CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54: THE YOUNG MASTER ARRIVES IN THE HUMAN DOMAIN

The glaring sunlight, the large wooden raft bobbing with the waves, and Wu Wang lying on a simple bed in the center of the raft, his stomach pressed down by a three-stringed instrument, his head covered by a piece of sheepskin.

Spiritual Sense spread out around him as a precaution and for navigation; three bamboo dragonfly-like artifacts settled behind the raft, pushing it along steadily toward the west.

Twelve hours had passed since his separation from Jingwei, and he missed her.

What had the old senior said when he threw him into the sea? It was something like this: they were not far from the coast of the East Sea now, and he told Wu Wang to enter the Human Domain on his own and to cultivate peacefully from then on.

Wu Wang actually understood. His father-in-law saw in him the hope of breaking through the power limits of the Human Emperor. Perhaps the Human race could control another top-tier combat Dao after the Dao of Fire—the Star Dao.

He had been feigning ignorance to some extent. The reason was simple: the outcome of this matter was uncertain, and he knew the path ahead would be fraught with difficulties. Making empty promises would be like counting one’s chickens before they hatched, wouldn’t it?

But then again, if he lived incognito, how would he find Jingwei?

Although he had declared with conviction that he would find her no matter what, upon careful consideration, anyone could understand. His father-in-law, who had overcome his lifespan limit and fully mastered the Dao of Fire, would certainly bring Jingwei’s reincarnated self back to the Human Domain in one fell swoop.

Now, if he wanted to find Jingwei, he inevitably had to go through his father-in-law.

From what he knew of the venerable Shen Nong so far, wouldn’t he throw a few stumbling blocks in Wu Wang’s path?

If his father-in-law deliberately put him through some kind of test, or couldn’t bear to let his precious daughter marry into the Northern Wilderness, then... he couldn’t be blamed for eloping with Jingwei!

Speaking of which, would Jingwei still use her name after reincarnation?

Her parents after reincarnation would also be her biological parents; would *she* be reluctant to leave *them*? How exactly does that Underworld Gate work?

I really should find a way to follow and see for myself. How can I be at ease otherwise.

Wu Wang sighed softly and played a sad love song on the three-stringed instrument, as a fighting spirit gradually kindled in the depths of his eyes.

No matter what, he now had an additional motivation to strive and cultivate—cure this strange illness sooner!

After reincarnation, Jingwei would become a normal woman, and his own weird illness would once again torment someone!

But...

Wu Wang sighed again, hugging the three-stringed instrument as he lay back down. He had just parted with Jingwei, and he felt somewhat dispirited.

Closing his eyes, he could only see images of her swinging her legs while sitting on a tree branch, his heart filled with the sweet memories of the past few years.

Cultivation also demands a balance between tension and relaxation. In the last few years within the Barrier, his cultivation had advanced perhaps a bit too quickly. Now, with his spirits low, his Dao heart also felt somewhat empty and desolate. If he forced himself to comprehend the Great Dao, it would be easy to drain the pond to catch the fish.

Balancing work with rest was quite important.

It was known that even Immortals seeking seclusion for cultivation only did so to find a tranquil place to focus. They couldn’t force Enlightenment if they weren’t in the right state. Everything depended on the right conditions.

Immortal, Cultivator, mortal.

Wu Wang saw the gray horizon in the distance.

At last, he was about to enter the Human Domain—an environment that starkly contrasted with the Great Wilderness.

Since leaving the Northern Wilderness, he had passed through the West Sea, been deceived by the old senior, mingled in the Women’s country, and been abducted by the old senior again. His journey had been fraught with hardships and quite full of twists and turns.

He had found a girl he loved, witnessed the flamboyance of the old senior, arranged for the deification in the Women’s country, and had fun playing around for a while with Brother Ji and Fairy Ling.

Thinking about it, he somewhat missed Brother Ji... in fact, he wanted to show off to Brother Ji about having found a sweetheart.

They must have left the Women’s country by now.

The subsequent affairs of the Women’s country could be resolved by a few Immortals. Brother Ji was the young master of the Ji Family, and Ling Xiaolan held a fairly high status in the Tianyan Xuan Nu Sect, so they would likely not stay too long in a worldly place like the Women’s country.

