Chapter Fourteen: The Harbinger of Calamity and Pestilence

"The Yunfeng Empire is not so simple?" Wang Changsheng chuckled and said, "No matter where you are, if a nation can be established, it’s never simple!"

The cultivation world was unfamiliar to Wang Changsheng, but in the place he came from, to found a country was never an easy feat for anyone.

"What I mean by ‘not simple’ is..." Fang Qing hesitated, then clenched his teeth and said, "Senior Brother, when I’ve recovered, I’ll take you somewhere. Then you’ll understand."

Wang Changsheng nodded.

For the next stretch of time, Wang Changsheng repeated his cultivation, but refrained from using mid-grade spirit stones. The spiritual energy within them was rich, and he planned to save them for breaking through realms. Besides, he didn’t know if other cultivators were nearby; if the spiritual energy from the stones was discovered, it could spell trouble.

Now, Wang Changsheng was well aware—even at the Realm of Heavenly Perfection, his strength was only enough for self-preservation.

After half a year, Wang Changsheng had only reached the peak of the first layer of the Opening Meridian Realm.

He exhaled a deep breath, opened his eyes, and murmured, "Cultivating like this is too slow..."

A knocking came at the door soon after he finished his practice. He opened it and saw Fang Qing standing outside.

"Senior Brother, my injuries have healed. I’ll take you to that place," Fang Qing said, cupping his hands.

"Let’s go. I want to see what you mean by ‘not simple’," Wang Changsheng replied.

The two disguised themselves and slipped through back alleys of the imperial capital. Before long, they exited the city gates.

Once outside, their pace quickened. After traveling for over two hours, Fang Qing led Wang Changsheng to a gorge and stopped.

"The spiritual energy here is so dense!"

As soon as he stopped, Wang Changsheng felt the concentration of spiritual energy in this place far surpassing anywhere else. He activated his Longevity Art, and spiritual energy surged into his body.

"What a rapid absorption rate!" Fang Qing, also a cultivator, was shocked by Wang Changsheng’s speed, but quickly pressed his shoulder. "Senior Brother, stop absorbing—be careful not to expose yourself!"

"Come with me, quick!" Fang Qing urged anxiously.

Without delay, Fang Qing led Wang Changsheng toward the other side of the gorge, leaping into the forest.

"What’s happening?" Wang Changsheng asked, puzzled.

"Suppress your aura!" Fang Qing said urgently, "Hurry!"

Wang Changsheng quickly restrained his aura, looking at Fang Qing with confusion.

Such dense spiritual energy—if he could cultivate here, his speed would be many times faster. Wang Changsheng was certain that within a month, he could break through to the second layer of the Opening Meridian Realm.

But Fang Qing didn’t need to explain further, for Wang Changsheng soon understood the reason behind his caution.

No sooner had they vanished than a figure appeared in mid-air. With Wang Changsheng’s level, he couldn’t even see how the person arrived.

"This person’s realm is beyond my perception—at least at the peak of the Opening Meridian Realm, perhaps even higher!" Wang Changsheng thought gravely. He hadn’t expected to encounter someone so powerful here.

The figure hovered in the air for a long while. Wang Changsheng and Fang Qing hid in the forest, not daring to make a sound. Eventually, the figure, finding nothing suspicious, disappeared.

"What’s really going on here?" Wang Changsheng whispered.

Fang Qing had brought him to such a place, and with such a powerful presence, Wang Changsheng was unsure what Fang Qing intended.

"This is what I meant—the Yunfeng Empire is not simple," Fang Qing replied softly. "This is the royal forbidden ground of the Jade Peak Empire!"

"Royal forbidden ground?" Wang Changsheng said gravely. "You mean that person is from the Yunfeng Empire?"

"Who else?" Fang Qing replied. "This place is so close to the capital, and it’s the imperial forbidden ground. If that person weren’t from the Yunfeng Empire, the emperor would never rest easy!"

Wang Changsheng was struck by the truth: as the saying goes, one does not allow others to sleep soundly beside one’s bed.

"With such powerful guardians, even in the Realm of Heavenly Perfection, the Yunfeng Empire must be formidable!" Wang Changsheng looked at Fang Qing with meaning. "I can hardly imagine, in such a strong empire, how someone of your strength managed to become the Grand General who protects the nation!"

Fang Qing smiled awkwardly. "The imperial courts of the various empires have an agreement: cultivators above the Qi Refining Realm are forbidden from joining wars..."

"That explains it," Wang Changsheng realized.

If those above the Qi Refining Realm could not participate in war, then someone like Fang Qing, a cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining, could dominate the battlefield.

