This Human Immortal Is Too Serious-Chapter 487 - 485 Teacher Qing Shan

「Half a day later.」

The spire at the center of Liuli City rose again, and the crowd in the square had been largely dispersed.

The Liuli god sat quietly on her throne, smiling as she watched the young woman before her, appreciating how sacred and noble Jin Wei looked in her new long dress. It was an almost innate quality, one that greatly impressed the Liuli god.

In a corner of the spire, Wu Wang sat cross-legged in meditation, 'striving' to recover the strength he had previously lost.

He was trying to regain control over the rhythm of his cultivation, but the development of events seemed to have slightly exceeded his and Zhong's expectations.

The battle today... Wu Wang had actually found it quite exhilarating.

Those young Martial Artists were like the finest punching bags, giving him the opportunity to test the various combinations of techniques he had concocted over the past few years.

In the process, he also confirmed a principle: with the Heavenly Dao backing him, even his wildest conjectures could be refined into a perfect system.

Such was the formidable 'computational power' of the Heavenly Dao!

Evaluating his current situation, he found himself truly at the epicenter of the Luili Realm's power vortex. The few words Wu Wang had telepathically conveyed to Wang Mianjin earlier were, in fact, his response to this.

Since Jin Wei had been chosen by the Liuli god, and since the Martial God was maneuvering behind the scenes, preventing him from maintaining his previous low-profile cultivation, he decided to go with the flow. First, he would stir up the Luili Realm, transforming it into his own backyard to make it easier to settle friends and family from the Outer Sky in the future.

Could it be that Uncle Shan and Aunt Qing were sent to Liuli City by the Martial God with this very consideration in mind?

Could the Martial God also harbor dissatisfaction with the Luili Realm? And thus, at such a juncture, chose such methods to consolidate the internal forces of the Luili Realm, aiming to better cultivate an army of Martial Artists in preparation for retaking the Great Wilderness World from the Outer Sky?

Wu Wang sank into deep contemplation, following this line of thought.

Would his actions then be considered shooting himself in the foot?

Hardly. After all, all Twelve Realms under the Martial God combined wouldn't be enough to make the Heavenly Dao break a sweat.

Instead, the Martial God's attitude towards the Candle Dragon became Wu Wang's primary concern. To understand this, he had to start with either the Martial God or the Liuli god.

Wu Wang opened his eyes, his gaze falling upon the Liuli god, who sat serenely on her throne, already beginning to radiate a maternal aura.

Jin Wei, too, had relaxed by now, lost in the joy of hundreds of little dresses. She kept running to a small hut nearby, changing outfits with the help of the Priestesses.

Wu Wang decided to take the initiative. He looked at the Liuli god, hesitating to speak several times, successfully capturing her attention.

The Innate God turned her swan-like neck towards Wu Wang and asked, "Disciple of the old beggar, do you have any questions?"

Wu Wang rose and bowed. After a moment's thought, he refrained from adding any honorifics before 'God.' Those titles always made him feel as if he were watching a play on Blue Star in his previous life.

He asked, "The old man who once taught me Martial Techniques… is he truly the legendary Martial God?"

Not far from the spire, on a cloud above, the Martial God instantly sat up straighter, his chest puffed out.

The Liuli god chuckled. "Of course. Otherwise, today's events wouldn't have transpired. The Earth Class and Sky Class were established at my directive from the Martial God himself, with the aim of bringing you before him."

Wu Wang frowned, a hint of discomfort on his face.

The Liuli god asked, "What is it?"

"I was just recalling some things that happened back then…"

On the cloud, the Martial God suddenly grew a little flustered.

Don't bring up those embarrassing moments! He, too, had been momentarily foolish back then, his competitive spirit ignited after being rejected once! He certainly hadn't been the one crying and begging to take on a disciple, only to be refused!

Wu Wang smoothly changed the subject. "It's a pity I missed the Martial God's grace back then. At the time, I found the Martial God rather peculiar."

The Martial God breathed a palpable sigh of relief.

This young fellow has matured considerably since then, he thought.

The Liuli god smiled. "Could you tell me how you encountered the Martial God?"

"Well," Wu Wang said, "it must have been while I was practicing my fist techniques that I inadvertently came into contact with the Martial God… Are there any Innate Gods who are very portly? With a round belly, a kind face, and rather long eyebrows?"

"The Water God?"

