Heretic Apothecary Genius - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Massacre

Game time, he actually said this was game time. There was a surge of energy in the smiley old man’s body that was vaguely about to burst out. Goddamn it. I do as I please in the world, fearing no one. Even those emperors tremble in fear at the mention of my name. And this rascal actually said he’s playing games with me.

He thought he was here to be his nanny. Game time… detestable. The smiley old man initially thought he had seen through Ren Jie but didn’t expect this rascal…

“Damn it, you rascal. You’re intentionally aggravating me, trying to get more information out of me. Aren’t you afraid that I’d kill you?” With that, the smiley old man suddenly restrained all of his aura. At the moment, though he was standing there, it was more like he didn’t exist. Not a hint of killing intent was felt, but it felt even more horrifying.

Killers, truly exist for the objective of killing.

“You are able to come and go freely even in the Ren residence, isn’t it easy if you want to kill me.” Ren Jie’s heart sank too because such a feeling really wasn’t very comfortable, it was as if he’d been targeted by death and judged by Yama 1 He did not deny that he deliberately provoked the smiley old man with his words, wanting to get more information from him, but neither did he say anything more about that. He walked directly to the smiley old man and placed the box of the Black Nether Sword into the smiley old man’s hands. “Honor the bet. Come, let us begin. Don’t you want to know how restoring a superior-grade spiritual item feels like?”

“Darn you…” The smiley old man returned back to normal instantly, reverting to a living person, and cursed heatedly.

Then, he looked at the Black Nether Sword in his hand and snapped. “What the f*ck is there to restore. Once it’s pulled out, the dark and evil aura will scatter immediately. This item does more harm than good, throw it as far as you can before it’s too late. Also, although I do have some knowledge about equipment refinement, I’m merely a little better than those refiners who create ordinary metal. It would be great if I could manage to match up to a middle-grade spiritual artifact creator. At my best, I’ve only managed to forcefully create a middle-grade spiritual artifact using my strength and good materials. Restoring this thing is ten times harder than refinement, even the top spiritual artifact creators can’t do anything…”

“Honor the bet, why do you have so much to say. You’ll do as I say. Otherwise, how would it be called the moment to witness the miracle.” Ren Jie waved his hand, telling the smiley old man to cut the crap and quickly do as he said.

It was another “honor the bet”. The smiley old man’s anger that was initially about to explode was suppressed again. Alright, you father and son are really f*cking outstanding.

I have already made it clear to you. I’m going to see how you rascal can restore such a superior-grade spiritual artifact that has already failed in being refined. You really think you’re well-rounded. If you can restore a superior-grade spiritual artifact at your age, you’d have reached the same level as a heavenly artifact creator that can refine antique heavenly artifacts, then you’ll be a hundred times more formidable than your father.

“Before removing the seal, first, use your dharmic powers to consolidate the array formation, then use the fire of your owl soul to temper it. As this is a superior-grade spiritual artifact already close to completion, it doesn’t need to be refined alone. Firstly, you must control these few things well. One, absolutely do not allow the dark and evil aura to scatter. It must be maintained at the most powerful period when refining till…” Ren Jie did not want to waste time and had already started directing the smiley old man.

Although Ren Jie had advanced again in the Mighty Realm, it was only a small step forward. In artifact refinement, he actually had no way of seeing through even a superior-grade artifact. However, as he had interpreted only the restoration method of the Black Nether Sword in the Five Saints’ Dao Discussion, he now had the most detailed restoration method of this Black Nether Sword in his mind.

As he directed step by step, the smiley old man moved swiftly and complied with Ren Jie’s requests.

Gradually, around the smiley old man, the dark evil aura within the Black Nether Sword was steadily guided to move, forming a unique circulation. This feeling was like doing an organ transplant for a living human. Originally, the body would die once the windpipe left the body. This Black Nether Sword was a step away from being unable to be completed, it was also the same situation—there was still movement at the level of a middle-grade spiritual artifact while being sealed, and once the seal was removed, it would die.

And Ren Jie first got the smiley old man to use his powerful force to slowly circulate the dark and evil aura of the seal, opening the Black Nether Sword bit by bit while still maintaining its sealed state. Thus, it would not go as far as to crumbling instantly, and this would make it easier for him to carry out more changes to it.

Following that was the complicated alteration of its inner part. Since this Black Nether Sword was ruined because of refinement, it meant there must have been many mistakes made in its refinement process. And a person who dared to refine a superior-grade spiritual artifact certainly wouldn’t be too terrible. Such mistakes were extremely minute and difficult to find. Usually, it would be impossible to find them if one wasn’t many stages higher. This was also one of the main reasons why a restoration was more challenging than re-refining. Meanwhile, Ren Jie knew clearly where the problems were and directly got the smiley old man to fix them.

