Chapter Ninety-One: Signature Artifact

Your assignment is even more important,” Chen Shangyi said in a low voice. “The first thing we must ensure is the safety of Steward Wang.”

After hearing his explanation, Zhang Cunzong could only sit down sullenly.

Wang Changsheng’s cultivation was only at the Opening Veins stage; in the cultivation world, he did not even have the ability to protect himself. The scene from the last time they rescued the little fox was still vivid. With the slightest misstep, Wang Changsheng could die at the hands of another cultivator.

“It’s all right, Cunzong. We’ll see how things go in a moment. If it’s not too urgent, you’ll definitely have a chance to show what you can do,” Wang Changsheng said to comfort him.

The Wei family arrived much more slowly than Wang Changsheng had expected. Nearly half an hour passed before a group of people appeared on the street, heading toward the tavern. The leader was Wei Ning of the Wei family.

“They’re here,” Wang Changsheng said in a grave voice.

Chen Shangyi had also spotted Wei Ning. Seeing the group behind him, he looked relieved. “Good. Aside from one cultivator at the fourth level of the Core Formation stage, everyone else is at the Vital Energy Transformation stage.”

With Chen Shangyi’s strength, he could deal with a fourth-level Core Formation cultivator on his own. As for the remaining Wei family cultivators, a single disciple of the Corpse Refining Sect would be enough to crush them.

Knock, knock, knock...

A knock sounded at the door. The Wei family did not rush in recklessly; instead, they were very courteous.

One of the Corpse Refining Sect disciples opened the door, and a number of cultivators immediately rushed inside. One of them was Wei Ning.

“Ninth Elder, it was them. They’re the ones who beat my face like this!”

“And they showed the Wei family no respect at all!”

Wei Ning pointed at Wang Changsheng and the others, his expression filled with indignation.

He truly felt stifled. As a core disciple of the Wei family, he might not have much cultivation, but his status and position were there for all to see. In ordinary times in Gold-Ning City, even if he behaved terribly, no one would dare lay a hand on him.

Who could have imagined that he would run into Wang Changsheng’s group, who played by none of the usual rules?

The cultivator from the Wei family known as the Ninth Elder walked in, saw Wang Changsheng’s group, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

He knew Wei Ning’s temperament all too well.

“Wei Ning, you must have offended these fellow daoists first, otherwise they would not have bothered with you,” the Ninth Elder said in a deep voice, looking at him.

“No, Ninth Elder...” Wei Ning immediately panicked.

He had come precisely to seek the Ninth Elder’s help. Why had the Ninth Elder suddenly changed his tune?

Fortunately, Wei Ning was not stupid. Seeing that the Ninth Elder’s expression was somewhat off, he also noticed a subtle change in his aura.

“Ninth Elder, I was only following the orders of the Second Elder to receive our guests properly. The environment here is nicer, so I just... I was being very polite the whole time. I even swapped rooms with these fellow daoists, paid for their expenses, and gave them spirit stones...”

Wei Ning described everything he had done just now without the slightest embellishment, except that he omitted quite a few details, such as some of his more foolish actions.

“Very reasonable, and not the least bit exaggerated. On this point, you are rather honest,” Wang Changsheng said with a faint smile.

Wei Ning was clearly a clever man as well; everything he said matched what had actually happened, without any fabrication.

“Fellow daoists,” the Ninth Elder said, cupping his hands in salute, “since Wei Ning’s words are true, may I ask why you struck him?”

“You should ask who made the first move,” Wang Changsheng said with a smile. “We did not strike first. The innkeeper can testify to that.”

The Ninth Elder frowned, a thoughtful look appearing on his face.

This matter was indeed difficult. He had originally thought it was only a minor dispute. Based on Wei Ning’s information, the other side might have belonged to some third-rate or second-rate force. But when the Ninth Elder entered the room, he immediately discovered that, apart from Wang Changsheng, everyone else seated there was a Core Formation cultivator.

At once, the Ninth Elder felt that things were not looking good.

But this was Gold-Ning City. If the Wei family were bullied here, the shame would be enormous.

“May I ask where you fellow daoists come from?” the Ninth Elder asked in a grave tone.

At the very least, he needed to understand their background first.

“Wouldn’t you know if we fought it out? So much pointless chatter,” Zhang Cunzong said as he stood up at once, his mouth already spewing curses.

As he spoke, Zhang Cunzong directly tore off the black robe wrapped around him, revealing his true appearance.

“Disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect?”

The moment the Ninth Elder saw Zhang Cunzong’s face, especially those eerie green eyes of his, his expression changed at once.

“Retreat, all of you, retreat quickly!”

The Ninth Elder immediately shoved the people behind him out of the room and said in a deep voice, “Inform the Second Elder. The Corpse Refining Sect is attacking!”

As he spoke, a powerful aura erupted from his body.

As a Ninth Elder, he had a deeply etched impression of the Corpse Refining Sect. In that battle years ago, he had not had the chance to participate because he was too weak, but he would never forget the Corpse Refining Sect cultivators—each one more ferocious than the last.

