Corpse Burier: I Can Nourish Corpse

"Don’t worry about them, and there’s no need to respond. Whether to provide shelter or not, I’ll decide in half a month."

Wen Jiu replied.

Lu Feng nodded.

Although puzzled as to why it would take half a month, he instinctively trusted this whole ordeal was justified because of the East Spring Undying Bone, so he didn’t ask for the reasoning. However, upon leaving Fog Valley and seeing Lin Hai waiting anxiously outside, a tinge of sigh and sentiment filled his heart.

Once upon a time, Lin Hai was high and mighty, holding the life and death of countless cultivators in his hands. But now he could only wait at Fog Valley, hoping for the nod of the Corpse Ancestor. If the Corpse Ancestor shook his head, his fate would be eternal damnation.

Moreover, the fate of the entire Qi Guang Sect rests in the Corpse Ancestor’s hands. What Lu Feng once dreamed of achieving under the banner of Qi Guang Sect, the Corpse Ancestor had realized for him.

Now.

The Qi Guang Sect must look to them for survival.

"Fellow Daoist Lu Feng, what did the Corpse Ancestor say?" Lin Hai asked nervously, knowing why Lu Feng had come.

Lu Feng looked down at Lin Hai, "The Corpse Ancestor said nothing, and there’s nothing you need to ask."

"That’s good then."

Lin Hai breathed a sigh of relief.

What was said didn’t really matter.

As long as he wasn’t driven away, that was the best outcome.

...

After a few more days.

Longteng Liyi, having received no response, grew increasingly irritated and called the present Great Elder of the Longteng Family, Longteng Wuxing, to issue an order, "By my command, from today onward, any force can challenge the Qi Guang Sect. Whatever they gain, they can keep for themselves without tribute. Since Lin Hai wants to cling to the lifeline of the Lu Family’s Corpse Ancestor, I’ll send Qi Guang Sect down a doomed path first... I want to see what decision your Lu Family Corpse Ancestor will make."

"Ancestor, isn’t it a bit of a loss to give Qi Guang Sect’s territory to others? Perhaps I should personally go to East Pole Immortal City and ask that old guy Lu Feng what he intends to do?"

Longteng Wuxing quickly suggested.

The territory of Qi Guang Sect boasts abundant spirit veins, spirit ores, grotto heaven blessed lands, and so forth. Even without taking it all, if the Longteng Family could secure more than seventy percent, it would allow them to rise much higher.

In less than a hundred years.

No.

In less than fifty years.

The resources from Qi Guang Sect’s land could allow the Longteng Family to cultivate more Golden Cores and Foundation Establishments. By then, the Longteng Family’s ambitions could extend to the entire West Mountain Floating Domain.

But if they shared with those subordinate forces, and without requiring tribute, who knows how many resources will remain?

"Saying is one thing, doing is another." Longteng Liyi spoke calmly, "I’m using this method to pressure Lin Hai and the Lu Family. I want to see what promise Lin Hai made to the Lu Family Corpse Ancestor. The tighter we squeeze, the more anxious Lin Hai and the Lu Family will become... The foundation of Qi Guang Sect, built over two to three thousand years, surely holds more than we’ve seen."

"Ancestor, you are indeed wise!"

Longteng Wuxing suddenly understood.

Longteng Liyi continued, "Longteng Qianyue has a stable foundation there, with arrangements laid for over a hundred years. Have him keep an eye on Cold Pool Mist Valley, and if there’s any anomaly, report to me immediately."

"Yes!"

Longteng Wuxing nodded.

...

The next day.

"Master, Longteng Liyi not only opposes Qi Guang Sect but also sent me to monitor you. He suspects Lin Hai promised you something extraordinary." Longteng Qianyue quietly transmitted to East Spring Undying Bone.

Wen Jiu was indifferent, "Then keep watching, and report anything you see directly to him."

"Yes!"

Longteng Qianyue responded decisively.

Though he didn’t know what the master intended, his loyalty was absolute.

That old bastard Longteng Liyi will eventually die at the master’s hands!

Not long after cutting off the transmission, Lin Hai, who was originally expected to take ten days, suddenly rushed toward Fog Valley on the seventh day, his aura somewhat weak. Clearly, the Longteng Family’s sudden all-out assault placed immense pressure on him.

Facing the Longteng Family one-on-one, he could manage. But against a pack of wolves, they were hopelessly outmatched.

"Corpse Ancestor, the location of the Spiritless Death Secret Realm Cave Heaven has been found." Lin Hai said anxiously.

"Let’s go!"

Wen Jiu, filled with anticipation, was ready to depart immediately.

