Chapter 596: Caiwei's Injury

Wang Sheng used four

liang

of Dawnlight on the other immortal treasures. However, only the cyan bird circled Mu Wanxuan. The other three merely improved in quality.

Still, their transformations had given them the potential for continued growth. If Mu Wanxuan nurtured them long enough, they could eventually give birth to artifact spirits.

Dawnlight only created a slim possibility, though. It was far from omnipotent.

Moreover, human-shaped artifact spirits were exceedingly rare. Wang Sheng pondered for a long time, yet he couldn't come up with any ideas.

Yaoyun's case was rather special. She already had a human form before she transformed into a spiritual entity. Even Dragon Sword's sword spirit looked like an azure dragon, a far cry from a human shape.

Wang Sheng felt somewhat disappointed. He had been eager to tinker together a "little figurine" for his senior sister. Still, upon seeing the smile on her face as she teased the cyan bird, Wang Sheng decided not to dwell on it too much.

He had already done his best with his limited abilities. Moreover, he could simply make it up to her once a method had presented itself in the future.

Mu Wanxuan had always viewed treasures as optional. Nevertheless, knowing that her junior brother was willing to do all this for her made her very happy. She planned to stay with him for a few more months, then go into seclusion beside him and strive with all her strength to become an immortal.

She knew that trying to catch up to Wang Sheng's Daoist realm was unrealistic and nothing more than wishful thinking. Still, she could not afford to drag her junior brother down.

Her Yin-Yang Grand Formation would get a significant boost once she became an immortal. Should her junior brother go all out against an enemy, she would be able to quietly provide support from the rear.

Ahem, that might be getting a bit too suggestive...

[1]

"Senior Sister, focus on refining these treasures for now," Wang Sheng reminded. "We still have to recruit more people later. Once these two months are over, we can go into seclusion here without worries."

Mu Wanxuan pointed in the direction of Xinghai City. "Buddhist Master?"

She seemed to be asking what would happen to Huai Jing and the others if they went into seclusion in the Xinghai Sect.

Wang Sheng smiled. "They are hidden in Xinghai City well enough to avoid falling into danger. Our vigilance can simply be excessive at times. Considering everyone here is a cultivator, our group isn't particularly eye-catching amid unaffiliated practitioners, regardless of background. As long as they cultivate peacefully and do not cause trouble, they shouldn't face anything major."

Mu Wanxuan nodded gently and took out the specially modified, long‑lasting phone specifically prepared for her. She then typed out a line of text.

Right now, everyone has to be patient and keep as low a profile as possible.

After thinking it over carefully, his senior sister added another reminder for Wang Sheng.

And with time flowing a hundred times faster here, our master actually won't feel that much pressure by the time he comes out here. We just have to fulfill our own roles to the best of our capabilities and steadily develop an immortal cultivation force.

Wang Sheng immediately smiled, causing his eyes to narrow. When Mu Wanxuan frowned and shot him a glare, he quickly nodded in agreement.

His senior sister's serious, instructive manner was unexpectedly captivating.

Wang Sheng naturally understood all these principles. Still, he always wanted to do a little more.

Mu Wanxuan changed into the spiritual skirt. Immortal light swirled around her as she circled Wang Sheng a few times, creating a breathtakingly lovely sight.

The cyan bird perched upon her delicate, fragrant shoulder. It chirped softly as her dark hair fluttered, adding an extra layer of otherworldly mystery to her presence.

Unfortunately, Wang Sheng didn't know any kind of instruments. Otherwise, he would have played music while his senior sister danced to make the moment even more delightful.

The only thing he knew how to do right now was whistle, but he dared not resort to it casually. After all, it would probably earn him a beating from his senior sister.

Aside from the long skirt, his senior sister's favorite treasure was the folding fan. Its design was a painting of mountains and birds, which was rather distinctive. Still, when his senior sister held and gently waved it, it gave off a faint sense of... dominance.

