This Human Immortal Is Too Serious-Chapter 476 - 474: Young man, is this unparalleled secret manual yours?

That night, Wu Wang sent his two martial nephews back to their teacher's place and then returned home with Jin Wei. Unbeknownst to him, his arrival caused quite a stir inside the courtyard. After he knocked, there was a flurry of movement within, and the faint sound of decorative items falling from a bedside table could be heard.

This... The two of them shouldn't have come back.

Wu Wang pretended not to see anything and went straight to his inner room to sleep early.

Within the realm of the Heavenly Dao.

The Heavenly Emperor, who had been meditating with closed eyes, opened them, and the boundless pressure surrounding him dissipated on its own.

Wu Wang pondered quietly for a while, calculating all the possibilities represented by the simultaneous appearance of the Martial God and his maternal grandfather, the Water God. He finally concluded that either he had already been exposed, but the Martial God and the Water God had a tacit understanding and were intentionally showing goodwill to him, or it was purely coincidental.

Perhaps, at a random location, his teacher, Old Qiu, had suddenly felt inspired to punch at the clouds above and just happened to startle two Innate Gods.

Determining which situation it was wouldn't be difficult.

Wu Wang made calculations with his fingers, and the Heavenly Dao, like a net, began transmitting streams of information, rapidly deducing various scenarios.

Soon, Wu Wang reached a conclusion—there was less than a one percent chance that he had been exposed; it was 99% likely a coincidence or the result of some other external interference.

"Ling Zhong, come out."

"Hehe," a dry laugh sounded, and the ethereal form of the large bell appeared to his front left. From inside, a delicate and cute girl hopped out. She landed with her hands behind her back and her legs slightly crossed, her posture accentuating her innocent charm.

"Master, it wasn't me. The Water God often seeks out the Martial God for drinks. The Twelve Realms are the Martial God's capital to show off to other Divine Spirits, so he often brings visiting friends there to drink and boast in the sky. According to the Martial God's own words, not every God who can fight understands how to develop a Divine Realm, nor is every God skilled in developing a Divine Realm proficient in combat. He's really just praising himself for being skilled in both scholarly and martial pursuits."

Wu Wang nodded slightly, tapping the armrest of his chair lightly with his fingers, and asked, "What's your suggestion?"

"That depends on what Master is thinking," Ling Zhong said.

"First, Yang Wudi was used as a lure. Then, Master, you personally descended in an Incarnation. Now that the Heavenly Dao has infiltrated the core of the Outer Sky's order, it is poised to challenge the order established by the Candle Dragon at any moment. This has already laid the prerequisite for directly defeating the Candle Dragon.

"But Master, based on past experience and the results from your two survivals of great calamities, the more Power of Living Beings involved, the more effective it will be. The Six Paths of Reincarnation disc is of utmost importance; with it, living beings, the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavens and Earth can be inextricably linked. From this perspective, a complete Outer Sky world that preserves as many living beings as possible would be invaluable for overcoming the great calamity. So..."

Wu Wang murmured, "To defeat the Candle Dragon within its own order and replace it—that is the best strategy."

"Besides these, you should also consider how to use the Outer Sky world to compensate for your own minor shortcomings."

Since Ling Zhong had taken on a girlish form, she was rarely as serious as she was at this moment.

"Master, as you seek personal transcendence, you can only save others once you achieve that state. If you cannot reach that realm and fail to comprehend the ultimate problem, then no matter how thorough your preparations, they will be useless."

"Hmm, I understand," Wu Wang nodded, slowly closing his eyes.

Ling Zhong watched Wu Wang, her expression somewhat mesmerized.

"What is it?" Wu Wang asked softly.

"It's nothing, I just wanted to look at Master more," Ling Zhong giggled. "After going to the Outer Sky, you seem even more mature than before."

"Perhaps it's because I've re-experienced life's journey and discovered many details I previously overlooked."

"Well, I'll be going back then. My next moment is your previous one. Although I can survey the entire river of time, this experience is quite fascinating too. Later!"

"Later..."

Wu Wang opened his eyes to see the large bell and the girl rapidly disappearing, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

This one truly knows me inside and out; she's even mastered this Blue Star way of saying goodbye.

Does she know I came through a wormhole? I'll remember to ask next time.

Wu Wang raised his hand to rub his brow. It had been years since he'd had any substantial rest, and he felt a hint of weariness.

He observed the Heavenly Dao methodically exploring the Great Dao, and peace and serenity pervading the Nine Heavens. The expansion of the Blood Sea was completely under control. The Grand Elder sat in his small thatched hut, cultivating and drinking tea leisurely every day, quite content.

