Chapter 632: The Turbulent Tree-Finding Journey

Wang Sheng had just entered the Xinghai Sect's mountain gate with his senior sister when he received a voice transmission from Yao Xingzi, asking him to come to the front palace to discuss matters.

More than a dozen elders had already gathered inside, discussing a letter that the sect master of the Celestial Wind Sect had personally written and sent.

Mu Wanxuan volunteered to wait outside. Since she was not a disciple of the Xinghai Sect, it was inappropriate for her to participate in such a formal meeting. Wang Sheng did not insist.

As soon as he entered, several elders immediately stood and shifted their seats, allowing him to sit beside Linyuan. Judging from the seating arrangement, his rank within the Xinghai Sect was now fourth.

Linyuan handed him the letter. Wang Sheng read it carefully once, his expression turning somewhat grim.

One elder cursed, "Before the war at the Fengli Star, the Celestial Wind Sect sent us a letter full of threats. Now that they have been defeated, they claim everything that happened before was a misunderstanding. They want it both ways, no matter what happens."

Linyuan sighed. "What do you think we should do, Kachew? It seems the Fengli Sect has no intention of retaliating against the Celestial Wind Sect, which is truly puzzling."

"They're not retaliating?" Wang Sheng frowned. "What reason did the Fengli Sect give?"

"Nothing more than saying that Tianfeng is well defended. Even though the Celestial Wind Sect lost several Heavenly Immortals, their overall foundation still makes them the true overlord among the thirteen qi stars.

"

Haaa.

Who knows what's making the Fengli Sect so confused and indecisive? The Celestial Wind Sect's morale has been broken. If the Fengli Sect sends troops and presses forward with a great army, many of the enemy's cultivators would probably flee without a fight."

"I think I can roughly understand their intentions," Wang Sheng said. "Their top priority is expanding their power, not dragging their own forces into another battle against the Celestial Wind Sect. If you look at the path of their rise, you'll notice that they often rely on various schemes. Rarely do they fight brutal battles where they injure a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of their own."

Lishang reasoned, "The strange behavior of the Fengli Sect's sect master that day was certainly rather thought-provoking."

A white-haired elder smiled. "Regardless, if the Fengli Sect does not fight, we cannot act either. We don't have the strength to confront the Celestial Wind Sect head-on. Moreover, right now, we stand at a moment of revival. Settling accounts with the enemy can wait until later. Instead, we should maintain our previous pace and properly strengthen our foundation on Fengmo."

Linyuan frowned. "The Celestial Wind Sect has repeatedly plotted against us. They even attempted to intercept and kill Lishang to cut off the Xinghai Sect's fated opportunity. They are already our mortal enemy!"

"Vengeance cannot be rushed. At present, we not only have to guard against the Celestial Wind Sect but also remain wary of the Fengli Sect. Many unaffiliated practitioners are coming to join us now, but it will take time before we can turn them into real strength for our sect."

"Our enemy is at its weakest right now. We have to seize this opportunity..."

Wang Sheng listened quietly as the elders discussed. The question itself was simple: should they retaliate against the Celestial Wind Sect now?

He naturally wished for the Fengli Sect and the Xinghai Sect to join forces and attack the Celestial Wind Sect's solar system, bringing a swift end to their mutual enemy.

However, whether this idea could be carried out depended on the Fengli Sect, a force that a mighty expert of the Heavenly Court had secretly developed. Though they used the pressure that the Celestial Wind Sect exuded to erode one small celestial sect after another, their true objective was to grow stronger and gather more power, not to dominate the thirteen qi planets.

It would be extremely difficult to convince them to expend a large portion of their accumulated resources and destroy their opponent.

No one present was foolish. They all wanted to be the fisherman or the oriole that profited at the end.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

After the elders debated for a while, Linyuan asked, "Sect Master, what do you think?"

"Although our sect now has the foundation to stand firm, we are still far from being comparable to our two rivals," Yao Xingzi said while gently stroking his beard. "Later, I will write a reply to the sect master of the Celestial Wind Sect. We will use this opportunity to recuperate for a few hundred years.

"However, the Celestial Wind Sect and our sect have already formed an irreconcilable enmity. Do not become careless simply because they're showing goodwill. On the contrary, we have to take this chance to consolidate our sect, launch a large-scale disciple recruitment, and continue strengthening our alliance with the Fengli Sect.

