ccnovels #495 - Fairy Beetle
#495 - Fairy Beetle
That white crane was a spirit bird.
It had a delicate jade amulet hanging around its neck, clearly there to deliver a message.
Such spirit birds, if they lived long enough, would likely be nearly as intelligent as humans. Wang Jixuan didn't dare let it get too close to his base and actively went to meet it with Amina.
“Remember, your name is Qing Yue, and we are martial siblings…”
Wang Jixuan instructed while riding the clouds, finally adding:
“The childhood sweetheart kind.”
Amina chuckled, her expression seemingly already displaying some of 'Number Five'’s emotions.
When she maintained her original form, her emotions were no longer suppressed and restrained but gradually expressed.
A crane's cry came from ahead.
The white crane spread its wings and braked sharply in the air, hovering in the distance, giving Wang Jixuan a Daoist salute with its wings before speaking in human language:
“My master is holding a banquet today and specially invites Daoist Qin to attend.
“This is the invitation.”
The white crane pushed the jade amulet hanging around its neck forward.
Wang Jixuan accepted it with a smile, asking, “Who is your master?”
“It's that plump immortal,” the white crane chuckled. “This jade amulet can take you there. I'll go ahead to help my master prepare the wine and dishes.”
With that, the white crane spread its wings, circled once, and headed back the way it came.
Wang Jixuan and Amina exchanged glances, discussing the matter telepathically without revealing any emotion.
There wasn't much to discuss anyway.
Amina used the excuse of recovering from her injuries to continue avoiding the gaze of the Six Immortals;
Wang Jixuan would go alone to see what was going on.
He had been planning to go and take a look in two or three days anyway, and now he had a good opportunity.
Picking up a gift or two and changing into a white Daoist robe, Wang Jixuan adjusted his expression along the way to 'force a smile'.
He was trying hard to find a kind of spirit;
A spirit of having his sect destroyed by demons and wanting to cultivate to become an immortal and then seek revenge on those demons.
This was quite easy to find.
Guided by the jade amulet, Wang Jixuan rode the clouds into the mortal realm.
Looking down, this place was no different from the mortal realm of his hometown in Wang Jixuan's memory. The only difference was that there were not many cultivators here yet, and no one was seen flying in the sky.
Probably in a few hundred years, this place would become basically the same as most Otherworlds.
The imperial power of the dynasty ruled the common people;
The great sects remotely controlled the imperial power of the dynasty.
For ordinary people, this had both advantages and disadvantages, and it could only be said to be a mixed bag.
This gathering was in a mountain villa next to the secular capital city.
That plump immortal, relying on pills to pave the way, controlled the emperor and ministers of this dynasty and built a platform to ascend to immortality in this villa.
Singers and dancers performed below the platform, and maids surrounded it.
The plump immortal, dressed in brocade clothes, sat behind a round table, not doing anything out of line.
Loose Immortals in the Immortal World, although not the bottom layer, since there were still a large number of cultivators and mortals in the Immortal World;
But Loose Immortals in the Immortal World would never dare to put on such a show, nor would they dare to play with mortals like this.
Otherwise, any True Immortal, Celestial Immortal, or even a newly cultivated Yuan Immortal could shatter the Loose Immortal's pretense with a single slap.
Wang Jixuan didn't arrive too late; he was the only guest here.
Or perhaps, this plump immortal hadn't invited the other five Loose Immortals yet.
At that moment, Wang Jixuan descended on the clouds with his gifts, attracting the attention of many soldiers and maids here, and even some young women in gold and silver jewelry cast flirtatious glances, probably wanting to use their beauty and family background to get some immortal affinity.
“Hahaha! Little Brother Qin! You look great!”
The plump immortal stood up to greet him, his voice very loud.
Wang Jixuan gave a Daoist salute and said, “Thanks to Senior's blessing, my injuries are no longer a problem.”
The white crane came forward and took away the gifts Wang Jixuan brought.
