When their new planetary hideout finally settled into peace, the immortals and deities spread across the beautiful grasslands, each finding a place to rest and recover.

The next great battle was likely several years away.

The clash between the extremely powerful combatants had resulted in immense disturbance. Moreover, the Heavenly Court's two leading figures had fought with overwhelming dominance. The enemy factions in the Immortal Saint Realm would inevitably pull back and consolidate their forces across the four great sky regions.

The enemy's joint counterattack, carried out by more than a dozen mighty beings, made their intentions clear. They were determined to destroy the Heavenly Court again.

In this battle, only a few of the enemy's top fighters suffered serious injuries. Two of those who had faced Qinghua and the Second Master were killed, while the rest escaped with only minor wounds.

If the mighty figures of the Immortal Saint Realm had not been completely unable to withstand Qinghua and the Second Master, then this clash would have ended without any serious injuries at all. It would have been nothing more than a routine exchange between the strong—a brief confrontation before both sides withdrew.

Zhi Bing and Chun Yangzi had expended a great deal of energy, but they were not injured.

Wu Tianshou had suffered somewhat heavier injuries. However, with Chun Yangzi's help, he quickly stabilized. Now, he was no longer in any real danger.

The core members of the God-Slaying Plan gathered for a post-battle meeting. Several of them analyzed their opponents' treasured artifacts and divine abilities, working out how to counter them in future encounters.

Since Wang Sheng's cultivation realm was far too low compared to theirs, most of it went over his head. He simply sat cross-legged nearby, watching the little white tiger in the distance pounce on butterflies.

It's... really just a cat.

Wu Tianshou sighed deeply, his eyes filled with frustration. "This fight made me realize just how wide the gap is between us, Emperor Qinghua, and the Second Master."

Wang Sheng smiled. "Star Deity, you are already a top expert in your own right. There is no need to belittle yourself like this."

Xu Zhongliang also smiled. "Do not compare yourself to them. They are already close to His Immortal Majesty's level in his prime. We are still far from that."

Wang Sheng lowered his voice and asked, "What Dao does the Second Master follow?"

"War, Martial," Wang Shan answered.

Xu Zhongliang added, "He is also a physical cultivator and is only half a step away from a major breakthrough."

Wang Sheng scratched his head.

That senior is incredibly strong.

They discussed future battles for a while. Wang Sheng listened quietly; he rarely spoke. In a corner of the Qiankun Ring, Spiritless flickered faintly.

They had already started planning the final battle of the sacred spirit as well. After building momentum three more times, Wang Sheng would fake his death in front of the Immortal Saint Realm and slip away.

Considering they had already drawn a counterattack from more than a dozen mighty individuals, the next three engagements had to be handled with extreme care. They had to strike quickly and withdraw just as fast, with every preparation made thoroughly.

Xu Zhongliang had already decided on the stage of the final battle.

"It will be at the Western Sky Region's entrance to the Immortal Saint Realm."

He snapped his fingers, and a star map spread out across the grasslands. Afterward, he explained the plan that he had carefully made.

"First, your death has to look real. It should not feel staged. Fei Yu, our best option right now is for your final opponent to be one of our own. I already have several candidates in mind. We can discuss them later. That person will seriously wound you, then act out the moment of killing you."

"This is also the most dangerous step. If the person we choose turns out to be a double agent, you will truly be in danger."

Wang Sheng thought for a moment, then glanced at the bronze mirror in his arms. It still had one more use. Until then, this gift from the Yellow-Apricot Banner could be used to peek—ahem, to observe his senior sister.

Between husband and wife, there was no need to describe it in such awkward terms.

"When the time comes, Marshal, you will make a grand entrance. Following a fierce battle, whoever we choose will strike you down. Several of us will then work together to completely conceal your heavenly fate, preventing the enemy from tracing you.

Xu Zhongliang paused briefly.

He then continued, "We also have to create the impression that you were killed in battle. One moment, you are still within their ability to deduce; the next, you vanish completely from all perception."

Wang Sheng considered it. "How exactly do we do that?"

"I originally planned to use a grand array that conceals heavenly fates. At the crucial moment, we would send you into it. However, that approach has too many flaws."

Chun Yangzi remarked, "I may have a solution for this."

Everyone looked at him, most of them already understanding.

Xu Zhongliang smiled. "I almost forgot. When it comes to hiding one's presence and concealing heavenly fates, none of us here can compare to you."

Chun Yangzi grinned, his eyes narrowing. He glanced at the Bing Zhi, who was beside him, then coughed lightly. "Let us not bring up youthful matters. The method I speak of involves a treasure that can block such detection. I possess the Haotian Pagoda. It can sever heavenly fates. However, it is not subtle enough. If it appears beside Fei Yu, it will certainly attract the attention of powerful beings, resulting in a fight over it."

The others nodded slowly.

Jingwu sighed. "This is no longer the Ancient Era. Back then, the Great Dao had many flaws, which made concealing heavenly fates much easier. The Sea of Dao Laws has since grown close to perfection. Without a supreme treasure, nothing can escape the tracking methods of heavenly fates."

