The sixty-second strand.
The sixty-ninth strand.
The seventy-second strand.
Vast Qi slowed its growth speed after surpassing seventy strands, finally stabilizing at seventy-nine strands. Eight clusters of Vast Qi hovered around Su Mu like eight lamps illuminating the long night, seven bright and one dim.
Huff!
With a breath exhaled, Su Mu slowly opened his eyes, in which the Vast Qi and the Five Elements shimmered.
Five Elements Technique (Small Success 39%)
"Not only did I comprehend the Alchemy Skill, but both Vast Qi and the Five Elements Technique have progressed significantly. Vast Qi increased by thirty-one strands, and the Five Elements Technique surged by over thirty proficiency points during the epiphany."
Su Mu felt delighted; tonight, he originally aimed to plunder the Prince’s Mansion’s Alchemy Skill and launch an attack on the Wang Family. Yet, unexpectedly, he stumbled upon an opportunity.
He not only comprehended the Entry Level Alchemy Skill but also experienced an epiphany, elevating both Vast Qi and the Five Elements Technique, progressing in three areas simultaneously.
"Are you not from the Wang Family?"
Soon, an elderly voice broke the tranquility in the room, and Su Mu felt Elder Baili’s gaze on him. As their eyes met, Su Mu saw complexity and a hint of panic.
Baili Ye, however, saw depth and gratitude.
"Thank you, Elder, for the guidance in Alchemy Skill." Su Mu first stood and clasped his hands in respect toward the elder, bowing slightly, "Tonight’s events were unintended; I am indeed not of the Wang Family."
Although he had already guessed, Baili Ye’s face slightly changed upon Su Mu’s confirmation, thinking to himself that it was indeed so.
"The Wang Family rose due to the Li Family’s influence over a century but betrayed the Li Family to side with the Zhou Family. Such conduct is disgraceful; I once advised Wang Qi against it... and anticipated today’s outcome."
"Come, give this old man a swift end."
Su Mu looked at the resigned elder and asked a question.
"You’re not from the Wang Family either, are you?"
"This old man does not change name or surname, Baili Ye of the Pill Cauldron Pavilion."
Upon hearing this, Su Mu bowed again.
"Elder Baili, please remain inside; tonight’s happenings will not affect this place."
"Wait."
Su Mu paused his steps, listening to Baili Ye speak, "Take that furnace of pills with you, along with the Pill Furnace itself, as compensation for my past debt to the Li Family."
Li Family?
Su Mu recalled the brother and sister from the day; they must be from the Li Family, abandoned by the Wang Family, as mentioned by Baili Ye.
"Alright, I’ll take the pills."
Su Mu swiftly collected the furnace of pills and strode out, closing the door to cut off the firelight outside while faintly seeing another cyan flame soaring upwards.
Soon, amidst the chaos at the Prince’s Mansion, shrill screams began to emerge.
...
Outside Qifeng Town, wind and sand swirled as figures engaged in a life-and-death chase.
"Cough, cough!"
Li Heng, fleeing, coughed up several mouthfuls of blood; his upper body was already stained with it, displaying urgency on his handsome face, fists clenched as he looked back at the figures pursuing him.
Li Heng’s gaze sifted through the Wang Family members, landing on the last two figures, unable to conceal the killing intent and hatred within his eyes.
Two figures, one being the Master of the Wang Family, Wang Qi, and the other being the Wang Family’s Tributor, Zhou Ying.
"Li Family brat, still unwilling to surrender quickly? Do you still dream of escaping alive tonight?!"
"Hahaha, Li family brat, meet your end!"
Two chilling voices came from behind.
"Wang Qi... Zhou Ying!"
Li Heng gritted his teeth, mentioning their names, especially Zhou Ying’s, with a cruel expression, though both were hiding behind several Sixth-Grade Martial Artists of the Wang Family. Even wanting to risk his life to take them down together was impossible.
"Damn it, enemies at hand, vengeance unfulfilled; am I really going to die tonight?!"
Li Heng tightened his grip progressively, fingernails digging into flesh, bleeding without noticing. If he died here, he couldn’t accept it.
"Clang!"
