First Encounter with Goddess Wang Shu

Before long, the two arrived at the Lunar Star. Unlike the restless Solar Star, the entire star was incredibly quiet, exuding an aura that calmed the mind and soothed the spirit.

Compared to the Solar Star, the Lunar Star was more suitable for living beings. The Starry Sky surrounding it was tranquil, painting a peaceful scene.

Xuan Qing and Han Xi slowly approached when, suddenly, a silver-white curtain of light blocked their path.

"Is this a Formation?"

Both Xuan Qing and Han Xi were surprised. They had not expected the Lunar Star to have a Formation. The Solar Star had none and could be entered or exited freely. It seemed the Lunar Star had an owner.

The curtain of light suddenly vanished, and a woman appeared before them. She wore white gauze robes, a plain Jade Hairpin in her hair, and pale red silk draped around her neck. Her features were delicate and lovely.

The moment she appeared, the entire Starry Sky seemed to come alive, with countless strands of Star Power manifesting.

"Young friends, what brings you to my Lunar Star?"

The elegant woman parted her crimson lips and asked lightly.

"Greetings, Senior. My sister and I visited the Solar Star some time ago and were awed by its splendor. Since the Solar Star and Lunar Star are both principal stars, we wished to witness the scenery here as well. We have disturbed you, Senior, and ask for your forgiveness."

Xuan Qing bowed.

Seeing how courteous Xuan Qing was, the woman could not bring herself to blame him and replied calmly,

"Young friend, your manners are impeccable. How could I blame you? It is merely that the Lunar Star has never received guests, so I was curious. Since you are guests, please come in."

With that, the woman led the two inside.

"May I ask how to address you, Senior? This junior is Xuan Qing, and this is my younger sister, Han Xi. We come from the East Sea."

As they walked, Xuan Qing explained their origins.

"I am Wang Shu. I have been transformed on the Lunar Star for nearly two Measure Tribulations and emerged in the same generation as Fellow Daoist Hongjun and the others. Over all these Kalpas, the Lunar Star has never had a guest. You are the first to set foot here."

The three passed through jade-white palaces and arrived beneath a laurel tree.

"Young Friend Xuan Qing, Young Friend Han Xi, try the Laurel Wine I brewed. This is the first jar of wine I personally attempted to make after the Dao of Wine emerged last time."

Wang Shu took out a jar of wine and poured each of them a cup. She truly seemed delighted. Perhaps it had simply been too long since anyone had spoken with her.

"Thank you, Senior Wang Shu!"

The two hurriedly rose and bowed. It was no ordinary privilege to have a great expert pour them wine.

"There is no need to address me so distantly. I have no friends, and the Lunar Star is far too lonely. I do not enjoy liveliness and have rarely gone to the Prehistoric Era, so no one has spoken with me for a long time. Your arrival truly makes me happy."

"Then how about we call you Empress Wang Shu? It would sound much more familiar."

Xuan Qing thought of how the goddess Wang Shu had been addressed in his previous life. It was both respectful and intimate.

Upon hearing this, Wang Shu found it quite pleasing and could not help nodding at Xuan Qing.

The two raised their cups and took a light sip.

"Ah."

They could not help feeling that their Magic Power had become much more solid, while a faint fragrance of laurel lingered in their mouths.

"Empress Wang Shu, was this brewed from the flowers of the Laurel Tree? It feels as though it can even improve one's Magic Power."

Xuan Qing asked curiously. He had not expected this homebody star goddess to know how to brew wine.

"You have sharp eyes. This is the Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Root, the Laurel Tree. It blooms once every three Kalpas, and its flowers have remarkable effects on comprehending laws. Naturally, wine brewed from them carries such effects. However, since you have not reached the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, it can only improve your Magic Power slightly."

Xuan Qing quickly took out several Gui Water Spiritual Apricots and a box of high-grade Enlightenment Tea, placing them on the Stone Table.

"Since Niang Niang has entertained us, we guests cannot come empty-handed. These are Innate Gui Water Spirit Apricots, fruits borne by Han Xi's Companion Spiritual Root."

Then he pointed to the Box. "These are tea leaves grown in this junior's Dao Field. I named them Enlightenment Tea. Niang Niang may as well give them a try."

Wang Shu stared at the Innate Gui Water Spirit Apricots for a long while before suddenly rising to her feet and asking,

"Is this a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root? The inheritance information we received never mentioned such a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root. Young Friend Han Xi truly has great fortune. It seems inheritance information has its shortcomings as well!"

She picked up a fruit and ate one. Wang Shu immediately felt that her Dao Seed had become much more complete.

"Young Friend Xuan Qing, you truly are my lucky stars. This is an enormous fortune, far better than the Laurel Tree. That tree does not even bear fruit." Wang Shu pouted in dissatisfaction.

It seemed even goddesses could throw little tantrums now and then.

Wang Shu took out some tea leaves from the Box and brewed three cups with Lunar Water.

"We should enjoy this together!"

After saying that, the three sat down again, drinking tea and eating Spiritual Fruit.

After drinking the Enlightenment Tea, both Han Xi and Wang Shu entered Enlightenment. Xuan Qing, meanwhile, closed his eyes to refine his Magic Power and physical body. The effects of the Gui Water Spiritual Apricots were simply too powerful. After eating just one, the spiritual energy alone could save over a hundred Kalpas of arduous cultivation.

