During this long-delayed honeymoon, Wang Sheng held Mu Wanxuan as they watched the clouds drift by at the top of the palace. He also ate the seed-like snacks she peeled for him one by one.

Wang Sheng felt a deep sense of contentment. All the hardships and dangers that they had gone through before now seemed insignificant. He only wished time could stop here.

This month of focused cultivation had brought noticeable improvement to both of them, and the extent of that progress rivaled three to five years of his own gruesome training in the mountains.

The dual cultivation method that Chun Yangzi had provided was truly a treasure of the world. Since he had refined it bit by bit himself, it was naturally exceptional.

If the couple cultivated like this for three to five years, Wang Sheng was confident that he could reach the middle stage of the Heavenly Immortal Realm.

However, he also knew that it was only a supplementary method; it could not be treated as the main method. Otherwise, his Dao would draw closer to and merge with his senior sister’s Great Dao of Life, leading to a series of negative effects.

The most serious consequence would be an unstable foundation. Since he did not cultivate step by step, it could easily leave unseen fatal dangers. The chances of falling into devilish deviation would also become quite high.

Wang Sheng genuinely commented, "Senior Sister, I really wish we could just stay and live here without a care in the world.”

Mu Wanxuan thought for a moment, then shook her head strictly at him.

He smiled bitterly. "I know. It’s just wishful thinking. We still have a lot to do, and as the only one from Earth who can really fight right now, I have to hold up this little broken planet."

Mu Wanxuan blinked, then realized her junior brother had misunderstood. She softly said, "No internet."

"Pfft!" Wang Sheng choked and pressed a hand to his forehead, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Alright, then. Since that's what my senior sister wants, I will keep working hard. Once we’ve dealt with the troubles we’re facing now, I will take her back to Earth and stay there for a while.

If Emperor Qinghua wants to come along, that can be arranged as long as he doesn't cultivate the Great Dao of Death on Earth. Uh... Why do I feel like I’m inviting a god of death to visit Earth?

"Senior Sister, if we have a child in the future, what should we name them?"

"Mm..."

Mu Wanxuan pondered for a moment. With a wave of her hand, she formed a small cloud platform and wrote several names on it.

Smiling, Wang Sheng picked up a brush and wrote a few names of his own. The two then discussed them.

"Ahem!"

Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan simultaneously turned their heads to the side. They quickly stood up and straightened their slightly disheveled robes.

Qinghua smiled. "Your relationship is good, but you should always keep your immortal perception on your surroundings. Otherwise, you’ll easily fall into someone else's schemes."

Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan replied affirmatively at once. They didn’t feel embarrassed at all.

Qinghua added, "Come with me. I am going to help some former members of the Heavenly Court resolve the suffering of the Five Heavenly Declines. This will also be your chance to earn their trust, Fei Yu."

"I see. Thank you for your hard work, Your Imperial Majesty."

Wang Sheng sighed inwardly, but he had no reason to refuse. After all, these powerful beings were putting effort into nurturing him. Even if it was only to live up to their expectations, he had to perform well.

Qinghua rode the clouds, bringing the two to the northern part of the planet.

Wang Sheng also summoned Yaoyun. As the thirteenth princess of the Heavenly Court, she was a powerful symbol for its former members.

"By the way, Fei Yu, did Star Deity Wenqu tell you about the plan we discussed?"

Puzzled, Wang Sheng replied, “No. Isn't it about the Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell[1]?"

"That alone is not enough to deceive anyone. Well, forget it. I'll just let him explain it to you later. He made so many arrangements that even I cannot explain them clearly."

Qinghua laughed lightly. He was clearly in a good mood.

The four landed on an ice field. Wang Shan, who was already waiting in the area, led them into a massive ice fissure.

Before long, they reached an ice cavern formed from ten-thousand-year-old mystical ice. It had likely been excavated from an icy planet in the Northern Sky Region and forcefully placed here. Some sections of the ice showed clear differences in texture and color.

Walking deeper inside, they soon saw what looked like mummified corpses sealed within the mystical ice. A faint trace of life could still be sensed from them, but strands of death aura were coiled around them.

With a pained expression, Qinghua muttered, "Why endure all this suffering?"

Having suffered the same torment before his death, he knew how terrifying the Five Heavenly Declines were.

These people had endured endless years of suffering, refusing to succumb to death. Without an unyielding will to live, they could not have lasted this long.

Wang Shan whispered, "Because they are unwilling. Because they are resentful. Because they all wish to fight once more for the Heavenly Court. They have been waiting within this mystical ice for someone who can remove the Five Heavenly Declines."

Qinghua sighed deeply. He opened his left hand, and a point of black light formed in his palm.

The space trembled slightly. Strands of black qi flew out from the distorted bodies within the ice and flowed into Qinghua's palm, allowing him to absorb them.

The Great Dao of Death's primordial power that had accumulated over hundreds of thousands of years in this place was also a rare "medicine" for him. However, he had no time to focus on that now.

He softly called, "Xiao Qing."

"Mm," Mu Wanxuan replied gently, already knowing what to do.

