Chapter Ninety-One: Wu Wanren Arrives

The divine arrow! It is actually a divine arrow!

The old steward let out a piercing cry, and even Mo Sitong, who had just returned from the alchemy chamber, was shaken by those two cries.

"This is a divine artifact that can serve as a life-bound treasure. It is a pity there is no Heavenly Mystery Bone Bow to wield it. Still, with the master’s boundless fortune, I believe it will eventually be obtained." Holding a piece of white silk, the old steward carefully wiped a pure-flame fire arrow again and again.

Liu Junhuai said, "I tried to refine it. The spiritual will seal on it is extremely powerful; it will probably take quite some time before these three can be fully refined."

The old steward replied, "Breaking a seal requires enough patience. There is no need to rush. Bows and crossbows that match it are exceedingly rare; it would be more practical to gather the materials and forge one yourself. Master should pay attention to collecting the raw materials in the future."

After carefully considering the methods for forging bows and crossbows, Liu Junhuai said, "The materials for the bow are not hard to gather. It is only the bowstring that is hardest to find. Let us speak of it later. Being too eager often leads to failure. If I remain calm, perhaps fortune will bring that day by chance."

The old steward nodded. "Yes, master’s steady bearing is truly admirable. This old servant will await that day by chance. Well then, has this recent refinement of essence blood been of help to the Ninefold Transformation technique?"

At that, an uncontrollable look of excitement appeared on Liu Junhuai’s face. "If I were to speak of the help it gave, it would be enormous. Refining it widened the storage of true essence within my body. Not only did the overall power of the first transformation, Shattering Blade, and the second transformation, Condensing One, increase greatly, I also quickly comprehended the third transformation, Breaking Heaven. This third transformation turns visible attack into the invisible, and the point of force shifts from external crushing to internal eruption. Its power has increased by more than tenfold. The strength of this single drop of essence blood was far beyond all expectation. By the way, Steward, how can we determine the cultivation level of the owner of this drop of essence blood?"

The old steward said, "Mountains and rivers, as clear as lines in the palm of one’s hand; this is the concrete manifestation of Heavenly Eye Perception. Since even you cannot discern the true strength of this person, it can only mean that either his cultivation is far above yours, or your Heavenly Eye Perception is still too weak. None of that matters. Though we do not know why he left behind this drop of essence blood, there must be deep meaning in it. Now that his essence blood exists within your body, I believe there will come a day when you understand him."

Mo Sitong interjected, "Junhuai, do not concern yourself with the ins and outs of this matter. As long as you have gained something from it and there are no harmful consequences, why care about such empty speculation? What you need now is strength. Anything that helps you grow stronger is what you need most."

While the three were talking, Liu Junhuai felt the communication jade talisman tremble repeatedly. This time it was Wu Wanren who had arrived. Liu Junhuai hastily took his leave of the old steward and departed with Mo Sitong.

The two went to the great courtyard at the foot of the mountain in the Cloud-Rising Valley, where they met Wu Wanren.

The moment Wu Wanren saw the cultivation levels of Liu Junhuai and the others, he was struck speechless, repeatedly exclaiming in disbelief.

After a brief introduction, the three entered the residence in Cloud-Rising Valley.

"Uncle Wu, why did you come so soon? Weren’t you told not to come? Did anything happen in the Sky Mechanism Sect after I left? Has Yun Jizi not troubled you again?" Worry made Liu Junhuai blurt out a string of questions at once, which amused both of them.

Wu Wanren said, "I am fine. My junior uncle, however, has become suspicious. But that is not important. What matters is that Uncle Wu is worried about your trip to the Shen family. Seeing that you are already at the Golden Core stage has relieved me quite a bit."

Liu Junhuai said, "Uncle Wu, I will not waste words on courtesy. What I most want to know is your plan for the future. When will you return to the Sky Mechanism Sect? The cultivation environment here is far superior to that sect’s. If Uncle Wu stayed here to cultivate, your improvement would be very rapid. It is only that this place is extremely secluded, and if word got out it would bring great trouble."

Wu Wanren said, "Junhuai, it is enough that you have this heart. Uncle Wu understands very well. I cannot sever my ties with the Sky Mechanism Sect for the time being. When I find the chance, I will come to you again. This time, for your return to the Shen family, I have helped you select a few assistants. There is still a little over a month. We will meet in Pingdu City then!"

Liu Junhuai looked at Wu Wanren with gratitude, a trace of bitterness rising between his brows. "There is truly no need, Uncle Wu! I already have enough people here. I have two at the Nascent Soul stage, four or five at the Golden Core stage, and several at the Foundation Establishment stage as well. In truth, I do not want to use anyone at all. I only want to rely on my own strength to avenge my parents!"

Mo Sitong smiled from the side and said, "Uncle Wu, you need not worry. My mother is the palace master of the Severed Dust Palace. She said that if Junhuai needed it, she could move the whole sect over. But since Junhuai has no intention of asking for help, I also think there is no need. Junhuai and I together are more than enough to deal with the Shen family."

Seeing the astonished look on Wu Wanren’s face, Liu Junhuai could not help inwardly laughing. Who would have imagined that someone struggling alone in the cultivation world would possess such rich connections and such abundant cultivation resources? A twelve-year-old child, once left orphaned and cast out by his family, had now grown into a power capable of standing on its own in the cultivation world.

