Chapter 711: Xi Lian Leaves the Realm of Exiled Immortals

After relaxing with a few close friends and a handful of subordinates for no more than a week, Wang Sheng forced himself out of his comfortable routine. After all, it slowly dulled one's will.

Destroying the Celestial Wind Sect was only the beginning. He still had a mountain of matters to handle.

Wang Sheng had to stabilize the original forces of the Xinghai Sect and set down plans for future development with Yao Xingzi, Lishang, and the elders. However, he first carefully arranged for Fei Lianzi and Gao Shixing to cultivate in the Xinghai Sect, laying the groundwork for long-term cooperation between the Xinghai Sect and the Earth's cultivators.

Following the endless space's flow of time, a large number of cultivators from Earth would leave the Realm of Exiled Immortals in a few hundred years. Wang Sheng had to plan, coordinate, and oversee everything, making full preparations to receive them.

These tasks sounded simple, but carrying them out demanded a great deal of time and effort. Fortunately, Wang Sheng had mastered the art of delegating. He pushed aside every minor matter he could, leaving himself responsible only for checking progress at regular intervals.

***

Three years later, solid results had been achieved on all fronts.

In a region protected by grand arrays on Fengmo, the construction of Earth's first "off-planet" cultivator-training base was already well underway.

The Xinghai Sect had also gone into a stable phase of growth. Its mountain gate was secure, and its sphere of influence had rapidly expanded across all of Fengmo. Moreover, Wang Shen had built a solid foundation for Earth's cultivators to settle on once they stepped into the endless space.

The beginning—the hardest part of all this—had already been taken care of. Now, he could leave expansion and development in Huai Jing's hands without worry.

After a discussion with Lishang, Wang Sheng opened a simple cave dwelling beside her residence, set up layers of arrays, and entered semi-seclusion. He would still go out at set times to handle various matters and inspect ongoing projects. Huai Jing and the others could also call him out to discuss and settle matters that they were torn about.

If he could have it his way, Wang Sheng would have focused solely on his cultivation to grow stronger as quickly as possible. However, he was the link between the Xinghai Sect and the Earth's cultivators and the one who kept them in harmony. They could not do without him yet.

***

Time passed unnoticed while cultivating.

Wang Sheng remained in semi-seclusion for forty years. Fengmo had long since stabilized, which made him feel that he could soon withdraw from daily affairs and enter full seclusion.

He still had one major matter to handle first, though. Several important guests were about to arrive.

In just a few decades, the Xinghai Sect had spread its influence across the eleven qi planets, securing resource-rich territories on each. Its network of power had taken shape.

Fengmo, the Xinghai Sect, and Wang Sheng were ready to receive a large number of cultivators from Earth at any time. Even if this preparation came a few hundred years early, being prepared was far better than scrambling at the last moment.

As representatives of Earth's cultivators, Shi Qianzhang, Liu Yunzhi, Gao Shixing, and Fei Lianzi had not disappointed Wang Sheng over the past four decades, nor had they made him lose face.

Gao Shixing and Fei Lianzi not only possessed a complete and superior Daoist heritage, but they also had the rare experience of cultivating before the resurgence of primal qi. Now, their hard work had finally borne fruit.

With Wang Sheng providing large quantities of alchemical pills, they quickly reached the middle stage of the Ascended Immortal Realm—the minimum requirement for combatants in the endless space.

Compared to the conditions that Wang Sheng endured when he was trapped in the blood mine, their environment was over a hundredfold better. They could even spar with him regularly to refine their understanding of the Dao of the Sword.

Watching them, Wang Sheng could almost imagine the terrifying scene that would unfold when the older generation of Earth's Daoist masters stepped into the endless space.

Fei Lianzi and Gao Shixing, who had been cultivating within the Xinghai Sect all this time, left the entire sect in awe of their rocket-like progress. However, it also felt a hint of unease.

Shi Qianzhang and Liu Yunzhi broke through much more slowly than the two Daoist masters. However, since they had come out years earlier, their cultivation levels were roughly on par.

Wang Sheng had repeatedly reminded them to avoid taking the Three-Essence Enlightenment Pills unless they encountered a bottleneck. Nevertheless, the two discussed it and took the precious pills a few months ago anyway. Afterward, they entered absolute seclusion, unwilling to waste a single moment of insight.

Huai Jing was different. With the knowledge from his previous life, his cultivation felt effortless, like bending down to pick grapes one by one. He wandered all over Fengmo to leave his mark in Buddhist temples across the eleven qi planets, spreading Buddhist teachings and gradually forming a small faction of his own.

Wang Sheng's subordinates also shared much of his burden. Often, an order from him would send them running all over the place. Their lives were far from easy.

Twenty years ago, Hu Chang requested leave to return to the Northern Sky Region. The round trip took six years, even with the help of two paid teleportation arrays along the way. Without them, it would have taken him even longer.

Unfortunately, he did not meet his old man when he arrived. All he received was a rather interesting letter that had been left behind.

The old man did not seem to be a Taiyi Golden Immortal. In the letter, he warned Hu Chang to follow a worthy leader faithfully and never harbor crooked intentions.

