This Human Immortal Is Too Serious-Chapter 404 - 402 "Xiaolan?

High above in the clouds, Wu Wang, shrouded in the Yin Yang Qi, raced silently through the mist. He slid through unseen and unheard, as if outside a painting, causing not the slightest reaction from the Immortal Consciousness scattered throughout the sky.

As the dizziness brought on by the little Zhong faded, Wu Wang suddenly noticed something out of the ordinary...

Why is this guy so cautious? And is it possible that he’s being overly cautious? Every time Zhong speaks to me, it’s always with great care, as if I, Wu Wangzi, Xiong Ba, the future Eastern Emperor, could be some brutish master. Am I brutal? Clearly, I’m so calm, harmless, and loving; able to help elderly grandmothers across the street and snatch lollipops from three-year-olds. In my past life, I even volunteered at a welfare institute, and before the spaceship took off, I donated my savings, earned over many years, to a reliable charitable organization focused on male reproductive health!

Later, when there’s a chance, I should talk to little Zhong.

The Eastern Emperor’s Bell always communicated with the Eastern Emperor with such caution—if this were to spread, where would he put his face?

Caring for the physical and mental health of the Great Wilderness’s Artifact Spirits starts with the next Heavenly Emperor!

After stepping out of the teleportation Formation, Wu Wang received Ling Xiaolan’s location from the experts dispatched by the Four Seas Pavilion and declined their offer to accompany him.

He also harbored the intention to test, wishing to see how well-defended Xiaolan’s surroundings were.

If even he could easily get near Xiaolan, then it might be better for Xiaolan to return to the Human Domain and stop wandering outside.

Wu Wang had discovered that some of the Innate Gods in the Heaven Palace might not be skilled in Duels, but they always had some unique abilities.

Take, for instance, the Reproduction Goddess in his home.

Perhaps there was some Innate God skilled in stealth, like the ’Marsh God,’ ’Smoke God,’ or ’Mosquito God,’ who could reach Xiaolan’s side without a sound.

More importantly, in the Southeastern Region, the Hundred Races were intermingled, and most of them had their own faiths.

—Beyond Central Mountain, the faiths of the Hundred Races were incredibly complex. Most clans had no gods to follow; a small portion worshipped their own ancestors or some of the powerful, fierce beasts they had encountered.

Forcibly integrating the faiths of these Hundred Races here in the Southeastern Region and having them pray to the statue of the God of Spring would not yield much devotion from the living beings.

In general, integrating the faiths of the Southeastern Region’s Hundred Races was more symbolic than practical.

At this moment, Ling Xiaolan and her followers were in the northern part of the Southeastern Region.

Her recent place of stay was a branch of the Four Seas Pavilion.

It was the nerve center of the Four Seas Pavilion’s intelligence network in the Southeastern Region, looking north towards the Eastern Wilderness, surrounded by territories carved out by the Military Families and Sects of the Human Domain, not difficult to locate.

The journey was uneventful.

As Wu Wang’s Immortal Consciousness caught sight of the branch’s complex of buildings, he vanished from high above into the stretch of mountains and forests.

After making a slight disguise and dispersing the Yin Yang Qi—a Divine Skill too potent for hiding—Wu Wang began to carefully make his way forward.

His strength was already far beyond an ordinary Transcendent Realm Cultivator, and the composition of his power was rich—it wasn’t solely Spiritual Cultivation or Body Cultivation.

The Star God’s Dao had become his greatest reliance.

After embracing this mature, top-level Great Dao and peeking into the memory sea of the Star God, a strand of his Divine Soul fully merged with the Star God’s divine body, making the term ’little Star God’ quite fitting for Wu Wang now. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

With the Star God’s Dao, he could confront the Main Gods of the Heaven Palace face to face, clashing power for power with Divine Power and Great Dao without falling short.

Previously tinkering with the Dao of Marriage also infused Wu Wang with a new stream of Divine Power; he used this power to nurture his battle body, making his physique more robust than most Main Gods of the Heaven Palace.

Just these alone had brought his strength to the verge of the Heaven Palace’s Strong Gods.

Not to mention, he had the Dismantling Spear and the Zhou Tian Star Fighting Array hidden away, and the Star God’s divine body he could call upon at any time.

If the strengths of the gods of the Heaven Palace were roughly categorized, Emperor Shun would be left out. Xihe, the Gold God, the Earth God, the Wood God, the Head Manager, and the Young Master would likely be the top Strong Gods, the first tier. Chang Xi, Lei Bao, Liu Guang, and others should be the second tier. The Mirror God would belong to the third tier. Those not counted among the Main Gods, like the Featherfalling God, would all be in the fourth tier.

Wu Wang placed himself realistically.

In a normal Duel, he would fit around the middle of the second tier.

But if he unleashed his full power without restrictions...

