Chapter Eighty-One: Calamity Without Cause

"Even this could scare it senseless?" Fine black lines appeared on Wang Changsheng’s forehead.

"What should we do?" Chen Shangyi looked at Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng pondered for a while, but in the end, he shook his head.

They could not take this beast along. Wang Changsheng had a feeling that this creature was not simple—if they brought it, it would only be a matter of time before trouble followed.

Chen Shangyi nodded as well.

The beast was now sprawled across the table, clearly terrified and paying no attention to their conversation.

Wang Changsheng gestured, and everyone quietly withdrew from the room, exiting the inn.

Afterward, they made some inquiries and learned their current location, thoughtful expressions appearing on their faces.

"It’s still so far?" Wang Changsheng said in a low voice.

The Southern Domain was even more vast than the Black Desire Plains—more than twice its size—and far more prosperous. The location of the Loose Cultivator Pavilion was still a great distance away; at the speed of Chen Shangyi and the others, it would take at least a month to reach it.

"We'll go to Wushi City. There's a teleportation array to the Loose Cultivator Pavilion there. From here, it’ll only take two and a half days to reach Wushi City!" Wang Changsheng said with gravity.

Chen Shangyi and the others nodded in agreement; from what they’d learned, this was indeed the fastest route.

Once they left the main city of the Southern Domain, Chen Shangyi and the others took out their coffins, preparing to set off.

"We can’t use magical artifacts anymore—let’s just fly directly. Shangyi, take me with you; it’s safer that way!" Wang Changsheng said in a low voice. "The Southern Domain isn’t like the Black Desire Plains. There are far more cultivators here. If we use magical artifacts, we'll easily be recognized!"

Everyone nodded in understanding.

After all, the magical artifacts of the Corpse Refining Sect were far too distinctive—anyone could recognize them at a glance.

So Chen Shangyi took Wang Changsheng, and they took to the skies.

But without magical artifacts, their speed was much reduced. What was supposed to be a two and a half day journey would now take at least three days. And without the aid of artifacts, the drain on their true essence was much greater.

After two days of travel, the disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect at the first level of the Core Formation stage were already showing signs of exhaustion.

"If Corpse Refining Sect cultivators don't use artifacts, their reserves are far inferior to other cultivators of the same rank," Wang Changsheng muttered.

"That’s the consequence of our sect’s techniques," Chen Shangyi replied gravely. "In combat, our methods are second to none, and with magical artifacts, we are even more formidable. But our accumulation of true essence has never been our strength."

Wang Changsheng nodded. Every technique had its flaws. If there were no weaknesses in the Corpse Refining Sect’s methods, they would have long since dominated the entire Shentian Realm.

"Careful—someone’s approaching!"

As Wang Changsheng was lost in thought, Chen Shangyi’s voice rang out, alert and cautious. Immediately, the group stopped and descended to the ground.

Wang Changsheng, whose cultivation was far below that of Chen Shangyi and the others, sensed nothing. But then he saw a flash of white light darting straight into his arms.

"What... How did he follow us?!" Wang Changsheng frowned, glancing at the snow-white beast in his arms with a dark expression.

Sure enough, after only a few breaths, Wang Changsheng saw six cultivators in black armor hovering in midair, each casting a hostile gaze their way.

"As expected, trouble has come," Wang Changsheng said in a low voice. "Everyone be alert, and be ready to fight at any moment—their intentions aren’t good!"

These black-armored cultivators were not strangers. They were the same ones who had pursued the snow-white beast when Wang Changsheng and his group first arrived via teleportation.

"Is there something you want?" Wang Changsheng called out in a low voice. "If it’s for this creature..." He gestured at the beast in his arms and continued, "It has nothing to do with us. It followed us of its own accord. I can hand it over to you!"

It wasn’t that Wang Changsheng was afraid of trouble, but this was a sensitive time—he didn’t want unnecessary complications.

"Look out!"

Wang Changsheng had barely finished speaking when Chen Shangyi’s shout rang out. The next instant, Chen Shangyi appeared in front of him, a powerful aura erupting from his body as he struck out with both fists.

A series of thunderous explosions rang out. The force of the blast spread out not far in front of Chen Shangyi.

Before Wang Changsheng could react, he was sent flying by the shockwave, crashing into the ground and sinking into the dirt.

"A sneak attack?!"

He scrambled to his feet, spitting earth from his mouth, his expression grim as he glared at the black-armored cultivators above. "You’re all at the Core Formation stage, and you sneak-attacked someone at the Vein Opening stage?!"

