This Human Immortal Is Too Serious-Chapter 513 - 511: The Divine Realm Disappeared Overnight
Wu Wang pondered for a long time, but he couldn't figure it out. Who had leaked the information to let the Liuli God know that he was now capable of defeating a Martial Emperor Realm expert in a frontal confrontation with a high probability of emerging unscathed?
After two years of arduous cultivation, coupled with personal guidance and sparring with the Martial God himself, Wu Wang's close-combat skills had skyrocketed. This was not merely an improvement in his incarnation's strength; what was more valuable was the combat experience and the approach to dueling. This was what Wu Wang had lacked before, and now it was also something he was unlikely to obtain. When the main body made a move, the Heavenly Dao would suppress; it would be a case of overwhelming force.
As soon as Wu Wang walked out from the Spire God's domain, the commands of the Liuli God reached the ears of the Priests and Generals, "For this Martial God Eleven Realms competition, Martial Artist Qing Shan will act as the team leader. All divisions and armies are to comply with Qing Shan's commands without error."
Just like that, Wu Wang transformed from a mere unmotivated teacher of the Earth Class into the team leader of the prodigious talents of the Sky Class. He had thought that the Liuli God's arrangement would cause some dissatisfaction among the Sky Class martial artists. But no sooner had he strolled down from the top of the spire and passed by the entrance to the Sky Class than a group of young martial artists swarmed him, crowding around so tightly that not even water could get through.
The martial artists hemmed and hawed, unable to articulate their point after quite some time. It was the martial artist Wu Wang had beaten before who stepped forward with a bowed head and clasped hands, saying, "My lord! We wish to ask, how will you arrange the selection of candidates for the upcoming competition?"
"Candidates?" Wu Wang smiled. "Do you all want to go, or not?"
"Of course, we want to go!" one exclaimed. "We've waited so long just for this opportunity, to represent the Luili Realm in battle and carve out a future for ourselves," another added.
Wu Wang nodded to show he understood. He said with a smile, "Then let's set up an arena and decide on the competition slots fairly. Even if one's cultivation realm is high, it's just theoretical strength. Combat is not decided solely by cultivation realm but involves various factors. We depart in half a month, so how about giving everyone two days to prepare?"
"Good!"
"My lord, you said it yourself!"
"Participation is voluntary," Wu Wang said with a smile. "Those who don't wish to go need not. Don't feel pressured. Our Luili Realm doesn't have those kinds of dirty dealings. Well, not so many dirty dealings from now on."
The martial artists all smiled wryly, quite relieved. Wu Wang exchanged a few pleasantries with them, asking them to look out for one another later on. Then, he specifically mentioned several seeded contestants, telling them to stay inside the spire during this time to minimize any issues that might arise.
Before leaving, Wu Wang offered everyone some reassurance. "This competition will be different from the past. We will be personally led to the Sword Domain by the great Liuli God, so no ambushes will occur on the way like they did before. If you want to make a name for yourselves, this is the best chance."
The martial artists' eyes shone with keen anticipation.
「...」
The news that Martial Artist Qing Shan would be the team leader swiftly spread throughout Liuli City. Everyone was actually quite familiar with this young martial artist, as stories about his exploits would circulate in Liuli City every few days. These included tales of how he could fight tigers at ten and slay dragons at fifteen; how at sixteen or seventeen he became famous in a battle where he faced three hundred enemies alone and subdued the entire Luili Realm; or the story most cherished by the city's residents—the future husband of the Liuli God's only disciple. Gossip, after all, is an essential attribute of all living beings.
That very evening, as Wu Wang dined with Aunt Qing and Uncle Shan, the two elders repeatedly instructed him to serve the Liuli God loyally and bring honor to the Luili Realm. Wu Wang, of course, responded earnestly.
To the Heavenly Emperor and the Eastern Emperor, this Martial God Eleven Realms competition was not a significant event. But for Martial Artist Qing Shan, the competition also served as a milestone review of his Martial Arts cultivation.
As the leader, Wu Wang saw himself as a 'firefighter.' If the Luili Realm could secure a commendable ranking with just the members from the Sky Class, then Wu Wang would be happy to keep a low profile. But if they couldn't do it, Wu Wang would have to take matters into his own hands.
Having lived in the Luili Realm for these years, he felt he should also do something for the realm.
Returning to his dwelling after dinner, Wu Wang could smell the aura of the Martial God from afar. Upon opening the door, sure enough, the Martial God was lying on Wu Wang's bed, legs crossed, holding a plate of roasted Zhu Zhu wings and eating with relish.