Wang Shan commented, "The Mirage-Sea Pearl can conceal heavenly fates. However, the Mirage-Sea Leviathan is already extremely difficult to find, and obtaining its pearl is even harder. Moreover, the pearl will shatter on its own after only tens of thousands of years."

Xu Zhongliang frowned. "Are there any other treasures? The Mirage-Sea Leviathan itself is little more than legend. Even the Heavenly Court has no clear records of it."

"Cursed witch blood," Wu Tianshou said.

The group considered it for a moment, then quickly dismissed the idea.

Xu Zhongliang calculated with his fingers, then said, "The Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation."

Several strange gazes turned toward him. Even Wang Sheng could tell that the suggestion was unreliable.

The group sat in thought for a long while, but no one could come up with a solution. The problem left them stuck.

Wang Sheng hesitated, then said, "What about the Absolute-Heaven Pill?"

Xu Zhongliang shook his head. "Would that not waste all the cultivation you have only just gained?"

Wang Sheng asked, "Does His Imperial Majesty have any way to conceal heavenly fates?"

"That wooden coffin would work," Xu Zhongliang replied, "but nothing related to him are allowed to appear on that day. You all have to remember that he practices the Great Dao of Death. His power and techniques are immeasurable.

"If he joins the final battle, who would believe Fei Yu's death is real? He has to cause trouble elsewhere in advance. After we're done here, he also has to stay visible for a time. That will serve as the best cover."

Everyone nodded. He had a point.

Wang Sheng smiled. "Making a grand entrance is easy. Exiting cleanly is far harder."

Zhi Bing suggested a few more treasures, but they were all nearly impossible to obtain.

Most supreme treasures were already in the hands of extremely powerful beings. During the battle that destroyed the Heavenly Court, those present had suffered heavy losses, and many treasures had been lost.

Just as everyone was growing troubled, Wang Sheng felt an itch on his chest. The small wooden sword that had been quiet for a long time lazily slipped out.

The moment the wooden sword appeared, the little white tiger playing in the distance froze and glanced over. The others were all experts, too. Hence, they immediately sensed that the wooden sword was anything but ordinary.

The small sword circled Wang Sheng twice, then drifted behind him and slipped between his Daoist headband. It even gave a small twist of its hilt.

Xu Zhongliang immediately took it into consideration. Soon, he gasped softly in surprise. "At this distance, we can completely ignore the concealment arrays we set outside. That being said, I can no longer detect Fei Yu with my divination techniques!"

"Oh?"

The others tried for themselves. Soon, they all stared at the small sword behind Wang Sheng's head with clear surprise.

The sword drifted out again as lazily as ever, then slipped into Wang Sheng's back as if it could not be bothered with anyone.

"What is that?"

"Ahem." Wang Sheng had not expected the sword to come out on its own, but there was no point in hiding it now. "It should be... related to Emperor Qinghua's Apricot-Yellow Banner."

He then recounted how he had borrowed the power of the stars, followed the Dao traces of Emperor Ziwei through the chaos, and somehow ended up biting off a piece of a... "radish."

Everyone sucked in a sharp breath and stared at him.

Wang Sheng smiled awkwardly. Even he felt a bit embarrassed.

Others obtained treasures through dangerous encounters and hard trials. Compared to that, his way of obtaining one seemed... absurd.

Xu Zhongliang covered his face and sighed. "Fei Yu, you're seriously lucky to still be alive."

The others nodded in agreement.

Wu Tianshou smiled bitterly. "Perhaps that green lotus noticed your identity as a sacred spirit and decided to give you some guidance. If so, you might even reach the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm in one breakthrough."

Wang Sheng was rendered speechless. In the end, he simply waved his hand. "Let the past stay in the past. Now that we have a way to conceal heavenly fates, let us move on to the other details."

His desire to survive was clearly very strong.

The group continued their discussions, losing track of time. Several days and nights passed.

However, when it came to choosing Wang Sheng's final opponent, a dispute broke out. Chun Yangzi and Xu Zhongliang both insisted on choosing someone they personally trusted. The two, who were usually on good terms, nearly drew their swords over it.

Finding it inappropriate to speak, Wang Sheng simply waited for them to decide.

In fact, he had the faint sense that his forefather was doing this on purpose. After all, they had already discussed that after slipping away like a cicada shedding its shell, they might also attempt a second escape.

The argument dragged on without resolution. In the end, they set the matter aside for later and continued refining the rest of the plan.

To deceive the entire Immortal Saint Realm with a single grand performance was no easy task.

As the main actor, Wang Sheng felt the pressure keenly.

There was no reward for this performance. If it succeeded, he would escape safely. If it failed, he could lose his life and his Dao. Even the best-case scenario would leave him wandering with no place to settle in.

He almost wanted to take some time off and return home to train his acting skills.

Forget it. I'll just take things one step at a time.

Wang Sheng glanced at the small item that Lishang had given him on his wrist. A sense of calm settled quietly in his heart.