This Human Immortal Is Too Serious

After exchanging just a few words with Ling Xiaolan and Lin Suqing, Wu Wang began to feel exceedingly tired, yawning incessantly. He meditated for a while, but when he found it had little effect on restoring his energy, he simply went back to sleep. Thankfully, this time he only slept for a few days.

When he awoke again, his spirit had recovered. Having consumed a bit of the essence of the Whistling Serpent, his essence, energy, and spirit were full to brimming. Moreover, he had witnessed several years of the Star God's fragmented memories in his dreams...

He... had made another breakthrough.

Through his primary cultivation of the Dao of Stars, he had directly advanced into the late stages of the Yuanxian Realm!

The numerous masters, however, expressed that they were quite accustomed to such occurrences.

Enlightenment in Dream felt very unreal.

By the time Wu Wang woke up this time, the Daoist rhymes around him had settled. He sat up and only then saw that the area outside his room was filled with people. The bird that had previously flown away was now back on its perch, casually preening its blue feathers as if nobody else was present. As for where it had been, what it had done, or whose beard it had tweaked—that wasn't important.

Wu Wang looked at this Blue Bird, a hint of confusion stirring within him. It wasn't because he suddenly found this Blue Bird all too familiar, nor had he sensed anything unusual. He could feel that there was considerable power concealed within the Blue Bird, and it was shielded by the Daoist rhymes of an old senior. What puzzled him was—what was this senior's identity? In this attic, they were discussing matters that were secrets of the Human Domain. Could this senior just listen in as they pleased?

Soon, he let it go.

If I'm not mistaken... this must be the work of my father-in-law, who preserved the soul of a senior from the Human Domain, transforming them into this form, similar to Little Jingwei's situation back then. However, this senior is not a remnant soul; their situation is much better than Little Jingwei's.

That should roughly be the case.

Thus, Wu Wang smiled and did not pay much attention to the Blue Bird. He was unaware that while he had been unconscious, the Blue Bird had spent three years perched beside his bed. Had he known about this, perhaps his conjectures would have been far richer.

"Is Wuwang Palace Lord awake?"

"How is Wu Wang's health now?"

Several shouts came from outside the door. Wu Wang gathered his energy and gestured for Lin Suqing to open it. Ling Xiaolan, who had originally intended to float down from the second floor, hid back upon seeing the crowd; she was not fond of crowded places.

The door was pulled open. The Grand Elder and Xiao Jian Daoist stepped in together, followed by several high-ranking deacons from the Punishment Hall, as well as many masters from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion who were not on duty that day. Before long, the room was crowded with figures.

The Blue Bird tilted its head slightly, feeling a bit nervous subconsciously. Right at that moment, a little face peeked over. Dongfang Mumu raised both small hands and suddenly let out a "WAAH!" The Blue Bird cooperatively covered its chest with its wings and toppled over, amusing Dongfang Mumu, who giggled nonstop. Following that, the Blue Bird landed on Dongfang Mumu's shoulder, surveying everyone standing or sitting in the room.

Wu Wang raised his left hand, and Lin Suqing handed him two Jade Talismans. These contained various pieces of news about the Human Domain and the Heaven Palace from the past three years that she had sorted out. It is worth mentioning that the Young Master had not instructed her to do this before he went to sleep. The Blue Bird blinked, feeling more and more that this Miss Suqing was quite impressive.

"It's a bit strange. In these few years, the Heaven Palace has yet to retaliate?" Wu Wang muttered, holding the Jade Talismans.

Xiao Jian Daoist, who had long since recovered from his injuries, laughed and said, "For the Heaven Palace, as long as they do not lose the Great Dao, it is but a trivial matter. It is said they have already begun to create a new God of Thunderstorms."

Wu Wang asked, "What about the Heavenly Punishments in recent years? Has their power weakened?"

An Elder from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion spoke up, "The Heavenly Punishments continue, but their power has been reduced by at least thirty percent. According to His Majesty's decree, masters from all over who previously had no confidence in undergoing their Crossing Tribulation are now all attempting to break through. In these past three years, more than six hundred Heavenly Immortal Realm peak masters attempted their tribulations. These are masters who had been refraining from advancing for thousands of years, and most of them had gone into seclusion."

Wu Wang asked with concern, "What are the casualties?"

"Sixty percent fell during the Heavenly Punishments, and another fifteen percent had insufficient foundations and failed to break through their bottlenecks."

Xiao Jian Daoist said joyfully, "This means that in the past three years, our Human Domain has gained over a hundred new Transcendent Realm masters! How magnificent!"

An old man chuckled. "This is just the accumulation of many years; there's no need for such excessive joy."

The Grand Elder said, "This indeed is much better than a nine-deaths-one-life situation."

