The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron

Chapter 529: Dugu Qingyun

Despite the bustling streets of Xuan City, Fang Lin’s senses were extraordinarily sharp. He faintly felt that more than one pair of eyes were spying on him from behind.

This sensation was rather uncomfortable; no one liked being watched constantly.

However, Fang Lin couldn’t give himself away and had to keep up an unsuspecting front, especially since he wasn’t quite sure where these hidden figures were from or what they were planning.

After walking a bit further, Fang Lin nonchalantly glanced behind a few times and identified at least three to four individuals tailing him.

Inwardly, Fang Lin felt a bit morose. The number of people in Xuan City who wished him ill was high, and for him, being alone and powerless, it was incredibly challenging to establish a foothold here.

Luckily, his journey was uneventful, and Fang Lin returned to the Pill Alliance. He informed Mo Ziming about being tracked.

Upon hearing this news, Mo Ziming frowned, feeling that Fang Lin’s situation was less than ideal.

“Try not to leave the Pill Alliance,” Mo Ziming suggested earnestly. “The political climate of Xuan City is volatile. No one knows what will happen tomorrow.”

Fang Lin had intended to stay put in the Pill Alliance. At least within the Alliance, he felt relatively safe; no faction in Xuan City had dared to cause trouble there so far.

However, safety inside the Pill Alliance wasn’t absolute. Qi Sanxuan was keeping a close eye on Fang Lin, searching for an opportunity to take him down.

But Fang Lin had been keeping a consistent low profile recently, so low that his behavior was comparable to a shy maiden.

Dugu Nian, on the other hand, often came to the Pill Alliance. She had been staying in Xuan City all this time and showed no signs of leaving, frequently visiting Fang Lin.

The young pill refiners in the Pill Alliance were green with envy. Fang Lin was being personally sought out by the esteemed miss of the Dugu Family; this was a tremendous honor. No one else in all of Xuan Country probably received such a special treatment as Fang Lin.’

However, Fang Lin saw Dugu Nian as nothing more than a major headache. Thus, every time Dugu Nian came to see him, Fang Lin attempted to hide.

One day, someone came looking for Fang Lin again. But this time, it wasn’t Dugu Nian; it was someone from the Dugu Family.

“Where is Fang Lin?” A cold-looking, arrogant young man dressed in black was standing at the gate of the Pill Alliance, shouting inside.

Several pill refiners glared at the young man in discontent. Such blatant disrespect directed at them was simply unacceptable. How could someone stand outside the main entrance of the Pill Alliance and shout? He was clearly disregarding the stature of the Pill Alliance.

“Who are you? How dare you make a nuisance here?” One man asked.

The man in black displayed evident impatience, “I am Dugu Qingyun. I am here for Fang Lin, and he will come with me.”

Some people were visibly astonished upon hearing the name Dugu Qingyun.

“Is he really Dugu Qingyun, one of the young geniuses of the Dugu Family?”

“He carries an impressive aura indeed!”

“What does he want with Fang Lin?”

“Hard to say, his demeanor suggests he might be looking for trouble.”

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The crowd was buzzing. Many recognized Dugu Qingyun; after all, the Dugu Family was one of the top powers in Xuan Country, and they were widely known for their talented individuals.

Apart from the monster named Dugu Ruoxu, the Dugu Family had numerous young geniuses. Dugu Qingyun was one such individual, with his reputation being quite prominent.

Fang Lin eventually appeared. After all, if someone was naming him explicitly, he couldn’t hide forever.

“Are you Fang Lin?” Dugu Qingyun asked. He glanced sidelong at Fang Lin with an extremely casual tone.

Fang Lin nodded and said nothing more, assessing Dugu Qingyun in silence.

“Come with me,” Dugu Qingyun ordered as if giving a command to Fang Lin, not allowing him to refuse whatsoever.

“Where are we going?” Fang Lin asked, furrowing his brow.

Dugu Qingyun appeared impatient, “Just come with me. Why’re you asking so many questions?”

Fang Lin retorted, “You won’t even tell me where we’re going. What if you’re planning to harm me?”

Dugu Qingyun’s irritation was evident, “Enough with your nonsense. I say where to go, you come. Cut the chatter.”

Fang Lin was provoked. He was always courteous to those who treated him well, but if someone disrespected him, he would not turn the other cheek.

“Sorry, I’m busy refining pills and don’t have time,” Fang Lin replied. He then turned around to leave, completely disregarding Dugu Qingyun.

“Impudent!” Dugu Qingyun roared with anger. As a genius from the Dugu Family, he was very reluctant to be a messenger in the first place because it was beneath him. To add insult to injury, Fang Lin had the audacity to snap at him.

“Actually, the presumptuous one here is you!” Fang Lin turned around and barked back, his expressions full of authority.

Dugu Qingyun was furious, “Fang Lin, do you know who I am? How dare you speak to me like that?”

Fang Lin replied scornfully, “Aren’t you just an insignificant character of the Dugu Family? In the eyes of the Pill Alliance, you’re nothing!”

When these words came out, many people present cheered for Fang Lin.

From the moment Dugu Qingyun arrived and began shouting, many of the Pill Alliance’s members were unhappy with him. If they hadn’t known he was an important member of the Dugu Family, someone would have reprimanded him already.

So, when they heard Fang Lin’s words, they felt tremendously satisfied.

Dugu Qingyun’s face turned red with rage, his chest rose and fell violently, and his eyes flashed dangerously.

“How dare you, Fang Lin! I was kind enough to invite you to accompany me, but you lack respect and refuse to acknowledge your mistakes!” Dugu Qingyun said.

Fang Lin, now infuriated, lashed out directly. He aimed a kick at Dugu Qingyun.

“You’re asking for it!” Dugu Qingyun roared and sidestepped Fang Lin’s kick, striking toward Fang Lin’s waist with both his hands.

Fang Lin deftly slid away and retaliated with a swift palm strike aimed at Dugu Qingyun’s chest.

This attack was almost full force and extremely explosive, with all his power surging out in an instant.

Dugu Qingyun never expected Fang Lin to be this powerful, and due to carelessness, took a solid hit. Fang Lin’s palm strike broke three of his ribs and caused him to cough up blood.

However, Fang Lin was also slightly surprised. Given the full force behind his palm strike, Dugu Qingyun just ended up with a few broken ribs and was otherwise alright—an indication of his considerable strength.

“Fang Lin!” Dugu Qingyun charged again, almost as if he was determined to fight Fang Lin to the death.

“Who is this brawler, causing a ruckus in the Pill Alliance?” At this moment, Mo Ziming appeared on the scene. Without any explanation, he suppressed Dugu Qingyun on the spot.

Dugu Qingyun was no match for Mo Ziming and didn’t even have a chance to resist. He was immediately pressed down on the ground.

Dugu Qingyun felt incredibly stifled and humiliated. What on earth was happening?

“I am from the Dugu Family! You can’t treat me like this!” Dugu Qingyun yelled, his eyes bulging in rage.

“If you disrespect the Pill Alliance and cause a disturbance, you should be prepared to be punished. We’ll wait for your elders to come and collect you,” Mo Ziming said, showing no leniency.