No one could truly calculate everything without error—not even Xu Zhongliang.

The large number of treasures they had gotten as spoils of war from their first two victories against the Immortal Saint Realm had greatly boosted the morale of the Heavenly Court.

However, the many factions in the Immortal Saint Realm had also started coordinating with one another. Large numbers of experts gathered, preparing to push back against the Heavenly Court.

Xu Zhongliang had revealed their next target planet as a trap. His goal was to mislead the Immortal Saint Realm and make Wang Sheng's third appearance safer. However, the enemy's response fell far beyond their expectations.

The Immortal Saint Realm withdrew all forces from that planet before the Heavenly Court could even launch the attack. A great expert then crushed the entire planet with a single move, issuing a clear declaration that they would not be led by the nose.

The "multiple choice question" Xu Zhongliang had thrown out had been completely destroyed before it was even answered.

"Interesting." He chuckled lightly, clearly unconcerned.

The key planners behind the God-Slaying Plan gathered to reconsider their next move.

The shock from the first two assaults had thrown the four great sky regions into deeper chaos. Dozens of immortal factions now sealed the critical entry points into the Immortal Saint Realm.

Groups of experts roamed everywhere, searching for Wang Sheng and the tens of thousands of celestial soldiers under the Heavenly Court.

Some ruthless Grand Dao Golden Immortals went even further. If they sensed anything suspicious, they would smash the planet with a treasured artifact first, then investigate the aftermath.

Wang Sheng raised his hand. "Senior, how many times do you plan for me to show myself?"

"At least seven or eight times," Xu Zhongliang replied. "Our momentum is not quite there yet. If we fake your death now, it will feel like a strong start with a weak finish."

Wu Tianshou countered, "Better to reduce it by two. The longer this continues, the greater the risk."

Xu Zhongliang smiled. "With the Great Divine Guardian's Dao of Heaven and Earth, what is there to fear?"

At the side, Wang Shan sighed softly. "The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth is not all-powerful. My own Daoist arts are far from the peak, and there are many strong beings from the Primal Era in the Immortal Saint Realm. If even one or two of them take action, we will face endless trouble."

Smiling, the old woman who had been teaching Wang Sheng military formations countered, "Those ancient beings are cautious. Back then, the Heavenly Court gave them enough respect and even granted them many blessed lands as their domains. They should remember that.

"Moreover, they have gradually merged with the Dao. Their Dao nature outweighs their personal desires. As long as we do not provoke them, they will not truly oppose us."

Wang Shan replied, "When the Heavenly Gate was breached, a number of the people who attacked us were from the Primal Era."

"There is no helping that," Wu Tianshou said. "His Immortal Majesty offended the Three Pure Ones. Some of them only acted to curry favor with them."

Wang Sheng didn't know what to say. This matter was clearly far above his level.

Jingwu asked, "Star Deity, what should we do now? We just lost one of our targets."

"Mm, I have not figured that out yet."

Xu Zhongliang tapped lightly with his finger. Starlight flickered throughout the small stone chamber, and oval clusters resembling galaxies drifted through the air like feathers.

The Star Deity crossed his arms and studied the clusters, searching for their next target.

Each selection required careful thought. Not only did they have to hit the enemy where it would hurt them, but they also had to have a clean retreat prepared and ensure the enemy wouldn't be able to cut it off.

Only by striking unexpectedly could they achieve such results.

It sounded simple, but it was anything but.

Wang Sheng watched for a while. Judging that Xu Zhongliang would not reach a conclusion anytime soon, he closed his eyes and meditated, contemplating the Great Dao of Pure Yang and the Great Dao of the Stars.

Wang Shan tilted his head as if listening. "Lu Dongbin seems to be looking for me. I will bring him here."

Forefather is coming?

Wang Sheng felt a surge of excitement. He had just opened his eyes to offer to go along when Wang Shan had already vanished.

Why is he in such a hurry?

Left with no other choice but to stay, Wang Sheng sighed and waited for news.

Perhaps fearing that the forefather would beat him for the whole matter involving Zhi Bing, he found himself unable to sit still.

***

Two days later, after wandering through several regions, Wang Shan returned with deliberate caution to the planet where Wang Sheng and the others were hiding.

With a flick of his sleeve, several streaks of light flew out: Chun Yangzi in a green robe, Zhi Bing in an icy blue dress that made her look like a sovereign of frost, a messenger of Hostess Su, and Lishang, who was dressed in pale yellow.

Chun Yangzi laughed. "Old Wang, how many years has it been since you washed those clothes? They smell."

Frowning, Wang Shan lifted his sleeve to sniff it, then snorted. "This is the place. Follow me."

Chun Yangzi was about to step forward when he came to a realization. He turned a little and gestured politely. "Fairy Bing, please."

Zhi Bing nodded calmly and walked ahead.

Chun Yangzi followed at her side with a faint smile, drawing an eye roll from Hostess Su's subordinate.

Lishang paid no attention to any of this. She stayed close to Wang Shan, eager to see Wang Sheng.

They took several paths, passed through layers of arrays, and entered hidden passages before finally reaching an unremarkable small mountain village.

Wang Shan had already sent out voice transmissions ahead of time. The immortals and gods of the Heavenly Court who were not in seclusion had stepped out to their respective gates, greeting Chun Yangzi from afar with cupped hands.

Chun Yangzi's eyes lit up at once. He returned their greetings one after another.