Some minor disturbances had occurred in the Human Domain, but they were not significant, merely the inevitable 'post-war pains' that the Human Domain had to endure.

Apart from the Human Domain and the Eastern Wilderness, the tribes throughout the Great Wilderness were steadily increasing their productivity, accumulating production materials, adjusting their industrial structures, and fostering trade across the Four Seas and along internal rivers, in accordance with the pace set by the Heavenly Dao. The Hundred Races were thriving.

Those Divine Spirits who had once spoken of the inherent flaws of living beings were now actively participating in the rich and varied lives of mortals throughout the Great Wilderness. Although the Heavenly Dao had not been in effect for very long, the pressure it exerted had forced the gods to adjust their perspectives; otherwise, they would teeter on the brink of obsolescence.

My spiritual mind is a little restless.

Wu Wang pondered for a moment... then pondered again...

An outstanding leader, even when tirelessly working at the frontiers, must never forget their own snow mountain. —Xiong Han.

Withdrawing his spiritual mind from the Heavenly Dao, Wu Wang's physical body, meditating in the Temple of the Celestial Court, opened its eyes. A faint smile touched his lips as he transformed into a gentle breeze and drifted towards the quiet bedchamber behind him.

Ling Xiaolan was cultivating when she suddenly heard a voice transmission. She couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle, her own Daoist Essence slightly disturbed.

How could the Heavenly Emperor, who is supposed to be in seclusion, emerge midway?

「The next morning.」

Qing Shan, for the first time in ages, slept in.

When Wu Wang yawned, got out of his small bed, and walked into the gentle sunlight, Uncle Shan, who was chopping wood in the yard, paused. Aunt Qing, who was carrying firewood to boil water for cooking, also paused. Little Jin Wei... well, she was still fast asleep.

"Morning."

Wu Wang mumbled indistinctly, "I'm off to Teacher's place. Got up a bit late today."

Uncle Shan responded automatically, "Ah, go on, off you go."

"Watch where you're going, and don't fall," Aunt Qing cautioned with concern.

Wu Wang mumbled a reply and started jogging as soon as he was out the door, leaving Uncle Shan and Aunt Qing exchanging bemused looks.

"What's gotten into him?" Aunt Qing asked, clearly worried.

Uncle Shan reassured her, "Who knows? But what young person doesn't sleep in occasionally?"

"That's true, but it just feels a bit odd."

Aunt Qing sighed softly. "The boy is usually so diligent. I actually wish he'd rest a bit. He's on the path of cultivation now; he'll become someone important in the future, and we can't help him much anymore."

"Don't say that," Uncle Shan said with a smile. "The child would feel bad hearing that. Just think of him as that little bug of ours."

Aunt Qing nodded with a smile, a touch of reminiscence in her eyes.

The town should have been quite lively in the morning, but today it was exceptionally quiet. The crowd that had reveled late into the night was now sound asleep in their small buildings and courtyards.

When Wu Wang reached his teacher's front door, he found Senior Brother Dong Gao meditating quietly. Approaching to ask, Wu Wang immediately sensed something was amiss.

"Your Senior Sister complained I returned too late."

Dong Gao's eyes were filled with grievance. "She even said, since those dancers are so beautiful, I should go be your group leader. Honestly... last night, I don't know what happened. I just wandered aimlessly in a corner, got lost in those little alleys, completely dazed. What has that got to do with those dancers!"

Wu Wang smiled and sat down beside Dong Gao. He took out a cloth pouch, produced two meat buns from within, and handed one to Dong Gao.

Dong Gao accepted it without any fuss and started eating. Martial Cultivators couldn't simply forgo food. Although their bodies could endure hunger, the pangs were still unpleasant.

Wu Wang's keen ears detected Senior Sister Qiu Li's deliberately softened footsteps. He instinctively wanted to help Senior Brother Dong Gao. After all, Dong Gao getting trapped in the town's nooks and crannies last night was somewhat related to him.

It was definitely the Martial God and Grandpa's doing!

Wu Wang said softly, "Senior Brother, your feelings for Senior Sister must be very deep."

After saying this, Wu Wang didn't forget to wink at Dong Gao.

The time to test the tacit understanding between martial brothers had arrived!

Dong Gao sighed. "The feelings are indeed deep. We were childhood sweethearts and have never been apart. I certainly don't want to leave her, and she doesn't want to leave me either."

Behind the door panel, Senior Sister Qiu Li's eyes showed a hint of emotion.

Dong Gao continued, "But!"

