Chapter 657: Change of Identity

Wang Ping did not respond to True Monarch Yuan Wu immediately. He took the Token, glanced at it, then cupped his fists and said, “How could I possibly be a match for those old-timers on my own? I…”

“You can take your time. I’ll give you a deadline—within a thousand years. How about it?” True Monarch Yuan Wu stared at Wang Ping. “If I wasn’t afraid you wouldn’t get the job done, I wouldn’t even give you a time limit. Besides, you’re not alone. All the second-seats of the Daoist Palace will be responsible for this matter.”

As he spoke, True Monarch Yuan Wu picked up the teapot and poured himself more tea. “In a thousand years, a number of them might just die off on their own.” He glanced at Wan Zhi Daoist as he said this, then turned back to Wang Ping. “Anything else?”

“Nothing for now.”

“There’s no ‘for now’ about it. In the future, if there’s something you don’t understand, figure it out yourself. We don’t have time to sit around and chat with you every day.”

True Monarch Yuan Wu drank the tea from his cup. Then, as if he had remembered something important, he added, “Xiao Shan owes He Feng Taoist a favor. Remember to repay it for him. Also, when you fight others in this world, minimize your use of Fourth Realm-level power as much as possible. There are no such restrictions in outer space.”

“…”

Wang Ping was stunned for a moment. He mulled the two matters over in his mind before recalling that He Feng Taoist was a Fourth Realm Cultivator from ‘Day One’. Facing True Monarch Yuan Wu’s gaze, he could only cup his fists and reply, “Yes!”

“Good…”

True Monarch Yuan Wu looked at Wan Zhi Daoist beside him and said, “You have been diligent and conscientious ever since you ascended. You could have spent these last few centuries of your life peacefully, yet I dragged you over to preside over the Southern Cultivation Realm. For that, I owe you a favor. I promise you this: one of your disciples is guaranteed a spot in the Fourth Realm.”

Hearing this, Wan Zhi Daoist’s face lit up with joy. She immediately performed a grand salute and said loudly, “Thank you, True Monarch, for granting this!”

True Monarch Yuan Wu waved his hand dismissively. “The preparations for your disciple’s ascension ceremony should be nearly complete. I observe that her heart is steady, and her cultivation is even deeper than yours was back then. When the time comes, I will lend her a hand. With the help of the Earth Spirit within you, and with Changqing shielding the heavenly secrets at the critical moment to buy her more time, her chances of a successful ascension will be very high.”

At this, his expression turned serious as he warned, “But you must understand that by doing this, the Earth Spirit in your body will be depleted within ten years at most.”

A faint smile touched Wan Zhi Daoist’s lips as she replied with magnanimity, “This junior was originally just an unknown Loose Cultivator who reached the Fourth Realm by a fortunate coincidence. I have already indulged in the splendors of this world for several thousand years. It is about time for the curtain to fall.”

Upon hearing this, a flicker of melancholy crossed True Monarch Yuan Wu’s face, but then he too smiled with acceptance. “Since you have made up your mind, then go and do it.”

“Yes!”

True Monarch Yuan Wu turned his gaze from Wan Zhi Daoist to Wang Ping. “Convene a dharma assembly with the cultivators of the various southern sects. When the time comes to worship the True Monarchs, a decree will naturally descend. In this way, you can take legitimate command of the south.”

“Yes!”

“Alright, you may go,” True Monarch Yuan Wu said, dismissing them.

Wang Ping and Wan Zhi immediately cupped their fists, withdrew from the small courtyard, and then transformed into streams of light, ascending into the sky.

Upon entering the territory of Nanlin Road, Wan Zhi Daoist cupped her fists and said, “Now that the south has you, I will not return to the Six Heart Sect. How the sect is managed is entirely up to you.”

Wang Ping thought for a moment and agreed, “Alright!”