The plump immortal warmly grabbed Wang Jixuan's arm, pulling him to a seat inside the platform, and incidentally used his immortal power to probe the situation inside Wang Jixuan's body.
The plump immortal naturally couldn't find anything.
Wang Jixuan's biggest 'problem' was his alien soul puppet.
Fortunately, in the great battle before coming to this timeline, Fairy Linglong helped him purify most of the demonic energy, and the alien soul puppet was still recuperating. Now, Daoist Wang could only rely on his righteous methods to fight.
After the plump immortal's casual probing, he was even more satisfied with Wang Jixuan, pulling Wang Jixuan to drink and exchange toasts.
After three cups of fine wine, the plump immortal explained the reason for inviting him over.
“How has Little Brother Qin considered the matter that this poor Daoist proposed last time?”
Wang Jixuan almost forgot that he was now going by the name Qin Zheng.
He sighed, his eyes a little distant, and the smile on his lips a little bitter.
“Although the world is big, there is no place for our martial siblings. I am fine. I can cultivate to become an immortal, and after my state of mind stabilizes, I can cultivate for twenty or thirty years, one or two hundred years, and then go to face the heavenly tribulation.
“But what about my junior sister?”
The plump immortal immediately nodded: “Yes, yes, this matter should be considered thoroughly.”
“May I ask what Senior's Daoist title is?”
“Hahaha!”
The plump immortal laughed loudly.
Wang Jixuan didn't know what this guy was laughing at, probably feeling a little embarrassed?
“This poor Daoist is Mao Mo! Just call me Old Mo! Those who are familiar with me all call me that.”
The plump immortal poured a glass of wine for Wang Jixuan and then began to talk endlessly:
“The six of us came down to spread the Dharma to establish sects, to create six major sects, to leave a Dao inheritance in this world, and then to continuously send immortals to the Immortal World.
“Ascending here will all go to the place where the six of us came from. That is an Immortal Palace, and it is also one of the Eight Great Powers of the Immortal World.
“What's even rarer is that this Immortal Palace is very harmonious internally, with each family and sect helping each other, which is very suitable for one's own development after going to the Immortal World, hahaha!”
Wang Jixuan asked in a low voice: “Brother Mo, could it be that you want me to ascend here and report to the corresponding ascension platform?”
“Yes, yes!”
The plump immortal winked at Wang Jixuan:
“This matter is absolutely harmless to you and can also give your brother face.
“When your brother has completed his merits in this world and returns to the Immortal World, you and I can also cultivate together.
“Naturally, I am just a Loose Immortal, and my path to enlightenment was abandoned halfway. In the future, I will need Little Brother Qin to take care of me!”
Wang Jixuan chuckled inwardly.
They're already brothers?
This plump immortal's affinity was indeed good.
Daoist Wang continued to drink and exchange toasts with him, also inquiring about many things related to the Immortal World.
This plump immortal, Mao Mo, soon revealed his true feelings, with a bit of emotion in his eyes, saying things like 'Loose Immortals have no immortal rights' and 'Loose Immortals are despised'.
He really wanted to invest in 'Qin Zheng'.
As for whether this investment could be recovered…
Anyway, it was just a little favor, a little friendship, which was not a loss for Mao Mo.
Wang Jixuan took the opportunity to ask about the Dark Sect and Tianluo. Mao Mo seemed a little secretive.
“Alas, these two organizations, how should I put it.”
Mao Mo raised his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, raised his hand and hugged a maid pouring wine next to him, and then realized that his action was a bit dissolute, so… he casually pulled two young girls and pushed them into Wang Jixuan's arms.
Daoist Wang quickly refused, a little flustered. Mao Mo laughed loudly, as if laughing at Wang Jixuan for not being able to let go.
“Hey, this is the mortal world. These women all want to be contaminated with immortal energy and ascend to the sky in one step.”
Mao Mo said nonchalantly:
“No need to be restrained. If you don't like such vulgar powder, then wait until our sect is established and find some female disciples with more spiritual light to cultivate from a young age.”