"Elder Pi, what do you think? I know your resentment toward the Celestial Wind Sect runs deep, but for now, I can only ask you to endure this grievance."

Wang Sheng replied solemnly, "I will naturally obey your order, Sect Master. Although I have sworn a heavy oath to destroy the Celestial Wind Sect, I also understand that the time has not yet come. The strength it showed when it sent troops against the Fengli Sect is far beyond what either the Xinghai Sect or the Fengli Sect can withstand alone.

"In fact, even if our two sects combined forces, it would still be difficult to say who would win in an all-out war. They simply have too many True Immortals."

Linyuan sighed. "The Celestial Wind Sect's accumulation of power and resources over so many years now stands before us. There is nothing we can do about that."

The other elders nodded in agreement.

After discussing sect affairs for a while longer, Yao Xingzi dismissed everyone. Wang Sheng, however, sent a voice transmission asking the sect master, the vice sect master, and Linyuan to stay after the meeting, saying he had something to report.

Once the elders rode their clouds away and returned to the back mountains to cultivate, Mu Wanxuan approached gracefully and stood behind Wang Sheng. Wang Sheng then briefly explained that he would be leaving with his senior sister for a period of time, though he did not mention their destination.

Feeling somewhat concerned, Linyuan asked several additional questions. Wang Sheng only revealed a small portion of the details behind their journey. He was far more cautious this time out of fear that someone was listening from behind the walls. After all, that was how Tan Lang had managed to ambush him and Lishang.

Slightly puzzled, Lishang asked, "You're going to search for a treasure that can assist with cultivation? What treasure requires you to personally seek it out? If it cannot be obtained within the thirteen qi stars, you could inquire about it on some nearby celestial bodies."

"We have to seek this one out ourselves." Wang Sheng exchanged a glance with his senior sister. "The place I am heading to probably lies within the Eastern Sky Region. The treasure I seek is somewhat special, and it is closely related to my senior sister."

Lishang nodded slowly, dropping the matter. After all, every cultivator had secrets of their own, and those secrets could very well be their weaknesses.

Linyuan asked with some concern, "Do you need us to help prepare anything? It feels as if something always happens whenever you go out. Don't forget to carry more Spirit Stones with you, and keep a close watch on your storage artifacts. There are always petty thieves out there hoping to take advantage of someone's carelessness."

Wang Sheng smiled and nodded. The old man had clearly learned from experience.

"We have prepared everything. You need not worry, Senior."

"Hold on," Yao Xingzi said. Out of habit, he took out a tortoise shell and jade slips, then began to perform divination with solemn seriousness. The others waited quietly.

Soon, Yao Xingzi remarked, "Judging from the hexagram, there will be some twists and turns, but no real danger. With firm resolve and a sincere heart, you will eventually accomplish your goal."

Wang Sheng couldn't help but breathe a small sigh of relief.

Even though he had once been a firm atheist and rejected the idea of fate, he had begun to believe a little in divination arts at some point.

***

Since he was taking his senior sister on a long journey, Wang Sheng felt that no amount of preparation was ever sufficient. He checked and reconsidered everything again and again.

He did not lack Spirit Stones. Ever since Long Liekong had looted the Celestial Wind Sect's treasury, Wang Sheng had certainly become one of the leading candidates for the title of richest person among the thirteen qi planets. In addition, he possessed many precious materials and celestial pills that could be exchanged for other resources.

Thanks to the rich legacy that the Old Man of Xinghai had left, the Xinghai Sect possessed a relatively complete map of the Eastern Sky Region, which proved extremely helpful.

When planning the route this time, Wang Sheng carefully searched the Scripture Pavilion inside and out, making sure there were no recording orbs. Only then did he feel at ease discussing the precise direction of the divine tree with his senior sister.

Their first stop would naturally still be Jinhua. They could not sneak straight to the Celestial Wind Sect's planet to search for the primal qi passage.

After passing through the passage on Jinhua, Wang Sheng would do his best to help Mu Wanxuan sense the location of the divine tree again. He would then draw two straight lines on the star map, allowing them to intersect. The point where the lines met would indicate the approximate direction of the divine tree.