But Lin Hai didn’t immediately move. "Corpse Ancestor, there are certainly Longteng Family spies watching around Cold Pool Mist Valley. If we act rashly, Longteng Liyi will surely receive news right away."

"If he likes to follow, let him follow, I just fear he doesn’t dare to." Wen Jiu responded indifferently, controlling East Spring Undying Bone to seize Lin Hai and escape from Cold Pool Mist Valley, notifying Lu Feng to guard outside.

Lin Hai didn’t have time to say another word before leaving Cold Pool Valley. He wanted to say more, but considering the Lu Family Corpse Ancestor’s fearlessness, he wondered why he should be afraid. To be safe, Lin Hai still spoke, "Corpse Ancestor, please forgive my impudence, but before we go, you still need..."

"Heart Demon Oath, is it?" Wen Jiu didn’t care, controlling East Spring Undying Bone to swear a Heart Demon Oath. "I am a man of my word, even without swearing a Heart Demon Oath, I would still keep my promises. But let me remind you, if that place fails to satisfy me, and if Longteng Liyi truly comes chasing, you’ll have to escape on your own."

"Understood."

Lin Hai nodded.

He then immediately cast a spell, his previously closed eyes suddenly seeing a direction upon uttering the last word of the spell, transforming swiftly into a startled swan, flying swiftly in that direction.

East Spring Undying Bone followed closely.

"You guide the way."

Wen Jiu controlled East Spring Undying Bone to catch up and envelop Lin Hai in corpse energy, speeding up their flight.

Traveling ten thousand miles south, Lin Hai showed no sign of stopping. But after flying thirty thousand miles, Lin Hai’s expression suddenly changed to one of disbelief.

"What’s wrong?"

Wen Jiu noticed the anomaly and asked quickly.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Lin Hai spoke, "This direction leads to Qi Guang Sect’s territory."

"Already occupied by the Longtan Family?" Wen Jiu inquired.

Lin Hai shook his head, "No, but the direction points to our current place of retreat. It shouldn’t be right; if it was within the retreat, why didn’t the ancestor just tell me upfront?"

"What do you mean?"

Wen Jiu frowned.

"To not lie to the Corpse Ancestor, the ancestor did say, nobody below the late stage of Golden Core should ever approach the Spiritless Death Secret Realm Cave Heaven. But that retreat spot was the place left by the ancestor before his passing, designated as a refuge for Qi Guang Sect, with instructions not to enter unless it’s a matter of life and death for the sect." Lin Hai responded.

Wen Jiu asked further, "You’re hiding there now?"

"Yes, and that Grotto Heaven Blessed Land can rapidly heal the injuries of Golden Core cultivators, with Divine Soul and non-Golden Core wounds recoverable in a short time. That’s why I let them hide inside upon my departure. This move renders Qi Guang Sect’s disciples powerless against Golden Core, but it preserves the Dao lineage of Qi Guang Sect. I had no other choice."

Lin Hai spoke helplessly.

Then his words returned to the earlier curiosity, "Why did the ancestor warn against those below the Heterodox Golden Core or Late Stage never approaching the Spiritless Death Secret Realm Cave Heaven, yet arrange our sanctuary in the same location?"

Wen Jiu didn’t respond, but a hint of doubt arose, and with this doubt, he controlled East Spring Undying Bone to carry Lin Hai closer. After flying another ten thousand miles, a vast and clear lake appeared on the horizon, prompting Lin Hai to frown and stop.

"Senior, it’s beneath the lake."

Wen Jiu asked, "Your refuge, or the Spiritless Death Secret Realm Cave Heaven?"

"Both are down there."

Lin Hai slowly descended and dove headfirst into the lake, constantly descending deeper beneath the waters. After divining mid-level again, Wen Jiu immediately had East Spring Undying Bone follow.

The lake was not more than a hundred zhang deep, yet after Lin Hai entered it, an hour or two passed without reaching the bottom.

Wen Jiu had long noticed this abnormality, for there was an unusual spatial area at the lake’s base, similar to the mountain pavilion picture scroll of Nangong Huan. But unlike the notable characteristics of the mountain pavilion picture scroll, this area beneath the lake was merely an abnormal space undetected by Golden Core Divine Sense.

It was after another half-day’s descent that the view suddenly opened up, and a verdant scene with extremely rich Spiritual Qi surged forth. However, to Wen Jiu, these energies weren’t particularly comfortable; he still preferred the cold, damp, sickening Yin Evil Qi that repulsed normal cultivators.

Yet as Wen Jiu surveyed the surroundings, several Golden Core cultivators suddenly flew over.

Among them were two familiar voices.

The first was Red Fire Zhenren, whom Wen Jiu had arranged for the Lu Family to give the Qi Family’s territory to.

The second person’s presence indeed surprised Wen Jiu.