No one in the second tier would likely stop him.

As Wu Wang’s fusion with the Star God’s Dao improved, and he received a consistent flow of Divine Power and further controlled the Yin and Yang Path, his strength would naturally climb to the forefront of the second tier.

However, to ascend to the first tier would require more than just short-term personal effort.

It would either take tens of thousands of years of accumulation and settling, or it would necessitate profound opportunities.

At Wu Wang’s current age, he had a firm grasp over his strength, demeanor, and standing in the martial world.

However, he was still several hundred miles away from the outer defensive Formation of the Four Seas Pavilion’s branch.

"Who’s there!"

A sudden hushed shout came from the forest ahead, as dozens of figures soared into the sky. Treasure Beads burst into light among the woods as waves of Immortal Consciousness swept back and forth.

Shrouded in a faint mist, Wu Wang calmly stood in place, his figure suddenly becoming transparent.

Moments later, several figures stood in the air at the spot where Wu Wang had concealed himself.

An old Daoist showed a shamefaced expression, "It must have been my overreaction; I just now faintly sensed someone approaching."

"The underground enchantments haven’t been triggered either; everything is peaceful and uneventful."

"Send word back to the branch. It’s always better to be cautious. Elder, please continue the investigation and ensure that those lackeys from the Heaven Palace don’t cause any disturbance to the honored ones."

The forest gradually became quiet again, and the distant, staggered Immortal Consciousness also disappeared.

Wu Wang nodded with satisfaction and continued to make his way towards the branch, meanwhile getting a clear sense of the defensive arrangements around him.

Impenetrable, without a single flaw.

Within the capabilities of these Cultivators, they had done their utmost.

The Human Emperor Pavilion was indeed making every effort to protect Xiaolan’s safety.

Mentally apologizing a few times, Wu Wang reached the outer Formation of the branch. Shrouded by the Yin Yang Qi, he quietly slipped into it.

Blessed by the Yin and Yang Path, moving about in this place was like a stroll through a leisurely garden for him.

Upon entering the Formation, Wu Wang detected familiar auras and followed them one by one.

In the closest pavilion, the young man dressed in embroidered garments sat behind a desk, with a thick stack of Jade Talismans in front of him, and over ten young men and women standing beside him.

With a light tap of his finger, Wu Wang could hear their conversation through the Soundproofing Array.

"...The few clans in the far east still refuse to submit. If we really fight, they are likely to suffer heavy casualties."

"Young Master, they have banded together, believing that they can support each other and use this to withstand us."

"They have also made demands. If we grant their leaders titles of kings and hegemons and take their children into the Human Domain to study in the best Sects, they agree to increase their worship of the God of Spring on top of their current beliefs."

"A bunch of wolves that won’t be tamed."

The young man in embroidered clothing rubbed his eyebrows, a slight twist to his mouth, "Increase? These guys are always endlessly greedy. After being given so many gifts, they still try to fool us."

One of his subordinates cursed, "Why not beat up one of them to display our strength?"

"We must not."

The young man in embroidered garments shook his head slightly:

"We are, after all, raising an unrighteous army. If we create too much slaughter, not to mention how it would affect the perception of the Human Domain by the Hundred Races of the Southeastern Region, it would also tarnish the reputation of my teacher.

My teacher is now in the Heaven Palace, surrounded by strong enemies. If we cause a bloodbath in the Southeastern Region, wouldn’t those Main Gods from the Heaven Palace find just the excuse they need to make things difficult?

Not to mention, these few clans are but minor clans, with many more of their kindred in Central Mountain and the Emperor’s City."

"But we can’t keep giving their leaders gifts."

"Continue to give. Send more tomorrow."

The young man in embroidered clothing showed a faint smile, yet a hint of chill flashed in his eyes:

"Send a few Heavenly Immortals to deliver the gifts. Openly disable the strongest hundred people of their clans in front of them. Bring their leaders to talk. If the talk goes well, heal these hundred people and enhance their strength.

Remember, the worship of the God of Spring must be the main belief among the clans; this is our bottom line."

"Young Master, what if the talks don’t go well?"

"Then find them a new leader to continue the talks."

"Understood!"

Outside the pavilion, Wu Wang quietly walked past, filled with emotion.

Lin Qi has really matured a lot.

Turning a corner, passing through a pleasantly landscaped pavilion, Wu Wang saw several young female Disciples from the Xuan Nu Sect. He took a turn and followed the aura of the couple.

The sound of a zither tinkled as a beautiful woman danced, the scent of wine unable to overpower the charm of makeup and powder.

Since it was Ji Mo with his wife Le Yao alone, and Wu Wang also sensed the faint fluctuations of the Dao of Reproduction, he did not listen in around the corner.

That would be impolite.

Still, in such a proper place, could it be that they’ve already heard an Innate God might attack? For Brother Ji to still be so calm, possessing such leisurely grace...

