The young girl lying before him was covered in white light by the Young Master. After a short while, she would only need to visit the Heaven Palace and be granted the position of a minor god with the duty of touring the Four Seas.

Wu Wang did not wish to comment further on this matter. As he stood up, he bowed in the direction ahead and then nodded to the Young Master, whose gaze was complex. Turning around, he walked toward the edge of the crab's back.

At this moment, he could not utter any words, could not show any unease, and could not exhibit any hesitation. Everything appeared carefree and calm, as if it were naturally meant to be this way.

The Young Master floated half a foot forward but immediately stopped, wanting to call out to Wu Wang but hesitating to speak. The bet was won by him; she ought to let him leave. HMPH, although it was a bet she had given to him out of pity.

Wu Wang took dozens of steps, brought out an ordinary immortal-grade Treasure Sword, and tossed it before him. Planting his feet firmly on it, he pushed the sword forward, using Sword Control to travel towards the horizon.

At this moment, the power Wu Wang used was purely that of Ascending Immortal Realm mana, concealing the power of Divine Thought, bodily strength, and Bloodline Power without any leaks. Even though his flight was comparatively slow, he had to act like an ordinary Ascending Immortal Realm cultivator.

The Young Master held her hands out in a supportive gesture, the witch from the Rain Mistress Nation floating beside her, still draped in her blue garments.

The giant crab became translucent, slowly sinking from the sea's surface. It rapidly returned to its original size spanning hundreds of miles and leisurely made its way through the ocean floor towards the north, as if whatever happened here had nothing to do with it.

From within Heaven and Earth, many eyes fixed upon Wu Wang. From thousands of miles away, the masters of the Human Domain truly worried for Wu Wang. However, at this moment, they also realized the 'delicacy' of Wu Wang's situation and did not dare to disrupt this subtle balance.

Just as Wu Wang was about to fly beyond the edge where the crab's back previously ended… BUZZ! The sound of cleaving the air arrived, and the corner of Wu Wang's mouth twitched slightly as he stopped in midair, standing leisurely with his hands behind his back.

Two Golden Armor Divine Guards blocked his path, their helmets revealing bird heads covered in black feathers, the bird eyes sharp and piercing. The three-zhang-tall bodies exuded a strong and fierce aura. In the Great Wilderness, it is said: In Yang Valley, fierce birds flock, speaking little but fierce in thought. They were indeed referring to them.

"Halt!"

"This way is closed!"

Wu Wang slightly nodded, quickly contemplating three options in his mind. A, to dramatically denounce the Heaven Palace for backpedaling and fight for a way to leave. B, to calmly recount the matter of the recent bet, reminding the Young Master to adhere to the agreement. C, to directly turn and ask the Young Master if he can be let go by emphasizing that he's just an Ascending Immortal Realm cultivator, continuing to give the impression that 'killing me would bring down your own value.' After careful consideration and weighing his options, Wu Wang quickly chose… the fourth option.

He turned around, curiosity evident in his gaze, looking at the Young Master standing quietly in the distance, radiating a soft glow, and asked softly, "Can't you have a say in the Heaven Palace?"

The Young Master lightly said, "Let him go." The two Golden Crow Divine Guards immediately bowed respectfully, ready to disperse to either side.

"My lord!" The most powerful among the Divine Guards leaped in front of the Young Master and said with a bow and clenched fists, "This man has caused so many masters from the Human Domain to come to his rescue. His status is certainly extraordinary. Please, my lord, reconsider! Do not let him leave so easily!"

A slight smile appeared on the originally somewhat sullen face of the Young Master. She chuckled softly and indifferently said, "Repeat that."

The Divine Guard commander suddenly realized his mistake and immediately knelt on one knee in midair. "My lord! I merely intended to remind you, and would not dare to order you!"

A glint of grass-green light flashed in the Young Master's eyes as a sphere of green light emerged from the body of the Divine Guard commander. The green light contained an indescribable and ineffable vitality, now scattering rapidly in the sea below.

The Divine Guard commander's face turned instantly pale, kneeling and kowtowing continuously, but he dared not say another word.

"Such a bloodline as yours need not continue to be passed down in this world," the Young Master said indifferently, her gaze shifting back to Wu Wang.

The two Divine Guards who had barred Wu Wang's way trembled all over and quickly dodged to the left and right, not daring to lift their heads or breathe loudly, lest they bring down such punishment upon themselves.

