CHAPTER 160: BRINGING MU WANXUAN HOME FOR THE NEW YEAR

In the six months before the resurgence of the primal qi, and the two years after, Wang Sheng's parents had frequently sent money and supplies to Qing Yanzi. In doing so, they had improved the sect's living conditions.

Hence, Qing Yanzi didn't hold back once he had descended the mountain and joined the Special Investigation Unit. The moment the research institute began producing alchemical pills suitable for ordinary people, he started occasionally mailing Wang Sheng's parents small batches of alchemical pills that preserved youth, improved health, and slightly extended lifespan.

This couldn't be done publicly, of course. He had already told Wang Sheng's parents to keep it secret.

It wasn't just for safety—Wang Sheng had killed too many corrupt cultivators from the Five Gods Cult. The Special Investigation Unit even took precautions early, sealing off all records related to him.

No one could disturb the lives of Wang Sheng's parents. As long as they didn't go around boasting, even their close relatives and coworkers only thought their son had gone abroad for studies. That was also the reason Wang Sheng had been able to cultivate in peace and without having to worry about his parents' safety.

Back when primal qi had been cut off for a thousand years, stepping into the cultivation world was akin to severing ties with the mundane world. One could only exchange the occasional letters. Even getting someone to deliver a package was difficult.

Things were different now. Cultivators weren't rootless drifters. If one couldn't even acknowledge their origins, the path of Dao would lead nowhere.

Since Wang Sheng was in seclusion and unable to go down the mountain, he gave his parents a bunch of advice over the phone. After hanging up, he leaned against the cliff with the Sword-Pressing Stone on his back and began eagerly researching online about pregnancy care, passing along his findings to his dad with a barrage of reminders.

Once his grueling training ended and he broke through to the Illusory Core Realm, he planned to fly home right away to visit his hardworking mother.

His sword now had one more person to protect.

He wondered what kind of aptitude his future sibling would have. Being born amidst an abundance of primal qi, they would surely surpass him. He couldn't help but wonder if they should also join the sect and become his master's disciple.

No, that wasn't something to decide lightly. His master was quite busy now, and in the future, he would likely be even more focused on cultivation and worldly affairs. It wouldn't be right to take up his time.

Besides, everyone had different physiques. The Pure Yang Immortal Mantra might not suit his sibling. No, they might not even be interested in cultivation at all. His sibling should have the freedom to choose. As their older brother, he wouldn't force them to choose cultivation; he would simply respect their choice.

One had to walk their own path of life—he and their parents could only offer guidance and reminders.

Soon, Wang Sheng resumed his training.

He had to become stronger. When he was weak, he had his master and senior sister to protect him. In the future, while his sibling was still young and vulnerable, he would have to be strong enough to shield them from everything.

Just thinking about their tiny voice calling him "Big Brother" from behind made Wang Sheng's Dao Heart flutter with joy. He simply couldn't calm down.

With the Sword-Pressing Stone still on his back, he laughed to himself for quite a while just before cultivating. The moment he moved, a faint snap echoed in his ears, as if something within him had suddenly opened up. His true essence surged faster than ever, and his refined true essence began to take on a faint golden hue.

I didn't experience any great enlightenment. How did I suddenly break through?

It wasn't a breakthrough in Daoist realm. Rather, his Pure Yang True Essence had reached a new level. Wang Sheng had gone down an entirely different path from the Foundation Establishment chapter of the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra.

So this is what it means to be blessed by joy.

His emotions flowed freely. The foundation that Wang Sheng had built over this period finally led to a sudden breakthrough.

The Sword-Pressing Stone on his back now felt much lighter. Wang Sheng quickly closed his eyes to sense the changes in his body and the true essence flowing within.

Even during his comprehension, he couldn't help but grin from time to time. Excitement filled every inch of his being.

Half an hour later, he opened his eyes and beckoned his longsword into his hand. As he poured true essence into it, half a chi[1] of sword radiance burst forth from the tip. With a casual flick of his wrist, a streak of faint golden sword energy shot out, instantly shattering a nearby fist-sized rock with a loud bang.

So this is the strength of this true essence...

Wang Sheng breathed in deeply and then leaped lightly. While using the Reversed Seven-Star Sword Formation, he swung his longsword in sweeping arcs. He was now moving as smoothly as he would without the stone weighing him down.

Suddenly inspired, he unleashed wave after wave of sword energy at the cliff face. Thunderous explosions echoed across the mountaintop. Rock fragments flew everywhere, and dust blotted out the sky.

Sword energy streaked through the air for over three hundred chi. Sword howls shook the clouds and startled the wind.

Drawn by the noise, three graceful figures arrived one after another. Mu Wanxuan immediately sensed that Wang Sheng had made a breakthrough and smiled gently. Chi Wen sang him praises, while Jingyun's eyes filled up with warm pride.

After a moment, Wang Sheng sheathed his sword and stood with his back to the cliff wall. He then turned around and walked toward the three female cultivators, eager to share his joy.

The dust behind him slowly cleared, revealing jagged, crisscrossed sword cuts.

"Pfft!"

Chi Wen burst into laughter, while Jingyun looked at the approaching Wang Sheng with a mix of exasperation and amusement. Mu Wanxuan, on the other hand, gave her junior brother a solemn thumbs-up in recognition of his work.

