Chapter 135: Making a Statement (Part One)

“Here come the people from Cloud Palace Peak!”

Just as everyone gathered together, the scouts from the Corpse Refining Sect rushed in and said in a deep voice, “A large contingent has arrived—at least several dozen!”

The expressions of the crowd immediately changed.

Judging by the status of Cloud Palace Peak, the cultivators sent out must include those at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, befitting the title of the foremost sect in the Shentian Realm. Now, with several dozen arriving, everyone sensed that the situation was not good.

“Go take a look!” Wang Changsheng immediately stood up and said gravely.

The group moved to the window of another room and saw dozens of cultivators marching grandly into the small city. Leading them was none other than Caiyun, the Saintess of Cloud Palace Peak.

“Fortunately, only about ten are Nascent Soul stage!” Chen Yuan said sternly. “Only one cultivator at the Nascent Soul peak, the short one at the back; the rest are mostly at the third or fourth layers of Nascent Soul.”

“The lowest cultivation among the others is at the sixth layer of Transforming Origin!” Chen Yuan continued.

Upon hearing Chen Yuan describe the cultivation levels of Cloud Palace Peak’s cultivators, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

With only about ten at the Nascent Soul stage, they were not too formidable. Given the current strength of the Corpse Refining Sect, even if they couldn’t defeat Cloud Palace Peak outright, self-preservation wouldn’t be an issue.

“The lowest is still at the sixth layer of Transforming Origin...”

Only Wang Changsheng wore a bitter, helpless smile.

At his current level of the second layer of Transforming Origin, no matter how profound his foundation, reaching the sixth layer was impossible. In other words, even the weakest cultivator from Cloud Palace Peak was stronger than Wang Changsheng.

Entering the War God Tomb and encountering Cloud Palace Peak’s cultivators left Wang Changsheng with only one option: hide. If a fight broke out, no one would care about him; he would simply be slaughtered.

After entering the small city, Cloud Palace Peak’s cultivators did not act discreetly like other sects. Instead, they swaggered openly, heading straight to a central platform where dozens of them sat cross-legged.

“This is too arrogant!” Zhang Cunzhong said sternly. “Is Cloud Palace Peak always this high-profile?”

“More than high-profile—they’re completely disdainful of others!” Chen Yuan said gravely.

“A team of cultivators has gone up there. Does anyone dare to cause trouble for Cloud Palace Peak?” Wang Changsheng asked in doubt.

“Doesn’t seem like it,” Chen Yuan replied.

Then, the crowd saw a group of cultivators approach and greet Cloud Palace Peak’s disciples with fists clasped in respect. They even began to converse.

“Well, they must be allied sects of Cloud Palace Peak,” Zhang Yi said.

Everyone nodded.

Following that, cultivators from many sects stepped forward to greet Cloud Palace Peak’s disciples. The Corpse Refining Sect members realized why Cloud Palace Peak dared be so brazen: they feared nothing.

“Even if there are hostile sects, they wouldn’t start trouble here,” Wang Changsheng said solemnly. “Everyone is here for the War God Tomb. Even if one side wins, what benefit is there?”

Wang Changsheng and the others did not go out but observed from afar.

Cloud Palace Peak’s audacity—entering the small city and directly sitting cross-legged at the center—showed they feared no sect in the Shentian Realm starting a fight here. The Corpse Refining Sect, with its reputation, wouldn’t dare such recklessness.

“Cloud Palace Peak remains so high-profile!”

“Hahaha...”

Just as Wang Changsheng and the others prepared to wait, a sudden voice echoed throughout the city, followed by several bursts of laughter.

—

Looking toward the source of the voice, three cultivators flew over—one in front, two behind.

“I thought no one dared challenge Cloud Palace Peak, but apparently, there are some!” Wang Changsheng said quietly.

The three landed not far from Cloud Palace Peak’s disciples, all dressed in white robes, looking effortlessly elegant.

“One is at the ninth layer of Nascent Soul, two at the eighth layer,” Chen Yuan said solemnly.

“That strong?” Hearing their levels, Wang Changsheng was shocked. “No wonder they dare confront Cloud Palace Peak openly; all three are formidable!”

With their strength, if Cloud Palace Peak didn’t gang up on them, they couldn’t be easily subdued.

“Which sect do they belong to?” Wang Changsheng asked immediately.

Everyone shook their heads. Since the Corpse Refining Sect had sealed their mountain, they were unfamiliar with the current state of the Shentian Realm. None of the sect’s disciples knew the identities of these three.

“They should be from the He family!”

As the crowd pondered, a voice sounded from behind them—none other than Wuli, the eldest disciple of the Corpse Refining Sect.

“He family?” Chen Yuan’s expression turned serious.

“What’s wrong with the He family?”

Except for Chen Yuan and Wuli, the other disciples were confused. Wang Changsheng also didn’t understand, as no one had heard of the He family as a sect.

“Besides the Barbaric Wilderness Shrine, the He family and the Corpse Refining Sect are mortal enemies,” Wuli said solemnly. “It’s a fight to the death!”

