At midnight, Mou Yue arrived at Wang Sheng's location with a group of people and took over the duty of protecting him.

Later that night, Qing Yanzi found him. He had come mainly out of concern for Wang Sheng's condition. After hearing that his injuries were gone and that his Primordial Spirit was currently integrating the Great Dao of Creation, Qing Yanzi finally relaxed.

Being a master had not been easy for him. The first two disciples he took in each had extraordinary backgrounds, and each was stronger than the last. Thankfully, the three he took in later all had fairly ordinary aptitude as immortal seedlings.

Before long, Zhou Yinglong and several senior figures from the Daoist sects arrived to check on him. Their concern was clear. Wang Sheng had no choice but to set aside his thoughts for now and exchange pleasantries with them.

At last, when the night grew quiet, only Qing Yanzi and Zhou Yinglong remained.

A thought stirred in Wang Sheng's heart. He wanted to tell his master everything and seek guidance on what he should do. Even if his master could not offer a solution, at least they could discuss it together.

But just as he was about to speak, the words caught in his throat.

His master's realm was still quite low, and he had been cultivating on Earth all this time. Wang Sheng had spent a thousand years outside, which had only been ten years for his master back home.

If he said these things, it would only make his master worry and disrupt his cultivation. It would not help in any real way.

"What is it?" Qing Yanzi opened his eyes from meditation on the sofa and looked over. "If you have something to say, then say it. It has only been a thousand years. Have you grown distant from your master?"

Zhou Yinglong chuckled. Qing Yanzi's humor was well known in the cultivation world.

Wang Sheng smiled bitterly. "Master, there are some things I am unsure whether I should tell you."

"Is it because my cultivation is too low, so even if I hear it, I cannot help?"

Wang Sheng hesitated. "That is part of it. I am also worried it will weigh on your mind." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Qing Yanzi smiled. "If that is the case, then there is no need to tell me. As things stand, I truly cannot help you much."

"No, Master, I—"

Still smiling, Qing Yanzi waved his hand. "Are you going to comfort me instead? I have been thinking of going out to cultivate for a while. Too many worldly matters have just been tying me down. Also, someone has to watch over the gate to the Small Immortal Realm. Now that you have returned and will be here recovering for some time, I can leave for a while and catch up on my cultivation."

Hearing this, a faint light flickered in Wang Sheng's eyes. He then remembered something.

"Master, Forefather is currently outside trying to deactivate the Time-Cycle Grand Array. If you go out to cultivate now, you might receive guidance from him!"

Qing Yanzi's eyes narrowed. "That is exactly what I had in mind. However, while I am gone, you will have to take care of the Pure Yang Sword Faction and the Small Immortal Realm."

Wang Sheng grinned. “Do not worry, Master. I will make sure all my junior brothers and sisters are well fed and thriving!"

Zhou Yinglong found an excuse to take his leave and did not stay to listen further. After all, they could be discussing private matters.

Once Zhou Yinglong left, Qing Yanzi lowered his voice. "Fei Yu, what was it you wanted to say just now?"

Wang Sheng thought for a moment and briefly explained his and Chun Yangzi's suspicions—that the Immortal Emperor might not have perished and could be plotting behind the scenes. He also mentioned his encounter with Feng Jiu.

However, he did not tell his master about what he had learned from Nuwa.

That matter was far too unbelievable and could easily disturb his master's Dao Heart.

Qing Yanzi frowned and pondered.

After a while, he murmured, "So much is happening behind the scenes."

He walked to the window, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed outside.

A trace of guilt stirred in Wang Sheng's heart. He felt that he should not have told his master these things, but he truly had no one else to discuss them with, nor did he know how to face what lay ahead.

Soon, Qing Yanzi sighed softly.

"You have had it hard, running about for all these matters with no one by your side to offer advice."

Wang Sheng sighed as well, looking somewhat dejected. "Master, please do not get sentimental. I am about to lose it."

"You have grown a bit more mischievous."

"So, Master, do you have any ideas?"

Qing Yanzi shook his head. "Give me some time to think."

Wang Sheng fell silent and sat in a daze.

His Primordial Spirit was busy with the Great Dao of Creation. Since he could not cultivate at the moment, all he could do was sit and think. Even trying to comprehend the Dao was out of the question.

Half an hour passed.

"Master?"

"Let me think for a bit more."

"Alright." Wang Sheng waited obediently.

Another half hour went by.

"Master, how about..."

"Do not rush me. I was about to grasp something, and you interrupted me!"

Wang Sheng lowered his head and accepted the scolding, then continued to wait.

He waited until dawn.

"For this matter," Qing Yanzi said slowly. He then turned to his disciple with a slightly embarrassed smile. "We need to take our time and carefully think it through."

Wang Sheng held back a laugh. His expression turned serious as he nodded. "Indeed, we have to take our time and carefully think it through!"

