Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Disappearance of the Old Strategist

If there was anyone in the entire Corpse Refining Sect who least wanted anything to happen to Old Mou, it was certainly Wang Changsheng!

Old Mou was Wang Changsheng’s pillar, his protector! Not only had Old Mou provided Wang Changsheng with endless cultivation resources, allowing him to indulge and improve his skills, but more importantly, as long as Old Mou was around, Wang Changsheng’s life was safe!

But now Old Mou had vanished. How could Wang Changsheng not panic?

If Old Mou truly disappeared, perhaps most of the disciples in the Corpse Refining Sect would spare Wang Changsheng, since they were all so familiar with him. But the elders—well, that was another story. Right now, Wang Changsheng’s vitality wasn’t fully restored, but it had almost returned to normal human levels.

What’s more, who knew how much potent medicine’s effects were still lingering in his body? At this moment, Wang Changsheng was like a walking treasure trove of rare elixirs—a great tonic indeed!

Wang Changsheng was certain: if Old Mou truly went missing, he probably wouldn’t escape a grim fate.

“What should I do... what should I do...” Wang Changsheng paced anxiously in his room.

“Old Mou, come back quickly! I swear I’ll never trick you again!” he kept muttering in his heart.

Clearly, fear had got the better of him.

“Stay calm, stay calm!” Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged, trying to force himself to relax, knowing he couldn’t afford to lose his head at a moment like this—otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to come up with a plan.

“To hell with staying calm!” Before long, he jumped up, muttering curses under his breath.

He simply couldn’t calm down! If Old Mou was really gone, his life was practically over—how could anyone stay calm in such a situation?

Collapsing back to the ground, Wang Changsheng stared blankly, on the verge of tears.

After all his hard work reaching the ninth layer of the Open Vein stage, after saving over two thousand mid-grade spirit stones, after collecting two coffins full of rare herbs—it all seemed meaningless now!

“I have to run, I must escape!” he declared after a while, a determined glint in his eyes.

Without hesitation, Wang Changsheng used his storage ring to stow away the two jade coffins and prepared to flee.

Someone like Old Mou was a ticking time bomb in the Corpse Refining Sect. There were surely powerful figures monitoring him at all times. For example, the last time someone came looking for Wang Changsheng, it was certainly to keep tabs on Old Mou!

Now, Wang Changsheng had no idea how long Old Mou had been missing—perhaps just today, or maybe for a month already. If he didn’t run now, once the sect’s powerful cultivators realized Old Mou was gone, Wang Changsheng would surely be their next target!

He knew escape was unlikely, but it was better than sitting around waiting to die. Sometimes, one had to take a gamble just to taste true despair.

“Where are you rushing off to, young friend?”

Just as Wang Changsheng was opening the door to flee, a cold, chilling voice echoed in his mind.

It was a voice he knew well, even though more than two years had passed since he’d last heard it. The oppressive force it carried had nearly killed him that time.

“They’ve found me?!” Wang Changsheng tried to keep his composure, but the panic in his eyes betrayed him. With his current cultivation, how could he possibly remain calm in the face of life and death?

Boom!

As Wang Changsheng was still pondering his options, a thunderous sound reached his ears. He looked up to see a coffin land in the small courtyard outside.

It was the very same coffin he’d seen that day.

Back when Old Mou was still here, this coffin never dared approach, always hiding in the distant grove. Now, with Old Mou newly missing, the coffin boldly landed in the courtyard. Clearly, the sect’s powerful figures had discovered Old Mou’s disappearance!

“So, there’s no way I can escape?” Wang Changsheng spread his hands helplessly at the sight of the coffin.

“You’re more perceptive than I thought, young friend,” a mocking voice drifted from inside the coffin. But its cold, unyielding tone sent chills down Wang Changsheng’s spine.

“So, have you decided how you’re going to devour me?” Wang Changsheng asked bitterly. “Will you erase my consciousness and refine me, or just turn me into a corpse puppet?”

His face twisted with a pained smile.

“Considering your actions in the Corpse Refining Sect,” the mocking voice continued, “we’ve decided to steam you alive and eat you directly. Simply erasing your consciousness would be too easy on you—you wouldn’t feel any pain at all…”

“What?” Wang Changsheng’s helplessness deepened.

And he couldn’t even resist!

