Chapter 112: Incorrigibly Stubborn

Wang Changsheng had been brought here by Li Yunqing. It was such a blur that he arrived instantly, so he had no idea which direction he was facing. He could only choose a direction with an open view and run.

In Wang Changsheng’s mind, the safest option now was to find Li Yunqing. Li Yunqing had given him the Fire Phoenix Art and the Fire Phoenix Essence Blood; there must have been a reason for it. Regardless of Li Yunqing’s ulterior motives or the nature of the deal between him and his second uncle, the priority was to get rid of Li Ziqi first.

To Wang Changsheng, Li Ziqi was nothing but a madwoman!

"Wang Changsheng, don't run!" Li Ziqi shouted loudly. "Today, I will force you to tell the truth!"

As she spoke, Li Ziqi chased directly after him.

Li Ziqi was, after all, a Golden Core stage cultivator. Even if Wang Changsheng did not yet understand how he had stepped into the Origin Transformation stage, she was still far more powerful than him.

In just a few breaths, Li Ziqi caught up to him.

"Keep running, why don't you!"

Li Ziqi let out a roar, her red silk ribbon striking directly at Wang Changsheng’s back.

Boom!

Even though Wang Changsheng managed to avoid a vital spot, the red silk slammed into his shoulder, and the sheer force sent him crashing into the ground.

He hit the earth, creating a deep crater and kicking up a cloud of dust that enveloped him.

Pfft!

Wang Changsheng rolled over and lay half-propped on the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he looked at Li Ziqi with resentment.

"What exactly do you want?" Wang Changsheng asked, his expression dark.

"It seems that with the help of the Fire Phoenix Essence Blood, your cultivation speed isn't slow at all!" Li Ziqi stared at him with an equally grim look. "In just two or three years, you’ve already broken through to the second level—even faster than the disciples of the Li family!"

Wang Changsheng had noticed this too. Although Li Ziqi’s attacks were formidable, he realized that after taking the hit, his internal energy was churning, but he hadn't suffered much actual damage.

"The Fire Phoenix Art and the Fire Phoenix Essence Blood were given to me by your ancestor. If you have any problems with it, go find him yourself!" Wang Changsheng said in a deep voice.

He had stated this many times, but Li Ziqi seemed unable to hear it.

"Hmph, I don't know what tricks you used to deceive Ancestor Yunqing, but today you must confess everything!" Li Ziqi snapped.

If Wang Changsheng hadn't been brought back by her, she might not have cared. But the point was that she had brought him back from Jinning City herself, and now he was reaping massive benefits within the Li family. She felt she had to get to the bottom of this.

"Damn it, how am I supposed to confess anything?" Wang Changsheng finally snapped, roaring, "I don't even understand what's happening to myself, so how can I explain it to you?"

Not only was Li Ziqi confused, but Wang Changsheng himself was completely baffled!

"You’re still acting like you have a point?" Seeing him roar, Li Ziqi stopped wasting time.

The red silk ribbon shot out again, and Wang Changsheng dove to the side. Simultaneously, a long blade with blood grooves appeared in his hand—the one he had taken from a Corpse Refining Sect disciple back at the Wei family estate.

"Fine, let’s go! See who’s afraid of whom!" Wang Changsheng couldn't hold back anymore.

True Qi mixed with wisps of True Essence vibrated along the blade, emitting a sharp, chilling aura. He raised the blade and struck at Li Ziqi with the Raging Wave Blade Technique.

He had only cultivated the technique to the second stage, capable of layering two levels of force.

However, as he swung, he channeled the third stage, layering three levels of force. To his surprise, fueled by his fury, he actually succeeded.

"Roar!"

As the blade descended, Li Ziqi’s red silk ribbon moved to defend, blocking the attack.

Boom, boom, boom...

Li Ziqi had never taken him seriously; the gap in their cultivation was too vast. Just as she blocked the blow and prepared to counterattack, she felt a series of massive, surging forces erupting from the ribbon.

The third stage of the Raging Wave Blade Technique exploded instantly. Caught off guard, Li Ziqi was forced back step after step.

"That is what you call a technique!" Wang Changsheng said, watching her retreat.

Even with such a massive disparity in strength, and having caught her off guard, he had only managed to push her back a few steps and cause her internal energy to churn!

Li Ziqi steadied herself in mid-air, staring at him in shock.