The two cultivated in the small pavilion for half a month. At Wang Sheng's insistence, his senior sister would wear the skirt whenever she went out. Spiritual treasures with artifact spirits could be played with, but their most important function was still protection.

The first batch of Protectors and celestial soldiers had already settled within the sect. Most had passed Lishang's illusion trial, but two True Immortals changed their minds before entering the illusion and decided not to join.

The Xinghai Sect didn't make things difficult for them. On the contrary, it even gifted them some Spirit Stones and alchemical pills.

A second batch of unaffiliated practitioners had also already gathered at the recruitment pavilion in Xinghai City. As the chief examiner, Wang Sheng had to frighten them using his sword heart once more and accept them into the sect.

Thus, Wang Sheng invited Linyuan along and returned to the city with the radiant Mu Wanxuan.

Fengmo remained extremely peaceful through it all. The Celestial Wind Sect and Fengli Sect had successively withdrawn from the place, essentially acknowledging that the Xinghai Sect now owned Fengmo.

There were still two other factions on the planet with Heavenly Immortals. Wang Sheng had already contacted one of them earlier, and that party had come to express goodwill toward the Xinghai Sect. The other was said to be preparing to move their sect away from Fengmo.

The Xinghai Sect's unification of Fengmo seemed to be drawing near. Once a sect had conquered an entire celestial body, the amount of resources under its control would increase rapidly. The most important benefit, however, was the defensive capability it would gain.

The Celestial Wind Sect's three qi planets made that evident. They formed a unified defensive circle that allowed complete surveillance in all directions, preventing any force attempting to attack from concealing itself for an ambush. The sect could just calmly wait for the enemy to tire themselves out and fully exploit its terrain advantage.

Fully occupying or controlling a celestial body could be considered a crucial foundation for a celestial sect to continue growing and expanding. Thanks to Lishang's powerful rise, the Xinghai Sect could now seize such an opportunity.

Since the Xinghai Sect was an indirect benefactor of Earth's cultivators, Wang Sheng naturally had to contribute more to its development. Once they had fully brought Fengmo under its control, cultivators from Earth could start migrating over.

Looking back at it now, if the Celestial Wind Sect's ambush some time ago had killed Wang Sheng and Lishang, the Xinghai Sect's situation would have been completely reversed.

During this period, Wang Sheng kept thinking things over and faintly felt a sense of unease. Would the Celestial Wind Sect and Fengli Sect truly just watch as another celestial sect rose and turned the thirteen qi planets' situation into a three-way standoff? That would inevitably constrain the Fengli Sect's development, while the Celestial Wind Sect would face pressure from the joint forces of the Fengli Sect and the Xinghai Sect.

"Kachew. Kachew?"

"Junior Brother!"

Linyuan called out to Wang Sheng six times, yet they still couldn't compare to a soft utterance of his title from Mu Wanxuan.

Wang Sheng snapped out of his thoughts and smiled. "What is it?"

With a mix of laughter and tears, Linyuan reported, "The second batch of recruits is ready. What was on your mind that got you so deeply absorbed?"

Still smiling, Wang Sheng answered, "Nothing, just random thoughts."

Just like last time, he went behind the screen and sat upright, preparing the sword heart technique. The second batch was composed of eight True Immortal Realm Protectors, a young female and two young male disciples for the Xinghai Sect's elders, and another hundred celestial soldiers.

Following the same approach as before, Wang Sheng played the villain and used his Dao of the Sword to warn the new recruits. Linyuan played the benevolent role, smiling as he invited them to the mountain gate. The entire process proceeded smoothly.

However, as Wang Sheng and Linyuan led the second batch back to the mountain gate, two streaks of light swiftly flew toward them from the sect's direction.

Upon seeing Wang Sheng and Linyuan, the two disciples stepped forward and cupped their fists in salute.

"Elder Pi! Martial Uncle Linyuan!"

"By the sect master's order, we ask that you two return to the mountain immediately to discuss urgent matters!"

Wang Sheng and Linyuan frowned slightly. Judging from the two disciples' haste and tense appearance, it seemed something serious had happened.

