Chapter Sixty-Nine: Do You Understand Intimidation?

"Alright!" Since Wang Changsheng had already agreed, he could only ask, "If we're going to work with them, there must be a plan. How are we cooperating?"

"Mutual watchfulness and assistance will suffice," Elder Yun replied softly.

"What?" Wang Changsheng exclaimed, "You mean mutual watchfulness and assistance with the Li family of Shangyang?"

"That's right," Elder Yun said.

"Fine, but what benefits can we offer them?" Wang Changsheng asked.

"Benefits? What benefits?" Elder Yun looked slightly puzzled. "Mutual watchfulness and assistance are enough, aren't they? What other benefits are needed?"

Wang Changsheng thought he had misheard, but seeing the seriousness on Elder Yun’s face, he realized he hadn’t. He pressed, "So mutual watchfulness and assistance are enough? We’re not offering the Li family of Shangyang any benefits at all?"

Elder Yun nodded.

Seeing Elder Yun so certain, Wang Changsheng’s expression turned to one of utter despair and helplessness.

"Elder Yun, are you joking?" Wang Changsheng asked, nearly losing hope.

It was no wonder Wang Changsheng reacted this way. According to Elder Yun, forming an alliance with the Li family of Shangyang through mutual assistance was not difficult in the cultivation world—after all, who doesn’t have enemies? But this situation, when applied to the Li family and the Corpse Refining Sect, was unrealistic.

The Li family of Shangyang remained aloof from worldly affairs; even if they did have enemies, they would not have many. But the Corpse Refining Sect? Their enemies spanned nearly the entire cultivation world. For the Li family to engage in mutual protection with the Corpse Refining Sect would be like stepping into a quagmire.

To ally with the Corpse Refining Sect would mean sharing their burdens, exposing the Li family to many more foes. Without sufficient benefits, why would the Li family ever agree?

"Do I look like I’m joking?" Elder Yun said, a hint of a smile on his lips.

Wang Changsheng was speechless.

At first, he had thought that visiting the Li family of Shangyang to propose an alliance would be the simplest task—after all, they were going in goodwill. But it turned out the Corpse Refining Sect wanted to form an alliance without offering anything in return—utterly wishful thinking!

Faced with this, what else was there for Wang Changsheng to say?

Fortunately, when visiting the Li family of Shangyang, he would be accompanied by disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect. Compared to those disciples, Wang Changsheng’s strength was far inferior, so such tasks ought to fall to them. As for his own role, it was merely to keep Old Mou tied down.

"Alright then, what about the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall? Surely you’re not going there to form an alliance as well?" Wang Changsheng asked. "You just said that in that place, disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect are hunted on sight. An alliance is out of the question!"

"Of course not," Elder Yun’s eyes grew dark. "When the Corpse Refining Sect was forced to seal its mountain, the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall played a major role."

"What?" Wang Changsheng exclaimed, "Is the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall really that formidable?"

If that was the case, Wang Changsheng thought he’d better not go there. Even if he was being hunted by the Corpse Refining Sect, if he simply stayed in a secluded courtyard and stuck close to Old Mou, he might survive until his cultivation improved enough that the Sect could no longer threaten him.

But to go to the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall—a place that had forced even the Corpse Refining Sect into seclusion—was likely a one-way trip.

"Setting aside certain unstable elements, the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall can be considered the most powerful force in the Realm of Heavenly Reign," Elder Yun said gravely.

"Then what is the purpose of visiting the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall this time?" Wang Changsheng asked.

If it was just to gather intelligence, he could simply take a look and bring back some scraps of information—he could even make something up.

"Visit?" Elder Yun immediately seemed indignant. "We are going there to intimidate them!"

"Intimidate, do you understand?" Elder Yun’s tone was heavy.

"No," Wang Changsheng replied blankly.

Of course, Wang Changsheng knew what intimidation meant, but he didn’t believe Elder Yun expected him to intimidate the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall in the usual sense.

"It means to display the might of our Corpse Refining Sect," Elder Yun said sternly.

At these words, Wang Changsheng collapsed to the ground, looking at Elder Yun in utter despair.

"If the Sect wants me dead, just say so! You simply don’t dare to take on Old Mou yourselves, so you want the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall to do it for you!" Wang Changsheng finally lost his temper, roaring at Elder Yun, "Intimidate? Intimidate whom? You want a cultivator at the Open Meridian stage like me to intimidate the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall?!"

"I’ll be lucky to make it to the Savage Wilderness alive, do you understand?"

"Do you understand?!"

"Just kill me already, I’m not going anywhere!" Wang Changsheng vented his frustration at Elder Yun.