Wu Wang interjected, "As long as the feelings are deep, that's good."

"Hey, there's a 'but'," Dong Gao muttered to Wu Wang. "Your Senior Sister was just a bit spoiled in her youth and has a bit of a temper. Usually, she's gentle as water, but when she gets angry, she puts on a stern face and ignores people for half a day. Who can stand that?"

Wu Wang said warmly, "That's not a big deal. It's because Senior Sister is closest to you that she shows her less than perfect side... Senior Brother, can you use the Destroying Cloud Technique?"

"My hands are no good. I can't use the Destroying Cloud Technique anymore." Dong Gao sighed softly, covering his mouth as he yawned.

Wu Wang heard Senior Sister Qiu Li's departing footsteps from behind the door and felt slightly relieved.

Senior Sister Qiu Li is still very gentle. Although she heard some displeasing words from her husband, she didn't... didn't...

With a faint sweep of his Divine Thought, Wu Wang saw Qiu Li emerge from behind the screen wall carrying two water jars. She placed the jars directly behind the two main doors, deliberately making a couple of dull thuds.

Dong Gao shivered.

Wu Wang couldn't help but raise a hand to his forehead. He decided to go straight to practice his punches today and skip greeting his teacher for the time being.

High above on a cloud, the two figures looked down at this scene, each making a comment.

The Martial God shook his head and sighed, "Why are women so petty?"

The Water God frowned. "How long are you planning to keep me here? I'm in a hurry to find the God of Fortune for help. How can I stay here watching you awkwardly teach your disciple!"

"Who's being awkward?" The Martial God's eyes bulged like copper bells. "Just stay with me for three more days, only three! Usually, when you come to my place for drinks, I can't even chase you away!"

"Alright, three days it is then." The Water God's expression softened, his smile tinged with helplessness.

This Water God was far too agreeable.

"What's your plan?" the Water God asked. "What the little fellow said yesterday was perfectly clear. From my observation, this child has a firm character and excellent conduct; he won't be easily tempted by material gain."

The Martial God sighed. "His teacher doesn't have many years left. His Lifespan is almost up."

"Then why not just wait a few years?"

"These few years are crucial for this young man. He needs to build a solid foundation."

The Martial God fumbled in his sleeve for a while and produced a few lustrous fruits and several scrolls made of strung-together jade slips.

The Martial God said, "I'm idle anyway. My life as a god, aside from going to fight the Candle Dragon, holds no other expectations. On the other hand, this lad's talent is so dazzling. If he's nurtured well, he might become someone like my elder brother. These days, it's not easy to find a worthy successor to pass on the mantle."

The Water God smiled. "Since you've put it that way, I can help you. Will you give him the treasures directly?"

"Of course not," the Martial God laughed. "I thought long and hard and came up with a few small tests. If he passes one, I'll give him a treasure as a reward. Once he starts learning these advanced Martial Techniques, hehe, I won't have to worry about him not becoming my disciple later."

"Scheming."

"This is called strategy! Let's go! Judging by the direction he's running, he should be heading to the same place as yesterday. Today, I'm going to get serious. Get me that water membrane of yours. Hide my Great Dao, hide it perfectly—so perfectly that even the Candle Dragon wouldn't recognize me!"

"Fine, fine," the Water God agreed, though helplessness was evident in his voice. "To think my supreme stealth Divine Skill would be used for something like this."

"Haha, hand it over!" The Martial God grabbed the Water God, and *swoosh*, they vanished.

Seeing his eagerness, it was clear he had made thorough preparations.

Martial God's Little Test, Part One—A Kind Heart.

A moment later, an old woman with a withered face appeared on the path outside town. She was slumped by the roadside, her lips cracked, her eyes lifeless. She seemed to be struggling to stand but lacked any strength.

In a nearby corner, the Water God's eyes were wide with shock.

Good heavens! The Martial God is disguised as a woman! Who would have thought this old diehard would go this far? If word of this got out, it would surely cause an uproar in the divine society. After all, the Martial God always projected an image of masculine bravery and loved to show off his dancing pectoral muscles to goddesses. Now, for a disciple, he actually…

While marveling at this, the Water God took out his Life Essence Artifact—a small water sphere—and recorded the precious scene.

Wu Wang jogged over from a distance. Noticing the old woman by the roadside, he immediately quickened his pace. Without hesitation, he knelt on one knee beside her and touched her neck.

She's a living being. Direct contact reveals no Daoist Essence. Tsk, I thought it was those two great idler gods causing trouble again.

The old woman said tremulously, "Save... save me... I haven't eaten in days..."

