Chapter 147: A Lesson

Chu Han’s words left everyone around him dumbfounded. It was the first time they had ever seen anyone point at Mr. Qu’s nose and curse him—and judging by his appearance, the offender was still very young. Yet no one said a word. They all wanted to see how Mr. Qu would respond.

Chu Han’s aggressive attitude nearly made Meng Kang bite his tongue. This man truly had no regard for anyone’s dignity. Although Meng Kang also believed that Mr. Qu was more show than substance, the man’s alchemical skills had once been fairly impressive. Ever since he had become famous, however, he had grown unbearably conceited. To invite him here, the Meng family had paid an enormous price, yet his alchemy had not improved much at all.

“Hmph. A frog at the bottom of a well, ignorant of the vastness of the heavens. Young man, I advise you to watch your words and conduct. There are people you cannot afford to offend. Kneel and apologize to me now, and I may spare your life.”

Mr. Qu was furious. Ever since he had made a name for himself in Central City, no one had dared look down on him. Alchemists had always been held in the highest regard, after all. Regardless of their cultivation, martial experts could not do without the assistance of medicinal pills.

Chu Han smiled faintly, his eyes filled with disdain. A man like this was nothing but a disgrace to alchemists.

“Get lost. You couldn’t cure the illness, yet you still have the nerve to boast shamelessly. If I weren’t showing consideration for the Meng family, would you even have the chance to run your mouth here?”

His words completely enraged Mr. Qu. With a furious roar, he unleashed his power, and the people nearby suddenly felt as though the air itself had solidified.

This was an attack unique to alchemists—a soul attack.

Alchemists relied on the power of their souls to refine pills, so their soul force was far stronger than that of ordinary people. The longer they practiced alchemy, the stronger their souls became. Chu Han, however, was an exception. As a reincarnated man, his attainments in alchemy were extraordinarily high, and his soul force was likewise abnormal in its strength.

The members of the Meng family hurriedly retreated, afraid that Mr. Qu’s attack would sweep them up as well. Meng Kang gritted his teeth and prepared to step forward and help Chu Han withstand the blow. After all, Chu Han had been invited by him. If anything happened to Chu Han inside the Meng residence, the family’s reputation would be ruined.

Before Meng Kang could act, however, Chu Han moved first.

He took several steps forward and let out a disdainful snort. An overwhelming surge of soul force burst from him, forming an invisible giant hand in the air. The hand clenched into a fist and slammed viciously into Mr. Qu’s soul.

With a sharp cracking sound, a fissure appeared in Mr. Qu’s soul.

Mr. Qu let out a miserable scream and collapsed to the floor, blood spraying from his mouth. His face was deathly pale as he stared at Chu Han in disbelief. He could sense just how powerful Chu Han’s soul force was. Even if there had been two of him, they still would not have been a match for Chu Han. It was clear that Chu Han’s attainments in alchemy far surpassed his own.

“Trash. Stop embarrassing yourself in front of me. With that pathetic soul force, you actually thought you could hurt me? Get out of here.”

Chu Han gave another cold snort, the majesty of a Celestial Venerable fully revealed.

Mr. Qu naturally did not dare say another word. Terrified, he scrambled to his feet and hurriedly apologized to Chu Han.

As an alchemist, he knew all too well how formidable other alchemists could be. Within the alchemical world, strength determined status. Whoever possessed the greater ability was the leader. Even if he wanted revenge, he would never dare act against Chu Han.

The members of the Meng family were all stunned when they realized that Chu Han was even stronger than Mr. Qu. Their mouths fell open, and for a moment, no one knew what to say.

Chu Han had no time to concern himself with them. He turned around and smiled at Meng Kang.

“Mr. Meng, please take me to see the Meng family’s ancestor first. Since the poison has penetrated into his bones, delaying any longer may cause complications.”

