Chapter Nineteen: Which Immortal Is This?

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“So the Yunfeng Empire and the Grand Capital Restaurant truly are connected to this group of young women!” Li Fusheng muttered to himself as he saw several figures appear.

“That’s good then. I thought Young Master Li was about to run off!” one of the women said to Li Fusheng with a smile.

Though her face was veiled in gauzy silk, making her features indistinct, her voice was especially melodious.

Only Li Fusheng found nothing pleasant in that voice.

“How could I possibly run away?” Li Fusheng retorted immediately. “Am I the sort of person to do that?”

With that, he swept his hand, and a pile of spirit stones appeared before the innkeeper.

“Count them. Three hundred spirit stones, not one more, not one less,” Li Fusheng said, his smile forced and insincere.

The innkeeper counted them and replied with a smile, “Sir, it’s correct, just right, just right…”

“Hmph!” Li Fusheng snorted coldly, then clasped his fists to the other women. “Until we meet again.”

“Wait!”

Just as Li Fusheng was about to leave, the leading woman called out, “I didn’t expect to meet Young Master Li even here in Chengtian Realm. I wonder if you have time to discuss the Dao with us?”

“No,” Li Fusheng replied without a trace of hesitation. “I have important affairs—saving the world from disaster. I won’t trouble you any further!”

With that, he turned to go.

“You’re not fleeing because you’ve done something wrong, are you?” the leading woman scrutinized Li Fusheng.

“Done something wrong?” Li Fusheng bristled, glaring as he shot back, “Why don’t you go ask around? I, Li the Good, have always brought kindness wherever I go. Have you ever heard tell of me doing anything wicked?”

The leading woman shook her head. “No, I haven’t.”

“However, lately, something’s gone missing from my household. If Young Master Li happens to see it, would you kindly let us know?” she said. “I’ll be sure to reward you handsomely.”

“Oh?” Li Fusheng asked at once. “May I ask what’s missing?”

“The Void Spirit Stone.”

As she spoke, the leading woman kept her eyes fixed on Li Fusheng, watching for any change in his expression. But his face remained perfectly normal, especially at the mention of the lost stone; he even looked deeply shocked. The woman became uncertain of her suspicions.

After all, in all of Chengtian Realm, only a handful had the ability to steal the Void Spirit Stone, and Li Fusheng was definitely among them.

“What? The Void Spirit Stone is missing?” Li Fusheng exclaimed, feigning shock. “Did I hear that right?”

The leading woman nodded.

“To think even the Void Spirit Stone could be lost—what a waste!” Li Fusheng cried in feigned anguish. “If you don’t want it, you could have let me safeguard it for you. I, Li the Good, am always willing to help others!”

“How did you manage to lose it?” he asked, shaking his head in regret.

“Ah, it’s a long story,” the woman replied with a sigh. “The thief was a master of arrays… Anyway, if you discover who it was, you only need to notify us. You needn’t act yourself; we will reward you handsomely!”

Li Fusheng appeared to ponder. “Very well, I’ll keep this in mind. I, Li the Good, am also curious to see which daring immortal would lay hands on something from Yun Palace Peak!”

“Farewell.”

He clasped his fists and, in a flash, vanished before their eyes.

Once his presence had completely faded, one of the women in the rear asked, “Senior Sister, could it be him?”

After that round of probing, they had learned nothing, and all appeared somewhat bewildered.

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“I’m not certain, but he’s the most suspicious!” the leading woman said resentfully. “I can’t believe Li Fusheng has come to Chengtian Realm!”

“Why not just ask him directly?” another woman inquired.

“You think he’d admit it?!” the leader replied. “Even if we fought, we’d gain nothing.”

The group fell silent, for she spoke the truth.

“So are we just going to let this go?” another young woman asked immediately.

After some thought, the leader spoke in a low voice, “We’ll wait. The loss of the Void Spirit Stone is a grave matter. Senior Sister is already on her way.”

At the news that their senior was coming, the group breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Li Fusheng fled the restaurant in haste, cold sweat pouring down his face, his heart pounding.

“That was close! I almost got caught by those girls!” he muttered. “Luckily, the most they have is a suspicion—they’re not sure. I need to find a way to leave Chengtian Realm as soon as possible!”

“As for Wang Changsheng, that bastard dared to trick me—he’ll pay for that!”

He’d thought he was in for a feast, only to be cheated and end up running into people from Yun Palace Peak.

“Grand Marshal…” Li Fusheng murmured. “Wait for me to find you!”

Now was not the time; the Void Spirit Stone was still on him, and the people from Yun Palace Peak were already in the capital. The capital was bound to become a place of trouble, and Li Fusheng wouldn’t linger—he’d hide in one of the neighboring empires for a while.