Qing Yanzi chuckled lightly. "Should this matter be kept from others?"

"Better not spread it if possible. There might already be people on Earth working for the Immortal Emperor."

His master frowned. "If that is the case, would that not make everyone untrustworthy?"

Wang Sheng thought it over. In the end, he could only nod. "Master, why not decide based on your own judgment? I would like to relax for a while. Once you have a plan, just let me know."

"You!"

Smiling, Qing Yanzi shook his head. He then told Wang Sheng to rest here while he went to discuss the matter with someone reliable.

Naturally, he was going to consult the ever resourceful mistress.

After sharing part of what weighed on his mind, Wang Sheng felt noticeably lighter. He spent another half day thinking about what to do next, then chose to set the matter aside for now.

As his master had said, there was no need to rush. He still had time.

That afternoon, Wang Sheng asked his master for leave, saying he wanted to go home and spend some time with his parents.

Qing Yanzi agreed at once. He prepared a phone and identification for Wang Sheng, then took him to meet his parents, who had just returned from abroad.

His parents were living quite well now. After all, both Wang Sheng and Xiaomiao had been contributing to Earth's cultivation world. The authorities would not neglect them.

From video calls, his parents even looked younger than before, and it was clear their lives had been comfortable. However, seeing them in person told a different story.

Wang Sheng could only marvel at how impressive modern beauty filters had become.

He had been gone for a thousand years, yet his parents had not truly aged. Perhaps this was one of the few benefits the Time-Cycle Grand Array left for those cultivators who ventured away from Earth.

When he saw his parents again, Wang Sheng had expected to feel overwhelmed with emotion. Instead, his heart only stirred faintly. Too much had happened, and his emotions no longer rose so easily.

After more than ten years apart, he appeared before them safe and whole, which naturally moved them deeply. Yet compared to their son, they seemed more concerned about their daughter. They kept asking Qing Yanzi and Wang Sheng whether Xiaomiao had caused any trouble recently, and whether anyone was looking after her.

Wang Sheng was rendered speechless.

Xiaomiao was practically the commander of an extraterrestrial base now. There was no need to worry about her.

His father asked, "How long are you staying this time?"

Wang Sheng thought for a moment. "Measured in Earth years, maybe a few decades."

"No, you can't!"

No, I... can't?

Wang Sheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Have I really become this unwelcome at my own home?

Fortunately, his father added, "You are not an ordinary cultivator anymore. You have responsibilities. You cannot neglect the greater good for personal matters!"

Wang Sheng lowered his head on the sofa and admitted his mistake, reflecting on how his awareness was not high enough and how his mindset needed improvement.

Thankfully, his master stepped in.

Qing Yanzi said, "Little Sheng suffered some minor injuries outside and needs to recuperate in quiet meditation. Otherwise, it could damage his Dao foundation. That said, he will be able to stay by your side for quite some time."

His mother asked anxiously, "Are the injuries serious?"

"Not serious, not serious," Wang Sheng quickly replied.

"A light injury should not take you off the front lines!"

His mother shot his father a glare before he could go on. "Enough already!"

The man laughed sheepishly and fell silent.

Finally, Wang Sheng was allowed to stay with his parents for a while.

It was nothing like he had imagined, where he would be surrounded by them the moment he returned, showered with concern and endless questions.

This was the reality of the mortal world.

Qing Yanzi had a meal with Wang Sheng and his parents, then took his leave to make arrangements for his own departure.

Wang Sheng himself had little to do. Nothing would happen at the Pure Yang Sword Faction, and his three junior siblings had already grown stronger. If he wished to return there later, he could do so anytime.

For the next half month, Wang Sheng finally relaxed completely.

He stayed at home with his parents, read the news, listened to old popular songs, went out to buy groceries, and wandered the streets at ease. Life felt peaceful.

At times, he would take out a few sheets of paper and jot down his thoughts in special symbols, using them as a way to shift his focus.

But after half a month, the novelty wore off. His parents clearly missed having time to themselves. They left him at home and went off traveling again.

They were truly too carefree.

Wang Sheng stayed home alone, bored out of his mind. At his level of cultivation, even finding a hobby was troublesome.

He could only write letters to his senior sister that he could not send. They were not particularly well written either, but he used them to ease his longing.

Lishang was awakening her bloodline within the planet's core.

Spiritless was accompanying his Primordial Spirit as it underwent its own transformation.

His junior brother and sisters were not very familiar with him yet. Whenever he visited, they grew tense.

Fortunately, just as Wang Sheng was sinking into boredom, Xi Lian and Qinglin came to see him. They also brought news that immediately caught his interest.

According to the latest report from Xiaomiao and her team, several mysterious experts had ambushed Qinghua. He killed two of them and escaped unharmed.

The ones he eliminated were both immortals of the Heavenly Court—people who had long been presumed dead.