Chapter 130: Chapter 127: Unknown
Twenty years ago,
Wu Tianhao, the prodigy of the Wu Family, was accepted into the Yuqing Upper Sect, becoming sensational news.
Countless eyes were drawn to this region,
and the Wu Family became the center of all that attention.
From then on, they faintly showed signs of transitioning from a local powerhouse into an Immortal Cultivation Family!
That’s right,
an Immortal Cultivation Family!
As long as that Wu Family genius who joined the Yuqing Sect could ultimately survive and achieve something in his Cultivation, the Wu Family would accumulate enough prestige over time.
Then, the Wu Family would be able to make the leap from a rural powerhouse to a minor cultivation family!
A so-called rural powerhouse
is a clan that, while occupying a territory and possessing formidable strength as a local hegemon,
is prone to rising and falling in a flash.
Once they decline, few remember them, and they leave behind no legacy to benefit their descendants.
But a great family,
beyond the requirements of possessing considerable wealth and an orderly line of succession,
must also have a reputation that spreads far and wide!
A reputation sufficient to make everyone aware of their existence and know the glorious deeds of a famous ancestor,
such that even hundreds of years after their decline, a mention of the family still reminds people of their ancestor’s brilliant achievements, bringing intangible benefits of renown to their descendants!
This was a monumental achievement that countless Clan Leaders and members of rural powerhouses could not hope to attain in their entire lifetimes!
It was for this very reason
that the sensation caused by that event was no less than when Shen Tingchu had come from the west, sword in hand, and personally acted in his Soul Emergence form to slay the members of the Hu Family in Dawan Village who had offended the Shen Clan!
The name of the Wu Family’s prodigy, Wu Tianhao,
naturally spread like wildfire throughout the vicinity!
According to outside rumors,
in the twenty years since he joined the Yuqing Sect, he had only returned to the Border Desolate Land once or twice at his family’s request, merely showing his face to intimidate the surrounding powers.
For him to suddenly return now,
’Is it because of those recent rumors about the Wu Family?’
’How will he resolve this recent conflict?’
A myriad of thoughts flashed through Shen Changchuan’s mind.
But although his mind was racing,
Shen Changchuan’s expression didn’t betray a hint of delay. He quickly bowed and clasped his hands in a return salute to Wu Tianhao.
"Elder... Wu, there’s no need to be so polite. For you to grace my humble abode with your presence is a great honor. Please, take the seat of honor."
The man before him had a very young face, looking to be about seventeen or eighteen years old.
Shen Changchuan had originally wanted to address him as "Fellow Daoist."
But Shen Changchuan couldn’t sense even the slightest trace of an aura from him.
This undoubtedly meant he was facing an existence whose power far surpassed his own.
Moreover,
he had heard that twenty years ago, when the man joined the Yuqing Sect, he was only twelve or thirteen years old with a Cultivation at around the Qi Introduction Fourth or Fifth Layer.
Now, twenty years later, he was in his thirties.
Considering his ability to enter the Yuqing Immortal Sect, even if he hadn’t advanced to the Soul Emergence Realm, he was definitely at the Peak of the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer!
He surpassed Shen Changchuan in both age and power by a wide margin.
Thus, Shen Changchuan changed his tune and respectfully addressed him as "Elder."
"Younger Brother Shen, you really don’t need to be so formal."
"In terms of age, I’m only a decade or so your senior. In terms of status, your background is even more distinguished than mine."
"If you don’t mind, Younger Brother Shen, you can just call me Brother Wu."
Wu Tianhao showed not a hint of the arrogance one would expect from a prodigy of the Yuqing Upper Sect.
Instead, his words were pleasant and refreshing, like a spring breeze.
As the man spoke,
Shen Changchuan sensed his aura,
and his suspicion grew into certainty.
This man
was, with over ninety percent certainty, in the Soul Emergence Realm!
For this reason, Shen Changchuan didn’t just go along with his suggestion and continued to address him as "Elder."
If he were merely at the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer, it would be one thing,
but a True Cultivator of the Soul Emergence Realm demanded a certain level of respect.
Thus, after a bit of back-and-forth,
they decided to address each other as they saw fit.
Shen Changchuan would call him Elder Wu, and Wu Tianhao would call Shen Changchuan Little Brother Shen.
"I wonder, what guidance does Elder have for me, to have come all this way?"
Before long,
Shen Changchuan directly asked the question he most wanted to know the answer to, while also subtly trying to draw a clear line between them.
He had no choice.
This man had suddenly returned from the Yuqing Immortal Sect,
and he was concealing his appearance and whereabouts. He was likely involved in some unknown scheme,
and no matter what that scheme was, it was bound to bring immense changes to the entire Border Desolate Land!
With his meager Qi Introduction Seventh Layer strength, if Shen Changchuan were to get rashly involved, he’d probably be annihilated without a trace.
It was better to stay out of it, lie low, and prioritize his own survival.
"It’s nothing important. I was just passing by and heard that a few Demons who used to plague the area were killed, their bodies hung from flagpoles. So, on my way home, I decided to take a detour and have a look."
Wu Tianhao didn’t hide anything, offering a simple explanation.
His words held no concealment or deception;
he had indeed decided to visit Dawan Village on a whim while on his way back from the Yuqing Sect.
After receiving a message from his eldest uncle and confirming that the Wu Family Collection was in no immediate danger,
he entered the Border Desolate Land, descended from the clouds, and landed on the ground.
He decided to walk around and gather some intelligence before returning to the Wu Family Collection, so he could formulate a response plan based on the actual situation.
It was then
that he heard how the Garrison Cultivator of the Shen Family in Dawan Village had laid a trap and killed those Tribulation Cultivator Demons—what were they called, the Blood Slaughter Three Demons?—sparking the curiosity of many who flocked to see for themselves.
And the name Dawan Village
reminded Wu Tianhao that his eldest uncle had just mentioned it in his last message, talking about its origins and the matter of the Cyan Essence Purifying Spirit Pill falling into this person’s hands...
With that thought,
he decided he might as well come and probe Shen Changchuan’s background.
"I never imagined Brother Shen had already reached the Qi Introduction Seventh Layer Realm. It seems the rumors out there are quite inaccurate."
"You’ve hidden it too well, Brother Shen. Not a whisper of this has spread outside. I’m afraid you’ve made a fool of most everyone!"
Wu Tianhao gave Shen Changchuan a meaningful, once-over glance.
With his sharp eyes, he had naturally seen through Shen Changchuan’s concealment at first glance, perceiving the true strength hidden beneath.
This undoubtedly made Wu Tianhao a little curious.
His Cultivation had clearly advanced to the Qi Introduction Seventh Layer,
yet the rumors outside still had him at around the Qi Introduction Fourth or Fifth Layer!
Regardless of how he managed it,
this ability to conceal his power, as well as the fortitude to endure loneliness,
truly made Wu Tianhao marvel inwardly.
"A mere parlor trick. I have embarrassed myself in front of Elder Wu."
"I had no choice due to certain circumstances. Please forgive me, Elder."
Shen Changchuan said, bowing his head apologetically.
"Ah, there’s no need for that, Brother Shen."
"That is your secret. For me to privately investigate and probe it is already a violation of the unspoken taboos between Cultivators."
As he spoke,
Shen Changchuan felt an invisible force support his arms, lifting him back up.