"Have you no shame?"

Wang Changsheng was livid. They hadn’t even given him a chance to explain before attacking—moreover, they’d ambushed him directly. If not for Chen Shangyi’s intervention, he’d be dead already!

"Utterly disgraceful," Wang Changsheng said coldly.

He glanced at the trembling beast in his arms, anger flaring again. What was this all about? What had he done to deserve such trouble constantly finding him?

Disaster out of nowhere!

"Damn it, attack!"

Wang Changsheng shouted at the Corpse Refining Sect disciples, "Kill them—don’t let a single one get away!"

The disciples, already on alert, didn’t hesitate for a moment. They surged forward, charging at the black-armored cultivators.

It wasn’t just Wang Changsheng who was angry—the Corpse Refining Sect disciples were furious too. Not even time to explain before being attacked? If not for Chen Shangyi, the sneak attack would have succeeded. If Wang Changsheng died, how could they face their fellow disciples upon returning to the sect? So many of them, unable to protect a single person—how humiliating!

Chen Shangyi wasted no time, charging at the leader of the black-armored cultivators, who was at the second level of Core Formation.

While Chen Shangyi and the black-armored leader battled one-on-one, the other disciples ganged up two or three against one.

As for Wang Changsheng, he could only watch from the sidelines.

Normally, Corpse Refining Sect disciples were already formidable among their peers, and now, with two or three against one, the outcome was quickly decided. Within moments, the black-armored cultivators were already on the back foot.

"Take the leader alive—leave no one else!" Wang Changsheng roared.

In less than the time it took for half a stick of incense to burn, all the black-armored cultivators save for their leader had been slain.

The Corpse Refining Sect disciples gathered around Wang Changsheng, watching as Chen Shangyi dueled the black-armored leader.

Chen Shangyi was already powerful, and with his cultivation a level higher than his opponent’s, the outcome would have been decided long ago if Wang Changsheng hadn’t insisted on taking the leader alive, forcing Chen Shangyi to hold back.

Soon enough, Chen Shangyi landed a palm strike squarely on the leader’s chest. The disciples surged forward, overwhelming and capturing him alive.

They dragged the leader over to Wang Changsheng, who gazed at him and said in a low voice, "You were the one who attacked me, weren’t you?"

"You’ve got a lot of nerve," Wang Changsheng continued, "Didn’t you see how many brothers I have here?"

With that, Wang Changsheng kicked the leader in the shoulder.

There was a dull thud as Wang Changsheng’s foot landed. The leader remained unaffected, but Wang Changsheng staggered back several steps, his entire leg numb.

Seeing the smiles on the disciples' faces, Wang Changsheng said, "If you want to laugh, just laugh—don’t hold it in!"

He hadn’t expected that kicking the leader would do him no harm, while he nearly broke his own leg.

He felt utterly humiliated.

"Corpse Refining Sect rats," the leader spat, his face filled with disdain as he spat on the ground.

He hadn’t expected this group to be from the Corpse Refining Sect. Perhaps other cultivators didn’t know of the sect, but the leader himself had met its members before—back before the sect had sealed its mountain. Of course, back then, he’d been just a low-ranked cultivator at the Vein Opening stage.

"Oh? You know who we are?" Wang Changsheng said with a half-smile. "Tell me, who are you? Which faction do you belong to? Why are you after this little thing? And what exactly is this beast?"

He pulled the trembling creature from his arms and fired off several questions.

At the sight of the beast, the leader’s pupils contracted, but he remained silent.

"Not talking?" Wang Changsheng frowned.

Just as he was considering harsher methods, the leader finally spoke.

"You’d best let me go, and hand over the little fox," the leader said after a pause. "Otherwise, you’ll be in serious trouble. The Corpse Refining Sect will be in serious trouble as well."

Wang Changsheng’s frown deepened.

Let the leader go? Impossible.

There was no way he’d leave future trouble behind now that enmity had been established. What he wanted to know was which force the leader belonged to—any group that could send so many Core Formation cultivators was no small player.

He also wanted to know just what this so-called little fox really was, and what its origins were. After going to such lengths to shake it off, how had it caught up with them again?

"Shangyi, I’ll leave it to you. Make him talk," Wang Changsheng said.

With that, Wang Changsheng turned his attention to the little fox, deep in thought.

Chen Shangyi hauled the leader away, and before long, agonized screams reached Wang Changsheng’s ears.

"Can’t you keep it down?" Wang Changsheng muttered, a shiver running through him at the sounds of torture.