He was knocked down once more—this time, by a little girl.
“Damn it! Damn it!” Cheng Kai Fu threw a fit, his eyes so fierce as if he really wanted to kill people.
Pa , Hu Niu threw another slap, and Cheng Kai Fu was naturally slapped to the ground again. In front of Hu Niu, he was only just a dish. This left Can Ye and Guang Yuan speechless; this little girl was truly brutal.
After several slaps, Cheng Kai Fu finally knew how to behave, knowing that these people didn’t act following normal rules. His eyes full of hatred, he didn’t dare to act arrogant again.
Ling Han drew his sword, its chilling light like water.
Cheng Kai Fu was finally scared, and said with a shiver, “What do you want?” If he died here, how wrong would that be?
“This lord!” The farmers shivered in their boots. If Ling Han attacked and killed Cheng Kai, they couldn’t escape the responsibility.
“I’m warning you, my brother is Yan Fei…”
Pu!
Ling Han’s hand rose and the sword fell. A gush of blood splattered—Cheng Kai Fu’s arm was cut off.
“Ah!” Cheng Kai Fu instantly screamed tragically.
“Shut up!” Ling Han roared, his voice like a sword, shaking him so much that Cheng Kai Fu involuntarily stopped screaming, then looked at Ling Han with fearsome and hateful gaze. “The reason I didn’t cut you down is because of these people…” Ling Han pointed at those farmers.
“Follow last year’s price to buy the medicinal ingredients. Otherwise, I will find you and cut of your damn head!” he said coldly.
Cheng Kai Fu was so pained that his face twitched, but as it concerned his own life, he chose to lower his head, nodding in a very minute range.
“Heard it or not, answer me loudly!” Ling Han swung his sword.
“I heard!” Cheng Kai Fu yelled loudly, tears flowing out.
“Get lost!” Ling Han put away his sword.
Cheng Kai Fu hurriedly turned to run. The two servants picked up the severed arm that was on the ground, following Cheng Kai Fu. If the arm was immediately reconnected, there was still a possibility it could work.
The farmers looked at Ling Han with a reverent gaze. They suddenly scattered on one command, leaving only a few behind.
“Thank you, Young Master, for helping!” These people knelt down to salute Ling Han; they were still quite sincere and honest.
Chapter 284
Chapter 284: Entering the Town
Translator: Reverie_ Editor: Kurisu
Ling Han didn’t blame those who ran. These were truly normal people of the lowest status, without any abilities to fight against oppression, drifting with the tide and hanging by a thread. He gestured to them to stand with his hands, and said, “The one surnamed Cheng, I’ll take care of him for you all.”
“This young master, young master Fu is from the Starl Brilliance Palace Hall, and it’s said that he has a high status. You should probably leave at once!” someone exhorted.
“Yes, once, someone said to be very strong had a conflict with young master Fu, but ended up breaking both his legs and running to young master Fu to beg forgiveness.”
“I also heard that someone offended young master Fu, and eventually, in order to live, he sent his wife and daughter for young master Fu to abuse for several days, finally escaping this ordeal.”
Ling Han couldn’t help but laugh, and said, “I somewhat underestimated that guy, actually doing so many evil things!”
The lot of farmers extorted Ling Han to return on the path which he came, but their status was too low, and they only knew that Cheng Kai Fu was doing well in the Star Brilliance Palace Hall—as for what background he had exactly, that was completely unknown to them.
Ling Han naturally wasn’t afraid. He was already a high level Black Grade alchemist, and he came here to certify as Earth Grade one; it wasn’t like he needed to be afraid of a spoilt younger generation.
Exchanging a few words with the farmers, he returned to the carriage, but the two coachmen refused to carry them further no matter what. After reasoning in every possible way, they got Ling Han and the others off the carriage, then left as if their butts caught on fire, harnessing the carriage to double back.
“It seems that youngster has some connections.” Guang Yuan laughed.