Back then, when he was fooling around the Heavenly Court as an unaffiliated immortal, he had gotten along well with many of its official gods. His connections ran wide, and he was well-liked.

Now that he was back, he spotted quite a few old acquaintances, along with plenty of former drinking companions. Of course, there were also one or two gazes tinged with faint resentment, though none wished to bring up the past again.

The moment Lishang caught sight of Wang Sheng, she turned into a streak of golden light and shot straight toward him.

Wang Sheng's mind raced. After hundreds of years, he was finally seeing old friends again. The excitement hit him all at once.

Then, just as quickly, another thought crossed his mind.

Lishang might have feelings for me. Considering how eagerly she's rushing over, is she about to throw herself into my arms? I'm a married man. I can't do anything that will betray Senior Sister.

On the other hand, Lishang spent centuries just to find me. That kind of devotion means something; I can't reject her too coldly. Maybe I should just accept the hug first.

The golden light stopped abruptly in front of Wang Sheng. Lishang then dropped to one knee, lowered her head, and performed the highest rite of Nuwa's race.

In a clear tone, she announced, "I, a descendant of Nuwa, would like to pay my respects, Sacred Spirit! Unaware of your identity, I offended you many times before, Your Highness. Please forgive me!"

Your... Highness?

Wang Sheng smiled wryly. "You are aware that I'm not the son of the great Empress Nuwa, aren't you?"

Several high-ranking figures of the Heavenly Court looked at him at the same time, their eyes practically asking, "Are you not?"

Wang Sheng was rendered speechless.

"General Lishang, please get up!" Wang Sheng called, a little flustered. He stepped forward to help her to her feet, then said in a serious tone, "To have your help today is like a tiger gaining wings or a dragon receiving its clouds!"

Lishang blinked, then could not help turning her head aside with a quiet laugh.

Wang Sheng released her arm, then chuckled. "Why so formal? We are close friends. Stop it with all the Your Highness this, Your Highness that."

Lishang now wore her usual serious expression. "Our ancestors set these rules."

"Then let me ask you this," Wang Sheng replied. "If we were back to before Nuwa's race suffered heavenly punishment, what kind of status would a sacred spirit like me have in your race?"

"Mm... you would naturally stand above all."

"Exactly. Then let's pretend I issued an order back in the Ancient Era. Between the two of us, we can drop the formalities. That settles it."

After thinking it over, Lishang concluded that he made sense.

Finally, Chun Yangzi flew over with a smile.

Wang Sheng hurried forward to greet him. "Greetings, Forefather!"

Chun Yangzi's eyes curved as he grinned, clearly pleased with himself.

Beside him, Zhi Bing coughed lightly. Chun Yangzi immediately stepped forward and returned the greeting with a proper salute.

"I, Lu Dongbin, an unaffiliated immortal of the Heavenly Court, would like to pay you my respects, Grand Marshal!"

The two smiled at each other, their eyes flickering with unspoken understanding.

Wang Sheng then bowed again. "Senior Zhi Bing, it has been a long time."

Zhi Bing smiled gently. "It is good that you are safe. These past years must have been hard on you. You have not even cultivated for a full hundred thousand years, yet you have already faced so many trials."

Wang Sheng smiled back and shook his head. He had the urge to correct her sense of time, but when he thought about it, he realized that she likely saw a hundred thousand years the same way an ordinary person would see a year or two.

In that sense, his thousand odd years really did not amount to much.

The immortals of the Heavenly Court exchanged greetings among themselves. Off to the side, Wang Sheng chatted with Lishang about the various strange and interesting things he had experienced over the past three hundred years.

Lishang shared that she had been waiting at Hostess Su's place all this time. Only recently had Hostess Su sought out Chun Yangzi and asked him to bring her here.

Lishang narrowed her phoenix eyes and said in a mysterious tone, "When things settle down later, find a quiet place. I have a few good things to show you."

"Mm?" Wang Sheng's interest was instantly piqued, though he did not press further.

Soon, everyone moved to a meeting hall to rest.

The immortals of the Heavenly Court could hardly believe their eyes when they saw Chun Yangzi, the famous wanderer of the Three Realms, being so obedient to a powerful female immortal. Before entering rooms, he courteously ushered her ahead. When they took their seats, he personally pulled out a chair for her, fussing over her with constant concern and lingering looks.

Suspicion immediately rose in their hearts.

Wu Tianshou telepathically told Wang Sheng, "Be careful. Something is off about this Chun Yangzi. This could be a trap."

Wang Sheng nearly burst out laughing. He secretly gave Zhi Bing a thumbs-up. Noticing it, she secretly gave him a thumbs-up as well.

The signal was clear. Following Wang Sheng's advice from years ago, she had indeed given his forefather a stable home and an anchor for his heart.

The immortal maiden whom Hostess Su had sent stepped forward and saluted Wang Sheng and the powerful beings around them. She then took out a jade pendant from her sleeve and respectfully handed it to him.

Wang Sheng sent his immortal perception into the jade pendant and examined it carefully. Before long, his expression relaxed.

"What is it?" Chun Yangzi asked with concern. "What did Hostess Su send you?"

Wang Sheng smiled. "Everything is fine back home. Now that you are here too, Forefather, things will be much easier moving forward."

Chun Yangzi frowned slightly. He was about to say that he had only come to take a look when Zhi Bing coughed lightly beside him.

Chun Yangzi puffed out his chest. "Do not worry. If I, your forefather, do not have your back, who will?"