This Human Immortal Is Too Serious

"This filthy, putrid-smelling Human Domain!"

Under the attic tree, an Evil God with an eternally aloof expression stood in silence, thinking viciously to herself.

Three months. She had been standing here for three months! That Wu Wangzi seemed to have forgotten her completely. He was just fooling around with several women inside the house every day, without even stepping out to enjoy the sunshine!

What was this? After taking her as his mount, shouldn't he strut around the Human Domain to show off, or maybe flex their muscles at the northern border, slap Heaven Palace's face, and then start a grand war to fight a satisfying battle in the north of the Human Domain? Just dumped here!

She, Ming Snake, one of the once famed Ten—no, Eight Great Evil Gods—one of the progenitors of the Ten Gods Temple, was just dumped here!

He even asked me for the location of the First Main Hall? I don't know, I haven't been there, don't ask me!

Does that Wu Wangzi have nothing else in his mind besides cultivation and women?

Ming Snake stood quietly in the shade, avoiding the scorching summer sun. Her gaze was fixed ahead, her expression perpetually stern.

Nearby, a soon-to-retire old steward from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion passed by with several young people. The old man, with his hands behind his back, said, "Look, everyone, this is our Wuwang Palace Lord's new mount, the renowned Evil God Ming Snake, skilled in manipulating Heaven and Earth."

Those few people were immediately filled with admiration.

Ming Snake remained unmoved, simply standing in her spot. If she were to even frown slightly or glance their way, it would be dignifying these mortals too much.

A female cultivator asked softly, "Senior, may I touch it?"

"Touch—COUGH, COUGH! COUGH, COUGH, COUGH!" The old steward gasped for breath and nearly slapped the young female cultivator away.

The corner of Ming Snake's mouth twitched slightly. A burst of an Evil God's aura erupted, causing the group to flee in terror.

"Hmph!"

Annoying mortals.

Suddenly, a creaking sound was heard as the long-shut wooden door finally opened.

Ming Snake perked up, looking toward the door, only to see two females, one tall and one short, emerging from within, chatting and laughing.

The taller one was a little girl who had lived for several thousand years, while the shorter one was a human of the Nascent Soul Realm, not yet a hundred years old. They were, of course, Immortal Mu and Lin Suqing.

Lin Suqing took out a Treasure Sack and tapped it lightly with her slender finger. Several deck chairs lined up. She then repeated the process, taking out several oilcloth umbrellas and setting them up beside the chairs.

Her fair hands drew a light drizzle; her floral sleeves concealed a gentle breeze.

After the dust on the deck chairs was swept clean, Lin Suqing spread soft cushions on them. She set aside one chair specifically for Fairy Ling, leaving it untouched.

Shortly after, Wu Wang emerged, stretching lazily. He was surrounded by flowing starlight and the lingering rhythm of the Great Dao, having just emerged from a state of Enlightenment. He ambled to the central deck chair and slowly lay down.

Lin Suqing offered him a cup of chilled tea from the side. Wu Wang, too lazy to even lift his hand, merely lowered his head to take a sip. He swished it in his mouth, but finding no attendant holding a basin, he could only... swallow it.

"CHIRP, CHIRP!" The Blue Bird flew over from the side, frowning at such a spectacle.

This is truly... too decadent! Shouldn't the Human race be striving for survival, practicing thrift and diligence, and pressing forward with all their might every moment? How can they be like this!

"Senior, please come here," Lin Suqing called softly, pointedly leaving the spot to Wu Wang's right vacant.

The Blue Bird hopped down reluctantly, huffing indignantly, waiting to see what other tricks Wu Wang had up his sleeve.

A moment later, the Blue Bird was lying there comfortably, enjoying Lin Suqing's gentle 'massage' with two delicate fingers. A small handkerchief was even draped over its tiny body. It would open its beak from time to time, and Lin Suqing would use her Mana to guide the spout of a flask to its beak. The flask contained not wine, but fruit juice.

Well, it's acceptable to relax occasionally, right? the Blue Bird thought, quite pleased with itself.

