He had only just settled into cultivation for a short while when peace slipped away again.

Since leaving Earth, Wang Sheng had weathered more than a few storms. By now, he had become steady and composed. Hence, instead of complaining, he focused on finding a solution.

Chun Yangzi had sent Hostess Su to take him away for a time. This plan was meant to protect him and Earth's cultivators from the Heaven-Scouring Grand Array.

He had to leave the ancient battlefield as soon as possible. If that array were to lock onto him, the entire galaxy could be instantly destroyed.

Getting involved too early in the struggles between those with great divine ability would put Wang Sheng in grave danger. One misstep could mean annihilation.

However, this was also a rare opportunity. Whether he could seize it depended on his own fated opportunity.

Wang Sheng asked Hostess Su a few more "technical" questions, including whether the primal qi passage between Guishen and Tianfeng could be disabled, and whether powerful beings could deduce that he had stayed here for a long time.

To his relief, Hostess Su had already made preparations on her way here. Chun Yangzi had also taken care of most of his concerns. Once Wang Sheng left the eleven qi planets, Chun Yangzi would create a disturbance in the Eastern Sky Region. By using the Dao of Pure Yang to strike the Sea of Dao Laws, he would reduce the chance of Earth's cultivators being exposed.

Moreover, Hostess Su was not only powerful; she was also one of the few remaining Primal Qi Passage Masters, having studied it for many years.

While Wang Sheng gathered the leaders and elders of the Xinghai Sect and Earth's cultivation world for a half day of discussion, Hostess Su had already departed for Tianfeng. She planned to make subtle alterations to its primal qi passage, creating pockets of spatial turbulence within it. Such turbulence often appeared naturally within primal qi passages.

Those caught in it could suffer severe injuries or be thrown into some unknown region of space. In worse cases, both their body and soul would be destroyed.

Even less skilled Primal Qi Passage Masters had no way to handle those. The ones created by a Grand Dao Golden Immortal like Hostess Su were nearly impossible to stop.

This would effectively seal the route between Guishen and Tianfeng for a time. As long as it was done carefully, it should not arouse suspicion.

Afterward, Wang Sheng would take Ling Sheng with him and travel with Hostess Su to several celestial bodies with the character for "star" in their names. They would eliminate a few of the Black Emperor's forces before turning back to destroy the Heavenly Yuanshen Sect.

If all went according to plan, the crisis that Earth's cultivators and the Xinghai Sect were facing would be taken care of for the time being.

***

Inside the meeting hall, Earth's cultivators and the Xinghai Sect's sect master and elders fell silent after hearing Wang Sheng's plan.

Xiaomiao puffed her cheeks slightly and whispered, "Brother, can Hostess Su really be trusted?"

Wang Sheng smiled. "She should be. Otherwise, I would have died many times over already."

"People are hard to read." Xiaomiao glanced at everyone seated along the table. "Why is no one saying anything? My brother's plan sounds pretty good to me."

Yao Xingzi sighed. "We thought that after destroying the Celestial Wind Sect and the Xinghai Sect had risen, we would finally be able to cultivate here in peace. In the end, you still have to go out and fight to keep us safe."

"Brother Sheng, let me go with you," Shi Qianzhang eagerly urged. "My cultivation may be shallow, but you will need someone by your side. I can gather information, and I am good at getting along with people!"

"Amitabha." Huai Jing sighed. "Let us not burden Fei Yu further."

With a somewhat reluctant look, Liu Yunzhi softly said, "Fei Yu, I get that you have to leave to avoid the Heaven-Scouring Grand Array, but do you have any idea when you will return?"

Wang Sheng shook his head and shrugged. "There's no way to tell, but do not worry about me. My heavenly fate follows me wherever I go. If anything, I am more concerned about all of you.

"Stay here and focus on growing stronger. Cultivate well and break through as soon as you can. Right now, we're like a sapling. Once it grows into something towering, I will finally be able to stop running all over the place and rest in its shade."

Lishang softly insisted, "I will go with you. We can look after each other."

Wang Sheng was about to reject when Linyuan quickly added, "Yes, let Lishang go with you. If you two are together, I will feel more at ease."

Yao Xingzi also added, "Thanks to the alchemical pills you provided, Fei Yu, the Xinghai Sect now has other Heavenly Immortal Realm elders to oversee things. Lishang doesn't have to stay here all the time anymore."

Under the table, Xiaomiao lightly kicked her brother. "Let Sister Lishang go with you. She is a descendant of Empress Nuwa and has many powerful divine abilities. Moreover, your cultivation levels are close. If you both encounter opportunities, you can break through together. Your strength will rise much faster."

Wang Sheng nodded. "Alright. Lishang will come with me. The rest of you should cultivate steadily and remain on guard at all times. On another note, I have a letter for Hu Chang and Old Long. Since they cannot leave Tianfeng, I have left instructions for them in it instead. From now on, they will follow your command."

Wang Sheng handed a jade pendant to Xiaomiao. She nodded and accepted it with a light, relaxed expression.

"Oh, and one more thing." Wang Sheng took out three storage pouches and handed them to his sister, Yuan Pu Zhenren, and Yao Xingzi. "Each pouch contains eighty Three-Essence Enlightenment Pills. Grandmaster Yuan Pu, these are for Earth's cultivators. Sect Master, these are for the Xinghai Sect.

"Xiaomiao, yours also contains some stronger alchemical pills. I'll leave their management to you. If I am away for too long and cannot return in time, you are to take charge of their distribution."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Xiaomiao pressed her lips together. The sudden responsibility pressured her a bit, but she just carefully stored the pills away without complaints.

