2025-06-22 20:08:05
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Chapter 173: The First Flame, The Second Explosion
The golden bell rang, signaling the start of the trial.DONGGG!!Flames erupted almost simultaneously in eighteen of the twenty furnaces. The contestants moved quickly—some began heating their base liquids, others sliced spirit roots, while a few scattered powders in specific orders. The clinking of tools and the roar of fire created the distinct rhythm of an alchemist’s kitchen: busy, dense, urgent.But…Among them all, Hansen stood still.He didn’t move. Didn’t reach for ingredients. Didn’t ignite his fire. He merely stood there, hands behind his back, eyes fixed on the metal furnace before him as if waiting for something.People began to glance at one another.“Who is that?” one contestant whispered, frowning. “Why hasn’t he started?”The crowd behind the protective barrier started murmuring louder. Even a few elders from the Pavilion furrowed their brows. One of them, Elder Hua, sneered, “Did he forget why he came here? Or is he just arrogant?”Hansen heard. He knew every mocking
Chapter 172
Several days had passed since the battle of that bloodied night. Yet, Four Pillars City remained quiet. Calm, but with an atmosphere so heavy—it felt like the moment before an invisible storm.In Albert’s residence, Hansen sat before an ancient alchemist’s furnace. A steady blue flame flickered under the round metal vessel, while thin, sharp-scented vapors drifted through the air. The wooden table before him was cluttered with powdered roots, spirit flower petals, and thick liquids from various crystal vials.Suddenly—BOOM!—a small pop echoed from the potion boiling out of control. The liquid overflowed and burst upward in a minor explosion, splattering the ceiling.Hansen closed his eyes and let out a long breath.“You added it too early. Wait until the temperature drops by half a degree, then add the Wind Leaf Crystal extract,” Albert’s calm yet admonishing voice came from the corner of the room.“I know,” Hansen replied, wiping the steam from his brow. “But this body’s too slow. My
Chapter 171: The Hounds of Darkness
Hansen narrowed his eyes at the gray night sky. “This scent of blood… it doesn’t belong to ordinary people.”Albert nodded slowly, his aged face somber. “And it’s ancient. Like a poison buried for centuries, waiting for the right moment to kill.”He walked to the herbal table, opened a hidden drawer, and tossed a glowing talisman to Hansen.“Take this. If you see a creature without a shadow tonight, use that talisman without hesitation. It’s the only ward I’ve ever made—and even I’m not sure I can make another.”Hansen tucked the talisman behind his belt. “Should I leave this place? I don’t want to bring danger to your home.”Albert let out a soft chuckle. “If I feared danger, I wouldn’t have been a healer for fifty years. But I want you to survive, Hansen. You’re different from any student or patient I’ve ever treated.”Meanwhile…At the bottom of a pitch-black ravine beyond the city, a stone gate creaked open. A chill wind and eerie whispers flowed out. Four hooded figures emerged—s
Chapter 170: Blood Behind the Name Halim
In a secluded underground chamber, far from the main palace, Young Lord Halim sat atop a throne carved from black stone, arms crossed. His narrow eyes stared into the violet flames dancing in a metal bowl before him. Each flicker of light revealed dark lines on his face—marks of a soul consumed by hatred, lust, and boundless ambition.Surrounding him stood several figures clad entirely in black—members of the Eastern Shadows, an elite assassin guild that only moved for blood-bound contracts.“So... it failed?” Halim asked in a tone flat yet terrifying.One of the agents dropped to his knees, trembling.“We didn’t expect… that man… Hansen… he’s not what we thought. He defeated three of our elites... with his bare hands…”CRACK!!The bronze goblet in Halim’s hand shattered. The red liquid inside—supposedly sacred wine—splashed onto his robe, but he didn’t care.“Because of some lowborn bastard no one’s ever heard of… I have to hear this kind of report?” His voice was as cold as glacial
Chapter 169: Shadows Behind the Silk Curtain
The afternoon air in the City of Four Pillars felt slightly heavy. Dark clouds had begun to gather, as if reflecting the city's increasingly tense atmosphere.Inside Albert’s modest residence—modest, yet full of hidden formations—Hansen sat upright in a rattan chair. His eyes stared sharply at the cup of tea before him, though his mind wandered far. He knew that ever since leaving the Moonlight Inn, quiet footsteps had been tailing him. Not common people.Albert emerged from behind a curtain, carrying a small tray of colorful pills and a cup of warm herbal brew.“Where have you been?” Albert asked bluntly. “You didn’t return all night.”Hansen lifted his head. “I stayed at one of the inns in the City of Four Pillars.”Albert sat across from him, his eyes sharp, brows slightly furrowed.“Be careful. This city is not as peaceful as it looks. Though it appears calm on the surface, it’s like dry straw filled with fire beneath. You could burn at any time.”Hansen nodded. “I’m always carefu
Chapter 168: A Silent Promise
Night had grown deep. The moonlight was beginning to fade, replaced by shy, flickering starlight behind the veils of the sky. Inside the Moonlight Inn, silence blanketed the room, broken only by the ticking of time—slower, heavier than usual.Serisya lay on a large bed layered with soft sheets, her body wrapped in a thin silk blanket. Her beautiful eyes peeked out from under the covers, watching Hansen who sat cross-legged in the corner of the room—still, unmoving, as if the world had disappeared from his senses.“He doesn’t even glance at me...” Serisya whispered in her heart, both surprised and... disappointed.She had prepared for every possibility tonight. Beneath her pillow, she had hidden the Snow Venom Bracelet, a legacy from her mother’s northern clan. With one press, it could release a dozen poisoned needles in every direction. She was not a woman to be easily conquered—not by men... not even by love.But Hansen?The man just sat there in silence, immersed in his cultivation,
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