Losing face in front of a beautiful woman is never a pleasant thing. Fortunately, the beautiful Zhang didn't come to investigate herself, otherwise Xiao Wenbing would have really wanted to crawl into a hole.
"Mirror God, weren't you supposed to be in seclusion refining divine power? Why are you out again?"
"How can I concentrate with you yelling around beside me?"
Shaking his head slightly, Xiao Wenbing thoroughly despised the Mirror God's aesthetic sense. Suddenly remembering something, he asked, "Mirror God, you said that even if we go to the Immortal Realm, will the Treasure God still be invincible?"
"It's difficult."
"Oh, it's a god!"
"Yes, it is Earth, but its Earth God power is far inferior to that of the Turtle God. Just three Dark Gods would be enough to defeat the Treasure God."
"Dark God? Do you think we'd encounter something like that?"
"Of course, since they were able to capture one Dark God, they can certainly capture a second one. So the chances of you encountering a Dark God are actually quite high."
Xiao Wenbing's face paled slightly as he recalled his past battles with the Dark God, and he could no longer maintain an optimistic outlook.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing I forgot to tell you."
"What's up?"
"The dark god you encountered before has been imprisoned for hundreds of thousands of years, so its power has been greatly reduced. It probably only has half of its power at its peak."
Are you... sure?
"I'm sure."
"..."
The most direct consequence of his conversation with the Mirror God was that, for the next two days, Xiao Wenbing no longer felt the joy of singing.
For cultivators, the final stage of cultivation, the Great Completion stage, doesn't have a distinction between top-level and beginner levels. As long as one survives the Heavenly Tribulation and awaits ascension, they are all in this stage. As long as they don't accidentally suffer a cultivation deviation during this period, there shouldn't be any major problems.
Of course, throughout the countless years of cultivation history, there have been some unfortunate individuals who, despite their extreme joy, suffered tragic consequences and were possessed by inner demons at the last moment, leading to their utter ruin. While not numerous, they were not entirely unique.
Therefore, none of Xiao Wenbing and the others dared to be careless. The first thing they did was to find the safest place and devote themselves to cultivation. As long as they consolidated their realm, they would never have such problems again.
For Feng Baiyi, the Heavenly Thunder Palace was undoubtedly the safest place; similarly, for Xiao Wenbing, staying by the side of the precious deity was the best choice.
On his first two days at Wanbaotang, he devoted himself to cultivation, and with the help of the Tongxin Knot, his Great Completion stage cultivation was completely stabilized.
After sensing from afar, I discovered hundreds of familiar auras within this realm.
He immediately realized that most of the fierce and evil beings who had survived the Heavenly Tribulation had returned to the cultivation world, probably doing the same thing as him. What comforted him was that these people had all dispersed their Nascent Soul aura outside their bodies. Otherwise, even if they were in the same realm, Xiao Wenbing would not have been able to sense them without using special methods.
With a slight smile, Xiao Wenbing felt relieved. In truth, he had a backup plan: if someone survived the tribulation under his protection but refused to stand by him through thick and thin, then he would…
Using a peculiar spell, the Yuan Yin was remotely controlled to enter the body, replacing the person's consciousness and refining them into an external avatar.
Of course, if someone discards the Nascent Soul he gifted, then he naturally has no way to track it down. But whoever unexpectedly receives a Nascent Soul equivalent to a Great Completion stage expert will carefully treasure it. Unless they've truly encountered an idiot, the probability of such a thing happening is so small that it's not worth worrying about.
Perhaps their performance on the uninhabited planet was too successful; in any case, these people have shown no signs of rebellion or regret so far.
There were two purposes for staying at Wanbaotang for three days: one was to go into seclusion to consolidate his current realm, and the other was to manufacture elixirs.
It must be said that Xiao Wenbing's cultivation speed was too fast, even his master, the Taoist Xianyun, could not keep up.
When the old Taoist priest accepted Xiao Wenbing as his disciple, he was determined to have him carry forward the Secret Talisman School. In fact, Xiao Wenbing did just that, and did it exceptionally well, even surpassing the Master Baihe, the founder of the Secret Talisman School three thousand years ago.
However, the only thing that displeased the old Taoist was that his successor was going to ascend to the celestial realm first.
Fortunately, Xiao Wenbing had made preparations in advance and found Ronald, a disciple with excellent aptitude, for him. Otherwise, the old Taoist priest Xianyun would have been extremely frustrated.
Having survived the tribulation, Xiao Wenbing had a little over a year left in this realm. Before his ascension, his greatest concern was the Secret Talisman Sect. Therefore, he was determined to do something—a grand plan that would ensure the Secret Talisman Sect would remain a top sect in the cultivation world for generations to come.
With a wave of his hand, over four hundred tiny figures, each radiating a dark golden light, shot out from his body.
These Dark Infants, which Xiao Wenbing had painstakingly replicated, were all expressionless. Compared to the tens of thousands of magical Nascent Souls, these Dark Infants were more like independent individuals.
Xiao Wenbing even suspected that if he released them individually, perhaps one day he would encounter them in the Immortal Realm or the God Realm, by which time they would have automatically cultivated into immortals or gods.
However, he did not intend to prove this idea. It is always best to keep powerful forces completely under one's control.
With a thought that flashed through his mind, each of the dark infants simultaneously extended their small, delicate hands. While Xiao Wenbing was absorbing the immortal spiritual energy, these dark infants also benefited greatly. In terms of the sheer amount of energy they possessed, they were no less powerful than him at this moment. Moreover, because they had simultaneously replicated divine essences, their movements and energy distribution were even more efficient.
Hundreds of ripples appeared in the void, and with the support of powerful energy, a moment later, each of the Dark Infants held an ancient-looking safe.