"Qing Shan is back? I'll be staying in the Sword Domain starting tomorrow. Take care around here."
Wu Wang laughed. "Do you really need to be there in person just for a martial arts competition?"
The Martial God said, "Well, I'm worried they might throw a wrench in the works and cause a mess, which would end up harming the young ones under my protection." He even made it rhyme.
Wu Wang approached, took a chicken wing, and sucked on it twice. It was indeed the handiwork of the Liuli God—seemingly ordinary but made with exquisite ingredients, though... the taste was ordinary.
"Is the situation really that serious?" Wu Wang didn't hide the concern in his eyes.
The Martial God smiled. "It was quite serious before. I figured that in a few years, the Candle Dragon was likely to make a move on me. But now, the situation has changed a bit. Have a seat." The Martial God shifted toward the inner side of the bed. Wu Wang, however, gestured for a stool and sat down properly at the edge of the bed.
Two men do not share the same bed; that was a boundary Martial Artist Qing Shan had set for himself. Indeed, it was meant for the incarnation of Yun Zhongjun!
The Martial God said, "Eastern Emperor Taiyi, this new Heavenly Emperor, pressured the Candle Dragon previously. Before it amasses enough power, it probably won't wage direct war against us in the Martial God World."
"Pressure?" Wu Wang suddenly wanted to know how much the Martial God and the Water God knew about his Celestial Court and took the opportunity to ask, "How is this pressure applied? Didn't you say before that there's actually a Heaven and Earth Seal above us?"
"Yes, there's a Heaven and Earth Seal." The Martial God laughed. "But this Heaven and Earth Seal was set by the previous Heavenly Emperor, Emperor Shun, to prevent the return of the Candle Dragon. Emperor Shun couldn't beat the Candle Dragon in direct combat. In fact, this Emperor Shun might not even be able to defeat me, your teacher. Even after he later mastered the rudimentary Dao of Time, his power was probably at the bottom among the strongest beings. And I, your teacher, just happen to be able to handle this kind of subpar Heavenly Emperor. Thus, when Emperor Shun held great authority over that world, the Heaven and Earth Seal was the most crucial matter. If the Candle Dragon returned, it would unleash destruction, and the Dao of Chaos would spread unrestrained. Often, when the Candle Dragon struck against the Heaven and Earth Seal, we somewhat conscientious Innate Gods mostly held back. Because if the Candle Dragon returned and went into a killing frenzy, we would be nothing but its food."
Wu Wang nodded continuously and asked, "And now?"
"Now, this Eastern Emperor Taiyi is rather impressive," the Martial God drew in a sharp breath. "He crafted a Heavenly Dao which is said to have unified over one thousand six hundred to one thousand seven hundred Great Daos. In this world of ours, how many fully formed Great Daos and principles are there in total? When the Dao of Chaos confronts the Heavenly Dao, it has no choice but to be suppressed. According to the information I've obtained, Eastern Emperor Taiyi seems to want to remove the seal and initiate an attack over here. The Candle Dragon, hmph, is probably scared now. This gives us quite a few opportunities."
Wu Wang asked, "Separated by the Heaven and Earth Seal, how did we get such information?"
"I heard it from the old Water God." The Martial God smiled. "That old fellow is quite the sly one—powerful and resourceful. The Candle Dragon has gone mad. The Water God values relationships, gratitude, and righteousness. If the Candle Dragon had won over the Water God, how could there not be a chance for reconciliation with the Eastern Emperor? But this is just how the Candle Dragon has always been—stubborn and cruel. If its Great Dao weren't so terrifying, it would have long been subdued by the other gods."
Wu Wang scratched his chin and sat pondering for a while. His Grandpa? The Five Elements Gods are indeed no simple matter—except for that nearly crumbling Gold God from before.
"Stop overthinking. You should direct all this energy into your Martial Arts training." The Martial God sat up, casually tore open a rift in Heaven and Earth, and threw the plate, bones and all, through it. Such was the casualness with which Strong Gods disposed of food remains.
Wu Wangdao, "Yes, Teacher, I dare not forget your teachings."
"There is something I need to tell you." The Martial God calmly wiped his large hand on Wu Wang's shoulder, his expression rather serious. He said, "The old Water God said that there must be a calamity in the Martial God World, but where it will begin is difficult to estimate now. Qing Shan, I've watched you grow up. Your talent, character, and conduct—I'm very satisfied with all of these, even surpassing my original expectations for a Disciple. I won't hide it from you; I might not make it through this great calamity."