“Coming over to oppress normal people, his connections must be limited, right?” Zhu Wu Jiu interjected. Originally, he had no qualifications to talk to someone in the Spiritual Ocean Tier like this, but everyone mingled together for a long time, plus Guang Yuan was a loose cultivator who didn’t stress things such as tier and status.
Ling Han didn’t care and said, “Let’s go, now we can only continue on foot.”
Now it was only half a day’s road from the Star Brilliance Palace Hall. The carriage wasn’t fast to begin with; it could only save them some strength, so it didn’t really matter.
As the party set out, Hu Niu acted like a spoiled child, having Ling Han piggyback her and turning to make faces at Liu Yu Tong and Li Si chan, appearing extremely full of herself. She put her arms intimately around Ling Han’s neck, displaying her possessiveness to the fullest.
However, only after a short while of walking, they encountered a wave of bandits that brazenly attacked… but were defeated by Can Ye alone. In the following hour, they actually encountered seven waves of bandits, showing how chaotic the environment here was.
This fully proved that Storm Mercenaries got along here quite well; before, when they were riding on the carriage with the Storm Mercenaries’ flag, they didn’t encounter a single wave of bandits, but now, bandits came like a tide.
Can Ye never knew to hold back when attacking. In Hu Yang Academy, whenever one sparred with him, someone in the Spiritual Ocean Tier needed to oversee it in case he heavily injured or killed someone. However, here, who would stop him?
Ling Han had no intention of making Can Ye hold back. This youngster was naturally like a sharp saber, suppressing his viciousness was equivalent to restricting his martial path. Only by being let free would he be able to grow into an exceptionally fierce saber!
Moreover, a bandit needed the awareness of being a bandit, dying served them right.
After killing another three waves of bandits, they scared off the remaining ones, and no one came to look for trouble anymore. Up ahead, a lofty palace appeared before them.
Rather than a hall, it was more like a tower. Its height and width weren’t proportionate, but architecturally, this could only be called a hall. The stairs were actually revolving on the outside of the palace hall in an upward spiral, an extremely grand handiwork.
The entire palace was piled up from Star Flower Stones. It wasn’t anything special during daytime, but at night, the entire palace hall would emit light like stars—Star Brilliance Palace Hall living up to its name.
However, it was now afternoon, and this palace hadn’t displayed its magnificent and spectacular side yet. From afar, it looked like a lofty tower casting a long shadow.
This wasn’t the Fallen Moon Gorge’s only edifice. The tall palace was surrounded streets that formed a flourishing town.
It was the hub linking the Nine Nations of the Desolate North to the north region. People from all nine nations converged here, including martial artists, merchants, random adventurers, and wanted criminals.
Here, everything was under the Star Brilliance Palace Hall’s control. The Star Brilliance Palace Hall was the dictator and the law here; whoever opposed—kill!
Entering and leaving this town required a fee. In principle, those who stayed in this small town would receive the Star Brilliance Palace Hall’s protection—but every three days, they had to either pay the fee again or leave.
Thus, businessmen came and went in haste, and the town’s inns’ charges weren’t lenient either, cheating customers to the point of feeling pain.
Ling Han came to the town’s entrance and paid according to the number of people—even Hu Niu was counted. Ea
ch person was a hundred silvers for three days, and three days later, if it was discovered that they were still here and didn’t pay again, they would be killed without mercy.
It was said that the fees hadn’t been as high and allowed people to stay as long as one wanted—as long as one had the money to live in the inns. However, starting from half a year ago, the rules changed; now, cries of complaint were heard everywhere, filled with extreme discontent regarding the Star Brilliance Palace Hall’s high-handedness.
But the Star Brilliance Palace Hall represented the Alchemist Society that controlled the Heaven’s Medicine Pavilion, and at least half of the medicinal pills in the Nine Nations of the Desolate North were distributed by them. Even if they were domineering, who would dare to oppose them openly?
Ling Han had Guang Yuan pay the entrance fees to the cent. Then, they first found an inn to stay at.
After washing off the fatigue of traveling with a bit of rest, Ling Han brought Zhu He Xin and Hu Niu and headed towards the Star Brilliance Palace Hall… Hu Niu couldn’t be dumped, while Zhu Wu Jiu was an alchemist, so he was related.
