Chapter 147: The Aging Sect

"Steward Wang, long time no see!"

After the cultivators of Cloud Palace Peak arrived, their leader cupped his fists in a greeting toward Wang Changsheng.

Instead of returning the greeting immediately, Wang Changsheng sent a voice transmission to Chen Yuan: "Besides these few, are there any others? What are their cultivation levels?"

"The leader is at the eighth layer of the Core Formation realm, and the rest are at the first and second layers," Chen Yuan replied via voice transmission. "There are no others. However, what's strange is that these individuals were not among the Cloud Palace Peak cultivators who arrived earlier."

"They must have slipped in disguised as rogue cultivators," Wang Changsheng replied via voice transmission as well. "Get ready for battle!"

There were definitely more than just the dozens of initial Cloud Palace Peak members. Just like the Rogue Cultivators Pavilion, countless people had managed to slip in mixed among the other rogue cultivators.

"And you are?" Wang Changsheng asked, looking at the leader.

Seeing that Wang Changsheng had to ask, the leader's expression darkened. Given his status, he was considered part of the higher echelon at Cloud Palace Peak; after all, being at the eighth layer of the Core Formation realm meant he was no weakling, and he had crossed paths with Wang Changsheng at Cloud Palace Peak before. To his surprise, Wang Changsheng hadn't remembered him at all.

The leading Cloud Palace Peak cultivator assumed Wang Changsheng was deliberately looking down on him.

Only Wang Changsheng knew that while he did indeed recall having seen this person before, he had completely forgotten his name.

"It seems Steward Wang is a busy man who easily forgets!" the cultivator at the eighth layer of the Core Formation realm said with a smile. "I am Zhu Zhizhang of Cloud Palace Peak!"

Though Zhu Zhizhang spoke politely, internal cold laughter had already begun to form in his heart.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Zhu, trust you have been well?" Wang Changsheng immediately said with a smile. "I wonder why Fellow Daoist Zhu has graced us with your presence?"

Seeing Wang Changsheng cut straight to the point, Zhu Zhizhang was momentarily taken aback. After a brief pause, he smiled and said, "Nothing much. We just sensed a massive commotion over here, so we came to take a look!"

"There was no commotion to speak of. A few disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect simply couldn't sit still and had a brief spar among themselves," Wang Changsheng replied courteously.

"That might not be the case!" Zhu Zhizhang retorted instantly. "What we just sensed were massive fluctuations of spiritual energy. We suspect it must be related to the God of War heritage!"

"Steward Wang should still remember that when Cloud Palace Peak unsealed the formation, we made a prior promise: once the heritage is discovered, Cloud Palace Peak must be notified to give everyone a fair chance to compete for it," Zhu Zhizhang continued.

"I trust Steward Wang has not forgotten?"

With that, Zhu Zhizhang looked at Wang Changsheng with a faint smile, as if everything were entirely within his grasp.

Wang Changsheng stared at Zhu Zhizhang, completely dumbfounded, an expression of utter astonishment washing over his face.

He truly had not expected Zhu Zhizhang to utter such words!

It left Wang Changsheng momentarily speechless!

He had seen shameless people before, but never anyone shameless to this degree.

"Fellow... Fellow Daoist Zhu... are you certain you're not joking?" Wang Changsheng asked in disbelief.

"Steward Wang, do I look like I'm joking with you?" Zhu Zhizhang's expression turned cold as he said in a deep voice, "I must ask Steward Wang not to dawdle. Matters concerning the heritage brook no delay!"

"Ha...哈哈哈..."

Hearing Zhu Zhizhang's words, Wang Changsheng could no longer hold back and burst into hearty laughter, the wrinkles deepening on his recently restored youthful face.

Wang Changsheng thought to himself that this Zhu Zhizhang must be an absolute idiot.

With combat traces as obvious as these, anyone could tell at a glance what had happened. Even if one wanted to fabricate an excuse, shouldn't it at least have a shred of plausibility?

The heritage?

There was no heritage here whatsoever! By Zhu Zhizhang's logic, was he supposed to conjure a heritage out of thin air for them? Wang Changsheng lacked such miraculous abilities!

With such naked and unmasked intent, Zhu Zhizhang's true purpose was glaringly obvious: he was here to pick a fight!

"Fellow Daoist Zhu..." Wang Changsheng said in a deep voice. "Leaving aside the fact that there is no heritage here, even if there were, it doesn't seem to be within the area covered by the God of War Mountain's formation, does it?"

"Steward Wang, speaking like that is completely unreasonable!" Zhu Zhizhang stated sternly. "Cloud Palace Peak paid a tremendous price for the heritage of the God of War's Tomb, and opening the formation was, in a way, acting for the welfare of all fellow daoists, wasn't it?"

"Anything involving the God of War's heritage must be subject to the agreement!" Zhu Zhizhang declared.

He truly lived up to his name. In Wang Changsheng's eyes, this Zhu Zhizhang was a total moron.

A literal pighead!

"And what if I refuse to abide by it?" Wang Changsheng's face grew cold.

"You refuse?" A sneer appeared on Zhu Zhizhang's face. "Steward Wang had better think carefully. The strength of my Cloud Palace Peak is formidable; we are not like your declining, seal-bound sect that was beaten into hiding, to be compared with!"

"You should know what's good for you, Steward Wang!" Zhu Zhizhang said in a heavy tone.

Encountering someone like Zhu Zhizhang left Wang Changsheng unsure whether to cry or laugh.

The man was an absolute retard!

"Does Caiyun know about what you're doing?" Wang Changsheng asked coldly.

"Such trivial matters need not be reported to Saintess Caiyun. I can handle this myself!" Zhu Zhizhang sneered.