The Wei family cultivators who had been pushed out were also filled with alarm. They had not been able to take part in that battle, but within the Wei family, the Corpse Refining Sect was one of those most taboo to mention, and they knew very well what had happened back then.

In that year, two of the Wei family’s ancestors had died at the hands of the Corpse Refining Sect. No one had expected that they would encounter members of that sect again this time.

“Move!”

At Wang Changsheng’s command, a shadow shot straight out.

“Senior Brother Chen, protect Steward Wang!”

The figure rushing out let loose a roar. It was none other than Zhang Cunzong.

Wang Changsheng was instantly stunned. This was not quite how they had agreed to do things. Hadn’t Zhang Cunzong been staying behind to protect him? Why had he charged out first?

Chen Shangyi was helpless as well. He could only move to Wang Changsheng’s side and shield him.

As for Zhang Cunzong, he charged directly at the Ninth Elder. Seeing this, the Ninth Elder also darted straight out of the tavern, instantly appearing in midair above the street.

“Huh? Isn’t that a Wei family elder?”

“Yes, I think it’s the Ninth Elder. Didn’t he just go into the tavern?”

“I heard a Wei family disciple was bullied in the tavern just now. Wasn’t he going to take revenge?”

...

The cultivators on the street immediately looked puzzled at the sight.

Then another figure could be seen rushing toward the Ninth Elder.

“Don’t run! Let’s fight three hundred rounds!”

Zhang Cunzong’s roar rang out.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the Ninth Elder could no longer run. Being chased like that and not daring to stay and fight—if he fled, would the Wei family’s reputation still matter?

More importantly, the Ninth Elder could tell that Zhang Cunzong was only at the second level of the Core Formation stage, not enough to force him into a panicked retreat.

“You rats of the Corpse Refining Sect—today I’ll avenge our two ancestors!”

The Ninth Elder also gave a shout and lunged at Zhang Cunzong.

The two clashed in an instant. A battle between Core Formation experts immediately sent their might spreading in all directions, and every cultivator in Gold-Ning City could feel the commotion.

“Who is fighting so openly in public?”

“It feels like the Wei family’s aura. It must be the Wei family!”

“Only the Wei family would be bold enough for this!”

...

The clash between Zhang Cunzong and the Wei family’s Ninth Elder instantly drew many cultivators over. Seeing the two fight, all of them wore grave expressions.

True cultivators who had attained the Golden Core Dao were top-tier figures in the Heavenly Realm of Shen. Yet opportunities to witness Golden Core experts fighting were rare. Now that two Core Formation experts were engaged in battle, it was likewise worth watching for many cultivators of the same level.

“Shangyi, it looks like Cunzong is no match for him,” Wang Changsheng said, watching the two fighting overhead with a solemn expression.

Although Zhang Cunzong was quite strong, he was still only at the second level of the Core Formation stage. Compared with the Wei family’s Ninth Elder, he was two levels weaker and had been suppressed from the start.

“Don’t worry,” Chen Shangyi said with a smile. “Cunzong is quite capable. Even if he’s not the Ninth Elder’s match, he can protect himself without issue. They’re still testing each other; neither has gotten serious yet.”

Wang Changsheng nodded. Only after hearing Chen Shangyi’s words did he relax.

“Hahaha... So satisfying!”

From high in the air came Zhang Cunzong’s roaring laughter. At this moment, a chilling aura radiated from his entire body, an aura that made many of the cultivators present feel deeply uncomfortable.

“Who is he? Why is his aura so icy?”

“That aura... I feel like I’ve heard of it somewhere before...”

“The Corpse Refining Sect, it’s someone from the Corpse Refining Sect!”

...

Once Zhang Cunzong’s aura was fully exposed in public, it immediately drew everyone’s attention, and many had already guessed his origin.

“Is the Corpse Refining Sect going to emerge into the world again?”

“No way... wasn’t the Corpse Refining Sect already sealed away?”

“Sealed away? I thought the Corpse Refining Sect had already been driven out of the Heavenly Realm of Shen!”

...

The murmurs of the crowd did not disturb Zhang Cunzong and the Ninth Elder. Standing in midair, the two stared at each other with grave expressions.

Boom!

A powerful surge of might erupted from the Ninth Elder’s body. This aura was not unfamiliar to the Corpse Refining Sect’s people.

Back in Inkstone City, the Golden Core expert Zhong Shan had unleashed a similar aura.

“It’s the Wei family’s War God secret art,” Chen Shangyi said in a deep voice.

Sure enough, Wang Changsheng saw a dark red battle armor slowly manifest on the Ninth Elder’s body, the armor covered in engraved talismans. Its aura was even denser than the dark red battle armor Zhong Shan had worn back then.

Roar!

Zhang Cunzong also let out a howl. Immediately after, a coffin appeared beside him!

“The Corpse Refining Sect, it truly is the Corpse Refining Sect! I never expected that after nearly a thousand years, they would rise again!”

At first, many cultivators had only suspected Zhang Cunzong’s identity. But with the appearance of the coffin, everyone became certain at once: Zhang Cunzong was indeed a cultivator of the Corpse Refining Sect. A coffin as a signature magical implement was simply too distinctive.