Stone Wolf Sect was the overlord within the radius of one thousand miles. Compared with such a powerful entity, no matter if it was the Ling Clan or the Cheng Clan, neither clan had the qualifications to be compared with it on the same level.
Was Ling Han deliberately seeking his own demise?
Chen Feng Lie was startled for a moment, for he had been shocked by Ling Han’s gaze–it was as deep and as vast as the ocean, filled with dignity, as if it belonged to a supreme warrior. However, he quickly realized that he had actually been threatened by a mere martial artist in Element Gathering Tier, and could not help laughing, and deeply said, “Oh, and how do you plan to kill me?”
“I don’t need to do anything. Within five days, you’ll die anyway,” Ling Han said calmly, and pointed a finger at Chen Feng Lie, “About ten days ago, when you were cultivating, did you encounter some trouble?”
Chen Feng Lie’s expression instantly changed. Just as Ling Han had said, while he had been cultivating ten days ago, he suddenly felt as if he had comprehended something, and decided to break through to the fourth layer of Gushing Spring Tier yet did not succeed. On the contrary, he accidentally caused the Origin Power within his body to enter the wrong pathways, but thankfully, he managed to withdraw in time, and so there was not too much damage done.
How did this brat know that? Had he guessed?
Ling Han smiled, and said, “Try to press on the spot three inches below your left ribs.”
Chen Feng Lie’s first natural reaction was to say, ‘How preposterous!’, but his hand could not help moving and pressing down on the spot three inches below his left ribs. With a light touch, his entire expression changed once again.
Pain, excruciating pain!
“And the spot half an inch to the right of the seventh bone of your spinal column,” Ling Han continued to say.
Chen Feng Lie once again touched that exact spot, and cold sweat appeared on his forehead. This was definitely not normal.
“You overdid it when you were cultivating. You don’t sense anything wrong, because you are still in that state of madness,” Ling Han said, before revealing a confident smile. “I can save you.” [1]
Chen Feng Lie clenched his teeth, and said, “Fine, you teach me how to cure myself, and I will forgive your sin this time!”
“Elder Chen!” Cheng Wen Kun was both shocked and enraged. Wouldn’t that mean that Cheng Xiao Yuan had died for nothing then?
“En?” Chen Feng Lie turned his glare towards Cheng Wen Kun, his eyes filled with malevolence. How could a minor character like Cheng Xiao Yuan compare to the importance of his own life?
Cheng Wen Kun hurriedly shut up, cold sweat beading on his forehead. To actually dare to talk back to a strong warrior in Gushing Spring Tier… he would die a meaningless death.
Yet Ling Han only shook his head, and said, “In any case, you’re in the Gushing Spring Tier, and yet your life is only worth so much?”
Chen Feng Lie’s heart was filled with fury, but as his life was held in the hands of another, he could not allow himself to display any of his rage. He could only suppress the flames of anger and say, “Then what do you want?”
Ling Han smiled softly, and said, “That will depend on your performance.”
Chen Feng Lie was extremely depressed. He was the Ninth Elder of Stone Wolf Sect and a powerful warrior of Gushing Spring Tier. Under normal circumstances, he would be the one standing at the top, holding court over others. When did he become someone that could be easily manipulated by a puny, little martial artist in Element Gathering Tier?
But what else could he do? His life was held in Ling Han’s grasp.
From the moment Ling Han had accurately pointed out the day he had experienced trouble in his cultivation, and through the agony he felt when he pressed down on the two acupuncture points, he no longer held any doubt and fully believed Ling Han’s words.
“Do you have any commands then, Young Master Han?” He lowered his stance.
“Pu!”
Hearing the words “Young Master Han”, all the observers immediately gasped in shock.
That was an actual Elder from Stone Wolf Sect, a real warrior in the Gushing Spring Tier, and he actually addressed Ling Han as Young Master Han. How could this not induce astonishment?
Ling Han revealed a soft smile, and said, “Are you planning to get the method of solution, and then kill me?”
“How could that be!” Chen Feng Lie hurriedly gave a dry laugh, yet he had already started sweating.
Ling Han’s heart was clear, he naturally would not allow himself to be in danger–he would cure Chen Feng Lie, but would definitely not cure him entirely in one go. He pointed at Cheng Wen Kun, and said, “This man annoys me, thrash him for me!”
Cheng Wen Kun’s face instantly turned green.
The reason why he had invited Chen Feng Lie was to gain a powerful support for himself so as to resolve the problem of Ling Dong Xing’s closing in on them at every step, causing the stagnation of the finances of the Cheng Clan and leading to the entire clan being forced into a corner.
But he had never imagined, that this helper he had invited would actually turn around to help the Ling Clan. How could he not be sullen at this?
If anyone were to give him a piece of tofu now, he would definitely knock himself to death with it.
“Senior Chen!” He stuttered. In front of a powerful warrior of Gushing Spring Tier, his cultivation level of the ninth layer of Element Gathering Tier was practically helpless.
“En? Are you planning to fight back against me?” Chen Feng Lie said coldly.
