Chapter Fifty-One: Truly Unfathomable

Putting away the remaining spirit stones, Wang Changsheng opened the door and stepped outside, immediately feeling how fresh the air was! In the past, he had found the Corpse-refining Sect’s surroundings utterly displeasing—the sky always shrouded in a gray haze, as if perpetual gloom hung overhead. But now, everything looked pleasing to the eye, no matter how he looked.

“If I went elsewhere, how could I afford to be so extravagant with spirit stones and medicinal herbs?” Wang Changsheng sighed.

Forget about the Freelancers’ Hall that Second Uncle had once mentioned—even if Fang Qing entered Cloud Palace Peak, he probably wouldn’t have such an abundance of cultivation resources to squander. After all, Fang Qing was merely an outer disciple there, with limited status and resources. Besides, in a place like Cloud Palace Peak, every cultivator relied on such resources to progress in cultivation, unlike the Corpse-refining Sect, where spirit stones and herbs were useless; here, cultivators didn’t need them for their practice at all!

Thanks to his connection with Old Mou, Wang Changsheng could indulge without restraint.

Indeed, the amount of resources Wang Changsheng consumed in his cultivation could only be described as prodigal!

However, after reading the Heart of Heaven Technique, Wang Changsheng understood that his consumption of cultivation resources was nothing short of terrifying! Just breaking through to the seventh level of the Meridian Opening Stage had cost him enough resources to help another cultivator reach the Transformation Realm!

And yet, Wang Changsheng had only just reached the seventh level of Meridian Opening.

If other cultivators knew how much he consumed, they’d probably want to kill him on the spot!

“My young friend, would you step out for a conversation?”

Just as Wang Changsheng exited his room, a voice sounded in his mind!

Instantly, Wang Changsheng’s expression turned guarded.

But after looking around, he saw no one. For a moment, he wondered if he’d misheard, or perhaps was hallucinating.

“No need to look for me, young friend. I’m on your right; just come this way...”

As Wang Changsheng hesitated in confusion, the voice echoed again in his mind.

“Who are you?” Wang Changsheng called out in alarm.

“No need to panic, young friend. I mean you no harm; I merely wish to ask you a few questions.”

Seeing his alarm, the voice reassured him once more.

Wang Changsheng realized that someone was seeking him out.

He fell into contemplation. He’d been at the Corpse-refining Sect for quite some time, yet no one had ever sought him out—and he hardly knew anyone here.

Now someone had come looking for him, so it was no wonder he was anxious!

“Could it be they want to make me into a tribute...” The thought made Wang Changsheng all the more uneasy.

“Should I go inform Old Mou...” he muttered to himself.

“You needn’t be so alarmed, young friend. I truly mean no harm,” the voice repeated, noticing Wang Changsheng edging closer to Old Mou’s quarters.

“Truly no harm?” Wang Changsheng asked.

“Absolutely none!” the voice insisted. “If I intended you harm, I could spirit you away without anyone knowing. I simply want to talk.”

“That’s true,” Wang Changsheng mused. “If a powerful figure of the Corpse-refining Sect wanted trouble with me, or to make me a tribute, they’d just quietly take me away. Why make it so complicated?”

After all, this was the Corpse-refining Sect. Wang Changsheng understood that if a true expert here held ill intent toward him, he’d have neither the strength nor the chance to resist.

Now that the person was so candid, and their explanation seemed reasonable, there probably wasn’t much danger.

Still, Wang Changsheng was sure of one thing: whoever sought him out must have something to do with Old Mou.

Old Mou was the only person he’d had dealings with since arriving at the Corpse-refining Sect.

“Does Old Mou really have some special identity?” Wang Changsheng speculated.

When he tried approaching Old Mou’s quarters, the voice took on a hint of urgency.

“Are they wary of Old Mou?” Wang Changsheng wondered.

After some thought, he decided to meet this person.

“Perhaps I can learn something about Old Mou’s true identity from them,” Wang Changsheng said to himself.

With that, he left his little courtyard and walked slowly in the direction indicated by the voice.

He walked for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, yet still saw no sign of the person who had called out to him.

“Where are you?” he asked.

“I’m in that small grove not far ahead,” the voice responded.

Sure enough, Wang Changsheng spotted a small grove in the distance.

Since he’d made up his mind, and determined that there was no real danger, he stepped into the grove.

