Chapter 128: An Exception

Not only were Cai Yun and Cai Ling astonished, completely taken aback by Fang Qing's choice, but even Wang Changsheng was caught by surprise.

Back when they were in the Yunfeng Empire, Wang Changsheng had witnessed Fang Qing’s desperate thirst for power; he had spared no effort to assist the Fourth Prince! He never expected that Fang Qing would have the resolve to cripple his own cultivation today.

The disciples of Yun-Gong Peak present, whether from the inner or outer sects, all stared at Fang Qing with shocked expressions.

"This loser actually crippled his own cultivation? What a waste!"
"This Fang Qing has guts. If he can cultivate again, he will surely achieve great things in the future!"
"Is he an idiot? That’s the Peak Master’s Peak! That is the Peak Master’s Peak!"

The disciples of Yun-Gong Peak were all bewildered by Fang Qing’s decision.

Watching Fang Qing destroy his own cultivation, Li Fusheng let out a sigh and remarked with some emotion, "Not bad. He knows how to make a choice."

In Li Fusheng’s view, although Fang Qing had crippled his cultivation, following Wang Changsheng would definitely be better than staying at Yun-Gong Peak. After all, Yun-Gong Peak had too many cultivators; even if Fang Qing were to enter the Peak Master’s Peak, he would likely receive very little in the way of resources. Following Wang Changsheng was different—a deacon who dared to confront even the elders of the Corpse Refining Sect surely held no small status within that sect.

More importantly, Wang Changsheng was wealthy!

"Take care of yourself," Cai Yun said, looking at Fang Qing with a hint of admiration. She did not make things difficult for him any further.

Fang Qing gave a bitter smile and nodded gently. Shortly after, Cai Yun departed. Seeing her leave, Cai Ling felt helpless; no one had anticipated this outcome.

"Everyone, disperse!" Cai Ling called out.

Immediately, the inner sect disciples of Yun-Gong Peak scattered. With the spectacle over, it was time to return to their training. As for Cai Ling, she took the senior apprentice brother and headed toward the outer sect of Yun-Gong Peak, presumably to investigate the situation.

Wang Changsheng and Li Fusheng brought Fang Qing back to their courtyard.

"Deacon Wang, what’s going on?"

As soon as they returned, Zhang Cunzhong saw Wang Changsheng with Fang Qing. Upon seeing Fang Qing covered in blood, Zhang Cunzhong stood up and asked in a deep voice, "Did Yun-Gong Peak make a move?"

Zhang Cunzhong did not know Fang Qing, but since Wang Changsheng was helping him inside, he knew there must be a connection. In Yun-Gong Peak, those capable of beating someone to this state had to be people from the peak itself.

Earlier, Zhang Cunzhong and the others had sensed someone fighting at the mountain gate, but the aura of the combatants was unfamiliar, so they didn't get involved. After all, they were guests at Yun-Gong Peak and knew better than to meddle in other people's affairs.

"It’s nothing," Wang Changsheng replied with a nod. "This is Fang Qing. From today on, he is a disciple of the Corpse Refining Sect—your junior brother. You must take good care of him!"

Although Zhang Cunzhong and the others were puzzled, the authority Wang Changsheng had established over the recent period kept them from asking further questions.

"Junior Brother Fang, hello. My name is Zhang Cunzhong, a regular disciple of the Corpse Refining Sect, at the first level of the Foundation Establishment realm!" Zhang Cunzhong said boisterously. "I used to be at the second level, but I dropped a level recently."

"Greetings, Junior Brother Fang. My name is Wen Ming, a regular disciple of the Corpse Refining Sect, at the second level of Foundation Establishment," Wen Ming added with a smile. However, the smiles of Corpse Refining Sect cultivators often looked a bit eerie.

"Greetings, Junior Brother Fang..."

A group of Corpse Refining Sect disciples began to introduce themselves. By the time all eight had finished, Fang Qing was staring at them in shock.

"Foundation Establishment... all of them are at Foundation Establishment?" Fang Qing said, stunned. "You are all regular disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect?"

"Even regular disciples have Foundation Establishment cultivation?" Fang Qing was clearly overwhelmed. "What kind of sect is the Corpse Refining Sect?"

A myriad of questions flooded Fang Qing’s mind, and he finally turned his gaze toward Wang Changsheng.

"What are you doing? Showing off?" Wang Changsheng looked at the group, annoyed. "Can’t you see your junior brother is severely injured? Move aside!"

"Right, right, right!"

Zhang Cunzhong immediately stepped back, and the others helped Fang Qing sit on a rattan chair. Receiving such grand treatment, Fang Qing was momentarily dazed, and once seated, he felt a sense of unease.

One had to realize these were all Foundation Establishment experts! Before his cultivation was destroyed, Fang Qing was only at the fifth level of Pulse Opening; he was still a long way from the Foundation Establishment realm. In the past, whenever he saw Foundation Establishment cultivators, they were always arrogant and haughty. Even though Zhang Cunzhong and the others looked a bit frightening, with their greenish eyes, Fang Qing felt they were actually quite genuine.

"Deacon Wang, what is actually going on here?" Zhang Cunzhong finally asked.

"Yes, Senior Brother, what is the situation?" Fang Qing was also confused.

Wang Changsheng kept it brief, explaining Fang Qing’s background to Zhang Cunzhong and the others.

