A Father's Longing

Wu Zhao sat by the window, lost in thought about the Great Qin Empire and Wu Zhao Zhuge Xiang. Suddenly, her door was pushed open. The Empress of the Great Tang Dynasty sat alone in her room, having dismissed all the maids. How dare someone enter her room without prior notice?!

The door was pushed open, and although Wu Zhao's cultivation had reached the Great Accomplishment Stage with the help of the National Fortune, he was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he did not notice a little boy of about two or three years old, who walked with slightly unsteady steps, into the room. He was wearing a Golden Dragon Robe, and his identity was obvious. He was Wu Zhao's only son, Wu Nian, the Crown Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty, who was nearly three years old.

This little rascal has a chubby, innocent face and a pair of bright, dark eyes that are incredibly intelligent. He's so adorable that I'm sure anyone would fall in love with him.

But at this moment, the little boy's big, dark eyes were filled with tears, as if he might cry at any moment.

"Mother..." The little boy burst into tears and rushed into Wu Zhao's arms as he looked at Wu Zhao sitting by the window.

Pulled into his son's arms, Wu Zhao snapped out of his reverie. Looking at his son's weeping face, a hint of doting flashed in his eyes, but his expression quickly hardened, and he said sternly, "How many times have I told you? You are the Crown Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty. How dare you cry so easily? Wipe away your tears now!"

Although the person in front of him was his mother, the majesty of a monarch was still very strong. With her face slightly stern, the two- or three-year-old child was naturally a little afraid.

Normally, she would have wiped away her tears and sat up straight. But today, she seemed to have encountered something heartbreaking. Although she stopped crying, she still sobbed softly, "Mother, today we read the Three Character Classic. The teacher taught us that if a son doesn't study, the father and son will be at fault. I... I want to know. Where is my father? Why have I never seen him? Don't other people have fathers?"

"..." Wu Zhao, who had been keeping a stern face, stiffened slightly upon hearing his son's words. The sternness on his face vanished, and his gaze towards his son softened with tenderness. However, Wu Zhao was at a loss for words when it came to this question.

Ever since the concept of a father came to him, his son would think of him every few days, and every time he asked, Wu Zhao didn't know how to answer him.

"Mother, you said Father went to a very far place. Where did he go? Shall we go find him?" With big, dark eyes filled with glistening tears, the little boy clung tightly to Wu Zhao's dragon Dragon Robe, speaking softly but full of expectation. Wu Zhao expression was irresistible.

After a moment of silence, Wu Zhao replied, "Alright, Nian'er, since you want to go find your father, then wait a while. After some time, your mother will take you to find him, okay?"

"Really? That's great!" After asking repeatedly without success, the little boy was overjoyed when his mother promised to go find his father in a few days. He immediately stopped crying and started cheering.

Seeing his son's joyful expression, Wu Zhao's eyes filled with loving affection. He murmured to himself, "Although I've decided to sever ties with him and not let him know the Truth, it's only natural for a son to miss his father. I can't use my decision to restrict him."

After Zhuge Xiang and Luo Ba recovered from their injuries, they returned to the Asura Sect. Seeing that Zhuge Xiang and Luo Ba had returned safely, the Dragon King and the others naturally breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhuge Xiang impulsively went to rescue Liao Wufa, which made everyone hold their breath. However, he managed to return safely after venturing deep into enemy territory, which was naturally a cause for celebration.

"Zhuge Xiang, where is your Big Brother? How is he?" God of Slaughter Bai Qi, asked Zhuge Xiang.

Zhuge Xiang failed to bring Liao Wufa back, which meant the rescue had failed. However, he was still quite worried about Liao Wufa's current situation. Everyone else was also looking at Zhuge Xiang, waiting for his answer. The Rebel Army only had a handful of top experts.

Luo Ba, Liao Wufa, the Demon Queen, the Dragon King, Bai Qi, the Golden Body Bodhisattva, and Zhuge Xiang —these are the seven powerful figures on the Rebel Army side who have reached the Heavenly Dao Limit. Although the Great Zen Master Da Wu of Heavenly Dragon Temple is strong, he is still a step below. With only these top experts, they are naturally very worried about Liao Wufa's situation.

"My Big Brother has been controlled by Ying Qianshan's demonic power." Although it was difficult to say, this matter still needed to be told to everyone. Therefore, Zhuge Xiang recounted the whole story of how he rescued Liao Wufa to the powerful figures.

"The demonic nature of Great Sage level expert? No wonder he was able to control Liao Wufa. What should we do?" Upon hearing about Liao Wufa's situation, all the experts present wore solemn expressions, and Bai Qi said in a deep voice.

Liao Wufa be controlled by the other side. Not only did his side lose a peerless expert, but the other side gained almost one more. With this shift in power, the gap between the two sides' strength widened even further.

"No, we must help him clear the demonic energy from his body," the Demon Queen said with an equally serious expression. A powerhouse at the Heavenly Dao Extreme has an enormous role to play. Liao Wufa being controlled by the other party is a terrible piece of news, both from a personal perspective and from the perspective of the overall situation.

