Chapter 156: The Pill Sect

"Hmph, so he is your son? Arrogant and tyrannical, he deserved a beating. And since you didn't know how to act like a father, you deserve one too."

Chu Han stepped out from behind. He had no habit of hiding behind a woman. He shielded Leng Ye behind him, his cold gaze sweeping across the two men.

Hearing his words, the onlookers were utterly stunned. Someone actually dared to insult members of the Pill Sect in Pill City—he must be courting death. Although Su Zaitian was not an elder of high authority within the Pill Sect, he was an elder nonetheless.

"Good brat, if I don't teach you a lesson today, you won't know who you're dealing with!"

Su Zaitian laughed out of extreme anger, unleashing his true Qi as he charged directly forward.

Chu Han gave a cold snort, extending his right hand to block the attack before throwing a punch straight into Su Zaitian's lower abdomen. Feeling a wave of intense pain, Su Zaitian spun around in mid-air and unleashed a palm strike wrapped in raging flames, aiming straight for Chu Han's face.

Chu Han merely sidestepped to evade the attack, grabbed Su Zaitian by the collar, and formed his right hand into a claw, raking it across his opponent's chest. With a tearing sound, the clothes on Su Zaitian's chest were shredded into pieces, and a chunk of flesh was torn right off by Chu Han, leaving blood streaming down profusely.

Enduring the agonizing pain, Su Zaitian stumbled back a few steps and stared at Chu Han in absolute disbelief. During the clash just moments ago, Chu Han had stood firmly in place without moving an inch or even using his true Qi, relying purely on physical strength to fight. Yet, even so, Su Zaitian had been utterly incapable of mounting any defense.

Then, Chu Han moved. With lightning speed, he closed the distance and slammed a fist into Su Zaitian's chest. Having already sustained severe injuries, Su Zaitian let out a miserable scream as Chu Han's right hand closed tightly around his throat.

This overwhelming and crushing victory left the surrounding crowd gasping in awe. It was the first time they had ever witnessed an elder of the Pill Sect getting beaten up, and defeated so miserably at that. The onlookers couldn't help casting respectful glances at Chu Han. Though he looked young, his strength was formidable, and his methods were ruthless—he was truly a force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, Su Ming was already scared out of his wits. The only reason he could act so arrogantly in Pill City was because he had a father who was an elder in the Pill Sect. Now that his father's backing had collapsed, he no longer had any capital to act insolently. Moreover, the terrifying prowess Chu Han had just displayed meant killing him would take no effort at all. Su Ming slumped straight down onto the ground in despair.

With a fierce expression on his face, Chu Han tightened his grip. Just a little more force from his right hand would be enough to finish Su Zaitian off. Right as he was about to deliver the fatal blow, an aged voice rang out from behind.

"Friend, show mercy."

Hearing this voice, Chu Han smiled faintly. He didn't even need to guess who it was; it had to be someone from the Pill Sect. After all, since he was about to kill a Pill Sect elder, members of the sect were bound to step in. Otherwise, where would they put their dignity?

Chu Han stopped his attack and tossed Su Zaitian onto the ground. Having been choked by Chu Han for so long, Su Zaitian had long been gasping for air. Landing hard on the ground now, he immediately began to pant heavily, staring at Chu Han with eyes full of terror.

An elderly man emerged from behind Chu Han, dressed in flowing robes and exuding an ethereal, immortal demeanor. Seeing the chaotic scene before him, a look of profound helplessness crossed his face.

"Friend, I sincerely apologize. Anyone who comes to Pill City is a friend of the Pill Sect. I am deeply sorry for this incident, but Su Zaitian is, after all, a member of the Pill Sect. Might I ask if you could hand him over to me? I will definitely give you a satisfactory resolution."

The old man cupped his fists toward Chu Han and said softly. Chu Han could only nod. His personal motto was to return courtesy tenfold when treated with respect; since the other party's attitude was agreeable, it wouldn't be right for him to continue being unreasonable.

"Brother Chu, this is Xuan Tian, one of the elders of the Pill Sect, and also one of the elders with the most real power. He and Su Zaitian are worlds apart."

