Chapter 710: Reporting Progress, Looking Toward the Future

"Cheers!"

Beneath a tree in the front courtyard, a group of men and women in long robes and flowing skirts stood and clinked cups. They shouted an enthusiastic slogan that felt oddly out of place.

While the Xinghai Sect held its grand ceremony elsewhere, they hosted a victory banquet. A large round table squeezed in more than a dozen people, laden with both meat and vegetable dishes. Beside it, jars filled with the secret brew of Nuwa's descendants were piled into a small mound. Lishang had personally made them.

Wang Sheng gazed around. Yaoyun sat on his left, while the seat to his right remained empty. Lishang sat to the right of the empty chair, and Lan Huilin sat to Yaoyun's left.

Since Lan Huilin had only been brought here today and was not yet familiar with the others, she could not help feeling somewhat reserved. Still, Wang Sheng had her sit nearby.

Seeing the faint emotion in Wang Sheng's eyes, Huai Jing quietly intoned Buddha's name. He then said, "Fei Yu, would you like to say a few words?"

Wang Sheng nodded, his expression turning solemn. "Everyone, please enjoy the food and drinks."

Fan Tuantuan looked up in surprise. "That's it?"

She had just set down her chopsticks; she hadn't even taken out her little notebook for meeting minutes yet.

"Brother Sheng!" Shi Qianzhang burped. "You're

niubi

[1]!"

He had just secretly taken a sip of Lishang's celestial wine earlier, yet it was enough to get him completely drunk. Now, he slumped against Liu Yunzhi, his eyelids drooping shut.

Unlike him, Liu Yunzhi remained composed. The wine jar before him hadn't even been touched. Instead, he held a bottle of mineral water from Earth. Since he had treasured it for many years, it now smelled of long storage.

Hu Chang turned to Fei Lianzi. In a deep tone, he asked, "What does

niubi

mean?"

Naturally sociable, he could strike up a conversation with anyone in moments.

In an archaic tone, Fei Lianzi explained, "Very powerful and impressive. It is usually used to express admiration for a strong person."

Hu Chang patted his chest. "Then I'm

niubi

too!"

He broke into a foolish grin, drawing smiles from everyone at the table.

Ling Sheng strolled in from the back courtyard with freshly prepared dishes. Several herb spirits about three chi tall followed behind her in a neat line, temporarily acting as servants. Even the dishes they brought over were far less fragrant than they were.

"Fei Yu," Zhang Zikuang said as he pulled out a video camera. "Say a few words. I'll send this recording back in a few days so everyone at home knows how we're doing."

"Alright!" Wang Sheng set down his chopsticks and adjusted his hair. "Are you recording yet?"

Zhang Zikuang grinned. "Just waiting for your signal."

Hu Chang and Xiao Binglu, Long Liekong's disciple, could not resist crowding behind him to watch this "miraculous" recording artifact.

Even Gao Shixing, who was usually stern and stoic, had been smiling all day. Now, he stepped forward voluntarily. "I'll count us down."

"Wait a moment. Let me think about what to say." Wang Sheng took a sip from his cup and pondered briefly. Soon, he looked up with a faint smile. "Alright."

Gao Shixing counted down, then clapped his hands softly. Zhang Zikuang started the recording.

Wang Sheng cleared his throat, placed both hands on his knees, and sat upright. "

Ahem!

Master, esteemed seniors of the Daoist sects, and... any other leaders who might see this video. I am Wang Sheng, and I am formally reporting some good news."

Aside from the Earthlings, the people around him could not fully understand what he was saying since he spoke in modern Mandarin, not in the ancient language that the Heavenly Court immortals had used when they went to Earth.

"We no longer have any particularly strong enemies left in the ancient battlefield outside the Realm of Exiled Immortals. We defeated the Celestial Wind Sect some time ago. After a few clean-up operations, we have also minimized the remaining threat.

"The largest obstacle on the periphery has been removed, which means Earth's cultivators may now head out at any time. I will make preparations to receive them. After careful consideration, however, I also have to make one request and three suggestions, which I believe are necessary.

"First, allow me to introduce someone often talked about in legends back home. Lishang, please come here."

Lishang rose and stood behind Wang Sheng. After a quiet request from him, she nodded calmly and transformed into her true form—a human upper body and a serpentine tail. She looked down at the camera as it captured her indescribable aura of majesty.

"Lishang is a descendant of the great goddess Nuwa and one of my most trusted comrades-in-arms. She is also the vice sect master of the Xinghai Sect, which I'm sure you already know a lot about. On that note, I have also been promoted, which means we now share the same position.

"Sect Master Yao Xingzi bears great goodwill toward Earth's cultivators. My one request is that no matter how Earth's cultivation world develops in the future, it must not interfere with the Xinghai Sect.

"I will have Instructor Zhang compile a detailed report about our early development model that will have the Xinghai Sect operate openly while our forces remain hidden. Anyway, you may change back now."

Feeling as if she had been used as a display piece, the corner of Lishang's mouth twitched slightly. She returned to her seat and lightly kicked Wang Sheng under the table.

Pretending not to notice, Wang Sheng continued speaking with complete seriousness.

"My three suggestions are based purely on my personal understanding of the endless space's cultivation world. First, we should not forget why we chose to head out. We are not out here to dominate the universe or make humanity the supreme race. Humanity already holds that position anyway.

"Our goal is to ensure long-lasting peace for our homeland and prevent rogue cultivators from rising. Once we have stabilized our forces out here, we can even allow migration to the endless space to relieve population pressure."

The Earthlings at the table smiled faintly.

"My second suggestion is that we must not abandon technology for the immortal Dao. Compared to the world out here, we are newcomers in cultivation—a fragile sapling that cannot withstand much pressure. If a powerful passerby disliked us even just a little, they could wipe us out with a flick of their finger.