The old senior changing the Pavilion Master of the Four Seas Pavilion was also a good thing.

The old aunt must have arrived at the Clear Wind and Moon Sect, right? The old senior gave her some benefits. I wonder how her cultivation is now, and whether she has a decent Dao foundation.

Suddenly, Wu Wang realized that even before reaching the Human Domain, he had already made a handful of good friends and had a superficially unreliable but dependable old senior who enjoyed tricking the younger generation.

Because of this, his heart longed even more for the land where the water met the sky.

Wu Wang gathered his spirits. He stood up, clasped his hands behind his back in the center of the raft, and thought for a moment. He then took a mask out of his sleeve, put it on his face, and changed into an ordinary Daoist robe that offered little protection.

From this moment on, he was a cultivator of the Human race who had emerged from an island in the East Sea, bearing the Daoist name Wu Wangzi.

Now entering the Human Domain, he sought the Immortal Dao and the secret to eternal life. Worldly bothers were unrelated to him, and casual matters by the roadside were not his concern. He would seek survival with a low profile and calmly pursue the great... Dao...

"By the command of the Human Emperor! A message to all cultivators throughout the Human Domain!"

A sudden roar exploded from the East Sea coast. The voice was rough and vigorous, shaking one’s spiritual mind and echoing long in the heavens and earth.

Listening closely, he realized the sound arose from within his heart.

What divine skill!

Wu Wang looked intently but could barely see a dazzling point of light high in the sky. That point was an unknown distance from him, visible only because of a subtle connection established with his spiritual mind.

This person must be broadcasting a message to all cultivators within a certain area simultaneously.

He wondered if those in secluded meditation for Enlightenment would be disturbed; the broadcaster likely had a way to filter and discern targets.

Impressive cultivation!

But in the next instant, black lines started to appear on Wu Wang’s forehead, instantly engulfing him as his mouth fell slightly open.

The Immortal then transmitted:

"Listen up! These are the exact words of His Majesty! Uninvolved parties should not guess wildly! COUGH, COUGH COUGH. In the sentences that follow, I’ll be using ’I’ to represent His Majesty’s own words.

"I am back, HAHAHA, HAHAHAHA.

"The mission is accomplished, and along the way, I even killed two minor Gods. It’s just that the damn door exploded after a single use.

"Little Golden Dragon, you better cultivate obediently in the Human Domain. If you haven’t reached the Immortal Realm, there’s no need for us to meet, lest I get too happy and slap you to death with two palms.

"HAHAHA, HAHAHAHAHA.

"One, two, three, four... nine ’ha’s, that’s right. The above is His Majesty’s decree, relayed by nine hundred of us cultivators spreading it across the entire Human Domain.

"If you understand, then listen; if you don’t, don’t ask too many questions. The interests involved are significant, and you wouldn’t understand even if I told you!

"That’s all, cultivate hard!"

SIZZLE—

The subtle connection in his spiritual mind was severed in an instant. The point of light in the sky turned into a shooting star, flying off to the west, clearly not following the coast as it conveyed the message.

Wu Wang: ...

SNAP! He fiercely slammed the three-stringed instrument in his hands onto the raft, grinding his teeth.

He had been schemed against again!

This old senior did this on purpose, right? Definitely on purpose!

Given the old senior’s heaven-defying ability to traverse great distances, Wu Wang was not overly surprised by his swift return from Yu Yuan.

But was there a need to announce it so grandly? As if the ’Golden Dragon’ didn’t attract enough hostility, he had to draw fire onto him!

Was this meant for him to hear?

In reality, this message was for the entire Human race in the Human Domain and the formidable enemies beyond, containing no less than five layers of implied meaning.

The first layer corresponded to the previously released news: a Golden Dragon would rise in the Human Domain, one strongly associated with Shen Nong. This connection would easily lead people to speculate about a teacher-student relationship or an inheritance.

The second and third layers suggested that the Golden Dragon should cultivate slowly to the Immortal Realm. This essentially hinted that the Golden Dragon might be hidden among the Human Domain’s younger generation of cultivators, and that Shen Nong himself had overcome his lifespan limit, allowing him to leisurely wait for his heir to mature.

