Chapter 789: A Poor Little Sacred Spirit
In the endless space, a Shadowless Shuttle drifted toward the great gate that connected the Eastern Sky Region to the Immortal Saint Realm.
For Wang Sheng, traveling at full speed was now faster than going through Primal Qi Passages. It was one of the many advantages of having a high cultivation realm.
Still, Wang Sheng had spent too little time cultivating. Not only had he advanced too quickly, but he had not gotten the chance to comprehend the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Otherwise, with his current mastery of the Great Dao, he could have broken through space itself and slipped quietly into the Immortal Saint Realm.
Slip quietly, huh...
There was no helping it. Fortunately, even if Haotian's forces knew he was alive, they did not know where he was.
Wang Sheng sat in the Shadowless Shuttle. A part of him focused on comprehending the Great Dao of Creation and the Heaven-Defying Art, while another part maintained his disguise.
Juggling multiple thoughts and handling several tasks at once was a little unique trick of his.
In front of him, Ling Sheng and Yaoyun were busy at work. Yaoyun handled the design, while Ling Sheng assisted. Holding several powder compacts, they dabbed and adjusted his appearance, trying out different looks.
After some discussion, Wang Sheng decided to use a fake identity and personally head to the Nether Realm.
Having reached a higher cultivation realm, he could now alter his appearance using immortal power. He could change into any form, young or old, male or female. With the Great Dao of Creation, he could even imitate a person's aura and divine abilities.
But all of that still fell within the scope of techniques. What could deceive the eye could also be seen through. Still, the simplest form of disguise already served as an added layer of protection.
He would alter his form after applying makeup. By then, it would not matter even if someone saw through one layer.
He also left behind a subtle recognition method for Xu Zhongliang and the others. The wooden hairpin he used to tie his hair was actually the small wooden sword.
Long ago, he and Xu Zhongliang had agreed to use the small wooden sword to conceal heavenly fate. It served as a signal for identification.
Wang Sheng also temporarily concealed his Great Dao of the Stars. Later, he would also hide his Great Dao of Creation.
The former was already a symbol of the sacred spirit's identity, and Feng Jiu, wherever she was hiding, would certainly recognize the latter.
Next, Wang Sheng planned to focus on the Great Dao of Slaughter. He was confident that he could now break through the Sword-Forging Tower within the Great Dao sword case without being affected by it.
All he lacked now was time.
He would wield the Dao of the Sword, the Dao of Slaughter, and Yuan Tu. Moreover, Ling Sheng, who had gone further and further along the path of slaughter, would accompany him. All of that combined created an identity that was convincing enough to deceive others.
After working for quite a while, Yaoyun examined Wang Sheng carefully and finally said, "This should do for now. No one should recognize you."
Ling Sheng, however, seemed to have something to say but was hesitant.
Wang Sheng asked, "What is it?"
She said seriously, "Master, I think your original appearance is already quite good."
Wang Sheng's eyes curved into a smile.
Ling Sheng added, "Among cultivators, you look fairly ordinary and not very eye-catching. Now, you look a bit too handsome. You may attract attention."
Yaoyun frowned slightly. "Really? I modeled his new look after a rather unremarkable heavenly general from memory."
Ling Sheng answered carefully, "I believe he still looks too pleasing to the eye. His original appearance would be more appropriate. This is just my humble opinion, Master... Master?"
"Oh, I am fine." Wang Sheng sighed softly. "Let it be. Perhaps if I stay handsome long enough, I will get used to it."
Both Ling Sheng and Yaoyun burst into laughter. Ling Sheng quickly stepped forward to apologize.
It was clear that Yaoyun had deliberately misled Ling Sheng and played a small trick on Wang Sheng.
Wang Sheng smiled. "Enough. Get ready; we will be entering in about half a day. Have you confirmed it? Do we have to pay some kind of entrance fee to get in?"
Yaoyun snorted. "What is this? You have grown stronger, yet you have also become less serious. An entrance fee? Do you think we're on our way to some sightseeing spot?"
Still smiling, Wang Sheng answered, "The thought did cross my mind. Relax a little. Whether we are gloomy or cheerful, we could still end up getting killed, so why shouldn't we just be cheerful as we deal with our enemies?"
Yaoyun blinked, slightly confused. Ling Sheng, on the other hand, looked at her master with shining eyes, her expression full of admiration.
"A lot has happened over these ten thousand years," Yaoyun said. "Following your instructions, I just finished organizing the intelligence Xiaomiao provided. Using the tragic fall of the sacred spirit as a turning point, the entire Immortal Saint Realm has fallen into chaos.
"Within a few thousand years, several major factions collapsed, and new ones rose. Feng Jiu seems to be hastening her infiltration and control over the Immortal Saint Realm, but we have no solid evidence, only scattered clues. We have many other detailed pieces of information, though. If there is anything specific you want to know, just let me know, and I'll tell you about it immediately.
"Right now, elite forces from major factions no longer guard the four major entrances to the Immortal Saint Realm. It is easy to slip in. Even without sneaking, you can enter openly with a fake identity. You just have to spend some Spirit Stones."
Wang Sheng smiled faintly again. "You should have said so earlier. I was worried I would have to fight immediately."
