Chapter 628: Gatekeeper of the Realm of Exiled Immortals

Two wide sleeves billowed, singing to the clear breeze. Neither man nor demon, neither immortal nor god.

This was the first time that Wang Sheng had channeled a spell for so long. For a full forty-nine days, his spirit remained tightly focused, never once relaxing even a little.

The fiend core merged with Qinglin's Primordial Spirit, which then took complete control of the fiend core. Together, they assisted Qinglin in reconstructing his physical body.

Since he was exclusively a sword cultivator, Wang Sheng found this task challenging.

Fortunately, everything proceeded smoothly.

After forty-nine days, he sat cross-legged in space and could not help yawning. Yaoyun had already returned to the Qiankun Ring to rest and continue recovering spiritual power.

Long Aotian had also regained some strength. He was quietly seated in the distance, healing himself. Binglu sat beside him, occasionally sneaking a glance over but never daring to look for long.

Three meters in front of Wang Sheng stood a tall, slender figure. A faint layer of fiendish qi drifted around him. His eyes were gently closed, as though he were asleep.

After so many days of exhausting effort, Wang Sheng and Yaoyun had seemingly created a fiend spirit—a Heavenly Immortal Realm one, at that.

Qinglin originally was at the peak of the True Immortal Realm. After being refined into a war slave, he wandered as a muddled existence for a hundred thousand years. Fortunately, the fiend power within the fiend core nourished his Primordial Spirit's power, quickly shattering the bottleneck of his realm and allowing him to break through naturally.

The fiend power far exceeded the immortal power of a human mid-stage Heavenly Immortal. After all, it represented half of Long Aotian's cultivation, which he had built over many years.

Qinglin had now completely fused with the fiend core. With Long Aotian guiding him at the side, he had also obtained the methods of fiend cultivation. From this point forward, he could continue cultivating as a fiend spirit.

Fiend spirit...

Wang Sheng suddenly felt as though this was all fated.

Qinglin had rejected Xi Lian, a fox fiend, in the past largely because he had been the sect master of the Shu Sword Sect and wished to preserve the sect's reputation. Now, this whole matter had become far simpler for Xi Lian. After all, in his condition, he could hardly speak of any nonsense about the difference between humans and fiends.

Qinglin sighed deeply and smiled bitterly. "What have I become? A fiend? A devil?"

Wang Sheng could not answer his question, but he already had comforting words prepared. "Being alive is already a blessing. Fiends and humans alike are living beings. As long as you stay true to your heart and follow the goodness within you, no one would dare speak against you even if you reach the Golden Immortal Realm through fiend cultivation."

Qinglin sighed again. "Many of my peers are gone forever, and those who survived will be difficult to find. At this moment, I am nothing more than a wandering spirit. Though the endless space is vast, it no longer has a place for me, or even a place where my heart can be at peace."

Wang Sheng smiled. "If your old friends are gone, why not just make new ones? Come with me, Senior. I'd like you to meet a few people from our homeland. They have just come out into space."

Nostalgia filled Qinglin's gaze as he softly replied, "What you said reminded me of Santong."

Wang Sheng didn't stop him from reminiscing. Instead, with a light step, he drifted toward Long Aotian and Binglu. He then took out several bottles of alchemical pills and a few pieces of top-tier Spirit Stones from his robes.

"Stay hidden nearby for now. Also, focus on recovering from your injuries and repairing your cultivation. I'll call for you when I need you. If you discover any threat approaching Fengmo, or if anything urgent arises, contact me at once."

"As you command, Master!" Long Aotian shouted, as though afraid Wang Sheng wouldn't hear him. He then lowered his head again. "Master! As your servant, I will naturally charge ahead and willingly put my life on the line to resolve your troubles.

"I attempted to harm you several times in the past. Whenever I remember those moments, I feel deep guilt and fear. Please, Master, bestow me a new name. I now consider 'Long Aotian' as nothing but a joke! I no longer wish to remember it!"

The corner of Wang Sheng's mouth curved a little. "Since your cultivation path was to transform into a dragon, and your true form is shaped like one, then you shall now be known as... Long Liekong. What do you think?"