"Teacher..."
"Hey, don't be so sentimental or whiny. If I can go down with the Candle Dragon, then my name will live on for ages." The Martial God raised his eyebrows. "If I really don't come back, you'll take care of your master's wife for me. I've already instructed Sword Shield and the others; they will assist you in becoming the new Martial God. Bowing to the Candle Dragon is not a big deal. Until you are strong enough, endure whatever exploitation comes your way. Ultimately, what the Candle Dragon is suspicious of and cannot rest easy about is simply me, the Martial God. What he fears is that when he is fighting Eastern Emperor Taiyi, I will go and stab him in the backside. Tsk, tsk."
Wu Wang almost blurted out, "Then, Teacher, can't we contact Eastern Emperor Taiyi in advance? I'll be your envoy, and I'm ninety percent sure I can convince Eastern Emperor Taiyi."
"That's possible, but the Candle Dragon will surely be on guard." The Martial God spoke earnestly, "The best plan is for me to fight the Candle Dragon one-on-one, to see if I can find an opportunity, a sliver of hope, in the midst of battle. Eastern Emperor Taiyi, being far away in the heavens, can't solve an immediate problem."
Wu Wang nodded slightly, continually calculating in his heart. His thought process had always been clear: unite the gods, challenge the Candle Dragon, solve the Candle Dragon problem from within the Outer Sky world, and seize the opportunity to save his mother and Jingwei. This was actually the path most likely to succeed and offer the greatest rewards, but it was also the most cumbersome and difficult.
The situation today was not out of control. The Martial God going to face the Candle Dragon one-on-one wouldn't happen immediately. All he needed to do was to placate the Martial God through Grandpa to continue controlling the overall situation.
With this in mind, Wu Wang did not try to dissuade him further, only repeating, "Teacher, please think thrice before acting."
The Martial God, annoyed by the nagging, waved his hand, took Wu Wang's jade thumb ring, and left the room quietly.
Wu Wang immediately contacted his Grandpa and discussed matters with the Water God for an hour, settling the subsequent plans.
The Martial God must battle the Candle Dragon. But for this battle, Wu Wang hoped the Martial God would win, even if it meant ganging up on the enemy or fighting one against a hundred.
If one took a slightly cruel view of this matter from the perspective of dealing with the future calamity, sacrificing most of the living beings of the Martial God World in exchange for a Martial God in peak condition would be the most advantageous option for Heaven and Earth.
Of course, Wu Wang had been constantly scheming in the Outer Sky to achieve a more perfect outcome. The Power of Living Beings, supreme Divine Spirits... He wanted it all.
「...」
The Liuli God set the schedule for heading to the Sword Domain, and Wu Wang's leisurely years of cultivation were finally about to come to an end.
He reunited with Uncle Shan and Aunt Qing at home for several days. Then, he went to Wang Mianjin's residence, had a drink with Wang Mianjin, and discussed the many key points and difficulties of the upcoming trip.
Wang Mianjin, the Great General of the Luili Realm, was becoming increasingly capable. When Wang Mianjin reflected on the rapid changes of these past few short years, he was filled with emotion, attributing it all to his association with Wu Wang.
In fact, as Wu Wang grew closer to the Martial God and the Liuli God, the lives of Chun Luan, Qiu Li, and Dong Gao—his two martial sisters and one martial brother—in the Luili Realm became increasingly stable.
Chun Luan, with the strength of a Martial Spirit Realm Martial Artist, enjoyed the treatment of a Martial Emperor Realm fighter. Her prestige in the army was rising steadily, and she was only waiting to break through to the Martial Emperor Realm to be summoned back to Liuli City and enter the core of the Luili Army—a bright future, full of promise.
Qiu Li and Dong Gao's internal injuries were also healed by the Spiritual Medicine bestowed by the Martial God. However, having lost their drive, they were content to wander the mountains and waters, living freely.
Uncle Shan and Aunt Qing, needless to say, were assured a life of luxury and wealth for the rest of their days, as long as the Luili Realm existed.
The subsequent issue of troublesome offspring, once the problems in the Outer Sky world were resolved, wouldn't be an issue at all. After all, in Wu Wang's home, there was a bona fide Goddess of Living Beings.
The atmosphere in the Outer Sky, due to the Candle Dragon's frequent movements, quickly became somewhat tense. Yet, the Great Wilderness World had become increasingly stable over these past two years.