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng became entirely certain: Zhu Zhizhang was purely here to stir up trouble!

Earlier, Wang Changsheng and Li Fusheng had raised a storm at Cloud Palace Peak, and Li Fusheng had even brutally beaten Saintess Caiyun of Cloud Palace Peak. Witnessing this, those Cloud Palace Peak disciples undoubtedly harbored deep resentment toward Wang Changsheng and Li Fusheng.

However, lacking the courage to seek trouble with Li Fusheng, they had directed their grievances toward Wang Changsheng instead.

Of course, the possibility that Caiyun herself had sent Zhu Zhizhang to provoke them could not be ruled out either!

"Is still no one approaching?" Wang Changsheng asked via voice transmission.

Chen Yuan nodded.

"Take them down!"

Wang Changsheng let out a sharp roar. Chen Yuan, who had already readied himself for battle, immediately charged straight at Zhu Zhizhang.

Of course, this time Chen Yuan did not summon his coffin, seeing as King Kong was still healing inside it.

Including Zhu Zhizhang, there were eight Cloud Palace Peak cultivators present. Aside from Zhu Zhizhang at the eighth layer of the Core Formation realm, the remaining seven were all at the first and second layers!

Against such strength, Chen Yuan could easily handle them single-handedly.

Sure enough, once Chen Yuan rushed into the fray, even without his coffin artifact, Zhu Zhizhang and his companions offered zero resistance.

"Ninth layer of the Core Formation?!"

A roar burst from Zhu Zhizhang's mouth: "Retreat! Retreat! Notify the Saintess! Immediately notify the Saintess!"

Just as Wang Changsheng had guessed, Zhu Zhizhang and the others were part of Cloud Palace Peak's hidden forces. Not just Cloud Palace Peak, but many sects adopted this practice; it was impossible to expose all their strength to the public eye.

Hidden among the ranks of rogue cultivators, Zhu Zhizhang and his group had stayed far away before the God of War's Tomb opened. Otherwise, had they known what transpired in the city, they would never have dared to provoke Wang Changsheng and his group!

"They didn't have anyone at the ninth layer of the Core Formation when we were at Cloud Palace Peak!" Regret washed over Zhu Zhizhang.

Of course, Zhu Zhizhang knew there was no heritage here; the battle momentum was likely caused by Wang Changsheng and the others shaking down some people. Knowing that Wang Changsheng's purpose in coming to Cloud Palace Peak had been to forge an alliance, Zhu Zhizhang had foolishly bet that Wang Changsheng wouldn't dare strike back!

He had wanted to use this opportunity to vent some frustration on behalf of the Saintess, never expecting to run into a cultivator at the ninth layer of the Core Formation!

"Wang Changsheng, Cloud Palace Peak is hailed as the number one major sect of the Shentian Realm, incomparably powerful! Are you certain you want to make an enemy of Cloud Palace Peak?" Zhu Zhizhang shouted threats while fighting and retreating. "Once the Saintess learns you laid a hand on us, Cloud Palace Peak will never let you off!"

Hearing Zhu Zhizhang's words, Wang Changsheng's expression darkened further.

"Chen Yuan, leave none alive. I don't want to hear his voice anymore!" Wang Changsheng commanded coldly.

Even at a time like this, he was still resorting to threats?

Hearing the order, Chen Yuan unleashed his full strength. With a single slap, he sent Zhu Zhizhang and the others crashing to the ground, on the verge of death!

"You... you... you are a true Gold Core cultivator..."

Looking at Chen Yuan, Zhu Zhizhang's eyes filled with terror.

Without a word, Chen Yuan waved his large sleeve, sending Zhu Zhizhang and the other seven flying straight toward Wang Changsheng. They lay sprawled on the ground, fresh blood constantly spilling from their mouths.

"Wang Changsheng, you can't kill me!" Zhu Zhizhang looked up at Wang Changsheng from the ground, his eyes burning with resentment as he spoke in a harsh tone: "I have already notified Saintess Caiyun. If anything happens to me, Saintess Caiyun will know it was the Corpse Refining Sect who did it!"

"So what if she does?" Wang Changsheng said coldly.

"Wang Changsheng, Cloud Palace Peak is immensely powerful, with hundreds of Core Formation cultivators. Think this through carefully—Cloud Palace Peak is not someone your Corpse Refining Sect can afford to offend!" Zhu Zhizhang hissed. "Let us go, and I can let bygones be bygones regarding today's affair!"

"Chen Yuan, what did I just say? I don't want to hear his voice anymore!" Wang Changsheng stated flatly.

This Zhu Zhizhang truly lacked all grasp of reality. Even at this juncture, he was still putting on the airs of Cloud Palace Peak as the number one power under heaven!

While Cloud Palace Peak's strength was indeed formidable, the Corpse Refining Sect was certainly not afraid!

Others might not know the true strength of the Corpse Refining Sect, but Caiyun certainly did!

Cloud Palace Peak might not necessarily fear the Corpse Refining Sect, but they would undoubtedly be unwilling to provoke such a behemoth! Moreover, now that the Corpse Refining Sect had formed an alliance with the Yang family of the Sun, the Corpse Refining Sect had zero reason to cower before Cloud Palace Peak!

Of course, Wang Changsheng could not dictate the stance of the Corpse Refining Sect, nor could Caiyun dictate the attitude of Cloud Palace Peak. That was precisely why Wang Changsheng was certain that killing Zhu Zhizhang would have no grave consequences!

"Kill them," Wang Changsheng ordered coldly.

Chen Yuan nodded. Gathering his true essence, a majestic and overpowering pressure bore down heavily toward Zhu Zhizhang.

"No! No!" Zhu Zhizhang finally panicked, letting out a desperate roar: "You can't kill me! You cannot kill me!"