Chapter 673: Before the Grave of Star Deity Xinyue

Scent... How was I supposed to guard against something like that? Was I meant to carry perfume everywhere?

Wang Sheng pondered.

The burly man's sudden appearance had forced him to retrace his steps and consider what flaws he could have left behind.

He had been extremely cautious back then. Every time he made a move, he stayed under a tribulation cloud and completely concealed his aura. Moreover, very few had survived an encounter with him. Those who did were unlikely to have skin as thick as the hide of the burly man, who sustained an eruption of death aura and came out unscathed. They probably didn't stay here either.

"To think you made that brute retreat of his own accord. You truly have remarkable skills, Immortal Master." Cha Yue laughed softly as she gestured for him to follow her.

Wang Sheng only smiled. He slid the immortal sword back into its scabbard and followed Cha Yue through the front hall of the Lingdan Pavilion.

Only after she activated the array in a quiet chamber did the immortal perception probing the place withdraw one by one.

"Please wait here for a moment. Allow me to make arrangements before I escort you into the mountain gate. The sect master ordered that we avoid drawing attention, which makes this somewhat troublesome."

Wang Sheng nodded slightly and just left everything to her.

After meditating in the quiet chamber for half a day, he noticed Cha Yue entering and exiting repeatedly. Each time the array opened and closed, she returned carrying a tray with several jade bottles arranged upon it.

Quickly understanding what she was trying to do, he simply waited.

After seven or eight trips, Cha Yue smiled. "That should be enough. Immortal Master, please keep in mind that you came here today for a spiritual pill that enhances a cultivator's aptitude. Since our pavilion's pills did not satisfy you, I recommended that you meet the sect master in person and request a Nine-Lotus Bone-Cleansing Pill."

Wang Sheng nodded. "Alright."

Cha Yue gathered up the jade bottles. She then led him out through the front hall and toward the mountain gate of the Qiling Immortal Sect.

The story she created closely mirrored the circumstances of Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan's last visit.

The Nine-Lotus Bone-Cleansing Pill was extremely precious. Hence, it was only natural and reasonable for one to request a meeting with the sect master before they could purchase one.

Wang Sheng intended to ask about the Qiling Immortal Sect's status once they had boarded the ox cart. However, he had barely opened his mouth when Cha Yue blinked lightly at him. Her bright eyes seemingly conveyed an unspoken message.

Walls had ears. Since Qiling was filled with powerful figures at the moment, it was unwise to speak freely there.

The ox cart flew steadily into the cloudborne immortal island and toward the mountain gate. Only after passing through the fully activated grand defensive array did Cha Yue relax slightly.

Wang Sheng frowned. "How is the Qiling Immortal Sect faring now?"

"Thank you for your concern, Immortal Master. Although many of the celestial sects' forces and Golden Immortals have gathered outside, we're not under heavy threat." A faint trace of disdain touched Cha Yue's lips. "They are merely opportunists hoping to seize some advantage."

"That is good to hear." Wang Sheng sighed softly. "Please take me to Senior Zhuge Lin first. There are several matters I wish to consult him about."

Cha Yue's delicate eyebrows drew together as she lowered her voice. "Elder Zhuge has passed away. He exhausted his lifespan a month ago."

Wang Sheng rose abruptly. "What?"

His head hit the roof of the cart, yet he did not seem to notice.

Grief enveloped Cha Yue's expression. "Elder Zhuge had little lifespan remaining to begin with. The sect master and the others had forcibly brought him back more times than we can count. After your previous visit, he went into seclusion and never emerged again. In the end, he could no longer endure."

This was likely the explanation that Wensheng and the others had given the sect.

Wang Sheng slowly sat back down, closed his eyes, and exhaled deeply. He could only think of three words.

Five Heavenly Declines.

Zhuge Lin had only been a step away. Considering Qinghua's grasp over the Dao of Death, he could have saved Zhuge Lin if the latter had managed to endure until Qinghua's resurrection.

Unfortunately, fate disallowed it.

All Yaoyun could do was telepathically sigh softly. He and his sword spirit then fell silent.

After some time, Cha Yue tilted her head as if listening. She then guided the ox cart toward a certain spot in the rear mountains, bringing Wang Sheng into another grand array.

The cart descended slowly into a dense forest on a verdant mountain. It stopped before a newly built grave. Wensheng stood before the tombstone, as though he had been waiting specifically for Wang Sheng.

Cha Yue put away the ox cart and gestured Wang Sheng forward. She then withdrew into the forest to wait.

Wang Sheng gazed at the tombstone of the Star Deity. Meanwhile, Spiritless flew out on its own and transformed into Yaoyun. They walked over and offered a Daoist salute before the grave.

With a trace of weariness, Wensheng greeted, "Oh, you're here."

The somewhat gaunt Taiyi Golden Immortal stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Sorrow and helplessness lingered in his eyes.

Wang Sheng returned the Daoist salute. "My condolences, Zhenren[1]."

Wensheng smiled bitterly. "There's no need for that, Master has already passed away. In truth, I have to thank you both. Had you not come, he probably would have kept forcing himself to endure. When his divine soul was destroyed, his immortal body turned into ashes. He had been in agony since then.

"My martial siblings and I only wished for Master to live longer. When we searched for someone to inherit the Dao of Life, we merely went through the motions. We did not dare, wish, or want to let him fulfill his final wish. We forgot that if living brought such unbearable suffering, it would have been better to grant him eternal rest sooner."

