Volume Two: Travels in Qi Chapter 76: Audacious Beyond Measure

After Wu Hong arrived in Sandstone City, he had kept himself behind closed doors, indifferent to everything. Today, however, he unexpectedly appeared here.

Li Hongyi bowed deeply toward Wu Hong, his posture humble, and asked respectfully, "Are you Wu Hong, Master Wu of the Pill Pavilion?"

"That’s me. What do you want?" Wu Hong replied carelessly, not even bothering to glance at them.

He was busy examining Zhang Heng, as if checking him for injuries.

All Zhang Heng wanted to say was, “I’m not into men, old man.”

Wu Hong’s attitude was only natural. What sort of people are pill masters? How could they possibly care about such rabble? Aside from his skills in alchemy, Wu Hong’s own cultivation had already reached the Void Return Realm. If not for Zhang Heng’s presence, he wouldn’t have bothered getting involved in this dispute.

"Master Wu, the Yun family lost my Li family's goods. I’m only here to retrieve them. Please, Master Wu, discern the truth," Li Hongyi tried to use this as an excuse.

"Nonsense. Your goods were intercepted by the Whale Sand Gang, and their people are right beside you. If you want your goods, ask them. Do you think I’m senile and my brain’s gone soft?" Wu Hong snapped. He had looked into the matter, since Zhang Heng wanted to help the Yun family.

"Leave at once. I won’t hold it against you, but if you don’t listen, you’ll pay for it," Wu Hong said, shaking his head dismissively.

"We’re leaving, we’re leaving," Li Hongyi and Viper retreated hastily, unwilling but unable to resist. They turned to gather their people to depart.

They were mere small fry; how could they afford to offend someone like Wu Hong? Despite their dominance in Sandstone City, Wu Hong could destroy them with a single word.

Pill masters were the most unique among cultivators. Those seeking fortune and opportunity inevitably suffered injuries, making pill masters invaluable. The pill masters themselves weren’t terrifying; it was their connections that were.

As the Li family and Whale Sand Gang prepared to leave, Yun Feng felt utterly drained. His body trembled, but he dared not say a word. In the current situation, even a single misplaced sentence could mean instant death.

The Yun family rejoiced, celebrating their impending victory. They never imagined even Wu Hong would come to their aid.

Almost everyone believed the farce was over.

Just then, a sinister voice echoed, "Wait," chilling weaker cultivators to the bone.

Without a word, the Void Return Realm cultivator who had been standing at the edge of the scene moved, appearing before Wu Hong in an instant.

"Wu Hong, you shouldn’t be here," came the low, ominous voice.

"And who might you be? I don’t know you. Don’t try to get friendly," Wu Hong replied with disdain, glancing at the newcomer.

"Out of respect for your Pill Pavilion status, leave now and I won’t trouble you."

(This line sounded strangely familiar.)

The Li family and Whale Sand Gang were both secretly alarmed. Now, advancing or retreating were equally perilous. Wu Hong was not to be trifled with, but neither was this Void Return Realm powerhouse. They could only watch anxiously as events unfolded.

"If you know I’m from the Pill Pavilion, then do as you’re told. Go back. If you stay here, you’ll regret it," Wu Hong was a figure of authority. People had always treated him with deference; none had ever defied him. Seeing this man threaten him, he was naturally incensed.

The Void Return Realm expert, whom Yun Feng had called Master Yi, tore off his black robe, revealing a shriveled body and a bloodless face.

Everyone was shocked. This man’s entire body showed no signs of life; wrinkled skin clung to bone, devoid of flesh, sustained only by a trace of spiritual energy.

"Pill Pavilion, I dare not provoke. But I have no choice now. If you won’t leave, I’ll kill you—dragging a fourth-rank pill master down with me before I die is a fine bargain," his voice was weak, as if on the verge of death, but it carried a chilling intent.

He truly had no other options. His lifespan was spent, his flame nearly extinguished. Were it not for the spiritual energy of the Void Return Realm, he would have been long dead.

Barring some miracle, his remaining spiritual energy could last only another month. In one month, he would die, with no hope of recovery. Thus, he had to obtain the map to the tomb. If he could acquire fortune in the grave of a Divine Transformation Realm powerhouse, perhaps he could extend his life.

Wu Hong ignored him. The man unleashed his vast spiritual energy, sweeping it toward Wu Hong. Truthfully, if he had any other choice, he would never provoke the Pill Pavilion.

Wu Hong was secretly alarmed. Pill masters focused on alchemy; though he was at the first level of Void Return, his combat ability might not match this man’s.

But Wu Hong had come to protect the future of alchemy; he could never abandon Zhang Heng.

"No matter your intentions, I will not leave today. The Yun family’s matter is mine to handle."

"Wu Hong, this is your last warning. If you won't leave, you will die here. Even if the Pill Pavilion has divine abilities, it will take them time to trace me. By then, I’ll be hiding somewhere they can’t find. Wouldn’t you have died for nothing?" the man continued, sincerely hoping to avoid this outcome.

"Then come!" Wu Hong was undaunted. He was still a Void Return cultivator, carrying many powerful pills. He could hold out until the Pill Pavilion arrived; then, victory would be his.

Li Hongyi and Viper saw the tension escalate and knew it was time to make their choice.

They had to side with the Void Return powerhouse; otherwise, death was certain. He would never let witnesses to the murder of a Pill Pavilion member live.

Though the man’s energy was nearly spent, his Void Return strength made killing them effortless.

Li Hongyi and Viper were ruthless; they knew how to choose.

Both bowed deeply toward the Void Return expert. "Senior, we are willing to assist you in exterminating the Yun family."

The Void Return cultivator did not reply, but they understood the need for swift action. Gathering their spiritual energy, they launched an attack toward the Yun family, who braced themselves for a desperate fight.

As events reached this point, Yun Feng was filled with deep regret. He had never imagined things would turn out this way. Now, his only option was to escape quickly, before anyone’s attention turned to him.

Seeing the Void Return expert unwilling to retreat and intent on killing them, Zhang Heng smiled and stepped in front of Wu Hong. He looked arrogantly at the Li family, Whale Sand Gang, and the Void Return cultivator.

"You’re ruthless, but don’t blame me, Zhang Heng, for being even more ruthless," he declared, his voice booming with confidence, though no one paid him any mind.

Before anyone could react, Zhang Heng gathered his spiritual energy in his finger and drew a line in the air, separating the Yun family from the Li family and Whale Sand Gang.

Without caring about the others’ reactions, Zhang Heng shouted, "Anyone who crosses this line will die without mercy!"

His words sparked laughter from the Li family and the Whale Sand Gang.

"Boy, your disguise has been exposed. How dare you boast like this? What a joke."

No one took Zhang Heng seriously.

Zhang Heng glanced at everyone and said calmly, "It’s true I’m not at the Void Return Realm. My real strength is at the Heavenly Origin Realm."

As he spoke, the Phantom Stone shifted again, transforming his Void Return spiritual energy into that of the Heavenly Origin Realm.

"Boy! You just have a treasure that can alter your spiritual energy aura. We all know it. Do you really think you can scare us with that? You think we’re fools?" Li Hongyi laughed loudly.

Zhang Heng smiled serenely. "If you don’t believe me, try it for yourselves."