Chapter 180 - Paying Respects to a Radiant Stage

Eh?

Half a mile out, a tall and buffed elderly with silver hair was flying idly behind them. Then, his brows furrowed and a hint of shock swept his face.

“Was I discovered?”

The elderly’s eyes flash in suspicion, then shook his head, “Not possible. They are only a Bone Tempering Stage and a Profound Heaven Stage. Only the likes of Radiant Stage experts can discover me. They picked up the pace since they were hurrying. Yes, that has to be it. “

Laughing dryly, the elderly had no clue how close to home his random guess brought him.

If these two with their low cultivation could spot a Radiant Stage, then the latter would find themselves obsolete.

The old man used his soul to scour the place of battle and shouted, “Damn brat, they’re so weak yet, they killed six Profound Heaven experts of three houses, and perfectly too. He-he-he, his reputation precedes him. The kid must have an even more valuable body cultivation method than Imperial Tyrant Body Art.”

He licked his lips and excitement danced in his eyes as he increased his speed.

But his act was easily picked up by Zhuo Fan as he pulled Vicious Pill King even faster.

There was no denying it this time, the old man was spotted. Why else would Zhuo Fan react so quickly?

Then he recalled his earlier thought about being obsolete.

His face went red in a flash and felt like slapping himself for those needless remarks. But the way he looked at Zhuo Fan was with even more zeal.

“He-he-he, this kid is a freak through and through. How amusing!”

The old man ramped up his speed ten times and in mere breaths, he already caught the two in his sights, only a thousand meters out.

Startled, Zhuo Fan found his pursuer close behind and shouted, “Shit, the old guy is almost on top of us!”

“What, that fast?”

Vicious Pill King peeked behind and paled in fright, “Why did it have to be this freak? My poor life is over!”

“You know him?” Zhuo Fan asked.

Vicious Pill King nodded on the verge of tears, “Who doesn’t? Everyone of my generation knows and fears this freak.”

“Who is he?”

“The Mad Dipper, Li Jingtian!” Vicious Pill King swallowed dryly as he broke out in cold sweat.

Zhuo Fan was also becoming anxious, having never seen Vicious Pill King so scared before. With how arrogant he usually was, he would stand up even to a Radiant Stage if the chance arose.

Just then, a booming laughter entered their ears, “Ha-ha-ha, don’t run, I recognize you. Aren’t you that Yan Song kid? And is that little imp next to you is Zhuo Fan? You better halt, there’s something I want to discuss with you!”

Vicious Pill King’s face sank.

[Why is it that my face changed so much that those two Regent Estate elders couldn’t tell who I am even when they held me, yet, you saw through me from a mile away?]

Then, he realized. The old freak just scanned with his soul and instantly knew the truth.

Zhuo Fan could feel the shivering Vicious Pill King and was panicking as well.

This guy was no pushover. Their fate would be grim once the old guy gets his paws on them. Only a moron would stop now.

His Lightning Wings flapped and doubled his speed.

“Humph, learn when to quit!”

Squinting, Li Jingtian released a ripple that shot straight for the two with deadly precision.

[Killing with intent?]

Zhuo Fan looked back flustered as the azure flame flashed in his eyes.

Hum~

Another visible ripple was shot. Incomparable with the first, but enough to pull up a defense against the first one.

Bam!

The two intents clashed, vibrating the space itself. A bolt of pain shocked Zhuo Fan’s head and the azure flame appeared on his forehead.

Next, Zhuo Fan pulled Vicious Pill King speeding up as he tried to ease the shock he felt.

His soul may have entered the Radiant Stage, but he was a long way from being Li Jingtian’s level. When their intents collided, it forced his azure flame out.

He was clear the azure flame safeguarded his soul. Its appearance proved what a serious threat the old man’s intent had to his soul, despite not meaning to kill him outright.

Even so, his soul wasn’t free from injury.

If that intent had hit, he’d be out cold and waiting for the old guy to pick him up.

While he was shocked, a thousand meters behind him, Li Jingtian was downright struck dumb. He really didn’t see it coming. Only a Radiant Stage could grasp this ability yet, he just witnessed a Bone Tempering cultivator using it.

He looked as if he saw a tiger sprout wings and take off. Not only was it impossible, but seeing it become reality, he realized what a true freak that kid was.

A tiger was the king of beasts. If it took flight, then who could stand up to him?