The Liuli god blinked and said gently, "The Water God is the Martial God's dearest friend. Ever since this world was created, they have often journeyed together, admiring mountains and waters. The Water God is also an exceptionally formidable Innate God. He and the Martial God are considered two titans of the Outer Sky world… But why am I telling you all this? You are still just a novice Cultivator."

Wu Wang quickly interjected, "Could you tell me more? You are a Divine Spirit; you should know everything, shouldn't you? I actually have many questions beyond Martial Arts. For instance, why is the sky blue? Why are clouds white? Why does the sun rise from the east every day? And why are there so many stars in the night sky? Also, why must we experience separation and death? What is the ultimate purpose of a living being's existence? If this world is destined for destruction one day, then what is the meaning of its existence? God? Is something wrong?"

The Liuli god's lips twitched, and she couldn't stop herself from pressing a hand to her forehead.

"It's—it's nothing… These questions are rather premature for you."

A strand of telepathic sound suddenly entered the Liuli god's ears. She had intended to give Wu Wang a perfunctory response, but her expression became subtly complicated.

She said, "If you insist on asking such questions, then go sit in the corner. I shall guide you into a Dream Realm and take you on a journey through heaven and earth in your dream. Many questions, in fact, have no answers, just as Divine Spirits cannot explain their own existence. Many questions also don't require answers, such as those you ponder about survival and destruction, the meaning of existence, and so on. Idle speculation solves nothing. If you can, simply strive to make your life's journey as splendid as possible. Enter the dream. I shall await you there."

"Teacher!" Jin Wei popped out from the side. "I want to go too!" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The Liuli god was momentarily speechless.

The Martial God certainly knows how to keep me busy, she thought.

"Very well, come then. We shall go together."

The Liuli god gently pushed with her palm, and a surge of Divine Power enveloped Wu Wang and Jin Wei.

Outside the spire, throngs of Martial Artists rushed about. From time to

time, clusters of piercing screams echoed from various districts of Liuli City. The Priests of the Shrine Institute emerged from the sealed spire, hurrying through the great city.

The Liuli god's Divine Light illuminated the entire Divine Realm, incidentally veiling the slaughter that blossomed in the darkness of night.

Inside the spire, a phantom appeared beside the Liuli god. This phantom personally guided the siblings on a spirit journey through the Great Void (Taixu). The Martial God, however, was slightly surprised. In his perception, Jin Wei's Divine Soul felt unusually light, while Qing Shan's felt a bit too heavy.

Could it be due to their different cultivation levels?

The Martial God mumbled to himself and took a closer look. He found that both of their Divine Souls were complete and natural, with nothing amiss.

It must be due to the differences in their cultivation levels, he concluded.

The Martial God dismissed his doubts and embarked on a wondrous journey with the two, incidentally also imparting some insights into Martial Arts.

「Three days later.」

News flew out of Liuli City like snowflakes, plunging the entire Luili Realm into brief turmoil.

The Shrine Institute in Liuli City underwent a major purge, its seats reduced from the previous seventeen to a mere nine.

The Liuli god's most loyal priests "met with an accident." Dozens of elder Priests perished in a fire following a drunken episode. The blaze destroyed a tavern in Liuli City and also claimed the lives of more than a dozen "civilians" whose identities could not be confirmed.

All this transpired while the Liuli god was present in Liuli City, observing the fire unfold. This sent a clear message to everyone: those Priests had betrayed their God.

Jin Wei, disciple of the Liuli god, became a Sacred Priest of the Shrine Institute, the Liuli god's representative in the Luili Realm, vested with all the authority granted by the Goddess. In other words, the young woman who had walked out of the valley, guided by a beam of Divine Light, had become the "Queen" of the Luili Realm.

Great General Wang Mianjin received the blessing of the Shrine Institute, assuming command of all military and administrative affairs in the Luili Realm. He became the first Chief Elder of non-Priest origin and was also granted a private audience with the Liuli god.

In just three days, the Luili Realm underwent a complete power shift. Everything was concealed by the great fire at the tavern.

The spire became the residence of the Sacred Priest. After the Goddess eventually departed the Luili Realm, the young woman would continue to live there. Of course, the Goddess had no intention of leaving her Divine Realm in the near future; she intended to wholeheartedly teach her sole disciple and, incidentally, guide the cultivation of the forty-eight students in the Sky and Earth Classes.

The "grand examination," which had once captured the attention of the entire Luili Realm, was now almost overlooked.

