Chapter 106: The Strength of the Li Family

If there had been three coffins sitting in his room at any other time, Wang Changsheng would likely have been terrified. But now, far from feeling spooked, he felt a strange sense of warmth.

Back when he was captured by Uncle Xu, though he had been unable to move, he had seen the reactions of Chen Shangyi and the others clearly. It was evident that they truly cared for him.

"Rest assured," Wang Changsheng said, looking at the three coffins with firm resolve, "even if there is truly no hope for a Golden Core, I will find a way for you all to break through."

In that moment, Wang Changsheng finally felt a sense of belonging to the Corpse Refining Sect. This feeling had been given to him by Chen Shangyi and his companions. Compared to the cold, icy coffins of the three, the various unfriendly actions of the Corpse Refining Sect felt like something he could choose to forget.

The cloud ship traveled for another ten days before stopping in a small city. When it landed, the ship occupied at least a quarter of the town's area.

"There is actually a teleportation array in such a small city? Incredible!" Wang Changsheng exclaimed, looking at the array not far from the ship with a surprised expression. Given the scale of this town, it wouldn't have been worth the cost to build such a thing, even if it were ten times larger.

"This is the Outer Court," the young maiden said in a low voice. "It was built by the Li family, though the world at large is unaware of it."

"Built by the Li family?" Wang Changsheng looked puzzled. If that were true, it would be impossible for news not to have leaked out. More importantly, the existence of a teleportation array in such an insignificant town was inherently suspicious.

"Let's go. Get your fellow disciples settled in the Outer Court, and then we will return to Fire Phoenix Pool," she commanded.

The quarters the Li family had arranged for Chen Shangyi and the others were decent—a small, independent courtyard that was more than enough for them.

"Do not think of escaping. Until this matter is resolved, you are not to leave the Outer Court," the maiden warned, glancing at Zhang Yi and the others.

"Steward Wang!" Zhang Yi looked at Wang Changsheng with concern.

"Rest and recover," Wang Changsheng replied solemnly. "Wait for my return."

He knew that neither he nor the Corpse Refining Sect held any malice toward the Shangyang Li family. As long as no unexpected complications arose, his visit to them should go smoothly.

Shortly after, Wang Changsheng set off for Fire Phoenix Pool with the young maiden and her companions. They did not use the cloud ship or the teleportation array; instead, they traveled by flight. Since Wang Changsheng had not reached the Huaruan stage and could not fly on his own, he was carried by Uncle Xu.

Moving at high speed, they reached the edge of a massive cliff within a few hours.

"Let’s go!" Without hesitation, the maiden led them in a leap off the cliff.

After falling only a few dozen meters, Wang Changsheng saw her figure touch something; ripples spread through the air, and she vanished from sight. When it was his turn, he felt as if he were passing through a thin membrane. Once through, he found himself standing on solid ground.

"This is..." Wang Changsheng gasped, stunned by the sensation of the air hitting his face. Before him lay a world of fire-red—red flowers, red trees, and even a sky tinged with a faint crimson hue.

"This is a small world. The reason the Shangyang Li family remains unknown to the outside world is that they occupy this small world entirely," the maiden explained.

Wang Changsheng could only stare in shock. The architecture here was modest; perhaps due to the intense heat, there were few conventional houses, with many cave dwellings carved directly into the mountains. There were no grand palaces or golden halls, but the fact that they occupied an entire small world surpassed anything the Corpse Refining Sect could claim.

"Go," the maiden said, looking at him. "You had better pray that everything you said is true." She turned to Uncle Xu. "Uncle Xu, take him to get settled. I am going to report this."

Uncle Xu nodded and led Wang Changsheng to a cave. Though it looked primitive, Wang Changsheng found the interior surprisingly well-equipped.

"Stay here and do not wander about, or you won't even know how you died," Uncle Xu warned before leaving him alone.

"So hot!" Wang Changsheng remarked, feeling the temperature. "How does the Li family endure such an environment?" For cultivators, temperature was usually of little consequence, but this heat was different—it carried a dry, stifling quality that stirred a restless irritability from deep within.

Just as his agitation peaked, the young maiden returned. "Come with me," she said with a grave expression.

Wang Changsheng followed her through the small world. After walking for nearly half an incense stick's time in silence, they passed several Li family disciples who greeted the maiden but looked at Wang Changsheng with suspicion. Outsiders rarely entered, and guests were typically received only in the Outer Court. Wang Changsheng realized he could not discern the cultivation levels of these disciples, meaning they were all at least beyond the Opening Pulse stage.

"The Li family's strength is immense," he mused. It was no wonder the Corpse Refining Sect held them in such regard. If this strength were in the Shentian Realm, it would be at the absolute pinnacle.

"Perhaps Elder Yun's assessment of the Li family was off..."

"We are going to see Grand-uncle Yunqing," the maiden said. She was puzzled; when she had first approached the grand-uncle, who rarely appeared in the world, he had been confused. But after she described Wang Changsheng, his reaction had been inexplicable. He had used the word "please," a gesture of respect almost unheard of for someone of his status in the Shentian Realm.

"Senior Li wants to see me?" Wang Changsheng felt a surge of hope. If Li Yunqing was a patriarch-level figure who had been expecting news of him, then what Zhang Mingyuan had said must be true.

They soon arrived at a secluded cave. "Please, enter," a voice called out.

The heavy doors opened. As Wang Changsheng stepped inside, a roaring sound filled his ears—not an explosion, but the intensity of the heat affecting his senses. A buzzing noise drowned out all other sounds, and his eyes stung as he looked toward the center of the cave. There, a middle-aged man in fire-red robes sat cross-legged, sparks dancing around his body.

"Are you the nephew?" The man waved his sleeve, and a protective barrier of true essence enveloped Wang Changsheng, bringing a touch of cooling relief.

"Senior Li..." Wang Changsheng bowed.

"No need for formalities. Just call me Uncle Li," the man smiled.

"Uncle Li!" Wang Changsheng complied, despite the oddity of a white-haired elder addressing a middle-aged man as "Uncle." In the cultivation world, age was never judged by appearance; Li Yunqing was undoubtedly far older than him.

"Uncle Li... I was wondering..." Wang Changsheng began, looking hesitant.

"You want to ask about your second uncle, don't you?" Li Yunqing said directly. Wang Changsheng nodded. "No rush. Let me see how you are doing first."

Li Yunqing stepped forward, appearing instantly before Wang Changsheng, and placed his right hand on his shoulder. Wang Changsheng tried to pull away, but his body felt locked in place, unable to move an inch.

"Don't worry, I mean no harm. I just want to see your current cultivation progress," Li Yunqing said with a smile. "Your second uncle told me about it, but I haven't seen it for myself, and I wasn't sure of the specifics."

Wang Changsheng stopped resisting. The disparity in their power was too great; he was completely at the mercy of the man before him.