Chapter 151: Endless Trouble

Chu Han had spent two days at the Meng household, and he was unsure whether Zhang Yuxi had regained consciousness. However, whenever he recalled the terrifying aura of death that had erupted from her body back then, a lingering sense of dread gripped his heart. If that force could not be completely contained, another outbreak might very well affect him, and he certainly did not believe he could withstand such power of death.

Upon returning to the inn, he found that Zhang Yuxi was still fast asleep. A physical examination revealed nothing unusual; her immense physical exertion simply had not been fully replenished yet. It seemed she would need to slumber for a bit longer. Fortunately, she owed her sustained vitality to Chu Han's medicinal pills, or she likely would have starved to death by now.

After feeding her a few more restorative pills, Chu Han headed out. The moment he left the Meng estate, however, he had the distinct sensation of being followed. At first, he dismissed it as paranoia born from his recent tension, but as the feeling persisted, he realized it was no overreaction of his frayed nerves.

A faint smile touched the corner of his lips. With a flash of his figure, he headed toward the outskirts of the city. Since Zhang Yuxi was still resting at the inn, he needed to deal with these pursuers; otherwise, it would spell trouble should they target her.

He lured his stalkers deep into a remote area in the eastern suburbs. Sure enough, a dozen figures sprang out from the shadows shortly after. Recognizing their faces, Chu Han felt a flicker of surprise; he had not expected it to be them.

"Mister, why did you have to go sticking your nose into other people's business? How wonderful it would have been if you had minded your own affairs—your life would have been spared. But since you chose to meddle, don't blame me for being impolite. You won't be walking out of here alive today."

Standing directly opposite Chu Han was Meng Bo, the younger brother of Meng Kang, and the very man who had spoken up on behalf of Mister Qu back at the Meng residence. Initially, Chu Han had thought nothing of it, assuming they merely looked down on him due to his youth and the fact that he hadn't displayed his true capabilities.

Yet, now that they had actively tracked him down and uttered such words, the pieces fell into place. There was clearly something deeply fishy about this whole affair. Both the Meng Family Patriarch and Meng Kang had been gravely poisoned; anyone with a shred of intelligence would know the poisoner had to be someone close to them.

At first, Chu Han had found it baffling as to who would dare poison the father and son. Now, however, the picture was crystal clear. This Meng Bo standing before him was truly vicious—he had stopped at nothing, not even his own father and eldest brother. A thoroughly sinister and ruthless character indeed.

"Meng Bo, is it? I never took you for such a ruthless bastard, willing to harm even your own father and brother. And now you even dare to set your sights on me? Do you honestly think a bunch of trash like you stands a chance against me?"

Chu Han smiled faintly. The Meng family possessed considerable strength, yet they were hardly among the absolute elite of Central City; their prominence stemmed primarily from their immense wealth. In terms of martial might, they fell woefully short compared to the Taiyi Sect.

"Heh, of course we do. You are nothing more than an alchemist. If we let you run off to rally people, perhaps we wouldn't be a match for you. But if we all swarm you together, do you really think you can escape? Ha! Get him, and capture him alive!"

Meng Bo shook his head with a harsh laugh before waving his hand, his expression turning vicious.

He was indeed the mastermind behind the virulent poison plaguing the Meng Patriarch and Meng Kang. His goal was simple: to seize the seat of the Head of the Meng Family. Just as the Patriarch was on the verge of death, Chu Han had unexpectedly appeared and cured the old man's poison—a development Meng Bo simply could not tolerate.

After all, he had spent a long time plotting this scheme, and he refused to let it crumble on the verge of success. He was resolved to eliminate Chu Han at all costs.

Faced with the dozen men charging toward him, Chu Han merely curved the corners of his lips. "Since that's how it's going to be, I suppose I must let you in on a little secret. Aside from being an alchemist, I am also an inner disciple of the Taiyi Sect. More importantly, I currently rank first on the Minor King Board."