Meng Kang immediately came to his senses and hurriedly led Chu Han into the room. He had simply been too shocked. He had known that Chu Han’s alchemy was powerful, but he had never imagined that it would surpass Mr. Qu’s. What Chu Han had just demonstrated gave him even greater confidence that the poison afflicting their ancestor could be cured.

“Mr. Qu, where did that young man come from? Is his alchemy truly stronger than yours?”

Meng Kang’s younger brother quickly approached and asked in a low voice.

“Of course. His soul force is far stronger than that of an ordinary grandmaster-level alchemist. I advise your Meng family never to provoke him. He is not someone you can afford to offend. It seems I need to devote myself to improving my own alchemy as well. Farewell.”

Mr. Qu nodded. The shock Chu Han had given him was simply too great. To cultivate one’s soul force to such a level at such a young age—he had been thoroughly humiliated. After offering a brief farewell, he hurried away.

Meng Kang’s younger brother, meanwhile, stared toward the room Chu Han had entered. His eyes gleamed, and a dangerous curve appeared at the corner of his lips. No one knew what he was thinking.

Once Chu Han and Meng Kang entered the room, they saw an old man lying on the bed. His body trembled faintly, his face was deathly pale, and his lips had turned blue-black. His eyes were deeply sunken, and he was so emaciated that he scarcely looked human. His breathing was weak and shallow. He seemed to be on the verge of death.

A woman was also in the room, tending to the old man. She was dressed in finery and had attractive features, but an icy frost lingered stubbornly across her face—something Chu Han saw with perfect clarity.

“Uncle, who is this?”

The woman looked surprised when the two entered, especially when she saw Chu Han wrapped up so thoroughly. She was visibly startled, and there was even a trace of hostility in her eyes. Chu Han could also sense her aura spreading outward; she was evidently prepared to strike at any moment.

Still, Chu Han did not take offense. He was bundled up so tightly that her suspicion was entirely understandable. After all, there was a sick man lying on the bed.

“Xin’er, do not be rude. This gentleman is the person I invited to treat our ancestor. Step aside and let him through.”

Meng Kang’s expression darkened. He knew his niece’s temperament very well. Alchemists were often eccentric, as Mr. Qu’s behavior had just made clear. If they provoked Chu Han and caused him to refuse treatment, the loss would far outweigh the gain.

At Meng Kang’s words, Meng Xin’er’s expression changed. She was about to say something, but Meng Kang stopped her and whispered a few words into her ear. The astonishment on her face deepened, and she looked at Chu Han somewhat awkwardly.

“Sir, I sincerely apologize. Please treat my grandfather.”

Seeing her apologize, Chu Han felt somewhat speechless. Her icy attitude had made her personality obvious enough, but despite that, she was still willing to apologize. It seemed that the Meng family’s ancestor was truly important to her.

“Miss Meng, you are too polite. I am an alchemist; treating patients is simply my duty.”

Chu Han cupped his hands, then sat beside the Meng family ancestor’s bed. After examining the old man’s condition, he frowned. He still did not know what poison had afflicted him, but the man was clearly not long for this world.

He began his examination. The result shocked even him.

He had encountered this poison once in his previous life. It was an extraordinarily terrifying toxin. By now, red rashes had spread across the Meng family ancestor’s body, and he had been reduced to skin and bone. Just as Mr. Qu had said, the poison had already penetrated into his bones.

Chu Han hurriedly sent a thread of true energy into the old man’s body. Since the ancestor was already gravely ill, he could use only the slightest amount of energy, and he had to proceed with extreme caution. A moment’s carelessness, an exertion just a little too strong, could send the old man straight to the underworld.

The true energy entered the ancestor’s body and circulated through him once. Every bone in his body had already turned black, and his bone marrow was slowly being devoured. Worse still, his internal organs had suffered varying degrees of damage. The poison had already robbed him of half his life.

Fortunately, it had not yet reached his heart. Otherwise, even a celestial immortal descending to the mortal world would have been powerless to save him.