"After I leave, you all have to be extra cautious. Earth's cultivators must not operate beyond the ancient battlefield and Fengmo. The Xinghai Sect should not rush to occupy more celestial bodies. Focus on nurturing more Heavenly Immortals within the sect. Sect master and elders, breaking through to higher realms should be our top priority."

"Senior Lin Yun..."

Lin Yun immediately rose and bowed her head. "Awaiting orders, my lord."

In a deep tone, Wang Sheng instructed, "When you go into seclusion, try not to stay too far from my younger sister. While I am away, I will have to trouble you to look after Earth's cultivators and the Xinghai Sect."

Lin Yun firmly replied, "Don't worry, my lord! If anything goes wrong, I will answer for it with my life!"

Wang Sheng quickly told her that it would not be necessary to go that far. He then called Yaoyun, giving her the chance to exchange a brief farewell with Lin Yun.

After a moment of thought, Wang Sheng took out the jade disk that Chun Yangzi had given him, then handed it to Huai Jing. Afterward, he took out a blank communication jade talisman, infused it with a strand of sword intent, and passed it along as well.

"Always consider the situation first before deciding whether to seek out more of the Heavenly Court's former members, and who to invite. I have imbued my aura in this talisman. Buddhist Master Huai Jing, if you all run out of alchemical pills, you may head to the Qiling Immortal Sect to retrieve more. However, be extra careful not to expose any connection between the Qiling Immortal Sect and the Heavenly Court."

"Amitabha. I understand," Huai Jing replied as he carefully stored away both the jade disk and the talisman.

Wang Sheng issued a few more instructions.

By the time Hostess Su returned from Tianfeng, Wang Sheng had finished his arrangements. With a relaxed smile, he rose to his feet and bid everyone farewell.

There was no need to prepare much. The sooner he set out, the better.

Xiaomiao had thought she was strong enough not to show emotion in front of so many people. However, when Wang Sheng turned to leave, her eyes still reddened, and her voice trembled. "Brother..."

Wang Sheng turned his head slightly, his long hair shifting with the motion. "Mm?"

"When do you think you will come back?"

He smiled. "When this storm from the Immortal Saint Realm passes. Maybe three to five years, maybe thirty or fifty. Just focus on cultivating. The higher your realm, the longer your lifespan. Once you reach a higher level, even centuries will pass in the blink of an eye. Also, remember to check in on Mom and Dad."

Xiaomiao bit her lips and nodded softly.

Ahead of them, a koi fish flew out of Hostess Su's sleeve. Bathed in immortal light, it rapidly grew larger, becoming ten zhang long. A saddle was set upon its back, and a spacious carriage was attached behind.

Hostess Su entered first. Yaoyun and Lishang followed with lowered heads. Wang Sheng boarded last, still running through his thoughts to see if he had missed anything.

Watching the two factions grow steadily over the past decades had stirred something in him. For a moment, he felt like a worried father, reluctant to leave.

Inside the carriage, Wang Sheng offered a Daoist salute to those outside. Everyone returned the gesture, sending him off.

With a light tap of her finger, Hostess Su summoned a stream of clear water ahead. The great koi swam forward and rode the current, pulling the carriage along.

When the stream rose skyward, the koi lifted the carriage smoothly into the air at an astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, the koi-drawn carriage left Fengmo behind and vanished into the endless space.

With a faint look of helplessness in her eyes, Xiaomiao sighed quietly.

Lin Yun stepped forward and stood behind her, already carrying out Wang Sheng's order to protect the young cultivator.

***

Wang Sheng and the others did not leave the ancient battlefield right away. Instead, the koi veered off and headed straight toward the great Buddha statue, where they would pick up Ling Sheng.

They would soon move out to wipe out the Heavenly Yuanshen Sect. Wang Sheng no longer bothered with the idea of refraining from using Ling Sheng out of some noble restraint. He would make full use of her against the Black Emperor's forces while also helping her grow stronger.

When he explained to Qinglin and Xi Lian why he had to leave for a time, Xi Lian could not hide her concern.

"The others from the Earth's cultivators really are not stepping up!" Xi Lian complained. "You have been out here for so many years, yet you are still the one carrying everything alone. As your big sister, I am going with you!"

Wang Sheng smiled. "No, no. Big Sister, you have to stay here and guard the entrance to the Realm of Exiled Immortals. Everything has to go right here. I will also be taking the Spirit-Stabilizing Tea Tree with me. You and Daoist Master Qinglin have an important responsibility."

Qinglin's expression turned serious. "Fei Yu, rest assured. I will not allow anyone to disturb Earth's cultivation world. If anything urgent arises, I will contact you at once."

Wang Sheng extended a Daoist salute. "Having you here puts me at ease, Daoist Master. I will also have to trouble you to look after my big sister."

Xi Lian rolled her eyes. "I am closer to Daoist Master Qinglin than you are. Why are you the one asking him to look after me?"

Wang Sheng smirked.

These days, even playing the role of wingman came with the risk of getting caught in the crossfire.

"Hostess Su is waiting outside. I should get going," Wang Sheng said as he clasped his hands in farewell.

He had the Spirit-Stabilizing Tea Tree and the Ghost Heart Vine enter his Qiankun Ring, then turned to leave. Qinglin and Xi Lian tried to see him off, but Wang Sheng told them it was unnecessary. He quickly headed for the exit at the great Buddha statue's toe.

Just as he was about to leave, something came to mind. Wang Sheng took out a jade slip, held it between his fingers, covered his left eye with it, and turned to Xi Lian.

"Pfft, Big Sister's true form truly is adorable."

He slipped away quietly.