Chapter 584: Red Beans Growing in the Southern Land

Once the Celestial Wind Sect delegation had been sent away, Wang Sheng went into seclusion in the Xinghai Sect for several years, steadily comprehending his Daoist realm.

According to his calculations, it would take at least five hundred years for his Daoist realm to catch up to his cultivation realm, assuming no mistakes were made along the way. Only then could he continue breaking through.

Though the process was somewhat long, Wang Sheng gradually found it impossible to calm down due to an upcoming joyous occasion.

He began constantly thinking about what he should do, what he had to prepare, and which areas were still insufficient for his senior sister's arrival. Afterward, he analyzed the situation of the thirteen qi planets and the issues that the Xinghai Sect faced, attempting to uncover all hidden dangers and eliminate them in advance.

Gradually, Wang Sheng began to feel anxious and concerned.

Will Senior Sister act like a stranger around me? Will there be a sense of distance between us when we interact? What topics should I open, and what words should I say?

He kept telling himself to have faith in his relationship with his senior sister, but they had been apart for hundreds of years. Upon careful reflection, he couldn't avoid feeling unsettled.

Fortunately, his realm was high enough for him to quiet himself and enter a state of mindfulness during his Daoist realm comprehension simply by forcibly invoking a mind-calming mantra. This allowed him to endure for several more years. After cultivating during that span of time, he finally left his small pavilion.

Wang Sheng first informed the sect master that he intended to go on a twenty-year cultivation journey to meet and escort his senior sister. Yao Xingzi naturally didn't object. He only reminded Wang Sheng to be careful and act discreetly enough to avoid attracting the Celestial Wind Sect's attention.

The sect master also cast another divination for him. The readings showed the characters for "minor fortune," indicating that his journey should be safe and free of incidents.

After bidding Yao Xingzi farewell, Wang Sheng quietly headed to Xinghai City on a dark and windy night. First, he visited Huai Jing's small courtyard, where he learned that Liu Yunzhi and Shi Qianzhang had safely passed their heavenly tribulations and were on their way back to the courtyard.

In the city, there were several "tribulation palaces" that had intricate arrays meant to block most of a heavenly tribulation's force. For a small amount of Spirit Stones, cultivators could face those calamitous trials in such establishments.

The heavenly tribulations of unaffiliated practitioners normally didn't trigger the "Nine-Lightning Tribulation," keeping the damage to the arrays minimal. These tribulation palaces were a reliable business.

Huai Jing joked, "It'll still be a while before Bu Yu and the others arrive. Why are you so impatient, Fei Yu?"

Wang Sheng smiled. "That's not it. I was worried you'd be lonely here, so I came to keep you company. Also, I wanted to make some preparations in advance so I wouldn't scramble about later."

Huai Jing smiled back. "

Ah, Amitabha.

You're not sparing me either, huh?"

He then gestured for Wang Sheng to enter his room.

The familiar yet strange arrangement rendered Wang Sheng speechless. Huai Jing's originally spacious room now felt crowded.

A Spirit Stone generator with a voltage stabilizer and battery was inside, creating a strong sense of dissonance in the otherwise antique-style space. In a corner, an old-style gaming console and projector were set up. Huai Jing gestured politely, and Wang Sheng sat on the left meditation cushion. He picked up a controller and stared at the screen in awe.

"What do you want to play? I have hundreds of classic games here."

Wang Sheng smiled. "Something simple. I'm not good at these anyway."

"Alright, something simple..."

Using the controller, Huai Jing selected a casual shooting game. Skipping the introductory cutscene, two characters appeared in the midst of a fierce battlefield and then followed the main army into chaotic combat.

After a while, Wang Sheng gradually became absorbed.

Huai Jing sighed faintly, as if everything had lost its charm. "It would be great if we never had to leave Earth. Staying there would be much more interesting."

Wang Sheng laughed. "Once Senior Sister and the others settle down, you can go back anytime you wish."

The monk smiled bitterly. "Not possible. Even I have responsibilities to take care of, and my own happiness is but an utterly useless illusion. If I seek enlightenment, I can't cling to false desires. For as long as I kowtow nine times before the Buddha, I can laugh at my many worries."

The sword cultivator put down the controller, leaned back, and supported himself with both hands behind him, staring at the projection screen.

"I sparred with Long Aotian of the Celestial Wind Sect."

"

Mm,

I've long heard about that. The rumors about it have spread widely." Huai Jing gave him a complex look. "Fei Yu?"

"What is it?"

"Although I know your talent was extraordinary, I didn't expect you to grow from genius to monster, and now to... an abnormal being.

Amitabha.

"

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"What do you mean by abnormal?! Haven't I told you that I rapidly advanced in my cultivation simply because Lishang gave me some of her race's primordial power? My Daoist realm is far behind." Wang Sheng spread his hands. "Since I was knocked unconscious at the time, I definitely wasn't expecting such a fated opportunity."

Huai Jing smiled. "I still think Lishang has some restless intentions toward you. Fei Yu, remember to enforce your boundaries. Do not disappoint Fairy Bu Yu's deep feelings. Although Lishang is a descendant of the Holy Mother, being Hua Qing's reincarnation is just as amazing."

