Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294

by Flying Alone 孤单地飞

  Indeed, the reason that Shui Yanyu was even more well-known was Zhao Lun, the son of the Great General Zhao, a genius that could go into the history of the Academy. Everyone knew that Shui Yanyu was his forbidden domain, but now, someone actually dared to rob him of his cherished person?

  Who was this? His courage was really too overwhelming.

  Then, all of Ling Han’s information was dug out.

  … The first place holder of this batch of newly enrolled students of the Northern Institution.

  … Passing through eight levels.

  … Being skilled in alchemy.

  … Originating from a small world.

  … An emperor that had opened the skies!

  The last bit of information was extremely shocking. That was because in the eyes of the majority, opening the skies was something that only existed in legends. Even in the Immortal Realm, there were few whose power could reach 20 Stars of Shattering Void Tier, and it was already quite impressive to reach 15 Stars in a small world. Even with the boost from power of the nation, it was impossible that they would be able to reach the level of 20 Stars.

  How could they open the skies, then?

  Impressive, he could reach battle prowess of 20 Stars of Shattering Void Tier even though he had come from a small world. No wonder he could pass through eight levels and be ranked among the top geniuses.

  But in front of the Zhao Clan, all that was meaningless.

  Ling Han merely relied on the Left Minister. Unless he was the actual son of the Left Minister, what qualified him to compete with the son of the Great General Zhao over a woman?

  Many were waiting to see how Ling Han would deal with this matter. This Zhao Lun had already spoken up in public that when he had graduated from the Academy, he would marry Shui Yanyu, and had obtained the agreement of the Shui Clan.

  “Blockhead, blockhead!” Li Weiwei, meanwhile, had raced over in excitement. “Have you really got married with Big Sister Shui?”

  Ling Han cast an eye on her. Wasn’t all this because of her? He said calmly, “And what about it?”

  “I really couldn’t tell… You are not amazingly handsome, nor do you know how to delight women, so what do you have that Big Sister Shui would fall in love with you?” Li Weiwei supported her chin, appearing very confused. “Even my maid servant would not fall in love with you. Strange, could it be that Big Sister Shui has been bewitched?”

  Ling Han could not help but be dumbstruck. This Fourth Young Miss really spoke such hurtful words.

  Even if you were the daughter of the Left Minister, and not many would become hostile after hearing you say such words, with such low emotional intelligence, how many would really be sincere towards you?

  “However, you’re going to be in great trouble. Not only is that guy, Zhao Lun, a martial arts genius himself, he also has three followers. Each one of them is a genius among geniuses, and he needs only issue a simple command, and his lackey would do this to you”—she made a motion of a blade passing over the neck—”and on the second day, your dead body would be abandoned in the streets.”

  Ling Han sighed, and said, “Couldn’t you say some good words?”

  “Beg me!” Li Weiwei planted her hands on her hips. “Though Zhao Lun is very strong, I am not afraid of him. Beg me enough to make me happy, and I could step out to protect you.”

  “Forget about it. I have not much interest in becoming a slave to another,” Ling Han rejected decisively.

  Li Weiwei was instantly furious. Did this damn blockhead know that even she had to go through a mental struggle before opposing Zhao Lun? The power of his Zhao Clan was in no way inferior to the Left Minister’s Residence’s.

  Furthermore, when one had reached such heights as they, the attitude of the youths never represented merely the youngsters. What if news spread that the Left Minister and the Great General Zhao were on poor terms? Wouldn’t that create a chance for the Left Minister to be criticized?

  This damn blockhead actually refused so quickly, and was unworthy of her kindness; this was practically enough to kill her with fury!

  “Humph, who cares if you live or die!” Now that her temper had risen, she suddenly raced off.

  Ling Han’s expression was calm. When he agreed to Shui Yanyu’s request, he had already foreseen the consequences. But, he believed that even Zhao Lun would not dare to publicly commit a crime in the Academy—there were still some rules which he had to adhere to.

  … The Zhao Clan, after all, was merely the clan of a general of the Chaotic Stars Majestic Empire, and not the emperor’s family!