Before long, Xuan Qing awoke. Seeing the two immersed in Enlightenment, he did not wish to disturb them. He rose and went to the entrance of the great Formation to comprehend laws, while also protecting their Dao and preventing anyone from interrupting their enlightenment.

One Kalpa later, the two awoke one after the other. Han Xi cried excitedly, "Brother, your tea is incredible! I even broke through to the Peak Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm."

Han Xi had been with Xuan Qing for so long, yet she had never known he possessed such excellent tea that could help people enter Enlightenment.

Wang Shu also wore a smile. This Enlightenment had allowed her to find the path toward advancing to the Primordial Golden Immortal realm.

"Young Friend Han Xi is right. This tea is excellent stuff, not much inferior to a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root. This Enlightenment has shown me how to proceed on the road ahead. I owe you a great favor."

"It is nothing, Empress Wang Shu. This is also our first time traveling through the Prehistoric Era, and we do not have many friends. Being able to meet a Senior like you is already our honor. There is no need for such courtesy."

This was Xuan Qing's first time becoming acquainted with a Primordial Great Power. He had not expected to encounter one so friendly. He definitely needed to strengthen their relationship in the future. One more friend meant one more path forward.

"This Enlightenment Tea only induces Enlightenment the first time one drinks it. After that, it can only serve as an ordinary cultivation resource, so it is not all that precious."

Xuan Qing modestly declined credit for it.

"Young Friend Han Xi, since your Companion Spiritual Root is this Innate Gui Water Spirit Apricot, you must have transformed from Innate Gui Water Essence. Your Root Origin is no weaker than mine. In the future, you may simply call me Sister."

Wang Shu also wanted to draw closer to them. As fellow women, she did not feel as many barriers while speaking with Han Xi. Although Han Xi was somewhat weak at present, her future prospects were no worse than Wang Shu's. Wang Shu also wished to make a few friends, but unfortunately, none of the first generation of Heaven and Earth Demon Gods could get along with her amicably.

"Alright! Then I'll call you Sister Wang Shu. Sister can just call me Han Xi from now on."

Han Xi happily grabbed Wang Shu's hand. She had finally stepped out from the shadow of her sister's death and cheerfully began telling Wang Shu about their experiences.

Seeing Han Xi and Wang Shu chatting so happily, Xuan Qing suddenly remembered the wine he had brewed.

"Empress Wang Shu, since you and this girl Han Xi get along so well, then try the wine I brewed."

The two stared blankly at Xuan Qing. They had not expected him to know how to brew wine as well. Brewing wine was simple, but anything he dared present could not possibly be ordinary. Han Xi impatiently opened the wine jar, while Wang Shu examined the wine out of curiosity.

"This is Great Dao Merit. How extravagant!

"No, this should be the First Jar of Wine in the World. Young friend, you are the one who brought forth the Postnatal Great Dao! That is truly most admirable."

Wang Shu carefully examined the wine and discovered that the Great Dao Merit within it was incredibly dense, completely fused into the wine. It was not something that could be produced merely by adding merit to wine.

Han Xi also stared at Xuan Qing in shock. No wonder her brother had always been able to earn merit with her. He had been doing this long ago.

"Hahaha, Empress Wang Shu, there is no need to be surprised. I simply had too many Spiritual Fruits in my Dao Field and no way to deal with them. I feared they would go to waste, so I accidentally came up with this. It was purely luck."

"This is no ordinary stroke of luck. All living beings in the Prehistoric Era are obsessed with the Great Dao, endlessly fighting in pursuit of it. Only you possess the heart to explore new directions. You are a guide for all living beings. Seeking the Dao does not necessarily mean attaining the Dao."

Wang Shu could not help admiring the unremarkable man before her.

Afterward, the three sat down again to drink wine and chat about interesting matters in the Prehistoric Era.

"Does Niang Niang know which great powers are around now? We are afraid that one day we might accidentally offend someone. Since you emerged early, perhaps you could offer us some guidance."

Since they had opened up with Wang Shu, Xuan Qing took the opportunity to ask about the great powers of the Prehistoric Era, lest he fall into someone's schemes someday without even knowing who was behind it.

"After the Fierce Beast Tribulation, there are not many great powers left. Some died at the hands of Fierce Beasts, some perished in Imperial Dynasty Struggles, and others died due to Dao Contention.

"Among those worthy of mention now are Old Ancestor Hongjun of Jade Gold Mountain, who possesses the Innate Supreme Treasure Pangu Banner and countless Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures;

"Luohu of Western Mount Sumeru, who possesses the foremost offensive supreme treasure, the God-Slaying Spear, as well as the World-Destroying Black Lotus and others;

"Old Ancestor Yin Yang of Yin Yang Mansion, who possesses the Innate Supreme Treasure Taiji Diagram;

"Old Ancestor Qian Kun of Qian Kun Mountain, who has the Innate Supreme Treasure Qiankun Cauldron as his companion, along with an entire set of Innate Spiritual Treasures;

"And there is also a mysterious Daoist. I once heard Fellow Daoist Hongjun call him Fellow Daoist Yang Mei, but I know nothing else about him. He is considered the most mysterious existence in the Prehistoric Era.

"These fellow Daoists have likely advanced to the Primordial Golden Immortal realm before me."

After considering Wang Shu's words, Xuan Qing realized there truly were quite a few great powers in the Prehistoric Era. Wang Shu had not even introduced those weaker than herself. What if there were hidden schemers as well? He would have to be much more careful when traveling through the Prehistoric Era in the future.