The town wasn’t large, so after ten minutes or so, they arrived at the Star Brilliance Palace Hall even though they strolled slowly.
Other than being tall, the Star Brilliance Palace Hall’s architectural style was rather ordinary. There were only a few dozens of steps—unlike some places with hundreds of steps before reaching the top, filled with the arrogance of towering above.
Pa, pa, pa , a group of people ran out from the large hall. Each one was fierce, startling the people at the entrance and dodging hurriedly to the sides.
The Star Brilliance Palace Hall was the highest authoritative organization of the Alchemist Society in the Nine Nations of The Desolate North—not only Earth Grade alchemy Master were here, but also many high Tier cultivators, all of whom were Alchemist Society’s own forces. They couldn’t dispatch someone all the time for little things; besides, alchemists’ focused on refining pills, and not fighting.
An alchemist’s organization, well, maybe they didn’t have other things, but they definitely weren’t lacking money.
This group of people was the Star Brilliance Palace Halls’ hired thugs, but they had a pleasant name called “Star Defense Force.” The members of the Star Defense Force naturally belonged to those of lower status, so they were also especially rampant, ramming in their path, extremely like thugs.
Ling Han took a glance and couldn’t help but reveal an astounded expression; the leader was Cheng Kai Fu whom he’d seen upon entering; his arm was actually reattached, covered in thick white gauze—malice was written all over his face.
Obviously, after this guy simply reconnected his severed arm, he couldn’t wait to bring people out for revenge.
What a truly cheap person; was that lesson earlier not enough?
Chapter 285
Chapter 285: Kill
Translator: Reverie_ Editor: Kurisu
Ling Han naturally wouldn’t care; a dignified high level Black Grade alchemist came to the Star Brilliance Palace Hall, would he still need to be afraid of anyone?
“You…” Cheng Kai Fu saw Ling Han right away; instantly, all the old grudges and new hatreds welled up in his heart. He wanted to point at Ling Han, but his right arm had just been reconnected, so there was no way he could raise it. He frowned in pain, and was forced to raise his left hand to point it at Ling Han. “Such nerve, this young master was just about to find you, yet you sent yourself to my doorstep!”
Ling Han frowned, and said, “Move your hand, I hate it the most when others point their finger at me.”
“Hahahaha, your life will soon be over, why worry about other things?” Cheng Kai Fu snorted, and snapped his fingers—the ten people from the Star Defense Force instantly surrounded Ling Han.
Zhu He Xin was suddenly infuriated, took a step forward, and said, “What are you guys trying to do?”
“Low level Black Grade alchemist?” Cheng Kai Fu looked at Zhu He Xin’s silver badge on the chest, revealing a sudden realization. “No wonder you dared to go against this young master, so you have a low level Black Grade alchemist as backup! Pei, but do you know who this young master is?”
Ling Han patted Zhu He Xin on the shoulder, signaling him to let him talk. Ling Han said with a smile, “I truly don’t know who the heck you are.”
“Hmph, cutting off one of this young master’s arm, even with a low level Black Grade alchemist, this young master will still kill you!” Cheng Kai Fu said in a stern voice. He had never received such great humiliation, not only having his life threatened, but also having an arm severed.
Luckily, he possessed countless high-level medicinal pills that helped reconnect his severed arm; otherwise, he definitely would hate Ling Han to point of annihilating all nine generations.
“Kill! Kill those two!” He pointed at Ling Han and Zhu He Xin; seeing Ling Han piggybacking Hu Niu, he immediately added, “And this damn little girl!”
“Young Master Fu!” Some people in Star Defense Force hesitated; there was a low level Black Grade alchemist after all, and they didn’t dare to be rash.
“Hmph, my older brother is a high level Black Grade alchemist, what’s to be afraid of!” Cheng Kai Fu said with his head held high.
Ling Han and Zhu He Xin both came to a realization—it was no wonder this guy dared to be so rampant; he had a high level Black Grade alchemist as his older brother.