He casually summoned an ordinary mirror and examined his disguise. He was indeed more handsome now. Only a little, though.
Using immortal perception to look at his own face always felt a bit too surreal. Looking at his reflection in a cheap mirror, with its slightly curved surface, felt more natural.
Yaoyun smiled, sat back down, and then sighed lightly. "That disciple of mine is truly capable."
"Mm, Xiaomiao really is impressive," Wang Sheng said.
He casually dissolved the mirror in his hand into primal qi while practicing a few of the minor divine abilities that Nuwa had left him. They included returning all things to spirit, returning all techniques to origin, shaping heaven and earth, and forming domains of Dao laws.
They were all techniques on the level of storing space within one's sleeve. Albeit barely, they could be used against Grand Dao Golden Immortals. Truly powerful beings would still have a chance to escape, though.
There was no helping it. After all, he had a poor background. Nuwa had departed too early, and the Immortal Emperor had raided what she had left behind.
Just kidding.
Practicing those divine abilities became one of the ways Wang Sheng entertained himself and eased the pressure.
Yaoyun carefully reflected on the overall strength of Earth's cultivators as Xiaomiao had described. She then said softly, "If Emperor Ziwei had someone like Xiaomiao to assist him back then... I mean, just look, she managed to build such a large force outside in just a hundred years on Earth."
"That is not quite accurate," Wang Sheng said firmly. "Xiaomiao is excellent, that is beyond doubt, but what truly allowed the Earth's cultivation world to grow so quickly was its unique environment. It was separate from the immortal-cultivation civilization and was kept closed off, allowing it to build its own culture, science, and philosophy. Xiaomiao is the one steering the ship, but the ship itself was already there."
Yaoyun fell into thought, then nodded gently and smiled bitterly. "You have grown far too quickly. Now, the only thing I can still claim some authority in is how to be a sword spirit."
Ling Sheng, who sat nearby, looked as if she wanted to speak again, but she wisely held back.
Wang Sheng asked, "What do you think about the surprise-attack plan Xiaomiao proposed?"
"It is too risky," Yaoyun replied. "And the information we have is not enough to support it. I am against it."
Wang Sheng nodded slowly. "I think the plan has value. It is worth refining and exploring further. Also, the situation in the Nether Realm is unpredictable. Even Feng Jiu likely cannot control everything. Various forces are mixed together there, and quite a few great powers from the Primal Era have appeared. Quite a lot of people have set their sights on the King of Hell position."
"The Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation is extremely tempting to many powerful beings."
"By the way, Yaoyun, have you ever met or had any dealings with Empress Houtu?"
Yaoyun murmured thoughtfully for a moment, then shook her head.
"Back then, the Heavenly Court governed the Three Realms, and the Nether Realm was subordinate to it. However, those who reported to the Heavenly Court were always the Ten Kings of Hell. The Ghost Emperors of the Five Directions and Empress Houtu never showed themselves.
A trace of yearning appeared in Yaoyun's eyes. "Still, Great Virtuous Houtu is probably gentle, composed, and dignified. She transformed herself into the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Every being who has passed through reincarnation owes her a debt of gratitude. She must be an extraordinary figure, beyond what words can describe."
Wang Sheng thought for a moment.
Nuwa seemed to have some personal connection with Houtu. However, the fragments of memory Wang Sheng had obtained were limited. He had only vaguely seen her from behind.
Great Virtuous Houtu, the Ten Yanluo Halls, the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation...
"Though the Nether Realm avoided disaster back then, it has now become the place where this great calamity gathers."
Wang Sheng stretched and stood up, walking to the side of the large Shadowless Shuttle. He looked out at the unfamiliar starry sky.
Although he had been joking earlier, a sharp glint now passed through his eyes.
Feng Jiu... Immortal Emperor... The Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation must not be allowed to fall into your hands.
Wang Sheng slowly exhaled and closed his eyes. "I will focus on studying some divine abilities. Wake me when we're close. We will enter the Immortal Saint Realm openly and see if we get exposed."
He then quietly comprehended his new divine abilities.
Yaoyun nodded lightly and picked up a jade slip, reading it carefully. It contained intelligence on the Nether Realm and the Immortal Saint Realm, gathered through Hostess Su's network.
Ling Sheng knelt quietly in a corner, practicing the art of tea.
Earlier, her master had said that he would soon meet with his senior sister. She would have to present herself properly before her future mistress by serving tea with grace.
***
In a bustling and widely renowned grand entertainment city on Tianfeng.
Inside an old-style courtyard in the crowded clusters of buildings, a young monk with delicate features, a burly man, and an old Daoist wore valuable, newly crafted helmets and performed various movements.
Scenes like this were common throughout the city. Even across the surrounding regions that made up a large portion of the Eastern Sky Region's gathering area for cultivators, it was nothing unusual.
Soon, the jade pendant at the young monk's waist trembled slightly, and a strand of Dao Rhythm entered his ear.
The monk froze, then immediately took off his helmet, jumped up, and shouted, "Stop running servers, get up, and pack your things! We have a task! We're heading to the Immortal Saint Realm now!"