He truly couldn’t contain himself any longer. At least visiting Yun Palace Peak and the Li family of Shangyang might not be impossible, especially since he would be accompanied by disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect, and neither trip involved fighting.

But going to the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall—Elder Yun’s meaning was clear: it was to pick a fight. They could squash Wang Changsheng with a finger, and he was supposed to intimidate them? This was a death sentence!

Wang Changsheng understood now: the Corpse Refining Sect simply didn’t dare to kill him themselves and were sending him to the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall to die. And not even a single disciple was to accompany him—the Sect didn’t want to lose even one!

It was even possible that his death in the Savage Wilderness would draw Old Mou there; should Old Mou and the Divine Hall come to blows, wouldn’t the Corpse Refining Sect rejoice in secret?

"A brilliant plan—killing two birds with one stone. No, three birds!" Wang Changsheng said darkly.

Elder Yun, however, was unmoved, showing no anger, as though watching Wang Changsheng perform a solo act.

"Finished?" Elder Yun asked with a smile when Wang Changsheng had vented himself. "Now may I speak?"

"Killing you would be easy. Any disciple of the Corpse Refining Sect could finish you off and then be sent to Old Mou to atone. That would settle the matter."

"Do you think my plan just now is workable?" Elder Yun narrowed his eyes at Wang Changsheng.

Hearing this, a cold sweat broke out down Wang Changsheng’s back. He glanced nervously behind him, and, seeing no one, breathed a sigh of relief.

Indeed, Elder Yun’s plan was very feasible. Old Mou was too scatterbrained to ever take revenge on the entire Corpse Refining Sect.

Moreover, the Corpse Refining Sect was vast, with true cultivators who had mastered the Golden Core Path. Surely, they had ways to deal with Old Mou, though such means would greatly weaken the Sect. Unless pushed to the brink, the Corpse Refining Sect would never fight Old Mou to the death—but that didn’t mean they couldn’t.

"Not workable?" Seeing Wang Changsheng remain silent, Elder Yun continued, "If not, there are other methods. For example, wait until Old Mou mysteriously disappears again, and then simply kill you. Would that work?"

In the end, Wang Changsheng nodded.

Forget about the second method—the first alone was enough to keep Wang Changsheng in check, unless he stayed in his courtyard and never left Old Mou’s side. Even then, the second method was an option.

The bottom line was that if the Corpse Refining Sect wanted him dead, it would be effortless.

"But going to the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall is still a death sentence!" Wang Changsheng protested. "You want to intimidate them, but with my strength, I’d only embarrass you!"

"Intimidation? You won’t achieve your desired effect!" Wang Changsheng insisted.

Whether or not the Sect achieved its aim, Wang Changsheng knew he would not survive.

"We are aware of that," Elder Yun replied. "But rest assured, we have our ways. With your strength, you could never intimidate them—but you’ll be taking the Sect Master’s Dao Incarnation with you."

"What? The Sect Master’s Dao Incarnation?" Wang Changsheng was confused. "What is that?"

"A true cultivator who has mastered the Golden Core Path can condense a Dao Incarnation. Its strength, though not quite equal to the true body, is not far off," Elder Yun explained. "It’s a technique unique to those who have achieved the Golden Core Path. You wouldn’t understand even if I explained."

"You don’t seem to understand it either," Wang Changsheng muttered.

Elder Yun sounded as if he had already mastered the Golden Core Path, but Wang Changsheng was sure he hadn’t—after all, Elder Yun was a newly appointed elder and certainly weaker than the Sect Master.

"Not far now..." Elder Yun’s eyes brimmed with longing.

Indeed, to become a true cultivator on the Golden Core Path was to be among the strongest known in the Realm of Heavenly Reign. Yun Palace Peak owed its supremacy to just such a cultivator.

Once one attained the Golden Core Path, one became a top-tier figure in the Realm of Heavenly Reign, and everything changed.

Wang Changsheng eyed Elder Yun with surprise. He’d thought Elder Yun had a long way to go, but from his tone, it seemed the elder wasn’t far from the Golden Core Path after all. Evidently, the Corpse Refining Sect was indeed powerful.

Hearing that the Sect Master’s Dao Incarnation would accompany him, Wang Changsheng finally relaxed a little. With such protection, his chances of survival were much higher.

"Your task is simply to figure out how to enter the Savage Wilderness Divine Hall—and then how to escape it," Elder Yun said quietly.

"What?"

Wang Changsheng stared blankly at Elder Yun. "So... the Sect Master’s Dao Incarnation is just there to stir up trouble, but won’t bring me back?"