In a valley filled with the fragrance of flowers and the singing of birds.

"Stay here and cultivate for now," Wang Shan instructed, then hurried off. He was likely going to settle the wounded.

In two quick steps, Wang Sheng rushed to a nearby stream, bent over, and retched for a while. Afterward, he turned and lay back on the grass, breathing out deeply.

He raised a hand, sunlight filtering through his fingertips.

"Lishang and Hostess Su should have escaped by now..." he muttered to himself.

Light flashed from the Qiankun Ring as Spiritless flew out. It circled a few times in the air before plunging into the grass. However, Yaoyun did not appear. She simply made Spiritless keep Wang Sheng company.

Wang Sheng casually took out more than a dozen communication talismans, only to find no spiritual light flickering on them. It seemed he was already too far from the ancient battlefield of the Eastern Sky Region.

He had probably succeeded in drawing the enemy's attention, at least.

In truth, he found it fortunate that his enemies had used the Heaven-Scouring Grand Array incident. Otherwise, the Heavenly Yuanshen Sect on Guishen would have attacked the Xinghai Sect sooner or later.

The Black Emperor's forces had only just started probing. No truly troublesome beings had arrived yet. Drawing all their attention onto himself right now was well within Wang Sheng's expectations.

The constant feeling of being watched disappeared when they reached this place. However, he had no idea how long such peace would last.

After resting for a while, Wang Sheng began to cultivate. There were two wooden huts in the distance, but he had no intention of checking them out.

He took out a pile of Spirit Stones and set up a qi-gathering formation. Sitting within it, he steadied his mind and contemplated the Great Dao. Behind him, a faint phantasm of a divine bird representing the Dao of Pure Yang took shape. Soon after, starlight, lightning, and a Tai Chi diagram appeared one after another.

Two days later, Wang Shan appeared again, but he didn't disturb Wang Sheng, who was in the middle of cultivation. He simply placed a few jade slips and a storage ring nearby before vanishing once more.

Wang Shan was busy bringing the surviving immortals and gods of the old Heavenly Court to this place. After the fall of the Heavenly Court, he had used his mastery over the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth to secretly prepare countless hidden refuges like this.

When Wang Sheng finished his meditation, Yaoyun guided him to the items that Wang Shan had left behind. When he drew them over and took a look, his eyes lit up.

Inside were two sword techniques and a set of movement techniques that revolved around the Dao of Heaven and Earth. The ring also contained a large amount of Spirit Stones.

However, it did not take long for Wang Sheng to notice that the Spirit Stones inside were a mix of mid-grade and high-grade. Thinking of what Chun Yangzi had said earlier, and remembering that Wang Shan was caring for hundreds of severely wounded immortals, he shook his head. He took out all the Spirit Stones from the ring, replaced them with top-tier ones until it was filled, and then put it back where it had been.

Wang Sheng studied the newly acquired sword techniques for two days, gaining some insight into the Dao of the Sword. Afterward, he stood up, gripped Spiritless, and practiced swordsmanship for three days before sitting down to cultivate once more.

When Wang Shan returned, he glanced at the ring on the ground and frowned slightly. Picking it up, he checked its contents and fell briefly silent.

Wang Sheng said calmly, "I have plenty."

Wang Shan nodded. Without standing on ceremony, he took the Spirit Stones away.

***

Wang Sheng cultivated in the serene valley for half a year. His mastery of the Dao of the Sword improved, allowing him to break through two minor realms. Even so, he was still far from the middle stage of the Heavenly Immortal Realm.

He couldn't help but feel anxious. After all, he was nowhere near strong enough.

When he crushed the Celestial Wind Sect not long ago, he had felt that he could finally hold his head high. Disaster loomed again only a few decades later, though: powerful beings from the Immortal Saint Realm had started chasing him.

At that moment, Wang Sheng realized that the Primal-Era expert who leaked heavenly secrets was most likely Feng Jiu, the overly dramatic woman.

