CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 77 WU WANGZI, I’M HERE TO NEGOTIATE TERMS!

What’s wrong with being a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator?

Wu Wang just wanted to ask the cultivators of the Human Domain: what was so wrong with their Nascent Soul Realm cultivators!

Was it simply because their cultivation level was a bit lower than the Ascending Immortal Realm? Because their overall strength wasn’t as good as that of the Ascending Immortal Realm? Or because they might not be able to break through to the Ascending Immortal Realm eventually?

Just because of that, they had to be bullied by those in the Ascending Immortal Realm?

Is this Great Wilderness ever going to get any better?

As Wu Wang thought about his recent experience, he couldn’t help but shake his hands, sprinkling the previously prepared fragrant powder and seasoning onto the grill before him. The roasting Spirit Beast on it let out a sizzling noise.

He was sitting in front of his wooden hut, having a barbecue.

Not far away, at the edge of the forest, a figure was hung from a treetop, slowly spinning. A piece of cloth was stuck to their body, on which was scrawled in large, crooked characters: "I am Ascending Immortal Realm."

A prominent figure of the Human Domain, one of the holders of the Human Emperor’s Order, the young master of the Lin Family, a cultivation genius seen once in a thousand years...

Is this all he amounts to?

Even during their last duel, he couldn’t figure out who had launched the Divine Thought attack. In such close-quarters combat, he had been outmaneuvered by a simple backward step and knocked unconscious with a slap to the back of his head.

In their Northern Wilderness, that kind of incompetence would earn you a blow to the head with a Wolf Fang Club, and you’d wake up to find yourself miraculously blessed with a child!

Regrettably, Wu Wang hadn’t had the chance to ask Lin Qi how he had planned to deal with him, so he couldn’t give him a taste of his own medicine. He could only improvise a bit, which had led to this spectacle.

"Hmm?"

A head poked out from the wooden door of the neighboring hut. Ji Mo looked puzzledly towards the distant figure hanging at the edge of the forest, then to Wu Wang, who was barbecuing in front of his hut. A smile touched his lips, and he strolled over with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Brother Wuwang, barbecuing?"

Wu Wang took a jug of fine liquor from the ring on his hand and tossed it over. "Care for some?"

"You bet!"

Ji Mo agreed, floated over to Wu Wang’s side, and pulled over a low stone to sit on. Looking at the figure hanging at the edge of the woods, he said with a laugh, "This fellow really knows how to pick his opponents. I actually thought he might come after me. I wanted to warn you earlier, Brother Wuwang, to be careful not to be fooled by him. But then I thought, if I warned you, wouldn’t that be underestimating you? Hahaha!"

Wu Wang huffed. "A leopard can’t change its spots. How could he change his nature so easily? Unsolicited attention means he’s up to no good—either a treacherous plot or outright thievery." He then added indifferently, "With the intention of preserving more potential for the Human Domain, I don’t want to kill this guy. Let his family deal with him later."

Ji Mo smiled. "The current head of the Lin Family, General Lin Nuhao, is a trustworthy elder, known for his strong sense of justice, eagerness to help others, and great magnanimity. This Lin Qi has a somewhat gloomy disposition; I wonder who he takes after."

Wu Wang stretched, about to call Lin Suqing to bring another chair. Then he remembered Lin Suqing was in seclusion at the Annihilation Sect.

It will be another half a year before she returns to the Annihilation Sect. I wonder if Lin Suqing will feel out of place there, being surrounded by cultivators who absorb turbid spiritual energy while she, a cultivator of pure spiritual energy, would be the odd one out.

As for the safety of the Annihilation Sect, Wu Wang wasn’t too worried.

Never mind that the Annihilation Sect itself was quite strong, or that Elder Shen Nong, who understood his temperament, would surely prevent any harm from befalling the sect.

Just consider the general atmosphere in the Human Domain.

The Human Domain wasn’t some ’Jianghu’ where one could arbitrarily fight and kill. Immortals and Demons didn’t inherently represent good and evil, and no one could stand on the moral high ground to criticize the other. If there was no deep-seated enmity, internal strife had to be avoided. Even with profound hatred, one must not harm the innocent.