"But how can the demonic nature of a Great Sage level expert be eliminated?" The East Sea Dragon King shook his head and sighed. Although the Demon Queen's words made sense, the East Sea Dragon King was well aware of the existence of Great Sage level experts. The demonic nature of such experts was not an easy task, let alone in the Cultivation World, even in the Immortal-Demon Realm Immortal and Demon Realms. Even though the East Sea Dragon King had countless treasures, he had nothing that could eliminate the demonic nature within Liao Wufa's body.

The powerful figures present discussed Liao Wufa's situation at length, all wanting to eliminate the Liao Wufa nature within him, but none of them could articulate a specific method for doing so.

"Gentlemen, let's put this matter aside for now. I have something else to discuss with you all," Zhuge Xiang interrupted, seeing that no one could offer a satisfactory answer. He paused slightly before continuing, "Or rather, I have some news to tell you all."

"What news is it? Please speak freely," the Golden Body Bodhisattva said, and the gazes of the other powerful figures also focused on Zhuge Xiang.

"I believe you all know about my recent training trip to the Asura Path," Zhuge Xiang said, glancing at the assembled experts.

"Indeed, we all know that your journey has been very fruitful. You have survived the Immortal-Demon Tribulation without a sound and returned with the cultivation of the Sixth Layer of the Great Accomplishment Stage," the Dragon King and the others nodded. Luo Ba said with emotion and satisfaction.

"Actually, when I was in the Asura Path, I encountered a powerful Great Emperor level expert. He wasn't from the Asura Path, but rather from the Immortal Realm. By a series of coincidences, that Great Emperor level expert sent me to the Immortal Realm," Zhuge Xiang continued.

"The Immortal Realm?" Upon hearing this, everyone present was stunned. This unexpected opportunity truly astonished them.

Ascending to the Immortal and Demonic Realms is the wish of all Cultivator. Although one can reach the Demon Realm by crossing the Weak Water River, even immortals and gods cannot cross it. The Immortal Realm is even more difficult, as there is no passage to the Immortal Realm and one can only rely on ascension. Yet, Zhuge Xiang has actually been to the Immortal Realm?

"Fellow Daoist Zhuge, you are truly blessed! You have set foot in the Demon Realm, the Asura Path, and even the Immortal Realm," said Abbot Zen Master Da Wu of Heavenly Dragon Temple Abbot with emotion. The other powerful figures nodded in agreement.

"Just tell me what's going on," Robert said. Although equally surprised by Zhuge Xiang's trip to the Immortal Realm, Luo Ba knew that the news Zhuge Xiang wanted to tell everyone was definitely not as simple as just that he had been to the Immortal Realm.

"Then I'll be frank. Actually, in the Immortal Realm, I met someone, someone none of you would have guessed. Do you know who it is? Ying Qianshan." Zhuge Xiang's words were like a bolt from the blue for the powerful figures present. His words caused everyone's expression to change.

"Impossible! How could Ying Qianshan go to the Immortal Realm? Besides, even if he did go, how could he possibly come back?" God of Slaughter Bai Qi, was the first to exclaim.

"That's right, could it be that you've mistaken me for someone else?" After his initial surprise, Abbot Zen Master Da Wu of Heavenly Dragon Temple Abbot asked Zhuge Xiang.

"It's impossible for him to admit his mistake. Although none of us have ever seen Ying Qianshan's true face, how could he mistake his Divine Sense fluctuations? It seems that Ying Qianshan has some unknown means that allow him to freely travel Cultivation World and the Immortal Realm?" The Demon Queen frowned slightly and said in a low voice.

"Ancient Times legends say that only the South Heaven Gate can connect the Immortal and Mortal Realms. However, the South Heaven Gate only opens when someone ascends to immortality. Besides that, could it be that Ying Qianshan can climb the Ascending Heaven Divine Tree to the Immortal Realm? But the Ascending Heaven Divine Tree is hidden in the Void, and even the Gods and Buddhas of all Heavens find it difficult to locate its true form."

The East Sea Dragon King frowned slightly and analyzed, "Even with his vast knowledge, he couldn't imagine how Ying Qianshan could possibly travel freely Immortal and Mortal Realms."

Seeing everyone speculating, Zhuge Xiang spoke up, "You're all wrong. I'm not saying that Ying Qianshan has the ability to travel Immortal and Mortal Realms, but rather that the Ying Qianshan in the Immortal Realm is not the same person as the Ying Qianshan we know."

"How is this possible!?" God of Slaughter Bai Qi, was the most comfortable with Ying Qianshan's identity and was the first to jump up. The others looked even more astonished.

If Zhuge Xiang's previous statement about seeing Ying Qianshan in the Immortal Realm shocked everyone, then this statement was like a bolt from the blue, leaving everyone dumbfounded and speechless.

"Although I know this news is shocking, what I'm saying is true. I've spent some time with this Ying Qianshan and can confirm that he really is Ying Qianshan, but he is definitely not the same person as the Ying Qianshan we know," Zhuge Xiang said solemnly and earnestly. (To be continued...)