Chapter 323: 君千殇

As Wang Changsheng returned to the inn, he saw Wang Changfeng approaching him. Wang Changfeng’s brow was furrowed, as if something was weighing on his mind.

“Ninth Brother, I have something to discuss with you.”

Wang Changsheng invited Wang Changfeng into his room and brewed him a pot of spirit tea.

“Ninth Brother, it’s been almost a year, and Twenty-first Uncle still hasn’t come out of seclusion. We don’t know when he will. I think we should join Daoist Zhao and the others to hunt demonic beasts. Daoist Zhao and his companions seem like good people. If we keep waiting, who knows when Twenty-first Uncle will emerge? In ten years? Or eight? If we don’t return for such a long time, and something happens within the clan, Ninth Sister-in-law might not be able to handle it.”

Wang Changfeng’s words were driven by both public duty and personal concern.

He felt as if days were years. He was still stuck at Foundation Establishment Stage Three in his cultivation and unable to hunt demonic beasts. Over the past six months or so, Wang Changfeng had interacted with Zhao Wuji and his group multiple times. Zhao Wuji had invited him to hunt demonic beasts repeatedly. Wang Changfeng had declined again and again, but he could no longer refuse. He had a good impression of Zhao Wuji and the others.

They had been away for over three years. Their family must be worried sick, and they couldn’t stay in Taiyuan City indefinitely.

Wang Changsheng thought for a moment and asked, “Elder Brother, have you been in touch with Daoist Zhao recently?”

“I just had tea and a chat with them. Daoist Zhao is also losing patience. He asked me to consider it and give him a clear answer tomorrow. He’s invited us several times already; we should give him a definite answer one way or another. Frankly, as a disciple of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, his repeated invitations show great sincerity.”

“Alright! We’ve indeed delayed for quite a while in Taiyuan City. Let’s go with them then!”

Wang Changsheng felt that Wang Changfeng made a good point. Zhao Wuji and his group were indeed very sincere. Most importantly, he couldn’t stay in Taiyuan City indefinitely. If anything unexpected happened within the clan, Wang Ruyan might not be able to handle it alone.

The next morning, as soon as dawn broke, the streets were already bustling with people.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng appeared at the door of a private room on the third floor of Ruyi Tower. Wang Changfeng gently knocked on the door.

“Daoist Zhao, Wang here to keep our appointment.”

Soon, the door opened, and Xiao Tianzheng, smiling, invited them inside.

Inside the room, besides Zhao Wuji and his two companions, there was also a scholar dressed in white.

“Oh, it’s him.”

Wang Changsheng was a little surprised to see the scholar in white.

“Daoist Wang, let me introduce you. This is Daoist Jun Qianshang from Chongyang Academy.”

Zhao Wuji introduced, pointing to the scholar in white.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng dared not be negligent and successively reported their names.

“Daoist Wang, what a coincidence! I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Jun Qianshang said with a gentle smile.

Zhao Wuji was a bit surprised and asked curiously, “Daoist Wang, do you know Daoist Jun?”

“We just met yesterday. We weren’t acquainted before, but we are now.”

Jun Qianshang chatted with them for a while, then looked at the sky, stood up, and said with a smile:

“Fellow Daoists, I have urgent matters to attend to. Let’s talk again next time.”

“Daoist Jun, please take care. I’ll see you out.”

Zhao Wuji and his two companions quickly stood up to see him off. Their faces were beaming with smiles, clearly showing their deference.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng exchanged glances. Although Jun Qianshang’s cultivation was high, Zhao Wuji and his companions were, after all, disciples of the Taiyi Immortal Sect. For them to be so obsequious towards Jun Qianshang suggested that Jun Qianshang’s identity was certainly not ordinary.

Chongyang Academy was one of the Seven Great Immortal Sects, with strength comparable to the Taiyi Immortal Sect.

After seeing Jun Qianshang off, Zhao Wuji and his two companions returned to their seats.