Thinking of this, Wu Wang asked via voice transmission, "Brother Ji, Fairy Ling seems to harbor some resentment towards the Demon Path?"

"Ah," Ji Mo transmitted back, "it’s related to her childhood experiences. Before Fairy Ling joined the Tianyan Xuan Nu Sect, her family suffered a tragedy. Her father and several uncles were all killed by a Demonic Cultivator. Her father had previously served in the military, but after sustaining severe injuries, his cultivation was depleted, and he ultimately had no choice but to retire to the mountains. My father was incensed that such a loyal and good man died unjustly. He ordered a thorough investigation, and the Demonic Cultivator who had senselessly harmed people was caught and executed."

As he said this, Ji Mo tilted his head back and took a swig of liquor.

"Since then, my family supported Fairy Ling’s household for over a decade, until Fairy Ling, due to her outstanding talent, caught the attention of the seniors at the Tianyan Xuan Nu Sect. That’s how I’ve known Fairy Ling since we were young. Because of this, she harbors some antipathy towards Demonic Cultivators."

Wu Wang nodded slowly and tore off a strip of barbecued meat, putting it into his mouth.

Ji Mo, looking somewhat worried, whispered, "Brother Wuwang, do you know why the recent spat between Immortals and Demons started?"

"I do."

"Oh? You’re that well-informed, Brother Wuwang?"

"The cause is related to me," Wu Wang said calmly, shrugging. "Do you remember Lin Suqing?"

Ji Mo replied with a smile, "You mean the teacher you had when you were at home?"

"That’s right," whispered Wu Wang. "Her sect was one of the two that were plundered..."

Wu Wang briefly recounted the tragedies that befell the Flowing Wind Sword Sect and the Clear Wind and Moon Sect. Ji Mo’s face showed deep thought, and he remained silent for a long time.

"Brother Ji," Wu Wang took a sip of the clear, refreshing liquor, "what do you think is the biggest problem facing the Human Domain right now?"

"You’re really putting me to the test, Brother Wuwang."

Ji Mo smiled, thought earnestly for a moment, and after taking several sips of liquor, finally replied, "The greatest dilemma of the Human Domain today lies not with external threats, but within. The conflict between the Immortal Dao and Demon Path isn’t solely a dispute over philosophy, yet it also stems from a clash in cultivation ideologies. Since the establishment of the Human Domain and the dissemination of cultivation methods, both the Immortal and Demonic paths have been successfully established, and two complete systems have formed.

"Cultivation of the Immortal Dao, needless to say, easily leads one to purity of mind and a reduction of worldly desires, thereby fostering the notion of seclusion from the world.

"As for Demonic Cultivation... it involves absorbing turbid spiritual energy into the body and following the path of unbridled will. This indeed can affect one’s state of mind. If one’s will is not firm, it’s easy to become addicted to killing, thereby warping oneself.

"Looking at it now, an increase in desires is indeed more troublesome than a reduction. The Demon Path might face increasing difficulties in the future. Brother Wuwang, how does that answer sound?"

"Excellent."

Wu Wang lifted the wine pot and gently clinked it against Ji Mo’s, smiling. "It’s just that your perspective is a bit narrow."

Ji Mo’s smile had just reached his lips, but then his head drooped in dejection, and he sighed. "Then you tell me, Brother Wuwang, what is the biggest problem? If your answer isn’t convincing, I’ll have to make you drink a few penalty cups."

"Although the conflict between Immortals and Demons is troublesome, and the clash between the two systems seems irreconcilable, resolving it isn’t actually that difficult."

Wu Wang tore off a roasted leg of a Spirit Beast and handed it to Ji Mo, speaking warmly, "Cultivation of the Immortal Dao can easily make one indifferent, while Demonic Cultivation can lead to indulgence in personal desires. For the Human Domain itself, neither is inherently superior or inferior.