"Come, Senior Brother, I’ll sneak you inside," Fang Qing said quietly.

"Still going in?" Wang Changsheng’s expression turned serious. "Is it safe? Won’t we be discovered?"

"Don’t worry! This gorge stretches for hundreds of miles. I know several ways in," Fang Qing replied confidently.

Wang Changsheng nodded.

If Fang Qing intended harm, he could have alerted that powerful figure earlier. Wang Changsheng was certain that, faced with such a person, he had no chance of resistance—he would be killed instantly.

The two moved cautiously through the woods, slowing their pace. It had taken two hours to reach the gorge from the capital, but in the forest, it took three hours of careful movement before they arrived at a fissure.

"This is it!" Fang Qing said. "I always enter and exit from here and have never been discovered."

Wang Changsheng nodded.

Fang Qing led the way with Wang Changsheng following close behind. They squeezed through the fissure into the gorge.

Some spots barely allowed one person to pass. After a stick of incense’s time, they still hadn’t fully entered the gorge, but the deeper they went, the denser the spiritual energy became.

"Senior Brother, we’re almost there. Be careful—don’t make any noise," Fang Qing warned.

Wang Changsheng acknowledged and followed. Soon, they passed through the fissure.

"We’re here, Senior Brother..."

Fang Qing breathed a sigh of relief as soon as they emerged, but before he could catch his breath, both men froze.

"Are you sure this route is safe?" Wang Changsheng asked blankly.

Fang Qing was stunned. Before them stood a figure—too dark to discern his features.

Clearly, the person had noticed them as well. With the fissure behind, escape was impossible.

"It’s you?"

As the figure drew closer, Wang Changsheng was even more surprised.

"It’s you? Fellow Wang?" the figure said, equally astonished.

Both men stared at each other in disbelief.

"Li Fusheng!" Wang Changsheng ground his teeth.

"Run!" Wang Changsheng grabbed the still-dazed Fang Qing and charged toward the fissure.

"Run!" Li Fusheng echoed.

Wang Changsheng truly didn’t wish to encounter Li Fusheng; the man was so talkative that Wang Changsheng had often wanted to beat him to death. Regardless of whether Li Fusheng belonged to the gorge or why he was here, Wang Changsheng had already decided—if he saw Li Fusheng, he would turn and flee.

As for Li Fusheng’s reasons for running—that was for Li Fusheng alone to know.

Only Fang Qing felt utterly bewildered. What had happened? The supposedly safe route now had someone else on it, and that person knew Wang Changsheng. Judging by the respectful address, why were they both running?

"Who’s there?"

Just as the three squeezed into the fissure, a roar echoed, followed by a surge of overwhelming aura from the gorge. The roar was filled with anger.

Thunderous vibrations followed.

All three felt the immense pressure and trembled in the fissure. Fang Qing’s face had turned green.

"What did you do?" Wang Changsheng demanded of Li Fusheng.

"Nothing... I did nothing..." Li Fusheng replied evasively.

Seeing his evasive look, Wang Changsheng knew Li Fusheng was up to no good, and the furious gorge guardian had something to do with him.

But now was not the time for questions—they had to leave. If they were caught with Li Fusheng, they’d be deemed his accomplices and suffer the consequences.

Soon, the three made it through the fissure but didn’t stop. Facing such power, even outside the gorge, they weren’t safe.

"Junior Brother, hurry—find a safe place to hide!" Wang Changsheng said gravely.

Fang Qing, not stupid, nodded immediately.

Choosing a direction, Fang Qing led Wang Changsheng away at a run.

Wang Changsheng sensed someone following and turned, scowling at Li Fusheng. "Li Fusheng, stop following us. You disaster, plague!"

Li Fusheng put on a pitiful face. "Fellow Wang, let’s stick together—it’s lively, more lively!"

Seeing Wang Changsheng still angry, Li Fusheng urged, "Run first, let’s get out of here before anything else!"

With that, Li Fusheng dashed ahead, following Fang Qing.

"This..." Wang Changsheng was speechless. "This plague’s shamelessness..."

But Wang Changsheng knew danger hadn’t passed, so he followed the two at a run.

The farther they went, the less they felt the presence of the powerful guardian.

When Fang Qing led them into a cave, all three finally relaxed.

"Senior Brother, this place is extremely safe—no one ever comes here," Fang Qing said with relief. "It’s my carefully prepared hiding place. Without me leading the way, it’s almost impossible to find."

Wang Changsheng had already realized this. The cave was vast and labyrinthine, with twists and turns in all directions. Even with Fang Qing guiding, he nearly lost his way several times.