Curiously, Wu Wang glanced at the silhouette of the Divine Guard commander continuously kowtowing and then, with a cupped fist salute to the Young Master, turned around and leisurely flew towards the south. His speed was neither too fast nor too slow.

What did the Young Master mean just now? No need for bloodline to be passed on… and neither did the Divine Guards suddenly die, nor was there that intense burst of vitality… UGH.

Wu Wang's forehead was covered in black lines as his legs subconsciously squeezed together, and the speed at which he was flying increased significantly. The Young Master, in charge of the proliferation of life. Was this stripping the Divine Guard General of his reproductive rights? Better not provoke, better not provoke; time to slip away quickly.

"HMPH." The Young Master left behind a soft snort over the ocean then slightly bowed a greeting towards the chariot high in the sky.

A ladder reaching high into the heavens appeared behind her. She turned and gracefully ascended step by step, her silhouette exuding elegance and composure. Although she seemed to move slowly, she reached the horizon in the blink of an eye, disappearing into the clouds.

Instantly, the group of Golden Crow Divine Guards headed towards Yang Valley, and both the Sabye Corpse and the colorful bird vanished without a trace.

High above, the Goddess in the divine chariot watched Wu Wang's figure, her beautiful eyes filled with contemplation. Then, she suddenly spoke out, "I ask you to hold your step."

This voice came from the high clouds, making Wu Wang's heart soar almost into his throat. The Young Master had left; could it be that the Heaven Palace was going back on its word? In Heaven Palace's divine faction, the Sun Goddess actually possesses a higher rank than the Young Master, holding a transcendent status. Her calling to him now truly made it hard to predict fortune or disaster.

With no other choice, Wu Wang could only respond calmly, raising his head with cupped fists, exhibiting neither timidity nor panic, and not too much deference either. He asked, "May I ask if there is something you wish to impart?"

"Are you called Wu Wangzi?" the Sun Goddess asked softly.

Just as Wu Wang was about to answer, a streak of white light appeared in the sky, and the Young Master's figure reemerged. The Young Master slightly bowed to the Sun Goddess, her voice spreading throughout Heaven and Earth, "Xihe, I have already lost the bet earlier, and Wu Wangzi should be allowed to leave."

Xihe's mouth carried a gentle smile. The face of the Heavenly Emperor's Imperial Empress was unclear to all creatures, yet they could fully perceive the change in her expression, as if she had used some extraordinary divine skill.

Xihe said softly, "The Young Master need not worry. I am aware that you honor your promises. I called Wu Wangzi just to ask him a question or two, not to have you break your word."

"I thank Xihe for her understanding," the Young Master said. She glanced at Wu Wang one more time before her figure faded into the clouds, but just like before, she did not truly leave.

Xihe looked at Wu Wang. Though they were apart by an unknown distance, her voice steadily reached his ears: "Wu Wangzi, how did you think of responding with goodwill to goodwill, dissolving the resentment of that resentful spirit?"

"All beings are like this, unlike the Divine Spirits," replied Wu Wang, looking up at Xihe. "This is not to say that people should answer resentment with kindness… if one repays grievances with kindness, how should one repay kindness? I just feel that these witches of the Rain Mistress Nation have suffered immense hardships because of the ten-day ritual, giving rise to boundless hatred, but hatred is not all that they are. Just like a villain often has moments of kindness, such moments cannot wash away a villain's infamy, but are still valuable possessions that all beings have. They are like this, the Hundred Races are like this, and the Divine Spirits… seeing the Young Master's actions today, they should be like this as well."

Xihe nodded slowly. Wu Wang added, "Like that Evil God Qiong Qi promoted by the Heaven Palace, not human, not one of the Hundred Races, not of the kind-hearted; inherently brutal, believing that divine powers can pry into the human heart and thus becoming overly confident when facing the Human Domain, when in reality it is nothing but empty boasting. He truly knows nothing of what is most precious in a human heart."

The stab in the back happened in an unguarded moment. Xihe softly asked, "The Human Domain and the Heaven Palace have been at war for many years. Does the Human Domain still hold any goodwill towards the Heaven Palace?"

