Chapter 117: Intimidation

Seeing Qin Feiyang’s calm expression, the old man in the black robe was quite surprised. Are there really people in this world who aren’t afraid to die?

With a single step, he seemed to teleport instantly, appearing right in front of Qin Feiyang. Their faces were almost touching.

Yet, Qin Feiyang showed no fear, not even stepping back an inch. He looked straight into the old man’s eyes and said, “If you want something, just say it. Don’t play these silly games.”

The old man was stunned. This kid really isn’t afraid?

With a sneer, he retreated to the side of the red flame and said, “You’re quite interesting, but you’re still going to die. Do you know why I’ve been hiding here?”

“Why?” Qin Feiyang frowned.

The old man said, “Have you ever heard of the Bloodwrath Pill?”

“What!” Qin Feiyang and the two others’ faces instantly changed.

The Bloodwrath Pill had a terrifying effect—it could boost cultivation. Although it couldn’t instantly raise one to a higher realm like the Scarlet Fire Glaze Pill, with enough Bloodwrath Pills, one’s cultivation speed would be many times faster than others.

But refining the Bloodwrath Pill required two essential ingredients.

And these ingredients were atrocious.

They were human blood and essence.

Not just any blood or essence—mortal blood and essence wouldn’t work; neither would those of fierce beasts. It had to be the blood and essence of martial artists!

Long ago, the first emperor of the Great Qin Empire had ordered the formula to be destroyed, and no alchemist was allowed to refine the Bloodwrath Pill anymore.

If anyone was caught, their entire clan would be exterminated!

Who would dare defy imperial authority?

Since then, the formula for the Bloodwrath Pill was lost, and over time, the pill itself faded into oblivion.

However, a few alchemists found the formula again and tried to refine the pill. After all, there were many with ill intentions. When the first emperor ordered the destruction, a few secretly kept copies.

But without exception, once discovered, they faced the wrath of both gods and men, hunted across the land, and met terrible ends. Even their families were implicated and slaughtered.

This bloody lesson made those with evil intentions think twice.

So, this man’s question—could it mean he’s hiding here to refine the Bloodwrath Pill?

“Heh heh... I’m just ten thousand pills short of reaching the Nine-Star Battle Emperor realm. Then, looking across Yan Prefecture, who could stand against me?”

“When that time comes, the first people I’ll kill are those four old dogs of the Yan King—to settle old scores!”

“Ha ha ha...” The old man laughed maniacally, his terrifying aura pressing down on the three so heavily they nearly suffocated.

“Nine-Star Battle Emperor?” “That means he’s currently at the Eight-Star Battle Emperor level!”

Feng Linger and Lin Chen were shocked.

Not only was he powerful, but he openly threatened to kill the Yan King. Who exactly was this man?

Qin Feiyang frowned as well. Eight-Star Battle Emperor was far beyond what he had expected. He couldn’t help but wonder if the ancient fortress would be enough to protect him.

“I remember,” Lin Chen said, “Eight years ago, there was an alchemist named Zuo An who was executed outside Yan City by the royal family, the Pill King Hall, the Martial King Hall, and the Treasure Pavilion because he was refining the Bloodwrath Pill.”

“Could you be Zuo An’s disciple or family member?” Lin Chen asked suspiciously.

“Zuo An?” Qin Feiyang raised an eyebrow.

“Heh heh... I didn’t expect someone so young to remember my name. Seems my fame back then was considerable!”

“That’s right. I am Zuo An!” The old man said, his fierce expression tempered with pride.

Lin Chen shuddered and said firmly, “Impossible. Many saw you die eight years ago. I was on the city wall watching, and though I was young, I wouldn’t have mistaken it.”

“Haha...” Zuo An laughed. “The world thought I was dead, but I narrowly escaped.”

“At the time, I planned to leave Yan Prefecture, but I wasn’t willing to give up.”

“They killed me, and I had no complaints—I had broken a great taboo. But why did they also target my family?”

“I swore revenge. So I stayed in Yan Prefecture, hiding here, continuing to refine the Bloodwrath Pill.”

“Eight years have passed. I’ve broken through from Six-Star to Eight-Star Battle Emperor. Revenge is just around the corner!”

Zuo An roared like a demon king, chilling all who heard him.

“What?” Lin Chen and Feng Linger’s scalps tingled. To rise two realms in just eight years—how many had died at this demon’s hands?

Qin Feiyang frowned and asked Lin Chen, “Why wasn’t such a major issue reported to the imperial capital when Zuo An was refining the Bloodwrath Pill?”

Eight years ago, Qin Feiyang was still in the capital and had never heard of this.

Lin Chen replied, “I heard from the family head that since Zuo An was presumed dead, the Yan King and others covered it up. If word got out that such a thing happened in Yan Prefecture, they would be punished.”

Just then, Lin Chen frowned and said, “Wait, how do you know that Yan King didn’t report it?”

“Yeah, how do you know?” Feng Linger looked at Qin Feiyang with suspicion.

Zuo An’s eyes suddenly narrowed in horror. “Could you be from the imperial capital?”

“From the imperial capital?” Feng Linger and Lin Chen were stunned.