As for dealing with Wang Changsheng, that would have to wait.

Having made up his mind, Li Fusheng left the capital without delay.

Though he was gone, word soon spread throughout the capital that a rich man had appeared at the Grand Capital Restaurant, ordering ten extravagant dishes at once. Many looked on with envy, especially the gluttons, who now wished they could strangle Li Fusheng.

…

Boom—

A muffled sound rang out. Wang Changsheng opened his eyes slowly, his whole body surging with true energy, his meridians strong and resilient.

Seeing the low-grade spirit stone in his hand reduced to powder, Wang Changsheng couldn’t help but sigh.

“Cultivation is nothing but burning money… How can the poor hope to cultivate?” he muttered.

He had already broken through to the second stage of the Meridian Opening Realm. All the meridians in his body were now open, and especially the main meridian, where true energy flowed like a great river, constantly cleansing him. He felt in peak condition, and by his own estimate, his strength had increased at least four- or fivefold.

After that session, what struck Wang Changsheng most was how expensive cultivation was.

Especially for him—he realized he spent even more than others.

He’d started with a hundred spirit stones, given Fang Qing thirty, leaving seventy, plus a medium-grade stone only half absorbed. Now, he had just thirty low-grade stones left.

It had taken half a medium-grade stone and forty low-grade stones just to break through from the peak of the first stage to the second of the Meridian Opening Realm.

“I could feel I was so close, yet it still took forty spirit stones to break through…” Wang Changsheng sighed.

This only strengthened his resolve to reach Shen Tianjing as soon as possible!

In Chengtian Realm, there was no way to obtain enough spirit stones—how could one cultivate?

After gathering himself, he left his retreat and saw Fang Qing practicing boxing nearby, each movement vigorous and fierce.

“Excellent technique!” Wang Changsheng praised.

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“Senior brother, you’ve finished your retreat!” Fang Qing stopped his boxing the moment he saw Wang Changsheng, rushing over. “The Meridian Opening and Qi Refining Realms are like two different worlds. No wonder those in the Meridian Opening Realm can’t participate in war!”

“If they did, they’d be machines of war—coming and going unhindered among thousands. Not an exaggeration at all!” Fang Qing remarked, visibly impressed.

“A strong one?” Wang Changsheng smiled. “I’ve only just crossed the threshold.”

“Yes,” Fang Qing nodded. “We must remain humble.”

“By the way, senior brother, let’s return to the capital. We’ve been away for so long—I’m worried something might have happened,” Fang Qing said at once.

Wang Changsheng considered, then finally nodded. “Alright, let’s go back to the capital first. Once I’ve stabilized my cultivation, I’ll be leaving soon.”

“Are you planning to find a way to leave?” Fang Qing asked immediately.

Wang Changsheng nodded. “Yes. Chengtian Realm’s resources are too limited for further breakthroughs. Shen Tianjing is where a true cultivator belongs.”

Fang Qing nodded again.

“Deal with your mundane affairs as soon as you can. Once I find a way out, you’ll come with me to Shen Tianjing,” Wang Changsheng said.

Once more, Fang Qing nodded.

After making some preparations, the two set off for the capital under Fang Qing’s guidance.

As soon as they entered the city, Fang Qing cupped his fists to Wang Changsheng. “Senior brother, you should go back first. I’ve been gone too long—I need to visit the palace and see His Majesty.”

“And gather some information,” Fang Qing added.

Wang Changsheng nodded and returned alone to Fang Qing’s small courtyard.

Back in his room, Wang Changsheng immediately sat cross-legged to cultivate. Having just broken through, he needed to consolidate his realm before leaving.

Not long after, Fang Qing returned and knocked on his door. Wang Changsheng saw at once that Fang Qing’s face was grim.

“What happened?” Wang Changsheng asked immediately.

“I’ve been stripped of the title of Grand Marshal,” Fang Qing said in a low voice. “His Majesty has appointed a new one.”

Wang Changsheng was briefly stunned, but then replied, “That might be for the best. Now you can focus entirely on your cultivation. With your talent, you’ll make rapid progress.”

Fang Qing said nothing, but it was clear the loss was hard to bear.

He sighed deeply.

“By the way, senior brother, I heard some news on my way back,” Fang Qing said at last, his expression hesitant. “It’s about Senior Li.”

“Li Fusheng?” Wang Changsheng was taken aback. “Did he really go to the Grand Capital Restaurant?”

“Yes.” Fang Qing nodded, then recounted all he’d heard on the road.

“Hahaha…” Wang Changsheng burst out laughing. “So, Li Fusheng, you finally got your comeuppance!”