Chapter 98 Calm Down a Little

Wang Changsheng was not entirely sure of his own strength or cultivation level. All he knew for certain was that his absolute power and cultivation definitely surpassed the level known as Pulse Opening, yet he had not yet achieved the transformation of true energy, so he certainly had not reached the Elemental Transformation stage.

Though unsure of his own cultivation, Wang Changsheng was confident he could easily defeat someone at the ninth layer of Pulse Opening—let alone this opponent, who was only at the eighth.

“It’s not that he refuses to use the War God Secret Technique; he simply can’t!” At this moment, Chen Shangyi spoke with disdain. “The Wei family’s War God Secret Technique is indeed formidable—few in the same realm can rival it. Even disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect would find it a headache to face. However, their secret technique can only be cultivated after breaking into the Elemental Transformation stage!” Chen Shangyi smiled and continued, “This person is still at the Pulse Opening stage; he is neither worthy nor capable of cultivating the War God Secret Technique.”

The Wei family cultivator at the eighth layer showed no embarrassment at Chen Shangyi’s blunt words, for what he said was common knowledge among those of the Divine Realm. Only someone like Wang Changsheng would be unaware!

“What a pity,” Wang Changsheng said regretfully.

He guessed the War God Secret Technique was similar to the Wild Wave Blade Art he practiced, both requiring true essence as a foundation. Only, Fang Qing was an odd genius—he had somehow devised a method to practice it even without true essence.

“Come then, let me see what you’re capable of!” Wang Changsheng said in a low voice.

He stretched out his right hand, signaling the Wei family cultivator to make the first move.

“Unleash your magical weapon!” the Wei family cultivator said in a cold voice. “I fear you won’t even withstand a single blow!”

Wang Changsheng was silent.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to use a magical weapon—he simply didn’t have one. The only blade technique he knew was useless without a suitable long blade.

“It’s fine. I don’t need a magical weapon,” Wang Changsheng replied softly.

“Hah!”

The Wei family cultivator barked, “You look down on my Wei family!”

With that, he charged straight at Wang Changsheng.

He was much faster than Wei Ning—several times faster, in fact—proving that not all the Wei family’s youths were useless drunkards.

But to Wang Changsheng, this speed was still insufficient, as his own cultivation and realm were higher.

Smack!

Just as the Wei family cultivator reached him, Wang Changsheng struck out with a fierce slap. A crisp sound rang out, and the cultivator was sent flying backward.

The entire place fell into silence; one could hear a pin drop.

Boom...

The Wei family cultivator was slammed into the ground. All the Wei family disciples present stared in disbelief.

They all knew Wang Changsheng was at the ninth layer of Pulse Opening, and the challenger was at the eighth. The outcome was expected, but no one anticipated Wang Changsheng to be so ferocious. He looked like a man half in his grave, yet with a single slap, he sent the Wei family’s eighth-layer cultivator flying, carving a deep rut into the earth.

Wang Changsheng shook his tingling right hand and said, “Quite resilient. My hand’s gone numb!”

In less than a breath, the Wei family disciple was defeated!

“Brilliant!” Zhang Cunzong exclaimed in admiration.

The Corpse Refining Sect disciples only knew Wang Changsheng’s cultivation; they were unaware of his true strength, since he had only fought once before—when he sent Wei Ning flying.

Yet Wei Ning was only at the sixth layer of Pulse Opening, several levels below Wang Changsheng. None expected him to deal with an eighth-layer opponent so easily.

“Too slow. At this speed, you’ll need a few more years of training!” Wang Changsheng looked at the stunned Wei family disciples with disdain. “Anyone else wishing for some guidance, step forward—I won’t turn away any challengers within the Pulse Opening realm!”

The Wei family disciples came to their senses, their expressions grave as they regarded Wang Changsheng.

Many realized they had underestimated him. Even the Wei family’s elders now recognized their error.

Their original plan was to suppress Wang Changsheng and cause trouble for the Corpse Refining Sect, but instead, they were the ones being taught a lesson.

Some Wei family cultivators at the Elemental Transformation stage felt their true essence stirring, but none acted. After all, Wang Changsheng was only at the ninth layer of Pulse Opening. If those above that realm intervened, it might provoke Chen Shangyi and the others, possibly leading to a larger conflict—something the Wei family dared not risk.

Immediately, a Corpse Refining Sect disciple stepped forward to help up the one Wang Changsheng had struck down.

Cough!