He felt a real threat coming off from Zhuo Fan. He could use Radiant Stage’s abilities in the Bone Tempering Stage. Then, when he reached the Radiant Stage, he’d be unstoppable.

At that point, even fellow Radiant Stage cultivators would fall beneath the kid’s intent.

This last thought sent a shiver down Li Jingtian’s spine. No wonder the seven houses gathered to end this brat once and for all.

The best freak out there was a dead one. Leave him alone and he might grow even beyond the demon three centuries ago.

Bloodthirst seeped into Li Jingtian’s eyes. If he found Zhuo Fan amusing at first, now he wanted nothing more than to squeeze the last drop of life out of him and rid the world of a future menace.

But that didn’t say anything about not wringing out the things he wanted first.

Li Jingtian went faster, shooting for the two like a meteor. Zhuo Fan could barely react as their necks were grabbed in steel like vises.

“Ha-ha-ha, let’s see you run now?”

So fast!

Zhuo Fan scowled. Wondering if he should use this chance to let Blood Infant on him. But he cast that thought aside as soon as it came.

This man was in the Radiant Stage, and had Discerning Field around him. Blood Infant would be discovered the instant it left his body. Unless Blood Infant entered the Profound Heaven Stage and reached a speed that surpassed a Radiant Stage’s soul detection.

A pity, he was only in the 5th layer of Bone Tempering Stage. Since he shared his life with Blood Infant, the two had the same cultivation!

[Goddammit! Why did I bump into a Radiant Stage!?] Zhuo Fan cursed inside his bad luck as cold sweat ran down his back.

He was utterly powerless in the face of a Radiant Stage expert. This feeling of having his life in the hands of someone else was the worse he’d ever felt, not to mention, dangerous.

“Ha-ha-ha, you little prick, I don’t know how you become so young and handsome, but no matter how fast you run, you can never escape me!”

Ignoring Zhuo Fan, Li Jingtian turned to the shivering Vicious Pill King.

Vicious Pill King looked as if he just lost his mum, “Senior Li, how can I compare to you? When you became widely known throughout Tianyu, I was but a lowly 2nd-grade alchemist. Don’t you care how people will see you if you kill me?”

“Oh, I always heard how haughty Vicious Pill King, but you looked more like a mouse to me. Where’s your zeal, your backbone?”

“Elder Li, don’t joke. I would never dare act pompous before you.” Vicious Pill King said downcast, “Senior Li, in the end, you are Regent Estate’s guest Venerable. This is obviously a misunderstanding between the houses. Why not…”

“Houses?”

Raising an eyebrow, Li Jingtian cracked up, “You mean Regent Estate and Pill King Hall or Regent Estate and Zhuo Fan’s clan?”

Vicious Pill King’s mind shivered at this. He was planning on keeping his dumb act, to get out of this alive. But it didn’t look like this was going to happen anytime sooner.

Li Jingtian’s smile was frosty, “Don’t think I don’t know. I saw your fight earlier. You turned your back on Pill King Hall and threw your lot with Zhuo Fan!”

“Uh…” Vicious Pill King was stumped, turning to Zhuo Fan for a way out.

Since going back to Pill King Hall was out, betraying Zhuo Fan was impossible. That would make him immoral. He was Vicious Pill King, not an opportunist like Lin Zitian who swung both ways. He still cared about his face, albeit younger.

Sighing, Vicious Pill King admitted, “Yes, I left Pill King Hall. I will follow Steward Zhuo to the Luo clan. Now if you want to kill me, go ahead.”

Zhuo Fan nodded inside.

He saw Vicious Pill King as a devout alchemist foremost and a loyalist second, a man you could count on.

Li Jingtian didn’t expect such a blunt reply and laughed, “Good! Yan Song. You live up to your rumors. I will let you go, but this kid…”

“You want to kill me?” Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow, staring at Li Jingtian, “Sure. I mean, you are Regent Estate’s Venerable and I killed your second young master and you want vindication. But I couldn’t help but hear that you are their guest Venerable and have no relation with Regent Estate.”

“Where are you going with this?” Li Jingtian’s eyes flashed.

Grinning, Zhuo Fan spoke boldly, “Then let’s discuss terms for you to join me. What Regent Estate offers you, I, Zhuo Fan, can not only meet their offer, but double it!”