World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 397: Connected Lands of Treasures

Wang Sheng had thought that the place where the immortals stored their cultivation texts would be a magnificent palace, something akin to a vast library. However, entering the Moon Palace and stepping into the Small Immortal Realm repeatedly overturned his expectations. When he finally reached the place where cultivation techniques were stored, the techniques of the Heavenly Court immortals astonished him again.

They were led to a vast sea of clouds. Following Yaoyun's instructions, Mu Wanxuan boarded a small boat alone, and the vessel drifted forward on its own. It seemed as though a lake was hidden below the clouds.

"Hua Qing—Wanxuan, reveal your Dao. The techniques aligned with your Dao will come to you on their own. Whether you can seize them depends on your fate."

"Mm," Mu Wanxuan responded softly.

Without Wang Sheng at her side, she felt a little nervous. Still, she stood calmly at the center of the small boat, unleashing the Dao of Balanced Yin and Yang. Yin-yang qi flowed about her, and a tiny Tai Chi diagram appeared above her.

From behind the white jade railing on the shore, Wang Sheng grew nervous as he watched. They had traveled hundreds of thousands of li to reach the Moon. Although it wouldn't matter that the trip turned out to be a waste if Mu Wanxuan failed to obtain an immortal art related to yin and yang, she'd suffer a brutal blow to her heart.

He tried to spread his spiritual perception, but he only managed to extend it a little more than ten meters before meeting unseen resistance. Hence, he could only watch the sea of clouds with his naked eyes.

Far ahead, ripples stirred the clouds. More than ten streaks of radiant light burst forth, leaping like fish out of water before plunging back into the mist. They soon wove through the clouds and circled the little boat.

Mu Wanxuan extended her right hand, and a jade tablet fell into her palm. As it glimmered brightly, ancient characters surfaced one after another before her. Wang Sheng stood on his toes to peek, but he only caught sight of the immortal art's name before the glowing characters dissolved into flowing light and sank between Mu Wanxuan's eyebrows.

With a crisp chime, the jade tablet slipped from her fingers and vanished back into the sea of clouds. The other tablets continued to circle the boat, but Mu Wanxuan had closed her eyes and fallen into deep contemplation.

Yaoyun laughed lightly as she stood atop Spiritless. "Don't worry. This place is called the Immortal-Nourishing Pool. It houses its own spirit. If your senior sister shows signs of falling into devilish deviation, the pool spirit will immediately pull her out of her meditation. If you wish to seek sword techniques, you may also enter. There's another boat over there."

"I'll wait," Wang Sheng whispered. "I'd rather not disturb Senior Sister."

Yaoyun simply laughed again. Returning to familiar grounds had clearly lightened her mood. Her stern expression eased, and her gaze became lively.

"There are many blessed lands here, though most are only useful to immortals. You can't make use of them yet," she said. "Once your senior sister finds a suitable technique, remind her not to rush into comprehension. There are other wondrous places of cultivation here. Stay here and look after her. I will go take a look at the Pool of Restoration."

"Mm," Wang Sheng replied warmly. "Thank you again, Yaoyun... Fairy."

"Hmph." Yaoyun flicked her sleeve and turned to the side on Spiritless. "Wait for me here; do not wander. Your cultivation is still too low. One misstep and the restrictions here will completely erase you."

Wang Sheng nodded.

Spiritless then instantly vanished, flying off somewhere.

Ahead, Mu Wanxuan seemed unsatisfied with the first immortal art she obtained. She reached out again, and another jade tablet leaped from the sea of clouds into her hand. Meanwhile, Wang Sheng sat down cross-legged and continued to observe her every movement.

He felt like some country bumpkin who had stumbled into the most wondrous treasure trove in all the realms.

It had seemed impressive enough when Xi Lian had piled her room with precious materials. However, even the white jade railing before him was of far higher quality than those treasures. He struggled to resist the urge to dig at it. After all, this was true heritage—the foundation that had allowed the Heavenly Court to dominate the Three Realms for millions of years.

Wang Sheng, who always thought far ahead, could not help but ponder the path he had to walk after attaining immortality. The Daoist heritage of Earth was inseparably linked with the Heavenly Court. Signs indicated that the immortals who had left the Realm of Exiled Immortals to counterattack had suffered a disastrous defeat. Their status remained unknown.

Though only over a thousand years had passed on Earth, more than a hundred thousand years had gone by in the endless starry sky. The Heavenly Court could have already become history, and the foreign races who had crushed the Heavenly Court had likely become the new orthodoxy of the Immortal Realm.

History was always written by the victors. Those who won became kings, while the defeated were labeled as barbarians. That applied to both the Immortal Realm and the boundless star domain.

Still, the Heavenly Court had once been incomparably mighty. Those who overthrew it would surely be sensitive to even the mention of its name. If even the slightest hint of Earth's connection to the Heavenly Court were exposed, the consequences would not be as simple as public humiliation or punishment.

Reckless actions led only to death. Slow infiltration was the true path to power.

The Heavenly Court immortals surely didn't stay near Earth for thousands of years just to recruit soldiers. It was but a single planet; its number of cultivators was far too meager.

