World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 460: The Immortals Name

Qing Yanzi and his two disciples spent over ten minutes in the great palace. When the restrictions of the great palace opened, Xi Lian, Jingyun, and Xiaomiao, who had all been waiting outside, were also called in.

In a corner of the great palace, Yaoyun was in her usual form, standing quietly beside Mu Wanxuan. A shimmering projection floated in front of Wang Sheng. At its center burned an orange-red fireball.

When the three went to the corner, Wang Sheng pointed to a blank area. In a raspy tone, he said, "I flew roughly thirty thousand li beyond the barrier. When I turned around, I saw this star. It's far larger than any in our solar system, allowing it to conceal Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Earth perfectly. That was all I found, though. The barrier had no defensive power; only the vast illusion array has been protecting us. "

Xi Lian frowned. "Why didn't the immortals set up isolating arrays to prevent outsiders from entering?"

Qing Yanzi answered in a deep tone, "Erecting a defensive array would have been no different from announcing to powerful enemies that something was hidden here. A classic case of 'there is no silver buried here.'"

Yaoyun said, "The foreign powerhouses who chased us into this realm were far stronger than we were. Otherwise, we would've faced them head-on instead of fleeing and hiding."

"Master's right. Setting up an illusion array like this was a clever move," Xiaomiao said with a serious expression. Afterward, her tone softened. "Big Brother, you should get some rest. You look like you're about to drop."

"Drop? Me? Not a chance. I'm as strong as ever!" Wang Sheng glared at Xiaomiao, but his tense expression softened into a laugh. "Honestly, it wasn't that tiring. I've just been flying nonstop. Let me share my findings from my exploration first.

"Yaoyun has confirmed that the direction the box flew toward leads to the Realm of Exiled Immortals' exit. It's so fast that it'll probably break through the boundaries of this realm in one or two months at most. Once it's out, our forefather's ability should be able to seize it from afar."

Mu Wanxuan turned and quietly left through the back door of the great palace. No one knew what she had gone off to do.

Wang Sheng added, "However, this poses a problem: the sudden appearance of that box could expose the entrance to the Realm of Exiled Immortals, which has been quiet for ages. We have no idea what the situation is on the other side. An investigation would take too long, and even if it didn't, it could end up leading them straight here.

"If we assume the worst, then the enemies are still right outside the Realm of Exiled Immortals. The moment they discover the box, they'll most likely send scouts into the realm. The illusion array around the asteroid belt would be our only line of defense."

Meanwhile, Mu Wanxuan hummed softly as she floated back with cups and a pot of tea for her junior brother.

"No need to be so pessimistic," Qing Yanzi said. "The enemy should be well aware that the Heavenly Court went all out when it counterattacked. As long as they believe the Heavenly Court has been annihilated, I'm sure their guard would be lowered in this area."

"Senior Brother has a point," Jingyun remarked. "Instead of worrying too much, we should take a more optimistic view. After all, we can't ascend to true immortality yet. We still have a long way ahead."

Wang Sheng smiled. "I agree. Right now, we should focus on growing stronger."

His tone then turned serious.

"We absolutely can't allow ourselves to become complacent. Master, I've discussed the whole Moon Palace matter with Yaoyun, and we think it's time to put it on the agenda. Please choose the first fifteen people who'd be going to the Moon. They have to at least be at the Nascent Soul Realm or the peak of the Heavenly Abode Realm.

"Their main objective will be to use the Platform of Immortal Dreams and the Pool of Immortal Arts. Those who wish to advance quickly can also enter the Pool of Transcendence."

Qing Yanzi pondered for a moment, then nodded. "I'll go with the second group. Your junior martial siblings still need my guidance. You and Little Xuan also have to resume cultivating in the Moon Palace."

Wang Sheng was about to object when he saw the stern look in his master's eyes. He silently lowered his head in agreement.

"Naturally, the first batch will be composed of sect masters and elders." Qing Yanzi began pacing. After a while, he looked up at Wang Sheng. "If anyone suggests opening the Small Immortal Realm to the rest of the cultivation world, you may expel them immediately. Do not show them false kindness, got it? We have to keep the Small Immortal Realm a secret for as long as possible.

"Right now, we need experts who can withstand pressure. We have to focus all resources on nurturing those capable of standing on their own before we think about strengthening the cultivation world and the Hua Republic as a whole."

Wang Sheng nodded solemnly as he sipped his tea. "Understood, Master. Don't worry. I know what has to be done."

"Get some rest for now," Qing Yanzi gently instructed.

Wang Sheng finished his tea in one sip. Once Yaoyun had transformed into immortal light and returned to Spiritless, he picked up the sword and left the great palace. He yawned as he stepped outside.

Mu Wanxuan had wanted to follow him but stopped. She worried that accompanying him would only lead to conversations or even a more intimate moment, disrupting his rest. Hence, she stayed and brewed tea while listening to Qing Yanzi and the others choose the candidates for the first batch they'd send to the Small Immortal Realm.

After two hours of discussion, the group was nearly done with the list. Qing Yanzi began contacting their chosen experts and quickly received their replies. Half of the Daoist sects' most powerful members, including the Celestial Master, Qing Long, and Yuan Pu Zhenren, had received invitations from the Pure Yang Sword Faction.