  Counter soldiers with arms, and water with an earth weir 1 . What was there to be afraid of?

  ***

  “Oh, Yanyu has really admitted it herself?” Under a waterfall, a young man was presently standing with his hands crossed behind his back. Behind him, there were three images of mountains and rivers; shockingly, he was a being in the higher levels of the Mountain River Tier.

  Upon closer examination, his mountains and rivers were unlike those of the others, whose mountains were green and waters were clear—they were flickering with a red light and exuded a terrifying air instead.

  “Yes, Young Master!” A young man was half-kneeling behind him. HIs expression was both reverent and passionate as if this man in front of him was a god.

  This young man that was presently standing with his hands crossed behind his back was precisely Zhao Lun, and the young man that was half-kneeling was one of his followers—his name was Zuo Xiao. He was presently informing Zhao Lun about the matter of Ling Han and Shui Yanyu marrying each other.

  He was very enraged. Shui Yanyu was a woman their young master had his eye on, and that was her good luck that she had accumulated over several lifetimes. Yet, she was not only cool towards their young master, but she actually even cuckolded him.

  She practically deserved to die a hundred times over!

  Zhao Lun laughed loudly, shook his head, and said, “What trouble! Looks like I have given her too much freedom. Oh, right, what is that man’s name?”

  “Ling Han!” Zuo Xiao answered quickly.

  “Have someone send this object to him. If he is willing to accept obediently, then spare his life.” Zhao Lun casually tossed out an object from his Spatial Spirit Tool.

  Zuo Xiao’s eyes swept over the item. He could not help but smirk coldly, and answered, “I will do as you bid, Young Master!”

  Chapter 922 - Zhao Lun’s Gift

  Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

  “Ling Han, come out!”

  Ling Han was in the midst of cultivation when he heard a cold shout ring out. He walked into the courtyard and opened the doors to take a look. There were two young men presently standing outside, and they were both in the Shattering Void Tier, but he recognized neither of them.

  They were not from this batch of new students that had enrolled into the Northern Institution, but could be from the last batch, or the batch before that.

  “What can I do for you?” Ling Han was calm and collected, though he already had a rough guess.

  “That is Senior Brother Wang Wan.”

  “And there’s Senior Brother Zhang Qing too!”

  “They are both subordinates of Senior Brother Zhao Lun.”

  “Pei, how could they be qualified! They are the subordinates of the subordinates of the three great followers of Senior Brother Disciple Zhao Lun; they are gods know how far away from Senior Brother Zhao Lun.”

  “Still, the fact that they would appear now means they must definitely be here on behalf of Senior Brother Zhao.”

  “Of course, Ling Han actually dared to try and snatch Senior Brother Zhao’s woman! It would be strange if there was no reaction from Senior Brother Zhao.”

  One after another, courtyard doors opened, revealing multiple faces. A great many were wearing cold smirks, appearing to be delighting in Ling Han’s miseries.

  This was very natural. Not only was Ling Han t
he first place of this round of new students, he even managed to seduce Senior Sister Shui Yanyu! She was an unprecedented beauty, so who would not be jealous?

  Ling Han heard all this, and made an “oh” internally. He knew that Zhao Lun would definitely make a move, but the latter obviously had not taken him seriously, and had only sent two Shattering Void Tier cultivators here.

  Was he planning on using violence?

  Wang Wan, meanwhile, smirked coldly. This guy that came from a small world was really ignorant; did he think that just because he opened the sky, he had the right to do as he liked in the Immortal Realm? They would teach him the rules today!

  “We have come under command of Senior Brother Zhao Lun to deliver a gift to you,” he said.

  When those around them heard this, they were all puzzled. Was there something wrong with Zhao Lun? Ling Han had snatched your woman, and you still wanted to give him a gift?

  Ling Han was internally calm, and asked, “Oh, what kind of gift?”

  Wang Wan and Zhang Qing shared a look. Wang Wan took out a brocade box from his Spatial Spirit Tool. It was wrapped very beautifully, but it was not very big. He held the box in his hands, and said, “Quickly kneel down to receive your gift!”