“You’re practically a walking treasure chest of rare medicine right now. If we divide you up among all the disciples, not a single dose will go to waste,” the voice from the coffin grew more and more amused.

But to Wang Changsheng, it sounded like the tolling of his death knell.

“Wait, wait!” Wang Changsheng pleaded, “Can’t you reconsider…”

“There’s nothing to reconsider!”

With that, a suction force emanated from the coffin. The coffin rose into the air, and the same force pulled Wang Changsheng along right behind it.

“No! Don’t do this to me! What will you do if Old Mou returns?” Wang Changsheng shouted as he was dragged along.

…

The coffin’s occupant paid no heed to his pleas, carrying Wang Changsheng off toward the Corpse Refining Sect.

“Old geezer! Let me go! If Old Mou comes back, you’ll be in trouble!” Wang Changsheng yelled. “You decrepit old man, my meat isn’t tasty—don’t eat me!”

…

When begging proved useless, Wang Changsheng resorted to cursing and threatening as he was hauled along.

As the coffin carried him across the sect’s main square, disciples wandering there looked up to see Wang Changsheng being dragged along toward the grand hall.

“Hey, isn’t that Old Wang?”

“Looks like him—he’s the only fat one in the whole sect…”

“Did Old Wang offend Elder Zhang? That must be Elder Zhang’s coffin…”

…

The disciples murmured in confusion. None of them knew what was going on—they hadn’t been watching the small courtyard and had no idea Old Mou had vanished. Seeing this scene, their first reaction was to follow and see what would happen. Wang Changsheng was something of a celebrity in the sect!

Many disciples slapped their waists, sending their own coffins flying—each one unique, carved with countless runes.

Soon, a strange procession appeared in the Corpse Refining Sect.

A coffin radiating icy gloom flew at the front, followed by a cursing, blustering fat man, and behind them, over a hundred flying coffins of all shapes and sizes.

Atop a mountain peak, the coffin landed, depositing Wang Changsheng on the ground. The hundred-plus coffins also landed, opening to reveal the disciples within.

Wang Changsheng clambered up and looked around, realizing he’d never been here before. The area was surrounded by ritual altars—clearly a solemn place within the sect.

Even though he recognized all the disciples crowding around him, Wang Changsheng couldn’t help feeling nervous.

Especially when he looked up at the dais ahead, where several coffins exuded a terrifying, frigid aura that sent shivers down his spine.

“They really are going to steam me alive and eat me…” Wang Changsheng collapsed onto the ground, despair written all over his face.

Ever since he’d been brought to the Corpse Refining Sect as a tribute, Wang Changsheng had suspected this day would come. So he’d trained relentlessly, reaching the ninth layer of the Open Vein stage in just three years.

He’d hoped that one day he could rely on his own strength to survive, not just Old Mou’s protection.

But he never imagined the day would come so soon. He’d barely broken through to the ninth layer, and against these Corpse Refiners—never mind the elders, even an ordinary disciple could swallow him alive!

It was hopeless.

“What’s happened to Old Wang? Why was he captured?”

“Did he offend Elder Zhang? Elder Zhang’s famous for being stingy!”

“Probably—Old Wang’s in for it now!”

…

The disciples who’d followed along wore looks of eager anticipation.

But none of them believed Elder Zhang intended to kill Wang Changsheng. They all knew how formidable Old Mou was—if anything happened to Wang Changsheng, Elder Zhang wouldn’t live long either!

None of them knew that Old Mou had already disappeared.

“Silence!” A cold shout rang out from Elder Zhang’s coffin.

Instantly, the disciples fell silent.

“I’m sure you all know Wang Changsheng,” Elder Zhang’s voice echoed. “He’s been in the Corpse Refining Sect for a long time, consuming spirit herbs all the while. Today, it’s time for him to serve his purpose! I’m going to refine him!”

At these words, the entire platform fell deathly silent.

So quiet you could hear a pin drop.

“What? Elder Zhang must be mad! He really means to refine Old Wang?”

“Is he looking for death? Has he forgotten what happened before…”

“No way—maybe he’s just joking…”

…

After a brief hush, the crowd erupted into noisy debate. It took them a moment to process Elder Zhang’s words, and now, disbelief spread among the Corpse Refining Sect disciples as they all voiced their opinions.