Wu Wang expressed regret over the conflict that had broken out between the Young Master and the Head Manager, who had nearly co to blows right there.
What a pity they hadn't actually fought.
The Head Manager, smart as he was, was outsmarted by his own cleverness. He was so intent on prying words from him to reveal Wu Wangzi's 'true intention' to everyone that he didn't expect to incur his own sister's displeasure.
Wu Wang swore on Yun Zhongjun's integrity and made an oath to Emperor Fu Xi that he certainly hadn't intentionally sched against the Young Master and the Head Manager!
He had rely spoken those words at the right mont according to his plan, seeking a perfect excuse for his visit to the Heaven Palace.
Earn the trust of the Heaven Palace? No, Wu Wang was trying to earn the trust of Emperor Shun.
Wu Wang believed that Emperor Shun had heard his words.
After all, this was the Heaven Palace. If Emperor Shun couldn't maintain complete awareness of the happenings within its walls, he couldn't have sat so securely on the Heavenly Emperor's throne for so long.
Silence returned to the temple once more.
The Young Master had turned and left earlier. The Head Manager stood there for a while before finally departing, hands clasped behind his back, flying away slowly on his cloud.
Naturally, the Head Manager didn't forget to close the temple's grand doors when he left.
Wu Wang deliberately feigned restlessness, pacing around the grand hall for a ti before finally going to lie down on the small bed in the corner.
The quiet environnt here actually provided him with an opportunity to calm down and think.
Unable to know what was happening outside, he couldn't help but feel a asure of concern.
A few days later, the grand doors of the hall were pushed open once more, and several figures strolled in.
Wu Wang turned to look at the entrance, only to see six beauties with outstanding appearances. They wore light golden gauze dresses over pure white tube tops and tight long pants, and even their hairstyles were identical.
They set down various items they carried, and the empty grand hall suddenly featured a low table, a soft cushion, a washbasin for freshening up, and the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone commonly seen in the Human Domain.
After placing these items down, they stood in two rows and bowed in unison to Wu Wang, gentle smiles on their lips, then turned and left quickly.
Wu Wang got up and walked over to the low table.
Was this Emperor Shun's way of telling him to practice his calligraphy now that he had nothing to do?
Without Suqing by his side, there was no one to grind the ink for him.
Wu Wang picked up the exquisite long brush, twirled it gently in his hand a couple of tis, then casually tossed it onto the brush stand and turned to lie back down on the small bed.
「Thus, three days later.」
The six beauties from the Human race serving in the Heaven Palace approached elegantly, this ti bringing six jade plates laden with exquisite delicacies.
"Lord God," one of the Heaven Palace beauties with lively, large eyes said softly, "we are here to serve your al."
"No need," Wu Wang shook his head slightly. "Take it all away."
The six beauties didn't hesitate at all. They bowed to Wu Wang once more and, without any delay, began to carry out his order.
As the grand doors closed again, Wu Wang couldn't help but mutter to himself.
He waited a few more days. When those beauties appeared again bearing fruits and fine wines, he asked directly, "Whose subordinates are you?"
"Replying to Lord God, we are servants of the Moon God," the beauty with the large eyes responded softly.
Her movents, tone, and deanor were beyond reproach. The natural vulnerability she exuded when speaking was enough to make most male beings in the Great Wilderness feel a sense of pity for her.
This seductive feeling reminded Wu Wang of Miao Cuijiao when she wasn't using her charm spells.
Subordinates of the Moon God, no wonder.
"You don't have to co here anymore," Wu Wang said. "Your constant visits disrupt my peace."
The six Divine Servants hurriedly knelt, crying out, "Lord God, please forgive us."
"What cris have you committed? Get up, all of you," Wu Wang waved his hand dismissively. "You may leave now."
They departed as if granted a great amnesty, respectfully exiting the prison-like temple.
Evidently, being a Divine Servant in the Heaven Palace ant one's life was constantly in danger.
Taking advantage of the few tis the doors opened and closed, Wu Wang had already caught glimpses of the scenery outside and had also unraveled the mystery of why 'strong gods making an entrance always brought lightning.'
The entire grand temple was enveloped in dark clouds.
This great hall likely served as more than just a prison; it could also be a place for interrogation and punishnt. Every ti a strong god descended, it would trigger fluctuations in the divine power here, thereby arousing the force of Heavenly Punishnt, which manifested as those thunderbolts.
Wu Wang: ...
He was so bored he was going stir-crazy—why study such things for no reason!
"Alas."
Wu Wang lay sprawled out on the bed, trying to focus his thoughts on a single matter so that ti would pass more quickly.
"Quite bored, aren't you?"
A familiar voice suddenly reached his ears. Wu Wang jumped up and looked toward the low table in the center of the hall.
The Young Master stood there with her hands clasped behind her back, looking down at a sheet of paper on the table, on which so cryptic symbols were drawn.
The divine light from the walls and dod ceiling cast a faint halo around her, and her slender, snow-white neck seed to truly gleam.
Wu Wang smiled. "You are…"
"It's ," the Young Master said softly. "The Young Master."
Wu Wang gave a polite smile and suddenly asked, "How can you prove it?"
