Free Web NovelChapter 332: Chapter 61: Return to Nanlin Road
「Yellow Sheep Mountain.」
Two Wang Family disciples stood guard dutifully at the entrance to Wang Kang’s tomb. In front of the grave, Wang Ping held a broom, carefully sweeping away the snow. He swept very slowly, looking up from time to time to read the inscription on the headstone.
After clearing a large patch of ground, he took out a pre-prepared flask of rice wine. He poured half of it out before the headstone, then took a large gulp himself.
Wang Ping knew his junior brother must have been resentful when he left the mountain back then.
"Honestly, you... so what if improving your foundation hurt a little? It’s nothing to be ashamed of if you couldn’t bear it. Plenty of disciples in the sect can’t stand the pain now, and they didn’t just storm off the mountain in a huff."
Wang Ping muttered to himself, his tone carrying the easy-going familiarity of his days with his martial brothers. "I know you must have blamed me, thinking I deliberately used the Body Refining Array to embarrass you. You always did overthink things."
"Look how far you’ve gone. It wasn’t easy for me, your senior brother, to come visit. I nearly fell for someone’s scheme on the way. Sigh... if only it were possible, I’d bring you back with me..."
He spoke on and off for a long time, talking about their past and his own plans for the future. Once he finished the wine in the flask, his rambling ceased.
He tried to picture the last time he’d parted ways with his junior brother, but he couldn’t recall the scene at all.
A moment later, he grew agitated.
’What’s the big deal if you can’t remember? There are plenty of things I can’t recall either. All the unimportant, uninteresting, hateful things... I’ve forgotten them all.’
Yu Lian’s voice echoed in his Spirit Sea just in time, pulling Wang Ping back from his obsessive state.
"Unimportant..."
Wang Ping repeated Yu Lian’s word. He gave a self-deprecating laugh. "You’re right. Maybe deep down, in my subconscious, my martial brothers are all unimportant. The only person I really think about is myself."
Yu Lian didn’t reply.
"Alright, let’s go. He’s dead. What good can thinking about it do now?"
Wang Ping glanced at the two Wang Family disciples at the entrance. In the next instant, his figure seemed to dissolve into space, transforming into an imperceptible shimmer of light that streaked across the canyon below.
To be cautious, Wang Ping used the Pocket World Mirror’s concealment function.
The next stop was his second senior brother’s tomb.
It was far away, on Jianglin Road to the west. Farther west lay Liuzhou Prefecture, home to the Vice Capital, Anqing.
There was a famous mountain on Jianglin Road called Moon Mountain. Legend said that from its peak, one could see the immortals on the moon, which attracted many scholars and poets to visit.
To the east of Moon Mountain was the Xia Dynasty’s Imperial Mausoleum, and Liu Zixiu’s tomb was to the southwest of the Imperial Mausoleum!
As early spring breathed new life into the land, Wang Ping finally arrived near the tomb of his second senior brother, Liu Zixiu. However, he didn’t go in to disturb his brother’s rest. He only wandered around the small town outside for a bit before leaving in a hurry.
「Late May.」
The temperature in the south had already risen, and the first rice harvest of the year was half-mature. Wang Ping once again set foot in the Nanlin Road region.
As he flew high above Nanlin Road, the various sects greeted his return from above the clouds, just as they had done when he’d departed.
Arriving over Sanhe Prefecture, Wang Ping saw an Energy Light Pillar that pierced through the heavens and the earth. In the world of spiritual perception, countless Spiritual Creatures swirled around the pillar, greedily absorbing the Water Spirit Qi it radiated.
Guangxuan had reached the critical moment of his advancement. Zuo Xuan had dispatched a Second Realm Cultivator from the Daoist Scripture Hall to stand guard here.
Seeing Wang Ping arrive, Liu Chang immediately flew over to pay his respects.
"How is it going?" Wang Ping asked directly.