"I'm afraid it's gone," Wu Wang replied solemnly. "The conflict between the Human Domain and the Heaven Palace began with the oppression of the Hundred Races by the Ancient Fire God, while the Heaven Palace looked on without intervention. After the Ancient Fire God was defeated, the Heaven Palace sent troops to create difficulties. And now the Heaven Palace is even ready to destroy the Human Domain at any moment. How can we still hold any goodwill towards the Heaven Palace?"

Xihe said, "This is where our stands differ."

"Did you stop me just to say these things?"

"I quite admire you," Xihe said.

Wu Wang's body shuddered, and he almost kneeled to Xihe. Don't do this! My crimes are not so severe! What if your husband misunderstands?

Then he heard Xihe continue, "My child is unruly, inherently possessing the essence of heavenly yang and tasked with dividing day from night, exceedingly difficult to discipline. If you could come and be their teacher, teaching them how to be virtuous, it would also be an act of bringing blessings to all living beings."

Wu Wang only felt that what he was hearing was utterly preposterous, and retorted, "You mean to say… you want me to… become a teacher to the executioners who take joy in maltreating living beings?"

"Enough," Xihe sighed softly. She did not say anything more and disappeared along with the chariot.

No sooner had Xihe left than a crack suddenly appeared in the fabric of Heaven and Earth before Wu Wang. Liu Baiyi stretched out his great hand, grabbed Wu Wang, and pulled him into the fissure, swiftly vanishing from sight.

Before long, the dawn light started to creep across the eastern sky. On the Fusang Tree in Yang Valley, the fist-sized 'sun' chirped crisply. The sun expanded to the size of a wheel, hung on the edge of Heaven and Earth, and slowly rose into the sky. It was then that the world became bright, and the spiritual energy between Heaven and Earth grew a bit more dry and hot.

「…」

"Sect Master! Sect Master!" Wu Wang had just appeared in the clouds when the Grand Elder pounced on him.

This Blood Hand Demon Lord pressed down on Wu Wang's arms with his two large hands, inspecting him up and down thoroughly, before letting out a long sigh. "If something were to happen to you, Sect Master, truly, I do not know how I would face the ancestors of the Wind Great Demon Sect of Annihilation and Dark Desire!"

Wu Wang said with a smile, "Weren't there just two before me?"

"It's mainly the former Sect Master," the Grand Elder lamented. "Now that you're safe and sound, I'll have the former Sect Master's tomb renovated!"

The experts surrounding them all laughed together. Liu Baiyi urged, "We should not linger here long. Let's all work together to open a crack and rush back to the shores of the East Sea!"

"Good!"

"Quickly!"

The cultivators combined their powers to shake the fabric of Heaven and Earth, causing another good bit of commotion.

Moments later, on a pristine white beach at the shores of the East Sea in the northeastern part of the Human Domain, over a hundred figures gathered, surrounding Wu Wang so tightly that no one could slip through. Lin Qi and Ling Xiaolan, however, stood off at a distance, not approaching closer. The former thought there was no need to be too 'sappy' with his teacher. The latter simply feared the crowd and preferred to avoid contact, though she actually wanted to chat with Wu Wang.

"Wuwang Palace Lord! You've really come back just like that!"

"Impressive, Wuwang Palace Lord, facing the Young Master with such calm composure, you truly have the air of a great general! Indeed, you have the air of a great general!"

"That Young Master does seem to keep her word after all. I was already prepared to mock them from thousands of miles away, scolding them for being deceitful and such."

Wu Wang responded with a smile, exchanging pleasantries with the elite cultivators of the Human Domain for a while, indeed feeling somewhat overwhelmed. Fortunately, Pavilion Master Liu Baiyi spoke up to rescue him, pulling Wu Wang from the group of experts.

The elite cultivators of the Human Domain soon took their leave, not lingering on the spot. Those cultivators who were still on their way to the eastern part of the East Sea were also recalled by messages sent through jade talismans from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion.

「An hour later.」

Only a few figures remained on the beach. The Grand Elder had reverted back to his original state, fiddling with and muttering to two puppets, apparently aiming to 'steal' the 'exchange' divine skill displayed by the Young Master.

Wu Wang stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of a cliff, staring at the sea before him, his eyes filled with deep thought.

"You truly scared someone nearly out of their wits," a soft sigh came from nearby, and it was Ling Xiaolan slowly drifting over. She looked at Wu Wang and said, "Thankfully, that Young Master is not too bad, a dignified Innate God."