On the cliff, two giant words, each five to six meters wide, were carved deep into the stone.

I'm happy.

***

Two joyful events in one day called for a celebration with drinks!

Chi Wen cooked, while Mu Wanxuan warmed the wine. In the snowy landscape, the three women pulled up a small table and sat down to enjoy a few drinks with Wang Sheng.

It was only then that Mu Wanxuan realized that Wang Sheng would become a big brother in seven or eight months. She immediately declared that she would pass on her entire collection of reaction memes to his future sibling.

Jingyun only had one cup before stopping. Mu Wanxuan, however, matched Wang Sheng, drinking cup for cup. Just like her cultivation, her tolerance was also noticeably higher than his.

Chi Wen, meanwhile, quietly ate and drank. Since she hadn't yet reached the stage where she could go without food, she still had to make trips down the mountain for supplies.

Alcohol tolerance tended to be hereditary. Wang Sheng was tipsy before long. He slapped the table, sang loudly, then performed sword dances joyfully in the snow.

Wang Sheng paused his grueling cultivation for the remaining half of the day. After getting drunk, he went off on his own to find a mountain rock and lay on it, drowsily falling asleep under the sun.

In his dream, he saw a small child with a blurred face, sometimes with braided twintails and sometimes with a sprout ponytail. Wielding a wooden sword, they mimicked his movements as they followed behind him.

Soon, he woke up. Fearing it was nothing but a dream, he quickly checked his true essence and then called his father to ask about the situation.

Once he confirmed it was real, Wang Sheng's Dao Heart finally began to settle.

He would strive to complete this stage of grueling cultivation as soon as possible and descend the mountain to visit his parents.

That evening, Wang Sheng entered the next phase of cultivation. He forced out the initial true essence within the Sword-Pressing Stone and then infused it with his upgraded true essence, only stopping when he had injected ninety percent of his total true essence.

After testing it out, the Sword-Pressing Stone was once again able to suppress him steadily.

He sat in meditation and cultivated, setting up a formation with Qi-Nurturing Stones to restore his true essence as quickly as possible. Unexpectedly, His primal qi absorption speed had now doubled compared to the previous day.

Wang Sheng enjoyed many benefits from the breakthrough that the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra had led him to. He even felt tempted to immediately condense his Illusory Core and begin striving for the Golden Core Realm.

Just kidding.

He had already made it halfway through this round of grueling cultivation. How could he not see it through to completion?

This breakthrough shortened the time he'd spend on his grueling cultivation. Still, to truly perfect his Foundation Establishment Stage, he needed at least another month or two.

Wang Sheng did not feel particularly proud of his breakthrough anyway. After all, they had just drunk some wine and then had a dream. Meanwhile, Mu Wanxuan had gotten tipsy and directly broken through several minor realms. By the time she sobered up, she was already at the mid-stage of the Illusory Core Realm. Moreover, she was close to its late stage.

Wang Sheng was completely speechless.

He thanked his senior sister for constantly spurring him along the path of cultivation. Her progress always made him grit his teeth and kept him chasing after her, yet he could never quite catch up.

Even getting drunk can lead to a fated opportunity now? Infinite gods above! That's just too much of a blow!

Wang Sheng was still fine, but Chi Wen, who had just started to build some confidence, had clearly entered her second round of self-doubt. Jingyun once again had to console her.

Motivated by the thought of returning home soon, Wang Sheng cultivated with full energy. He resumed his routine of practicing with the sword and meditating day and night.

After another month, he had already injected the Sword-Pressing Stone with all of his true essence. Its weight had reached the theoretical limit of what he could bear.

Though asking his senior sister or martial aunt to increase the weight further was still possible, it would not be beneficial to him. Everyone had their limits. Gradually reaching it was the right way to achieve one's perfection. If he recklessly surpassed his own limits and forced suppression, he could instead break and gain nothing.

This was the very meaning of "going too far is as bad as not going far enough."

At last, Wang Sheng managed to complete the final stage of his grueling cultivation just in time for Little New Year's Eve[2]. The Sword-Pressing Stone no longer had any effect on him. To further refine his true essence, he would require a long period of hard work.

Clearly, breaking through to the Illusory Core Realm would be far more beneficial.

The Illusory Core Realm was just within reach. Wang Sheng felt as if he could step into it at any moment, yet he also sensed that he was still missing something. He wanted to once more carefully comprehend the Foundation Establishment chapter of the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra.

After discussing it with his master and mistress, the four who had been cultivating in seclusion on the Zhongnan Mountains made new plans. Jingyun would take Chi Wen to reunite with her parents, while Wang Sheng would take Mu Wanxuan to the Shu Sword Sect to return the Sword-Pressing Stone and then hurry back home to reunite with his parents.

Bringing Senior Sister home for the New Year...

Wang Sheng no longer feared his parents misunderstanding anything. After all, their attention certainly would not be on him anymore.

1. Chi is the Chinese foot equivalent to about 33.3 cm or roughly 13.1 inches. ☜

2. Little New Year is a preliminary festival that happens about a week before Lunar New Year, usually around the end of January ☜