Immortal Mu stood to one side, watching the Blue Bird for a while. Then, she lay back on her own chair, took out some trinkets Wu Wang had given her, and began to play with them.

Ling Xiaolan, who always bathed after cultivating, soon arrived, her long hair combed and flowing gracefully behind her. She calmly took out her own set of soft cushions, backrest, and armrests, sat down to Wu Wang's right, and began to arrange her smooth, long hair.

Before long, both the Grand Elder and Lin Qi arrived, taking their seats at the edge.

Wu Wang had a sudden idea. He got up, strolled a few steps, and soon diverted a nearby stream with his immortal power, carving out a channel to let the cool mountain spring water flow past them. Then, he took off his shoes and socks, dipped his feet into the water, and let out a few soft moans of pleasure.

So refreshing!

Ling Xiaolan, who was upstream from Wu Wang, didn't put her feet in. However, the Grand Elder and Lin Qi, downstream from Wu Wang, followed his example, each remarking on the beautiful afternoon.

Lin Suqing brought chilled tea and Spirit Fruits, and the Grand Elder and Lin Qi thanked her with smiles.

Ling Xiaolan sipped her chilled tea through a jade straw and said to Wu Wang with a smile, "You're certainly becoming better at enjoying life."

Wu Wang said, "This sunshine really feels nice."

Lin Qi also said, "Teacher is right, this sunshine really feels nice."

The Grand Elder said with a laugh, "Sect Master, I think you should hire a couple more maidens. Don't let Miss Lin run back and forth like this."

The moment he finished speaking, the Grand Elder felt three sharp gazes lock onto him, causing the old man's lips to twitch involuntarily.

Some people are best not provoked, best not provoked.

Wu Wang said indifferently, "Maidens or not, I haven't given it much thought. Even if I brought in a couple of male guards to serve tea and water daily, it wouldn't make any difference."

Fairy Ling's eyes immediately filled with approval, and the Blue Bird also chirped a few times.

Exactly!

"In that case, we might as well add another maiden," Lin Suqing said. "Those women from Qingqiu Nation are quite good, just not very honest."

"It's fine," Ling Xiaolan said. "Brother Wuwang knows how to handle things."

Lin Qi and the Grand Elder exchanged a look, both pretending they hadn't heard this topic, and continued to soak their feet and drink their tea.

Just then, Wu Wang suddenly felt a gaze full of resentment on him. Looking up, he saw the Evil God under the tree not far away.

Er, I actually forgot to arrange a place for Ming Snake before.

Glancing around, Wu Wang said with a smile, "Grand Elder, didn't you want to discuss the Dao of Heaven and Earth with Ming Snake?"

"Indeed!" The Grand Elder's spirits lifted, his eyes sparkling. "Although Evil Gods are not Innate Gods, their abilities are very real. Besides, no Innate God has ever been born from the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. I truly wish to discuss the Dao with her, to see if it can provide some inspiration."

Wu Wang asked, "Shall I make the arrangements for the Grand Elder?"

"Hmm," the Grand Elder pondered for a few moments. "My cultivation is ultimately too shallow. Shouldn't we invite a few more masters who are highly accomplished in the Dao of Heaven and Earth? Ming Snake is, after all, one of the Ten Great Evil Gods."

"No need to worry," Wu Wang smiled and said loudly, "Ming Snake, come and discuss the Dao of Heaven and Earth with the Grand Elder."

A cold sneer touched the corners of Ming Snake's mouth as she said indifferently, "Am I supposed to be afraid of you Human Domain cultivators?"

The Grand Elder's fighting spirit was instantly ignited, and he strode forward. "If that's the case, I shall boldly seek instruction!"

"Discuss then," Ming Snake said, tilting her head up slightly. Her supreme Divine Arts, honed over many years beyond the Human Domain—how could these Human Domain cultivators, who couldn't even withstand a flick of her tail, possibly compare?

So, an hour later.

The Grand Elder frowned, gazing at the Evil God before him, now in her human form. It wasn't because her human form was exceptionally beautiful—though her serpentine features possessed a unique charm—the Grand Elder already had a grown daughter, and such thoughts had long since faded from his mind.

