Chapter 100: So What?

After a silent night, early the next morning, the small courtyard where Wang Changsheng and his companions stayed was suddenly knocked upon. It was the young woman they had seen earlier at Weitong’s place.

“Are you leaving already?” Wang Changsheng asked immediately.

The young woman nodded. “You may come with me, but they cannot.”

“Why not?” Wang Changsheng asked right away.

“Do you think the Shangyang Li family is an inn anyone can just visit?” the young woman said sternly. “You can go because I suspect you have some ulterior motive toward the Shangyang Li family. If that’s confirmed, do you think you’ll be allowed to leave?”

“No, we must go!” Zhang Cunzong said gravely. “We have to protect Steward Wang!”

Chen Shangyi also spoke solemnly, “We came out of the Corpse Refining Sect together; we must return together.”

“I said no. It’s final!” The young woman’s tone was firm. “If these were cultivators from other sects, I might agree. But you from the Corpse Refining Sect—absolutely not!”

“Why? Do you hold a grudge against the Corpse Refining Sect?” Wang Changsheng narrowed his eyes as he looked at her.

If the young woman really harbored prejudice against the Corpse Refining Sect, Wang Changsheng had to reconsider whether they should even go to the Li family. The Shangyang Li family was supposed to be neutral, with no bias. If she despised the Corpse Refining Sect, the Li family might not be much better.

“That’s not it!” The young woman explained. “The reason the disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect cannot go is that they are not suited for it.”

“Not suited? How so?” Wang Changsheng’s expression darkened.

“Alright, I’ll be straightforward. The Shangyang Li family’s location, Huo Feng Pool—do you know why it’s called that? Because it’s the place of the Earth’s Core Fire!” The young woman’s voice lowered. “The arts cultivated by Corpse Refining Sect disciples are inherently yin and cold. Going to Huo Feng Pool makes them feel extremely uncomfortable; even the environment there can harm them.”

“Is that so?” Wang Changsheng glanced at Chen Shangyi with doubt.

Chen Shangyi’s expression grew serious as he nodded.

“If it truly is the Earth’s Core Fire, we definitely cannot approach. If we do, not only will our cultivation be suppressed, but it could also be dangerous,” Chen Shangyi said gravely. “Generally, places with intensely masculine energy are avoided!”

“It’s a forbidden zone for the Corpse Refining Sect; they never tread there lightly,” Chen Shangyi added.

Wang Changsheng nodded and looked at the young woman. “So what do you suggest? I can’t leave them behind at the Wei family estate—you know why.”

“Here’s what we’ll do,” the young woman said calmly. “We’ll leave them outside Huo Feng Pool, and you come in alone with me.”

Wang Changsheng turned to Chen Shangyi and the others.

When Chen Shangyi and the others nodded, Wang Changsheng agreed. “Very well, let’s proceed.”

“Then let’s go,” the young woman said solemnly.

Following her, Wang Changsheng and his group left the Wei family mansion. Many Wei family cultivators came out—not to see off Wang Changsheng and his group, but to send off the young woman.

As for Wang Changsheng and his companions, all they received were fierce glares.

“Looks like you’ve offended the entire Wei family,” the young woman said with a faint, knowing smile.

“So what?” Wang Changsheng scoffed. “The Wei family may be powerful, but they’re insignificant to my Corpse Refining Sect!”

He then asked, “Where are we headed? By teleportation array?”

“Who told you we’re taking a teleportation array?” the young woman asked, puzzled. “There is no teleportation array that can send you directly to the Shangyang Li family!”

“What about the teleportation array in Wushi City?” Wang Changsheng asked in confusion.

He had learned from the Master of the Wanderers Pavilion that the teleportation array in Wushi City could lead to the Shangyang Li family, but with Wushi City destroyed, the array was lost as well. That was why he had come to Jinning City to seek help from the Wei family.

“Oh, you even know about the Wushi City teleportation array?” The young woman whispered. “But that array can’t take you to the Li family either. It only reaches the Outer Court!”

“Outer Court?” Wang Changsheng frowned in confusion.

The young woman gave no further explanation, only saying gravely, “Any claim that you can teleport directly to the Shangyang Li family is false—pure deception!”

Wang Changsheng felt a sinking disappointment. So all the information he had gathered from the start was false?

“Of course, you can still get to the Li family from the Outer Court, so saying the Wushi City teleportation array can reach the Li family isn’t entirely wrong,” the young woman mused. “But you wouldn’t understand anyway.”