Yaoyun softly replied, "Daoist Master, you need not blame yourself so deeply. Those who have not been afflicted with the Five Heavenly Declines won't be able to understand that level of suffering."

Wensheng Zhenren closed his eyes and sighed, then quickly opened them again. With a light tap of his finger, he conjured a low table and three bamboo chairs out of thin air. He invited Wang Sheng and Yaoyun to sit, then took out four wine cups, filling one for his master as well.

"You knew I would come here?" Wang Sheng asked.

"I didn't," Wensheng replied. "I only asked Cha Yue to wait there as a precaution. I had assumed you and Fairy Hua Qing had already left with the emperor. Has something happened? Why are you still here?"

"I didn't follow the emperor to cultivate since I still have matters to handle," Wang Sheng said, his gaze dimming slightly. "The day the emperor sent me away from the grand array, my cultivation was still too shallow for me to perceive the battle. I don't know whether he managed to escape safely."

"Don't worry. He shattered space and departed. Since he injured his opponents, they didn't dare pursue him."

"Could you describe the battle in detail?"

"

Mm.

" Wensheng nodded slightly. Recounting everything he had witnessed took half a day.

He had been on Qiling at the time. With his cultivation, he had witnessed firsthand the earthshaking clash of eight mighty beings.

Wang Sheng's spirit stirred as he listened. Yaoyun simply gazed into the forest, lost in thought.

Upon hearing of Qinghua's achievements in the battle, admiration rose within him. Apparently, Qinghua had struck down one powerful being with a palm strike. His Dao of Death then wounded three others and seeded them with the Five Heavenly Declines.

However, the threat that his own Five Heavenly Declines posed forced him to withdraw. His Great Dao had not yet stabilized, and he could not fight for long. He punched space open, stood on a wooden coffin, and left in front of everyone, dragging the immortal palace behind him. His six enemies didn't dare give chase.

After Qinghua departed, the six also fled swiftly. They were clearly returning to the Immortal Saint Realm to seek a way to counter the Five Heavenly Declines.

It was uncertain whether Qinghua's Five Heavenly Declines were the same as the original. If they were authentic, then the three that now suffered from it had been turned into no more than living corpses.

Though alive, some people were no different from the dead.

Wensheng whispered, "Fei Yu, could you resolve a few doubts of mine?"

"Please ask away. I'll answer as best as I can."

"Have you had contact with Emperor Qinghua?"

"Yes."

Wensheng sighed. "Is the emperor truly a wise ruler? Was he worthy of my master's trust?"

Wang Sheng thought about it briefly before nodding. "He may no longer be the same as he once was, but I have spoken with him several times. When my senior sister and I were married, we invited him as a witness to the ceremony. I believe I can even sense his character. He was probably a wise ruler. At present, however, he's fixated on taking revenge."

"Revenge..." Wensheng stared at the wine cup before him. "Since I began cultivating, I have never doubted my Dao or the path of my cultivation. I have always been resolute.

"Yet today I find myself uncertain. The Qiling Immortal Sect has a total of one hundred twenty thousand members, from off-heritage members to honorary elders. One wrong move, and they may all fall with this place into a bottomless abyss."

Wang Sheng reflected on his words and asked, "Are you hesitating over whether the Qiling Immortal Sect should continue to heed Emperor Qinghua?"

Wensheng smiled bitterly. "Yes. I have pondered this for a long time, yet I still can't reach a decision."

"There is no need for such worry," Wang Sheng said. "Emperor Qinghua has not summoned his former subordinates. Moreover, although he is ruthless toward his enemies and has sworn to avenge the immortals and deities of the Heavenly Court, he cares deeply for his own people. He would not put your sect in danger. Anyway, do you remember Lin Feiyao?"

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Oh?" Wensheng's eyes lit up. "She is my grand-disciple. Is she safe?"

"The emperor took her in as an unofficial disciple and now cultivates at his side." Wang Sheng sighed. "I believe he keeps her close because she is from the Qiling Immortal Sect."

Wensheng nodded slowly. After pondering for a time, he explained in full how Zhuge Lin had arranged for Lin Feiyao to enter the grand array.

Understanding dawned on Yaoyun's expression. She murmured, "No wonder."

Finally, Wang Sheng understood why Zhuge Lin had passed away. He sat in silence for a long while.

He turned and looked at Zhuge Lin's tombstone and the ancient Daoist scripture carved upon it. Though he felt as though he owed the Star Deity an immense debt, he no longer had a way to repay him.

"Fei Yu, what are your plans now?" Wensheng asked. "Former subordinates of the Heavenly Court founded the Qiling Immortal Sect. We may be considered as one of its surviving forces. Why not cultivate here? It would give you support in the future. Within the sect, any treasure is at your disposal. This was also my master's final instruction."

Wang Sheng smiled wryly. "Your kindness humbles me, but I can only accept the sentiment. I still have many matters to attend to. Soon, I will return to my homeland."

"If you need the Qiling Immortal Sect's help, just let me know," Wensheng said as he took out a jade pendant engraved with intricate runes. "As long as the interference isn't too great, you may use this communication jade from anywhere in the Eastern Sky Region to contact me directly."

Wang Sheng accepted the pendant. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I do have a request, but it may sound presumptuous."

"What is it?"

"I require a large quantity of alchemical pills, preferably those that can rapidly increase a cultivator's cultivation and are suitable for cultivators who have not yet become immortals."

1. "Zhenren" is a title that translates to "True Person" or "Perfected One." It means that the person has reached enlightenment or a very high level of cultivation. ☜