The most reasonable explanation was that they were recovering from their wounds, gathering strength, and tempering their veteran soldiers before charging back into the fray. Though Earth's primal qi seemed abundant, it still couldn't endure the absorption of tens of thousands of immortals.

Realizing the dangers that lay ahead, Wang Sheng finally began to properly consider his future path.

What future awaits Earth's cultivation world in the endless stars?

Wang Sheng had already reached the forefront of that world. With his present qualifications, he was entitled to consider such matters.

He didn't know if armies of foreign races still lingered beyond. The possibility was slim, though. Otherwise, Earth would have long since been discovered.

We still have to gather enough intel on the endless star domains before we can determine whether we should open the resources of the Moon Palace to all Daoist heritages.

Wang Sheng naturally wouldn't be the one to decide. Only Yaoyun, the princess of the Heavenly Court, had that authority.

I'll think about this some other time. Losing myself in my graceful Senior Sister is the only way to forget this burden, though...

Unbeknownst to them, Mu Wanxuan's boat had drifted farther away. More jade tablets circled her, and she continued to reach out, taking every technique inscribed upon them. She only needed them to verify and enrich her own Dao; she wasn't planning to practice them all.

Gradually, Wang Sheng entered shallow meditation on the shore.

Rather than worrying endlessly about the future, it was better to devote himself to cultivation and strengthening himself. Only he and the sword in his hand could protect him and his loved ones from danger.

***

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Mu Wanxuan's boat slowly returned from the sea of clouds. A mysterious Dao Rhythm surrounded her, as though she'd break through at any moment.

In her starry eyes, yin-yang qi flickered.

Wang Sheng opened his eyes, ready to summon Yaoyun.

Before he could even properly think about it, Yaoyun said from the side, "I'm back."

She seemed to have returned at some point.

Yaoyun now radiated immortal light. She looked so solid that she almost seemed like a lifelike figurine brought to life.

"Follow me. I'll take you to a place for secluded cultivation."

Still maintaining her state of comprehension, Mu Wanxuan answered, "Mm."

She and Wang Sheng followed Spiritless to a nearby grand palace.

Around the palace swirled countless restrictions, yet the main gate was completely unbarred. It had a simple interior layout: a vast and empty yet unimaginably sturdy hall.

The martial siblings entered, and two meditation cushions floated up on their own. Mu Wanxuan sat cross-legged on one and immediately closed her eyes to cultivate.

Heavenly music resonated from the palace walls, instantly calming her heart. Pure primal qi then drifted in from every direction and instantly filled the palace with misty white qi, which Mu Wanxuan was free to draw upon.

"Go. If you stay here, half of the palace's effect will be wasted," Yaoyun gently instructed.

Wang Sheng slowly left the hall. The second cushion sank back down, and all the primal qi rushed toward his senior sister.

Before the palace, he stood with his hands behind his back and sighed. "This place is amazing."

"All of these are but external aids. The true heart of cultivation always lies within oneself." Lightly, she added, "Don't worry, I'm not neglecting you. I'll take you to a few good places, Sword Master."

"Mm?" Wang Sheng glanced at the palace. "Does this palace have a spirit?"

"Of course. Every corner of the Small Immortal Realm has its own spirit. Rest assured that most aren't spirit cultivators; they only carry out their duties."

"Alright. Where are we going?" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"I searched earlier and found several places we can enter. You'll probably benefit from them. I will describe them, and you can decide where to go first.

"The first is the Pool of Transcendence, which was prepared for the Earth cultivators who had been recruited into the Heavenly Court. You may enter it after you reach the Rebirth Realm. It'll make your cultivation take a great leap forward."

Wang Sheng pressed a hand to his forehead. "I'm still nowhere near the Rebirth Realm..."

"I wouldn't say that." A glint of pride flashed in Yaoyun's eyes. "Anyway, the second is the Platform of Heavenly Punishment. The Heavenly Court punished sinful immortals there. The power of heavenly tribulation that lingers there can temper your body."

"That sounds good. In that case—"

"The third is the Pavilion of Pills, where heavenly soldiers received their immortal pills. They were not overly potent since they were only meant for those below the True Immortal Realm, but their quality far surpassed the medicines of the cultivation world and left no side effects."

Wang Sheng's eyes lit up. "Let us go there!"

Ignoring him, Yaoyun added, "The fourth is the Platform of Immortal Dreams. This place is special. Cultivators of any realm may enter, and if you can pass the three trials at its entrance, you may enter and dream. The dream is as real as reality, yet you will not lose yourself within it.

"We had an old saying about the Platform of Immortal Dreams. 'One dream upon the Platform of Immortal Dreams, and even a Celestial Immortal may gain eternal life.' The lowest breakthrough record among those who entered was three minor realms."

Wang Sheng gasped sharply and seized Spiritless. If she did not take him there today, he would tear the sword apart.

In response to his arrogance, Yaoyun immediately "poured cold water" over him. "The trials are hard. I attempted them three times in the Immortal Realm, and I only managed to barely pass on the last try."

"What is there to fear?" Wang Sheng asked calmly. "I've never backed out of a problem before."

Yaoyun sneered. "Tch."

Spiritless sped forward, guiding Wang Sheng deeper into the second layer of the Immortal Realm.