The fourth layer was to boost the Human Domain’s morale by demonstrating that the Human Emperor remained one of the top experts in the Great Wilderness.

The fifth layer, naturally, was the most superficial: to inform Wu Wang of this news, bluntly tell him not to expect to see Jingwei anytime soon, and thereby put pressure on him.

Abuse of power? Not at all; this Human Emperor was layers upon layers of cunning.

But Wu Wang was still pleased. At least Jingwei was fine, and he could breathe a sigh of relief.

Human Domain.

He had arrived!

「Meanwhile, in a secluded forest within the Human Domain.」

Shen Nong sat shirtless in a pond brimming with Spiritual Energy. Behind him, two generals in blood-colored Battle Armor were treating the bone-deep wound on his shoulder.

Xihe... her strength is indeed formidable.

Outside the thatched hut, a slightly younger general hurried forward, knelt on one knee at the entrance, and said firmly, "Your Majesty! The news has been spread throughout the lands of the Human Domain!"

"Mhm, go cultivate," Shen Nong spoke gently and then slowly exhaled, a flicker of Divine Light in his eyes.

A bearded elderly general beside him stroked his whiskers and pondered aloud, "Such a strategy combining the real with the deceptive, I wonder if those Evil Gods will be fooled."

"I have not spoken a single falsehood," Shen Nong replied with a smile. "Whether they are fooled or not is not important; the key is that the message is out."

The elderly general said with concern, "Your Majesty, traces of Beast Hordes have been discovered simultaneously in the Northern and Western Regions. It seems that within ten years, the Ten Evil Gods will launch another offensive..."

"These creatures are truly innumerable! How long has there been peace?" someone muttered with a hint of frustration.

The bearded elderly general spoke, "The Heavenly Emperor has interfered with the breeding cycle of the beasts near the Human Domain—spawning once every few years, forming a horde every few decades—aiming to restrain us. The border soldiers have longed for the opportunity to earn their merits for many years now. This is both our ordeal and our whetstone. Compared to this, the urgency lies in Your Majesty deciding on a successor."

"Easier said than done."

Shen Nong let out a weary sigh as a clean linen wrap was tied around his shoulder, the Treasure Elixir within glowing faintly.

The Human Emperor seemed to think of something and suddenly chuckled twice.

The generals exchanged glances, each revealing a hint of joy.

Could it be? Had he found someone?

But Shen Nong’s next words left them feeling dizzy and weak in the knees.

"Let’s leave it to fate, to see if our Human race truly has such fortune."

Leave it... leave it to fate.

Shen Nong waved his hand dismissively. The generals dared not speak further; they bowed their heads in respect and retreated from the wooden hut.

After they had left, a middle-aged woman in splendid attire emerged from a corner of the hut. She curtsied to Shen Nong and spoke softly, "Your Majesty, Princess Jingwei’s Fetus spirit has been properly arranged, but... are you truly not going to seek a method for someone to carry it? If it only grows in the Spirit Pool, it will take decades before it can be born."

Shen Nong gestured lightly with his fingers, and several porcelain bottles flew out from the bookcase beside him, landing in the middle-aged woman’s hands.

"That wouldn’t be fair to the person who would bear it for nine months. My daughter being granted another life is already a great fortune. The Underworld Gate has self-destructed; there’s no way to turn a remnant soul into a Fetus spirit anymore."

Shen Nong turned his head slightly, sighing, "Our personal bond is deep. She is my last kin. Please take care of her with utmost caution. I’m entrusting her to you."

"Your Majesty!" The middle-aged woman, visibly moved, spoke in a low voice, "Even if it cost me my life, I would never allow any harm to befall the Princess! I shall guard her day and night upon my return!"

"You, I can trust. Go on, thank you."

The middle-aged woman bowed and, clutching the Elixirs, hurried away. Her form turned into a wisp of mist and vanished.

Peace settled once more over the wooden hut and its small courtyard.

Shen Nong sighed softly, his eyes reflecting deep thought, and couldn’t help muttering to himself, If there’s a chance, I still need to move that guy’s handcrafted hall back here.

「On the shores of the East Sea, at a bustling port.」

Wu Wang floated towards the port on a wooden raft, naturally attracting quite a few gazes.