Hearing Leng Ye's whispered explanation, Chu Han nodded slightly. Regardless of the specifics, if the Pill Sect failed to give him a reasonable solution, he would never let Su Zaitian off the hook.

Xuan Tian naturally knew this as well. He had noticed Chu Han's presence from the very beginning. The crushing and effortless manner in which Chu Han had defeated Su Zaitian had genuinely shocked him. Combined with instructions from a certain senior figure within the Pill Sect, he had no choice but to step forward.

"Su Zaitian, Su Ming! You have been arrogant and tyrannical, treating the rules of the Pill Sect as nothing! If we do not punish you today, we will never appease the public anger. Su Zaitian, you are expelled from the Pill Sect. You and your son are to leave Pill City immediately and are forbidden from stepping foot here for the rest of your lives. If you dare to return, this old man will personally execute you!"

Xuan Tian sighed, turned around, and shouted sternly. Neither Su Zaitian nor Su Ming dared to utter a word of dissent. Right now, staying alive was their top priority. They hurriedly expressed their gratitude and fled in a panic.

Seeing this outcome, Chu Han was relatively satisfied. He knew that once the Pill Sect intervened, killing Su Zaitian and his son would be practically impossible, so this kind of punishment was well within his expectations.

"Little girl Leng, it's been a long time. How is your Leng family doing these days?"

After settling the matter, Xuan Tian waved his hand to disperse the surrounding crowd, then turned back to look at Leng Ye with a gentle smile.

"Thank you for your concern, Elder Xuan Tian. However, the Leng family is currently going through troubled times. I am sure you have heard about it; we can only take things one step at a time."

Leng Ye sighed, cupped her fists toward Xuan Tian, and looked deeply troubled at the mention of her family's plight.

Xuan Tian didn't know what to say and could only offer a sympathetic look. Although he and the Leng family shared a decent relationship, the competition among the three major families was beyond his ability to influence. He wanted to help, but his hands were tied. In matters of great principle, the Pill Sect had to remain fair and impartial.

"Little friend, may I ask your name? Please come with me; someone in the Pill Sect wishes to see you."

Xuan Tian then looked at Chu Han, smiled faintly, and stated the true purpose of his coming.

Chu Han nodded. He had long guessed that Xuan Tian's appearance wasn't as simple as it seemed. To the Pill Sect, Su Zaitian was merely a third-rate elder—if he died, he died. Xuan Tian's arrival was clearly meant for him.

"This one is Chu Han. May I ask what business a senior of the Pill Sect has with me?"

Chu Han nodded, no longer bothering to conceal his identity. After all, not many people in Pill City recognized him anyway, though he chose not to remove his mask just yet.

He still held some reservations. Having never interacted with the Pill Sect before, and having just beaten up one of their members, he knew that if they decided to turn hostile, his two fists would be no match for a multitude, and fighting the Pill Sect would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

"Little friend, rest assured. You will understand once you get there. This old man gives you his personal guarantee that there is no danger whatsoever."

Old and wise as he was, Xuan Tian naturally saw through Chu Han's concerns and patted his chest reassuringly.

Chu Han smiled faintly. Since the other party had put it that way, refusing to go would show a lack of respect, which wouldn't do. Since he had entered their territory, he might as well follow their arrangements.

"Leng Ye, tell me the address of the Leng family later. Once I come out from the Pill Sect, I will go find you there."

Chu Han turned to look at Leng Ye. She quickly rattled off the address, which Chu Han committed to memory before following Xuan Tian away.

However, Xuan Tian did not lead him out of the Yanyun Tower. Instead, he led him directly upstairs, passing the second and third floors all the way up to the fourth. Chu Han had inquired about this earlier—the fourth floor used to be a trading area, but because it had been under renovation for some time, it was currently closed to the public.

He was somewhat puzzled as to why Xuan Tian was bringing him to the fourth floor of the Yanyun Tower. But upon stepping onto the floor, he was greeted by billowing steam and the sight of over a dozen people refining pills within a large room, presenting a truly spectacular spectacle.