“Zhigong’s ascension will likely happen within this century. At that time, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you, Fellow Daoist. If she is fortunate enough to succeed, she will surely be a great asset to you!” Wan Zhi added, making a promise on behalf of her disciple.

This time, Wang Ping just nodded.

Wan Zhi offered a casual salute, then transformed into a stream of light and flew off in the direction of Hai Zhou Road.

Yu Lian emerged from his sleeve, watched Wan Zhi Daoist’s retreating figure, and said, “It seems I wasn’t mistaken. The Earth Spirit in her body is indeed nearly depleted. There’s a power inside her that I can’t probe, forcing her Earth Spirit to constantly fight back. This is probably why her life force is draining so quickly.”

Wang Ping had no desire to investigate further. He felt a brief sense of melancholy, then changed the subject, speaking to Yu Lian in his Spirit Sea, “Can we trust what True Monarch Yuan Wu said?”

He was, of course, speaking to Yu Lian within his Spirit Sea.

Yu Lian thought for a moment and asked, “What are you referring to? The thing from the outer realms?”

“That part is probably true. He wouldn’t use a lie like that to fob me off. With my current cultivation, I can forcibly observe the moon if I have to.”

“Then are you referring to how the True Monarchs have different ideas about the future?”

“Mhm. It’s clear the True Monarchs haven’t reached a consensus on the future of this world. I’ve been unwittingly tied to True Monarch Yuan Wu’s war chariot, and his stance seems to be the mainstream one for now. After all, the Mystic Sect and the Celestial Gate need stable spiritual energy to cultivate. But as he said, it’s the Star God Alliance that’s fighting and dying on the front lines!”

Yu Lian tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, “But the Star Gods hold the most True Monarch positions—even more than the Demon Race!”

Wang Ping also sensed how thorny the situation was. He took a deep breath and looked up at the clouds. “There are problems within the Star Gods as well. Don’t forget, True Monarch Yuan Wu is a Star God himself!”

As he spoke, he took out the jade slip True Monarch Yuan Wu had just given him and opened it.

The moment his Primordial Spirit Consciousness swept over its contents, the jade slip self-destructed. Fortunately, with Wang Ping’s current cultivation, he could memorize everything in a single scan. A moment later, his light screen panel popped up:

[Complete Secret Technique for the Transfer Talisman: Most of the Mystic Sect’s Secret Techniques are derived from plundered bloodlines. The Transfer Talisman’s Secret Technique is no exception.]

[1. The Transfer Secret Technique was originally possessed by the Forest Blood Wolves of the Wood Spirit bloodline. To use the complete Secret Technique, you must inscribe their fixed totem patterns onto a Heaven-Reaching Talisman. The totems are as follows…]

[2. Find beings who have inherited the bloodline of the Forest Blood Wolves and use their blood to create the Transfer Talisman.]

[Note 1: The totem of the Forest Blood Wolf is innate, a self-conception of the Cosmos. Do not draw it incorrectly.]

[Note 2: Most of the wild wolves in the forests of the Northern West Continent possess a trace of the bloodline of the Forest Blood Wolves. When taking their blood, you must not kill them, or the Transfer Talisman will be rendered ineffective.]

The contents of the Secret Technique were brief. This information, along with the prompts on the light screen panel, reminded Wang Ping of the memories he had integrated during his ascension. ‘The ‘Wood Spirit bloodline’ on the panel must refer to living beings born from within the Wood Spirit.’

“What kind of Secret Technique is that?” Yu Lian asked curiously.

Wang Ping responded in his Spirit Sea as he flew towards the Six Heart Sect. In the blink of an eye, the mountain range housing the sect came into view. At his current level, a single glance was all it took to see everything within the Six Heart Sect.

He hovered in the sky above the sect, feeling the gazes of tens of thousands of disciples below. Then, with a flicker, he appeared in the familiar small courtyard. He saw the familiar recliner, walked over, and sat down firmly. He then looked up towards the pavilion in the distance…