The issue was... "Could it be," the Grand Elder asked in astonishment, "that you don't even know why you can control Heaven and Earth?"

Ming Snake's brows furrowed deeply. She looked down at her own hands, momentarily forgetting to breathe.

The Grand Elder shook his head and sighed, "Knowing the 'what' but not the 'why'; knowing how to skillfully use Divine Arts, but not knowing whence they come. Fellow Daoist, your understanding of the Great Dao is not merely shallow; you have never truly faced it."

With that, the Grand Elder clasped his hands behind his back, turned, and flew back to Wu Wang's side. He sighed, a hint of disappointment in his voice, and sat back down in his seat.

Is this the extent of an Evil God's understanding of the Dao? Then again, she was originally an exotic beast, granted Divine Power by Heaven Palace, and never underwent systematic cultivation.

Ming Snake stood there, stunned, for a long while.

Wu Wang didn't lower his voice, intentionally speaking loudly with a laugh, "Grand Elder, don't be disheartened. This is the difference between Heaven Palace and the Human Domain. For the gods of Heaven Palace, Divine Arts are abilities they are born with. The Great Dao underlying these arts is a part of them, which ironically hinders their exploration of the Dao itself. We humans are different. In the beginning, like the Hundred Races, we merely struggled for survival on this land. We were born with only our two hands, forced to rack our brains to comprehend, to feel, and to study the nature of the Great Dao, thereby attempting to approach it, master it, or even forge our own unique Dao. This is another reason why I believe that our Human Domain will inevitably triumph over Heaven Palace in the future."

Everyone listened intently. Lin Qi asked, "Teacher, how should I understand your words? How can one conclude from this that our Human Domain will defeat Heaven Palace?"

"The unceasing exploration of the Great Dao will eventually lead the Human Domain down a path distinct from that of the Innate Gods," Wu Wang said. "The Innate Gods are content with what they have. No matter how powerful they are now, if they don't try to understand the Great Dao, study it, or ponder how to reconstruct it, they are merely stagnating. However, once the Human Domain achieves a theoretical breakthrough concerning the Great Dao, re-establishing order will no longer be mere empty talk."

The Grand Elder and Ling Xiaolan nodded thoughtfully.

"Is Teacher striving towards such a goal?" Lin Qi asked with a smile.

"Not entirely," Wu Wang said with a smile. "This requires the efforts of generations of Human Domain cultivators. It's difficult for one person alone to surpass the understanding of cultivation laid down by Emperor Fuxi. Also, how is the Refining Master Alliance that you're supervising? That's also an important initiative for achieving this goal."

Lin Qi looked ashamed and said in a low voice, "For the past few years, Disciple has been focused on cultivation, so I entrusted this matter to Brother Ji."

"It doesn't matter who does it," Wu Wang said with a laugh. "Don't think of it as some great merit or honor. We're all striving for the future of the Human Domain, aren't we?"

"Yes," Lin Qi's spirits lifted considerably. "Thank you for your guidance, Teacher."

Lin Suqing searched for a moment and soon presented two Jade Talismans to Wu Wang. The information within concerned the Refining Master Alliance.

Wu Wang examined them carefully and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Ji Mo has really matured. He's systematically implementing all the plans we discussed earlier. Organizing the various Refining Masters to exchange their experiences—that's an excellent initiative."

Lin Qi's eyes first dimmed, then quickly reignited with determination. Just as he was about to voice some grand aspirations, Ming Snake approached from the side. Each stride of her long legs covered a distance that would take Immortal Mu three or four of her short steps!

She walked straight up to Wu Wang, her expression still just as cold and hard. She took a deep breath and glared.

At the side, the Grand Elder had already covertly activated the Great Dao of Blood Killing; Ling Xiaolan was also fully prepared to react; Wu Wang, deep down, was already forming the initial sound of the word 'die'.

Then, Ming Snake's crimson lips parted. Nine-tenths of her imposing aura instantly dissipated, and her last shred of defiance manifested as her gaze shifting to the side.