The name Qing Shan thus became known to all beings throughout the Luili Realm for the first time, accompanied by tales of his formidable battle achievements. He single-handedly defeated three hundred opponents, subduing all the talented peers in the examination. Furthermore, despite being only at the Martial Soul Realm, he narrowly defeated a powerful opponent from the Martial Spirit Realm. Rumors even swirled that the Martial Artist Qing Shan was the Martial God's true disciple, living hidden among mortals.

The upheaval in the Luili Realm also caused minor ripples of unrest in the other Eleven realms. The number of spies active in Liuli City skyrocketed, and the city's defenses grew stricter by the day. Spies from other realms were continuously captured. Their cultivation was crippled, and they were exiled from the Luili Realm. This time, their lives were spared.

Evidently, the Luili Realm was beginning to change, seeking opportunities for reform and progress.

「Seven or eight days later.」

In a bustling military encampment nestled within the continuous mountain ranges along the southeastern border of the Luili Realm.

Chun Luan, clad in plate armor, sat before a campfire. Her face was flushed from a little wine as she listened to a nearby messenger excitedly recount these events, her eyes wide with astonishment.

What in the world? she thought.

"Qing Shan took down three hundred of his fellow examinees? Is that true?"

"Big Sister, you haven't heard about this yet?"

"That kid's a monster! Good heavens, my elder brother's son was in that fight and got thrashed! More than three hundred of them went at him, and that Qing Shan sent every single one of them flying!"

"Huh?" Chun Luan's mouth fell open, her eyes filled with disbelief. "This Qing Shan… isn't he…"

"He's your Junior Brother, Big Sister!"

"He's Old Qiu's youngest disciple," a nearby general chuckled. "His Destroying Cloud Technique is masterfully executed, capable of unleashing such a unique skill within inches!"

"Big Sister, how come your Destroying Cloud Technique needs charging up?"

"Yeah, when we were hunting those ferocious beasts, your Destroying Cloud Technique didn't seem nearly that powerful!"

"Must've learned a fake one, eh? HAHAHA! OUCH!"

The burly man who had just laughed clutched his forehead and jumped back. Chun Luan shot him a glare, the corner of her mouth twitching.

"I'll write to him myself tomorrow and ask. You lot are probably pulling my leg. Qing Shan is formidable, but it's impossible for one person to defeat three hundred others. Doesn't he need to rest? Come on, let's get down to business. This incident that happened today—do you think we should report it?"

Over a dozen military officers, holding bowls, chopsticks, and wine jugs, gathered around. Among them, some exuded profound auras, while others had an imposing presence. Experts at the Martial Emperor Realm were not uncommon, yet most showed considerable respect for Chun Luan, a "young woman" still in the Martial Spirit Realm.

"This is a tricky situation."

"Yeah," someone muttered from the side. "The Celestial Fox Tribe is also experiencing some internal chaos. It seems they've split into two factions, and the ones who injured our Soldiers belong to the more radical group."

Another officer said, "The Celestial Fox Tribe numbers seven or eight hundred thousand souls. Many among them have intermarried with our Human race. If this matter escalates, their fate will be..."

"Everyone, military matters are military matters; personal feelings are personal feelings. Why do you think we've been stationed so close to the Celestial Fox Tribe's territory? Everyone here should have some idea of what the higher-ups are planning."

"Food supplies in the major cities are nearly depleted."

"It's not necessarily a lack of food. Many people have grown accustomed to comfortable lives and can no longer endure hardship."

"Would you want your own son to alternate between a full belly and an empty one?"

"Everyone looks out for their own. There's no need to debate that. Hopefully, our Luili Realm will achieve a good ranking in the grand competition a few years from now. Then we wouldn't have to face these problems."

"Report today's conflict." Chun Luan finally spoke. "Regardless, this is our duty. Our responsibility is to protect the civilians behind us."

The dozen or so officers nodded, a somber mood settling over them.

Gazing into the distance, one could see countless tents sprawling across the mountain ridges for dozens of miles. Beneath this mountain range, peaceful villages and towns dotted a fertile land.

「Meanwhile, in Liuli City.」

Wang Mianjin sat behind his desk, looking at the young man before him, his eyes filled with a multitude of emotions. His voice was very gentle as he said softly, "Qing Shan, do you think there's anything else regarding the Shrine Institute that requires attention?"

"Why would General Wang ask me such a thing?" Wu Wang said with a wry smile. "I am young and inexperienced, merely a fortunate young Martial Artist who has happened to gain the Divine Spirit's favor. The stability and development of the entire Luili Realm, including Liuli City, have actually relied on individuals like you, General Wang, who are skilled in political and military affairs. It is thanks to your decades of tireless dedication and hard work."