As his voice fell, he charged straight into the crowd. Crackling blue lightning wrapped around his limbs, emitting sharp snaps and pops. With a sweeping wave of his arms, two bolts of lightning manifested in his hands like crackling whips. He flicked his right wrist, instantly wrapping a bolt of lightning around one man's waist and hurling him violently into the oncoming throng.

Next, the twin lightning whips lashed out relentlessly through the crowd. Not a single person could withstand a single blow from Chu Han. Anyone struck suffered shattered bones and torn tendons, collapsing to the ground in agonizing wails. In the blink of an eye, five or six men lay sprawled out. The remaining thugs took a few steps back in sheer terror, lacking the courage to press the attack.

No one was eager to die, least of all when facing a killing god like Chu Han. Meng Bo was scared out of his wits by the carnage. He had assumed Chu Han was merely an ordinary alchemist whom his men could easily subdue. Who could have imagined that someone so young possessed not only unfathomable alchemy skills but also such terrifying combat prowess?

Daring not to linger another second, Meng Bo turned and bolted. If Chu Han caught him, he would be doomed beyond redemption. Should the Meng family discover that he was the architect of their misery, his execution would be certain.

However, Chu Han had no intention of letting him escape. Before Meng Bo had even run a few paces, a flash of lightning split the air behind him. A figure intercepted his path, and a punch slammed heavily into his stomach. A miserable shrieking escaped Meng Bo's lips as he felt as though his intestines had been ruptured, sending him crashing to the ground in continuous, agonizing groans.

Just as Chu Han raised his hand to deliver the fatal blow, a slow clapping sound echoed, drawing everyone's attention. Out stepped Dan Ji, the very youth who had contested the cultivation manual with Chu Han at the auction house. Flanking him were two elderly men whose grim expressions and profound auras signaled formidable strength.

"Heh, impressive skills you've got there. How about this: hand over the cultivation manual, and I'll spare your life. What do you say?"

The arrival of Dan Ji brought immense relief to Meng Bo, who immediately shrieked, "Young Master Dan, save me! This bastard is going to kill me!"

Facing Dan Ji, Chu Han felt a wave of speechlessness. Why did troubles never cease with this guy? The fellow truly possessed boundless patience. Having waited two days in the Meng household, Dan Ji had evidently kept watchers stationed at the estate gates just to ambush him upon his exit.

Yet, as the young master of the Dan family, why was Dan Ji so desperate for a cultivation manual? Could he be aware of the existence of the Nether Sovereign? That was impossible; countless members of the Meng family had practiced the Nether Divine Thunder Technique down the generations, yet none had ever laid eyes on the Nether Sovereign, let alone an outsider like Dan Ji. This meant the Nether Divine Thunder Technique harbored profound secrets—secrets weighty enough to drive Dan Ji to such lengths.

"Don't fret, Mister Meng. Once I achieve my goal, I will naturally save you." Dan Ji shook his head, then turned a smiling gaze toward Chu Han. "I know you're ranked first on the Minor King Board. While I may not be a match for you individually, the men standing behind me are elders of the Dan family. Each of them has reached the peak of the Dao Palace realm, with half a foot already stepping into the Yin realm. I advise you to weigh your options carefully."

Chu Han smiled dismissively. He had indeed sensed the formidable aura of the two old men. So what if they were strong? He had never feared such opponents before, let alone now. Moreover, given their advanced age, these elders would likely never break through to the Yin realm in this lifetime. If he were intimidated by this level of strength, he would hardly be worthy of ascending as a Heavenly Sovereign.

"Enough idle chatter. Let's finish this."

With a fierce shout, Chu Han charged forward, his right fist aiming directly for Dan Ji's throat. But Dan Ji had been on guard all along. Having concealed himself nearby and witnessed Chu Han's terrifying might firsthand, he knew full well he was no match for him in direct combat.