Old friends remain, old friends indeed.

Wu Wang mused to himself and continued to wander through the exquisite warm pavilions.

What was strange, though, was that although he had clearly located Xiaolan, when he used his Immortal Consciousness and even his eyes to check, the place where Xiaolan was supposed to be appeared to be just a Lotus Pond.

The Lotus Pond above and below showed no signs of anything unusual.

Mustard Seed Heaven and Earth?

Or is it some esoteric art within the Dao of Formations?

It seems that the three Transcendent Realm experts hiding in the three directions around the Lotus Pond are the key to unlocking this Formation.

After pondering, Wu Wang decided to leave the Lotus Pond and, after taking several turns, arrived at a pavilion in a corner of the area.

There was a round table set up in this place where several middle-aged Cultivators sat around, laughing and talking while enjoying drinks, all of them Transcendent Realm Cultivators and pillars of the Human Domain.

Xiao Jian Daoist, dressed in a blue Taoist robe, sat in the seat of honor and was currently tapping his cup with chopsticks, his eyes twinkling with starlight as he sang aloud:

"Without bamboo, one becomes mundane; without meat, one grows thin. Not mundane nor thin, for bamboo shoots simmered with fat meat."

The people around him all gave a thumbs up in unison, continuously praising the cleverness.

A few lines of annoyance crossed Wu Wang’s forehead as he transmitted his voice to reprimand Xiao Jian Daoist, "I thought you were going to express your heartfelt emotions for our home and country; how did it turn into craving fat meat?"

"Eh!"

Xiao Jian abruptly stood up, unconcerned with the wine container that tipped over in front of him, and looked eagerly to the left and right, searching for that figure.

The others looked puzzled, thinking it was an enemy attack, and rose to look in all directions as their auras suddenly flared.

One was about to let out a long howl when Xiao Jian Daoist quickly covered his mouth.

"Don’t shout recklessly!"

Xiao Jian stated solemnly, "That, uh, you guys go on. I just remembered an urgent matter and need to go back first."

Though full of doubts, they all knew Xiao Jian had a special status and did not ask any more questions.

「Shortly after.」

Within Xiao Jian Daoist’s abode, protected by layers of Formations and Barriers, Wu Wang converged his Yin Yang Qi and revealed his own form.

Xiao Jian Daoist laughed heartily a few times, sizing Wu Wang up and down as if checking if Wu Wang was missing any arms or legs.

"How did you get out? Would the Heavenly Emperor let you come back?"

"Why wouldn’t he?" Wu Wang smiled and raised his eyebrows.

If it were his former teammates from his past life meeting, or the men from the Northern Wilderness, or Cultivators from the Demonic Sect, in such a situation, it would mostly lead to a bear hug.

But Cultivators of the Immortal Dao often pursue a stable Dao heart and control the expression of their emotions.

"It’s good you’re back," Xiao Jian sighed. "It’s good you’re back."

"What’s good about it? I still have to return," Wu Wang found himself a seat, and Xiao Jian Daoist immediately hurried over.

"Why go back if you’ve escaped the predicament?" Xiao Jian asked, puzzled.

"If the Heaven Palace could force me to go there the first time, they could force me a second time," Wu Wang said. "Besides, I’ve finally made some headway in the Heaven Palace, so I cannot give up so easily."

Xiao Jian frowned deeply, leaning forward as he said to Wu Wang, "At the end of the day, to resolve the conflict between the Heaven Palace and the Human Domain, there’s only the path of a fight to the death. Expel the gods and let sentient beings take control of the Dao of Order. The gods will not surrender their transcendent status, and if sentient beings wish to rise and become masters, their only path is to wage a great war against them. All other fantasies are inferior!"

"No, there’s another way."

"What?"

"Transform the Innate Gods and separate them from the Great Dao," Wu Wang calmly stated. "Detach order from the Innate Gods."

Xiao Jian was taken aback and whispered, "Isn’t this path even more difficult than directly confronting the Innate Gods? And how can this possibly be achieved?"

Wu Wang just smiled and remained silent.

Xiao Jian Daoist thought hard for a while but still couldn’t grasp it.

"Forget it, forget it," Xiao Jian waved his hand, and the young-looking Sword Cultivator simply gave up on wild guesses. "You just tell me what to do, and I will follow."

"Is everything still stable in the various parts of the Human Domain?"

"Except for His Majesty suddenly making public the Dao of Fuel and Fire, causing the entire Human Domain to want to fight to the death with the Heaven Palace, nothing much..."

Xiao Jian’s brows knitted slightly in complaint, "I used to be able to see some of His Majesty’s and your ideas, but now I’m completely lost."

Wu Wang chuckled and asked, "By the way, how can I find Xiaolan without alerting those senior Cultivators from the Xuan Nu Sect guarding the perimeter of the Lotus Pond?"