"Immortal Dao practitioners who are unwilling to protect the Human race, no matter how high their cultivation or noble their character, are nothing more than decorations.

"Similarly, Demonic Cultivators whose desires become inflated can easily lose their sense of self and bully the weak, contributing little to the Human Domain.

"However, with sufficient pressure and ideologies instilled from a young age to prevent cultivators from veering towards these two extremes, they can become valuable combat forces for the Human Domain.

"Therefore, when the squabbles between Immortals and Demons first started, the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion didn’t intervene much. This wasn’t because the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion was negligent or lacked means. It was simply that the upper echelons of the Human Domain believed the discord between Immortals and Demons wouldn’t affect the overall situation."

After careful deliberation, Ji Mo couldn’t help but nod slightly.

Ji Mo asked, "Then, how can the strife between Immortals and Demons be resolved?"

"The root lies in their cultivation philosophies, so such a struggle between Immortals and Demons is difficult to eradicate fundamentally."

Wu Wang looked up at the starry sky, smiling. "But isn’t the conflict between Immortals and Demons already temporarily suppressed for now?"

Ji Mo was a bit stunned. He thought for a while, and then, with sudden realization, said, "Is it because of the speech His Majesty gave?"

"Correct," Wu Wang smiled. "His Majesty the Human Emperor used the most direct and effective method to temporarily dissolve the dispute between the Immortal and Demonic paths. ’Northern Expedition in a thousand years.’ Once these words were spoken, the entire Human Domain will rapidly unite within the next hundred years.

"The conflict between Immortals and Demons can be guided into healthy competition, letting everyone compete to see who contributes more to the Human Domain.

"Increasing troops at the border can also serve as a deterrent against the Foreign Gods and force the increasingly rampant Ten Evils Hall to reveal their traces.

"During these thousand years, the Human Emperor can carefully nurture the next generation of successors. A thousand years later, the Human Emperor will undoubtedly use all his strength to minimize the threat from the Foreign Gods, creating a stable environment for the next successor.

"This was the main reason for the Human Emperor’s appearance and those remarks. It seemed to be aimed outward, yet in reality, it was directed inward."

Ji Mo couldn’t help scratching his head and chuckled lightly. Looking at Wu Wang’s profile, he sighed, "Brother Wuwang, with your explanation, I’ve finally understood everything. His Majesty the Human Emperor has great foresight, and your insights, Brother Wuwang, are extraordinary. It truly makes a mere mortal like myself feel quite ashamed."

"You flatter me, Brother Ji," Wu Wang said sheepishly but didn’t elaborate further, simply continuing to drink and chat with Ji Mo.

At some point, the two of them had become slightly tipsy. They were singing merrily with their drink when a passing patrol team scolded them back into their lodgings.

But the patrol team seemed to intentionally overlook Lin Qi, who was still hanging from the treetops, and simply left the area.

—They were all clever people; they dared not offend either the Ji Family or the Lin Family.

「Early the next morning.」

The domed area of the encampment was quite lively. Many cultivators gathered at the ’crime scene,’ intensely watching the unconscious holder of the Yan Emperor’s Command. This continued until someone, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward to wake Lin Qi. Only then did Lin Qi open his eyes.

This fellow didn’t panic.

To be precise, he didn’t regard the surrounding cultivators seriously, viewing them as mere puppets. His face sullen, he walked back into his own wooden hut.

Wu Wang saw this and smiled faintly, acting as if nothing had happened. He went with Xu Mu to bask in the sun and enjoy some Spirit Fruit, whiling away the daylight hours.

Fairy Ling was, of course, focused on her seclusion, digesting the various insights gained from her breakthrough.

「And so, the second night arrived.」

Wu Wang was meditating in his wooden hut, pondering the ways of formations and the basics of weapon refinement, when he heard a familiar voice transmitting from outside his Formation.

"Wu Wangzi, I would like to have a word with you."

"Sure," Wu Wang calmly deactivated the Formation. He waited for Lin Qi to push open the wooden door and then reactivated it.