The crowd chimed in, "Nowadays, countless Heavenly Immortal Realm experts are straining every nerve to comprehend and achieve breakthroughs. Those who were once apprehensive are now eager to cause a stir before the New Thunder God emerges."

"Indeed, this is all thanks to the Hall Master's ingenious strategy, which completely thwarted the Head Manager of the Heaven Palace."

"I've heard that the Divine Spirits of the Heaven Palace are all expressing discontent towards the Head Manager. The Imperial Empress Xihe personally ordered the Head Manager to temporarily relinquish his authority and convalesce in silence within the Heaven Palace."

"The Head Manager is merely special in his Great Dao!"

With a few words exchanged among the experts, many of the Elders could not help but burst into hearty laughter. Looking back three or four years, the Heaven Palace had brought down seven disasters and six calamities upon the Human Domain, plunging it into a state of utter chaos. As a result, the battle in the Southeastern Region caught the Heaven Palace completely off guard. The predicament that once confined the Human Domain to the South Wilderness was now gone forever! The Hundred Races, who had already accumulated numerous grievances against the Heaven Palace, began to overtly and covertly extend gestures of goodwill to the Human Domain...

The weight on Wu Wang's heart finally lifted.

Lin Suqing brought over a black robe with silver patterns. Wu Wang pulled the robe to himself with immortal power and donned it. He smiled and walked to the desk by the window, signaling for the experts to find seats. The people inside the room moved with him.

In a corner, Dongfang Mumu's small hands clutched the edge of the table, the Blue Bird having hopped onto the hair bun on top of her head.

Immortal Mu whispered in admiration, "The Test-Giver is getting more and more imposing!"

The Blue Bird shifted its claws. It was as if a young girl hummed proudly, her lips curved in an unstoppable smile.

After chatting about major events both within and outside the Human Domain for a while, and seeing that Wu Wang was still not quite in high spirits, the experts took their leave one after another. Only Xiao Jian Daoist and the Grand Elder remained. Lin Suqing brought over fragrant tea, and Ling Xiaolan appeared from the second floor. Fairy Ling naturally walked to Wu Wang's side, took out a cushion, spread Immortal Light over it, and settled onto the wooden chair beside him.

"OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!" Immortal Mu covered her head, glaring up at the Blue Bird that had taken flight, and said urgently, "Why did you claw my head?!"

Lin Suqing hurriedly said, "Mumu, don't be impolite to your elder!"

The Blue Bird chirped softly, busily apologizing to Immortal Mu. Immortal Mu, not one to hold a grudge, generously forgave the Blue Bird for its accidental behavior and even voluntarily placed it back atop her head.

On the other side, Wu Wang looked at them curiously, thinking Immortal Mu was just playing around. He was preoccupied with pressing matters and immediately turned to ask, "Where is the Whistling Serpent?"

"In the dungeon," Xiao Jian Daoist said, stroking his slightly stubbled chin. "Wu Wang, do you really intend to take her as your mount?"

"It's not that she must be my mount," Wu Wang replied, "just an enforcer who obeys my commands."

Xiao Jian Daoist spoke seriously, "The Whistling Serpent is one of The Ten Great Evil Gods, and her hands are stained with the blood of many experts from the Human race. If we simply let her into the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion like this, won't it... draw criticism?"

Wu Wang pondered this deeply.

"Fellow Daoist, I see it differently," the Grand Elder chuckled. "In ancient times, when our Human race tamed and hunted wild beasts, we also suffered many injuries. But once we tamed these beasts and used them as mounts, it enhanced our strength and proclaimed our military might, allowing us to better protect our people. What's wrong with that? We just need to be mindful later that this Whistling Serpent is only a mount, and can only be a mount. Making this blood-stained Evil God a servant who works for the Human Domain—isn't that the most effective counterattack against the Heaven Palace?"

Wu Wang looked at the Grand Elder with some surprise. The words Old Man Miao spoke today were unexpectedly agreeable. On a normal day, the Grand Elder abhorred evil, yet today he presented such an argument. Clearly, the Grand Elder was well-versed in the Spells of Heaven and Earth and recognized the Whistling Serpent's immense value.

