Chapter 697: Singing Boldly as He Sets Forth, Returning to the Eastern Sky to Sweep Away Devils

Chun Yangzi advanced step by step. Instead of stopping him, the two great arrays outside the Ice-Crystal Palace opened on their own and allowed him to pass.

A faint smile touched his lips. Brimming with confidence, he strode in and then walked onward unhurriedly. However, with every step, the unease in his heart deepened, making him feel like turning and slipping away.

The female immortal on the platform opened her gem-like eyes slightly and looked at Chun Yangzi, but her gaze passed over him as though he were nothing but empty air.

"So you've come," Zhi Bing said.

Chun Yangzi sighed. "Zhi Bing, I know I wronged you..."

"

Oh?

" Zhi Bing gave him the faintest smile. "You need not speak like that. After I brought your grand-disciple here, I realized a few things. Take him and leave. Let us pretend we never saw each other. From now on, we do not have to meet again. What happened back then truly was only a night's pleasure. I had let it go long ago."

"Is that so? That's good, then." Chun Yangzi frowned and looked up the steps leading toward her. When he realized her gaze was not actually on him, his doubts only grew.

Zhi Bing waved a hand lightly, making Wang Sheng float down from the high platform. She then rose to her feet. Her immortal robes rippled like flowing water, and her elegant hair ornaments only further accentuated her beauty.

She turned and walked toward the rear of the platform. Chun Yangzi's stare followed her every movement. Confusion filled his expression as he muttered under his breath, "Why does she seem like a completely different person?"

Wang Sheng bowed respectfully. "Forefather, I am unharmed. I apologize for making you worry."

"

Mm.

" Chun Yangzi coughed. "Wait here for a moment. I will go speak with that old acquaintance of mine."

He drifted up onto the platform.

Yaoyun flew out from the Qiankun Ring and exchanged a glance with her sword master. While barely suppressing their smiles, they spoke telepathically.

Yaoyun said, "

Senior Zhi Bing is truly amazing. I only copied the way my mother used to carry herself, yet she imitated it perfectly.

"

The corners of Wang Sheng's mouth curved up slightly. "

Now it all depends on whether she can hold firm. Our forefather has to taste his first rejection.

"

"

How do you know so much about this? Do you specialize in this sort of thing, too?

"

"

As I'm sure you've seen yourself, Earth's culture is incredibly rich. I simply absorbed a lot from books and entertainment. To deal with a cosmic-level wanderer like my forefather, one has to use unconventional tactics. In the end, it all comes down to novelty and curiosity. Senior Zhi Bing is a Grand Dao Golden Immortal, and I explained everything clearly. I'm sure she understands the key points.

"

Yaoyun nodded slowly. "

We will know soon enough.

"

An hour later, Chun Yangzi reappeared before them with a smile. Wang Sheng had thought that Zhi Bing had already given in completely, but his forefather's smile lasted even less than three seconds before he sighed wearily.

"Let's go." Chun Yangzi waved a hand. "We will exit the array, and I will send you back to the Eastern Sky Region first."

Wang Sheng smiled. "Thank you, Forefather."

Before the three could depart, a streak of ice-blue immortal light blossomed behind them. A nine-petaled lotus flew to Wang Sheng and transformed into an icy meditation cushion.

Zhi Bing said calmly, "I should compensate you for capturing you without a proper reason. Take this small item as a peace offering. Little Heavenly Immortal, I find you quite likable."

Wang Sheng smiled in embarrassment, offered a Daoist salute, and accepted the cushion with composed ease. This had not been part of his original plan, but Zhi Bing's move both fulfilled her earlier promise to compensate him and gave Chun Yangzi a sliver of renewed hope.

It was no trivial gift. Though the nine-petaled lotus was neither her true form nor grown from the same root, it was a rare plant that she had personally nurtured for over a hundred thousand years. Turned into a cushion, it had gained extraordinary effects that could greatly aid Wang Sheng in his cultivation.

However, that was not the main purpose of the gift. What mattered was that Chun Yangzi could not help but think that Zhi Bing had given it away for his sake.

Is Little Zhi Bing deliberately showing this to me because she's angry?

His mind raced. He escorted Wang Sheng and Yaoyun out of the array and opened a spatial passage, at the other end of which was the place where Huai Jing and Hu Chang had gone earlier.

Chun Yangzi hurriedly instructed, "Cultivate properly and do not overthink things. If anything happens, go to the Qiluo Celestial Realm and find Hostess Su. She knows how to reach me."

From the looks of it, if Wang Sheng so much as said he did not want to leave, Chun Yangzi would likely kick him straight through the portal himself.

Wang Sheng solemnly wished him well, then entered the spatial rift with Yaoyun.

After confirming that they had safely arrived in the Eastern Sky Region, the rift snapped shut. Chun Yangzi immediately turned to fly back toward the Ice-Crystal Palace, but the moment he stepped forward, he slammed straight into the barrier of the array.

It no longer opened for him.

"Little Zhi Bing, back then, I..."

Zhi Bing's phantasm appeared above the palace. Illuminated by the light of the local sun, she looked distant and ethereal—utterly beyond mortal reach.

Chun Yangzi looked up at her, his emotions suddenly surging.

Coldly, she said, "That's all in the past. There is no need to mention it again. Daoist Friend, please leave at once."

"Zhi Bing, can you give me one more chance to explain? Just three sentences. Do you still remember the year we first met..."

