Alchemy Sovereign with Divine Soul

C10 – Dao Artifact Hall

“Oh, you’re challenging me? Well then, let’s see if I have the guts to crush your manhood!”

With those words, Jiaang Lin advanced and delivered a swift kick to Qiao Mingfan’s groin.

Crack!

Ahh!

The sound of an egg cracking was followed by Qiao Mingfan’s agonizing scream, which echoed across the Jade Blessing Market for an extended period.

The male cultivators witnessing Jiaang Lin actually shatter Qiao Mingfan’s manhood with a single kick shuddered, feeling a chill run down their spines.

Expressions of shock and disbelief were etched on their faces.

“Who is that mysterious young man in the black bamboo hat? He actually crushed Qiao Mingfan’s manhood! If Qiao Kai, the head of the Qiao family, hears about this, he’s going to lose his mind!”

One of the cultivators remarked.

Hearing this, many others silently nodded in agreement.

Indeed!

Qiao Mingfan was the beloved youngest son of Qiao Kai, the young master of the Qiao family.

If Qiao Kai learned that his most cherished son had been publicly humiliated and maimed at the Jade Blessing Market, he would be beside himself with rage!

The screams lingered in the air.

The excruciating pain twisted Qiao Mingfan’s face as his body shook uncontrollably.

At that moment, he was not only spitting out blood but also foaming at the mouth, a ghastly sight to behold.

What does it mean to live a life worse than death?

For a libertine like Qiao Mingfan, who frequently toyed with women, being deprived of his manhood and the ability to indulge in his desires was indeed a fate worse than death.

As Jiaang Lin had said, it was a tit-for-tat response.

Since Qiao Mingfan had wished for Jiaang Lin to suffer, Jiaang Lin would ensure that Qiao Mingfan experienced that suffering first.

“Now, the young master of the Qiao family has been reduced to the lowest of the low!”

Jiaang Lin couldn’t help but smirk as he observed Qiao Mingfan’s contorted face.

At the utterance of those words, Qiao Mingfan’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed, unconscious.

Disregarding Qiao Mingfan, Jiaang Lin turned and left the area.

He still needed to purchase a Pill Refining Furnace and the various spiritual medicines required for concocting Body Tempering Pills.

Once Jiaang Lin had departed, the groaning Qiao family servants on the ground finally managed to get to their feet, staggering as they did so.

They looked at the unconscious Qiao Mingfan, exchanging uneasy glances, their faces a picture of distress, and their hearts filled with dread.

They knew all too well that if word of today’s events reached Qiao Kai, they would undoubtedly face severe repercussions.

​”What do we do now?” one of the Qiao family attendants asked, his face as sour as a pickled cucumber.

“What can we do? We need to rush the young master back to the estate and report everything to the Patriarch. He’ll have to figure out a solution,” replied another attendant, one who held some sway among them.

​”But we’re sure to face the Patriarch’s wrath and a harsh punishment!” a fearful voice chimed in.

​”Do you think we have a chance to flee?” the influential attendant retorted.

That silenced the others. Escape? Was that even an option?

The Qiao family was a prominent Martial Dao Family in Clear Water Town. If they tried to run, the Qiao family’s reach would easily drag them back.

With this realization, the attendants begrudgingly carried the still-unconscious Qiao Mingfan back to the Qiao family estate.

Internally, they cursed Jiaang Lin for his mercilessness. He had not only destroyed Qiao Mingfan’s cultivation but also crushed his very essence. Worst of all, his actions were going to bring down the family’s punishment on them!

In their hearts, they loathed Jiaang Lin profoundly.

Dao Artifact Hall.

This establishment in Clear Water Town was a Martial Dao Force known for crafting an array of weapons and Pill Refining Furnaces.

Dao Artifact Hall was not indigenous to Clear Water Town. Rumor had it that its main headquarters was in the Imperial City of the Dragon Abyss Empire.

The Clear Water Town branch of Dao Artifact Hall was merely an extension of the larger organization.

The Dao Artifact Hall held an esteemed reputation and status within Clear Water Town, renowned for selling high-quality weapons, pill furnaces, and other items. These goods, favored by many cultivators in the town, were known for their exceptional quality and reasonable prices, backed by the Hall’s solid reputation.

​At that moment, Jiaang Lin stood outside the entrance of the Dao Artifact Hall, observing the steady flow of cultivators coming and going. He found himself lost in thought.

“I wonder how Shaang Duoge is doing now?”

Removing his black bamboo hat, Jiaang Lin revealed a clean-cut and handsome face. His dark eyes fixed on the large plaque above the hall’s entrance, he was momentarily transported back in time.

​Shaang Duoge, the person he was thinking of, was the once-disregarded Young Lord of the Dao Artifact Hall.

