Celestial Peak

Chapter 459: Past and Present

"Master, what kind of power is that?" Chang Ping asked while dressing herself. She just received Wang Ling's treatment of the poison and was curious sensing how much she had recovered, from a Rank-2 cultivator, Chang Ping reckoned she could push her qi up to the eighth rank.

"It is the effect of me gaining a halo." Wang Ling answered as he kept the needles away.

Chang Ping raised her brows, "If the Master can gain so much strength from gaining a single halo, why don't you just get the legendary nine haloes? Didn't you say getting a halo is bound to the strength of your soul, with your current resilience can you not reach the peak of the Holy Race lineage if you spend the time with it?"

Chang Ping had longed been curious about this matter. Wang Ling's soul had existed for a long time, she had felt how strong it was and determined that even hers would not be able to match his in terms of its strength.

His soul was like an ever-expansive ocean, or even that of the Universe itself, vast and deep, something beyond her comprehension. Compared to Wang Ling's, hers was nothing but a lake. The soul dictated little to a cultivator, but, to Wang Ling, it was important.

Clearing his face off the sweat, Wang Ling stood up, "The circumstances have changed. The strength of soul became the very bane that keeps me from increasing the number of haloes I have. But due this very fact, every halo I create is beyond that of what I already had."

"What does that mean?"

"That means, it is a good thing." Wang Ling answered and exited the room where he found Qinyang sitting on the side of the door. She did not have her signature smile, but she was calm, "Were you eavesdropping again?"

"Wha-what? Of course not." Qinyang saw Wang Ling's eyes, "yes, I was. But I was just curious if you were doing something salacious acts with sister Chang Ping! The Sword God cannot have relationship with a married man."

Wang Ling raised a brow, "First, like I said to you yesterday I was healing Chang Ping. Second, she and I don't have such relationship, it is inappropriate to have such a thing. Lastly, I am not married."

"Oh, so you really were just healingwait, you're not married? Wh-what about, what Mother said? Didn't the Mother of Beast and the All-Father got married an"

Thud! Qinyang fell from Yuan Ming's quick strike. Yuan Qing caught her and Wang Ling celebrated the two who came to stop the possible rambling saved the day.

"I apologize, Wang Ling, she's a massive fan of your love story, so forgive her from acting out." Yuan Qing lowered her head.

"That is right, the tale of your romance is told to us by the Elders so please understand her frustration." Yuan Ming said with a glare. She too, liked the stories, but something else mattered more. 

The twins looked at Wang Ling, both were serious, "Just to confirm, did you even love the Mother?" their eyes were terrifying, even Chang Ping who stood behind Wang Ling could see the hostility behind them. She felt tremendous pressure.

Wang Ling was surprised and remembering the past, he answered with a soft smile the twins had yet to see before, "I still do." A simple answer to their question.

He chortled before saying something else, "Oh, yeah, when Qinyang wakes up, tell her that Xue and I did not get married because I died before we can meet again after becoming Immortal I would have liked to settle down after turning into a God in the old Era. Maybe live on a mountaintop in a humble home, raise a kid and hang my sword after all is done. Alas, reaching such a dream is no longer so easy to achieve. Ah here I am rambling on, I apologize. Chang Ping, come, I shall see how much you have improved." 

"Yes, Master." Chang Ping looked at the three and whispered, "Do not worry, the Master holds no such feelings for anyone other than Mother of Beast." 

The two walked out. 

The twins watched their disappearing back, assured by Wang Ling's words.

Days would come to past and Qinyang would finally come out her room after sulking.

[She really liked our story, huh. Should I tell her the story our story.] Wang Ling thought to himself. Three days later she would tell everyone how she and Xue fought the Ice Dragon and how they eradicated Sects one after the other.

It was not just Qinyang who enjoyed said stories, as others found it fascinating how they met. Wang Ling did not mind sharing such tales.

Five Weeks later.

Wang Ling silently sat on the stern, drinking alcohol with Roan who found strength in drinking.

"All-Father, we are nearing our destination, are you sure you do not want to change the form of the Sailer? We can make it into a Warship if you want to." Roan said as he downed a cup.

"No need, we do not have to stand out too much. I already caused the death of the younger generation, the living forces should not need to think more about the presence of an unknown faction well, at least not for now." Wang Ling said with a fix expression.

He was silent for he knew the weight of those deaths. Somber in his words, but he did not dwell upon the tragedy. Wang Ling had a mission to fulfill thus, he could not.

He downed a cup and closed his eyes, he saw a pasture that's split in half, a dying land and one that's flourishing, [The Universe is split, compared, the other half belongs to the dead that grows stronger with each person they kill. The other belongs to the living that's about to be fractured due to the appearance of the Revenants I need to grow stronger faster.]

Knowing the situation does not always seem like a blessing. Knowing the situation meant knowing the risks of every move, knowing the consequences you would cause, and knowing the deaths you would create.

The number of families that would be torn apart, the number of children left without parents, with knowledge came a burden and Wang Ling carries unlike anyone's burden.

"Master, I can see it."

Chang Ping's voice called for Wang Ling's attention, he could see it, the world holding the Universe intact, the Holy Land, the Hidden Paradise, or known to Wang Ling as Celestial Spirit Realm.

"I have returned."