His tone carried deep emotion. The great array ahead flickered softly, and two doors opened. Chun Yangzi raised an eyebrow and slipped inside, unaware that he had already stepped onto a path of no return that a Heavenly Immortal Realm sword cultivator had laid out.

***

In the Eastern Sky Region, a Shadowless Shuttle streaked through space, heading toward a nearby sun. Inside it, Wang Sheng clutched his stomach in laughter, while Yaoyun chuckled beside him.

A mirror of ice floated before them, showing Chun Yangzi standing outside the gates of a great palace and speaking dramatically and emotionally. Inside the hall, a jade-like beauty reclined lazily. She used a divine ability to project the scene across the distant skies, allowing Wang Sheng to watch. The image soon faded, and the mirror dissolved into wisps of primal qi that dispersed throughout the shuttle.

Yaoyun laughed. "How long do you think Senior Zhi Bing can hold out?"

"I believe our forefather is actually in trouble. Now that she's committed to making him behave, he is going to suffer from now on."

Wang Sheng adjusted his aura until he returned to his usual calm, then spread his immortal perception to survey the surroundings.

Though he had not reached the realm of great experts or masters of divine abilities yet, helping Zhi Bing turn the tables on Chun Yangzi filled him with a strong sense of accomplishment.

Yaoyun coolly said, "Your forefather brought this on himself. Considering so many women had worried over him, it is only fitting that he faces this trial. Your three-step plan was quite brilliant. Each move struck right at the core of his nature."

Grinning, Wang Sheng counted with his fingers. "Step one is complete indifference. Step two is a sudden change of attitude, offering a little sweetness while keeping it out of reach. Nothing feels more tormenting than wanting something and never being able to get it.

"Step three is actually the hardest for Senior Zhi Bing. She has to take the initiative, dominate the relationship, refuse every request he makes, and treat him as though she could discard him at any time. If this works, we will soon gain another powerful ally."

Yaoyun snortled softly. "So that's your true objective."

"The incident with Divine Guardian Wang taught me that it never hurts to have more backing." Wang Sheng stretched lazily. "Besides, Senior Zhi Bing has excellent qualities. She simply becomes too gentle when facing our forefather, who refuses to be restrained. To keep winning his heart, she has to stand on equal footing with him at all times.

"Let's stop talking about this. I could end up accidentally awakening some matchmaking Dao in the future if I keep analyzing these things, and how this turns out all depends on Senior Zhi Bing now. Whether she can retrain my forefather—" He cleared his throat. "

Ahem.

I doubt there will be any major problem. After all, her standards are pretty low. Anyway, I'm going to rest for a bit. This has taken a lot out of me."

Yaoyun nodded lightly. "

Mm.

"

Taking control of the Shadowless Shuttle, she piloted it toward the nearby sun while searching for any life-bearing worlds.

Once they learned where they were, they could locate the primal qi passage leading back to the thirteen qi planets.

Wang Sheng leaned into a corner and soon fell asleep. Yaoyun watched him quietly for a long moment before she smiled faintly.

"You always look so innocent in front of Hua Qing. I never thought you'd be so well informed."

The shuttle sped onward. She soon found a planet of cultivators, but instead of waking Wang Sheng, she just allowed him to sleep to his heart's content.

Once he woke up, they gathered information on the planet. Wang Sheng then used a star map to chart their return route. At the speed they were going, they would reach the thirteen qi planets in about six months.

He looked back on everything that had happened in this journey. Not only had he taken Mu Wanxuan to her fated opportunity with the divine tree, but they also encountered Xin Yue on Qiling and escaped through space in a flash of divine light.

They also learned that Qinghua had spent over a hundred thousand years preparing a grand scheme that would transform life and death. As a result, Mu Wanxuan had been taken away to inherit the Great Dao of Life. She would one day become a master of divine ability.

Since he didn't have a quick way to become stronger, he would have to fight with everything he had to keep up with her.

Of all that Wang Sheng had gained, the greatest was undoubtedly marrying Mu Wanxuan. Their honeymoon had lasted only nine days, yet it left his Dao Heart free of regret and filled with both fulfillment and deep longing.

Unfortunately, his joy turned to sorrow when Wang Shan plotted against him. The conflicted divine guardian had placed immense pressure on Wang Sheng, yet he ended up going to Chun Yangzi to stop himself.

Eventually, Wang Sheng finally learned the truth that Yaoyun had long concealed. His previous life had deep ties to Empress Nuwa, the Three Realms, and the Immortal Emperor. Unfortunately, he had been unremarkable in that life. A silver needle was all it took to kill him.

The Immortal Emperor had to have been ruthless back then. When he destroyed the sacred spirit, he likely seized all of the heavenly fate for himself.

For now, I'll return to the Thirteen Stars, eliminate the Celestial Wind Sect, and establish my territory. Afterward, I'll lead Earth's cultivators out of the Realm of Exiled Immortals and turn the thirteen qi planets into an iron wall that would protect Earth!

Wang Sheng's ambitions surged. Filled with confidence and with his sword by his side, he piloted the Shadowless Shuttle through the galaxies of the Eastern Sky Region.

***

Several months later, on Zhi Bing's ice-blue planet.

Amid endless snow and frozen winds, a handsome man with his robes half undone pounded weakly on the ice gate before him.

"Zhi Bing! Zhi Bing! Please, let me explain myself! I truly meant no offense just now! I thought we had become as close as we were back then—Zhi Bing!"