Lin Qi looked at Wu Wang with extreme wariness, his slender eyes narrowing into a line. He said coldly, "You actually possess such overwhelming Divine Thought. I miscalculated before. Tonight, I will compete with you on fair terms. If I win, I’ll hang you from a tree for the night, and our grudges will be settled."

Wu Wang thought for a moment and smiled. "Constantly bombarding your Nascent Soul with Divine Thought might turn you into an idiot."

A cool smirk touched Lin Qi’s lips. "That will never happen again!"

Wu Wang sat on a wooden chair and said indifferently, "Make your move."

"Sword!"

"Old Turtle Fist!"

THUD. Lin Qi’s figure was sent flying, disbelief etched all over his face.

So, so fast! This person was five to six times faster than when he had fought alongside Ling Xiaolan the other day!

In the instant his nose bridge was struck by the fist, Lin Qi could still see several lingering afterimages. The dim light of the magic treasure lanterns swayed. His opponent rose to his feet, rushed forward, and threw a straightforward punch without any flair. Because of the immense speed, Lin Qi had no chance to react at all...

His protective Mana was collapsing, a severe pain shot through his nose bridge, and his Ascending Immortal Realm body was actually unable to withstand the violent force of this punch...

WHOOSH. The wooden door was instantly smashed into splinters. Before Lin Qi’s figure even hit the ground, that familiar Divine Thought came rushing at him head-on, tearing through the dozen or so layers of Mana protecting his Nascent Soul as if they were paper.

Body Cultivation?

A Body Cultivator with Divine Thought strength close to the True Immortal Realm?

After Lin Qi landed, he skidded tens of meters, ploughing deep marks into the ground and smashing the roots of several Great Trees. He craned his neck, staring at Wu Wang’s wooden hut...

With a tilt of his head, Lin Qi once again passed out, nosebleeds dyeing the front of his otherwise clean robe red.

Wu Wang’s mouth twitched.

A narrow victory, a narrow victory indeed. Fortunately, I sparred with the Grand Elder for a few days prior and grasped the ’threshold’ for triggering the Golden Dragon Transformation—specifically, how much star power I could channel into my body without initiating it.

Wu Wang walked out with his hands behind his back, muttering to himself, "That was truly a match of equals."

The figures secretly watching this place almost jumped out to beat him up.

Wu Wang went to Lin Qi’s wooden hut, dismantled its door, carried it back to his own abode, and with skilled carpentry, replaced his own door. He then continued his cultivation and meditation as if nothing had happened.

The dense Spiritual Energy in the military camp was indeed immensely beneficial for cultivation.

「By dawn.」

All signs of last night’s duel had vanished. The tens-of-meters-long gash in the ground had been filled in, the fallen Great Trees uprooted, and new saplings planted. Only Lin Qi remained, lying unconscious in the forest until noon.

Lin Qi climbed up from the ground, clutching his crooked nose. He glared at Wu Wang’s wooden hut, then snorted coldly and turned back into his own hut.

「And so, the third night.」

"Wu Wangzi! Do you dare to open the Formation..."

"Come in."

"Hmph!"

Lin Qi pushed open the wooden door and rushed in. His head was wrapped in layers of white linen, and his eyes held a trace of fear, but beneath the fear, a strong fighting spirit burned.

"You’ve hidden your talents well. You’ve truly made me re-evaluate you."

"Still want to fight?"

Wu Wang put down the book in his hands and asked, puzzled, "Why do you keep picking on me, a mere Nascent Soul Realm cultivator? If you’re so capable, go challenge Fairy Ling."

"Picking on you!"

Lin Qi was so angry he almost laughed.

Wu Wang said, "I’m in the Nascent Soul Realm, and you’re in the Ascending Immortal Realm. You come here every day deliberately looking for trouble with me. If that isn’t picking on me, what is?"

Lin Qi clenched his fists. "Today, I definitely will not..."

"Reason."

"What?"

"Give me a reason to fight you without killing you."