Picking one up casually, Xiao Wenbing was reminded of someone by the object, and a surge of emotions welled up within him.
This box was the very thing that his senior brother Lu Jun had entrusted to him to deliver to the Secret Talisman Sect back then, and it was this safe that truly led Xiao Wenbing onto the path of cultivation.
Over the years, countless moments flashed before Xiao Wenbing's eyes like a movie. Unconsciously, he became immersed in memories of the past, staring blankly ahead, his eyes momentarily dazed.
"Wenbing..." A soft voice came from behind, and Xiao Wenbing's spirits lifted. He turned around and saw Yaqi. She always appeared when he needed her most.
"Yaqi, have you finished your homework?"
"yes."
"Are you... planning to return to the Heavenly Dao Sect?"
"Um."
"Then what?"
"Then, go see Ya Hui and keep Master company."
"Li Ya Hui? Haha, and Guan Qin too, I wonder how they are doing."
"They should be married by now, and maybe they'll have a healthy baby. They should be living a peaceful life." Zhang Yaqi looked up into the distance, her voice filled with a faint envy.
Xiao Wenbing stepped forward and gently embraced her, saying, "Then let's take a look at them from afar."
After a slight pause, Zhang Yaqi nodded.
Since entering the world of cultivation, their lives have been completely different from those of mortals, like two parallel lines that will never intersect again.
Since that's the case, it's better not to see them one last time. Xiao Wenbing didn't want his presence to disrupt their peaceful life.
With a casual flick of his finger, all the safes shattered, and the Dark Infants collected the pills from the jade bottles and placed them into a medium-sized porcelain bottle containing a tiny mustard seed-sized space.
He handed Zhang Yaqi a porcelain bottle containing nearly five hundred Creation Pills, saying, "This is a gift for Sect Master Tianyi; I'm sure he won't refuse."
"Hmm." Zhang Yaqi didn't stand on ceremony with him and took it without hesitation. After all, he came from the Heavenly Dao Sect and even obtained the Qiankun Ring there. It was only right for him to leave something behind before leaving.
Their eyes met, and their hearts were in perfect harmony.
This trip back will be the last time they set foot on the earth.
Volume 7, Chapter 10: Going Home
------------------------
"It really is a good prescription."
"Hehe..." Xiao Wenbing said proudly, "See? I didn't lie to you."
“Of course, this remote mountain forest is much better than the big city, right?” Zhang Yaqi said with a half-smile.
“Hmm, this.” Xiao Wenbing laughed twice and pulled her one foot off the cliff.
Though separated by a thin line, the difference is like heaven and earth. At the mountain gate, there are special restrictions imposed by the Secret Talisman Sect, making it impossible for outsiders to enter without knowing the method. However, in the eyes of these two, such a small trick is no match for them. In the blink of an eye, they have entered silently.
Inside the mountain gate, the birdsong and fragrant flowers still filled the air, a truly blissful scene.
Looking at this familiar scene, Xiao Wenbing's smile suddenly froze, and he said, "Yaqi..."
"What's wrong?"
"I wonder if we've gone the wrong way?"
"Um?"
Following Xiao Wenbing's gaze, Zhang Yaqi's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed softly, "Impossible!"
Not far ahead, a man and a woman were sitting cross-legged, breathing deeply.
Finding two cultivators in the Secret Talisman Sect was nothing out of the ordinary, but what surprised Xiao Wenbing was that these two were none other than their old friends Cheng Guanqin and Li Yahui.
It arrived silently beside them, and the two of them were completely unaware.
Xiao Wenbing glanced at their current cultivation levels, then suddenly smiled, pointed a finger at their foreheads, and a wisp of immortal spiritual energy quietly entered their bodies.
Unbeknownst to them, the two opened their mouths, and two coveted Creation Pills rolled into their bellies.
A moment later, wisps of white smoke rose from the two of them. Stimulated by the immortal energy, the Creation Pill completely transformed their physiques in just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
White smoke billowed and gradually shrank into their bodies; their eyelids twitched slightly, and they were about to wake up.
Xiao Wenbing waved his hand in front of his eyes, and an invisibility talisman was instantly activated, concealing him and Zhang Yaqi's figures into the void.
Almost simultaneously, the two exhaled and spoke, ending their practice and rising.
They both stood up in a daze, suddenly realizing that their physical condition seemed to be very different from before.
"Ya Hui, don't you feel like something's not right?"
"Yes, I felt it too."
Stretching his arms and legs, Cheng Guanqin said, "I'll give it a try."
Having said that, he took a stance and began to dabble in punches, striking here and there. His punches were powerful and full of energy. Anyone with eyes could tell that he was a trained fighter.
At first, Cheng Guanqin's face showed a mixture of surprise and delight, but with the support of his internal spiritual energy, he danced faster and faster, with increasing momentum. By the end, he was completely immersed in the set of boxing techniques, feeling exhilarated and indescribably happy.
At the height of the dance, a sudden, violent roar erupted, like the mournful howl of a wild wolf, sending chills down one's spine.
Perhaps the shout was too sharp, for it could be clearly heard throughout the entire mountain gate. A moment later, the sound of something cutting through the air came, and all the disciples except for the second senior brother, Zhang Jie, had arrived.
"Junior brother, what are you yelling about?" Mingmei shouted angrily.
Cheng Guanqin's body stiffened. Clearly, he was used to being scolded by Mingmei. His previous high spirits vanished instantly, and he stammered, "Third Senior Brother, I just finished practicing and felt I had made some progress, so I showed off a set of fist and foot techniques."
"Some progress? Huh... Senior Brother, look!" Mingmei exclaimed in surprise after taking a closer look at the two of them.
Lu Jundi's gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, his face also filled with disbelief.
"Condensing the Core?" An aged voice came from behind the disciples.