In the Nine Nations of the Desolate North, a high level Black Grade alchemist was Big Boss of alchemy, certainly very kickass.
However, the only kickass one was his older brother, and not he!
“From the looks of his age, his older brother should be around thirty or so, certainly having some talent,” Ling Han said to Zhu He Xin. Although alchemy was like martial arts, the earlier the stage the faster the improvement, but a thirty year-old high level Black Grade alchemist was still extremely shocking.
Zhu He Xin pondered and said, “The one surnamed Cheng… could it be Cheng Fei Jun? He certainly is a genius of alchemy. Based off what this old man knows, he became a low level Black Grade alchemist seven years ago. At that time, he was only twenty-three, and two years ago, he advanced to medium level Black Grade; although it was publicly acknowledged that he definitely could become a high level Black Grade alchemist, he rose in rank in only two years, truly unexpected.”
“A thirty year old high level Black Grade alchemist, its too shocking!” He sighed deeply, then looked at Ling Han, and couldn’t help but laugh; in comparison, this guy was even more freakish.
Ling Han immediately guessed, “Cheng Fei Jun probably had nature-defying luck, acquiring a Strange Fire. Otherwise, he definitely couldn’t have only become a medium level Black Grade in five years, but advance to high level in two years.”
“Young Master Han is right.” Zhu He Xing nodded in agreement.
“You, guys!” Cheng Kai Fu stamped his foot in anger; these two people actually started talking on their own and completely ignored him, too infuriating. “Kill! Kill them!”
Seeing the Star Defense Force’s people ready for action, Ling Han laughed. “Say, who the hell are you, huh? What gives you the right to order the Star Defense Force? Are you a low level or high level Black Grade alchemist? Old Zhu, you are a genuine low level Black Grade alchemist, so this Star Defense Force should listen to you, right?
Zhu He Xin then said, “I am Zhu He Xin, and I order you guys to withdraw immediately!”
He was rather imposing, and under his glare and shout, the people of the Star Defense Force involuntarily retreated a few steps. After all, money for their meals was given by alchemists, so they shouldn’t turn to bite their masters, right?
“What’s there to be proud of. My older brother is Cheng Fei Jun, and if he saw my older brother, he would have to step to the side and call him master!”
Under his urging and shouting, the Star Defense Force took another step forward, on the verge to attack.
Now that Cheng Kai Fu was seeking his own death, he wouldn’t be lenient.
“Kill! Kill! Kill!” Cheng Kai Fu shouted sternly.
The ten people of the Star Defense Force finally attacked Ling Han and Zhu He Xin. However, Zhu He Xing still had the title of a low level Black Grade alchemist, so the Star Defense Force unleashed most of their attacks toward Ling Han.
Hu Niu? Never seeing her fight, who would put such a little girl in their eyes.
They were obviously wrong.
Seeing that they attacked Ling Han, Hu Niu instantly burst with viciousness. Xiu , she pounced out, as if turning into a stream of light. Pa, pa, pa, her claws waved continuously, producing flashes of blood.
Tragic screams resounded successively—the members of the Star Defense Force fell on to the ground one by one, heavily injured by Hu Niu. Luckily, while the little girl’s viciousness was still going strong, her killing instinct was greatly diminished; she only attacked heavily without killing them, so these members of the Star Defense Force were still alive.
“W-what!?” Cheng Kai Fu expression was filled with shock and disbelief. He knew that Hu Niu was a bit strong, but it was still largely unexpected that she was strong enough to fight one-vs-ten.
He hurriedly took to his heels. Behind him was the Star Brilliance Palace Hall, and many strong cultivators kept watch inside. A few of them could easily suppress everyone, he just had to ask one randomly. Normally, he couldn’t order these people, but now Ling Han fought at the Star Brilliance Palace Hall’s doorstep, so these strong cultivators weren’t jut going to sit by and watch.
However, as he began to move, he saw a man blocking him.
It was Ling Han.
“Someone like you living in the world is just wasting food, go to hell!” Ling Han’s was boiling with murderous intent.
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294 Page 158