Just as Li Heng’s resolve wavered, a silver gleam coldly split the long sky, rushing towards him.
Zip.
Li Heng quickly pulled out another Talisman, injected with Spiritual Qi before it spontaneously burned, forming a Thick Earth Barrier. However, these Low Grade Sixth Grade Talismans could only slightly deflect the Flying Sword’s edge.
Eventually, the Thick Earth Barrier was breached by the Flying Sword.
"Thud!"
Li Heng groaned painfully, another bloody cavity opened on his right arm, the Flying Sword returned to Zhou Ying’s hand, evading a sword, yet his despair deepened.
He realized the opponent likely toyed with him; otherwise, he wouldn’t have escaped this far, nor survived without severe injury from Zhou Ying’s sword.
"Li Family brat, I’d like to see how many more Talismans you have left."
"Don’t kill the Li Family brat; I want him captured alive for the Zhou Family!"
Zhou Ying’s chilling voice echoed again, accompanied by the shameless laughter of Wang Family members, for when had they ever had the chance to taunt such a member of a noble family from Donglai County.
Clang clang!
Each time Zhou Ying summoned the Flying Sword, it reaped results, and another blood cavity opened on Li Heng’s body as yet another Flying Sword was conjured.
"Am I... am I just going to die?"
Li Heng staggered, face filled with despair, transformed completely into a bloody figure. His limbs felt immensely heavy, and every breath consumed his entire energy, panting heavily.
But at that moment, Wang Qi’s waist-mounted Jade Pendant—a symbol of the Master of the Wang Family—vibrated intensely. As Wang Qi reached for it, a grand, melodic chime of Tiger Roar suddenly resonated from behind.
"Dong dong dong——!"
"Roar roar roar——!"
Such commotion stunned both parties present. Zhou Ying turned around to face Qifeng Town, with his complexion changing drastically before speaking in rage and surprise.
"Well, well, quite the brilliant tactic, luring the tiger away, attacking the east while aiming for that pill furnace?!"
Upon hearing this, the rest of the Wang Family froze, except Wang Qi’s face changed dramatically as he hastily retrieved the Jade Pendant. From within came intermittently terrified voices of Wang Family members, accompanied by shrill screams.
"House, House Master, we’re under attack, an enemy assault... ah!"
Words abruptly ceased, ending with a scream from the other end of the Jade Pendant.
"Pills?"
Li Heng was momentarily stunned; during his nighttime investigation, he had noticed someone refining pills in the Wang Family’s inner courtyard but paid it no mind. Now, it’s clear that the Prince’s Mansion was refining some important pills tonight, hence the panic.
Like seeing a lifeline, Li Heng regained his vigor, seizing the moment when the others were distracted, with several Talismans quietly appearing in his hand.
Then, with a resolute bite, he painfully pulled out a silver Talisman.
"Hmph, did you think this young master was unaware of your pill refining? You’re only realizing now; how foolish. Come, chase the young master!"
To advance by retreating, Li Heng deliberately provoked them to continue the pursuit, immediately flicking out several Talismans.
"Burst!"
A chilling burst followed, enveloping Li Heng in silver shimmer, making him vanish entirely.
"Where is he?"
"Di... disappeared?!"
As the fire dissipated, several Wang Family members stood stunned, Li Heng disappeared as if by magic.
"Damn it!"
Zhou Ying’s face turned somber, eyes flashing cold, knuckles cracking audibly, "The Li Family brat had an Instant Teleportation Talisman hidden, precious, gifted by the Li Family’s main line. He seized the concealment of flames to escape, and the Talisman is likely degraded; he’s within ten miles now!"
When a few Wang Family Sixth-Grade Martial Artists heard this, they swallowed nervously, tentatively asking:
"Tributor Zhou, should we keep chasing?"
Zhou Ying suddenly turned, gaze sharp as a blade, mocking laugh despite anger, daunting the Wang Family people into silence, none daring to meet his gaze.
"Fools! Rearing a bunch of fools; can’t even see through this?!"
Zhou Ying’s voice was icy, phrase by phrase.
"That kid isn’t fleeing for his life; he’s merely stalling for time, follow me back to the Wang Family at once!"