Legacy of Hatred-Chapter 162: Compensation

The six Sects were neighbors, but in the cultivation world’s sense. They weren’t close for mortals by any stretch of the imagination, covering a vast stretch of land most wouldn’t travel through their entire lives.

Luckily, the Crimson Warrior Sect was one of the closest, even closer than the Mutated Battlefield. After barely two days, the carriage stopped, allowing Liam and the Alchemy Elder to complete the remainder of the journey on foot.

Liam had fully healed by then, even making some progress in the circulation technique. Still, his mind remained devoid of useless thoughts now that the promised face-off was imminent, that serious stance deepening when his perception alerted him.

Something hit Liam’s nape when the duo reached the edge of a vast canyon. The place wasn’t too deep, but it was barren, the night’s dimness unable to hide its yellow, almost sandy surfaces.

The canyon wasn’t even straight or seamless. It featured multiple rocky hills at its bottom, creating an intricate maze of small and wide paths that led nowhere.

Despite the place being in the open, Liam knew mortals would avoid it. There was nothing down there, and reaching the bottom would be dangerous without specific equipment, let alone climbing out.

Yet, that didn’t apply to cultivators. Liam also sensed Qi in the air, albeit not with the same intensity as the Mutated Battlefield. His perception also highlighted unnatural details, making him think about formations.

The Alchemy Elder didn’t waste time on the inspection. He soon jumped down, treading the steep, rocky slope like any other flat surface, and Liam easily followed along.

The two reached the canyon’s bottom and proceeded ahead, avoiding straight, flat paths, treading the various hills’ slopes. Yet, the Alchemy Elder stopped once they reached a vast clearing before a series of taller rocky structures.

The unnatural discrepancy in Liam’s perception was more intense there, but he failed to focus on that since his Master voiced the craziest claim he had ever heard anyone speak.

"I, Horace Rauret, have received offense at the hands of the Crimson Warrior Sect!" The Alchemy Elder declared. "As such, I will suffer its existence no longer!"

Liam’s face snapped at his Master, only for his eyes to go wide when the Elder retrieved something from under his cloak, sending his perception into an uproar.

A spherical flask containing a dark liquid ended in the Elder’s hand, and he lifted it above his head as if to announce its power, which almost stirred Liam to retreat in fear. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

After all, the transparent glass couldn’t suppress the dangerous boundlessness the liquid exuded. It was so profound that Liam almost failed to gauge its power, but stark enough to remind him of something.

’Rank 4?!’ Liam cried in his mind, connecting that boundlessness to whatever higher power the Sect Leader possessed.

Liam’s core even stirred awake at the vicinity with that liquid, seemingly resonating with it. Whatever that item was, it was undoubtedly toxic.

"Fool of a disciple," The Elder scolded under his breath. "Stand straight and only look ahead in confidence."

The deadliness Liam felt from that liquid prevented the appearance of his usual greed. He only wanted to get as far away as possible from that immensely superior item, but his trust in his Master surpassed his tingling nape.

Yet, what followed didn’t make it any easier for Liam to remain straight on his feet.

A vast, boundless aura that seemed to carry the secrets of the world washed over the area, almost turning the air liquid as it filled the atmosphere.

Liam wasn’t strong enough to understand power differences on such a superior level, but intentions were something he could catch up on. Unlike the Sect Leader, that aura felt slightly oppressive, leaking unmistakable enmity.

The overwhelming event culminated in the sudden materialization of a burly man in front of the duo, whom Liam could inspect since he wasn’t looking directly at him.

The man wore half of the Crimson Warrior Sect’s red robe, leaving his torso in the open. He was quite hairy, a trend mirrored in his messy, long black beard and hair. He looked to be in his thirties, but his stern, dark gaze carried the bottomless depth of unfathomable experience.

"Master Horace," The man called, his firm, profound voice threatening to make the ground shake. "You honor my Crimson Warrior Sect with your presence."