Long Aotian—no, Long Liekong shouted repeatedly in excitement, "Thank you, Master!"

That fiend-controlling spell could even turn a foul-mouthed brute into a refined gentleman.

Wang Sheng shook his head. He then turned and gestured politely to Qinglin, leading him toward Fengmo.

Many fiend cultivators lived on the thirteen qi planets, though most were in seclusion. Among them, only Tan Lang and Long Aotian had reached the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Even so, they could walk the streets without anyone shouting about exterminating fiends.

Everyone was simply an unaffiliated practitioner trying to make a living, and the fiend race now posed no real threat to the human race.

Although the Celestial Wind Sect had just suffered defeat, and the Xinghai Sect had become increasingly stable, Wang Sheng still refused to lower his guard. Together with Qinglin, he concealed their presence and wandered through the city for half a day before finally knocking cautiously on the gate of the residence.

As always, Huai Jing, who was in his monk's robes, was the one who opened the door. Wang Sheng even once suspected that the monk spent his idle time napping beside the gate.

Wang Sheng made an inviting gesture. "Senior, this way please."

Qinglin shook his head. "You saved my life, which makes you my benefactor. It would not be proper for the guest to take the host's place."

Huai Jing frowned at Qinglin, who still couldn't fully restrain his fiend aura. "Who is this...?"

Wang Sheng cleared his throat and smiled, deliberately keeping them in suspense. "

Ahem.

Buddhist Master, could you help buy some wine and food? We have two joyous occasions to celebrate today."

Huai Jing was an arhat, yet Wang Sheng just openly sent him off to run an errand.

As though coming to a realization, the monk sized up Qinglin from head to toe, intoned Buddha's name, and then invited the two into the courtyard. "Please, come in. Fei Yu, what would you like to eat?"

Without hesitation, the arhat had readily accepted the task.

"Get a few sweet dishes. My senior sister likes those." Wang Sheng grinned. "

Oh,

right, get her a pinecone fried fish[1] too, and bring a few more jugs of wine."

Huai Jing made an "OK" gesture and drifted away swiftly.

Qinglin asked softly, "Who was that? He doesn't seem ordinary."

Wang Sheng smiled. "Huai Jing, an eminent monk of the Heavenly Dragon Temple and a close friend of mine."

He then sealed the residence's array, causing immortal power to surge outward.

"Senior Sister! Daoist Master Fei Lianzi! Come see who has arrived!"

Mu Wanxuan appeared atop the main building's roof. The other four in the courtyard quickly hurried to the front yard as well.

Looking at them, Qinglin frowned slightly. He had likely realized that none of the five had become an immortal yet. "Why have they already come out to venture into space? The outside world is fraught with danger. Even if there is no longer an army of foreign races hunting them down, they should at least become immortals before exiting the Realm of Exiled Immortals."

"I know you're confused, Senior, but I'll explain everything to you in a mome—"

"Grandmaster?!" Fei Lianzi shouted. The round-faced Daoist master's eyes brimmed with tears as he rushed forward and kowtowed. "I am Fei Lianzi, a disciple of the Shu Sword Sect! Allow me to pay you my respects, Grandmaster Qinglin!"

Emotions surged within Qinglin. He had already sensed the Shu Sword Sect's mental cultivation method within Fei Lianzi. After more than a hundred thousand years of imprisonment, too many feelings lay buried in his heart.

He hurried forward, intending to help Fei Lianzi up, but he stopped for a moment. In the end, he only raised his hands in a gesture of support, raising Fei Lianzi with invisible force. "Please, get up."

Wang Sheng introduced, "This is an elder of the Shu Sword Sect from the present generation, Daoist name Fei Lianzi."

Fei Lianzi's face flushed. He quickly said, "Grandmaster, please just call me Xiao Lian."

Zhang Zikuang chuckled as he ran up from behind. He was about to pull out his phone to record the moment for future teasing, only to realize he had long since grown used to not carrying it around.

Standing in the frontyard, Wang Sheng introduced everyone to Qinglin one by one. Qinglin cupped his fists in greeting repeatedly, and the others returned the courtesy.