"That’s probably impossible."

Xiao Jian Daoist explained, "Those seniors have formed a special Formation, concealing the pavilion where Fairy Ling is located. The entrance to the Formation is right behind those old seniors. Wasn’t it said that a Divine Spirit from the Heaven Palace was planning to ambush Fairy Ling? We surely couldn’t afford to be careless. Our master has already spoken. If Fairy Ling were to be captured, none of us who came to the Southeastern Region would need to return but should rather go to Yang Valley and self-destruct. What’s going on? Why would the Heaven Palace suddenly want to capture Fairy Ling?"

"Has the Human Domain not received the news?"

"We’ve only heard that you are on exceptionally good terms with the Young Master, appearing together in pairs within the Heaven Palace and behaving intimately," Xiao Jian Daoist raised an eyebrow, "and have jointly raised a daughter."

"This..." Wu Wang grinned sheepishly and said seriously, "The Young Master is indeed a remarkable Innate God."

"Understood, all’s understood." Xiao Jian Daoist made a gesture and laughed, saying, "Why bother with excessive explanations between you and me? I understand what kind of person you, Wu Wang, are. Even if you found ten or eight Goddesses to be your Dao companions in the Heaven Palace, it would all be for the greater good of the Human Domain’s future; it would never be just because you fancied them."

"I truly am that simple..."

"No, no, you can’t be simple about this," Xiao Jian laughed. "Even Her Highness Jingwei thinks so and is quite worried about your situation."

Wu Wang replied, "Then let it not be simple."

"Look at all these romantic debts you’ve incurred. Just don’t let those women fight in the backyard later; wouldn’t the Young Master dominate the whole scene?"

Xiao Jian gave a couple of chuckles, then gazed intently into Wu Wang’s increasingly profound eyes and sighed, "Wu Wang, although your Dao brother is several years older than you, I can still barely keep up with your pace for now. But breaking through my current realm within a few hundred years would be nothing short of a fantasy. Perhaps one day, I’ll be nothing more than a sword that might rust, but I also wish to pierce the hearts of those Innate Gods gleefully. Bent or broken, it would be worth it. Wu Wang, tell me straightforwardly: will you continue to lead the Human Domain forward until a new order is created?"

Wu Wang gazed at Xiao Jian and slowly shook his head.

Xiao Jian frowned and pondered. Wu Wang chuckled and said, "Your vision is too narrow, Dao brother."

"What?"

"I will lead all beings forward and ultimately create a new order."

Wu Wang took out a Jade Talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Xiao Jian, smiling, "I’m off to find Xiaolan. This contains my plans for the later development of the Divine Realm within the Heaven Palace; you can show it to Elder Shen Nong too. The Emperor’s City is an interesting place, gathering many strong individuals, and is also a part of the Heaven Palace’s foundation."

"Oh?"

Xiao Jian Daoist held the Jade Talisman in his hand, glanced over it briefly, and seemed thoughtful.

「A moment later, in a corner of the Lotus Pond.」

Xiao Jian Daoist was softly speaking with an elderly woman, who kept nodding with a smile and even glanced a few times towards ’the air’ on the side.

Wu Wang, his presence concealed, made a formal bow to the old woman and walked past the venerable elder.

With just one step forward, the scenery immediately changed. The Lotus Pond expanded tenfold in Wu Wang’s sight, and in the center of that pond stood a quiet pavilion.

The pavilion wasn’t large, appearing to have only one serene room, with simple furnishings inside.

The elder outside secretly acted, lifting the Formation that enveloped this serene room.

Smelling that familiar fragrance, ripples emerged in Wu Wang’s Dao heart.

He crossed the winding floating bridge, pushed open the half-closed bamboo doors, moved away the curtain that fluttered with the wind, stepped on the crystallized stone bricks, and saw the delicate figure meditating on the meditation cushion.

She had grown much thinner, and her silhouette became more slender, with her simply tied long hair hanging behind her, embodying what it means to be untouched by even a speck of dust, lustrous and black.

In the corner of the quiet room, a lump of clay quietly floated, with a few shallow fingerprints still visible.

Not far from the clay was a wooden barrel, from which steam was currently rising, gathering pure water within.

Wu Wang could almost imagine the scene:

The Fairy Immortal, wearing her celestial robes, with her eyebrows tightly furrowed, enduring immense pain, slowly touching the clay with her fingertips, then swiftly flying to that wooden barrel, leaving her garments floating along the way.

On the wall in front of her, there was a painting. It depicted a young Daoist’s back as he stood with his sword under a sky filled with Stars, his long hair gently fluttering in the night breeze.

Wu Wang’s heart filled with sudden emotion. He dropped his concealment and called out softly with the gentlest possible voice:

"Xiaolan?"