"So that’s it!" Zhang Cunzhong patted Fang Qing on the shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Junior Brother Fang, don’t worry. From now on, you are one of us in the Corpse Refining Sect. If anyone dares to bully you, just tell me. To use Deacon Wang’s words, I’ll help you hammer them!"

"If I can’t hammer them, there are still the elders. If the elders can’t, there’s still the Sect Master!"

Wang Changsheng felt black lines form on his forehead at Zhang Cunzhong’s words. Why did he sound like a bandit?

Fang Qing was still feeling lightheaded, feeling as if he had just joined some sort of strange organization. Finally, he looked to Wang Changsheng.

"Don't worry, Junior Brother. I am currently a deacon of the Corpse Refining Sect," Wang Changsheng said.

He then began to explain the nature of the Corpse Refining Sect, omitting how he himself had joined, as that was a rather embarrassing memory. After the explanation, Fang Qing finally understood the status of the Corpse Refining Sect in the cultivation world.

"So that’s how it is..." Fang Qing murmured.

He finally understood why Li Fusheng and his senior brother dared to cause trouble at Yun-Gong Peak and why there were no repercussions: his senior brother was a deacon of the Corpse Refining Sect, and one with an extraordinary status at that.

"Deacon Wang didn't explain it clearly enough, Junior Brother Fang. Let me tell you!" Zhang Cunzhong took over. "Just remember that our Corpse Refining Sect is incredibly powerful!"

"Our Corpse Refining Sect has over four hundred people!" Zhang Cunzhong said with a hint of pride.

"Over four hundred?" Fang Qing was confused. According to Wang Changsheng, wasn't it a top-tier sect? How could it only have four hundred people?

"Senior Brother Zhang... the outer sect of Yun-Gong Peak has nearly five thousand disciples, and the inner sect... who knows how many..." Fang Qing said awkwardly. "There are probably more inner sect disciples than outer sect ones..."

"That many?" Zhang Cunzhong was startled.

However, he immediately patted his chest and said, "It doesn't matter. Having many people is useless if their cultivation is generally low!"

"Although there are only four hundred of us in the Corpse Refining Sect, our cultivation levels are high! Out of our four hundred and eighty-three members, four hundred and seventy-five are at or above the Foundation Establishment realm!" Zhang Cunzhong boasted. "And our Sect Master is a Golden Core expert—incredibly powerful!"

*Pfft!*

Just as Zhang Cunzhong finished, Fang Qing spat out a mouthful of blood.

"What’s wrong?" Wang Changsheng asked immediately.

Fang Qing caught his breath and said in shock, "Nothing, nothing, just startled!"

Fang Qing was indeed terrified! Having been in the Shen-Tian Realm for so long, he had seen fewer than five Foundation Establishment cultivators, each of whom held an exalted status. To Fang Qing, they were unattainable existences. And yet, Zhang Cunzhong claimed the Corpse Refining Sect had four hundred and seventy-five such cultivators? How could he not be shocked? The surge of blood triggered his injuries.

"Senior Brother... is this true?" Fang Qing asked, gasping for air.

Wang Changsheng nodded gently. "Yes, and the disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect can almost all challenge opponents above their own level."

Fang Qing nearly fell off the chair upon hearing this; if Wang Changsheng hadn't steadied him, he likely would have slumped to the ground.

"What kind of sect is this?" Fang Qing exclaimed.

He finally understood why Wang Changsheng dared to stir up trouble at Yun-Gong Peak. While Yun-Gong Peak had many disciples, they didn't necessarily have more Foundation Establishment experts than the Corpse Refining Sect. The Corpse Refining Sect won by quality rather than quantity!

What Fang Qing didn't know was that the Corpse Refining Sect was in this state out of necessity. Had they not been forced to seal the mountain, how could there be such a severe generational gap? There were only eight disciples below the Foundation Establishment realm!

"Senior Brother, does that mean you are among those eight at the bottom?" Fang Qing asked.

"Of course not!" Wang Changsheng immediately retorted.

"Then?" Fang Qing asked, "Senior Brother, do you have Foundation Establishment cultivation too?"

Before his cultivation was destroyed, Fang Qing couldn't see through Wang Changsheng’s power. If Wang Changsheng wasn't among those eight, did that mean he had reached Foundation Establishment? Fang Qing couldn't believe it! It hadn't been many years since they parted, and back then, Wang Changsheng was only at the early stage of Pulse Opening. He didn't believe Wang Changsheng could break through to Foundation Establishment in such a short time.

"Junior Brother Fang, Deacon Wang is an exception!" Zhang Cunzhong chimed in.

"What kind of exception?" Fang Qing asked.

Seeing Zhang Cunzhong’s teasing expression, Wang Changsheng looked at Fang Qing and said irritably, "I don't even count as one of those eight!"

"In the Corpse Refining Sect, I have the lowest cultivation of all!"

"Are you satisfied now?" Wang Changsheng said, kicking out at Zhang Cunzhong’s backside.

Zhang Cunzhong, clearly enjoying the joke at Wang Changsheng’s expense, dodged the kick and laughed. "Deacon Wang holds an extraordinary status in the Corpse Refining Sect. From the elders down to the regular disciples, no one dares to show him anything but the utmost respect!"