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Yang Kai laughed and said, âThere is no enmity between Void Spirit Sword Sect and Heavenly Martial City. You worry too much, City Lord Miao.â [Looks like this guy has many enemies; otherwise, he would not have asked me if I was here to kill him as soon as he saw me.]
After pausing for a moment, Yang Kai eventually continued, âIâll be honest with you. I am an Alchemist. When I heard that you were ill, City Lord, I decided to try refining some pills for you. I sent my subordinate to offer the pills to you as a sign of my sincerity, but to my dismay, the City Lordâs Mansion claimed that the pills I refined contained poison and captured my subordinate on the spot.â
âYou are an Alchemist?â Miao Hong glanced at Yang Kai in surprise.
Yang Kai didnât just look young, he was young, probably no more than 17 or 18 years old. Having his cultivation at that age was surprising enough, so it was hard to believe that he was also an Alchemist!
It had to be said that Alchemists were highly revered in the Divine Armament World; moreover, their inheritance was very strictly guarded. Not just anybody could become an Alchemist.
âWhat Grade of an Alchemist are you?â Miao Hong asked curiously.
âEarth Grade!â Yang Kai did not dare to say too much. In truth, his Alchemy Grade could not be categorised according to the standards of the Divine Armament World. If he had enough materials and adequate strength to persevere, even refining a Spirit Grade Pill would be a simple task for him.
Miao Hong originally showed some interest, but his expression immediately turned cold and a trace of displeasure entered his eyes when he heard what Yang Kai said.
It was one thing to have such outstanding cultivation at such a young age. Somebody like that could be considered a talented individual, but an Earth Grade Alchemist... How could a young brat achieve something like that?
It had to be said that Heavenly Martial City was a notable great force in its own right. Even so, they paid a huge fortune and spent hundreds of years just to nurture two Earth Grade Alchemists.
It would take at least several dozen years of hard work to become an Earth Grade Alchemist.
âLittle Brother, this City Lord has no idea why you came here. I donât have the mood to ask, let alone be bothered to care. Just go back to where you came from.â After saying that, Miao Hong closed his eyes a little disinterested.
Yang Kai was astonished and asked, âYou donât believe me, City Lord?â
Miao Hong replied coolly, âThereâs nothing interesting about mocking a dying man!â
Yang Kai nodded lightly and took a good look at Hong Miao before he started speaking, âIf my guess is correct, your condition is not caused by old age but the relapse of an old injury. Isnât that right, City Lord?â
Miao Hongâs tightly closed eyes opened slightly again, and he murmured approvingly, âYou have a good eye, Little Brother. How could you tell?â
The public only knew that he was dying of old age. They did not know that he was actually suffering from the relapse of an old injury.
Yang Kai explained, âYou donât seem that old from your appearance, City Lord. Of course; when it comes to a Master like you, your cultivation makes it hard to tell your actual age from your appearance alone. However, the vitality in your body has clearly not been exhausted, yet is still strangely weak. Moreover, you seem to have a different force surging inside your body...â
Miao Hong finally revealed a surprised look at those words, âYou can even tell that much!?â
Yang Kai asked, âCity Lord Miao, if you can trust me, can you let me perform an examination on you?â
Miao Hong studied Yang Kai solemnly for a moment before he lightly said, âThereâs nothing for a dying man to fear. You can take a look if you want, Little Brother.â
Yang Kai apologised for any offending actions and took Hong Miaoâs hand. Placing two fingers on Hong Miaoâs wrist, he probed Hong Miaoâs condition with his Spirit Qi.â
Hong Miao immediately noticed Yang Kaiâs true cultivation as soon as his Spirit Qi flowed into his body. This boy was actually at the peak of the Earth Realm!
Although Hong Miao had been fairly certain that Yang Kai was at least in the Earth Realm after seeing him silently sneaking into this place, it wasnât until this moment that his speculations were confirmed. Not only was Yang Kai in the Earth Realm, but he was at the peak of the Earth Realm! He was only one step away from advancing into the Heaven Realm!
âLittle Brother, how old are you?â Miao Hong asked curiously.
â18⌠I think,â Yang Kai answered casually. In his memories, that was indeed the approximate age of this body in the Divine Armament World.
Miao Hong smacked his lips in wonder, âA true genius!â
It was unprecedented for anybody in the Divine Armament World to achieve such outstanding cultivation at such a young age. If there was a Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill on hand right now, Miao Hong was certain that Yang Kai could break through into the Heaven Realm in one go.
[An 18 year old Heaven Realm Master! Just how sensational is that!?]
Although he never had much expectations for Void Spirit Sword Sect in the past, Miao Hong now had the vague feeling that the rise of Void Spirit Sword Sect was just around the corner.
A short while later, Yang Kai retracted his hand, âThere is indeed a strange force in your body, City Lord. It is devouring your vitality.â
Miao Hong replied, âI was injured in battle many years ago, and that energy has always been lurking inside my body. I canât get rid of this energy no matter how hard I try to dispel it. Since you are aware of this, do you have any good solutions to the problem, Little Brother?â
Yang Kai mulled over the question for a moment, âI have both good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first, City Lord?â
âTell me the bad news first!â Miao Hong decided.
âCity Lord, you have very little vitality remaining, and what little is left is rapidly fading away. If left untreated, you will die within three days!â
Miao Hong couldnât help snorting, âThat sounds like pretty good news.â
Yang Kai replied, âIâm actually amazed you can still maintain consciousness, City Lord!â
Logically speaking, most people in Miao Hongâs condition would have lost consciousness or become confused and disoriented; however, Miao Hong was still capable of speaking coherently. It could be seen that his willpower was extremely strong.