Cheng Wen Kun had no relationship with him anyways, so naturally, he had absolutely no conflicted feelings about giving the guy a good thrashing. He had already bowed his head to Ling Han just now, so he might as well just go ahead and throw caution to the wind.
Cheng Wen Kun’s expression changed multiple times, before he finally just gritted his teeth, and said, “I dare not!”
If he dared resist, he would definitely die. Even a blind man could tell that Chen Feng Lie was extremely unhappy now.
“Pa! Pa!”
Chen Feng Lie raised his hand and lowered it, gifting Cheng Wen Kun with two slaps. The strength behind his blows caused blood to stain the corners of Cheng Wen Kun’s lips.
There was complete silence in the Main Hall. The only thing disturbing the silence was the harsh breathing of the audience.
Who would have thought that things would play out in this manner?
Even Ling Dong Xing had never imagined that his son was so capable as to be able to control a powerful warrior in Gushing Spring Tier, causing him to be both shocked and comforted. He truly had a good son!
The faces of Cheng Xiang and his brother kept twitching. If there was a hole in the ground now, they would really want to go and hide in it. They had been so confident and arrogant previously, thinking that they could now regain their lost pride. They had never expected that even their old man would be thrashed now.
The banquet tonight could practically be added to the Cheng Clan’s history of dishonor.
Even when Cheng Wen Kun spat out a tooth and swallowed blood due to the thrashing, he still dared not display the slightest anger on his face. Still, no matter how shrewd he was, there was no way he could still put on a carefree expression. The veins on his forehead were protruding, showing that he was obviously at the deepest levels of his fury!
‘Ling Clan! Ling Clan! I swear, I will definitely destroy you until nothing is left!’ He roared angrily within his heart, ‘As long as Third Uncle successfully breaks through to Gushing Spring Tier, we will definitely be able to avenge ourselves!’
Ling Han nodded, and said to Chen Feng Lie, “I will write a medicine formula for you, which will help you suppress your injuries temporarily. You will not have any trouble for half a year’s time.”
Though Chen Feng Lie did not want to accept this, he also knew that Ling Han would definitely not cure him completely in one
go–if it were him, he too would have reservations. After all, Ling Han was the weaker party here. He could thus only nod, and said, “Many thanks, Young Master Han!”
As things have already played out to this step, the banquet was obviously at an end. Staying any longer would only be awkward. The guests excused themselves one after another while Ling Han left the Cheng Clan Residence in the company of Ling Dong Xing and Liu Yu Tong after handing over the medicine formula to Chen Feng Lie.
“Hahahaha!” On the carriage, the hearty laughter that Ling Dong Xing had tried so hard to hold back was finally released. He waved a fist vigorously, and said, “I have competed with Cheng Wen Kun for over half of my life, but I have never released my pent-up anger like tonight! However, Han’er, tonight was still quite dangerous. Had Chen Feng Lie not experienced trouble in his cultivation some days ago, the matter tonight would not have been resolved so easily.”
After all, a disciple of Stone Wolf Sect had died tonight.
Ling Han smiled–if he had not noticed that there was something wrong with Chen Feng Lie, he would still have two alternatives to choose from: the first alternative was naturally simple, to not kill Cheng Xiao Yuan, while the second alternative was to still kill Cheng Xiao Yuan, but reveal Liu Yu Tong’s identity to take care of the issue.
But he no longer needed to consider this problem now.
“One more month, and the Cheng Clan would not even be able to pay the salaries of their own guards. At that time, it’ll be our Ling Clan who will be the sole power in Gray Cloud Town!” Ling Dong Xing declared proudly and enthusiastically.
Chapter 41
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
After the battle at the Cheng Clan Residence, the two clans who had been of equal status in Gray Cloud Town set off towards two different destinies.
The influence of the Ling Clan increased day by day, and they soon possessed enough power to be proclaimed the most dominant clan in Gray Cloud Town. On the other hand, the Cheng Clan was trapped in a huge dilemma, forced into a corner. One of the reasons behind it was the stagnation of their economy, but the other more important reason was the fact that their morale had received a heavy blow.
Ling Dong Xing really did have a good son!
This was currently the common understanding amongst the townspeople of Gray Cloud Town. None of them would recall the fact that just two months ago, this “good son” had still been a publicly acclaimed piece of trash and considered a complete joke.
The smaller clans in the town began to have frequent dealings with the Ling Clan, hoping to become in-laws with the Ling Clan. Their target naturally was the previously famous trash, and the currently well-known great genius, Ling Han. Of course, the Shen Clan thus became the butt of their jokes.
Initially, they had already claimed Ling Han, this excellent potential son-in-law, yet they themselves decided to go back on their own word and reject him.
Many wondered how Shen Zi Yan was feeling now.
Chen Feng Lie had just left, but another member of the Stone Wolf Sect arrived. His name was Ma Lang. He brought with him a law enforcement team, aggressively interrogating each and every clan, apparently looking for someone.
When Ling Han found out, his heart stirred. Could it be that these people had come because of Hang Zhan?
Very soon, Ma Lang and his group had arrived at the Ling Clan Residence.
