Chapter 141: War God Mountain

“Someone’s approaching!” Chen Yuan said in a deep voice.

While Wang Changsheng and the others were blindly wavering, Chen Yuan, who had the highest cultivation, sensed someone drawing near. Wang Changsheng showed a puzzled expression but saw no figure.

Just as Wang Changsheng was about to inquire, a figure slowly appeared not far ahead.

“Impressive technique!”

Before Wang Changsheng could speak, Chen Yuan admired the figure, saying, “A very clever concealment method. You’re only at the first level of the Nascent Soul stage, but with this technique, as long as no one gets too close, even cultivators at the fifth or sixth Nascent Soul level might not detect you.”

The figure spoke in a low voice, “It’s only by relying on this method of survival that I’ve made it this far.”

Then, the revealing cultivator cupped his fists toward Wang Changsheng and said solemnly, “Steward Wang, I’m from the Wanderer Pavilion. By order of the Pavilion Master, I’ve been sent to deliver something to you!”

Immediately afterward, a jade slip flew from the person’s hand toward Wang Changsheng.

Before the jade slip could reach him, Zhang Cunzhen intercepted it.

“Don’t misunderstand, Steward Wang. This only contains some information you need!” Zhang Cunzhen nodded and then handed the jade slip to Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng immediately examined its contents. After reading, he showed a thoughtful expression.

Seeing that Wang Changsheng had finished, the Wanderer Pavilion cultivator’s figure gradually dissipated, vanishing before Wang Changsheng and the others.

“Steward Wang, have you allied with the Wanderer Pavilion?” Chen Yuan asked promptly.

Before Wang Changsheng could respond, the War God Tomb opened, and they entered without time to discuss further.

Wang Changsheng shook his head, saying nothing more.

He was also puzzled. He hadn’t made any agreement with Zhang Mingyuan, so Zhang Mingyuan should not have provided any information. Yet the jade slip contained not only basic details about the War God Tomb but also the movements of Cloud Palace Peak and the He family.

“What is Zhang Mingyuan’s true intention?” Wang Changsheng mused.

“Let’s go to War God Mountain!” Wang Changsheng said grimly.

According to the jade slip, the War God Tomb had opened many times, and most of the exploitable resources had been nearly exhausted. Now, only the direction of War God Mountain still held opportunities. Unaware of this, Wang Changsheng found that the major sects entering the War God Tomb had already headed straight for War God Mountain.

When Wang Changsheng led the disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect to War God Mountain, they saw thousands gathered there.

“So everyone’s here,” Chen Yuan said gravely.

Their arrival drew the attention of all present, especially Cai Yun, who glanced at Wang Changsheng and the others with a meaningful look.

“Looks like you do have some skill to get here so quickly,” He Feng said in a deep voice.

No one disclosed the details of the War God Tomb to the Corpse Refining Sect—this had become an unspoken agreement. After all, the Corpse Refining Sect was formidable, and their involvement would cause greater losses to the other sects.

Following the crowd to the front, Wang Changsheng immediately saw a misty expanse ahead. Nothing was clear—not even War God Mountain, which appeared as a vague silhouette. He couldn’t discern its true height.

“This is the only part of the War God Tomb yet to be excavated!” Cai Yun slowly approached and said solemnly, “This place is covered by a massive formation, spanning about three thousand miles.”

“Could such a large area of the War God Tomb remain unexplored?” Wang Changsheng showed a puzzled look.

“This formation is impenetrable even to enlightened cultivators on the Nascent Soul Great Path,” Cai Yun said gravely. “If there really is a legacy or a superior spiritual vein inside the War God Tomb, it must be here at War God Mountain!”

“If enlightened Nascent Soul cultivators can’t break it, then what are you doing here?” Wang Changsheng immediately asked.

Cai Yun smiled mysteriously, said nothing further, and returned to her position at Cloud Palace Peak.

Wang Changsheng received no reply and didn’t press further, choosing instead to observe the other sects’ movements.

“Alright, everyone, quiet down!”

Soon after, Cai Yun flew into the air, her voice resonating with true essence so everyone present could hear.

“Everyone should know about the formation on War God Mountain. Even enlightened cultivators on the Nascent Soul Great Path cannot break it by force!” Cai Yun continued. “Cloud Palace Peak has devoted nearly five hundred years and vast resources to develop a formation plate capable of opening this formation.”

Her words caused no uproar; apparently, all the cultivators present knew of the formation plate’s existence—except for the Corpse Refining Sect, who remained in the dark.

