Corpse Burier: I Can Nourish Corpse

Gongyang Fu affirmed again.

"If what Fellow Daoist Gongyang wants to talk about is just this, and that’s all you can see, then I will take my leave."

With that, Wen Jiu was about to stand up.

He knew what Gongyang Fu intended to do, trying to undermine and belittle him, wanting him to lose confidence and be manipulated. Unfortunately, Wen Jiu had long anticipated Gongyang Fu’s actions, so he wouldn’t fall for it.

Moreover, he now understood what Gongyang Fu needed.

The initiative was lost the moment Gongyang Fu started probing about his East Spring Undying Bone, and especially when explaining the Medicinal Spirit Yin Pill.

He himself remained completely unfazed.

Gongyang Fu was a bit surprised but didn’t stop him, still wearing a confident light smile on his face, "Then, Fellow Daoist, take your time. If you reconsider, you can come back to find me, though my patience is running thin."

"Farewell."

Wen Jiu raised his hand to give a courtesy bow and left at his own pace.

Gongyang Fu watched Wen Jiu’s departing back and smiled faintly.

An impoverished Golden Core.

Still trying to preserve his laughable dignity.

What a pity.

If it weren’t for knowing He Family was in trouble, he might have given some face to this laughable dignity.

He couldn’t believe it.

After He Jiu contacts the He Family ancestor, he wouldn’t come knocking again.

...

After leaving Gongyang Fu’s residence, Wen Jiu headed straight home. Upon reaching the door, he encountered Gongyang Fu again, seemingly probing intentionally. Wen Jiu didn’t say much, only mentioning Gongyang Fu had asked if he was willing to work for him.

Wuxinming was full of surprise, "You’re lucky. If you could work for Gongyang Fu, who wouldn’t give your He Family some face in the future? If your family ancestor knew, he’d likely grin from ear to ear."

"I refused."

Wen Jiu simply replied and pushed the door to return home, leaving Wuxinming stunned, unable to react immediately.

When Wuxinming finally processed it, he remained silent for a long time before leaving with a helpless remark.

"This guy, rejecting such a great opportunity. Such a chance is something others couldn’t get even if they begged with gifts."

In the following days, Wen Jiu maintained his usual lifestyle, wandering around the city, going east and west to look around, with the Four Corpses and Five Ghosts each performing their duties. What he said to Wuxinming also spread within the Golden Core circle.

Wen Jiu did this intentionally.

It was also to show Gongyang Fu that he truly didn’t care.

As for why he was so confident, it was because Gongyang Fu sought him out proactively, and also because no one else in the entire West Mountain Floating Domain had cultivated a Corpse Cultivator with Tier Three East Spring Undying Bone. Lifeless Abyss might have some, but currently cooperating with the treacherous and insidious Abyss Corpse Cultivator could never compare to finding a clean-background Corpse Cultivator.

In this way, one or two months passed in the blink of an eye, and Wen Jiu went about his usual business, preparing to test Gongyang Fu’s patience. But during the wait, East Spring Undying Bone received a transmission from Lu Changyin.

The Domain Lord’s Mansion of the West Mountain Floating Domain intervened to mediate the war between Qi Guang Sect and Longteng Family, even signing a century-long non-aggression pact. For a time, everyone in the western West Mountain Floating Domain was shocked.

Although it was unclear how the Domain Lord’s Mansion persuaded Lin Yingyun Mountain, the ancestor of Qi Guang Sect, it was certain that once the war between the two families stopped, it would definitely be an unfavorable situation for the He Family.

Compared to this, Wen Jiu was more concerned about the reason the Domain Lord’s Mansion acted this way; mediating two major Golden Core influences was definitely not just out of goodwill, and it was most likely related to the Outer Path Hidden Demon Sect.

In Wen Jiu’s view, most likely the Outer Path Hidden Demon Sect had gained the upper hand, forcing the Domain Lord’s Mansion to act out of necessity.

Sure enough.

Half a month later, war reports came in stating that the Celestial River Guard army of Domain Lord’s Mansion and the Outer Path Hidden Demon Sect fought at the Traceless Mountain Range, ending in a temporary stalemate with a major defeat for the Celestial River Guard, due to the Outer Path Hidden Demon Sect releasing a large number of True Demons.

As a result, the connection between the Divine Fall Mountain Range and the West Mountain Floating Domain was severed. No wonder the Domain Lord’s Mansion would mediate the war between Qi Guang Sect and Longteng Family. Immediately after, the Domain Lord’s Mansion issued a notice requiring all Golden Core influences to send one to five Golden Core Cultivators to join the Spirit Suppressing Army and Celestial River Guard to participate in the war.

The Lu Family was required to send two early-stage Golden Core cultivators to participate, causing chaos within the Lu Family.