Wu Wang said, "The Dao of Heaven and Earth is quite profound. To my knowledge, no Innate God has been born from this path. When the Heaven Palace selected the Evil Gods, they went through extensive consideration and endowed them with numerous Divine Skills. Take, for example, Qiong Qi's ability to peer into hearts, Kui Ox's morale-boosting, and this Whistling Serpent's counterfeit Dao of Heaven and Earth. Whether it was the earlier instance when the Whistling Serpent relocated an entire domed garrison through an incarnation, or this time, when she had Xiao Jian Daoist and me at our wit's end, her mastery of Heaven and Earth is enough to turn the tide of battle at certain moments. At that time, I had only one thought: if she showed the slightest hint of resistance, I would directly eradicate her. But she backed down so quickly... COUGH! You two, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Alas!" Xiao Jian Daoist sighed. "Perhaps there are some questions I shouldn't ask, but Wu Wang, you're truly too bizarre. What was all that about? We both were done for, and then suddenly we weren't, and you even took the initiative to attack the Whistling Serpent. And what was that thing that appeared behind you? How did it just—just! Alas! I really can't put it into words, but... how do you explain all this!" The Daoist stamped his feet and clapped his hands in exasperation.

Wu Wang spoke seriously, "It's a kind of legacy... Brother Daoist, you can understand it that way for now."

The Grand Elder said with a chuckle, "Our Sect Master merely has a somewhat profound background. Even His Majesty is friends with our Sect Master; their bond is as deep as grandfather and grandchild. What could possibly be strange about it? It's just that our own experience is too shallow!"

Grandfather and grandchild? The Blue Bird tightened its talons nervously, and Immortal Mu couldn't help but twitch at the corner of her mouth. She endured it. This little bird's grip is so painful; its true strength must also be formidable.

Wu Wang snorted coldly and said indifferently, "My relationship with His Majesty is clearly that of a father-in-law and son-in-law."

Xiao Jian Daoist was silent as if struck by a chill. The Grand Elder stroked his beard and chuckled lightly. The bird claws that had been pinching Immortal Mu's scalp finally relaxed a bit.

Ling Xiaolan asked softly, "How are your injuries?"

"Nothing major. Didn't I just break through to a new realm?" Wu Wang said warmly.

"That's good," Fairy Ling said seriously. "Brother Lin feels somewhat guilty. He has already returned home to rest. The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion has sent word to inform him that you've awakened."

Wu Wang said, "What does he have to feel guilty about? It was that Young Master who caused the trouble."

Ling Xiaolan sighed, "Perhaps he feels that his own strength is too low and implicated everyone."

"Nonsense! How many years have we lived, and how many years have those opponents lived?" Wu Wang shook his head and added, "I will write a letter later. Fairy, you needn't worry too much."

Nearby, Immortal Mu's frown deepened further. What's wrong with this bird? Is it using my head to practice its strength...?

Ling Xiaolan asked, "Are we going to focus on cultivation next?"

"Of course," Wu Wang stretched.

Ling Xiaolan asked softly, "Then, will we cultivate together here, or return to the old place in the Annihilation Sect to cultivate together?"

Wu Wang said casually, "Let's stay here for a while first, then return to Annihila—"

CRACK!

A bolt of lightning streaked behind the Blue Bird as it stood petrified. Cultivate... cultivate... cultivate together? And at the old place?!

"Ah! Mumu, why are you bleeding?!" Lin Suqing called out softly and quickly hurried to Dongfang Mumu's side.

Immortal Mu was now tear-stained, a trace of fresh blood trickling from her forehead to her cheek, her mouth twisted in bitterness. Truth be told, as a half-step Transcendent, I had just sensed intense danger and didn't dare to move...

The Blue Bird only then realized it had hurt this 'child' and hurriedly flapped its wings to descend, nodding continuously in apology to Immortal Mu. A colorful feather fell atop Immortal Mu's head, and with the flow of Immortal Light, her injury instantly healed.

"Senior," Immortal Mu pouted, "please spare me. I'm just a 7,000-year-old child."

The Blue Bird kept apologizing, chirping CHIRP, CHIRP, CHIRP incessantly.

Lin Suqing finally breathed a sigh of relief, then watched the Blue Bird with a strange expression, noticing its abnormal behavior. My Young Master isn't too sensitive in this regard, but I, who occasionally dream of legitimately knocking the Young Master unconscious, sense something unusual here. Blue Bird? Bird...

In another corner, Wu Wang said, "Let's go. We'll go see the Whistling Serpent together. Don't worry, I can subdue her with a single thought now."

So, Wu Wang led Fairy Ling, Xiao Jian Daoist, and the Grand Elder toward the dungeons beneath the Punishment Hall.

Shortly after they left, Lin Suqing sent Immortal Mu away. Staring at the Blue Bird, she suddenly revealed a slight smile. Lin Suqing said, "Senior, why don't we go upstairs to my room and have a proper talk?"

The Blue Bird tilted its head in thought, then spread its wings and landed on Lin Suqing's shoulder.

"CHIRP!"

...

The Whistling Serpent's injuries had mostly recovered, though her strength had diminished somewhat. When Wu Wang arrived, she was sitting in the dungeon, bound by more than a dozen chains, her expression full of desolation. The dress formed by Divine Power had lost its color, and her eyes were covered with a black cloth, making it impossible to see the emotions hidden within.