Wang Jixuan: …
What a demonic cult!
Don't let him have any misunderstandings about the founding ancestors of mortal sects!
Mao Mo returned to the previous topic:
“According to rumors in the Immortal World, it is the Heavenly Dao that should not have appeared in this world that is dissatisfied with the Eight Great Immortal Palaces not obeying the Heavenly Dao's orders and ignoring the Heavenly Dao's will, so it created two organizations, one black and one white.
“However, there are also rumors that Tianluo and the Dark Sect have existed since ancient times, but they were not called by these names before. They are tribes that existed innately, dedicated to guarding the Heavenly Dao.
“There is also a rumor that I think is more reliable.
“It is said that the big shots of the Eight Great Immortal Palaces gathered together to deduce future calamities and found that in about 600,000 years, there will be a immeasurable tribulation, the Immortal World will collapse, and the Great Dao will be annihilated. So they all contributed people and efforts and first built Tianluo to maintain the order of the world and delay the calamity.”
“Later, Tianluo became more and more active, conquering evil demons everywhere, and the evil demons were forced to group together, and that's how the Dark Sect came about.”
Wang Jixuan nodded slowly.
Mao Mo poured a mouthful of wine and exhaled softly:
“But I have heard that both of these families can communicate directly with the Heavenly Dao.
“This is terrible. If the Heavenly Dao gives them a little insight, wouldn't they take off on the spot?
“Fortunately, although the headquarters of Tianluo and the Dark Sect are in the Immortal World, they have always been low-key in the Immortal World and rarely communicate with the outside world. Only the high-level officials of the Eight Great Immortal Palaces can freely enter and exit the secret places of Tianluo and the Dark Sect.
“The Dark Sect is not a good thing, and Tianluo is not a good thing either.
“The Dark Sect is the kind of thorough evil. Their teachings are to reorganize order, to break the stubborn, and to delay the arrival of the great tribulation by consuming the power of the world's living beings.
“Tianluo is the kind of very hypocritical evil. They flaunt the names of justice and order everywhere, but what is justice, and what kind of order is beneficial to the world? They don't make it clear, they just flexibly change their standards.
“In short, neither of them is a good bird.”
Wang Jixuan smiled and said, “Brother is insightful!”
“Hahaha, everyone in the Immortal World drinks and chats, and they will chat a few words when they are bored.”
“Then, brother, if I join Tianluo, will I have a chance to avenge my sect?”
“Difficult.”
Mao Mo shook his head, picked up a mouthful of rice and vegetables, and muttered:
"From what I know, although these two factions have different philosophies—one focused on order, the other on chaos—they both have ways to restrain their envoys, preventing conflicts from easily erupting."
Wang Jixuan leaned back slightly.
Good heavens, these two hadn't directly fought each other sixty thousand years ago?
Then why did they start fighting later?
Did too much conflict accumulate, leaving them no choice but to erupt in bloodshed?
The Daoist doesn't understand, only offers blessings, wishing the Immortal Realm's higher-ups of both factions would bash their heads and bleed, while the low-level employees working in the mortal realm live long lives.
Wang Jixuan knew he couldn't inquire too deeply, so he sighed softly: "I wonder when this vendetta can be avenged."
"Cultivate!"
Mao Mo smiled:
"Once you enter the Golden Immortal realm, you'll become a significant figure in the Immortal Realm, and you can naturally go settle accounts with those enemies."
"However, that depends on whether those enemies live that long."
"Then I'll take your good wishes, old brother."
"So," Mao Mo raised an eyebrow, "is it settled that you'll become the vice sect leader of my sect?"
Wang Jixuan was caught off guard.
However, he didn't refuse, but instead raised his wine cup in a toast.
"Then I'll have to rely on you for guidance in the future, old brother!"