  “Kneel down to receive it?” Ling Han laughed raucously. “Has something gone wrong with your head?”

  “It’s a great gift from Senior Brother Zhao, yet you dare not kneel to receive and offer your thanks?” Zhang Qing countered sinisterly.

  Ling Han waved his hand dismissively, and said, “If that’s the case, then you can just take this gift back with you. I cannot accept!”

  Wang Wan humphed, and said, “It’s a gift that Senior Brother Zhao has given out, how could it be taken back! If you do not want to kneel and receive the gift, fine! Just take it!” He nodded at Zhang Qing.

  Zhang Qing got the signal, and began to unwrap the brocade box.

  Everyone was curious. What kind of gift did Zhao Lun give Ling Han? None of them thought Zhao Lun was a person easy to deal with. On the contrary, this genius was an arrogant bully, and was well-known for his forcefulness.

  The silk cloth outside the brocade box was unwrapped, and Zhang Qing opened the box in front of everyone’s eyes, revealing the contents of the box.

  Abruptly, complete silence descended.

  The item inside this brocade box was actually a dog’s collar!

  The meaning could not be clearer. Zhao Lun was going to treat Ling Han like a dog, taking him to his side and ordering him about.

  Such contempt! Such humiliation!

  In my eyes, you were a mere dog.

  “Ling Han, Senior Brother Zhao said that if you accept this gift, your life will be spared,” Wang Wan said with a smile, his face filled with arrogance.

  Shua , everyone’s eyes turned to stare fixedly at Ling Han.

  Accepting this gift, he would be Zhao Lun’s servant and lackey, but if he did not accept, his only fate was death.

  Who would dare treat Zhao Lun’s words as a mere joke?

  Unless Ling Han hid for the rest of his life in the Academy, wouldn’t it be too easy for the son of the Great General Zhao to kill a Shattering Void Tier cultivator?

  What was he going to do?

  Whether he accepted this gift or otherwise, Ling Han was finished.

  There was nothing else that could be done. From the moment that Ling Han and Shui Yanyu were entangled together, his fate was already destined.

  A flash of fury flickered in Ling Han’s eyes, yet his expression was frighteningly calm. He looked at that dog collar, and strode out.

  Was he planning to accept?

  True, compared with his life, what would dignity count as? Furthermore, becoming Zhao Lun’s dog… a great many were more than willing to do so, though Zhao Lun did not consider them worthy in the least.

  Wang Wan’s and Zhang Qing’s lips curled up, and their faces were painted all over with ‘as expected’.

  Who would not be afraid of death?

  Ling Han stretched out a hand and grabbed the collar. Then, in a sudden burst of force, pa , this collar was instantly snapped in two in his hands. He carelessly tossed it onto the ground, and said calmly, “Pass the message to Zhao Lun. I appreciate his kindness, but I do not have the fortune to enjoy.”

  Pa , the dog collar was thrown onto the ground, and a crisp sound of impact rang out.

  Once again, complete silence fell.

  Ling Han was planning to stand against Zhao Lun!

  Where had he gotten such courage and confidence from? His opponent was Zhao Lun, the only son of the Great General Zhao Lun, and an elite in the higher levels of the Mountain River Tier! He was also rumored to be a three-star genius. What qualified you to oppose him?

  “How dare you, you actually dare to break Senior Brother Zhao’s gift! Do you know what great crime you have committed?” Wang Wan shouted in harsh rebuke.

  Ling Han’s eyes were cold as he said, “After being brought something like this to humiliate me, should I not smash it? The two of you get out here immediately, don’t annoy me with the sight of your faces.”

  “You are already a dead man, and you still dare to be arrogant?” Wang Wan said icily.

  Pa!

  Ling Han stretched out a hand, and picked him up in a single move. With his current abilities, those with battle prowess below 20 Stars were naturally no match for him. He squeezed Wang Wan’s neck, and retorted coldly, “Since I am already a dead man, I would not mind dragging a few people to be buried next to me!”

  Wang Wan instantly felt all his hair stand on ends. He did not have the slightest bit of resolve to give up his life for Zhao Lun’s sake. He had no enmity with Ling Han, and if he died, then wouldn’t that be a great loss?

