fix it."

The instructors exchanged glances but didn't press further. Instead, they simply watched Wang Sheng take his leave.

"Fei Yu does have a point," one murmured. "After all these years apart, he's gapped us in more than just cultivation."

"Did you notice? When Fei Yu smiled, there was a deep confidence in his eyes."

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"He's not worried about the cultivation world losing control." Zhang Zikuang stretched. "I think I understand now. He sees himself as a sword hanging above the cultivation world. With him here, we don't have to be afraid of the ancient-cultivator disaster repeating.

"But what Fei Yu doesn't seem to realize is that he doesn't just control the Small Immortal Realm and has the support of half the Daoist sects. His cultivation is also far more profound than everyone else's. Every passing moment, he becomes ever closer to becoming an immortal. I'm just glad he's the one who holds that much power."

The instructors could only sigh in agreement.

"I agree. Fei Yu, Hua's Guardian Sword, Heavenly Tribulation Executor... Enough talk. Let's go cultivate. I heard that at the Platform of Immortal Dreams, we can advance an entire realm in a single dream. Let's go win some glory for the Special Warfare Unit."

The men in camouflage uniforms rose into the air. They formed a neat flight formation and headed toward the Platform of Immortal Dreams.

It was quite a sight to see.

***

Half a month after the fifth group of cultivators arrived.

While cultivating, Wang Sheng felt intense aura fluctuations coming from Mu Wanxuan's place of seclusion. Using his Seven-Star Footwork, he headed over so quickly that he left streaks of afterimages, reaching the entrance of the great palace in no time.

Inside, his senior sister sat at the center. Her left index finger pointed upward, summoning layers of white mist, while her right hand pressed downward, with dense black mist coiling beneath it.

The forces of yin and yang slowly tried to merge under her control, forming two immense yin-yang koi. The two then merged further, circling and chasing one another around her.

Wang Sheng froze for a moment. He then broke into a wide grin.

In the past, her Yin-Yang Tai Chi manifestation had always been flat. The twin koi chased each other on a single plane similar to the usual Tai Chi diagram. But now, their orbit around Mu Wanxuan had become fully three-dimensional.

The fish and the yin-yang eyes were clear and distinct, round and full. They drifted around her as though swimming freely, yet they always returned to a perfect balance.

The profound meaning behind it all struck Wang Sheng's Dao Heart. His Dual-Polarity Sword Intent stirred restlessly inside him.

While absorbed in watching the three-dimensional Tai Chi, he heard a soft laugh. He turned and met her eyes, which now shone brighter than stars.

She smiled with pure delight, a faint Dao Rhythm flowing around her. The swirling yin and yang qi returned into her body. Afterward, she spun lightly in front of Wang Sheng. It seemed she had changed into a white robe at some point.

She was real, yet looked unreal. Ethereal and fleeting, it was as though she had come straight from a dream.

Her air of otherworldly grace had become even more heavenly. She seemed dreamlike and serene, as if she had walked straight out of the Great Dao itself.

Wang Sheng's heart didn't just skip a beat. Even his Dao Heart rippled gently.