"This is my senior sister and Daoist partner, Daoist name Bu Yu. We have both been under Big Sister Xi Lian's care and used to follow her."

Qinglin smiled and nodded, then clasped his hands behind his back with a soft sigh. A trace of understanding and a hint of helplessness flickered in his eyes.

"Let's not just stand around, get inside," Zhang Zikuang called out. "Fan Tuantuan, what are you spacing out for? Are you daydreaming about dragons? Hurry and make some tea."

Fan Tuantuan teased, "Yeah yeah... So this is someone ancient from a thousand years ago? He's so handsome. No wonder Senior Xi Lian could never forget him."

Wang Sheng cleared his throat, worried that Qinglin would feel awkward. Fan Tuantuan shrank her neck and quickly slipped off to prepare tea and refreshments.

They escorted Qinglin into the main hall. Following the fine traditions of Earth's cultivation world, they sat around the round dining table without regard for rank or status.

Seemingly recalling something, Fei Lianzi hurried to the backyard. He soon returned carrying Nameless, whose sword spirit had been in seclusion to improve his own quality.

Qinglin's eyes glistened faintly upon seeing the sword that their forefather once wielded. He respectfully addressed it as senior and performed a proper Daoist salute.

The old sword spirit only smiled and nodded, patting Qinglin lightly on the arm.

Once everyone was seated, several pairs of eyes studied Qinglin closely. He sat upright, composed and solemn.

Wang Sheng took the initiative to open a topic, first speaking of the outcome of that great battle which Qinglin cared about deeply. He revealed that the Heavenly Court had suffered defeat and that they had no idea how many survived among those who followed Emperor Ziwei.

He then spoke of the present state of Earth's cultivation world, from a thousand years without primal qi to the recent revival of cultivation.

Qinglin listened with repeated sighs. He felt waves of emotion course through him when he learned that various Daoist heritages had nearly been cut off because primal qi had been sealed, yet generation after generation, the Shu Sword Sect's mortal members still passed down its Daoist heritages, which had been rendered useless at the time.

"Back then, the Heavenly Court had no choice. Sealing the primal qi was meant to protect our homeland."

Wang Sheng then changed the topic and asked about Qinglin's experiences over the years. Qinglin replied that he had drifted in a daze, trapped within the banner for countless years. Before his Primordial Spirit fully disappeared, Wang Sheng arrived to rescue him.

The group cursed the Celestial Wind Sect for a while. Wang Sheng also took the opportunity to mention that he had subdued Long Aotian and explain the source of the fiend power within Qinglin.

Qinglin sighed. "I had been wondering where I should go from here. Now I understand. Earth's cultivation world needs manpower. Only a great Buddha statue guards the Realm of Exiled Immortals' exit, and it doesn't even have any restrictions. It can avoid drawing attention, but it can't handle sudden upheaval. Coincidentally, I have nothing to do and nowhere to go. I will take up the role of gatekeeper."

Fei Lianzi quickly suggested, "Grandmaster, why not return to the Shu Mountains to recuperate for a time? I'm sure everyone will be overjoyed to meet you."

Qinglin shook his head, though his expression turned into that of calm resolve. "How could I return in this condition? My Dao Heart will be more at peace doing something for the Shu Mountains and Earth's cultivation world. I cannot let Fei Yu's painstaking efforts be in vain."

At the side, the old sword spirit smiled. "Qinglin, you have just survived a great calamity and have no suitable weapon at hand. I will accompany you. That way, we can look after each other."

Fei Lianzi felt torn. "Well..."

His grandmaster had been revived just for him to wish to be a gatekeeper. Moreover, their forefather's sword wanted to accompany him.

Whispered, "Instructor Zhang, send a telegram back and have Big Sister come immediately."

"Aye, alright!"

Zhang Zikuang immediately prepared to move, but Wang Sheng said there was no rush. They would wait for Huai Jing to return and discuss what to put in the "telegram" together.

Qinglin seemed as if he wished to speak, yet upon seeing the anticipation in Wang Sheng's eyes, he ended up just sighing inwardly.

1. Fried fish drizzled in sweet and sour sauce, and the fish is cut to resemble a pinecone ☜