"What are you even talking about, Buddhist Master?!"

Wang Sheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Hence, he just temporarily shifted the topic. "Later, I want to go into the city and see if I can acquire a larger residence to use as a base. Once that is settled, I'll cultivate inside the Buddha statue."

"A base?" Huai Jing thought for a moment. "Leave that to me."

"Isn't it inconvenient for you to go out?"

The monk smiled once more. "Why would it be? Unlike Little Liu and his peerless beauty, I am but a humble monk. It wouldn't inconvenience me in the slightest."

Wang Sheng was at a loss for words.

Tsk. I feel like these two are about to completely break down Liu Yunzhi.

Wang Sheng left behind a large number of Spirit Stones to acquire a residence and arrange arrays. Altogether, it was quite expensive.

Xinghai City had array-setting specialists who could be hired with Spirit Stones. With enough Spirit Stones, one could even easily purchase half of Xinghai City.

Since the Spirit Stones would flow straight into the Xinghai Sect's treasury anyway, Wang Sheng was indirectly supporting the sect's development.

There was no fixed date for Mu Wanxuan's arrival.

Wang Sheng spent a few days in the city playing games with Huai Jing and helping him pass the time. Afterward, he disappeared to the ancient battlefield for several months, surveying the restricted lands of the Celestial Wind Sect and the Fengli Sect. He found that the Celestial Wind Sect had shrunk its territory; its restricted land was now considerably smaller.

Interestingly, the Fengli Sect didn't seize more resources in the ancient battlefield. It simply maintained its previous holdings, seemingly unconcerned with these resources. However, it was actually a sensible decision. After all, it relied on service-oriented operations as its pillar.

Wang Sheng also recalled Lan Huilin. Since he had joined the Xinghai Sect, he had not been in contact with her. He had once sent her a letter, but it revealed very little since he merely meant it as a ruse to conceal his intentions.

He couldn't pinpoint why, but he had never had a good impression of the Fengli Sect. Perhaps it was because the celestial sect seemed indifferent to abandoning its own disciples.

After wandering about, he finally returned to the massive ancient Buddha statue. He immediately located his usual entry path, dug a hole, slipped inside, and sealed the entrance behind him. Once settled, he extended his immortal perception across the surrounding space.

The wormhole floated quietly, the starlight within it remaining faint and dim.

Finding a flat corner, Wang Sheng closed his eyes and focused for a moment. He then opened them again, still unable to calm himself.

Who built this Buddha statue? It was probably someone from the Buddhist sects of the Heavenly Court's era. As its allies, they also went all out in the great war. A master of the Buddhist sects must have created this giant Buddha afterward, hiding the entrance to Earth's cultivation world.

Wang Sheng then realized that if he entered the wormhole and waited at the other side of the Realm of Exiled Immortals' entrance, it would only take over a month for him to see his senior sister again. However, he immediately dismissed such impulsiveness.

"Time waits for no one."

Spending more time on Dao comprehension would allow him to reach the Heavenly Immortal Realm sooner and better protect his senior sister.

If even Huai Jing can sacrifice his greatest pleasure for cultivation, then I can endure some hardship for Senior Sister. Clear the Dao Heart. I am in the Dao, undivided, unmoving, undisturbed...

Reciting the mind-calming mantra, Wang Sheng extended his immortal perception into the surrounding space and closed his eyes to cultivate.

***

Mu Wanxuan, who stood by the window of the Shadowless Shuttle, quietly observed the celestial bodies outside as she murmured, "How long?"

With her speech still impaired, she could only speak in brief phrases.

From behind her, Yaoyun answered, "Just over a month."

Mu Wanxuan nodded lightly. She had occupied the same spot for some time now.

Not only was Mu Wanxuan unable to enter meditation, but Gao Shixing, Fei Lianzi, Zhang Zikuang, and the female instructor had also awakened.

They were about to step into an entirely unfamiliar domain—one with immortal civilization spread across the endless space and with primal qi passages connecting each celestial body. They could also find the rumored Three Realms and the Heavenly Court out there.

Humanity's desire to explore the universe and curiosity about the unknown were ingrained in its DNA.

Fei Lianzi's round face glowed red as he poured wine and drank with Gao Shixing and Zhang Zikuang. Meanwhile, with a serious demeanor, the female instructor remained focused on organizing documents.

"This has probably been rough for Fei Yu." Fei Lianzi sighed. "He has endured countless pressures over six to seven hundred years, both outside and here."

Gao Shixing nodded. "I think so too. Still, when we see Fei Yu later, I hope he can instruct us in the Dao of the Sword."

"Considering how long it's been for him, won't he almost be a Pure Yang Sword Saint by now?" Fei Lianzi chuckled with admiration. "The future will likely be his generation's era. We'll just run errands, work, and teach the younger ones."

Zhang Zikuang smiled, then gestured for them to be quiet.

The cabin was filled with Mu Wanxuan's soft humming, which followed the tune of

Red Beans Growing in the Southern Land

.

There were no distinct words, only the lingering, gentle yearning of longing.