The Young Master, who was about to walk over, nearly slipped. She looked at Wu Wang with utter helplessness and sighed, "That incident before… truly… I sought your help before, in the Southeastern Region."
Wu Wang sighed with relief and slowly sat back down on the edge of the bed.
"Your brother is really too much."
A hint of apology flashed in the Young Master's eyes as she spoke in a low voice, "He's always like this. I don't know what to say."
With a light tap of her graceful hand, a vine grew beside Wu Wang's bed. The vine wove itself into a chair, upon which she gracefully seated herself, arranging her skirt.
Wu Wang dared not look for long and shifted his gaze to the hall's entrance.
"Did you hear what was said that day?"
"Yes," the Young Master replied, her gaze also shifting to the entrance. She spoke softly, "Your breadth of mind is truly admirable."
"Breadth of mind? What breadth of mind?" Wu Wang's old face flushed. "I'm just seeking ways to do sothing for the Human Domain, and also for the creatures of heaven and earth."
"And then?"
The Young Master turned to look directly at Wu Wang. "Achieve success and fa, receive people's praise, beco the new ruler of the Human Domain, or a new guide for all living beings?"
"No."
Wu Wang smiled.
"I'd rather resolve all my troubles and find a place with beautiful scenery in the Great Wilderness, preferably at the very edge of the world.
"To not overthink, to not do more than necessary.
"To drink and sing every day with friends by my side, to stay forever with the woman I love, and occasionally wander around the Great Wilderness. Then, when I feel lonely, I would seek the ultimate mystery of this world.
"That is the ultimate challenge that has perplexed many powerful beings of the godly eras."
The Young Master's expression showed a hint of astonishnt.
She smiled and said, "Are you really just a cultivator from the Human Domain? If I didn't know your origin, I might think you were an ancient Divine Spirit."
Wu Wang forced a smile. "I've mostly been influenced by the Star God."
"The Star God? What exactly is your relationship with the Star God…"
"It's quite complicated. If you get the chance, you could ask the Heavenly Emperor. See if he'll tell you."
Wu Wang said apologetically, "You probably aren't allowed to know these secrets yet."
The Young Master pouted faintly, her expression briefly showing a touch of 'defiance', but she didn't dwell on the topic.
Having been confined in this place for so long, Wu Wang didn't want to miss the chance to converse with the Young Master; indeed, she was one of his intended targets for this trip.
A proper strategy: to win her over from the standpoint of the Heavenly Dao.
Wu Wang took the initiative to find a topic, asking the Young Master about the Great Dao of the reproduction of living beings.
The Young Master couldn't help but blush, and she stamred, "Those drawings from the Human Domain you gave about teaching reproduction… I've seen them all."
Wu Wang's Dao heart wavered on the spot.
"They're very good," the Young Master said softly. "Allowing newborn creatures to understand the way of reproduction like this, to avoid harming each other due to instinctual urges, is a very good thod.
"This thod from the Human Domain could indeed be promoted among the various races of the Great Wilderness.
"Would that… be difficult?"
Wu Wang: ...
The Heaven Palace officially promoting "Harmony" products—what kind of cri would that even be?
"In the Great Wilderness, the Hundred Races each have their own ways," Wu Wang tactfully reminded her of the impracticality of the matter. "Young Master, isn't your Great Dao in charge of these things?"
"My Great Dao? The Great Dao of Reproduction?"
The Young Master whispered, "My Great Dao… it mainly permits living beings to reproduce and protects their reproduction…"
"How exactly does this Great Dao operate?"
"The Great Dao is just the Great Dao," the Young Master blinked lightly, pondering carefully, yet she spoke earnestly about the principles of the Great Dao.
She had almost no defenses up, nor did she consider any of this a secret.
Wu Wang, however, did not probe into the core mysteries of this Dao, rely finding topics to chat with her about.
Gradually, dusk fell outside the great hall.
The Young Master lingered there for quite a while, and when it was ti to leave, she still felt sowhat reluctant.
"Well, I'll head back now."
"Thank you for coming to talk with ," Wu Wang sighed. "My Primordial Spirit is sealed, so I can't even ditate or cultivate."
"Perhaps…"
"Hmm?"
The Young Master seed hesitant, her words trailing off. As Wu Wang looked at her inquisitively, she just shook her head with a smile.
She turned gracefully, her figure about to dissipate.
"Young Master!"
"What is it?" She imdiately turned back.
Wu Wang rubbed his fingers together, took out one of the Yin and Yang rings, and tossed it to the Young Master.
The Young Master was montarily stunned but instinctively reached out to catch it.
Is this… Could it be so kind of token? I just thought he had a good personality, was broad-minded, and a rare powerful individual who genuinely considered living beings. It was only after hesitating for so ti that I mustered the courage to co here and chat with him. Although today's conversation went well, and we were quite comfortable with each other, we're not even friends. Giving a token so directly is… Should I give a token in return? Or should I refuse clearly, pointing out that we're not yet friends, that we were even enemies before, and that our stances aren't aligned?
THUMP!
The ring was caught by the Young Master's raised hand.
Because my mind was preoccupied, I actually caught it so directly!
