Chapter 78: The Liy Family of Shangyang

The innkeeper led Wang Changsheng and his companions to the counter.

“Manager, these gentlemen wish to stay—twelve first-class rooms!” the attendant announced promptly.

The manager was startled, then quickly replied, “Gentlemen, our establishment is small, and we require payment in advance for lodging…”

Wang Changsheng nodded to Chen Shangyi.

Immediately, Chen Shangyi waved his hand, and a pile of spirit stones appeared on the counter.

“This is payment for two days,” Wang Changsheng said. “A total of twelve hundred spirit stones—count them carefully.”

“No need, no need! The sum is correct!” the manager exclaimed. “Quick, escort our honored guests upstairs!”

The manager issued instructions, then indicated Wang Changsheng should follow the attendant. Anyone who could produce so many spirit stones at once—and request the most expensive rooms—was surely from a powerful family or sect; such guests must not be offended.

The tavern had three floors. The attendant brought Wang Changsheng to the top floor, where many rooms lined the corridor.

“Gentlemen, these are the first-class rooms!” The attendant opened each door in turn, inviting Wang Changsheng and his companions to inspect them.

With each room, the attendant took a low-grade spirit stone and embedded it into the room’s array. Instantly, several simple formations began to operate.

“Gentlemen, the spirit stones powering the arrays are replaced by us, so you needn’t worry,” the attendant assured.

Wang Changsheng waved his hand dismissively. “That’s enough, you may go.”

He was unconcerned about the fifty low-grade spirit stones per room. After all, Chen Shangyi’s storage ring contained tens of thousands of such stones—more than enough for Wang Changsheng’s extravagance.

Moreover, Wang Changsheng had modest requirements for rooms, and the disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect were even less particular. They always carried their coffin artifacts; even in the wilderness, they could simply lie inside them.

“If you need anything, please call upon us,” the attendant said.

Soon after, Wang Changsheng and the Corpse Refining Sect disciples entered their rooms to rest and recuperate.

Closing the door, Wang Changsheng felt that, under the protection of the array, the room was indeed far quieter—no trace of noise—and a faint spiritual energy permeated the air.

“This spiritual energy is far less dense than the rooms on the Cloud Boat,” Wang Changsheng murmured.

The next morning, Wang Changsheng left his room and headed for the main hall on the first floor.

“Sir, is there anything you need?” The attendant spotted Wang Changsheng immediately; the memory of this wealthy guest was vivid.

Such a patron was highly favored by the attendants—a casual tip could mean days of earnings.

Wang Changsheng found an empty table by the wall and said quietly, “Bring me some wine.”

“Certainly!” The attendant nodded.

He didn’t ask what kind of wine Wang Changsheng preferred, but departed at once; for such a guest, he knew to bring only the finest. Even the most expensive wine in the tavern cost just a few spirit stones—nothing compared to the rooms Wang Changsheng rented.

Soon, the attendant returned with three small dishes and a jug of wine.

“Sir, this is the best wine our tavern offers. Please enjoy.” With that, he turned to leave.

“Wait,” Wang Changsheng called.

The attendant stopped in his tracks. “Sir, is there anything else?”

“I need some information,” Wang Changsheng said softly.

As he spoke, a low-grade spirit stone appeared in his hand and was placed on the table.

The attendant hesitated. “Sir, my knowledge is limited. Allow me to fetch someone—he’s the local know-it-all.”

Wang Changsheng nodded, indicating the spirit stone.

The attendant quickly pocketed the stone and left.

Wang Changsheng poured himself a cup, took a sip, and frowned. “It seems there’s no truly good wine in the cultivation world.”

After arriving in the cultivation world, he’d visited many taverns in the imperial capital of Yunfeng Empire—even the finest there had little to offer. Now, in Shentian Realm, he’d hoped for better, but twice he found the wine mediocre.

It wasn’t that the wine tasted bad, but all of it was too weak and carried the flavor of spiritual herbs—clearly crafted to suit cultivators’ tastes.

Now, the scent of those herbs made Wang Changsheng feel nauseated.

“It’s not that the cultivation world lacks good wine—it’s that you haven’t found the right place,” a voice said.

As Wang Changsheng muttered, someone took a seat across from him.

“Do you not know it’s highly rude to sit without an invitation?” Wang Changsheng said coldly.