  “No, no, no, don’t kill me!” he uttered in a trembling voice.

  “Coward!” With a careless toss, Ling Han threw Wang Wan out.

  The Academy allowed spars, but definitely did not allow killing nor crippling. Ling Han had never thought he was a dead man, so he was naturally not going to throw himself in just because of a nobody.

  “Get lost!” he shouted.

  Wang Wan and Zhang Qing quickly left with their tails between their legs. They were indeed not weak, but how could there be anyone that was Ling Han’s match in the Shattering Void Tier?

  “You’ve forgotten something!” Ling Han raised his foot, and xiu , kicked the broken dog collar over.

  Wang Wan caught the collar, but did not dare delay his departure, his dejected figure soon disappearing from sight.

  Everyone that witnessed this only felt that though Ling Han managed to be forceful this time, what about afterwards?

  While the Academy forbade higher-level students to make a move against lower-level students, Ling Han could not possibly stay in the Shattering Void Tier forever. The moment he advanced into the lower levels of the Mountain River Tier, cultivators at the peak of the lower levels would be able to forcefully challenge him.

  It was true that you were a four-star genius, but the Academy similarly did not lack three-star and two-star geniuses, and they could still torture you till you were in so much pain that you wished you were dead.

  Moreover, could you stay forever in the Academy?

  Everyone shook their heads. Obviously, Ling Han’s days were numbered.

  ***

  Luo Clan Residence.

  Luo Hongdao summoned Luo Ba, and asked, “Have you completed refining the Bloodtear Stone?”

  “Yes, Lord Patriarch!” Luo Ba was filled with confidence. His current battle prowess was as high as 21 Stars, which puffed him up with pride.

  “That lowlife has become deadly enemies with Zhao Lun, and it is destined that he won’t live long!” Luo Hongdao said. “You’ll immediately go and challenge that lowlife. Otherwise, if he died in Zhao Lun’s hands, there would be no chance for you to wash off your shame. Additionally, if you kill that lowlife for Zhao Lun, we may be able to get a connection with a great tree like
the Great General Zhao.”

  “Yes, Lord Patriarch!” Luo Ba smirked coldly. He could no longer wait to kill Ling Han.

  Chapter 923 - An Unexpected Profit

  Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

  On the next day after Zhao Lun delivered his “gift”, Luo Ba issued a battle notice, intending to challenge Ling Han to a battle to the death.

  It was not an ordinary spar, but rather a fight where only one would come out alive.

  In the Scarlet Heaven Academy, if both parties were on the same cultivation level, for example, both were in the lower levels of the Mountain River Tier or in the Shattering Void Tier, they were free to spar with one another. As long as one side wanted to battle, there was no need for the other person to agree at all.

  But this kind of spar could not end in permanent injury or death. Otherwise, the Academy would pursue the offender as responsible.

  Hence, if you wanted a battle to death, there was a need to publicly make an appointment for the battle and obtain the agreement of the other party before the fight could begin. In this way, no matter what the conclusion was, neither side would have to bear any consequences.

  However, in so many years, there were pitifully few such duels that actually took place.

  A battle to the death!

  Everyone in the Academy was astonished. Although not many people favored a cultivator that came from a small world, Ling Han was a different story. He was an emperor that had come by opening the sky, and this meant that his abilities had reached the extent of 20 Stars.

  Moreover, Luo Ba should be even clearer about the gap in power between himself and Ling Han. Previously, he had been on the receiving end of two slaps from Ling Han, and was absolutely powerless to do anything about it, yet now, he actually challenged Ling Han to a death battle… Had he been bewitched or something?

  Could it be that Luo Ba had a major improvement in his abilities, and thought himself capable of defeating Ling Han?

  Now, Luo Ba had made his move, and it was up to Ling Han whether to accept or otherwise.

  Ling Han’s response was very decisive: as long as he paid, he would fight. The fee for his appearance was 10 True Origin Stones. If he won, there would be an additional payment of 100 True Origin Stones. The battle would only commence after an agreement was signed.