The defeated Wei family disciple spat blood, looking at Wang Changsheng with resentment. “I was careless just now. Again!”

“You’re not up to it. Let someone else try,” Wang Changsheng said scornfully. “I’ve already given you guidance. Better let your brothers have a chance.”

He turned his gaze to the crowd of Wei family disciples.

“Come on, if you want instruction, step forward! Don’t dawdle!” Wang Changsheng said impatiently.

“I’ll go!”

Another Wei family disciple stepped out, his aura powerful, a long spear in hand, his expression dark as he faced Wang Changsheng.

“No!” Chen Shangyi immediately protested. “Steward Wang, this man has already set one foot into the Elemental Transformation realm—he can’t be considered part of the Pulse Opening stage!”

“Oh?” Wang Changsheng narrowed his eyes at the man, understanding now why he felt threatened.

“One foot into Elemental Transformation…” Wang Changsheng studied him carefully.

“Do you dare, or not? Speak!” The half-step Elemental Transformation cultivator said coldly. “Yes, I’m on the verge of breaking through, but I haven’t truly succeeded—why shouldn’t I be counted among the Pulse Opening cultivators?”

“Steward Wang!” Chen Shangyi tried to stop him again.

“Fine, let’s say you’re still Pulse Opening,” Wang Changsheng replied in a grave voice.

“Take this!”

The Wei family disciple, seeing Wang Changsheng agree, gave him no chance to regret it. Spear spinning, he thrust straight at Wang Changsheng.

The spear gleamed with a fierce light. Wang Changsheng continuously retreated, not daring to confront it head-on.

Indeed, this opponent was formidable. Every motion, every thrust, pressed Wang Changsheng hard, gradually forcing him into a shrinking circle with less and less room to evade.

“Impressive,” Wang Changsheng muttered.

For now, he could only dodge, unable to counterattack. Any attempt would mean clashing directly with the spear.

“Without a magical weapon, I’m at a disadvantage,” he thought.

As the saying goes, an extra inch in length is an extra advantage. Magical weapons were sharp to begin with; in the hands of a cultivator, they became even more fearsome. Under the spear’s pressure, Wang Changsheng could only evade, not retaliate.

Bang!

Seizing a chance as the spear thrust forward, Wang Changsheng leapt backward, his right foot kicking the weapon with a dull thud.

The tremendous force knocked the spear upward. Wang Changsheng twisted aside, and the spear grazed his chest.

Rip!

A trail of blood marked his chest as he pushed away with the recoil, narrowly escaping further harm.

“Steward Wang!”

“Steward Wang, are you all right?”

“Steward Wang, shall I finish him off for you?!”

...

Seeing the blood on Wang Changsheng’s chest, the Corpse Refining Sect disciples showed their fierceness, especially Zhang Cunzong, who even offered to kill the Wei family cultivator on the spot.

Wang Changsheng was both exasperated and amused.

He was amused by their genuine concern—he could feel the warmth and care in their expressions. Yet he was annoyed that these disciples acted more like bandits, always eager to kill at the slightest provocation. Zhang Cunzong was the most enthusiastic; if he wasn’t careful, he’d brandish his coffin-shaped magical weapon and threaten to bury people alive.

“Cunzong, could you calm down a bit?” Wang Changsheng said helplessly.

“What’s there to calm down about?” Zhang Cunzong barked. “Why bother with such nonsense? If you can’t win, call the brothers. If the brothers can’t win, call the elders. If the elders can’t win, call the sect master! What’s there to be afraid of?”

Wang Changsheng was speechless.

Zhang Cunzong’s words made many of the Wei family disciples present visibly uneasy.

This gathering of Wei family disciples had indeed been encouraged by their superiors, but they had been instructed only to cause a disturbance, not to start a war with the Corpse Refining Sect.

If war truly broke out, the Wei family’s strength would not last even a single round against the Corpse Refining Sect.

“Steward Wang, this is just a little sparring, surely we don’t need to go that far?” The half-step Elemental Transformation cultivator said in a low voice. “Or is it that you can’t accept defeat?”

“Defeat?” Wang Changsheng shook his head. “I’ve never been defeated!”

He turned to Chen Shangyi and asked, “Shangyi, do you have a long blade or something similar I could borrow?”

Facing a half-step Elemental Transformation cultivator empty-handed, Wang Changsheng felt it was indeed difficult. But without a suitable weapon, he had no choice but to ask Chen Shangyi for one.