She asked, "The Dao, how does one learn it?"

Wu Wang was speechless.

That was close. I almost lost a magnificent mount.

The Grand Elder stroked his beard and laughed, "The Dao is not learned, but comprehended."

"If you wish to understand more about the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, you can do so through contemplation and by studying some of the Human Domain's scriptures," Wu Wang mused for a moment, then explained, "This might allow you to use some of your Divine Arts more freely, but as for cultivating the Dao in the same way humans do, that is something you can no longer achieve."

Ming Snake said coolly, "I don't need to learn your Dao. I have my own Great Dao."

"Is what Heaven Palace gave you truly your own?" Wu Wang chuckled.

Ming Snake fell silent.

"Well, sunbathing here is pleasant enough," Wu Wang said, smiling as he stood up. "As it happens, I intend to take this esteemed bird, Senior Blue Bird, for a walk in the mortal world. Why don't you come with us?"

The Blue Bird, whose name had suddenly been called, hopped up and blinked its eyes curiously.

Immortal Mu immediately raised her hand, exclaiming, "This Question-Asker wants to come too!"

"Everyone's going?" Wu Wang asked.

But Ling Xiaolan said, "I dislike crowded places. I shall wait for you here." She glanced at the Blue Bird and gave it a slight nod.

The Blue Bird tilted its head, completely puzzled by the gesture. Lin Suqing, however, seemed lost in thought, her mind clearly elsewhere.

Wu Wang looked at Ming Snake and smiled. "Come with me for a walk in the mortal world; you might gain some insights. To truly understand your own strength, you must first confront your own insignificance."

Ming Snake's brow furrowed. Unlike the unwillingness and frustration she had felt deep down when the Grand Elder had repeatedly stumped her during their discussion of the Dao, right now, Ming Snake's mind was simply in turmoil.

She still remembered the Beast Tide that had disturbed the Human Domain as if it were yesterday. Heaven Palace had ordered the Ten Evil Gods to lead a large number of fierce beasts to wear down the Human Domain's strength. Their target was Lin Qi, the holder of the Yan Emperor's Decree, and the Ten Gods Temple was to coordinate from within and without to launch a probing attack. That time, she had stood upon the clouds, looking down at those insignificant humans below. It was this very young man before her who, facing her oppressive might, refused to bow his head and stood his ground resolutely. Inspired by him, three others had also staggered to their feet, bracing themselves against the pressure she emanated, unwilling to retreat even half a step.

And now, she faced them again. Although that lecherous wanderer who had shouted 'Nice waist!' was missing, the situation felt like a reenactment of that day.

Only, she was no longer looking down from above; there was no oppressive aura to unleash. Instead, she herself had to lower her head and say deferentially, "Yes, Master."

With that, Ming Snake dismissed these useless thoughts from her mind and began to worry about something else.

This fellow... this Master, when he travels, he isn't actually going to ride me, is he? If that's the case, I truly won't be able to show my face in Evil God circles anymore!

*A stroll through the red dust of the mortal world reveals the path and its attendant worries.*

Wu Wang took Ming Snake to Da Fang Town, near the Main Hall of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion. For the journey, the Grand Elder had naturally arranged a Flying Shuttle; they didn't dare let Ming Snake travel in her true form. This place was predominantly inhabited by cultivators, with very few ordinary mortals. Even the stall vendors were cultivators below the Golden Core Realm, who were less affected by the seven calamities and six tribulations.

The prosperity of this place did not shock Ming Snake too much. Instead, Wu Wang was quite amazed to hear from Ming Snake about the terrifying scale of the Emperor's City that lay beneath Heaven Palace.

Ming Snake also took the opportunity to ridicule, "Sometimes, Human Domain cultivators must admit that you are like frogs at the bottom of a well."

To this, Wu Wang indeed had no good retort.

"The Emperor's City spans a thousand li, home to innumerable beings. It's divided into districts for governance, where the Hundred Races live peacefully, driven by the Heavenly Gods."