Because no one was willing to go.

Also because who knows if those participating would return from the war.

Lu Changyin also mentioned that most of the Lu Family Elders were inclined to send Lu Chan.

Some didn’t speak.

But it was also a tacit agreement.

The reason being Lu Chan used two portions of the Lu Family’s Core Formation resources and occupied two Tier Three Yin Veins, doing nothing cannot make up for the benefits taken. Moreover, during the war with the Qi Family, Lu Chan had no contributions.

Therefore, Lu Feng couldn’t say much; if he continued to favor Lu Chan, it would harm the hearts of the Lu Family’s Golden Core.

"Lu Chan definitely can’t be sent; Eight Directions Treasure Gathering Trading House needs him, and the Yin Veins also require her as a shield." Wen Jiu immediately manipulated East Spring Undying Bone to transmit to Lu Chan, ordering her to arrange a meeting with Lu Feng.

Since Lu Feng couldn’t make the request, he might as well control his soul and let him do it. Lu Feng hesitated because others were members of the Lu Family, but Wen Jiu didn’t care; if anyone persisted on their stance, there would be no choice but to act.

...

At the same time.

In Gongyang Fu’s residence, Gongyang Fu stood before the toad, asking the house steward, "Has He Jiu shown any sign of action?"

"Reporting to the master, there has been no movement; he seems to have been idly wandering around Donghua Immortal City for these days. When he’s not wandering in Donghua Immortal City, he’s at home reading, listening to music, and tinkering with his residence."

The old steward responded respectfully.

Later, he added, "Initially, I didn’t believe He Jiu could truly reject Master, but he’s already informed others about it; now everyone within the Golden Core circle knows about this matter. If it were merely for show, he shouldn’t have done this, right?"

Gongyang Fu nodded in contemplation, "Indeed. I initially thought he was just putting on a show, stubborn like a dead duck, but now it seems he has some foundation. Since that’s the case, I want to see what’s underpinning his confidence."

"Master, should I go invite him now?" The steward quickly suggested.

Gongyang Fu nodded.

But then immediately shook his head.

"Go after midnight."

...

At midnight.

Wen Jiu, engrossed in a book, heard a noise outside.

When the familiar voice sounded, Wen Jiu couldn’t help but smile, but he didn’t close his ancient book, instead holding it while going to open the door.

When the door opened.

The steward of Gongyang Fu’s residence couldn’t help but glance at the ancient book in Wen Jiu’s hand and took a couple more curious looks at him.

"Master He, my lord invites you."

Wen Jiu didn’t posture, but he didn’t immediately agree either, "Let me collect the brewed spirit tea first; otherwise, when I return, it’ll boil dry."

"Master He, reading books and brewing tea late at night, you indeed have a refined taste."

"Before forming my Golden Core, I didn’t dare to rest for a moment. It’s rare to have leisure time."

After speaking, Wen Jiu returned to the house and sat for a while before getting up, leaving with the steward of Gongyang Fu’s residence to return to the mansion. However, he was not directly taken to the back courtyard; he waited a bit before the steward led him into the back courtyard.

Clearly.

This was to report the previous incident.

After entering the courtyard, Gongyang Fu didn’t sit and wait in the ancient pavilion as he did last time, waiting for Wen Jiu to enter.

Instead, he actively came to the courtyard entrance to greet him.

"Master He, disturbing you late at night, my apologies, my apologies. I originally wanted to invite you to the mansion for a chat some time ago, but I was tied up with alchemy for too long and only now made time." Gongyang Fu smiled broadly, as if the previous events had never happened.

Wen Jiu was a bit surprised, even without giving him an easy way out, Gongyang Fu came down on his own.

He knows when to yield; he truly is remarkable.

It seems the matter he needs assistance with indeed requires someone irreplaceable.

"Fellow Daoist Gongyang is too polite. Actually, if it weren’t for you being busy with alchemy recently, I would have visited long ago." Wen Jiu replied, then exchanged glances with Gongyang Fu, sharing a knowing smile.

"I invited you here today to ask you two things. If you give me a satisfactory answer, we can be friends." Gongyang Fu was straightforward, as the previous shared smile had conveyed understanding.

Thus he was more eager to see what gave He Jiu his confidence and reliance.

"Please ask."

Wen Jiu answered calmly after taking his seat.

Gongyang Fu didn’t hesitate, "I’m wondering if your East Spring Undying Bone has achieved Tier Three? And if you practice the Dual Cultivation of Body and Technique as a Heterodox Golden Core?"

Both questions were very direct.

For other cultivators, this would definitely be their trump cards. Who would willingly reveal their trump cards?

But to Wen Jiu, neither of these things was significant, even a little exposure didn’t count.