Qin Feiyang’s heart tightened. Damn, what a stupid question to ask! How was he going to explain this now?

“Perhaps I should go along with it?” Seeing Zuo An’s terrified expression, Qin Feiyang straightened and took a step forward, nodding, “Yes, I am from the imperial capital.”

His nod startled the three greatly.

Taking advantage of their shock, Qin Feiyang stepped forward again, his long hair swirling, his expression haughty. “Not only am I from the imperial capital, I am a prince of the Great Qin Empire!”

His words carried immense authority.

At the same time, his entire aura shifted.

Originally, he carried a scholarly air, seeming delicate and weak.

But now, an unmistakable imperial majesty radiated from him.

This was his true nature.

Born into the royal family, the air of sovereignty had been cultivated within him since childhood. Even the nobles of the empire would be affected, let alone the three before him.

This imperial aura had been restrained ever since he was banished from the capital.

“Prince!” Zuo An and Feng Linger trembled, the word echoing in their minds.

They did not fully believe it—how could a prince be in Yan Prefecture?

But the royal aura was too real, too overwhelming. It shook their souls and left no room for doubt.

Qin Feiyang stepped forward again, closing to within three meters of Zuo An, shouting, “Zuo An, for your wanton slaughter and refining of the Bloodwrath Pill, what crime do you deserve?”

Zuo An’s hunched body trembled. “I…”

At that moment, Qin Feiyang took the Roaming Smoke Step, swept beside him, snatched the black Dan Flame, and vanished without a trace.

Of course, he returned to the ancient fortress.

He was gambling.

If the fortress was truly powerful enough to save his life, then the Dan Flame was his.

But if it couldn’t, he could only accept his fate.

As the Dan Flame disappeared, the black smoke surged, instantly engulfing the base.

“Damn little bastard, come out!” Zuo An roared furiously, his aura shooting skyward.

Under that pressure, the black smoke rapidly ascended.

His face twisted into a grotesque snarl, his eyes glowing an eerie green—like a man-eating demon, terrifying to behold.

Feng Linger and Lin Chen snapped back to reality, overwhelmed by the aura, stumbling back while coughing up blood, their faces pale as paper.

“Little bastard, don’t think you can hide and be safe!”

“The Netherworld Demon Flame has already acknowledged me as its master. At my will, I can awaken it and unleash a terrifying inferno to incinerate you to ashes!”

Zuo An sneered.

But in the next moment, his expression changed drastically as he shouted, “Impossible!”

He was horrified to find he had lost connection with the Netherworld Demon Flame.

Not only could he not awaken it, he couldn’t even sense its location.

Something was blocking the link between him and the flame.

“How could this be?”

“Impossible!”

“It must be an illusion!”

“Yes, it’s an illusion. I’ll wake up soon!”

He muttered in disbelief, slapping his own face again and again.

Inside the fortress, hearing Zuo An’s voice, Qin Feiyang exhaled deeply.

Then, he scanned the fortress, murmuring, “Even an Eight-Star Battle Emperor can’t sense the fortress’s presence. Yuanbo, what kind of divine artifact have you left me in this ancient fortress?”

Outside, Feng Linger saw Zuo An’s crazed state and his complete disregard for her and Lin Chen. She whispered, “Let’s slip away while we can.”

Lin Chen nodded.

They quietly retreated.

But when they reached the stone wall, preparing to climb up, Zuo An abruptly looked up, his chilling gaze slicing toward them.

They froze, unable to move.

Zuo An approached step by step, his voice grim: “Tell that little bastard to come out and hand over the Netherworld Demon Flame, and I’ll spare your lives!”

Feng Linger turned and shook her head. “I don’t even know him well, let alone where he is now.”

Lin Chen hurriedly agreed, “Yes, we just met him a few days ago. We know nothing about him. Lord Zuo, please be magnanimous and spare us!”

“Spare you?” Zuo An laughed like a screeching night owl—utterly terrifying.

Suddenly, he stopped and looked at Lin Chen. “You’re from Yan City?”

“Yes, yes, I’m from the Lin family of Yan City,” Lin Chen nodded.

A gleam flashed in Zuo An’s eyes. “I remember, eight years ago outside Yan City, among those who besieged me was your family’s patriarch. Is he well?”

Lin Chen smiled, but nervously, “The patriarch is fine. Thank you for your concern, Lord Zuo.”

But the smile was forced, more pitiful than tears.

Zuo An grinned. “In that case, I should treat you well. You’re an alchemist, yes? If you agree to become my disciple, I’ll spare you.”

Lin Chen’s expression changed. “Thank you for your kindness, but I am already a disciple of the Pill King Hall. My talent is poor; I’m unworthy to be your disciple. Please find someone else.”

Zuo An tempted, “What if I said that if you accept, I’ll not only grant you Bloodwrath Pills but also give you that little beauty beside you? Would you agree?”

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen’s eyes flashed with sharp light.

But inside the fortress, Qin Feiyang frowned deeply.

[PS: Written from noon until now, only managed to finish these two chapters. It’s exhausting, but there’s another chapter at midnight. Everyone, please give Old Dream some motivation—smash those recommendation votes over!]