Wu Wang nodded and said seriously, "Do you have Bay coins?"

"I... I do..."

"Good, wait a moment." Wu Wang replied and sprinted back towards the town.

The Martial God, in his limited-edition old woman disguise, chuckled to himself. Later, I just need to play my part well. Once the boy brings back food and I eat some to regain my strength, I'll gratefully present him with the ancestral secret manual. This way, I can satisfy the boy's desire for chivalry and allow him to accept my gift with a clear conscience. Brilliant!

Soon, Wu Wang returned, carrying a bamboo tube filled with thin congee.

The 'old woman's' eyes filled with gratitude. As expected of the boy he had chosen; his kindness was genuine, and he was so thoughtful.

Trying not to reveal any flaws, the Martial God (in disguise) struggled to sit up, accepted the rice porridge with great excitement, and began to wolf it down.

Just as the 'old woman' was eating with gusto, Wu Wang snatched the bamboo tube away.

"Hey!"

"If you've been hungry for too long, eating too much at once can cause stomach problems," Wu Wang explained gently. He placed the bamboo tube in front of the old woman, then took out a few cloth pouches from his clothes. "These cost two Bay coins in total. They're just common food. You can give me one Bay coin for my trouble running the errand."

Then, he extended his hand towards the old woman. "So, three Bay coins. No need to thank me."

The Martial God, who had just been feeling touched, suddenly stared.

Wu Wang calmly looked at the old woman before him but, due to his insufficient Divine Thought, failed to see through the Martial God's meticulous disguise.

"I... I don't have any Bay coins on me," the old woman said faintly.

"That's fine," Wu Wang stood up. "I pass by here every morning. When you have them, just leave three Bay coins here on this rock. I didn't save you; I only earned Bay coins, so don't take it to heart. I don't need such empty gratitude."

With that, Wu Wang cupped his fists, turned, and ran towards the hillside where he practiced his martial arts, leaving the old woman clutching the cloth pouches and hugging the bamboo tube, stunned into silence for a long time.

The Martial God's eyes widened. "I!"

A faint shadow drifted over from the side; it was the Water God.

"This young man, I quite like him. He's not burdened by worldly fame," the Water God praised with a chuckle. "Quick, eat up before it gets cold."

The Martial God frowned. "The problem is, I can't seem to give away my Martial Techniques. Where did I go wrong?"

The Water God hummed thoughtfully. "Perhaps you could transform into a young, captivating woman? Young men these days have a taste for that."

"Hmph! Don't I have any dignity?" The Martial God rolled his eyes, picked up the bamboo tube, took a few sips, then unwrapped the cloth pouches and ate two meat buns. Soon, he shakily stood up and walked towards the town.

After a short while, the old woman returned to the spot, placed three Bay coins on a nearby stone, weighed them down with the bamboo tube, then turned and disappeared into the woods.

From a distance, Wu Wang took a firm stance, looked up at the sky, thought carefully, and then shifted his gaze to a large boulder far away.

Channeling his energy, he raised his hand and punched!

BUZZ—

BANG!

A visible ripple slid across the air, and the large rock vibrated three times.

Wu Wang, however, was somewhat dissatisfied.

The Destroying Cloud Technique, aside from requiring precise control over one's strength, also demanded that the force be concentrated to a single point and transmitted over a distance without dissipating. His punch seemed powerful, but it was actually very slow; any Martial Soul Realm cultivator could easily dodge it.

There was no other way but to practice and ponder relentlessly.

The scorching sun climbed higher, and Wu Wang's forehead gradually beaded with sweat. Bursts of energy swirled around him. The greenstone boulder, a hundred zhang away, slowly shifted several feet, its surface now bearing several concave fist imprints.

Penetrating it without shattering it will count as initial success!

"Ha!" Wu Wang let out a light shout, his fist wind becoming even more focused.

Not far off in the woods, the Water God crouched in a grassy patch, his short arms and plump hands holding his little water sphere, recording the glorious exploits of a certain God of War.

Suddenly, the cry of a crane echoed from above. A white crane slowly descended from the sky, carrying a middle-aged man of distinguished bearing. He wore a white robe and a hairband, a golden five-pointed star emblem adorned his forehead, and a wisp of immortal aura hovered around him.

Attracted by the white crane, Wu Wang looked up, feeling a bit puzzled.

Which Immortal from the Human Domain of the Great Wilderness has ventured out here?

On closer inspection, the white crane appeared to be a real bird of prey, rather than one condensed from a Magic Treasure.