He wore a mask with an Ice Crystal membrane that had thickened a bit. Though he originally possessed the cultivation of the late Condensation Establishment Realm, the Praying Star Technique capable of fighting cultivators in the Ascending Immortal Realm, and the Golden Dragon Body that could trouble Immortals, he now only exuded the aura of the early Condensation Establishment Realm.

In Wu Wang’s understanding, the pinnacle of disguise was to have clear eyes and a guilt-free heart, exhibiting the specific persona one intended to impersonate.

His voice, tone of speech, and demonstrated way of thinking all had to align with that goal.

Just like now, he regarded himself as an ordinary cultivator of the Condensation Establishment Realm, riding on the slowly sinking raft towards the shore.

His feet didn’t touch a single drop of seawater as he appeared to calmly step forward, landing steadily onto the wooden planks of the dock.

The people around took a closer look at Wu Wang, then, their interest waning, they turned their heads away.

Wu Wang was pleased with this. He walked forward at a leisurely pace.

Most of those he saw were mortals, but there were also quite a few cultivators.

These cultivators were either gathering near the large ships docked here or resting in the town.

In the forests behind the town, there was a ’military camp’ where cultivators gathered.

Inside were over a hundred cultivators in armor, the majority in the Condensation Establishment Realm. A few team leaders were at the Golden Core level, and there was even one elder in the Nascent Soul Realm, clad in Battle Armor and meditating.

Condensation Establishment Realm cultivators as soldiers, Nascent Soul Realm cultivators as generals.

This was merely the garrison army of a small frontier town.

Wu Wang made a rough comparison and felt that the overall strength of the Northern Wilderness was several notches below that of the Human Domain.

The power he currently displayed was only on par with a minor soldier from the Human Domain’s border, so it was natural that he didn’t attract attention.

Arriving at a new place, one naturally starts by savoring the local delicacies while taking the opportunity to inquire about the local customs of the Human Domain and decide on a destination for one’s cultivation.

Wu Wang was also hesitating at the moment, uncertain whether to go to a Major Immortal Sect or a smaller one.

Major Immortal Sects had their advantages: strong teaching resources, numerous renowned masters within, and peers of the same generation with whom to discuss the Dao and spar, all conducive to rapid cultivation.

Minor Immortal Sects also had their charms, favorable for concealing one’s uniqueness and quietly amassing a fortune.

As for Demonic Sects, Wu Wang wasn’t considering them.

It wasn’t that he was prejudiced against them, but the path of a Demonic Cultivator entailed ’following one’s heart without overstepping bounds.’ Some sects, like the Hehuan Sect for instance, had an overly liberal ethos, which wasn’t suitable for a Serious Young Master like him.

The reputation of Demonic Sects indeed wasn’t as good as that of Immortal Sects. Wu Wang, as the Young Master of the Northern Wilderness, a married man, and the prospective son-in-law of the Human Emperor, also had to consider his reputation should his identity be exposed.

As Wu Wang mused, he picked up a piece of tender fish with his chopsticks, chewed it a few times, and slightly shook his head... it was nowhere near as good as Fairy Immortal’s Happy Fish.

However, these noodles were quite good, a delicacy rarely tasted in the Northern Wilderness.

Perhaps he should just go to the Clear Wind and Moon Sect and find a place to cultivate there. After all, now that he primarily cultivated the Yan Emperor’s technique, he needn’t worry...

Hm?

Wu Wang’s spiritual perception subtly stirred; his Spiritual Sense had already caught a slight anomaly. He raised his arm to pick up the bowl of seafood noodles in front of him and jumped backward.

BOOM! The window railing collapsed.

A figure fell from the sky, crashing directly into the restaurant and landing precisely on the table in front of Wu Wang. The impact sent the person tumbling, collapsed the table, splashed soup everywhere, and even caused cracks to appear on the floor.

The man held a broadsword, a faint bloody aura clinging to him. His chest was covered in blood, marked by several claw wounds. He turned his head and vomited several mouthfuls of blood.

The patrons in the restaurant quickly retreated. They were all too familiar with such scenes, their actions swift for fear of getting involved.

In the time it took Wu Wang to take just one more bite of noodles, he was caught by this brawny man, who tremblingly said to him, "Quick, notify the guard... to the southeast... the Beast Horde... is coming!"