Chapter 130: The Tomb of the War God

“No!” Wang Changsheng answered directly.

He was uncertain whether the alliance had been finalized. After all, it was Li Yunqing who personally went to the Corpse Refining Sect to discuss with Master Weiming. Wang Changsheng did not know the outcome of their talks. At least, based on what Wang Changsheng was aware of, the Corpse Refining Sect and the Shangyang Li Family had not yet formed an alliance.

“Really?” Caiyun pressed again.

Wang Changsheng nodded.

For some reason, when Wang Changsheng confirmed this, Caiyun seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Could it be that Yun Palace Peak fears an alliance between the Corpse Refining Sect and the Shangyang Li Family?” Wang Changsheng wondered.

He knew very little about the situation in the Shentian Realm, so he could not analyze Caiyun’s true meaning. However, it was clear that Caiyun did not want the Corpse Refining Sect and the Shangyang Li Family to unite.

What Wang Changsheng did not know was that after the Corpse Refining Sect sealed its mountain, Yun Palace Peak, the Shangyang Li Family, and the Barbarian Wild Shrine formed a tripartite balance of power in the Shentian Realm.

Yun Palace Peak and the Barbarian Wild Shrine represented the human and demon paths respectively, making an alliance impossible. The Shangyang Li Family remained secluded and would never challenge Yun Palace Peak. Thus, Yun Palace Peak rose to become the largest sect in just a few hundred to a thousand years.

In truth, Caiyun knew that the Shangyang Li Family was not weaker than Yun Palace Peak, and the Barbarian Wild Shrine was even stronger.

Now that the Corpse Refining Sect had reemerged with great strength, if it truly allied with the Shangyang Li Family, would that mean the Shangyang Li Family would also come out of hiding?

Originally, the Corpse Refining Sect’s return dealt the greatest blow to Yun Palace Peak. If the Shangyang Li Family also emerged, Yun Palace Peak would face unprecedented shocks.

These core secrets were beyond Wang Changsheng’s reach, so he could not grasp Caiyun’s intentions.

“Steward Wang, the matter of alliance still needs further discussion...” Caiyun said gravely.

After deliberation, most of Yun Palace Peak’s senior leaders opposed an alliance with the Corpse Refining Sect. The Corpse Refining Sect’s reputation had been too tarnished, and an alliance would greatly damage Yun Palace Peak’s standing.

As long as the Shangyang Li Family did not ally with the Corpse Refining Sect, Yun Palace Peak was in no hurry.

“Then why did the Holy Maiden summon me here...” Wang Changsheng frowned.

He was puzzled. If no alliance had been agreed upon, what was the purpose of this meeting?

“This time, I’ve brought Steward Wang here to discuss the matter of the War God Tomb!” Caiyun said solemnly.

“The War God Tomb?” Wang Changsheng looked puzzled, clearly not understanding.

“Yes, the War God Tomb!” Caiyun said seriously. “Since the Corpse Refining Sect has declared its emergence, it surely will not miss this opportunity.”

Wang Changsheng still did not grasp the implication, mainly because he had no idea what the War God Tomb even was. From the name, it seemed to be a tomb.

“Friend Caiyun, forgive my ignorance; I do not know what the War God Tomb is...” Wang Changsheng immediately clasped his fists in respect and asked.

Caiyun shot a glance at Cailing, who then spoke, “For nearly a thousand years, the War God Tomb has been a grand event in the Shentian Realm.”

“The War God Tomb is a small world discovered about a thousand years ago, containing countless spiritual herbs and medicines, and even elixirs potent enough to raise the dead...” Cailing said solemnly, beginning to explain to Wang Changsheng.

As Cailing explained, Wang Changsheng gradually understood what the War God Tomb was.

It was essentially a small world named after a massive tombstone inscribed with the words “War God Tomb.” When discovered, it was filled with dense spiritual energy and innumerable precious herbs.

Many sects and forces in the cultivation world had banded together to exploit the War God Tomb. Yun Palace Peak’s rapid rise was largely due to the treasures found there. But where there is profit, there is conflict. Many powerful fighters, including Dao-attained cultivators at the Golden Core stage, fought fiercely within the War God Tomb.

In just a few years, the great battles pushed the War God Tomb to the brink of collapse.

Only then did all parties agree to stabilize and regulate the exploitation of the War God Tomb.

“Now, the War God Tomb opens once every fifty years, and its opening requires ten keys, which are held by the ten greatest sects in the cultivation world!” Cailing explained.

“So Yun Palace Peak holds one of these keys?” Wang Changsheng asked immediately.

Cailing nodded.

“So, the War God Tomb is about to open again?” Wang Changsheng asked. “But what does this have to do with the Corpse Refining Sect?”

Wang Changsheng was genuinely puzzled. Since the opening and the division of its spoils had already been agreed upon, what role did the Corpse Refining Sect have? Did they need to seize a key from one of the sects?