He’d merely revised a few areas and the aura of the Black Nether Sword had already changed. After that, Ren Jie got the smiley old man to start refinement and the alteration of other aspects.

Details, details that got tinier and tinier, details that even a top spiritual artifact creator would find difficult to find. It was these minute details that ultimately caused the refinement of this Black Nether Sword to fail, and right now, even those flawed areas had been pointed out by Ren Jie. It was only slight alterations, there was totally no need to add any more materials.

Time passed bit by bit. At first, the smiley old man still found it laughable, thinking to himself, This rascal really doesn’t know his own limitations, he’s actually wishfully hoping to restore a superior-grade spiritual artifact that has been damaged from refinement, but slowly, even he himself sank into it.

Ren Jie was only telling him to do. As Ren Jie hadn’t reached this stage yet, though it could describe the method in great detail, he actually didn’t know how to do it. But the smiley old man was different.

Turns out one could control the restoration energy like this, this was simply too amazing.

One could actually control his soul’s fire in sections like this, actually…

Unknowingly, the smiley old man realized there were many aspects to it where even he could learn lots from. Although this was restoring a superior-grade spiritual artifact, it involved the control of energy, array formation, runes and lots of knowledge.

“Alright, lastly, draw it in. By the way, while the refinement hasn’t been totally completed right now, if it’s possible, please carve out the four dots of dice on this sword’s handle using energy.” When Ren Jie reminded him of the instant when the restoration was to be completely finished at the end, the smiley old man was shocked himself.

He only really came to his senses at this moment. Less than two hours had passed and they were actually almost done.

Completed, it was really about to be restored. Damn it. And it was even done so by his own hands. Was… was this real?

Even the smiley old man was in slight disbelief that all of this was real. However, the reality was right before his eyes, he had to believe it.

Heavenly artifact creator? He could refine antique heavenly artifacts, artifacts enough to ground a country. It couldn’t be that this rascal was really…

In the final moment, he was utterly shocked at heart yet didn’t dare to be distracted, because, at present, even he had his heart and soul put into it. This was a grand accomplishment that he’d never once thought of being about to fulfill. Although he was powerful enough, this was something that he wasn’t skilled in, after all.

“Boom… hum…” At last, a sword cry charged into the sky, instantly condensing all the dark and evil aura. The Black Nether Sword was finally, entirely restored. As that dark and evil aura completely blended into the sword, four round dots could clearly be seen on its handle.

Though he had restored it personally, when he had completed the restoration of this superior-grade spiritual artifact, the smiley old man looked to Ren Jie at the very first moment, watching him as if he was looking at a monster.

“Goddamn it. Quickly tell me, are you a heavenly artifact creator or not?”

Heavenly artifact creators, people who belonged in the legends in Clear Jade Dynasty, and also a peak in the legends.

Ren Jie reached out and took the Black Nether Sword from the smiley old man’s hands. He was extremely pleased while looking at it and said at the same time, “If I was already a heavenly artifact creator now, then I wouldn’t be in this pathetic state. I would more or less be a dominating presence in Jade Capital already. This was a restoration method that I merely got by chance.”

Actually, when the smiley old man asked this question, he felt it was impossible. How respectable were heavenly artifact creators? If this rascal was really one, with one casual comment, he would have countless powerful people, extremely powerful people following him.

“Hmph, their noses are quite sharp, a slight change and they know. Someone’s coming, let’s go.” Initially, the smiley old man still wanted to question how it was possible that Ren Jie knew so comprehensively the method of restoration. If there was such a complete restoration method, even those not as strong as him, as long as they were in the Yin Yang Realm, would be able to do the restoration. However, he happened to sense people rushing over right then. Lifting his hand, he was already charging into the sky in an instant with Ren Jie.

This time, Ren Jie did not feel the drowsy, dazed feeling that he felt last time. He clearly realized that he was beside the smiley old man, wrapped around with a layer of warm energy and cutting swiftly through the air.

Just as the smiley old man had left with Ren Jie, several forceful auras promptly rushed over in the sky. However, most were flying quickly through the air with the help of artifacts.

“What’s going on, I felt the presence of a superior-grade spiritual artifact moments ago.”

“In this desolate countryside, could there be someone refining artifacts here.”

“It didn’t seem like refinement, how odd.”

“Although we weren’t able to have another breakthrough today, we’ve finally fixed this Black Nether Sword. Thanks.” While he spoke, Ren Jie had already placed the Black Nether Sword into his storage bag. Ren Jie was temporarily using the storage bag that Chang Laosi had brought and realized that having a storage bag was very convenient. This made him want to reach the True Qi Realm as soon as possible even more and open the family head ring that he was wearing on his finger.