But soon, Wu Wang took Ming Snake to several other places, and Ming Snake ran out of things to say. She saw ordinary mortals living peacefully, and cultivators not bullying them in the slightest. She saw elderly cultivators with weaker cultivation boldly arguing at the top of their lungs with Immortals of unfathomable cultivation over a game of chess, not yielding an inch. She also saw many young men and women meeting for leisurely strolls by a small lake, their own aptitudes or cultivation levels not necessarily matching...

These were scenes one would not encounter in the Emperor's City. There, the hierarchy was rigid; those with greater strength could attain higher positions and held dominion over the weak.

"Could this be the difference between the Human Domain and Heaven Palace?" Ming Snake looked to Wu Wang and took the initiative to ask.

Wu Wang smiled but didn't speak. Behind him, Lin Suqing had the Blue Bird perched on her shoulder. A cord was tied to her wrist, its other end fastened to Immortal Mu's arm. Further behind, the Grand Elder and Lin Qi were discussing the Dao via voice transmission, with the Grand Elder naturally guiding Protector Lin in his cultivation.

The Blue Bird looked all around, its eyes filled with admiration. The Human Domain of today was indeed vastly different from the Human Domain of its distant memories, more than a hundred times more prosperous.

Hearing Ming Snake's question, Wu Wang couldn't help but chuckle a few times. He said, "Actually, this harmonious situation in the Human Domain is also thanks to the pressure from Heaven Palace. All Human Domain cultivators, regardless of their character or disposition, know that only by uniting can they resist the tyranny of Heaven Palace. As for the governance under Heaven Palace, there's not much to say. They must instill the concept that the strong are revered, telling others that as long as your strength is sufficient, you can reach a higher position. It's merely a way for them to maintain their dominion."

Ming Snake looked thoughtful and retorted, "Shouldn't it be so? Take my own race for example: only the strong are qualified for reproduction. If not for this, my race would have long been eliminated by the tides of heaven and earth."

"That kind of reasoning applies to relatively primitive races," Wu Wang said, organizing his words after a moment's thought. "In my opinion—and this is just my personal view, of course—once a race can establish itself in the world, it can enhance its competitiveness among the Hundred Races through other means, such as the path of immortal cultivation that the Human Domain has taken. After gaining a firm foothold, this race should then examine itself, optimize its ways, improve its system of self-education, place restrictions on the strong, and provide support for the weak. If the strong are without fetters, they will inevitably encroach upon the rightful interests of the weak. To maintain their rule over the Hundred Races, Heaven Palace has restricted how the Hundred Races view the world, instilling in you the idea that you are inherently weak and should obey the strong. This concept is ingrained in your very bones; otherwise, you wouldn't have submitted to me so easily. Though, it wasn't me you submitted to, but rather to the shadow behind me."

Wu Wang chuckled and continued walking with his hands behind his back. Ming Snake kept mulling over his words, unconsciously following him.

She said, "But all creatures compete for survival. This will naturally infringe upon other races. If tigers and wolves don't hunt, wouldn't they starve to death?"

"Your examples are inappropriate. Tigers and wolves are tigers and wolves; the Hundred Races are the Hundred Races," Wu Wang said with a smile. "I come from the lands of the Hundred Races and know their living conditions. By likening yourself to tigers and wolves, you are merely demeaning yourself as savage, reveling in the pleasure obtained from satisfying primal instincts. This is where the importance of enlightenment lies."

Ming Snake sneered, "But savagery can sometimes triumph over your ways."

"We are constantly advancing through our struggle against savagery," Wu Wang said. "This is destined not to be a smooth journey, but we will inevitably go further than savagery, and we will endow this world with greater meaning. According to the research of Human Domain sages, the Great Dao of Life expanded towards the end of the ancient era not because the number of living beings suddenly increased—their numbers were relatively stable at that time. What influenced this was that the Divine Spirits, due to their internal strife, used the Hundred Races as soldiers, thereby stimulating the Hundred Races' desire for strength and the growth of their own consciousness. It's laughable that a top predator once pontificated before me, saying that in this world, beings without complex consciousness constitute the vast majority of all life, and the Hundred Races are merely one part of this world. Yet, it is these few sentient beings who determine whether this world is vibrant and diverse, or as dull and lightless as that small world where you and I once crossed paths. Ultimately, Divine Power is born from the power of consciousness. That is all."