Such was the importance of nine years of compulsory education when searching for treasure in the cultivation world.

Once they had gotten past the most critical issue of determining its location, the remaining problems would be easy to solve.

Wang Sheng could travel freely through the endless space now that he was as strong as a Heavenly Immortal. As long as he wasn't up against Golden Immortals and above, he was confident he could withdraw safely from any trouble and conflict.

The Shadowless Shuttle would first fly to the edge of the ancient battlefield, then head to Jinhua.

Wang Sheng had also considered whether to bring Long Liekong along. Doing so would provide greater security for his senior sister. However, he immediately realized that this journey was a rare opportunity for the two to spend time alone. Bringing along a former enemy would ruin the atmosphere.

A honeymoon trip with Senior Sister...

Wang Sheng felt his heart stir. He grew lively as he imagined many pleasant scenes.

Mu Wanxuan had very little to prepare. After all, she carried her necessities with her at all times. The two left the Xinghai Sect side by side. Under the concealment of a drifting cloud, Wang Sheng took out a Shadowless Shuttle and invited his senior sister inside.

Mu Wanxuan blinked at the Shadowless Shuttle before them. The spacecraft could only hold one reclining passenger.

Even at that moment, Wang Sheng could no longer suppress a meaningful smile.

Tch. If I can't get an opportunity, then I'll just make one myself! This single-passenger Shadowless Shuttle will become the cradle in which our relationship will grow warmer! This time, I will set aside my pride and take a historic step forward together with Senior Sister—

Whoosh!

Air suddenly blew from nearby. Wang Sheng turned his head and saw light flicker in his senior sister's palm. A shuttle the size of her hand expanded rapidly, transforming into a Shadowless Shuttle large enough to seat six or seven people.

Mu Wanxuan snapped her fingers. "Spacious!"

Silently, Wang Sheng put away his small shuttle while analyzing the situation. He wondered whether his senior sister had acted unintentionally or was deliberately expressing a gentle refusal.

Ah, is it because she feels that our relationship has not reached that stage yet? Or has she always regarded me only as a junior brother, never seeing me as a man with ordinary romantic desires...

Wang Sheng had been in a few relationships in his past life. In this one, however, he had only ever been in one. Having lived for so long, he truly wanted to use this perfect opportunity to fulfill his long-held wish. He wanted to be with the one he loved and finally realize his dream of becoming a true man!

"Junior Brother? Junior Brother!"

"

Ah,

sorry. I spaced out for a bit. Anyway, let me pilot it. We'll be a lot faster that way."

Wang Sheng entered the Shadowless Shuttle with his senior sister. He sat on the pilot's cushion and pressed his left hand against the array disk before him.

He injected immortal power into it and activated the layers of restrictions. The Shadowless Shuttle vanished into the air, breaking through clusters of white clouds and flying toward heaven.

Inside the shuttle, Mu Wanxuan knelt quietly in a corner, humming a tune while adjusting several pieces of equipment. Meanwhile, Wang Sheng sat with mixed feelings, wondering how he should further advance his relationship with his senior sister.

At some point, he heard an engine turning. When he turned to look, he saw that a Spirit Stone generator had appeared beside his senior sister. Using a simple array, it produced heat, which was then converted into electrical power, complete with a voltage regulation function.

She plugged in her phone and a small Redfang speaker, her fingers constantly sliding across the screen.

Wang Sheng smiled and shook his head. With a tender look, he turned back to focus on piloting the craft forward.

Before long, he sensed his senior sister jogging toward him. He was just about to turn his head when a pair of soft arms wrapped around his neck. Strands of dark hair fell before his eyes as Mu Wanxuan gently embraced him from behind, leaned forward slightly, and met his gaze.

Her exquisitely beautiful face was flushed red, and her thin lips pressed together lightly as she tried her best to conceal her nervousness. At that moment, music drifted from the corner. It was a song that they had been familiar with since childhood.

Summer is fading into fall, ♪

In my heart, locked away, ♪

Is a secret so sweet, ♪

I can't bring myself to say. ♪

As the final warm winds blow,

My mind begins to play,

Memories so sweet of you, ♪

On repeat all day

[1]

. ♪

1. a classic Mandarin song from the late 1980s called "Pink Memories"(粉红色的回忆) ☜