“No, no,” the cultivator replied. “Normally, I appear only when needed. If I’m not needed, I wouldn’t be here.”

“And it seems you require my assistance.”

The cultivator looked at Wang Changsheng.

“The know-it-all?” Wang Changsheng’s expression showed confusion.

Before the other could answer, the attendant’s voice arrived.

“Sir… sir…”

The attendant rushed in from outside, nervous. “This is… this is the esteemed know-it-all…”

Clearly, he’d gone to fetch the know-it-all, but the latter had arrived first, proving he was at least of the Transforming Origin realm.

“My surname is Wan. You may call me Old Wan. ‘Know-it-all’ is what folks call me,” he said.

Wang Changsheng nodded to the attendant. “You may go.”

The attendant bowed and left.

“How did you know I was seeking you? Aren’t you afraid of mistaking me?” Wang Changsheng asked, puzzled.

Wan did not answer, but smiled. “Do you know how large Black Desire City is?”

Wang Changsheng shook his head.

“Eight hundred li in circumference,” Wan replied. “The city walls encompass it all. Dozens of sects on the Black Desire Plain jointly oversee the city—except for your Corpse Refining Sect.”

“Oh?” Wang Changsheng raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t look at me like that. Yesterday, when you entered the city, I could smell your sect’s unique scent from far away,” Wan said with a smile. “If I’m not mistaken, you’re an external steward of the Corpse Refining Sect?”

“Wang Changsheng,” he said quietly.

“By rights, you should have gone to Cloud Palace Peak. Why are you here in Black Desire City?” Wan frowned.

“Guess,” Wang Changsheng replied.

“Most sects on Black Desire Plain don’t even know your sect exists…” Wan mused. “Unless, you have designs on Black Desire City?”

“That shouldn’t be,” he said, confused.

Wang Changsheng’s party truly had no reason to be in Black Desire City. If not for Wang Changsheng’s personal affairs, they’d likely be at Cloud Palace Peak by now. Wan could not guess their purpose.

“Our sect has no interest in Black Desire City,” Wang Changsheng said with a smile. “Tell me about the Dispersed Cultivator Pavilion.”

“The Dispersed Cultivator Pavilion?” Wan was momentarily stunned, then said, “You’re heading to the Southern Domain?”

Wang Changsheng nodded.

“That’s odd. The Southern Domain is far beyond your sect’s reach. Why would you go there?” Wan pondered.

“So slow,” Wang Changsheng muttered.

He then placed a mid-grade spirit stone on the table. “The Dispersed Cultivator Pavilion.”

Wan smiled awkwardly, pocketed the stone.

“The Dispersed Cultivator Pavilion was founded just a few centuries ago,” Wan said. “A brief history—by Shentian Realm standards, a new power. It’s composed mainly of rogue cultivators. Given how many rogue cultivators there are in the cultivation world, it’s currently thriving.”

Wang Changsheng sipped his wine, listening.

“The Pavilion Master is said to be at the Core Formation realm, though which level is uncertain,” Wan reflected. “I suspect, for the Pavilion to remain for centuries, he must be at the ninth layer of Core Formation.”

“No true Daoist with Golden Core attainment?” Wang Changsheng asked, puzzled.

Wan shook his head. “If the Pavilion had such a figure, they wouldn’t be confined to the Southern Domain.”

“Shentian Realm is mostly rogue cultivators. With the Pavilion’s reputation, a Daoist of Golden Core could easily establish branches anywhere.”

Wan continued, “Ninth layer Core Formation is just my guess. Perhaps the Pavilion Master isn’t even that strong.”

Wang Changsheng considered this.

“The powers of the Southern Domain are tangled and complex—far more so than Black Desire Plain. The Pavilion won’t break out of the region within a millennium,” Wan said softly.

“Mm,” Wang Changsheng nodded.

He cared little for the Southern Domain’s intricacies—he simply wanted the Pavilion’s location and strength. Knowing more would only help him on his coming visit.

“There is, however, a top-tier power in the Southern Domain—equal to your Corpse Refining Sect,” Wan said. “If you wish to expand there, you can’t avoid them.”

“You misunderstand,” Wang Changsheng replied. “Our Sect has no plans for the Southern Domain.”

“Which power is it?” he asked.

Wan thought for a moment. “The Shangyang Li Clan.”