The Young Master suddenly felt flustered. She imdiately looked at Wu Wang, then averted her gaze, her heart in turmoil.
Forget it, forget it, I'll just accept this ring for now…
"Can you help with sothing?"
Wu Wang pointed to the ring sowhat sheepishly.
"I'll give you the refinent thod. Help take out so books to read from inside, and so clothes and such."
The Young Master's movents stiffened, and the smile at the corners of her mouth was sowhat forced.
In the following days, Wu Wang couldn't understand why the Young Master's final glance at him as she left that day had been so complex.
What, why?
…
With books, this period of imprisonnt beca much more bearable.
The Young Master moved out all of Wu Wang's books in one go. There were miscellaneous texts from the Human Domain, and an even larger number of cultivation scriptures gifted to him by the Four Seas Pavilion.
What made Wu Wang quite helpless was that his Immortal Consciousness and Divine Thought were locked down too tightly. He couldn't peruse those Jade Talisman-based books and could only read paper books, bamboo slips, and jade slips.
In a few days, Wu Wang had skimd through his 'collection.'
Suqing, always thinking of Suqing. Only Suqing had a large collection of cherished books.
With nothing else to do, Wu Wang drew an Eight Trigrams Disk and hung it beside his bed, giving him another focal point for his thoughts each day.
There shouldn't be any major issues outside; otherwise, the necklace hidden against his chest would have surely warned him by now.
Moreover, according to the various scenarios he and Yun Zhongjun had calculated, the ti outside the Heaven Palace should currently be at its most stable.
This was because he, the variable, was now within the Heaven Palace.
「Half a month after the Young Master left, she appeared again.」
This ti, she was clearly prepared. She wore a loose-fitting black gown, intricately layered inside and out, and brought with her many stone slabs from the ancient divine era.
Wu Wang didn't need to initiate conversation, as she imdiately began to recount interesting tales from that era.
Although the topics she chose usually only engrossed herself, Wu Wang found that watching this beautiful young goddess didn't cause any irritation in his Dao heart.
How can I develop her into a fellow Daoist?
The timing was far from ripe.
Although swaying the Young Master was the least difficult, her status was too high; influencing her would affect the entire situation.
Poaching soone also required a complete plan.
It required laying groundwork over a long period, accumulating goodwill, creating the right atmosphere at crucial monts to foster positive feelings, so that when a major event was imminent, her defection would seem like a natural course of events.
To be frank, Emperor Shun had dealt with Candle Dragon in much the sa way back then.
For the next half a year, Wu Wang remained trapped there.
The people outside couldn't stop worrying, but thankfully, Cang Xue sent ssages regularly, telling Jingwei and Lin Suqing that Wu Wang was safe.
Wu Wang, however, found himself increasingly at leisure in this place.
This hall, originally a prison, had now transford.
The small bed had been replaced with an exquisite jade stone bed. Several large bookshelves had been erected in the corners, and a hanging basket had been added next to the bed.
The decor in various parts of the hall also gradually beca more intricate. The Moon God kept sending new furnishings, and the Young Master would bring sothing each ti she appeared.
She seed to greatly enjoy debating with Wu Wang. The frequency of her visits increased from once every half a month to once every five or six days, and the duration of each stay extended from half a day to an entire day.
When tired from chatting, she would sit in the comfortable hanging basket, either holding a scroll or toying with a treasure, letting the basket swing back and forth.
In Wu Wang's view, this relationship was a very proper way of making friends.
But in the Heaven Palace…
The rumors had long since beco unstoppable!
The Young Master visited the prison frequently, where the Human Domain's Wu Wangzi was confined. Consequently, for the past half-year, the Head Manager's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot every single day!
These events had beco fodder for jokes among the Innate Gods.
As ti passed, the Shen Sheng of the various gods also grew quite boring; this bit of gossip was enough for them to savor for hundreds or even thousands of years.
The goddesses in the Heaven Palace were divided into two types: those who freely indulged their desires, and those who remained as pure as ice and jade, seldom interacting with male divine spirits.
The Young Master was clearly the latter. Since her birth in the Second Divine Generation, there had never been any ntion of her having a partner.
To delve deeper into this, one would naturally have to consult her older brother, the Head Manager.
The content of Wu Wang's and the Young Master's chats seed casual but was actually quite deliberate.
Firstly, Wu Wang never inquired about the current situation in the Heaven Palace or the Human Domain. Secondly, he never ntioned his own imprisonnt.
He tried his best to avoid putting the Young Master in a difficult position or placing any pressure on her.
After all, one must cast a long line to catch a big fish.
Strange, why do feelings of deep guilt arise whenever I think of attempting to sway the Young Master lately?
Wu Wang muttered to himself, looking at the gently swaying empty hanging basket. He shook his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Just then, the temple door was suddenly pushed open. The sound of uniform footsteps echoed from outside as a large group of Divine Guards flooded in.
A tall, imposing figure strode into the temple with steady steps.
"God of Spring, are you comfortable here?"
The newcor was one of the Five Elents Gods, the wielder of military power in the Heaven Palace, a famously steadfast general from the Fifth Divine Generation.
The Earth God.
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