Chapter Ninety-Six: Ill Intent

In the Shen Tian Realm, anyone worthy of being called an Ancestor was, at the very least, a true cultivator who had attained the Golden Core Dao. Much less in a powerful clan like the Li Clan of Shangyang, where an Ancestor had to be even more formidable than an ordinary Golden Core cultivator.

Wang Changsheng had truly not expected Li Yunqing to have such a status.

The young woman from the Li Clan of Shangyang also fell into thought at that moment.

What Wang Changsheng had said made perfect sense. The name Li Yunqing was a secret even within the Li Clan of Shangyang, known only to a tiny few. It was impossible for an outsider like Wang Changsheng to know such a secret.

“Who told you to go find Great Ancestor Yunqing?” the young woman asked.

“My second uncle,” Wang Changsheng said helplessly. “To be honest, from start to finish, I still don’t understand what is going on. My second uncle told me to go to the Li Clan of Shangyang to find Li Yunqing, but I didn’t even know who Li Yunqing was.”

“Who is your second uncle?” the young woman asked.

“My second uncle...” Wang Changsheng pondered briefly before saying, “My second uncle is Wang Tenghu.”

The young woman shook her head, indicating that she had never heard the name.

“How about this? I still have other matters to attend to. Since the Corpse Refining Sect has emerged this time, I also have tasks to handle. Let me finish those first, and then I’ll get in touch with you?” Wang Changsheng said to the young woman.

Now that he knew Li Yunqing’s identity, Wang Changsheng thought it best not to go looking for him for the time being.

Too many things had happened. From his second uncle bringing him here, to the Lone Cultivator Pavilion, and then to the Shen Tian Realm, and now this mysterious disappearance and even a scheme that had been laid in advance, Wang Changsheng could not begin to guess what his second uncle was truly trying to do.

Most importantly, everything that had happened had far exceeded the limits of what Wang Changsheng’s strength could control, and that left him uneasy.

Now, to make matters worse, the matter even involved an Ancestor of the Li Clan of Shangyang, which made Wang Changsheng all the more unsettled.

It felt as though there were a trap waiting for him, one step at a time, and Wang Changsheng did not like that feeling at all.

“No!”

The young woman said in a low voice, “I don’t know whether what you’re saying is true or false. We’ll know only after meeting Great Ancestor Yunqing.”

“I now suspect that you harbor ill intentions toward the Li Clan of Shangyang. You must come with me to prove whether this is true before I can let you go,” the young woman said solemnly.

Wang Changsheng stared at her in stunned silence.

Ill intentions toward the Li Clan of Shangyang?

He would need the strength first. With Wang Changsheng’s current cultivation, any random person from the Li Clan of Shangyang could easily deal with him. How could he possibly dare to have any such intentions?

Even if he really did have ill intent, dragging him back to the Li Clan of Shangyang like this would not be the same as exposing their location completely?

Wang Changsheng felt that this young woman must have a screw loose.

“Does that mean I can’t leave even if I don’t go now?” Wang Changsheng asked, somewhat frustrated.

The young woman nodded, her expression grave.

Very well. Wang Changsheng had no other choice, only helplessness.

He had started out desperately searching for any news about the Li Clan of Shangyang. Now that he had finally learned something, and even had the chance to go with them to the Li Clan of Shangyang, he instead felt uneasy.

“Tomorrow. We depart tomorrow and return to Fire Phoenix Pool!” the young woman said directly.

Wang Changsheng could only look at her in resignation. As for Wei Tong, he too shook his head with a bitter smile.

“Senior Wei, then I shall take my leave first!” The young woman rose and cupped her fists in salute to Wei Tong. Without waiting for a response, she turned and left.

“Elder Wei, farewell.”

Wang Changsheng also stood and cupped his fists in salute.

Since the young woman had left, and he had already gained a rough understanding of what he wanted to know, Wang Changsheng had no intention of lingering at the Wei Clan any longer.

After all, the relationship between the Corpse Refining Sect and the Wei Clan was far from harmonious. If he stayed too long, who knew what might happen. At a time like this, Wang Changsheng was even less willing to invite trouble by lingering.

“Wait!”

Just as Wang Changsheng was about to leave, Wei Tong called out to stop him.

“Elder Wei, do you have some further instruction?” Wang Changsheng asked in a low voice.

“There is something I would like to ask of Deacon Wang,” Wei Tong said, his expression turning somewhat solemn.

With a sweep of his sleeve, he also raised a formation that immediately enveloped the two of them.

Of course, Wang Changsheng did not think Wei Tong was trying to attack him. Given Wei Tong’s strength, if he truly intended to make a move, he would not need to go to such trouble.

“I wonder what matter Elder Wei has in mind?” Wang Changsheng said solemnly. “I’m sure Elder Wei understands that, given the difference in our identities, I would hardly be able to help you with anything.”

The relationship between the Corpse Refining Sect and the Wei Clan needed no explanation; they were absolute mortal enemies. The Wei Clan had contributed greatly to driving the Corpse Refining Sect into remote seclusion on the Black Desire Plain, and the Corpse Refining Sect, in turn, had killed two Golden Core cultivators of the Wei Clan.

Such a feud could never be resolved.

Wei Tong paused, then said in a deep voice, “What I wish to ask of Deacon Wang is, in truth, extremely simple for you.”