Wang Changfeng’s face broke into a smile. “Daoist Zhao,” he said, “my Ninth Brother and I have discussed it, and we are willing to join you. When do you plan to enter the mountains to hunt demonic beasts?”

Hearing this, joy appeared on the faces of Zhao Wuji and his two companions.

“Excellent! We recently discovered the nest of a top-grade, second-tier Four-winged Flying Scorpion. With the two of you joining us, our chances of success have increased. How about we depart the day after tomorrow?”

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng exchanged glances and nodded to each other.

“No problem. By the way, Daoist Zhao, why didn’t you invite Daoist Jun to join us? His strength is far greater than ours.”

Wang Changsheng asked, curious.

Zhao Wuji gave a wry smile and said, “I couldn’t possibly invite Daoist Jun. Daoist Jun is one of the Seven Sons of Chongyang, and his master is the Azure Mountain Recluse, a Nascent Soul cultivator. He doesn’t lack cultivation resources, so there’s no need for him to put himself at risk.”

“Indeed! The last time we met Daoist Jun was over a decade ago. Back then, he was only at Foundation Establishment Stage Six. Now, he’s already at Foundation Establishment Stage Nine. I reckon by the next time we meet, he’ll have already entered the Core Formation stage.”

Xiao Tianzheng said with an envious tone.

“The Seven Sons of Chongyang? Is that a title?”

Wang Changfeng was greatly puzzled.

The Wang family was merely a small clan. Knowing the location of the Taiyi Immortal Sect was already quite remarkable for them.

“The Seven Sons of Chongyang is a title, an honor. Disciples of Chongyang Academy who earn this title receive extensive cultivation support from the academy. It’s hard to say how far they’ll go, but reaching Core Formation is a certainty. Daoist Jun’s aptitude is definitely extraordinary. He’s not yet thirty and is already at Foundation Establishment Stage Nine. Reaching Core Formation before he’s a hundred years old will be absolutely no problem.”

Zhao Wuji explained slowly, his words filled with envy.

Chen Yuhan smiled faintly, somewhat dismissively, and said, “Chongyang Academy has its Seven Sons, and our Taiyi Immortal Sect has its Five Prodigies. The Five Prodigies of Taiyi are formidable in their own right. Senior Uncle Meng Tianzheng, for instance, reached Core Formation before he was forty, ranking first among the Five Prodigies of Taiyi. Senior Uncle Meng’s future achievements will certainly be no less than Daoist Jun’s.”

“Core Formation before forty?”

Wang Changsheng was secretly astonished and felt extremely envious. He was already over forty, yet still in the Foundation Establishment stage.

“Neither Senior Uncle Meng nor Daoist Jun is someone we can compare to. Let’s discuss the details of hunting demonic beasts two days from now. The Taiyi Mountain Range is rich in demonic beast resources. Although the sect regularly sends people to patrol, sometimes they miss things, and it’s not impossible for third-tier demonic beasts to appear. Additionally, some gregarious demonic birds and insects can be quite troublesome, especially bloodsucking mosquitoes. If we encounter tens of thousands of bloodsucking mosquitoes, it would be difficult for us to escape safely.”

The five continued to eat and chat, discussing the upcoming demonic beast hunt.

The meal lasted over an hour. Zhao Wuji and his two companions introduced Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng to some of the stronger demonic beasts, birds, and insects, as well as several precautions. Having hunted demonic beasts for many years, their experience in this area far surpassed that of Wang Changsheng and his brother.

From this, it was clear that Zhao Wuji was genuinely sincere.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng humbly asked several questions, which Zhao Wuji and his two companions answered one by one.

After leaving Ruyi Tower, they each returned to their respective residences.

Early the day after tomorrow, Wang Changsheng and the other four met at the entrance of Ruyi Tower. After leaving the market, Zhao Wuji released a colossal green crane, which carried the five of them deep into the mountain range.