Upon hearing Wuli’s explanation, everyone’s faces grew grave.

For those present, a Nascent Soul ninth-layer cultivator and two at the eighth layer were difficult opponents.

Of course, this was without Wuli intervening. If Wuli acted, probably even all the cultivators in the city combined wouldn’t stand a chance.

After all, Wuli was a true cultivator of the Golden Core Dao, fundamentally different from Nascent Soul cultivators.

“He Feng!” Caiyun slowly opened her eyes and said gravely, “Isn’t your He family just as high-profile?”

Indeed, Cloud Palace Peak was brazen—entering the city completely ignoring other sects’ gazes, and even sects that arrived earlier greeted Cloud Palace Peak warmly. But when the He family’s cultivators arrived, openly confronting Cloud Palace Peak under everyone’s watchful eyes wasn’t exactly low-profile either.

“Looks like Cloud Palace Peak intends to unleash carnage in the War God Tomb!” He Feng scanned the arriving cultivators and said sternly, “With so many, are they planning to kill everyone?”

Hearing He Feng’s words, the cultivators present turned grim.

The War God Tomb was a place where slaughter and opportunity coexisted. For smaller sects, it was a chance to rise; for larger sects, it was an opportunity for slaughter. Those sects greeting Cloud Palace Peak were merely extending goodwill, hoping for mercy.

Now, He Feng bluntly exposed this awkward truth, leaving everyone looking displeased.

“Our Cloud Palace Peak is here for inheritance and spiritual veins!” Caiyun said solemnly, “As long as no one blocks our way, they are not our enemies!”

“Instead, you He family should be careful this time in the War God Tomb. Your enemy isn’t us Cloud Palace Peak!” Caiyun sneered. “The Corpse Refining Sect is reemerging, and as far as I know, they’re also participating. Don’t be wiped out by them!”

“Corpse Refining Sect!” He Feng frowned upon hearing Caiyun.

“Hmph!”

He Feng snorted dismissively. “They sealed their mountain because they couldn’t beat the Corpse Refining Sect before. This time, if the Corpse Refining Sect dares come, we’ll kill every one of them—one by one, two by two!”

“That’s quite the boast!” Caiyun sneered.

Though the distance was far, the Corpse Refining Sect disciples, with their Nascent Soul cultivation, could hear He Feng’s words clearly.

“He family, I’ll remember this!” Jingang, bulging with rippling muscles, trembled with rage at He Feng’s words.

“I’ll take care of this He Feng!” Chen Yuan said gravely.

The Corpse Refining Sect disciples looked at the He family cultivators as if they were looking at corpses.

“Corpse Refining Sect comrades, why not show yourselves?”

As anger swelled, Caiyun’s voice, amplified by true essence, echoed throughout the city.

“Corpse Refining Sect? What’s that? Never heard of them!”

“The Saintess Caiyun personally calls them out. This Corpse Refining Sect must be formidable!”

“Corpse Refining Sect? Wasn’t that the sect wiped out nearly a thousand years ago?”

“No, not wiped out. I saw a fragmented scripture in the sect—it said the Corpse Refining Sect only sealed their mountain!”

...

Many cultivators showed puzzled expressions upon hearing Caiyun’s words; many also looked shocked.

Clearly, some sects had never heard of the Corpse Refining Sect, especially those that had risen in recent centuries. They knew nothing of the name. Those who did know wore solemn expressions.

Even the Corpse Refining Sect disciples hadn’t expected Caiyun to call them out by name.

“What should we do?” Chen Yuan looked at Wang Changsheng. “When we came out, the Eldest Elder instructed us to follow your lead!”

Wang Changsheng pondered and then looked at Wuli.

“Don’t look at me. I dare not go against the Eldest Elder’s orders,” Wuli said solemnly. “Besides, Elder Yun spoke highly of Steward Wang. Whatever he wants to do, just give the order!”

“Let’s go!” Wang Changsheng said gravely. “We go out now!”

“Wuli stays here to guard, do not reveal yourself!”

With the He family provoking so openly and Caiyun breaking the tension, as long as Wuli was present, Wang Changsheng had nothing to fear.

This War God Tomb gathering was meant to establish the Corpse Refining Sect’s reputation. If they didn’t step out now, it might seem like they feared both the He family and Cloud Palace Peak.

Wang Changsheng led the Corpse Refining Sect disciples out of the building, heading slowly toward the platform.

As they emerged, all eyes in the city were drawn to them. The Corpse Refining Sect disciples were dressed entirely in black robes, their faces covered. Even Wang Changsheng wore a black long robe to match, making them impossible to ignore.

Wang Changsheng led his group directly to the platform under the watchful gaze of all.

Seeing He Feng, Wang Changsheng’s expression turned hostile.

“You were the one shouting just now, claiming you’d slaughter all Corpse Refining Sect disciples?” Wang Changsheng looked at He Feng coldly and said in a deep voice.