"Everything is stable for now. During his seclusion, Senior Brother Guangxuan has entered a state of absolute tranquility. No matter what happens, be it calm or storm, nothing can shake his resolve to advance."
"Excellent! I await his good news!"
Wang Ping laughed heartily. As Liu Chang and the Guardian bowed to him once more, he transformed into a streak of light and shot toward Qianmu Mountain.
He flew less urgently this time. A few hours later, he finally landed at the Mountain Peak Dojo. Before Wang Ping had even touched down, Yu Lian had already flown impatiently toward Shen Xiaozhu’s Dao Field.
After taking a look around, Wang Ping flew to his master’s Dao Field on the rear mountain.
The master and disciple spoke for many hours as Wang Ping recounted all the people and events he had encountered on his journey.
Yu Cheng Taoist was clearly very concerned about the Kongshan Association. After hearing the story, he fell into deep thought for a long time before saying to Wang Ping, "This matter makes my very soul tremble. There wasn’t a single trace of the Kongshan Association in Li Yan’s memories, only his dealings with Wu Ma Daoist."
Wang Ping found it strange as well. He added, "If his memories are correct, does that mean I can assume Wu Ma Daoist and South Sea Taoist have some connection?"
At this, he recalled his advancement to the Third Realm. The secret Si Ran’s Primordial Spirit had tried to reveal just before being destroyed was probably this very matter. It was a pity that at the time, he had been focused solely on his breakthrough and lacked the strength; he hadn’t dared to make a deal with the Primordial Spirit of a Third Realm Taiyan Cultivator.
"It’s also possible Li Yan’s memories were altered," Yu Cheng Taoist said. "If that’s the case, he truly is a tragic figure."
Yu Cheng Taoist unconsciously sneered at the thought of Li Yan. He then stared at Wang Ping and said in a cautionary tone, "It’s even possible that what Guan Xi told you is false. The Kongshan Association could just be a front for some deeper purpose. You must be able to distinguish truth from lies amidst these mysteries. Otherwise, do not get involved."
"But they’re after my memories!" Wang Ping retorted. ’He didn’t want to get involved either.’
"Then be even more cautious. At the very least, we need to have a few cards of our own to play."
Yu Cheng mused aloud, "Since they’re active in the south, they must have left tracks. Bai Zhuo, the one who died, is one such track. Everyone around him is a potential lead. It will be a troublesome investigation, though."
"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Master."
Yu Cheng stroked his beard and added, "Judging from what happened in Shangjing City, you are undoubtedly a crucial person in Xiao Shan Lord’s advancement. If you get a chance to see him, you can ask him directly. He should be willing to provide you with some answers."
Wang Ping’s eyes lit up. "Now that’s something I hadn’t considered. I’ll rest for a few days and then send a formal request for an audience with Xiao Shan Lord."
He wasn’t the same man he used to be. He could now request an audience with Xiao Shan Lord whenever he wished. Actually being granted one was another matter entirely, but he had to make the request. Whether the Lord agreed to see him was out of his hands.
After returning from the rear mountain, Wang Ping first used his Primordial Spirit Consciousness to check on Liu Shuang’s Dao Field. She had already entered seclusion to prepare for her advancement to the Second Realm. She was currently trying to awaken the Wood Spirit Vein within her, and she was doing so on Qianmu Mountain, where the Wood Spirit Qi was more abundant than in any primeval forest.
Wang Ping could sense that her Spirit Vein Consciousness had already formed a nascent awareness; its true awakening was only a matter of time. As for the Spiritual Creature required for the second step, Wang Ping had long since made preparations. In fact, he had prepared more than one. If she ran into danger with the first one, he would simply kill it and have her try with another.
For the fourth step, with Wang Ping standing guard, Liu Shuang would be able to use the Soul Devouring Technique directly. This would vastly increase her chances of successfully breaking through to the Second Realm.
Barring any surprises, Liu Shuang’s cultivation would likely halt at the Second Realm—at least, until Wang Ping managed to derive the Third Realm of the Wood Gathering Skill.