Wu Wanren said, "Since Junhuai, you have your own plans, I will not say more. But on the day you go to the Shen family, I will certainly go too, even if only to lend support from the sidelines. Let me first tell you about the general changes in the Shen family’s arrangements. Shen Ao, the head of the Shen family, has a younger brother, Shen Jin, who has sent a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator from Snow City in the Dream Marsh Kingdom. The Surging Phoenix Palace will also dispatch several Foundation Establishment stage cultivators to station themselves in the Shen family. And Cheng Kelai, Shen Bingwen’s master, is also very likely to appear. Add to that the Shen family’s Foundation Establishment stage guest elder in the middle phase. Before coming here I also made a trip to Pingdu City. The Surging Phoenix Palace will send one Golden Core stage cultivator to assist. This is probably because someone revealed your cultivation level when you appeared at the Sky Mechanism Sect last time."

Liu Junhuai laughed. "Heh, the Shen family has certainly gone to great lengths; they even brought out a Golden Core stage cultivator. The Surging Phoenix Palace is the Shen family’s greatest reliance. If they still refuse to repent by then, I, Liu Junhuai, will not mind erasing that sect."

Mo Sitong said bitterly, "That detestable Surging Phoenix Palace! Junhuai, you must destroy it! To avenge his family alone, Junhuai, the Shen family has actually drawn in so much outside aid. It is shameless to the extreme."

Wu Wanren said, "In Pingdu City, one of my own people heard a rumor. It is said that Cheng Kelai also contacted an elder of the Sea God Hall at the late Foundation Establishment stage. If the消息 is accurate, there may be at least two more cultivators in the middle to late Foundation Establishment stage. In addition, the person I entrusted said that the Sky Mechanism Sect may also take part. However, I think that is unlikely, because I have not heard any such rumors in the Sky Mechanism Sect, and there is no real association between the Sky Mechanism Sect and the Surging Phoenix Palace or the Sea God Hall."

Liu Junhuai pondered for a while before saying, "I think that is possible, and the possibility is extremely high. Uncle Wu, I originally did not plan to tell you about this now. The matters involved are simply too large. But since you are in the Sky Mechanism Sect, and I will certainly shed blood on the Shen family this time, if the Sky Mechanism Sect truly takes part, then I will inevitably become hostile with the sect as well. To avoid dragging you down in the Sky Mechanism Sect, I must tell you these secrets so that you will have something to say within the sect."

Liu Junhuai paused, organizing his thoughts, then continued, "Uncle Wu, do you still remember the tragedy at Dragon-Sacrificing Pool? There were seven survivors. According to my information, Cheng Kelai was one of them."

Wu Wanren said in confusion, "Didn’t they say all seven survivors were low-ranking cultivators? Besides, even if Cheng Kelai was one of the survivors, what relation does that have to the Sky Mechanism Sect?"

Liu Junhuai said, "That begins with Dragon-Sacrificing Pool. I was there at the time. I hid behind the waterfall and saw the third elder of the Sea God Hall, who appeared at the scene together with Ye Qili and the others from the Sea God Hall. After the incident, that Ye Qili was one of the seven survivors, but the casualties did not include the third elder. Uncle Wu, do you remember that after I left the Sky Mechanism Sect, I went to Green Cloud Valley? On that very day, I saw this third elder again, and he flatly denied ever having been to Dragon-Sacrificing Pool. I greatly suspect that he was a participant in the Dragon-Sacrificing Pool massacre! He is very likely the spy among those black-robed men in Phoenix Ridge Kingdom."

"Wait, Junhuai, the more I hear, the more confused I become. How did black-robed men enter this now?" Wu Wanren pressed.

Liu Junhuai smiled apologetically. "It is all my fault for trying too hard to explain clearly. I forgot about the Cloud-Rising Valley affair. Uncle Wu, have you heard of the strange case involving the Shangyu Chamber of Commerce in Cloud-Rising Valley?"

Wu Wanren nodded. "I know a little. What, does that also have something to do with Dragon-Sacrificing Pool?"

Liu Junhuai, quite helplessly, recounted what he had seen and heard concerning the Shangyu Chamber of Commerce. He knew that unless he explained the whole chain of events, no one would believe his reasoning.

Mo Sitong was greatly startled upon hearing it, not because of the two cases, but because of how it seemed that every misfortune in the world had found its way to her man.

Wu Wanren gradually caught the thread of it. Though his heart was in turmoil, he knew the matter was of no small importance, so he did not interrupt Liu Junhuai, but listened closely.

Liu Junhuai returned again to the third elder: "This third elder is very likely of the same faction as Cheng Kelai of the Surging Phoenix Palace, because the same thing also happened to Cheng Kelai. Someone clearly saw that he had also been to Dragon-Sacrificing Pool, yet he denied it. Moreover, he was evasive about his movements that day, and still he was covertly discovered by someone. He must be familiar with the third elder of the Sea God Hall, so this time the Sea God Hall will certainly come to the Shen family."

Mo Sitong asked, "If the Sea God Hall is basically confirmed to be going to the Shen family, then what does that have to do with the Sky Mechanism Sect and those two?"

Liu Junhuai glanced at Mo Sitong and did not answer. Instead, he turned to Wu Wanren. "Uncle Wu, after the Dragon-Sacrificing Pool massacre, did the Sky Mechanism Sect take in a new male cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, named Ye Qili, or someone with the surname Ye?"

Wu Wanren lowered his head and thought for a while. "Yes, there was indeed a Qi Refinement cultivator surnamed Ye. At the time, I even wondered where Junior Uncle Yun had found such a high-level disciple, and it was obvious he was one who came with his own skills already formed."

Liu Junhuai’s face changed drastically as he asked repeatedly, "Junior Uncle Yun? Was it Yun Jizi? I remember that two days before the Dragon-Sacrificing Pool incident, you were with him. Do you remember whether he ever left you?"

Wu Wanren said almost without thinking, "Yes. Before the Dragon-Sacrificing Pool incident, Junior Uncle Yun left first. He said he had official business to handle in the Mojue Kingdom."

A strange light appeared in Liu Junhuai’s eyes, and a peculiar smile gradually formed at the corner of his mouth.