Hu Chang did not think too deeply about it. He tucked the letter away, packed up his belongings, and returned cheerfully to Ling Sheng—

ahem

, to Old Big Brother Wang.

Long Liekong had spent these years focused on the two tasks that Wang Sheng had given him: building an intelligence network and scouting the overall conditions of the celestial bodies near the eleven qi planets. Constantly moving about on assignments, he had almost abandoned his own cultivation.

In return, Wang Sheng rewarded him generously. He gave him two nourishing herb spirits, allowing him to recover most of the cultivation progress that he had lost when his fiend core was taken from him.

Qinglin also brought some good news: he had let go of the knot in his heart and fully accepted his identity as a fiend. He continued to break through in his Dao of the Sword, and he had begun to advance steadily in his cultivation. To be reborn and still be able to push through the Heavenly Immortal Realm was already more than he had ever hoped for.

However, he was now faced with a difficult matter. About twelve years ago, Wang Sheng had sent Yaoyun and Lin Yun into the Realm of Exiled Immortals to meet the group of cultivators who were on the way.

Among them was someone Qinglin did not wish to face: Xi Lian.

Considering the speed of a Golden Immortal, they would exit the Realm of Exiled Immortals very soon.

One day, while cultivating, Wang Sheng felt a stir in his life essence. He faintly sensed that Yaoyun was already close. He stepped out of his simple cave dwelling, which was decorated with no more than three pieces of furniture.

He invited Lishang to go with him to the great Buddha statue. Deep down, he was already eager to see Xi Lian's long-awaited wish come true.

***

Lishang grew curious about Wang Sheng's "big sister" when she heard that the woman was about to arrive. Since she already knew the general story between Qinglin and Xi Lian, she couldn't help but wonder what would happen next.

When the two arrived at the great Buddha statue, the place was still quiet.

Inside were two qi-gathering formations. The Spirit-Stabilizing Tea Tree and Ling Sheng were cultivating in one, while Qinglin sat meditating alone in the other, which was at a corner.

Here in space, cultivators relied entirely on Immortal Stones to supply them with primal qi for their cultivation.

Wang Sheng had ample resources, though. He did not mind the cost.

Sensing their arrival, Qinglin rose to greet them. The green vines hanging from the Spirit-Stabilizing Tea Tree also transformed into a young girl and bowed respectfully to Wang Sheng.

"Fei Yu, what brings you here?"

Wang Sheng smiled. "I came to receive someone. Yaoyun and Senior Lin Yun should be arriving soon."

Qinglin's brow immediately furrowed. He knew what that meant: Xi Lian would be coming out soon as well.

After a moment of thought, he said, "Fei Yu, perhaps I should avoid this for now. It may not be best to meet Little Lian in this situation."

Wang Sheng stroked his chin. Smiling faintly, he looked him up and down. "Daoist Master, I still remember everything you once said about the Great Dao. Sooner or later, you will have to face her. Avoiding her will not help."

Lishang added, "No matter what, meeting once is always better."

"

Mm, mm!

"

"Fine." Qinglin sighed. He clasped his hands behind his back and stood still, carrying an air of quiet dignity.

However, half an hour later, he hesitatingly and slowly made his way toward the exit of the great Buddha statue while holding Nameless.

Before he could step out, Ling Sheng appeared outside the entrance and calmly blocked the way. She possessed only one divine ability, but her cultivation level was high enough to rival a Golden Immortal.

With her in his path, Qinglin found himself unable to proceed.

He coughed lightly. In a composed tone, he announced, "Fei Yu, I am just going out for some air."

Even Ling Sheng could not help but cover her mouth and laugh softly.

Wang Sheng smiled. "Daoist Master, they are almost here. You might as well wait here."

He could already sense that his sword spirit had reached the other end of the wormhole and was about to pass through.

Lishang asked, "Why are you trying to avoid this matter?"

Qinglin could only smile bitterly. After all, his situation wasn't easy to explain.

Wang Sheng understood him, though. Qinglin had lived in ancient Hua Republic, where rules and propriety were deeply ingrained. That culture was rooted in his very bones.

The greatest obstacle between him and Xi Lian lay in the difference in their seniority. Qinglin had always regarded Xi Lian as a disciple—as a daughter, even.

Qinglin began, "I—"

At that moment, a long shuttle tip emerged from the transparent sphere at the center of the statue's upper abdomen. On the narrow, flat surface at the very front of the shuttle stood a small woman in a short skirt, shorts, and white sneakers. A bright-red cloak was draped over her shoulders.

She struck a forward-charging pose, her gaze determined and her expression serious. Her stance radiated absolute confidence.

Not noticing the people below, she shouted something as soon as she burst out of the wormhole. However, with no air to carry sound, they couldn't hear her.

Wang Sheng could not help pressing a hand to his forehead. Using voice transmission, he called upward, "Xiaomiao!"

"

Mm?

"

The girl at the bow looked down, and her eyes immediately lit up. She leaped down with arms spread wide, throwing herself at Wang Sheng.

"Big Brother!"