If this was truly her doing, then with just one move, she had shifted the attention of the Immortal Saint Realm onto the Eastern Sky Region and onto Wang Sheng himself, buying her faction the time it required to rise. She had also disrupted Wang Sheng's growth.

A mere rumor nearly ruined Earth's cultivators. If she's the one behind this, then Feng Jiu is not to be underestimated. Though I have never underestimated her to begin with, I must not let her chuunibyou act fool me.

Wang Sheng sighed quietly. He felt he was cultivating too slowly, but patience was his only option. As long as he kept improving, it was better than sitting still and waiting for death.

***

The second time Wang Shan "kidnapped" him felt completely different to Wang Sheng.

Wang Shan had been conflicted the first time. At one moment, he wanted to beat Wang Sheng to death; at another, he feared doing so would extinguish the hope of the Heavenly Court's revival. In the end, the encounter had deeply provoked Wang Sheng. It pushed him away from caution and made him far more daring.

Now, after being rescued, Wang Shan had provided him with sword techniques, movement techniques, and a steady stream of valuable resources. He clearly wanted to make Wang Sheng stronger as quickly as possible.

To become the leader of an immortal faction, one required sufficient strength first. Strategy, character, and knowledge were all secondary.

During these six months, Wang Sheng occasionally saw other immortals. Most only glanced over from a distance, offered a Daoist salute, and left without approaching.

Wang Sheng kept his head down and focused on cultivation. Though he was tempted several times, he ultimately did not consume the Nine-Essence Dao-Condensing Pill.

The most precious item that Xin Yuehu had left behind was better saved for breaking through to the Golden Immortal Realm. Using it now would not make a decisive difference.

One day, Wang Sheng sat meditating in the valley. Having just bathed in the stream, his hair was still damp, and his Daoist robe was neatly folded beside him.

Wang Shan arrived on a cloud, accompanied by a gaunt old Daoist. As they approached, he called out, "Fei Yu, stop cultivating for a moment."

"Mm." Wang Sheng slowly opened his eyes. "Are we moving again?"

"Not right now," Wang Shan replied. "I have found you a master of the Dao of the Sword. He once served as Emperor Ziwei's personal guard and is now at the late stage of the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm. Guiding you in swordsmanship will be a piece of cake for him."

Wang Sheng's spirits lifted at once. He stood up and gave the old Daoist a respectful salute. "Forgive me for being disrespectful!"

At the side, Wang Shan's mouth twitched. However, he could not be bothered to argue over Wang Sheng's obvious difference in treatment.

The old Daoist quickly returned the salute and sighed. "I would not dare accept such courtesy. I have been hiding in the Immortal Saint Realm, cultivating while gathering information on those scoundrels and seeking a chance to avenge His Imperial Majesty.

"I never expected to hear news about you, Fei Yu. I secretly contacted the Great Divine Guardian at once, and after many twists and turns, I have finally met you, His Imperial Majesty's successor!"

The more he spoke, the more emotional he became. He trembled as he dropped to one knee before Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng hurried forward to help him up, forcing a wry smile. "Please do not treat me so highly, Senior. I will be relying on your guidance in the Dao of the Sword from now on."

"I will teach you everything I know," the old Daoist said with emotion. "If I could pass all my cultivation straight to you, that would be the best outcome of all." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Wang Shan replied seriously, "Directly passing on your cultivation would certainly strengthen him quickly, but his future would be limited to the level of the one who passed it on. He would never be able to break through to the Grand Dao Golden Immortal using that method."

The old Daoist sighed. "I know. It was only a passing thought."

He looked at Wang Sheng, his gaze filled with nostalgia.

The old man's Daoist name was Jingwu. He was not one of the Big Dipper's seven stars, but he had followed Ziwei for millions of years. From the moment he reached the Golden Immortal Realm, he had served as the emperor's personal guard.

He was a true confidant, utterly loyal to Ziwei. That loyalty naturally extended to Wang Sheng.

He had also received much guidance from the emperor on his swordsmanship. It might not be considered flawless, but against those at the same realm, he could sweep through opponents with the sword in his hand.