“What do you mean by weren’t able to have another breakthrough today!” Upon hearing Ren Jie’s slightly disappointed tone, the smiley old man’s figure abruptly stopped in the air. Oh, the anger in his heart. This rascal was claiming that his preparations this time weren’t as good as that for the All-Kill Array, he was actually disappointed that he didn’t get to have a breakthrough.

“Goddamn it, do you think breakthroughs are as simple as eating and drinking water? You’ll have a breakthrough whenever you want to, breaking through one level per night, who do you think you are!” The smiley old man’s anger had long been building.

Ren Jie really hadn’t wanted to infuriate the smiley old man this time. He only said honestly, “Originally, I had some slight luck and understanding when I was cultivating these two days, so I’m close to another breakthrough. If it could really be like how it was with the All-Kill Array, I should have been able to get a breakthrough.”

Damn it. Upon hearing this, the smiley old man was truly regretful. He should have brought a thousand Soul Bewitching Demonic Monkeys, then thrown this rascal into their midst and see what he would do.

This brat, wasn’t he criticizing him through insinuation? Other people would be so scared that they would wet their pants when they heard his name. No one dared to meet him. Not only had he gotten him to restore the item for free, but he was also even complaining that the cultivation that he’d prepared for him was too simple and not pressurizing enough…

Not pressurizing enough was it, alright…

Suddenly, the smiley old man abruptly turned his head to look to the southeast direction. At present, it was the darkest time of the day, but his gaze seemed to cut through the distance and saw somewhere very, very far away.

“Killing a few Soul Bewitching Demonic Monkeys wasn’t satisfying is it, you have lots of guts. Then let me have a look at exactly how strong your endurance is…” The smiley old man said, and in the next moment, he rushed in the southeast direction with Ren Jie.

The Sun Town, a small town with more than 300 households and a population of about two thousand people. Right now, everyone was still in deep sleep.

However, in the most eastern area of the town, in the courtyard of Sun Zhu, the richest man in Sun Town, cries of pain and fear sounded.

“Ah… ah… you’re not human… you even killed a child… he’s just been born, you… ah….” Sun Zhu, who was almost in his fifties, was someone in the second level of the True Qi Realm. In his early years, he had made a living outside and subsequently returned to Sun Town to become the wealthiest man of the town. Sun Zhu was a charitable man and also had the title of Kindhearted Sun. Anyone around knew that if they went to Kindhearted Sun with any trouble, he would definitely graciously give help. Only, the present Sun Zhu held a seven, eight years old little girl dressed in pajamas as he continuously retreated, his stomach having been pierced.

There were no more survivors in the entire Sun family courtyard. Dead bodies were everywhere on the ground. From the elderly in their eighties to children who couldn’t even walk yet. The Sun Family had about a hundred people from top to bottom, and even his grandson who was barely a month old had been killed by this person. If it wasn’t for this granddaughter, Sun Rui, who’d run to him and told him there was trouble, Sun Zhu might not even have the time to organize a resistance.

“Who… who exactly are you. Punishment shouldn’t involve the family. Besides, I, Sun Zhu, have never provoked anyone. I haven’t stepped into the outside world for more than twenty years…” Blood flowed ceaselessly from Sun Zhu’s stomach, and the long sword in his hand had also been sliced in half. Though he had dozens of wounds on him, his left hand still held his granddaughter who was trembling in fear and clinging onto his arm with a death grip. He had many grandchildren, but the one he doted on the most was this granddaughter. Though she was born in a small town, Sun Rui didn’t carry any rustic aura at all.

However, right now, in this horrifying massacre, she’d been shocked for a long time. Her body kept trembling, but in this horror, her eyes were fixed on this demon that had slaughtered her family.

Sun Zhu couldn’t understand. Back then, it was precisely because he’d wanted a quiet life instead of a bloody, terror-filled one and didn’t want to risk his life for any goal. Hence, he went into seclusion after accidentally landing a pot of gold. Twenty years passed in a flash and he’d never gained any enemies, but someone suddenly came charging to their door, wanting to wipe out his entire family.

“Sir, run quickly… thud…” The last two guards who were at the ninth level of the Body Refinement Realm had their bodies directly sliced in half. And just as this person was killed, the slim and tall man dressed in a tight-fitting black suit with a small smile on his face leisurely walked over.

Footnotes:

In East Asian and Buddhist mythology, sometimes known as King of Hell, is said to judge the dead and preside over the realm of hell and the cycle of the afterlife.