"I'll guide you, and you'll take care of me, and that's how we'll muddle through life, hahaha! Come, come, let's drink to our hearts' content, and tomorrow we'll choose a location, establish the sect, accept disciples, and impart the Dao! We must surpass all five of them!"
"Alright! Let's grow bigger and stronger, and create more glory!"
The two clinked their cups forcefully, each drinking heartily.
Around the Ascension Platform, songs and dances were vibrant, and on the Ascension Platform, cups were exchanged.
Along with their slightly tipsy words, it seemed as if towers and palaces were rising from the distant green mountains, layer upon layer, surrounded by clouds and mist.
At the mountainside of those green hills, a huge white jade mountain gate stood tall, inscribed with…
[Heavenly Evil].
Wang Jixuan stood in front of this gate, looking at the smug fat immortal, his mouth twitching violently.
Wait, is this a righteous sect?
The sect name must be consistent with the second-rate forces corresponding to the Immortal Realm, this is the rule for imparting the Dao.
But this… ah, this…
Wang Jixuan's nascent soul figure scratched its head.
This poor Daoist is afraid he's boarded a pirate ship.
…
"Good heavens, Heavenly Evil Sect, Hundred Delights Sect, Heartless Valley, Ten Thousand Bones Cave, Yellow Flower Temple, Mountain Moving Sect…"
Zheng Shiduo looked at the names of these six new sects given by Wang Jixuan, and was completely shocked.
"Brother Wang, is this a famous and upright sect? Is this some evil demon from the Immortal Realm coming down to raise Gu worms?"
The others at the meeting chuckled.
Wang Jixuan shook his head with a dark face.
He was holding this meeting using a split soul, while his main body was still stationed at the Heavenly Evil Sect's mountain gate, which was just about to start recruiting disciples.
Although he was the vice sect leader, he didn't manage sect affairs at all, simply acting as a vase to maintain appearances.
The reason why that fat immortal Mao Mo won him over was more to help him become an immortal, so that he could have someone to look after him and have a friend in the Immortal Realm in the future, and incidentally count it as a 'political achievement' for Mao Mo.
Returning his attention to the meeting table.
Mu Dan said with a smile: "Although the names are a bit unpleasant, according to my observation, they haven't done anything to indiscriminately kill the innocent, and they are quite disciplined in their actions."
Red Snake rolled her eyes: "Of course, imparting the Dao from the Immortal Realm is a major event, it must be the rules set by the Eight Great Immortal Palaces, they certainly wouldn't dare to mess around, just listen to the names of these sects, it's clear that they are all evil demonic immortals washing themselves clean."
"Hahahaha!"
Wang Jixuan was also amused by Red Snake's words.
Fortunately, he could be sure that Hopeful Immortal Valley was not an evil sect in essence.
Their cultivation methods are all very upright.
"Alright, did you call me back to the meeting because there's been some progress?"
"Yes," Amy smiled slightly, "Look at this, Mu Dan's latest masterpiece."
The screen next to her changed, showing a…
Large beetle?
This thing was about half a meter long, with sharp mouthparts, blade limbs, and several thin wings on its back.
It looked a bit like an improved version of the Blade Beast.
"Biomimetic robot, Immortal Armor Beetle."
Mu Dan introduced with a grin:
"Two prototypes have already been assembled, and there's still room for improvement, and it can be mass-produced soon."
"But I think I can report to you now, boss, look!"
"Its electronic modules are assembled in a demon core, surrounded by biomimetic designs and various spiritual energy circuits. They are more useful than Blade Beasts, and don't need to rely on plundering human souls. They only need a very small amount of spiritual energy converted into electrical energy to maintain their own system operation."
"I am confident that I can completely crush the Blade Beast civilization within a hundred iterations."
Wang Jixuan raised his eyebrows slightly: "Can this thing change the world?"
"Uh, probably not," Mu Dan pushed her lens-less glasses frame, "However, it will be one of our aids in changing this terrible cultivation world."
"Mass produce it as soon as possible."
"Yes!"