The handsome middle-aged man announced in a resonant voice, "I am an Envoy under the command of the Martial God, spreading the Martial Arts across the Twelve Realms! To see me means you are fated; to hear my voice means you possess Transcendent aptitude and can receive my transmission of a supreme Cultivation Technique!"

Wu Wang glanced at the white crane for a moment, then lowered his head and continued his fist practice.

This must be arranged by the Martial God, right? Although I can't rule out the absurd possibility of the Martial God playing the role of his own subordinate, I've decided to temporarily avoid any involvement with him and conceal my talents as much as possible. Being noticed by the Martial God has many benefits, but what did I come to the Outer Sky for? Wasn't it to temper my own spiritual mind and engage in some weighted cultivation? If I really wanted a shortcut, why wouldn't I try to ambush the Candle Dragon directly?

On the white crane, the Martial God, disguised as the middle-aged man, looked down at Wu Wang, his eyes filled with confusion.

Is he pretending not to hear? My voice transmission went straight into this fellow's ears!

The white crane slowly flew away. The Martial God repeated his earlier words twice more, but seeing Wu Wang continue to practice his fist techniques with fervent enthusiasm, black lines appeared on the Martial God's forehead.

"I refuse to believe it! I can't even give away a Cultivation Technique!" The Martial God fumed before the Water God, his eyes blazing with determination. "Give me another layer of that membrane! I refuse to believe I can't give away a single manual!"

A look of indulgence filled the Water God's eyes.

Thus, for the next two days, Wu Wang began to encounter a series of 'strange occurrences'.

Once or twice, Wu Wang, unable to sense the Martial God's Great Dao, tried not to consider the possibility that 'the Martial God is messing around.'

But after the third and fourth time…

Does this Martial God have nothing better to do?

Wu Wang was highly vigilant, truly wanting no entanglement with this Martial God.

Mo Feng greatly enjoyed discussing Martial Techniques with Wu Wang, and since he was only staying for three days, he naturally seized every opportunity to discuss them with Wu Wang.

But as soon as Mo Feng left, within an hour, Wu Wang would encounter all sorts of peculiar situations.

If he passed by the edge of a forest, he would hear calls for help from men or women emanating from the sparse woods.

If he walked through an alley, he would hear the wicked laughter of bullies tormenting the weak.

If he passed by stalls selling old objects on the street, there would invariably be one or two jade slips that looked incredibly valuable at first glance.

What nearly made Wu Wang lose his composure was when he was passing the small river that supplied water outside town. A small trinket hanging from his waist flew off on its own and fell into the river. Ripples spread across the water's surface, and a burly, bearded man emerged, holding two dazzling, multicolored fruits in his hands.

"Young man, which of these did you drop? Is it this Linglong Fruit, which can increase Spiritual Power by a hundred years, or this Huashen Fruit, which can increase it by a thousand years?"

Wu Wang: …

Cupping his fists, Wu Wang lowered his head and quickly walked away, leaving the brawny man utterly perplexed.

Why? Why on earth? So many opportunities laid before an ambitious young man, and yet!

Fortunately, to make his actions seem reasonable, Wu Wang muttered to himself, "Every seemingly generous gift actually comes with a hidden price."

The Martial God was utterly exasperated.

But in the end, the Martial God still managed to give away those few peerless secret manuals and rare Spirit Fruits.

It was one afternoon, after Wu Wang finished practicing his fist techniques, that he headed back to his teacher's house earlier than usual. His Senior Sister Chun Luan and his Martial Nephew Mo Feng were leaving the next day, so he set aside half a day to spend with them. After getting to know Mo Feng better, he considered him a new friend.

He's quite decent, much more reliable than Ji Mo was at his age.

Just as Wu Wang was about to run down the hillside, a voice called out from behind him:

"Hey!"

Wu Wang stopped and turned to see the bearded, brawny man standing there quietly. His eyes were filled with a complex emotion, his lips trembled slightly, and he held a gleaming golden book in his hands.

"This god-tier Martial Technique, Jue Tian Nine Slashes... is it... yours that you dropped?"

Wu Wang was about to speak.

"Is it okay if I say it is?" The brawny man's facial muscles twitched faintly. "There's no price. I'm just giving you a little something because your talent is impressive. Whatever you do in the future, I have no ulterior motives. Really, I want nothing from you."

Wu Wang nodded with a complex expression. "Then... I suppose it is."

A moment later, Wu Wang, with two secret manuals and three Spirit Fruits tucked into his clothes, ran back to the small town.

The brawny man stood on the hillside, hands clasped behind his back, and let out a long sigh towards the sky. Hearing his old friend chuckle beside him, his nose tingled, and he almost burst into tears.