Wu Wang lowered his head slightly, his face half in shadow and half in light. The smile at the corner of his lips seemed particularly sinister, and his voice was like an icy wind from the nine hells.

"The Lin Family backing you isn’t such a big deal in my eyes. Although my cultivation is only at the Nascent Soul Realm, my Divine Thought and physical strength far exceed yours. You are no match for me. If I were to accidentally kill you after your repeated provocations, the Lin Family wouldn’t dare to utter a single word of grievance. Lin Qi, three strikes is my limit. If you’re here to settle a personal score, then tonight, I’ll either kill you, or you’ll kill me."

Lin Qi couldn’t help but take half a step back, his mind echoing with that simple, unadorned cry:

Old Turtle Fist... Fist... Fist...

Wu Wang smiled. "However, if you’re here for a contest, you could put up some stakes. Then our match becomes a paid sparring session. How about it?"

"Fine!"

Lin Qi agreed immediately, then added, "But all my Storage magic treasures have been taken away."

"One Storage magic treasure and all the treasures within it will count as one stake. We’ll settle up when you leave," Wu Wang said. "I’ll put up treasures of equal value as my stake."

"Fine! But this time, I say when to start!"

Lin Qi agreed, Mana swirling around him as his Ascending Immortal Realm cultivation fully ignited!

Wu Wang’s expression turned solemn as he stood up, this time also adopting a charging stance.

"Ready?"

"Start!" Lin Qi bellowed. Endless sword lights condensed around him, and the wooden hut instantly exploded!

「A short while later.」

Wu Wang glanced at Lin Qi lying in the large pit, then at his own demolished wooden hut. With his hands behind his back, he drifted towards Ji Mo’s room. It looked like he’d have to bunk with him for the night.

At the bottom of the pit, Lin Qi let out a few reluctant growls, but he was completely unable to move.

「And so, the fourth night.」

"Wu Wangzi!"

"One item."

"Start!"

「The fifth night.」

"Wu—!"

BANG!

「The sixth night, the seventh night, the eighth night... Half a month later.」

As night fell, Lin Qi walked somewhat woodenly towards the new wooden hut nestled between several ponds. He looked at the token Formation that was merely for show, then at the wooden hut itself, his legs trembling slightly.

He truly had nothing left to lose.

All his Storage magic treasures were gone, his thirty-six Immortal Swords were gone, the estates and properties under his control were gone, and he had even lost his Taoist name, acquiring a new one: ’Void Sword’.

A voice transmission entered Lin Qi’s ear, "You might as well give up. You’re no match for that Demonic Sect Master. The fact that he hasn’t killed you after all these encounters is already an act of utmost mercy and justice."

More voice transmissions followed, whispering into Lin Qi’s ears.

Lin Qi clenched his fists, undid his sash, and fumbled in a small, hidden pocket sewn inside his clothes. He pulled out a wooden token, and the whispering voices instantly ceased.

The Yan Emperor’s Command! The Yan Emperor’s Command that I haven’t even absorbed into my body yet!

"Wu Wangzi, this is my final treasure! I want you to fight me with your full strength! Life or death, no holds barred!"

Hiding nearby, Ji Mo and Xu Mu both widened their eyes. They exchanged astonished exclamations via voice transmission, marveling at how far Lin Qi was taking things.

CREAK—

The wooden door swung open on its axis. For the first time, Wu Wang stepped out of the wooden hut, his hands behind his back as he gazed intently at Lin Qi.

Lin Qi took a deep breath and said calmly, "This battle, I’m taking everything back."

Unexpectedly, Wu Wang shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with profound meaning as he looked at Lin Qi.

"Haven’t you realized it yet?"

Lin Qi was slightly taken aback. Looking at Wu Wang before him, he suddenly felt as though a bright light was radiating from Wu Wang’s body.

Ji Mo scratched his forehead and murmured to Xu Mu via voice transmission, "Master, why do I suddenly feel that the aura around Brother Wuwang is... a little different?"

"Ah," Xu Mu said, shaking his head slightly. "This Lin Qi... why on earth did he have to provoke him?"