In his past life, Jiaang Lin shared a similar fate with Shaang Duoge, and they were known as the ‘Two Cripples of Clear Water Town,’ leading them to become sworn brothers.

Jiaang Lin remembered Shaang Duoge as outwardly cheerful and carefree, but inwardly, he was in great pain.

Contrary to being worthless, Shaang Duoge was actually a celebrated Martial Dao Talent within the Dragon Abyss Empire. By the age of ten, he had reached the pinnacle of Qi Gathering Level Nine and was on the verge of entering the Pill Transforming Stage, making a name for himself across the empire.

However, due to some inexplicable reason, his cultivation began to decline, plummeting from the heights of Qi Gathering Level Nine Peak to the depths of Body Refining Level Three.

Thus, a once-heralded prodigy was reduced to being mocked and scorned, enduring ridicule and insults.

Moreover, he was demoted from the Main City’s Dao Artifact Hall to the backwaters of Clear Water Town.

Shaang Duoge, who should have been basking in the glory of his talents and the admiration of countless individuals, destined to become a dominant force, was now known alongside Jiaang Lin as the ‘Twin Cripples of Clear Water Town.’

One could only imagine the heart-wrenching pain Shaang Duoge endured.

In Jiaang Lin’s memories, Shaang Duoge, overwhelmed by his burdens, tragically took his own life, leaving the Divine Martial Continent behind and inflicting a deep wound in Jiaang Lin’s heart.

His sworn brother had departed forever.

For many nights, Jiaang Lin raised his glass to the moon, lost in memories of Shaang Duoge, often weeping alone in the dark.

In his past life, Shaang Duoge was his dearest brother.

To watch helplessly as his brother chose death was a torment beyond comprehension for Jiaang Lin.

“In my past life, I could do nothing as Shaang Duoge took his own life. This time around, I refuse to let history repeat itself.”

After some time, Jiaang Lin gathered his thoughts and stepped into the Dao Artifact Hall.

“It’s you again, you good-for-nothing! Who let you into my Dao Artifact Hall?”

As soon as Jiaang Lin crossed the threshold, a harsh voice echoed from a distance.

He turned to see several young men, clad in the Dao Artifact Hall uniforms, approaching with hostility.

The leader, pointing directly at Jiaang Lin, hurled insults at him.

His eyes bore into Jiaang Lin, his face twisted with scorn and loathing.

Upon seeing the Dao Artifact Hall disciple, Jiaang Lin’s expression turned icy.

His name was Tang Bei, a disciple of the Dao Artifact Hall.

At over eighteen, he had reached Body Refining Level Four.

From his previous life’s memories, Jiaang Lin remembered Tang Bei as the one who had tormented Shaang Duoge time and again, a man known for his deceitful and vicious nature.

Understandably, Jiaang Lin harbored no fondness for Tang Bei.

“What’s this? Does the Dao Artifact Hall always treat its customers with such contempt?”

Jiaang Lin’s gaze met Tang Bei’s as he responded coolly.

“Customer? Who? You, Jiaang Lin? You think someone like you has the right to patronize the Dao Artifact Hall? Do you even have enough money?

If you have any sense, get out of here now!”

The Dao Artifact Hall is not some place where just anyone can waltz in, especially not trash.

If you so much as accidentally damage anything inside the Dao Artifact Hall, selling yourself off wouldn’t even begin to cover the costs, you piece of trash!”

Upon hearing Jiaang Lin’s icy remarks, Tang Bei couldn’t help but burst into a mocking laughter, unreservedly taunting him.

Just as he was about to command his cronies to kick Jiaang Lin out, Jiaang Lin reached into his coat and pulled out a thick wad of silver notes!

Tang Bei and his associates were taken aback at the sight of the silver notes, their faces a mix of astonishment and disbelief.

They couldn’t fathom that Jiaang Lin, the notorious good-for-nothing of Clear Water Town, actually possessed such wealth. Judging by the number of silver notes, it was easily a few thousand taels!

A few thousand taels represented nearly a decade’s worth of savings for Tang Bei and his companions!

“Now, may I enter?”

Jiaang Lin asked, his tone frosty as he tucked the silver notes back into his pocket.

Snapped back to reality by his words, Tang Bei and his group exchanged knowing looks, their eyes brimming with avarice.

Jiaang Lin, the so-called waste, actually had a fortune on him. Today seemed like the perfect opportunity for them to seize his wealth and give him a well-deserved lesson.

“Enter? Think you’re something special because you have money? You little waste, with all those silver notes on you, shouldn’t you be sharing the wealth with us?”

Tang Bei fixed his gaze on Jiaang Lin, his face twisted into a menacing grin, his eyes radiating malice.

In that moment, he eyed Jiaang Lin as a greedy wolf would eye a plump lamb.