Ming Snake stood there silently, Wu Wang's gradually receding figure reflected in her eyes. A sense of bewilderment slowly crept over her.

"Don't disturb her. Let her calm down for a bit. We'll go to the teahouse up ahead and rest," Wu Wang called out. The group skirted around Ming Snake and followed him, chatting and laughing.

In the Annihilation Sect's encampment, in a small courtyard at the bottom of a valley, Elder Miao sat alone on a branch of a flowering tree, a wine flask in her slender fingers, drinking by herself. Soon she chuckled lightly, picked up a Jade Talisman for communication, thought for a moment, and then put it away.

The Sect Master had indeed given her a difficult task. She also blamed herself for speaking out of turn that day; she had only meant to tease the Sect Master a bit, but ended up being roped into it by him.

That day, after returning from the Main Hall of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, she had taken advantage of a break in Wu Wang's cultivation to invite the Sect Master for a stroll, during which she had inquired about the matter concerning the Blue Bird. Wu Wang had told her the truth, and Elder Miao had been full of admiration. Following that, Elder Miao then delivered a sharp, underhanded verbal jab at Wu Wang.

"Then what about Fairy Ling?" she had asked. "It's not just that Fairy Ling has feelings for you now; the entire Human Domain knows that you and Fairy Ling are prospective dao companions. It would be one thing if you formed dao companion bonds with both of them, but if you and Fairy Ling were to part on bad terms, that would cause a huge uproar."

Wu Wang's mouth twitched slightly. "Both of them? Do you think that's feasible?"

"If they both had Suqing's temperament, then yes, it might be possible," Elder Miao had laughed. "At worst, they'd complain a bit later and engage in some clandestine struggles in the back courtyard. But with someone of Fairy Ling's temperament, I'm afraid she'd find it difficult to accept. If you don't intend to, you really should be more decisive in your refusal."

"I also want to be decisive, but..." Wu Wang had sighed faintly and recounted Ling Xiaolan's words to Elder Miao.

Elder Miao had been full of admiration. "What a clever woman! Knowing that your spirits are high right now, she deliberately took half a step back to let you cool down, yet she didn't completely close off the possibility, even positioning herself merely as a good friend. They say the female disciples from the Xuan Nu Sect are experts at capturing men's hearts; this demoness truly has to admit defeat."

"She probably didn't think that far ahead," Wu Wang had murmured.

"Sect Master," Elder Miao had said, raising her hand as if to pat Wu Wang's shoulder, but he instantly retreated several dozen feet. She had almost forgotten; the Sect Master was extremely proper and avoided casual physical contact with women.

Elder Miao had smiled. "Actually, this all depends on your own thoughts. Take a word of advice from your subordinate: you must make your attitude clear. Don't drag it out or try to hide it. There are plenty of experts in the Human Domain who have multiple dao companions, so what are you afraid of? Cultivation is very lonely. Once your cultivation is high, a single session of secluded cultivation can last for hundreds, even thousands of years. Having a few dao companions to accompany you in turns—how wonderful would that be?"

Wu Wang was speechless.

The problem isn't that, is it? The issue is that he can't even hold their hands right now!

"Sect Master, as long as you're strong enough to keep them in line, what's to fear from a few young women causing trouble? If it comes to it, this humble servant will reluctantly help you manage your back courtyard."

"Hoo..." Up in the tree, Elder Miao let out a soft breath, just like the one she had blown near Wu Wang's ear. This, too, was part of her charm techniques.

Is there going to be a good show to watch next?

Elder Miao squinted, a smile playing on her lips. However, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but twitch as she recalled Wu Wang's reaction at that time: "Elder, please conduct yourself with dignity!"

"Tch, what a pretender," she muttered.