Chapter 174: Chapter 163: The Man in Hemp Clothes

"Why didn’t we kill that kid! He took all our elixirs and treasures, and most importantly, the Petrifying Tumor needed to refine that elixir for *that* person! Father, I just can’t stomach this!"

Inside Alchemy Master Liu Chengze’s residence, Liu Yuan stood in the middle of the main hall and roared impatiently at his father.

"Swallow it, whether you can or not. They represent the Iron Rock Mercenary Corps. While our power in Jibei City isn’t weak, there’s still a gap when compared to one of the Empire’s Three Great Mercenary Corps!"

Liu Chengze waved his hand, ignoring his son’s shouts.

As the Empire’s third-greatest Alchemy Master, Liu Chengze possessed a much calmer temperament than his son.

He had planned to make a fortune at today’s Pill Assembly, but ended up losing everything. He was furious, of course, but his opponent was the Iron Rock Mercenary Corps—one of the Empire’s Three Great Mercenary Corps. They could even casually produce an Ultimate Venerable Level Talisman. Faced with that, even he didn’t dare to act rashly.

’If they can produce a talisman for a wide-area attack, they can probably produce one for a single-target attack as well. If we push them too far, one move from a talisman like that would be all it takes. Peak of Qi Sect, Late-Stage Qi Sect... everyone would die!’

’Until I’m absolutely certain of my chances, I have to endure this, no matter how difficult. I must swallow this loss.’

"Master, Master..."

Just then, a servant walked in from outside.

"What is it?" Liu Chengze frowned.

"Well, Master, you told us to keep an eye on that young man named Nie Yun. We just received a report that he has left the Iron Rock Mercenary Corps’ branch and headed for the back mountain! It seems he’s going there for secluded cultivation..."

The servant reported the news he had just received. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"He went to the back mountain? Is what you’re saying true?" Liu Chengze froze, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Yes, quite a few people saw him. He has already left Jibei City!" the servant said.

"Good, you may go now." Liu Chengze waved his hand, dismissing the servant.

"Father, even the heavens are helping us! He dared to go to the back mountain alone. If we kill him, the Iron Rock Mercenary Corps will never know... Once he’s dead, the Petrifying Tumor, that spear, and all those other fine things will be ours!" Liu Yuan laughed in excitement.

"That may be true, but there’s no guarantee he doesn’t have an Ultimate Venerable Talisman on him. Tell you what, come with me. We’re going to find *that* person!"

After a moment of thought, as if he had just realized something, Liu Chengze stood up.

"Find *that* person? Excellent! What good is an Ultimate Venerable Talisman? Once we find that person, he’s dead for sure!"

Hearing his father’s words, Liu Yuan’s eyes lit up, and he was so overjoyed he almost jumped in the air.

’An Ultimate Venerable Talisman is formidable, but to *that* person, it’s nothing at all. Father is supposed to be performing alchemy for him and just so happens to need a Petrifying Tumor. If we can persuade him to act, killing that boy will be effortless!’

"Yes. When we are in his presence, do not speak out of turn. If you anger him, no one will be able to save you!" Liu Chengze warned, his expression grave.

"Don’t worry, Father! I may be reckless, but I understand what’s at stake. I will be careful!"

Liu Yuan lowered his head.

For Liu Yuan, nephew of a City Lord at the Peak of the Qi Sect Realm and son of the great Alchemy Master Liu Chengze, to be so cautious, it was a testament to the status and power of the person they were about to meet.

"Good. Let’s go." Seeing his son being so sensible, a look of approval appeared in Liu Chengze’s eyes. He nodded and led the way.

The father and son left their residence, mounted two horses, and galloped swiftly out of the city. In less than an hour, they arrived at the back mountain.

It was a secluded, uninhabited area. The gentle gurgle of a stream and the chirping of various birds filled the serene, elegant air. Beside the stream, a simple thatched hut was half-hidden among the dense foliage.

"Liu Chengze of Jibei City pays his respects, Your Excellency!"

Though they were still over a li from the hut, the pair dismounted. Liu Chengze, the renowned Alchemy Master, came to a halt before the simple dwelling, his face filled with reverence.

Although Liu Chengze was primarily an Alchemy Master, his own strength was considerable, having reached the Mid-Stage Qi Sect Realm. For someone of his power to address the hut’s owner as "Your Excellency" spoke volumes of the master’s own might!

"Have you finished refining the elixir?"

A voice drifted from the thatched hut.

The voice carried a sky-piercing arrogance, like a peerless Treasure Sword hidden in its sheath, ready to unleash world-shaking power the moment it was drawn.

"I came today precisely to inform Your Excellency about this matter. Of the medicinal materials required for the elixir you requested, we are still missing one primary ingredient. This material is incredibly difficult to find. We only just found a lead after so many days, but..."

Liu Chengze trailed off, hesitating.

"But what?" The voice from the hut grew deep.

"Well, we found the medicinal material at the Pill Assembly today. However, it was bought by a young man with a significant background, and despite my best efforts, I was unable to purchase it from him..."

Liu Chengze stammered, seeming to find the words difficult to say.

"What happened? Spit it out. I don’t like it when people mince their words," the voice in the hut huffed.

"Yes!" Liu Chengze hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I offered to purchase it from him at a high price. I even offered to trade the Great Yang Pill, the Child Returning Pill, and the Vajra Glaze Pill for it. Who would have thought that not only would he refuse the trade, but he would also injure my son, Liu Yuan... The two of us were no match for him, so we had to let the matter drop."

"Did you not tell him that I was the one who needed the medicinal material?" the voice from the hut asked.

"It would have been better if we hadn’t. The moment we mentioned you... he attacked. He said that if you wanted the medicinal material, you could go find him yourself... And his words were incredibly insulting. He said you were just chasing fame, that your reputation was undeserved, and that he could kill a pile of people like you with a single punch..." Liu Chengze said, his face a mask of terror.

"What? Chasing fame? An undeserved reputation?"

BOOM!

A blast of energy blew the hut’s door open, and a tall, thin figure strode out.

The man was dressed in simple hemp clothes and appeared to be in his thirties, but his eyes were like lightning, occasionally shooting out a cold glint that could make a person’s heart tremble.

"Yes..."

"’Yes?’ Hmph. Have you offended someone and are now trying to get me to clean up your mess?" The hemp-clothed man clearly didn’t believe a word. He sneered, his cold eyes seeming to peer right through Liu Chengze’s soul.

"I... I wouldn’t dare!" Liu Chengze was drenched in a cold sweat.

"Wouldn’t dare? I’ve long been aware of your tendencies. The only reason I’m having you handle my alchemy is because your Alchemy Skill is superb. I don’t care whether you have a grudge against this person or not. I will ask you one time: does he, or does he not, have that medicinal material?" the hemp-clothed man asked, his gaze chilling.

"He does. The medicinal material is called a Petrifying Tumor. It’s a special type that grows alongside mineral ore..." Liu Chengze said hastily.

"As long as he has it, that’s all that matters. Tell me what he looks like and where he is," the hemp-clothed man said flatly.

"Yes. His name is Nie Yun. He’s a..." Liu Chengze quickly gave a detailed description of Nie Yun’s appearance and the direction he had headed.

"Nie Yun? Fine. Wait for my news. I will retrieve the Petrifying Tumor." After speaking casually, the hemp-clothed man’s body vanished with a WHOOSH, disappearing so quickly it was as if he had never been there at all.

"He’s gone?"

After carefully scanning the area and confirming that the hemp-clothed man was truly gone, Liu Chengze’s legs gave out. With a THUMP, he collapsed to the ground. Only then did he realize his robes were completely soaked with cold sweat.