Chapter 1102: Playing with Fire Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Cheng He was here for Duan Ling Tian. After everything that had transpired, Cheng He finally stopped playing games and stated his intention for coming to the Lu Clan. Duan Ling Tian was not surprised by the turn of events since he had already guessed Cheng He’s intention since the beginning. Lu Rui who was standing aside looked upset after Cheng He stated his intention. Most people did not know about the reason behind Duan Ling Tian’s grade one alchemist status at such a young age, and his ability to refine extremely pure grade one medicinal pills. However, Lu Rui was one of the few who knew the secret behind it. Duan Ling Tian was a formidable alchemist in his past life. He had cultivated Medicine Refinement Dao to an extremely high level, and he had retained all his memory and experience when he reincarnated. That explained his innate talent in medicine refinement and why he was a natural grand alchemist. He was able to condense Pill Fire of various grades as long his cultivation was sufficient. ’Cheng He thinks that Duan Ling Tian has some sort of secret technique that helps him refine medicinal pills with extremely high purity since he’s so young.’ It was not difficult for Lu Rui to figure out Cheng He’s thoughts and intention. As the Clan Leader of Lu Clan, he was calm and wise. Lu Rui knew for a fact that Cheng He was wasting his effort. The ability to refine medicinal pills with an extremely high purity that Duan Ling Tian possessed was nearly impossible for anyone else to replicate. His ability was inherited from a lifetime worth of hard work and accomplishment of a powerful being from the past. "What if I refuse to share the secret to my ability with you? What would you do? Will you kill me?" Duan Ling Tian calmly replied. He was completely unmoved by Cheng He’s threats. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮 "First, I will kill all those you care for. Then, I will torture you slowly until I break you before I would even consider killing you!" Cheng He said coldly. He intentionally shifted his gaze to Feng Tian Wu when he spoke. There was a hint of viciousness in his eyes. Duan Ling Tian’s face changed when the words left Cheng He’s mouth. Every dragon had a reverse scale. One would certainly die if one touched it! Duan Ling Tian’s reverse scale was the people he cared about. He would not complain or hesitate if someone stronger wanted to kill him since he would accept that he was weaker. However, he would not sit still if someone wanted to kill or harm the people he cared about. Duan Ling Tian stared at Cheng He coldly and said with a straight face, "Cheng He, you’re playing with fire!" Playing with fire! Those who played with fire would get burned! This was the meaning Duan Ling Tian was implying. "Playing with fire?" Cheng He laughed uproariously. "I cannot speak for everyone, but I’m rather confident of my ability to play with fire... I can even control and master grade one Pill Fire. There’s no reason for me to fear ordinary fire." Cheng He looked at Duan Ling Tian mockingly as though Duan Ling Tian had cracked a joke. Cheng He stared at Duan Ling Tian coldly as he asked, "So, you’ve made up your mind?" Duan Ling Tian looked at Cheng He with contempt before exclaiming, "Humph! Useless trash!" Cheng He stared at Duan Ling Tian calmly. He patiently said, "I won’t be affected by your words." It seemed as though Cheng He was completely unruffled by Duan Ling Tian’s ridicule. "I know what you’re doing. You think by infuriating me, I’ll rush into a battle with you directly. Although I’m not sure how you achieved such power at such a young age, I’m sure I’m no match for you. I’m a fool if I fall into your trap!" Duan Ling Tian’s face changed after Cheng He called him out. However, it seemed as though he had noticed something and recovered a moment later. Hu! Hu! Hu! Three gusts of wind blew into the main hall. The silhouettes of three elderly figures appeared and surrounded Lu Rui and Duan Ling Tian. The silhouettes belonged to three old men. One of them was as round as a ball, the other was as thin as a stick, and the final one had an average body size. Duan Ling Tian recognized all three of them. They were the Guardian Elders of Lu Clan; Lu Yuan, Lu Gui, and Lu Zhi. They were the pillars of Lu Clan and were all Martial Monarch powerhouses. "Clan Leader, Elder Duan, and Miss Tian Wu." The three of them greeted Lu Rui along with Duan Ling Tian and Feng Tian Wu after they appeared before they simultaneously looked at Cheng He and Leng Chi guardedly. They rushed over to the main hall as soon as they noticed Lu Rui had crushed the bead inscribed with Detection Inscription. As the Guardian Elders of Lu Clan, they were very familiar with the current Clan Leader of Lu Clan, Lu Rui. They knew Lu Rui would never crush that bead unless he was in