The Stone Wolf Sect was overlord within the nearest one thousand miles. Ma Lang was here on behalf of the Stone Wolf Sect, so no matter who it was, everyone had to give him enough face. As a result, the high-ranking members of the Ling Clan had all gathered at the Main Hall to receive this “Special Envoy”.
Ling Han arrived a bit late, and when he entered the Main Hall with Liu Yu Tong in tow, it was already fully occupied. He gave a shake of his head to the servant who had been about to greet him before quietly walking over.
There was only one person amongst those present who was not a member of the Ling Clan, and that was a young man all dressed in white. He seemed to be about twenty three or twenty four years old and looked very average, yet there was a very powerful aura being exuded from him, full of an extreme self-confidence.
The only flaw was the fact that the smile on this guy’s face was much too false, inducing disgust in those who saw it.
Aside from him, there also stood a line of people dressed entirely in black outside the Main Hall. All of them were in Element Gathering Tier, but their cultivation levels weren’t very high. It appeared that the average cultivation level among them was either second or third layer. None of them seemed to have entered into the fourth layer.
…Fourth layer and seventh layer will forever be a difficult barrier to breach.
‘This young man in white should be Ma Lang then,’ Ling Han thought, once again turning his eyes towards the former. His cultivation level was much higher than his companions as he had already reached the sixth layer of Element Gathering Tier. Within this area, along with his apparently young age, he definitely would deserve the name of genius. The power of Shen Zi Yan, Cheng Xiang and such so-called “geniuses” was less than nothing when compared with this young man.
“Ling Clan Head, within the recent month, has any of your clansmen entered the vicinity of the Balance Mountain?” Ma Lang asked.
Ling Dong Xing’s heart skipped a beat. He naturally knew very well that Ling Han had just returned from his trip to Balance Mountain, but now that Ma Lang had so coincidentally asked about it, how could he not be slightly alert? However, no matter how it was, he has had many years of experience in the position of Clan Head, and so was of course very shrewd. His expression did not change the slightest as he said, “As far as I know, none of my clansmen entered the vicinity of the Balance Mountain.”
Thankfully, Ling Han had both left and returned very secretly. The other members of the clan only knew that Ling Han had disappeared for about a month, but none of them knew where exactly he had gone.
“Is that so!” Ma Lang gave a nod of his head and did not say anything else. He simply sat there with his eyes closed, seemingly deep in thought.
Ling Dong Xing was well aware of the situation, and hurriedly had someone present a wooden box, and said, “Young Master Ma must have had a difficult journey. Please accept this small token of sincerity from the Ling Clan, Young Master Ma!”
Ma Lang finally opened his eyes, and received the wooden box. He made no pretense of modesty and actually opened it on the spot. Inside only lay several thick pieces of paper, but when Ma Lang flipped through the contents, a smile appeared on his face.
These pieces of paper were monetary notes. Each piece had a denomination of five hundred coins, and there were in total four pieces, which equated to two thousand coins. This was really quite a large sum of money.
He had come here on a mission, yet had already intended to seek monetary gifts. Who would not fear and respect him when he had brought with him a law reinforcement team from Stone Wolf Sect? After all, he was now considered a representative of Stone Wolf Sect. He had made his rounds around all the minor clans of Gray Cloud Town, leaving the Ling and Cheng Clans last.
As expected, Great Clans will be Great Clans. They were always very generous with their “gifts”.
As he had already gotten his hands on “benefits”, he naturally felt very pleased. He suddenly stood, and said, “I am under command of our Seventh Elder and am currently trying to apprehend a murderer. If you know of anyone who has entered into the vicinity of Balance Mountain within the last month, Ling Clan Head, please do inform me. I will be remaining in this town for a few more days.”
“Of course!” Ling Dong Xing answered. He too stood up, and said, “Let me see you off, Young Master Ma!”
Ma Lang cheerfully nodded, putting himself in the role of “imperial envoy”, both hands placed behind his back, taking big strides.
“Young Master Ma!” And right at this moment, someone suddenly spoke. It was Ling Zhong Kuan.
&n
bsp; Ma Lang frowned, turning around and saying, “What is it?”
“I suddenly recalled, that there is one member of the clan that had disappeared for about a month. Perhaps…. he had gone to Balance Mountain!” Ling Zhong Kuan said, a cold smile playing about his lips.
“Oh, who is it?” Ma Lang asked.
“This person’s name is Ling Han, he is the son of our Clan Head,” Ling Zhong Kuan had been waiting for Ma Lang to ask him about it, and so his reply was quick.
Hearing such words, all the members of the Ling Clan started cursing Ling Zhong Kuan in their hearts.
Putting aside the fact that Ling Han was now a ray of hope to the Ling Clan and a strong pillar of support for the clan in the future, even if he was the trash he had once been, as long as his surname was Ling, you still can’t help an outsider hurt your own clansman! And he wanted to become Clan Head with this kind of temperament? The future of the Ling Clan would really become bleak if he succeeded.
Ling Dong Xing was naturally raging in his heart, and regretted that he had not tidied up the clan. Based on the fact that they all shared the same surname of Ling, he had not been ruthless, but he had never thought that Ling Zhong Kuan would actually be so heartless himself.
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294 Page 26