"What technique is this?" she demanded.

The gap in their cultivation was insurmountable. Being pushed back even a few steps, even while caught by surprise, was enough to leave her astonished.

Wang Changsheng looked at her gloomily without launching another attack. He had used his full strength and succeeded, yet Li Ziqi remained unharmed; he clearly saw the gap between them. Moreover, he noticed the blade in his hand was already cracking—it couldn't withstand the power of his technique any longer.

"My cultivation is still too low," he muttered. "If it were higher, this strike would have been enough to slay this madwoman!"

Crack!

The blade shattered, leaving only the hilt in his hand.

"Now, what other tricks do you have?" Li Ziqi asked coldly.

Immediately, the red silk ribbon shot toward him.

Boom!

It struck his chest, sending him flying.

Pfft!

Wang Changsheng coughed up blood, glaring at her. Li Ziqi didn't go for the kill; she had been acting very discreetly in targeting him, and even if she suspected him of foul play, she couldn't simply end him. She needed to uncover the truth for her father to decide.

"What do you think you are doing?"

Just as Li Ziqi prepared to take him into custody, a voice cut through the air. A figure appeared between them, glaring at Li Ziqi with a dark expression.

"Ancestor Yunqing?"

Li Ziqi’s expression changed instantly. "Ancestor, aren't you in seclusion?"

"Seclusion?" Li Yunqing replied coldly. "I am in seclusion. Does that mean you can do whatever you please once I am?"

Li Yunqing was furious. He had indeed been in seclusion, and Li Ziqi had known this, which was why she dared to come to the Fire Phoenix Pool to confront Wang Changsheng—hoping to act first and report later.

But she hadn't expected him to show up here!

"Ancestor, but... but..." Li Ziqi stammered, seeing his anger. "This Wang Changsheng used some method to deceive you. I must interrogate him properly. Please, hand him over to me, and I will give you a satisfying explanation!"

"The Li family is not for you to command!" Li Yunqing said sternly, seeing she was still being stubborn. "Go back. You are confined to your cave for ten years; you are not to step out for any reason!"

Li Ziqi stood her ground. "Ancestor, this matter..."

"Enough! Say no more!" Li Yunqing waved his long sleeve, and Li Ziqi vanished from sight.

Seeing her gone, Wang Changsheng finally exhaled, feeling the relief of surviving a disaster.

"Nephew Wang, are you alright?" Li Yunqing asked, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Wang Changsheng shook his head slightly, helpless. "What can I do? My strength is insufficient; I am at the mercy of others."

Could he be alright? He had been interrupted in the middle of cultivation, suffered backlash, and then been attacked by Li Ziqi. Although he could endure it, he was in significant pain. All of this was because he was too weak.

"Don't say that, Nephew Wang," Li Yunqing said awkwardly. "This was my lack of oversight."

"It is not your fault," Wang Changsheng said as he stood up, wiping the blood from his mouth.

He certainly wasn't going to let this go. As long as he was weak, he would be a target, and even if Li Yunqing’s apology seemed sincere, to Wang Changsheng, it was just a show.

*I will settle this debt once I am strong enough,* he vowed to himself.

Sensing the turbulence in Wang Changsheng’s aura, Li Yunqing knew he wasn't as calm as he appeared, and he felt a sense of helplessness. The damage was done, and he didn't know how to mend it.

"Nephew Wang, please don't take this to heart," Li Yunqing said. "Ziqi is young and ignorant. Please do not let this create a rift between you and the Li family." He promised, "You must believe that the Li family is absolutely not your enemy."

"You are too kind, Uncle Li," Wang Changsheng replied solemnly. "For the Fire Phoenix Art and the Essence Blood you bestowed upon me, I, Wang Changsheng, will never forget this great kindness!"

"That is good, that is good..." Li Yunqing smiled.

"You have broken through?" Li Yunqing asked, observing him. "How did you manage it?"

"I don't know..." Wang Changsheng whispered.

Li Yunqing was stunned for a moment, then looked awkward. "Since you have broken through, let us return first. We can talk about it later!"

Wang Changsheng nodded. He knew Li Yunqing misunderstood, thinking he was being evasive. Li Yunqing didn't realize that Wang Changsheng truly didn't know how he had reached this level. Had it not been for Li Ziqi’s arrival, he would still be in the midst of his cultivation.