Chapter 86: Beyond Imagination

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Wang Changsheng stared at Zhang Mingyuan in astonishment, his eyes filled with disbelief.

It wasn’t that Wang Changsheng doubted Zhang Mingyuan’s words, but rather that what Zhang Mingyuan claimed was simply beyond comprehension!

If Zhang Mingyuan was to be believed, it meant Second Uncle possessed extraordinary strength—at the very least, he was stronger than Zhang Mingyuan, whose own abilities were not far from the Golden Core Path. It was entirely possible that Second Uncle was already a true cultivator who had attained the Golden Core Path!

However, those who achieved true cultivation in the Immortal Realm usually accumulated centuries, if not millennia, of experience.

Second Uncle had only been in the Immortal Realm for just over a hundred years. Was it possible he possessed power enough to threaten Zhang Mingyuan?

Even after a long while, Wang Changsheng couldn’t come to terms with what he’d heard; Zhang Mingyuan’s words were simply too incredible to believe.

“Master Zhang, are you joking with me?” Wang Changsheng said with a wry smile.

“Master Zhang, though we all bear the surname Zhang and are kin, your explanation is too far-fetched!” Zhang Cunzhi interjected directly, “It’s hardly convincing, truly difficult to believe!”

Zhang Mingyuan, hearing Zhang Cunzhi’s words, could only smile bitterly. “I knew you wouldn’t believe me. If I were you, I’d probably doubt it as well. That’s why, from the beginning, I urged you to believe me.”

He paused before continuing, “To be frank, if you alone had come to see me today, I would never have revealed any of this to you!”

As he spoke, Zhang Mingyuan glanced at Chen Shangyi and the others standing behind Wang Changsheng.

His meaning was clear: given Wang Changsheng’s status and strength, Zhang Mingyuan would not be so courteous, nor would he share such secret information. This was all due to Wang Changsheng now being a member of the Corpse Refining Sect!

Zhang Mingyuan knew well the might of the Corpse Refining Sect; his actions were simply a gesture of goodwill, for the Sect’s sake.

Wang Changsheng looked thoughtful, weighing the truth of Zhang Mingyuan’s words. Ultimately, he shook his head, unable to believe.

This explanation was too fantastic.

“But it doesn’t matter much if you don’t believe,” Zhang Mingyuan said solemnly. “Young friend Wang, when your Second Uncle left, he left behind a message. Perhaps with this information, you can find him.”

“What message?” Wang Changsheng asked immediately.

Zhang Mingyuan deliberated for a moment, then said, “Your Second Uncle told you to go to the Li family of Shangyang and seek Li Yunqing.”

“Li family of Shangyang?” Wang Changsheng exclaimed in surprise.

“How could it be the Li family of Shangyang?” he murmured.

“Do you know the Li family of Shangyang?” Zhang Mingyuan looked astonished, then glanced at Chen Shangyi and the others before realizing, “That’s right, it’s only natural the Corpse Refining Sect knows of the Li family of Shangyang.”

The Li family of Shangyang—few know of its existence even in the Immortal Realm, let alone the Southern Region. Typically only true cultivators on the Golden Core Path are aware of the Li family. Zhang Mingyuan himself only knew of it due to his position as the Chief of the Wanderers’ Pavilion, which had brought him into contact with the Li family.

Chen Shangyi and the others were also shocked to hear mention of the Li family.

“Steward Wang, it seems your Second Uncle is indeed extraordinary,” Chen Shangyi said gravely. “As far as I know, the Li family is vast, but those of the ‘Yun’ generation are at its very core.”

“Oh?” Wang Changsheng replied in surprise, “Is this Li Yunqing truly remarkable?”

“According to Elder Yun’s information, the current patriarch of the Li family is two or three generations junior to the ‘Yun’ generation…” Chen Shangyi said, “Which means Li Yunqing is akin to an ancestor of the Li family.”

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“An ancestor-level figure?” Wang Changsheng felt more bewildered the more he heard.

“What on earth is happening?!” He was utterly confounded, unable to comprehend what Second Uncle was actually doing.

“So, to find Second Uncle, I must go to the Li family of Shangyang?” Wang Changsheng clarified, looking at Chen Shangyi. “If Li Yunqing is really an ancestor-level figure, I fear meeting him won’t be easy!”

Chen Shangyi nodded. “Given what we know now, Steward Wang’s Second Uncle is at least a true cultivator on the Golden Core Path—quite remarkable…”

Wang Changsheng nodded.

If everything Zhang Mingyuan said was true, then this was the only explanation that made sense.

“Master Zhang, do you know where the Li family of Shangyang is located?” Wang Changsheng asked.

Zhang Mingyuan replied, “I’m not exactly sure, but roughly, it should be near Fire Phoenix Pool.”

“Fire Phoenix Pool?” Wang Changsheng shook his head. “I don’t know where that is either.”

He turned to look at Chen Shangyi, who also shook his head, indicating he didn’t know.

The location of the Li family of Shangyang had always been shrouded in mystery. In the entire Immortal Realm, those who knew its whereabouts could be counted on one hand.