"HMM." Wu Wang gave Ling Xiaolan a gentle smile and spoke slowly, "Just as there are bad people in the Human Domain, not all in the Heaven Palace are as treacherous and cunning as Qiong Qi. But Fairy Immortal, there's something you must discern clearly."

"What is it?"

"Men are men, gods are gods. Do not use our moral concepts to judge Divine Spirits; there are many fundamental contradictions between the two that prevent mutual understanding." Wu Wang moved his neck around. "No matter what the Young Master's temperament or personality is like, she is the enemy. To develop a fondness for an enemy is to be on the brink of one's own destruction."

Ling Xiaolan said seriously, "I have oversimplified things."

"SIGH." Wu Wang stared at the fiery sun to the east. "It feels like it was all a dream, suddenly appearing in front of the Young Master."

"It was the Young Master using a powerful divine skill," Ling Xiaolan said. "She swapped the two puppets, changing you with another Heavenly Immortal. The Grand Elder was quite annoyed about this. Speaking of which, this divine skill is so strange, truly difficult to understand which Great Dao it belongs to."

Wu Wang paused, suddenly thinking of the other Spiritual Storage Magical Item he had seen when he first emerged from his own. When he returned, he was only thinking about how to escape from the Young Master's hands and forgot about that Spiritual Storage Magical Item… Upon reflection, he did not find that treasure bag later on.

That's bad. Wu Wang couldn't help but slap his forehead. That Heavenly Immortal must have been captured by the Young Master and taken to the Heaven Palace!

Ling Xiaolan thought for a moment and murmured, "Don't worry, it's also possible that it fell into the sea. We were all watching you at that time and indeed did not pay attention to where the treasure bag went…"

"What happened?" Liu Baiyi's voice came over, as he, Feng Zhizi, Xiao Jian Daoist, and the Grand Elder returned, landing on the edge of the cliff.

Wu Wang briefly described the incident with the Heavenly Immortal in the treasure bag, and the four experts each frowned.

Liu Baiyi said, "For now, we cannot venture into that sea area, and it's a bit late to rush over. Let's wait for news to see if she has fallen into the sea. If so, she can swim back on her own. Let's wait for half a month; if she doesn't return, then we'll send someone to search."

"At this moment, we can only prepare for the worst," whispered Xiao Jian Daoist. "That Heavenly Immortal friend was one of the escorts bringing Little Gudu back to the Northern Wilderness, and she certainly knows about Xing Tian and Little Gudu coming to the Human Domain... If she has been captured by the Heaven Palace, it may result in a situation quite unfavorable for the Northern Wilderness."

Wu Wang couldn't help pacing back and forth, his usual composure shaken, as he was filled with immense concern for his homeland. Brother Xing Tian appeared directly in front of the Young Master; his own identity as the Young Master of the Northern Wilderness was becoming increasingly known in the Human Domain; and the Heavenly Immortal most likely already captured…

He said, "This won't do, I need to check on the Northern Wilderness!"

Liu Baiyi said, "This matter should still be discussed with His Majesty."

"The Pavilion Master can speak to His Majesty on my behalf," Wu Wang said. "I will return from the West Sea in disguise to avoid the eyes of the Heaven Palace."

Xiao Jian Daoist said, "Master, let your disciple escort Wu Wang."

Liu Baiyi looked troubled, glancing between Wu Wang and Xiao Jian, then turned and left through the Heaven and Earth rift on his own. "You all decide for yourselves; don't involve me if there's blame to be had."

The Grand Elder said, "Sect Master, even if you're anxious, you will inevitably be delayed on the road. It's better to rest for a while first; I will seek out an extremely fast air-traveling Magic Treasure."

"Thank you, Grand Elder," Wu Wang said warmly. "Good, we will head back to the Annihilation Sect first; I also want to bring Suqing along."

"Good."

Suddenly Ling Xiaolan asked, "Where did Immortal Mu go?"

Wu Wang asked, "Didn't she come back with you all?"

Xiao Jian Daoist said, "It seems she was gone even before…"

The group was immediately puzzled and began to inquire everywhere.

「Meanwhile, at the bottom of the East Sea, to the north.」

The big crab maintained its mystical and peculiar state, taking advantage of a moment when the East Sea was unguarded to hurry northward. Not far behind the big crab, a thin figure quietly followed, holding pincers and a small hammer, wiping the drool from the corners of their mouth within the protective Immortal Light.

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