Volume Two: Travels in the State of Qi Chapter 78: The Ancient Tomb of Ascension

All was finally settled. Zhang Heng and Wu Hong sat together in the Yun family’s courtyard, sipping tea and chatting, while Yun Xiaotian and his daughter, Yun Yanrou, stood respectfully at the side like servants.

In truth, neither Zhang Heng nor Wu Hong cared much for such worldly formalities, but Yun Xiaotian and Yun Yanrou did not dare to share a table with alchemists of the fourth tier, and so obediently waited at the side.

“Zhang Heng, boy, you still owe me a few hundred Clear Heart Pills. When will you pay me back?” Wu Hong eyed Zhang Heng mischievously as he asked.

“When was this, Master Wu? You must be mistaken,” Zhang Heng replied, bewildered.

“This time, even if the matter wasn’t resolved, I still helped a great deal. We agreed beforehand, several hundred Clear Heart Pills—you can’t go back on your word,” Wu Hong shamelessly pressed, fully aware that he hadn’t actually solved the problem himself, yet still demanding the pills.

He had already suffered a great loss—dealing with it himself and losing several hundred Clear Heart Pills for nothing.

“Master Wu, isn’t a few hundred a bit much? Can’t we negotiate?” Zhang Heng said with a pained expression, forced into bargaining.

“Hmph, boy, just promise me one thing and I’ll let the pills slide. How about it?” Wu Hong gave a sly, wicked grin.

Zhang Heng sensed a whiff of conspiracy.

He stood and bowed slightly. “Master Wu, if you have any request, please speak plainly. If there’s anything I can help with, I shall do my utmost.”

Seeing that his scheme had been seen through, Wu Hong spoke directly.

“Boy! Did you know that a Nascent Soul cultivator’s tomb has appeared in the central part of Ring Sand Ridge?”

“I am aware,” Zhang Heng replied.

A tomb had recently been discovered at the heart of Ring Sand Ridge, believed to belong to a Nascent Soul cultivator, attracting many who wished to explore it. As locals, the Yun family were among the first to enter. For some reason, Yun Xiaotian had managed to obtain a map of the entire tomb, which in turn sparked a series of disputes.

“Forgive my dullness, Master Wu—what is it you wish to ask?” Zhang Heng continued.

“Good, straightforward—I like that,” Wu Hong laughed, then stood, turning his back to gaze into the distance.

“Listen well, boy, I want you to come with me into that tomb,” Wu Hong declared his intention directly.

The Nascent Soul tomb must surely contain many treasures, but equally, it held many dangers. Originally, as the great hope of the alchemy world, Wu Hong would never have let Zhang Heng take such risks. But now, it seemed Zhang Heng carried with him some life-preserving treasure left by a great figure.

Thus, bringing him along might increase their chances of success. Besides, without facing some danger, one could not truly grow. If one never ventured into the world, even if Zhang Heng rose to the ranks of a top alchemist, he might never change the fate of the alchemy path.

“Master Wu, I’m really not interested in that tomb. Perhaps you’d like to propose another condition?” Zhang Heng answered, lacking enthusiasm. He had thought Wu Hong was planning some elaborate trick, but it turned out he merely wanted to take him treasure hunting.

“What’s wrong, boy, are you afraid?” Wu Hong turned back, mocking him with a smile.

In truth, Zhang Heng wasn’t afraid—he was simply uninterested. The tomb of a mere Nascent Soul cultivator was nothing to him; he had dealt with plenty of living Nascent Soul cultivators, so why should a dead one matter? Besides, could anything in that tomb compare to what he’d already claimed from the Dragon Burial Abyss?

With an all-knowing system, Zhang Heng lacked for neither techniques nor resources, having already plundered the Dragon Burial Abyss once. Why bother wasting time for more?

At that moment, the system’s voice sounded:

Ding. It is recommended that the host explore the Ancient Nascent Soul Tomb.

Well, all right then.

Strangely, Zhang Heng didn’t even ask why. He understood the system’s reasoning. When he entered the Dragon Burial Abyss, the dangers were so great that, left to his own devices, he’d have perished at once. Thus, within the abyss, the system had charted every course for him, directing his every action.

This allowed him to move freely but left him with no real sense of adventure. The Ancient Nascent Soul Tomb, on the other hand, was far less dangerous. The system’s suggestion was likely meant to give him more experience, to increase the sense of immersion in his journey.

“Very well, Master Wu. I will accompany you,” Zhang Heng’s attitude shifted in an instant.

His sudden change took even Wu Hong by surprise. “Are you certain?” he asked.

“Yes. My mind is made up. I am willing to accompany you to explore the Ancient Nascent Soul Tomb,” Zhang Heng replied firmly.

“Good, Zhang Heng! You have courage. I knew I wasn’t mistaken about you.” Wu Hong laughed heartily, liking Zhang Heng all the more.

Zhang Heng, however, grew increasingly wary—he had no intention of indulging in any such sentiment.

At this moment, Wu Hong glanced at Yun Xiaotian. “You there, didn’t you get the map of the tomb? May I borrow it?”

Wu Hong did not treat others with the same courtesy he showed to Zhang Heng, but that was only natural.

Upon being asked for the map, Yun Xiaotian did not hesitate; he immediately produced it from his robe and offered it to Wu Hong with great respect.

Seeing this, Zhang Heng chuckled to himself. The Li family and the Whale Sand Gang had come to the Yun family, threatening them for the map. Yun Xiaotian had been willing to die to protect it. Yet now, with a single word from Wu Hong, he handed it over eagerly and even felt honored to do so.

Indeed, strength was everything.

Wu Hong glanced at the map before storing it in his spatial ring—something, as a fourth-tier alchemist, he naturally possessed.

Then he said to Yun Xiaotian, “Since the map is yours, I won’t take advantage of you. If you wish, you may join us in exploring the tomb.”

At this, Zhang Heng’s opinion of Wu Hong improved greatly. No matter how high one rises, one should look down from above, not look down upon others.

Wu Hong, both a fourth-tier alchemist and a Void Returning cultivator, still cared to honor a mere second-tier Foundation Establishment cultivator. Such magnanimity was truly admirable.

“Master, is that true?” Yun Xiaotian was overjoyed.

Though he possessed the tomb’s map, his low level kept him from daring to venture deep within. Yet now Wu Hong, a member of the Pill Pavilion, was personally inviting him. With the backing of Wu Hong’s team and the map in hand, perhaps they truly could reach the tomb’s depths and obtain the legacy left by a Nascent Soul cultivator.

But on second thought, Yun Xiaotian shook his head in regret. “Thank you for your kindness, Master, but I must decline.”

The Li family and the Whale Sand Gang had suffered greatly at the Yun family’s hands. With Zhang Heng and Wu Hong gone, if he, too, left, there would be no one to lead the Yun family, and they might fall victim to their enemies. Though tempted, he could not abandon his family.

“You are worried for the Yun family? There’s no need. After we leave, I’ll order the former steward of the Pill Pavilion to take up residence here. With him present, not even Li Hongyi and Viper would dare move against my people, no matter how bold they are. Is that satisfactory?”

Yun Xiaotian was overwhelmed with gratitude, but he understood that Wu Hong’s final words were meant for Zhang Heng.

The Yun family was but a minor clan; ordinarily, Wu Hong would never have spared them a glance. Everything he did now, though it appeared to benefit the Yun family, was truly for Zhang Heng’s sake.