Indeed, he did not.

Wang Changsheng grew curious about what kind of place the Shangyang Li family was to be so secretive.

The young woman led the group to a vast square where a massive cloud vessel awaited. The vessel bore no insignia, but the ancient, intricate runes carved upon it were unmistakably extraordinary.

“Let’s go!” The young woman boarded first, leaving a dumbfounded Wang Changsheng and his companions behind.

“Are these people really so powerful? Why do they always travel by cloud vessel?” Wang Changsheng muttered in frustration.

Previously, at the Realm of Perfection, Cai Ling and others had traveled by cloud vessel, and now this young woman from the Li family as well. The Corpse Refining Sect, however, had no cloud vessels. Wang Changsheng had mentioned this to Elder Yun before, but that had yielded no results.

“No way, when I return, I must find a way to get a cloud vessel for the Corpse Refining Sect—that’s a matter of status!” Wang Changsheng murmured to himself.

Once aboard, Wang Changsheng noticed this cloud vessel was somewhat different from the interdimensional cloud vessels he had ridden before. Although still large, it fell short of the others in scale, but the carvings of runes were just as exquisite.

“Shangyi, remember to tell Elder Yun that a cloud vessel is very important,” Wang Changsheng instructed Chen Shangyi.

Chen Shangyi, unsure of the reason but obedient, nodded and took note.

Many maidservants attended to Wang Changsheng and his group, assigning each person a room. They were treated well enough.

After parting from Chen Shangyi and the others, Wang Changsheng entered his room and immediately noticed its luxury. The room pulsed with spiritual energy, and there were numerous spiritual fruits displayed.

At the far end stood a balcony offering a view of the outside—meaning one could see the surroundings without going up to the deck.

The room’s lighting was excellent, much to Wang Changsheng’s satisfaction.

“I must have one of these someday!” Wang Changsheng said with a hint of longing.

The following days passed as Wang Changsheng remained aboard the cloud vessel. Half a month slipped by in the blink of an eye.

“No progress at all,” Wang Changsheng sighed, watching the spiritual stones crumble to powder in his hand.

No matter how hard he cultivated now, the effect was not the same as before. Even if he could convert the absorbed spiritual energy, the accumulation of true qi did not increase. Yet, the purity of his true qi grew ever more refined.

“I hope this time I’ll find some answers,” Wang Changsheng thought with a tinge of helplessness.

Boom!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Just as Wang Changsheng immersed himself once more in cultivation, a loud collision startled him awake. The cloud vessel trembled violently.

Fortunately, the shaking was not severe, and Wang Changsheng had not yet entered a deep meditative state—otherwise, this jolt might have caused him to go insane!

“What’s going on?” Wang Changsheng wondered. Could the cloud vessel have struck a mountain?

That was unlikely.

With the cloud vessel’s power, even if it crashed into the ground, it shouldn’t make such noise. After all, the vessel was protected by formations.

Wang Changsheng hurried to the balcony and saw a group of cultivators cloaked entirely in black robes attacking the cloud vessel.

“What the hell is happening?” Wang Changsheng was stunned.

These cultivators exuded a chilling aura identical to that of Chen Shangyi’s group.

What was even more unbelievable was that the weapons they used against the cloud vessel were coffins—one after another!

“Are these Corpse Refining Sect disciples attacking the cloud vessel?”

That was Wang Changsheng’s first thought.

But he quickly dismissed it.

“No way! Absolutely not!” he thought gravely.

Having spent time in the Corpse Refining Sect, Wang Changsheng knew the situation well. This time, only he and Chen Shangyi’s group had come out; there was no way others from the sect would be involved, let alone attack the cloud vessel.

Yet, the chilling aura on these black-robed figures and their coffin weapons were undeniable.

“What on earth is going on? I’m so confused...” Wang Changsheng’s mind was spinning.

“Attacking the cloud vessel... attacking the Shangyang Li family’s cloud vessel...” he muttered in disbelief. “No way. Could this really be happening?”

Knock, knock, knock!

Just as Wang Changsheng was reeling, a knock came at the door.

He opened it to find Chen Shangyi and the others standing there.

The eleven members from the Corpse Refining Sect who had come with Wang Changsheng—all appeared in his room.

“What is going on?” Wang Changsheng asked immediately. “Are those outside really from the Corpse Refining Sect?”