“Oh?” Wang Changsheng immediately said in surprise. “Then by all means, tell me. Let me make one thing clear first: even if it is simple, I still may not necessarily help you.”

Wei Tong nodded.

“Deacon Wang, rest assured. If this matter is handled properly, then even though you are a deacon of the Corpse Refining Sect, my Wei Clan will treat you as an honored guest.”

Wang Changsheng narrowed his eyes. A single sentence was enough for him to know that this matter was far from simple.

To be able to ignore even the hatred between the Wei Clan and the Corpse Refining Sect, Wang Changsheng felt certain he absolutely could not agree to this.

“What I need Deacon Wang to do is find clues to the whereabouts of the two Ancestors of my Wei Clan!” Wei Tong said solemnly.

“The Ancestors of the Wei Clan? Clues to their whereabouts?” Wang Changsheng asked in confusion. “What’s going on here?”

Wei Tong thought for a moment, then said, “The two Ancestors of the Wei Clan who were once slain by the Corpse Refining Sect—I suspect they may not actually be dead.”

“What?”

Wang Changsheng looked utterly baffled and said in disbelief, “You mean to say that during that battle, the two Ancestors of the Wei Clan did not die?”

“You’re certain you mean the two Ancestors who were killed when the Corpse Refining Sect was forced to seal its mountain?” Wang Changsheng asked, still bewildered.

“Mm.” Wei Tong nodded.

“How do you know that?” Wang Changsheng asked at once.

This had almost been several hundred, perhaps even a thousand years ago. How could Wei Tong know such a thing?

“Recently I’ve made some progress in my cultivation and, by chance, had a sudden intuition,” Wei Tong said in a low voice. “Deacon Wang, rest assured. Every word I have said is true. The two Ancestors of the Wei Clan must not have perished completely. If Deacon Wang helps me accomplish this, the Wei Clan will certainly reward you handsomely.”

Wang Changsheng showed a thoughtful expression.

To be honest, he did not quite believe what Wei Tong was saying. It was simply too unbelievable. However, Wang Changsheng’s understanding of a cultivator’s methods was still shallow, and he did not know whether true cultivators who had attained the Golden Core Dao possessed such extraordinary abilities.

He also did not dare reach a conclusion on such a matter.

“What you mean is, you want me to help you investigate an event from a thousand years ago?” Wang Changsheng asked again for confirmation.

“Mm.”

“I suspect those two Ancestors were imprisoned by your Corpse Refining Sect. I do not need Deacon Wang to help my Wei Clan rescue them. I only need confirmation that the two Ancestors are still alive,” Wei Tong said solemnly.

“I’m sorry,” Wang Changsheng said helplessly. “On this matter, I cannot help you.”

“Farewell.”

With that, Wang Changsheng turned and left at once, not giving Wei Tong any chance to keep him.

How was he supposed to help with something like this?

Although Wang Changsheng held a somewhat special position in the Corpse Refining Sect, that special status did not come from his own strength; it was entirely due to his connection to Old Schemer. As for the position of deacon, he had only obtained it by a fluke.

Investigating such a matter had already touched upon true cultivators of the Golden Core Dao, and would certainly involve the core secrets of the Corpse Refining Sect. With Wang Changsheng’s strength and status, this was simply an impossible task.

“Deacon Wang need not hurry to leave. You may stay at the Wei Clan tonight and depart tomorrow together with that young friend from the Li Clan.”

After Wang Changsheng walked out of the small courtyard, Wei Tong’s voice still drifted after him.

Seeing that Chen Shangyi and the others were all waiting in place and that nothing had happened, Wang Changsheng finally let out a breath of relief.

“Deacon Wang, how did it go?” Chen Shangyi immediately came forward and asked.

Before Wang Changsheng could answer, the figure of the Second Elder appeared. The Second Elder had already changed into clean clothes, and his wounds had been treated. Apart from his somewhat pale face, there was nothing else unusual to be seen.

“Deacon Wang, the Grand Elder has instructed that you all remain at the Wei Clan today and depart tomorrow,” the Second Elder said in a low voice, his expression still unfriendly when he looked at Wang Changsheng.

Upon hearing the Second Elder’s words, Chen Shangyi and the others immediately changed expression.

“What now? Are you going to force us to stay?” Zhang Cunzhong stepped forward at that moment and said in a deep voice.

As he spoke, Zhang Cunzhong once again took out his coffin-shaped magical artifact.

The moment the Second Elder saw the artifact coffin, his expression also darkened. He had just been struck several times by that unusual magical artifact, and he was still feeling irritated.

“Deacon Wang,” the Second Elder said, looking at Wang Changsheng, “this is the Grand Elder’s order. The Grand Elder also said it would be best for you to remain at the Wei Clan. If you leave the Wei Clan, your safety cannot be guaranteed.”

“Not only forcing us to stay, but threatening us as well?” Zhang Cunzhong’s anger flared immediately. Looking at Wang Changsheng, he clearly intended to act at a single word from him.

“Cunzhong,” Wang Changsheng said with a smile at that moment, “put the artifact away. We’ll stay at the Wei Clan today and see what tricks they can play.”

“Deacon Wang...” Zhang Cunzhong looked as though he wanted to say more but hesitated.

“Enough, no need to say more.” Wang Changsheng then said to the Second Elder, “Second Elder, please make the arrangements. It would be best to find a quieter and more pleasant small courtyard. Otherwise, even if I agree, my fellow sect members may not.”