Mu Wanxuan and Wang Sheng would also be joining the fifteen. Xi Lian said she would consider it for a few days.

That once-cold Small Immortal Realm would finally have a touch of new life.

***

Wang Sheng slept for several days and nights. By the time he woke up, he had completely replenished his energy. He had never gone on such an interstellar journey before. He spent a great deal of his enchanted power chasing the box, but when he realized that he couldn't catch up despite having reached his maximum speed, he minimized the consumption of his enchanted power.

He didn't even have to take celestial pills for the round trip. Instead, he just took out Spirit Stones from his pendant, absorbed their primal qi while using his flight technique, and kept his enchanted power reserves at roughly eighty percent. He did consume a lot of Spirit Stones, but he didn't regret it that much since they were all low-quality ones from Earth.

Opening his eyes, Wang Sheng noticed his senior sister cultivating by the window. The corners of his lips curved into a faint smile.

Telepathically, he asked, "The universe is so vast. Do immortals always travel like that?"

"You will understand in time," Yaoyun replied calmly.

"Please just answer me now, Your Highness," Wang Sheng grumbled. "If we have to fly like that all the time, I'd rather just stay in the Realm of Exiled Immortals forever. No matter how long my lifespan is, it won't be enough."

Yaoyun fell silent for a while. Finally, she answered, "The Immortal Realm is boundless and interconnected. Initially, you could only use teleportation arrays or flight abilities to travel through it. Fortunately, treasured aerial artifacts were soon created. They have since become the main means of transportation within the Immortal Realm and the surrounding areas.

"But in the far more vast endless space, only a few stars have primal qi, and there's a huge distance between them. Activating teleportation arrays to get from one to another requires an enormous amount of primal qi.

"Long before the Heavenly Court established the Three Realms, a Grand Dao Golden Immortal named Dongxuan discovered a primal qi passage connecting the stars. No one knew who had opened it or how long it had existed, but it became the link between the stars, allowing the various powers in the endless space to grow rapidly.

"Some immortals dedicated themselves to exploring and expanding these primal qi passages. They called themselves the Primal Qi Passage Masters."

Primal Qi Passage Immortal Masters?

Pondering, Wang Sheng murmured, "If Earth's cultivation world wishes to integrate into the endless starry sky in the future, specialists like them will be indispensable..."

"Primal Qi Passage Immortal Masters have become nearly impossible to find."

"Why is that?"

After another brief silence, Yaoyun answered, "They formed their own lineage and went into hiding, guarding the secrets of exploring and creating primal qi passages. Even when the Heavenly Court sought to recruit them, they refused. In the end, my father sent people to capture them, killing some and imprisoning others."

Wang Sheng scratched his head. The Immortal Emperor truly lived up to his domineering reputation. Then again, it wasn't surprising for the ruler of the Three Realms and the true master of this starry sky to use such methods to conquer others.

His senior sister showed no sign of waking. She seemed to be at a critical point in her cultivation. Hence, Wang Sheng didn't disturb her. Instead, he left a trace of his aura on the bed and then quietly slipped out of the pavilion.

Extending his spiritual perception, he saw Chi Wen behind the thatched cottage, practicing sword techniques with his martial siblings. Feeling a spark of interest, he strolled over while telepathically chatting idly with Yaoyun.

Spotting him, Chi Wen cheerfully called, "Senior Brother!"

The three children quickly sheathed their swords, stood straight, and respectfully greeted, "Second Martial Brother!"

Wang Sheng rubbed his nose. He couldn't help but feel as though being called "Second Martial Brother" put him at a bit of a disadvantage.

Wang Sheng waved his hand. "Keep practicing. I'll just watch."

He sat on a cushion by the thatched cottage with one knee raised. His long hair and Daoist robe flowed gently as he smiled faintly.

Chi Wen looked puzzled. "Aren't you going to give them some pointers?"

The three kids looked at him expectantly, eager for advice from the most accomplished cultivator of their era.

Wang Sheng only smiled and shook his head. Teaching his juniors was their master's duty. If he taught them carelessly, he could end up disrupting their master's guidance.

"You'll have to wait until you've reached a higher Daoist realm. After all, nothing is more important than your foundation. I wouldn't dare interfere now."

Chi Wen pouted. "Fine. Keep practicing! You heard your second martial brother! Your foundation matters most. This is the time to build it!"

"Yes, Senior Sister!" the trio responded simultaneously. They then resumed their sword practice with renewed focus.

After watching them for a while, Wang Sheng's mind drifted slightly.

If they were in a television drama, this scene would surely fade into a montage, showing the children growing into handsome and beautiful people while practicing in the same place. Bold words would also appear across the screen.

X years later.

Right now, though, every year and month mattered. No one knew when their enemies would reappear.

"Yaoyun, can I reach the Grand Immortal-Ascension Realm in ten years?"

"Impatience and fear are cultivation's greatest obstacles."

Wang Sheng chuckled softly. Watching his junior martial siblings practice their basic sword techniques, he quietly fell deep in thought as gentle winds blew through the courtyard.