Wang Shan soon withdrew, leaving the two alone.

Wang Sheng felt quite pleased to finally have a sparring partner. At Jingwu's request, he demonstrated the Seven-Star Sword Formation and the Reversed Seven-Star Sword Formation, then performed the Pure Yang Sword Song, the set of sword techniques he had created himself.

The old Daoist quickly pointed out a fatal flaw in Wang Sheng's Dao of the Sword.

He said seriously, "It is too scattered and lacks unity. I can tell you want to have different moves available for different situations, but that has resulted in a lack of a decisive technique that can defeat the enemy."

Wang Sheng asked, "A decisive technique that can defeat the enemy?"

Jingwu nodded. "Exactly. You need to have one attack that either your opponent cannot defend against or will compel them to retreat. Only then can you truly defeat them!"

"I actually do have one."

"Oh, you do?" Jingwu smiled. "Then use it on me with your full strength. Let me see how powerful it is."

Wang Sheng grew serious. "Please defend yourself with all you've got. Do not underestimate this technique of mine."

Jingwu immediately agreed. He stepped forward and used Ground Shrinker, traveling a hundred zhang away.

While waiting calmly, he thought, His Imperial Majesty's successor has a solid foundation in the Dao of the Sword, and his comprehension is exceptional. He is a fine talent.

It is a pity that he is only at the Heavenly Immortal Realm. I will block this attack with ten percent of my immortal power and stumble a few steps back to not damage his confidence.

A hundred zhang away, several great sword intents appeared behind Wang Sheng: Ziwei, Pure Yang, Dual Polarity, Heavenly Tribulation, Dragon Slayer, and Myriad Slayer.

Six sword intents resonated as they rapidly overlapped and fused into one dazzling sword phantasm.

Wang Sheng gripped Spiritless in his left hand, and the Dragon Sword on his back roared deeply. He had successively merged with the two through the unity of man and sword.

Jingwu felt a slight shock. He couldn't help but inwardly marvel, His Imperial Majesty's successor has the same bearing as he once did! His legacy truly lives on!

He unleashed twenty percent of his immortal power. This level of defense was already enough to withstand an ordinary Golden Immortal's all-out attack. Moreover, even if it were broken, it would still be difficult to injure him.

Wang Sheng's aura suddenly stopped rising, and a small wooden sword appeared at the fingertips of his right hand. His aura then shifted completely as his Dao of the Sword instantly withdrew into him, leaving only a faint glow on the wooden sword.

Jingwu's gaze sharpened. He drew on more immortal power, his expression turning fully serious.

A thunderclap split the air as Wang Sheng shot forward like a bolt of lightning, skimming the ground.

Ripples spread through heaven and earth. Where lightning burst forth, the ground cracked open.

Wang Sheng swayed slightly, and a lotus formed.

The Green Lotus Ultimate had been unleashed. Fearing he would injure Jingwu because the old Daoist didn't fully defend himself, Wang Sheng deliberately held back a little, leaving room to stop in time.

Jingwu's eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost. He raised both hands, summoning layers of immortal-power barriers before him.

Green lotus! Bloom!

The small wooden sword cut forward like a beam that split heaven and earth, piercing through each layer of light in a straight line.

***

"Senior, are you alright?"

With his left hand behind his back, Jingwu smiled. "I am fine, I am fine. How could you possibly injure me, a Taiyi Golden Immortal? Fei Yu, take a moment to regulate your breathing. I will think about how best to guide your Dao of the Sword."

"Please take care, Senior."

Jingwu waved his right hand. "Ah, this is nothing. Nothing at all."

He kept his other hand hidden in his sleeve as he turned and rode a cloud out of the valley.

Only after leaving the layers of arrays did he raise his left hand and look at it. He had only suffered a small cut on it, yet the pain made him draw in a sharp breath.

What a powerful move and a formidable wooden sword. And why has the wound not healed yet? Hah, as expected of His Imperial Majesty's successor. How am I supposed to guide him now?

Jingwu fell into deep thought. For once, he truly found himself at a loss.