The combination of the Eastern Emperor and the Heavenly Dao had been accepted and respected by all living beings. In these past two years, the Celestial Court had also decreed two major events.
The first was about Heavenly Tribulation. The Celestial Court defined Heavenly Tribulation as the test from the Heavenly Dao that Cultivators must face upon reaching certain stages of cultivation. The Heavenly Tribulation for Cultivators became more standardized, transforming into a trial for themselves rather than a persecution of living beings. Today's Heavenly Tribulation is fundamentally the Heavenly Tribulation of lightning, taking into account the Cultivator's aptitude. If the person undergoing the tribulation harbors impure intentions, the Heavenly Dao will focus on bringing forth the tribulation of inner demons. If the person's body is strong, then the Heavenly Dao will concentrate on bringing down heavenly fire and wind, allowing them to fully exert their strength and break through their own limits. After a Cultivator passes through Heavenly Tribulation, the Heavenly Dao bestows a period of enlightenment and a surge of pure Spiritual Power as a reward, and even creates some special effects and sound effects, giving those who pass the tribulation considerable prestige.
The second major event concerned the Blood Sea. Previously, some Cultivators had intruded into the Blood Sea and were corrupted by it, becoming frenzied slaughterers and causing uproar throughout the Great Wilderness World. Legends about the Blood Sea also began to spread across the lands. The Celestial Court kept the truth about the Blood Sea hidden and was content to cast the Blood Sea as the antagonist to Cultivators, thereby balancing the relationship between Cultivators and the world. Thus, the Celestial Court publicly claimed that Asura demons were about to manifest within the Blood Sea, standing in opposition to the Immortals of the Celestial Court. This aroused great interest among the Cultivators.
The day before the large contingent from the Luili Realm set out, Wu Wang took a stroll around the city in the early morning and then wanted to rest at home. He needed this incarnation to get a good sleep to concentrate on dealing with the numerous backlogged affairs of the Celestial Court. This grand competition might mean that this incarnation of Wu Wang wouldn't even have a chance to sleep. He also had a premonition that it was going to be particularly lively, and something chaotic might arise.
However, just as he had lain down, a servant came to report from outside the door, saying that a beautiful lady from the Celestial Fox Tribe was seeking an audience with him. "My lord," the servant relayed, "she said to please be sure to meet her, as she has something very important to report."
Wu Wang sat up. Not thinking much of it, he said, "Ask her if she is Lu'er. If it is Lu'er, take her to the parlor to wait for me."
"Yes, my lord." The servant hastened away, and Wu Wang also changed into a fresh robe.
His Divine Thought swept out, and he indeed saw Lu'er standing quietly outside the main gate. Her presence had caused a blockage on half the street near the entrance, as crowds gawked at the stunningly beautiful fox woman.
Something of great importance? Is there trouble again in the lands of the Celestial Fox Tribe? The food they grow is even being eaten in Liuli City, which once experienced a time when 'Celestial Fox rice was momentarily expensive.'
Just as Wu Wang was opening the door and stepping out, a bell suddenly chimed from deep within him. DONG— It had been a while since he last encountered Zhong Ling.
"Master." Zhong Ling's voice reverberated from his core. It did not appear directly but projected images into the depths of Wu Wang's heart.
It was a desert. No matter how Wu Wang looked at it, it was just a desert: miles of yellow sand, swirling dust obscuring the sky, not a single desert plant, let alone a hint of an oasis.
"Zhong, what happened here?"
"Master, it was still like this yesterday," Zhong Ling spoke softly. "It's been only half a night." In Wu Wang's mind, an image with the same topography but entirely different scenery appeared: lush green lands, grassy plains, people singing and dancing. That was a Divine Realm, as large as the Luili Realm, where many different clans lived. The climate was temperate, very peaceful.
Zhong Ling continued, "I have detected some changes. It seems a resonance occurred between the Dao of Yin Invasion and the Dao of Time. We can be sure that the Candle Dragon and Emperor Shun are behind this."
"Stealing the Power of Living Beings?" Wu Wang frowned and asked, "What about the Gods of this Divine Realm?"
"The Gods, the Great Dao, the Divine Realm—all vanished without a trace. And all this happened within the span of three hours."
Wu Wang fell silent, standing motionless for a long time. A warning to the Martial God? This Emperor Shun... he really knows how to pinpoint an opponent's weaknesses.