“I ask for your guidance, Master Zhang,” Wang Changsheng said. “We truly do not know where Fire Phoenix Pool is.”

“I don’t know either,” Zhang Mingyuan replied, “but I do know there’s a teleportation array that leads directly to the Li family.”

“Where?” Wang Changsheng asked at once.

“The teleportation array in Blackstone City can take you to the Li family,” Zhang Mingyuan explained.

“The teleportation array in Blackstone City?” Wang Changsheng was taken aback, then said, “It seems you are unaware, Master Zhang. When we came to the Wanderers’ Pavilion, we passed through Blackstone City—its teleportation array has already been destroyed.”

“The array was destroyed?” Zhang Mingyuan was stunned, incredulous. “Who would dare such a thing? Who would risk destroying a teleportation array?”

“Feng Liudao!” Wang Changsheng replied helplessly. “He is a true cultivator on the Golden Core Path.”

Zhang Mingyuan was left speechless.

A true cultivator on the Golden Core Path is an invincible being in the Immortal Realm; not only could they destroy a teleportation array, they could raze Blackstone City itself and still go unpunished.

What Zhang Mingyuan didn’t know was that Blackstone City had indeed been destroyed, but it was during a battle between Golden Core experts.

Wang Changsheng immediately understood: “It seems Feng Liudao’s control of the teleportation array in Blackstone City was not accidental, but meticulously planned.”

From the words Feng Liudao spoke upon leaving, it was clear there was significant enmity between him and the Li family of Shangyang; guarding the teleportation array was likely a ploy to intercept anyone from the Li family.

“Are there any other teleportation arrays that lead to the Li family of Shangyang?” Wang Changsheng asked again.

Zhang Mingyuan shook his head. “I truly don’t know. The Li family of Shangyang is too mysterious; I only know of its existence and have never met any of its cultivators.”

“That complicates things…” Wang Changsheng looked thoughtful.

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“However, I can offer you a suggestion,” Zhang Mingyuan said. “You could visit the Wei family.”

“The Wei family?” Wang Changsheng looked puzzled.

“Yes, the Wei family in Jinning City is closely connected to the Li family of Shangyang. If you go there, you may gain something,” Zhang Mingyuan replied.

Wang Changsheng nodded. “The Wei family of Jinning City…”

“However, you should be cautious,” Zhang Mingyuan continued. “As far as I know, the Wei family’s relationship with the Corpse Refining Sect is… complicated.” He glanced at Chen Shangyi and the others, appearing somewhat uneasy.

“Please speak freely, Master Zhang,” Chen Shangyi interjected. “In truth, even if you hadn’t mentioned it, we are well aware. When the Corpse Refining Sect was forced to seal its gates, the Wei family of Jinning City played a significant role.”

Zhang Mingyuan nodded. “Precisely.”

“However, the Wei family of Jinning City paid a heavy price for it,” Chen Shangyi said proudly. “Two of their Golden Core Path cultivators were forever left in the Corpse Refining Sect.”

Zhang Mingyuan smiled bitterly. “So, if you are planning to visit the Wei family of Jinning City, it’s best to be careful… Given past relations between the Wei family and the Corpse Refining Sect, if your identities are exposed, I fear…”

Wang Changsheng stared dumbfounded at Chen Shangyi and Zhang Mingyuan.

He truly knew nothing of what they discussed; all these events had occurred centuries ago, long before Wang Changsheng had arrived in the Immortal Realm—and judging by his age, he hadn’t even been born then!

“The Golden Core Path cultivators of the Wei family in Jinning City were forever left in the Corpse Refining Sect? That means they perished…” Wang Changsheng said, shocked. “Is the Corpse Refining Sect really that powerful?”

From what Wang Changsheng knew, the elders of the Corpse Refining Sect were all at the Core Formation stage; only the Sect Master was a true cultivator on the Golden Core Path.

With such strength, could they really keep two Golden Core experts from the Wei family?

Unthinkable!

Chen Shangyi moved his lips but ultimately said nothing, clearly hiding something from Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng did not press further; with outsiders present, it was better to ask such questions in private.

“Are you certain the Wei family has a teleportation array to the Li family of Shangyang?” Chen Shangyi asked.

“I’m not certain,” Zhang Mingyuan replied. “However, even if there isn’t an array, the Wei family surely knows how to reach Fire Phoenix Pool.”

No wonder Chen Shangyi asked—their mission included forming an alliance with the Li family of Shangyang. Previously, they didn’t know where it was, but now that there was a clue, it was only natural to clarify; they would go there sooner or later.

Hearing Zhang Mingyuan’s words, Chen Shangyi also appeared deep in thought.

Wang Changsheng turned to Zhang Mingyuan. “Master Zhang, forgive our disturbance. We’ll take our leave for now and visit again another day.”

Zhang Mingyuan rose as well, saying solemnly, “I believe once you find Li Yunqing, you’ll understand what’s truly going on, and whether everything I’ve said is true.”

“Let’s hope so,” Wang Changsheng replied gravely. “Thank you, Master Zhang. If we succeed, we shall come to express our gratitude in person!”