Wang Mianjin leaned back slightly. Conversing with this young man is, in a word—refreshing.

He said, "Ah, you mustn't say that. You are young and promising, your talent is exceptional, as everyone has witnessed. The Martial God's favor towards you is further recognition of your abilities. Qing Shan, you must understand that many strive their entire lives, only to end in mediocrity. Only those who truly stand at the pinnacle of all beings have the chance to touch the limits of life. These are matters that cannot be changed by effort after one is born."

"You flatter me, General. Are there any difficult matters for which you require me to petition our Goddess?"

"No, no," Wang Mianjin said with a smile. "The situation has stabilized. Who would have known before the investigation? But upon inspection, it was discovered that almost the entirety of Liuli City, from top to bottom, had been thoroughly corrupted by other Divine Realms.

"Who could have imagined that Priests who had served in the Luili Realm for hundreds of years would be transmitting intelligence to other Divine Realms?

"And who would have guessed that in the tragic incident decades ago, so many generals from within the Luili Realm obstructed justice and helped the perpetrators escape unscathed?

"They received benefits and filled their own pockets. However, they forgot that the competition of the Twelve Realms is a trial and opportunity set by the supreme Martial God, pertaining to the life and death of a vast number of beings in the Luili Realm.

"If we had managed to improve our ranking by just two places in the previous few grand competitions, the Luili Realm wouldn't be facing such tight food supplies today."

Wu Wang nodded. "This indeed requires drastic measures, but it's better to endure a short, sharp pain than a long, dull one."

"An excellent saying, 'better to endure a short, sharp pain than a long, dull one!'"

"Did General Wang summon me today just for…?"

"Ah, certainly not." Wang Mianjin lowered his head, retrieved a scroll from his sleeve, and handed it to Wu Wang. "Tomorrow, the Sky Class and Earth Class will begin their lessons together. Instruction will take place on the first and second floors of the spire. Our revered Goddess will be watching over you all. We have gathered more than ten of the most senior instructors from the five great Martial Academies to guide the cultivation of the students in both classes."

Wu Wang accepted the scroll and smiled. "In that case, many thanks, General Wang."

"You're too kind. Please, don't be so formal in the future. By the way, I've arranged a large residence in the city for your Aunt Qing and Uncle Shan, complete with dozens of Maidens and hundreds of guards. If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to ask."

"General Wang, you are truly too kind."

"Let's not stand on ceremony. If I may be so bold, I'll call you Brother Qing Shan. Come, come! I've ordered my men to prepare some heart meat from a Ten-Thousand-Year Ferocious Beast. Let's share a few drinks today!"

So worldly, Wu Wang thought. Still, he quite enjoyed it. There was nothing wrong with satisfying one's appetite.

「Early the next morning,」

A still-groggy Wu Wang was helped onto a carriage and taken towards the city's spire. Upon arrival, attendants brought out a square stool, unrolled a red carpet, and escorted Wu Wang towards the main entrance at the front of the spire.

From a distance, the spire appeared quite tall, which also made it seem somewhat 'slender.' Up close, however, one could feel its oppressive presence. The base, as wide as a city wall, reminded Wu Wang of the colossal statues in the Emperor's City. Compared to the gods of Emperor Shun's era, these Innate Gods from the Outer Sky seemed far more restrained.

Wu Wang stood there quietly. Most of the forty-eight students from the Sky and Earth Classes didn't dare approach, observing him from a distance with expressions of awe and curiosity. The young people from the Earth Class, in particular, looked at Wu Wang with eyes full of apprehension.

"Uncle Master Qing Shan!"

"Young Uncle Master!"

Mo Feng and Fu Er arrived together, both having been selected for the Earth Class.

Wu Wang turned to greet them, noticing the blue scrolls in their hands. His gaze then shifted to the side, where Sky Class students held purple scrolls.

Hmm? He was somewhat puzzled. He pulled out the golden scroll Wang Mianjin had given him the previous day and compared them.

What's going on? Have I been given special treatment?

Comrade Wang's political sense isn't quite up to par yet, is it? Wu Wang mused. How could he let me be separated from these talented young peers?

Just then, several elders floated over leisurely from the side. Each was radiant and dressed in splendid robes, and they too held…

Golden scrolls.

Wu Wang felt lines of exasperation forming on his forehead as he stood before the spire's grand entrance, utterly bewildered.