The announcement confirmed what that suffocating presence had already declared. Liam had somehow ended before the Crimson Warrior Sect’s Leader, and as an enemy at that.

"Spare me your pleasantries," The Alchemy Elder snorted. "The Crimson Warrior Sect insulted me, so I shall exact my retribution."

The Alchemy Elder lowered the spherical flask and broke its sealed tip with his thumb. Miraculously, nothing spilled out. No deadly smoke leaked, either, but Liam still had to suppress the newfound urge to run away.

That turned out to be easy since the oppressive aura kept Liam stuck on his feet anyway. Yet, that suffocating presence didn’t prevent him from studying the interaction.

Despite the power difference, the Elder was being as rude as always. Moreover, the red Sect Leader didn’t crush such disrespectful behavior, his dark gaze instead following the now-open flask.

"Please, Master Horace," The Sect Leader exclaimed, wearing a smile. "It was but a scuffle among disciples, one that your disciple overcame triumphantly. I must actually offer my praises for such an incredible achievement."

"My disciple’s achievements are no compensation for your Sect’s insults," The Elder declared. "Junior, next time, teach your disciples not to mock me."

Something seemed about to explode, but the Elder was the first to act, crushing the flask in his hands. Glass shards and the black liquid stained his skin, but more fell to the ground, burrowing deep into it.

The Sect Leader’s smile vanished, replaced by wariness. The danger the black liquid posed had made him hesitate, but noticing how casually the Elder let it stain his hand led to some confusion.

"This is one of my creations," The Alchemy Elder explained, lifting his dirty hand, inspecting it from under his hood. "I admit I’m quite fond of it. It’s harmless to touch, but if a mere drop spills to the ground ..."

As if to reply to the Elder, black patches rose from where the liquid had fallen, expanding over the yellow soil, becoming one big stain that kept stretching everywhere.

"It will continue to expand," The Elder casually commented, wiping his hand on his cloak. "Until the ground itself will begin to repel Qi."

The explosion that hadn’t unfolded earlier happened now. The suffocating aura transformed into a raging storm that filled the entire canyon with violent tremors and threatened to squash Liam to a pulp out of mere virtue of witnessing it.

However, the storm only hurt. Liam felt unable to breathe, and something weighed on him, almost lowering his hooded head, but his figure remained straight.

Whatever silent threat the red Sect Leader was exerting, he was still containing himself.

"Do you realize what you have done?" The Sect Leader questioned, his deep voice echoing to no end, pressing heavily on Liam’s eardrums. "How do you expect this madness to end in any way other than your and your disciple’s deaths?"

Liam was genuinely scared. He was trapped in currents he couldn’t hope to oppose, the entirety of his strength necessary to remain still. Truth was, he couldn’t move even if he tried, but his ears captured his Master’s snicker.

"Because every alchemist worth their salt can undo their creations," The Elder revealed, that statement sounding like a lesson for Liam.

The Sect Leader understood the statement’s implications, and his stormy aura slightly relented.

"Master Horace, your skills are known to us all," The Sect Leader stated, "But there are plenty of capable alchemists the Crimson Warrior Sect can contact instead."

"And how long would it take those Juniors to reverse one of Horace Rauret’s creations?" The Elder scoffed. "How much of your Sect will you lose until then? Would it even be worth saving at that point?"

The Sect Leader’s heavy aura relented even further as his dark gaze went to the ground. The earthquake also stopped as he studied the still-expanding black spot, knowing that far worse was unfolding underground.

"Your demands," The Sect Leader eventually voiced.

"I demand compensation!" The Elder cried, his tone reminding Liam of when he bragged. "Compensation!"

"And what can compensate for the insult on such an esteemed master?" The Sect Leader asked, wearing a stiff smile, clearly not liking playing along.

"For starters," The Alchemy Elder snorted. "Since your Sect tried to kill my disciple, it’s only natural that it pays for his breakthrough."