She stepped forward and drew two circles with her hands. She stretched her right hand forward while she pressed her left against her right arm. Streams of primal qi transformed into life force and flowed from her palm, spreading outward ahead.

Wang Sheng also stepped forward and, together with Yaoyun, took out Spirit Stones. They set up small Qi-Dispersing Formations, quickly filling the area with primal qi.

Before long, coughs echoed. The barely human-shaped bodies moved and weakly called out from different parts of the ice cavern.

"Have we been saved...?"

"Have the Five Heavenly Declines been lifted?"

"Does the Heavenly Court still exist? Are our old companions still alive?"

Their words echoed from all directions. Those lying deeper within the ice beds were the first to move, sitting up and crossing their legs.

The people sealed in the mystical ice gradually slid free as well. Surrounded by dense primal qi and life force, they each meditated and cultivated.

Mu Wanxuan continued to channel life force with all her strength. After half an hour, she faltered, and Wang Sheng gently supported her.

Wang Sheng urged, "Your Imperial Majesty, we should wait outside. The seniors would not wish others to see them in such a state."

Yaoyun gently insisted, "I would like to stay here and take care of them for now."

Wang Sheng naturally did not refuse.

Qinghua nodded, then led Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan out of the ice cavern.

Seventy to eighty people whom Wang Shan had commanded in the northern part of the Eastern Sky Region had gathered outside the entrance. They had gone out several times to spread information by now. Nearly all of them bore old injuries, but none had been afflicted with the Five Heavenly Declines.

When they saw Qinghua approach, they silently knelt and bowed deeply.

The emperor softly instructed, "Please, rise."

With a casual motion, he removed the Dao-of-Death-related injuries from several of them. Once Mu Wanxuan reached the Golden Immortal Realm, she would be able to use the Dao of Life to remove all their old injuries as well.

In the future, Mu Wanxuan could firmly take the role of support.

Half a day later, people emerged from the ice cavern. One after another, they rose on clouds and flew to the ice field. They gathered before Qinghua, Wang Sheng, and Mu Wanxuan, who were meditating nearby.

There were more than six hundred total. They formed ranks according to their former positions and seniority, then stepped forward together. Under Wang Shan's guidance, they knelt right in front of Qinghua and said in unison, "Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty, for lifting our calamity."

Qinghua returned a Daoist salute. "These past few years have been hard on you. I myself have suffered and died from the Five Heavenly Declines. The fact that you have endured until now shows a resolve a hundred times—no, a thousand times greater than mine. However, the Heavenly Court still needs you. Please, rise."

A female immortal looked up. "Can you resurrect others now that you have turned from the Dao of Life to the Dao of Death, Your Imperial Majesty?"

Qinghua sighed quietly and shook his head. "I cannot. Even if someone has just died, the act of bringing them back would only resemble the Six Paths of Reincarnation. The one who returns would neither be the original person nor retain their original Dao. Life and death are both great arts. The Great Dao imposes too many limitations."

"Thank you for answering my question, Your Imperial Majesty," the female immortal said. She bowed again, pressing her forehead to the ice, and wept uncontrollably.

As she cried, the eyes of many newly awakened immortals also reddened. Whether male immortals or ancient immortals, many could not hold back their emotions. Some choked with grief, while others were filled with hatred.

Qinghua gently offered, "Everyone, please rise and come with us to rest elsewhere."

At the side, Yaoyun added, "Please take care of yourselves."

"Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty. Thank you, Your Highness."

"We will recover our strength and fight those traitors again, to settle the blood feud back then!"

"Though the Heavenly Court has fallen, our souls remain! We will restore the Heavenly Palace and make the rebels pay!"

Wang Sheng watched quietly from behind, a trace of helplessness in his eyes.

Beside him, Mu Wanxuan lightly tugged at his sleeve and muttered, "Smile."

Wang Sheng immediately forced a gentle smile but remained at the back, not quite sure what to do.

Wang Shan summoned a vast stretch of white cloud and brought everyone to a warmer region of the planet. In a forest, he set up a grand qi-gathering formation for the old members of the Heavenly Court to rest.

He took out many alchemical pills to replenish their primal qi. Moreover, he brought out several herb spirits and asked Wu Tianshou to prepare a soup that could restore the group's strength.

During this time, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan busily moved back and forth. They even summoned Ling Sheng and the Spirit-Stabilizing Tea Tree to help.

Once everything had been arranged, Wang Shan called out, "Everyone."

All eyes were drawn to him.

Qinghua gave Wang Sheng a light push, sending him forward to stand before Wang Shan.

Wang Shan began, "Allow me to introduce this young man. He is—"

"Wang Sheng, Daoist name Fei Yu. You can all just call me Fei Yu," Wang Sheng quickly cut in, not wanting the old man to say anything embarrassing. He cupped his hands to the gathered immortals. "Please look after me. Since we will likely be working together, I would appreciate your guidance."

All the old immortals remained quiet.

"Let me speak on your behalf," Qinghua said. With a flick of his hand, he bound Wang Sheng with immortal power and tossed him aside.

1. Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell is a famous Chinese idiom and one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems. It means to create a decoy to escape from a dangerous situation while leaving the enemy confused. ☜