dire straits. That was why they had rushed here without any hesitation or consideration. Hu! Soon after, another gust of wind blew into the main hall, and another elderly silhouette appeared. This silhouette belonged to a man with white hair and brows. He looked very similar to an immortal. The old man stood next to Lu Rui calmly. "Former Clan Leader!" When the old man appeared, Lu Rui and the three Guardian Elders of Lu Clan all greeted him respectfully. The old man was none other than the previous Clan Leader of Lu Clan, Lu Qiu. "Former Clan Leader? The previous Clan Leader of Lu Clan?" Duan Ling Tian was shocked. He did not expect the previous Clan Leader of Lu Clan to still be alive. Moreover, he was currently here in the hall. Lu Qiu greeted Lu Rui before he glanced at Cheng He and Leng Chi. "How impressive! The Alchemist Guild now dares to challenge the Lu Clan’s honor!" Lu Qiu said sarcastically. There was a tinge of anger in his voice. Cheng He forced a smile on his face and greeted Lu Qiu, "I’ve long heard that you’re the most powerful in the Lu Clan ...And I must say, I’m impressed after meeting you." Lu Qiu completely disregarded him and focused his attention on the azure-clad middle-aged man, Leng Chi. Flash! Without any warning, Lu Qiu shot toward Leng Chi like a cannonball being shot out of a cannon. Flash! Leng Chi also flew toward Lu Qiu like a bullet at the same time without any hesitation. Both of their silhouettes vanished at the same time... Bang! A loud explosion resonated in the air. Everyone saw Lu Qiu and Leng Chi was around 10 feet apart. They each took about five steps back before stopping and focused on the other party. A powerful sonic explosion spread out from the point Lu Qiu and Leng Chi separated before it quickly turned into a strong gust of wind that ruffled everyone’s clothes. The Heaven and Earth Phenomenon that was brewing in the void above disappeared as swiftly as it appeared. The battle between Lu Qiu and Leng Chi was over in a blink of an eye. Everyone knew both of them were evenly matched. Lu Qiu glanced at Leng Chi and said, "No wonder the Alchemist Guild came here to challenge the Lu Clan’s honor... It’s because they have you!" "You’re good as well." Leng Chi’s face was still as cold as ever, but there was a hint of fear in the depth of his eyes. In a blink of an eye, everything was resolved. The brief battle between Lu Qiu and Leng Chi ended with a tie. At this moment, Cheng He’s grin had frozen on his face. He did not expect Lu Qiu would be as powerful as Leng Chi even though Cheng He knew Lu Qiu was the strongest person in the Lu Clan. ’Damn it, Lu Qiu!’ Cheng He could not resist cursing Lu Qiu in his heart. This meant that his three-month wait was all for nothing! So near yet so far. He blamed his failure on Lu Qiu, the Former Clan Leader of Lu clan. His plan would have succeeded if it was not for Lu Qiu. "Former Clan Leader is no doubt the strongest person in Lu Clan and is well deserving of that title as well," Cheng He said with admiration. There was a smile on Cheng He’s face since Lu Qiu’s arrival even though he was constantly cursing Lu Qiu in his heart. Cheng He knew he had lost his chance after Lu Qiu’s arrival. Hence, he left with Leng Chi without further ado. "Thank you, Former Clan Leader." Duan Ling Tian smiled and thanked Lu Qiu after he saw Cheng He and Leng Chi leaving in a haste. "You’re welcome, Elder Duan." Lu Qiu was flattered when he heard Duan Ling Tian thanking him. "Erm?" Duan Ling Tian noticed Lu Qiu’s gaze on him was somewhat unnatural since the beginning. He confirmed his suspicion when he saw how flattered Lu Qiu was after he thanked him. ’Could it be that he has found out about my real identity?’ Duan Ling Tian suspected Lu Qiu had already figured out his identity. Duan Ling Tian felt more and more confident of his suspicion as minutes passed. "Hold on... Clan Leader swore by Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation to keep my identity a secret. How did Former Clan Leader find out about it?" This puzzled Duan Ling Tian, and he could not help but ask Lu Rui about it through Voice Transmission. Lu Rui explained the matter to Duan Ling Tian including the Former Clan Leader’s suspicion about his identity. "Oh, now I understand." Duan Ling Tian understood everything after the explanation, and the unanswered questions in his mind were resolved. Two silhouettes left as fast as two bolts of lightning above the Lu Clan’s estate. The two silhouettes belonged to Cheng He and Leng Chi. However, the direction they were headed in was not in the direction of the Alchemist Guild. "Lu Clan, Lu Qiu... I won’t let this slide so easily!" Cheng He murmured as his eyes gleamed coldly. "Let’s go! We’ll head to the Ou Clan first... then we’ll head to the Weapons Craftsmen’s Guild in the Southern Outer Land!" Cheng He closed his eyes and flew ahead after he spoke to Leng Chi.