It was not until Wu Wang approached that her brows finally furrowed. Separated by multiple layers of formations, the Whistling Serpent had already sensed Wu Wang's presence, and a bitter smile appeared on her lips.

What kind of opponent did I provoke? Being trapped here for over three years has made me understand many things. The sudden rise of Wu Wangzi, the special relationship between the Heaven Palace and the Northern Wilderness's Star God... The Goddess who appeared behind Wu Wangzi that day—I am convinced that was the renowned Star God from ancient times. According to the tales from the Heaven Palace, at the end of the ancient war, the Star God alone held back the Candle Dragon. Enduring severe injuries inflicted by the Candle Dragon, she finally expelled it from heaven and earth, allowing Emperor Shun to instantly establish order and banish the Candle Dragon Divine Faction. The Star God should be credited as the foremost contributor to the ancient divine war. But there have long been rumors in the Heaven Palace that the Star God's achievements were so great they overshadowed the ruler, and the Heavenly Emperor had long harbored apprehensions towards her. Moreover, the Star God held sole dominion over the Northern Wilderness, prohibiting other Divine Spirits from approaching, maintaining a seemingly harmonious but actually estranged relationship with the Heaven Palace... In my current understanding, Wu Wangzi is the son of the Star God, or a champion cultivated by the Star God herself, specifically sent to the Human Domain for cultivation. The Star God and the Human Domain have allied! If it truly was the Star God who took action, my loss as the Whistling Serpent is not unjust. Furthermore, at this moment, my life is controlled by another; a mere glance from Wu Wangzi could inflict severe harm on me, even leaving me incapable of harboring thoughts of resistance. An Ancient Divine Spell. This undoubtedly provides further proof of Wu Wangzi's identity.

Voices from a simple conversation came from outside the door; it was the Human Domain experts guarding this place talking to Wu Wang. Subsequently, the layers of the formation here were peeled away one by one, and Wu Wang, surrounded by various experts, pushed open the iron gate of the dungeon.

The Grand Elder cautioned, "Sect Master, be careful."

Wu Wang nodded, lifted his hand to hold the necklace, and said in a gentle voice, "Whistling Serpent, we meet again."

As he spoke, he flicked his finger, and the magic treasure, a black cloth covering the Whistling Serpent's eyes, dissolved on its own. Her slender eyes slowly opened, revealing serene, lightly colored pupils.

The Whistling Serpent scoffed coldly. "Do I need to call you 'Master'?"

"You may," Wu Wang said. "Try not to infuse any emotion into it. I wouldn't want others to misunderstand."

"Do you think you're being funny?" The Whistling Serpent closed her eyes and took a light breath. "Since I lack the courage to die, I submit to your Divine Spell. I have a few demands. If you agree to them, I will willingly be your subordinate and serve at your behest."

"Demands? Several of them?" Wu Wang said indifferently. "You have no room to negotiate."

"You..." The Whistling Serpent opened her eyes, a fierce light within them.

Wu Wang raised his finger and traced the opening stroke of a Talisman. The horizontal line condensed in the air, emitting a faint golden light. The Whistling Serpent's body trembled uncontrollably, yet her eyes still carried a trace of fierceness.

This was a contest of wills; whoever yielded first would lose. Wu Wang had already begun to write the second stroke in the air. Divine Power surged around the Whistling Serpent. The surrounding experts had already heightened their auras, and the great formation was on high alert. Wu Wang naturally had this confidence. He had just touched his necklace, asking his mother to watch over this place and tell him how to subdue the Whistling Serpent at any moment.

However... what Wu Wang did not know was that the Ice God had merely glanced here for a moment. Discovering that the Whistling Serpent was merely putting on a brave front, she had shifted her attention elsewhere. Cang Xue was using the power of the Stars to observe those two women closely related to Wu Wang. That was much more interesting.

「A moment ago, at Wu Wang's attic, within Lin Suqing's bedroom.」

Lin Suqing activated the room's formation. After a slight hesitation, she decided... to try deceiving and bluffing first.

"Princess Jingwei, am I right?"

The Blue Bird was taken aback for a moment. It spread its wings and flew to one side. A shallow green glow surrounded it, and then, transforming amidst the light, it took the form of a young girl in a green dress, who bowed slightly to Lin Suqing.

Lin Suqing's mouth fell slightly open as she stared at this 'legendary figure' from the Human Domain's tales. I actually guessed correctly! This!

"Young Master, Young Master! Quickly!" Lin Suqing exclaimed.

The girl was immediately flustered. She flew forward and hastily covered Lin Suqing's mouth. "Fellow Daoist, I cannot meet with him yet! Please don't call out like that!"