No sooner had he entered than a chill ran down his spine. Cultivators were supposed to be immune to cold and heat, but the atmosphere here was so gloomy that Wang Changsheng nearly turned back.

“Don’t be alarmed, young friend. We of the Corpse-refining Sect do carry a heavy yin aura,” the voice explained as Wang Changsheng hesitated.

“Where are you...” Wang Changsheng’s voice was laced with anxiety.

After all, someone who could affect the very environment must be a true powerhouse. Wang Changsheng had no desire to cross paths with such a figure—one misstep and he could be killed with a single slap!

“I’m right ahead...”

Wang Changsheng looked forward, and as his gaze settled, he shivered violently and retreated several steps.

“Don’t be alarmed, young friend!”

This time, the voice entered his ears, not his mind.

“How can I not be alarmed...” Wang Changsheng muttered.

He was truly frightened.

For in front of him, there was no human figure—only a coffin lying there!

In the eerie, shadowy light, the sudden appearance of a coffin could not fail to terrify.

Wang Changsheng couldn’t tell what material the coffin was made from, but he was certain it was no ordinary thing. Even from a distance, he could sense an icy, chilling aura emanating from it.

Moreover, the coffin was covered in ancient, archaic talismans, which made Wang Changsheng’s heart quiver.

The person hadn’t announced themselves beforehand, and now, to be confronted with such a coffin—how could he not be afraid?

“Se... Senior...”

Suppressing the urge to flee, Wang Changsheng cupped his fists respectfully toward the coffin.

“No need for formality,” came a faint voice from within. “Do not be alarmed, young friend. I have come simply to ask you a few questions.”

“I don’t dare! Please, ask whatever you wish, Senior; I will answer to the best of my knowledge!” Wang Changsheng replied, panic-stricken.

Really, to be alive inside a coffin—how could Wang Changsheng not feel awe and dread?

He had no idea who lay within the coffin, but one thing was certain: this was someone he could not afford to offend.

A true powerhouse of the Corpse-refining Sect!

“Very well,” the expert within the coffin said softly. “Then I’ll be direct: do you know the true background of the man in the menial servants’ quarters?”

“You mean Old Mou?” Wang Changsheng asked, puzzled.

With this question, his suspicions were confirmed: this expert was here for Old Mou!

Before the one in the coffin could reply—after all, there were only two people in the menial servants’ quarters, himself and Old Mou—Wang Changsheng continued, “To answer, Senior, I only know his name is Old Mou. I know nothing of his background.”

“You don’t know?” The voice from the coffin sounded doubtful. “If you know nothing, why would he look after you?”

The tone grew chilly, and Wang Changsheng suddenly felt the temperature around him drop sharply, a chill creeping into his bones.

“I truly do not know, Senior!” Wang Changsheng replied at once. “You could ask Elder Yun of the Corpse-refining Sect—it was he who assigned me to the menial servants’ quarters!”

“I’m aware of that,” came the reply from the coffin.

Only then did Wang Changsheng feel the temperature return to normal, the chill dissipating.

“One more question, then.”

“Please, ask, Senior,” Wang Changsheng said, bowing.

“How did you get him to remember you?” the expert asked. “And to say he would look after you?”

“Senior, I... I...” Wang Changsheng gritted his teeth and said, “I truly don’t know...”

Sensing the cold intensify once again, he quickly added, “Senior, I really don’t know why Old Mou remembers me. Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn’t!”

“Senior, I was originally meant to be a tribute, but when Old Mou found out, he said he would protect me!”

Wang Changsheng hurriedly explained, terrified of displeasing the expert—what if they decided to drag him into that coffin and devour him?

The air grew colder and colder. Wang Changsheng tightened his robes, but it did no good; he was forced to circulate his true energy to resist the chill.

No sooner had he done so than a tremendous pressure descended upon him, as though a mountain were pressing down on his shoulders.

It wasn’t a real mountain, of course, but the weight was so great that Wang Changsheng felt as if it were. If it had been real, he would have been crushed to death, not even his corpse left behind.

“Hey, Old Wang, what are you doing here?”

Just as Wang Changsheng was about to be overwhelmed, a voice filled with bemusement sounded in his ear. Instantly, the pressure vanished like a receding tide, as if it had never existed.

Turning, he saw Old Mou standing before him.

With Old Mou’s appearance, the expert’s oppressive aura vanished without a trace, all in less than the span of a single breath.

“Old Mou?! You remember me?” Wang Changsheng asked in astonishment.