However, glancing at the Xinghai Sect, they only found calm and orderly auras. There wasn't the slightest hint of chaos.

Instead of replying to the messengers, Wang Sheng and Linyuan immediately headed back.

Wang Sheng brought Mu Wanxuan with him on a rainbow light. Flying a bit faster than Linyuan, they charged straight past the mountain gate and into the defensive array.

Inside the main palace, Yao Xingzi, Lishang, and more than ten elders were all gathered in a corner. Wang Sheng swept the area with his immortal perception, causing his expression to darken.

Linyuan remarked, "Is that a disciple of the Fengli Sect? What is going on?"

A faint sense of foreboding rose in Wang Sheng's heart. He took Mu Wanxuan with him and rushed toward the front palace.

In the front palace's corner, Lan Huilin lay covered in blood across two cushions. A female elder was feeding her healing alchemical pills, yet Lan Huilin's aura was still weak and fading, as though she were about to face a life-or-death crisis.

***

Xinghai City—the primary foothold of Earth's cultivators.

Huai Jing and Zhang Zikuang played Chinese chess in the pavilion in the backyard, while Fan Tuantuan sat at a desk nearby, writing statistical reports. The two Special Warfare Unit instructors couldn't cultivate in peace since they had to conduct extensive field investigations in the city every day.

"Fengmo feels far too calm lately," Huai Jing commented.

Immersed in chess, Zhang Zikuang chuckled. "What's so strange about that? Aren't you being overly sensitive, Mr. Arhat? Cultivators just want to cultivate properly and seek longevity and freedom. Why would anyone just keep looking to fight to the death?"

Huai Jing shook his head slightly. "Something just isn't right about this. Immortal forces may be composed of cultivators, but the two aren't the same and shouldn't be lumped together. Every immortal force that has managed to grow strong is likely centered around a determined person with a strong enough ambition to suppress their subordinates. For example, His Majesty the Immortal Emperor back then."

Zhang Zikuang nodded lightly. "Arhat, what you're saying is..."

Huai Jing smiled faintly. "I always feel that the Celestial Wind Sect won't just allow the Xinghai Sect to grow so comfortably. Isn't Rice Ball our strategist? Why not have her come over and analyze the situation with us?"

"The strategist is moonlighting as an accountant," Zhang Zikuang joked.

Fan Tuantuan, who was nearby, could not help but roll her eyes and flick her short hair. She complained, "Those immortal forces you speak of are essentially just martial sects fighting over territory. There isn't much to analyze."

"We should still try to detect danger in advance," Huai Jing replied. "Right now, there isn't much we can do to help Fei Yu."

Fan Tuantuan finally put down the documents in her hands. She paced back and forth, organizing the information and thinking for a while. Her camouflage vest and long pants clashed sharply with the surroundings, yet they gave her a strong sense of individuality.

"We likely won't be in too much danger unless the Celestial Wind Sect and Fengli Sect reach some kind of tacit understanding, with the Celestial Wind Sect attacking head-on while the Fengli Sect strikes from behind. That would be the most troublesome outcome for the Xinghai Sect.

"However, judging from the current situation, the conflict between those two factions is clearly more intense. Although both are centered around their sect masters and elders, they have been fighting for so many years that the decision makers cannot simply ignore the accumulated hatred among all levels within their sects.

"Direct cooperation is unlikely, which means the Xinghai Sect will remain fairly stable overall. They just have to watch out for the possibility of the Fengli Sect attempting to deliberately intensify the conflict between the other two major sects and then reaping the benefits in the end."

Fan Tuantuan snapped her fingers.

"Analysis complete. Anything we can think of, Daoist Master Fei Yu can certainly come up with, too. He is our idol, after all!"

Zhang Zikuang shook his head. "The Fei Yu Fan Club is expanding fast."

Huai Jing smiled, causing his eyes to narrow. He then lowered his head to focus once more on the chessboard.

1. The author's joke that's breaking the 4th wall. ☜