“The formation plate cost Cloud Palace Peak enormous wealth and time. Now that it can open the formation, Cloud Palace Peak has only one condition: whoever discovers the legacy must notify Cloud Palace Peak!” Cai Yun said. “Cloud Palace Peak will not seize it but only asks for a fair chance to compete.”

“Cloud Palace Peak is really that kindhearted? Fair competition?”

“Do you truly believe in fair competition? Fair competition is just about who has the stronger fist!”

“I think Cloud Palace Peak, as the largest sect in the Shentian Realm, speaks truthfully!”

“You’re naive. Do you think they built their fortune over hundreds of years by being kind? Think about how Cloud Palace Peak rose to power!”

...

Although everyone knew Cloud Palace Peak possessed the formation plate and confidence to open the formation, and that it wouldn’t be free for all, the requirement they set left the cultivators present with thoughtful expressions.

Wang Changsheng was momentarily stunned, then smiled wryly. “It seems Cloud Palace Peak is determined to obtain this legacy.”

After all, the Corpse Refining Sect had a long-established inheritance and did not need another to strengthen its foundation. Cloud Palace Peak, by contrast, urgently needed a legacy to enhance its background. Thus, there was no real conflict between the two sects regarding the inheritance.

As for Zhang Mingyuan, Wang Changsheng looked at him standing behind Cloud Palace Peak without revealing any emotion. He couldn’t help but admire Zhang Mingyuan.

“If the legacy was found by the Wanderer Pavilion, that would be interesting,” Wang Changsheng muttered to himself. “I thought I was keeping a dog, but it might actually be a wolf!”

“I have no objections!” He Feng was the first to speak. “The He family isn’t short of legacies, but for a superior spiritual vein, I hope the friends present here can give the He family some face!”

“We have no objections either. If the legacy is found, we will definitely contact Cloud Palace Peak!”

“No objections at all!”

“That’s only right. Since Cloud Palace Peak opened the formation, the legacy naturally belongs to Cloud Palace Peak!”

...

Many cultivators voiced their agreement with Cai Yun’s words. After all, none could match Cloud Palace Peak’s strength. Yet quite a few remained silent, clearly harboring their own thoughts about the inheritance.

Cai Yun turned to Wang Changsheng. All the notable sects present had made statements; only the Corpse Refining Sect remained silent.

“Cai Yun, do you think the Corpse Refining Sect lacks inheritance?” Wang Changsheng said with a subtle smile. “With the Corpse Refining Sect’s foundation, it ranks among the top three in the Shentian Realm, doesn’t it?”

“We have withstood countless calamities; the Corpse Refining Sect does not lack inheritance,” Wang Changsheng said firmly.

Cai Yun looked at Wang Changsheng and nodded lightly. Whether she believed his words was known only to herself.

She then nodded toward the Cloud Palace Peak cultivators behind her. A short-statured cultivator stepped forward, holding out a hexagonal formation plate.

As the formation plate appeared, all present immediately sensed immense spiritual energy converging toward it. Above the plate, a vortex of spiritual energy even formed.

Such overwhelming spiritual energy would be difficult for even Nascent Soul cultivators to absorb.

Yet this small formation plate, no larger than a palm, absorbed it without any sign of change.

“Won’t it explode?” Wang Changsheng asked gravely.

Even cultivators can self-destruct if they absorb too much spiritual energy; how could such a small formation plate be so powerful?

“That’s no ordinary formation plate!” Chen Yuan said uncertainly after some thought. “I need to observe further.”

Among the Corpse Refining Sect disciples present, only Chen Yuan had studied formations with the elder for a few days. Discovering he lacked talent for formation arts, he had decisively given up. He understood a little, while the others were completely clueless.

After absorbing spiritual energy for nearly the duration of a burning incense stick, the formation plate ceased. The Cloud Palace Peak cultivator holding it then directly hurled it toward the mist-covered War God Mountain.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As soon as the formation plate touched the misty War God Mountain, it emitted roaring sounds. The mountain trembled, sending a shockwave that caused all present cultivators to shudder involuntarily.

“Is this formation plate really effective?” Wang Changsheng steadied himself and asked immediately.

The Corpse Refining Sect disciples all looked to Chen Yuan, who furrowed his brow, staring at the swirling sea of clouds over War God Mountain, his expression puzzled.

“Could it be...” Chen Yuan’s face showed horror as he looked at the tumultuous cloud sea.

“What is it?” Wang Changsheng asked at once.

Chen Yuan’s horrified expression faded, replaced by a bitter smile. “If my guess is correct, Cloud Palace Peak has really gone all out... spent a fortune... If they still can’t obtain the legacy after this, they might just go mad!”