âWhatâs the good news?â Miao Hong asked.
âThe good news is that I can help you extend your lifespan, City Lord Miao. You wonât die so quickly, but to remove this energy from your body...â Yang Kai shook his head slightly, âI donât have enough strength. Iâm afraid I canât help you with that.â
Miao Hongâs eyes lit up, âItâs fine. You only need to help this City Lord stay alive for another 7 or 8 days!â
[7 or 8 days...] Yang Kai calculated the time. That was probably when Gao Xin Peng would arrive at Heavenly Martial City. [It looks like Miao Hong is staking his hopes on Gao Xin Peng.]
That was not surprising. Gao Xin Peng not only had a long history with Miao Hong, but he was also a Heaven Grade Alchemist. Compared to a person of unknown origins like Yang Kai, it was only natural for Miao Hong to trust Gao Xin Peng more.
Going by this logic, it would seem that Gao Xin Peng was not coming here to refine Life Extension Pills. He was probably coming here to help suppress the strange energy in Miao Hongâs body.
âThatâs not a problem.â Yang Kai nodded. Taking out the Vitality Pills he refined, he tipped two pills out of the bottle, âThese are the pills I refined personally. They can enhance and stimulate the vitality in your body, City Lord. They should help improve your condition.â
Miao Hong glanced at the soybean-sized pills in Yang Kaiâs hand, feeling uncertain whether he could trust Yang Kai.
While Miao Hong was hesitating, Yang Kaiâs expression suddenly changed, âSomebodyâs coming.â
Miao Hong had also detected the approaching presence. He might be terminally ill, but his powerful cultivation was not just a decoration. Besides, the visitor had no intention of hiding their movements. There was no way he could not hear them coming.
Hardening his resolve, Miao Hong sucked in a breath of air that drew up the two pills in Yang Kaiâs hand into his mouth.
Yang Kai had no time to escape, so he could only leap back onto the roof beam where he had been hiding before.
A short while later, the sound of light footsteps approached from a distance and soon arrived in front of the door.
âGreetings, Madam!â The voice of the guard at the door rang out.
âHow is the City Lord?â A cold voice sounded. It obviously belonged to this âMadamâ.
The guard replied, âSame as usual.â
âOpen the door. Iâm going to take a look.â
Immediately after that, there were some sounds and the door was opened. Moonlight spilled into the room and a slender figure stepped inside.
Yang Kai looked down and couldnât help feeling startled. That was because the Madam was somebody he had seen before. It was the woman he encountered while he was wandering around earlier.
[Their tryst ended so quickly?] Yang Kai couldnât help muttering to himself in his heart; however, his expression soon became strange. [The guard at the door called her âMadamâ... What kind of relationship does this woman have with Miao Hong? The only person in the City Lordâs Mansion with the right to be called âMadamâ is... the City Lordâs Wife.]
[This...] Yang Kai suddenly felt as though he had discovered a huge secret.
Nevertheless, he was not sure whether his speculations were correct. [Itâs possible that this woman is not Miao Hongâs Wife. But, if they are not Husband-and-Wife, then why is she here in the middle of the night?]
When Miao Hong spoke to Yang Kai earlier, his voice had been weak but he still had some energy. At this moment however, he just lay motionless on the bed. His aura was faint and gloomy, almost as though he might die at any time.
âHusband...â The woman came over to Miao Hongâs side and sat down by the side of the bed, calling out to him softly.
Yang Kai immediately knew this woman was really the City Lordâs Wife.
Lying on the bed, Miao Hong twisted with difficulty and tried his best to open his eyes to look at her. A low groan involuntarily came out of his mouth.
âHusband, your condition has gotten worse.â The womanâs beautiful brow was slightly wrinkled. Combined with her cold temperament, she seemed very pitiable, âLooking at you in this condition breaks this Mistressâ heart...â
Yang Kai sighed in his heart when he heard those words. [A married couple is devoted to each other for life after all, even if this woman betrayed Miao Hong with her actions, it must be hard for her to see him in this condition.]
Before he could finish his thought though, he heard the womanâs voice continue, âWhy do you bother to struggle so hard? Why donât you just die here? Death ends all troubles. How much longer can you live in this condition anyway? Two days? Three days?â
A gurgling noise came out of Miao Hongâs throat. There was no telling what he wanted to say.
On the other hand, Yang Kai was completely flabbergasted.
The woman smiled, and the dimly-lit room suddenly became dazzling for a moment. Then, she leaned down and pushed her ample bosom into Miao Hongâs face. She gently said, âSmell this. This Mistress still has his scent on me. Itâs very fresh!â
Miao Hong probably could not breathe properly with her twin peaks in his face. His hands tried to push her away weakly, but his efforts were to no avail.
Her laughter gradually became more sinister, âWhen you used such despicable means to snatch me from his arms back then, did you ever think that such a day would befall you? At this point, Iâm not afraid to tell you this anymore. Our daughter is not yours. She is the product of Kou Yong and I.â
Those extremely vicious words came out of the mouth of this seemingly cold-tempered woman. If Yang Kai had not heard them with his own ears, he would never have believed it! He couldnât help thinking of the saying, A waspâs stinger and the fangs of a poisonous snakeâs mouth were both venomous, but there was nothing more poisonous than a womanâs heart!
When Miao Hong spurted out a mouthful of blood, the City Lordâs Wife deftly got up and stepped to the side to avoid being splattered by the filth.
âB-Bitch!â His entire body shuddered, and he coughed up blood again.
She stood by the side of the bed and looked at him coldly. It was not until his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he lost consciousness completely that she turned around and walked out. A short while later, her commanding voice came from outside the door, âThe City Lord coughed up blood again. Go in and clean it up.â