Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

In the Guarding Heavenly Master's Mansion at the top floor of the Star Observation Pavilion in Nan Shao Town.

Wang Chen sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion with his eyes closed, his robust and pure Five Elements Mana circulating ceaselessly within his body, faintly radiating a five-colored glow.

This was a phenomenon that appeared only when the Five Elements Skill was cultivated to its highest level.

Three days earlier, he had smoothly advanced to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation and had also brought this main cultivation technique to its pinnacle.

All he needed to do next was to continue amassing strength until he reached Great Perfection and then he could attempt to breakthrough the mansion.

Originally, according to Wang Chen's plan, he intended to complete this step in three years before returning to the Cloud Sun Sect for his breakthrough.

However, plans never keep up with changes, and now Wang Chen could only consider alternatives.

The question was, what exactly had happened to the Cloud Sun Sect that caused Great Qian to turn against the Guarding Heavenly Master, and Wang Chen couldn't get the correct answer from Ruan Zhaoming's mouth either.

This Prefectural Governor acted on orders from above to deal with Wang Chen and also harbored ambitions that could not be exposed to light.

His ultimate goal was actually to carve out a kingdom for himself!

Wang Chen found this laughable and then "rewarded" this ambition-riddled man with a Fire Crow Technique.

Of course, killing Ruan Zhaoming did not solve the problems Wang Chen was facing.

In the current complex situation, should he leave or continue to be this Guarding Heavenly Master?

Wang Chen chose to wait.

This wait lasted for three days.

In the past three days, Nan Shao Town was as serene as a stagnant pool, showing no ripples from the vanishing of Prefectural Governor Ruan Zhaoming, while the marketplace was more stable than ever.

The barricades and ballistae that blocked the streets surrounding the Guarding Heavenly Master's Mansion were all removed that very day.

The routine patrols of soldiers had also disappeared without a trace.

The Guarding Heavenly Master's Mansion had practically become a forbidden area in Nan Shao Town, with no one daring to come within half a step!

Suddenly, Wang Chen opened his eyes.

Accompanied by the flapping sounds of wings, a blue-gray falcon landed on the windowsill.

"Squawk~"

It called out to Wang Chen and lowered its head to peck at the cylindrical case tied to its claws.

Wang Chen reached out to bring the falcon over and untied the cylinder to take out a scroll of silk fabric.

He patted the falcon and retrieved a piece of lean meat from his Storage Bag, tossing it to the hard-working messenger.

After a careful read of the text written on the silk.

This falcon-carried letter was sent by Fei Xinghe, a fellow sect member responsible for guarding Jing'an Prefectural City—he was a disciple of the Lonely Sword Peak and had come to Great Qian with Wang Chen as a fellow Guarding Heavenly Master. Since Jing'an Prefectural City neighbored Nan Shao Town, the two communicated intelligence via falcons.

Fei Xinghe's news was far more informed than Wang Chen's.

What Wang Chen had been waiting for was this very letter!

But the information revealed in Fei Xinghe's letter shocked him greatly.

The Cloud Sun Sect, known as the number one sect of the Heaven Cloud Mountain range…

Was finished!

To say it was finished wasn't quite accurate; to be precise, Sect Leader Ji Guantao, along with a group of senior members and elite disciples, took the treasures accumulated by Cloud Sun Sect over a thousand years on Taihao Peak and ascended to the Upper Realm!

Before leaving, they even killed a Nascent Soul True Immortal from the Jiuyue Gate.

This event occurred three days ago and had already sent shockwaves throughout the entire Mountain and Sea Realm, causing the Jiuyue Gate to lose all face.

Who would have thought the Cloud Sun Sect would pull off such an earth-shattering deed!

In the letter, Fei Xinghe told Wang Chen that they, along with the hundreds of thousands of Cultivators and Mortals who had relied on the Cloud Sun Sect, had been completely abandoned. From now on, they must fend for themselves, no longer possessing the right to be called disciples of Cloud Sun!

In other words, as of three days ago, Wang Chen's status was equivalent to that of a Loose Cultivator.

Although Wang Chen had never felt a strong affinity for the Cloud Sun Sect, he couldn't help but feel a trace of melancholy at this moment.

Fei Xinghe also informed him that the Chief Defender of the Cloud Sun, Superior Cao Chengping, had already surrendered to the Guiyuan Gate.

Wang Chen would surely soon receive an edict from this Nascent Soul, and his choice would be up to him.
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He either had to abdicate and flee or to switch allegiance.

But no matter which choice he made, the position of the Guarding Heavenly Master was certainly untenable.

After all, Guiyuan Gate had long harbored intentions of infiltrating Great Qian, but their plans were disrupted by the Cloud Sun Sect, resulting in heavy losses.

So if Wang Chen chose to pledge himself to Guiyuan Gate, he had to be prepared to suffer humiliation and bow his head.

When the disciples from Guiyuan Gate came to take over the Guarding Heavenly Master mansion in Nan Shao, they would not treat him with respect!

After reading the letter, the hint of melancholy in Wang Chen's eyes vanished, replaced by determination and decisiveness.

The densely written silk cloth turned to ashes in his hands in an instant.

After pondering for a moment, Wang Chen took out pen, ink, and paper to reply to a letter from Fei Xinghe.

His main purpose was to thank this senior brother for timely providing intelligence so he wouldn't end up in a passive situation due to lack of information.

Even in such dire circumstances, Fei Xinghe did not forget to send messages via flying falcons.

He would remember this favor!

Wang Chen was not worried about Fei Xinghe's safety.

This senior brother from Lonely Sword Peak was tenacious and adaptable, surely adept at protecting himself.

He stuffed the finished letter into a cylinder and released the falcon once more, then called for Wan.

Wang Chen said to the only person by his side, "I have a task for you."

Wan bowed her head, "Please instruct me, Immortal Master."

The task Wang Chen gave her was simple, to find a family within the Great Qian territory to deliver a gift for him.

"You have three years to complete this task."

Wang Chen said, "Whether you complete it or not, you'll be free!"

Wan immediately realized that Wang Chen was clearly arranging for her departure!

Her eyes reddened at once, "Immortal Master!"

Wang Chen smiled slightly, "We were master and servant by fate, and now that fate has come to an end."

Wang Chen could not possibly stay and be a dog for Guiyuan Gate; he must return to the world of immortal cultivation to continue his path.

It would be inconvenient and dangerous for Wan to follow him.

With her current ability, she could live a carefree life in the mortal world.

Much better than a life of displacement in the immortal cultivation world by tenfold!

Wang Chen then gave Wan a thick stack of talismans.

All of them were Essence Blood Protection Talismans.

Storage, Body Protection, Evil-Repelling, Armor and Horse, Meteor Fire…

With these talismans, she could fend for herself or escape even if she encountered a cultivator whom she could not defeat.

"Go,"

Wang Chen said as he waved his hand dismissively, "if fate allows, we shall meet again!"

Knowing she could not change Wang Chen's mind, Wan knelt down and knocked her head against the floor three times respectfully, "Take care, Immortal Master. If there is no fate in this life, Wan will repay your kindness with a grass ring in the next life!"

"Good,"

Wang Chen waved his sleeve, using his mana to send her out of the Star Observation Pavilion.

Using the force provided, Wan leaped onto the wall of the Heavenly Master's mansion.

This beautiful woman turned to look at the towering pavilion one last time, her vision blurred with tears.

The next moment, she wiped away her tears, unfolded her movement technique, and dashed forward like a sparrow, disappearing after a few leaps and bounds.

Having sent Wan away, Wang Chen felt free of any entanglements.

Just then, another falcon landed on the windowsill!

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Here's the first update.