"I feel this deeply from personal experience. Ever since I started trying to integrate into the endless space, I have faced tremendous pressure and hardship. More and more, I believe technology hides a shortcut."

"My third suggestion might be a bit meddlesome, but I still want to present it: proper basic education for early-stage cultivators is really important. Otherwise, you will suffer for your lack of knowledge while walking the Dao."

The Earthlings around him could not help but laugh.

"Because of transmission limits, I will stop here for now. When I get the time later, I will visit home. Also, Master, please do not worry about my senior sister. She is safe. I also always keep your teachings in mind.

Wang Sheng rose and cupped his hands, giving a rare, solemn Daoist salute. "Everyone, I will be waiting for you in the universe."

"Alright! Cut!"

Wang Sheng breathed out a sigh of relief and dropped back into his chair. In an old-fashioned tone, he declared, "Task complete. Time to drink and eat!"

Huai Jing raised his cup in invitation and called out boldly, "Another round!"

The great monk had probably left the commandments of the Buddhist sects at some earlier save point. Aside from women, he now accepted everything without restraint. Even his initial sense of guilt had long disappeared.

Liu Yunzhi smiled as he watched the lively scene. At that moment, he felt someone watching him. He followed the gaze, only to catch a fleeting afterimage of Lan Huilin lowering her head in a hurry.

"Fairy Caiwei," Liu Yunzhi called gently, "let me offer you a drink. Since we will be working together from now on, I hope we get along."

"Thank you," Lan Huilin replied. She lifted her jade-like cup and took a sip, then sneaked a glance at Liu Yunzhi. The wine rose to her cheeks, leaving a faint blush.

In the distance, Ling Sheng approached gracefully with several herb spirits.

Hu Chang, who was busy forcing drinks on Fei Lianzi, chuckled. He could not help but steal a few looks. Fei Lianzi, who was trapped under the brute's arm, rolled his eyes.

As Wang Sheng also stood to offer drinks, the mood completely opened up. Fan Tuantuan brought over a sound system and hooked it up to a Spirit Stone generator. Soon, classic songs from more than a decade ago filled the classical courtyard.

The banquet grew even livelier. Wang Sheng glanced at the empty seat beside him, then looked toward the entrance of the Realm of Exiled Immortals.

This was only a small gathering; the real reunion had yet to come. This was neither the right time nor the right conditions.

Don't worry, Senior Sister. I will come find you soon.

***

The feast lasted two days. Everyone drank until they were thoroughly inebriated. When they woke up, they spent their time chatting and strolling through the courtyard.

Most days, they did nothing but cultivate. Even the variations to their routine came from problems they encountered along the way. Relaxed and carefree moments like this were rare for them.

With the destruction of the Celestial Wind Sect, they had achieved a temporary victory. Taking a few days to unwind was only natural.

When Wang Sheng woke up, he found himself lying on the roof. He sat up and saw Hu Chang, Huai Jing, and Zhang Zikuang playing cards in the backyard pond, a scene he found absurdly surreal.

Lishang and Lan Huilin were in Fan Tuantuan's room, seemingly watching Earth films. Very proper film art, of course.

Gao Shixing, Fei Lianzi, and Liu Yunzhi were in the front yard, exchanging pointers on sword techniques and Daoist arts. Meanwhile, Ling Sheng wandered nearby with a few herb spirits.

Stretching lazily, Wang Sheng revealed a faint, knowing smile.

If Senior Sister were here, this moment would have been perfect. I'd have wanted to freeze time now.

Shi Qianzhang, who was controlling two watermelons with enchanted power, spotted Wang Sheng awake.

"Brother Sheng!" he called as he jumped straight onto the roof. "Have some watermelon!"

Wang Sheng smiled and nodded. He took one, split it open with his hands, then casually picked up Spiritless beside him to cut it.

Spiritless trembled lightly. Its blade flipped sideways and tapped Wang Sheng on the forehead. Afterward, it turned into a streak of immortal light and flew off toward Fan Tuantuan's room in the backyard.

Seizing this opportunity, the Dragon Sword inside the Qiankun Ring gave a few eager hums.

Wang Sheng reluctantly took out the forged spiritual treasure and cut the watermelon into even slices. He then sat with Shi Qianzhang, quietly devouring them.

Wang Sheng spat out a seed and then pulled out a porcelain bottle. "Here, this is for you. There are two alchemical pills inside, both for breaking through bottlenecks. Take the one with six apertures once you've reached the Heavenly Immortal Realm, and the other once you become an immortal. Try not to use them unless you actually do encounter a bottleneck. Otherwise, you'll only be wasting them."

Shi Qianzhang blinked, then accepted it without ceremony. "Thanks, Brother Sheng. Can I give this to someone else?"

"Handle it however you want. I have already set aside a couple for those close to me." Wang Sheng then raised an eyebrow. "Focus on growing stronger first. Only then can you take care of your sect and protect others."

Shi Qianzhang laughed sheepishly as he carefully put the bottle away. Though he still acted carefree most of the time, he was far more mature now than in their days on Earth.

"Brother Sheng, please forgive me. Even though I have been out here for so long, I still have not been able to help you. You have to keep worrying about us instead."

Wang Sheng raised a hand and gave him a shove. "Go find someone else for that sentimental talk."

Shi Qianzhang laughed again, carefree as ever. He lowered his head and kept eating the watermelon, no longer saying anything overly emotional.

"Keep it up." Holding a rind, Wang Sheng looked into the distance. "I will be waiting ahead of you. If you fall too far behind, breaking through will only get harder."

Shi Qianzhang nodded firmly, a rare look of determination appearing in his eyes. "

Mm!

"

1. A Chinese slang that means awesome or cool. ☜