If so, it would be better for the Corpse Refining Sect not to participate at all, as they had little interest in spiritual herbs and medicines.

Of course, none of this was the main point.

“By calculation, excluding the exploitation before the small world neared collapse, and after it was closed off, the War God Tomb has been exploited dozens of times by now,” Wang Changsheng said gravely. “It must be almost empty now, right?”

If that were true, the Corpse Refining Sect’s participation would be meaningless.

“There are indeed very few undiscovered and unexploited herbs in the War God Tomb now,” the Holy Maiden Caiyun said at this moment. “However, the higher-grade spiritual herbs and medicines are increasingly difficult to find. If one were discovered now, it would be extremely precious.”

“Moreover, the most important thing in the War God Tomb is not the herbs or medicines!” Caiyun said solemnly. “What matters most is the War God Legacy!”

“To this day, no one has discovered the War God Legacy.”

“In other words, no one has inherited it yet!”

She paused after saying this.

“The War God Legacy?” Wang Changsheng was immediately taken aback.

Though he did not know exactly what the War God Legacy was, anything bearing the name “War God” must be a powerful technique or artifact. After all, such a title was not for the unworthy.

Furthermore, a cultivator strong enough to be buried within a small world would possess unimaginable power.

“Then why did the Holy Maiden summon me this time...” Wang Changsheng asked in puzzlement.

Wouldn’t it be better if fewer people knew about this good fortune? Adding the Corpse Refining Sect would create more competition. Besides, entry into such a jointly sealed small world required a quota, which the Corpse Refining Sect currently did not have.

“Cooperation!” Caiyun said gravely. “I’ve come to propose that Yun Palace Peak join hands with the Corpse Refining Sect!”

“An alliance?” Wang Changsheng was somewhat confused.

“Not a sect alliance!” Caiyun clarified. “This time, within the War God Tomb, Yun Palace Peak and the Corpse Refining Sect cooperate and split the gains fifty-fifty. How does that sound?”

So it was not a sect-wide alliance.

Wang Changsheng showed a thoughtful expression, clearly considering what Caiyun had said.

“What about the sect alliance?” Wang Changsheng asked.

“The sect alliance matter will be discussed after this War God Tomb event concludes!” Caiyun smiled. “If you want to ally with Yun Palace Peak, you must first show us the strength of the Corpse Refining Sect. This event is the perfect stage to demonstrate your power!”

Wang Changsheng frowned. Though Caiyun’s words were reasonable, they left him feeling uneasy — as if the Corpse Refining Sect still needed to be tested.

“The Corpse Refining Sect has Golden Core stage cultivators!” Wang Changsheng said solemnly.

This was the strength of the sect: Dao-attained True Cultivators at the Golden Core stage, enough to speak volumes.

“I know!” Caiyun said gravely. “And I also know that the Corpse Refining Sect has more than one Golden Core cultivator!”

“But many matters do not require the involvement of Golden Core cultivators!” Caiyun continued. “In the current Shentian Realm, Golden Core cultivators serve primarily as deterrents. Unless absolutely necessary, they are forbidden from intervening — a mutual agreement among all parties.”

“Though the Corpse Refining Sect is formidable, it is not strong enough to sweep the entire Shentian Realm. Therefore, this rule must be respected,” Caiyun said. “Thus, cultivators below the Golden Core stage represent the backbone of their sects.”

“Furthermore, after the initial chaos, the War God Tomb can no longer withstand the might of Golden Core cultivators. The highest level allowed inside now is the Golden Core stage.”

“Golden Core stage?” Wang Changsheng’s expression changed to one of surprise.

To him, this sounded like a trap, waiting for him to fall into it.

Moreover, he still had many doubts, about the War God Tomb, the entry restrictions, and so on.

What to do with these doubts?

Consult Li Fusheng!

“Friend Caiyun, I need to return and discuss this matter with my fellow disciples. After consulting with them, I will give you a reply,” Wang Changsheng said, clasping his fists.

“Very well, we await Steward Wang’s good news!” Caiyun returned the salute.

Led by Cailing, Wang Changsheng returned to his small courtyard, watching as Cailing departed.

“There’s something strange—definitely something strange!” Wang Changsheng murmured.

With the Corpse Refining Sect’s strength, competing with Golden Core cultivators, it had nothing to fear from any sect in the Shentian Realm!

When the Corpse Refining Sect reemerged, Yun Palace Peak also sent people to attend the inauguration. Caiyun could not be unaware of Yun Palace Peak’s strength. If the Corpse Refining Sect truly participated, it would be troublesome for Yun Palace Peak.

Why would Caiyun insist on such a thankless task?

Wang Changsheng did not believe in any so-called test.

“Li Fusheng, come out! I have something to discuss with you!” Wang Changsheng shouted toward Li Fusheng’s direction.

No matter what, he needed to understand the War God Tomb first.