Chapter 151 - Courting Death (Part IV) (Patreon)

Sighing in frustration, Lucian dragged the unconscious Shuang Tai to where he had left Tie Qiu's body.

This weak bastard, Lucian thought with annoyance. How can someone be so timid that they pass out at a simple question?

Shuang Tai had collapsed unconscious after hearing Lucian's intent-infused command.

Lucian hadn't believed it at first, but after failing to wake him twice, he had no choice but to give up. Now, arriving beside the groaning Tie Qiu, Lucian threw Shuang Tai down like a sack of potatoes and stared at the pair.

Too many questions, too little time, he thought, licking his lips. Killing them would be a waste. This was a plot to kill me, and I needed to know who arranged it. No, more importantly, I need to know how they did it.

For Lucian, knowing who his enemies were was less important than understanding how they had managed to organize an attack involving an entire district. It was very concerning for him that after the Broken Maze had been reduced to ruins and covered in yellow mist and blood, nobody had appeared to arrest the culprits.

No matter what, in his view, this couldn’t be a coincidence!

Looking at Shuang Tai and the dust-filled surroundings, Lucian thought, Maybe this dust was meant to conceal everything from people outside. But I'm not certain, as it had other effects. Also, if it empowered me, why did it have such an adverse effect on him?

The more Lucian thought, the more questions surfaced.

Nothing makes sense. Lucian shook his head. If this yellow dust were truly that dangerous, everyone here should have died regardless of my actions. And if it spread—

His thoughts halted as another possibility emerged. His senses were enhanced enough that he could see exactly where the yellow dust began, and how much it had spread.

The yellow mist came from the city walls and the exits of the Broken Maze, he thought, narrowing his eyes. And until now, it hasn't spread beyond the district. It's still under control, inside the Broken Maze. Hm, for this trap, those people’s lives are collateral damage, right?

Having met all kinds of people throughout his life, Lucian didn't find it strange that someone would sacrifice tens of thousands just to kill him. Some of his past enemies had done far worse. What surprised him was that he wasn't even close to the threat that he once had been to warrant such actions.

But why me? I'm not relevant enough. Not yet.

Lucian approached Tie Qiu, several guesses forming in his mind. He recognized Tie Qiu, in a way. After all, Lucian had killed Elder Blue Scale, who looked very similar to Tie Qiu.

They're from the Tidal Church. Is this because of the massacre? But the Tidal Church has already been expelled from Three Feathers City. They were framed and are like a hot pile of garbage. Who would be naive enough to bring them—

Amidst his thoughts, Lucian felt a new presence appear to his right, barely concealed within the mist. Turning, he saw a handsome man with bronze skin and short black hair. The man was shirtless, wearing only a bone necklace, his scarred and toned chest glistening with sweat.

Lucian took a deep breath as a strong sense of danger washed over him. His Qi perception immediately recognized the man's Qi flow as being at the Foundation Establishment realm!

Thinking of ways to escape, Lucian was alarmed when another presence appeared behind him.

Not one, but two, he thought, quickly repositioning himself so that nobody remained outside his field of view.

Glancing to the side, Lucian saw the two new arrivals. They were a couple dressed in traditional robes of the Golden Empire, each smiling calmly as they looked at him, with a small red bird perched on their right shoulders

They are also at the Foundation Establishment Realm!

Before he could react, more presences emerged from the mist, gathering around him. They were an old man in black robes, with a black turtle shell strapped to his arms; a young woman reclining on a palanquin carried by four wooden puppets; and Madame Ching, her lower face hidden behind a veil.

"Come, Mei Mei," Madame Ching said, looking toward Tie Qiu's body.

To Lucian's surprise, Tie Qiu's shadow elongated and rushed toward Madame Ching. It then rose from the ground, taking the shape of a muscular woman with arms covered in tattoos.

I didn't notice her at all, Lucian thought. No Qi, scent, or sound. She was completely absent from my senses. Interesting and dangerous.

Staring at the six Foundation Establishment cultivators, and not discounting Mei Huo, who, despite being in the Qi Condensation realm, had deceived his senses, Lucian sighed inwardly.

So today, the Curse of Wrath will be activated again, he thought, allowing the eye of the Rune of Greed to continue hovering across the battlefield and replenish his Blood Essence. I can probably control my body once or twice while the curse is active.

Lucian had not given up on a fight before it began, but he was not delusional either. There was no way he could win against six beings in the same realm as Grandmaster Miao, much less with Madame Ching accompanying them.

If she can use an Archmage-level technique, or something comparable to the Core Formation Realm, as they say, then I should hurry, he thought, stirring his Blood Essence.

While the Curse of Wrath would activate automatically after a near-fatal wound, it would do nothing if Lucian was already dead from a single strike. He knew that because he had killed more than one vampire before the curse could be triggered.

Having made his decision, Lucian had no intention of talking or giving his opponents the initiative.

He was about to strike his own neck when he felt another presence appear behind him.

Recognizing the person's scent, he frowned and stepped back, moving closer without taking his eyes off the seven cultivators in front.

Patting Lucian's shoulder, Wei Zhang turned visible and said with a smile, "Well done. My Lady would be devastated if you died."

Along with him, more figures began to appear.

An old man dressed in military robes and surrounded by ghostly chains stepped forward, shooting an unfriendly glance at Lucian before facing the other cultivators.

Madame Ching nodded toward him, with eyes cold as a glacier, and said, "Councillor Mu, good to see you well."

Alongside Councillor Mu, a pair of cultivators materialized from the surrounding dust. The Earth Wind Meridian Dust lingering in the area was swept away with a casual wave of their hands.

"Wu Zhai, Wu Zhong," the shirtless handsome cultivator said with a rough laugh. "We've met again."

Wu Zhai, the older brother, scowled, while Wu Zhong replied, "Lord Ye Ren is as astute as ever."

The hostility between them was obvious.

While they exchanged words, another woman appeared, dressed in dark robes.

The young lady on the palanquin laughed sweetly and said, "I knew you would come, Big Sister Zou Si. This place suits you."

Bowing slightly with cupped hands to the others, Zou Si examined Lucian first, and then addressed the young woman.

"Pao Pao, have you been eating well? Those puppets seem stronger than I remember."

Despite the warm words, nobody failed to notice the lack of friendliness between them or the hidden meanings in each sentence.

As everyone exchanged greetings, Lucian thought, Six against seven. Fine. I can take the stealthy woman and then help whoever ends up fighting two opponents. The couple with the birds will probably fight together, so I should identify the weaker link between them.

The tension in the air made it clear that these people would eventually fight, so Lucian didn’t think about leaving casually.

Next, just as he was trying to predict who would make the first move, two more presences descended, one on each side of the battlefield.

Floating beside Madame Ching was a woman with crimson makeup and a murderous gaze fixed directly on Lucian. 

Everyone except Lucian cupped their hands and said, "We greet Vice-Lord Vermilion Tide."

Afterward, their attention shifted toward the figure descending beside Lucian.

With short hair and a red dot on his forehead, Grandmaster Miao controlled his Qi lines to lower himself to the ground before nodding toward the others.

"Friends, it is a blessing to see you all."

His aura erupted outward, pressing against the surrounding cultivators. Then he nodded at Lucian.

"Where are my manners? Allow me to present the Young Master of the Bo Merchant Chamber, Bo Xian. Not all of you have had the pleasure of meeting him yet."

Nobody responded with words. They all released their aura in turn, ready for battle.

Lucian suddenly felt a Qi line approach him, as though asking permission to connect to his head. Nodding slightly, he allowed it with haste. He almost cursed Grandmaster Miao. Who would ask permission to talk amidst battle?

The Qi line slipped into his ear, and Grandmaster Miao's voice hissed inside his mind.

"Obsidian Sea and Madame Ching are behind this. Continue to keep your powers hidden. We will profit greatly afterwards! "

As the message ended, the Qi line was cut, and Qi erupted throughout the surroundings.

The remaining Earth Wind Meridian Dust was dispersed without affecting either of them, while the last standing structures of the Broken Maze were flattened into rubble.

Feeling the enormous pressure, Lucian thought, What nonsense is this about hidden powers? I used almost everything I have!

Unable to grasp the truth hidden beneath so many layers of uncertainty, Lucian calmed his thoughts and stared back at the person glaring at him with murderous intent.

Meeting the sharp and beautiful eyes of Vice-Lord Vermilion Tide, he frowned.

He didn’t remember her.