<h4>Chapter 51 - Mysterious ck Figure</h4>
When Liu Wuxie arrived, the sky was aze, and the oil mill had been reduced to ashes. Fortunately, the workers had gone home, and there were no casualties, but all the refined oil had been burned, resulting in a loss of at least 500,000 gold coins.
The fire illuminated half of Azure Billow City, and many people came to help extinguish it, even though the oil mill was located on the outskirts of the city.
“Wuxie, you’re here!” said Xu Yilin, who had arrived ahead of him and was standing outside the fire. The mes had been contained and prevented from spreading. The building suddenly copsed with a loud crackle.
“Father-inw, the oil mill had good safety measures. How did it catch fire?” asked Liu Wuxie as the Xu n’s guards and servants worked to put out the fire. The burning wood and oil produced a pungent smell as the mes died down, causing everyone to cover their noses.
“The safety measures were fine,” replied Xu Yilin. Although the oil mill wasn’t the Xu n’s primary source of ie, they still took it seriously. Deacon Lan inspected it daily, and it was unusual for it to catch fire, especially on the same night that the Investigation Team left.
“Father-inw, are you saying someone set it on fire purposely?” asked Liu Wuxie, using Ghost Eye to see through the fire. He narrowed his eyes when he saw traces of holes caused by sharp weapons on the oil drums, causing an oil leak that resulted in a fire.
“We’re not sure about it yet and need to investigate to identify the cause of the fire.” Xu n could afford to lose an oil mill, but they had to find the mastermind. Otherwise, the perpetrator could target their weaponry workshops as well.
“Father-inw, inspect the next oil mill at once,” urged Liu Wuxie, keeping his observation to himself. He initially suspected the Tian and Wan ns, but his spection was soon overthrown. Both ns had stakes in other industries, and if they were responsible for setting fire to Xu n’s oil mill, Xu n could retaliate against their shops, resulting in losses for both sides. As a result, suspicion of the two ns was low.
“Okay. You should be careful!” replied Xu Yilin as he left with a team of guards to inspect the other oil mill, leaving ten guards to protect Liu Wuxie.
Despite the fire being extinguished, the smoke was thick and suffocating, making it difficult for many to see.
“Who do you think set Xu n’s oil mill on fire?” Discussions could be heard from the surroundings. The Xu n’s oil mill had existed for over a decade, and there had never been such an incident before, not to mention the fire was too unusual.
“I heard the Xu n offended the Investigation Team. Do you think they did it?” Some people suspected the Investigation Team, especially since it wasn’t long since they left Azure Billow City.
Liu Wuxie took out a napkin to cover his nose and walked into the oil mill step by step, hoping to find clues.
“Young Master, don’t go in. It’s dangerous.” The oil mill had yet to copse entirely, making it dangerous to enter rashly. In the event of a sudden copse of the oil mill, Liu Wuxie would be in grave danger. To prevent this, the guards stepped in and stopped him.
“Search around and see if there’s anyone suspicious.” Liu Wuxie waved his hand, instructing them not to follow him as he stepped on the scorched wood and entered the oil mill. There were still embers in the oil mill, with dense smoke obscuring his vision. But the thick smoke was nothing before the Ghost Eye.
Liu Wuxie could activate the Ghost Eye longer now after making a breakthrough. A faint ripple appeared on the scorched wall, and Liu Wuxie’s gaze managed to pierce through it.
“I can see through the wall?!” Liu Wuxie was shocked. However, before he could think more about it, his sight expanded to the other side of the wall, where grass grew as high as a person’s height. But no one usually came here as there was a sewage ditch beneath it.
A man dressed in ck darted out from the grass, his face concealed by a mask. He nced back before making his escape. The thick mes engulfing the oil mill obscured the view from ordinary people, but if one followed the grass, a path could be found leading back to the Azure Billow City.
“There’s really someone here!” eximed Liu Wuxie as he elerated, leaving behind a trail of afterimages and a powerful shockwave from his foot. With a light touch on the ground, he darted forward and appeared behind the oil mill, vanishing before the Xu n’s guards could react.
The ck figure weaved through the dense grass towards the distant mountains, where it would be difficult to track him once he entered the mountain range. The surroundings were dark and seldom visited, as one could easily lose their way. However, with the aid of Ghost Eye, Liu Wuxie managed to tail fifty meters behind the ck figure.
It didn’t take long for the ck figure to notice someone following him, and he quickened his pace. He was fast, but Liu Wuxie was faster; like aet, stuck close to the ground, crossing ten-odd meters whenever he leaped.
Realizing he couldn’t shake Liu Wuxie off, the ck figure slowed down as a cliff appeared before him. He could have returned to Azure Billow City by going around the cliff, but with Liu Wuxie behind him, he couldn’t turn back.
As Liu Wuxie drew closer, the ck figure turned to face him, a sh of malice in his eyes under the faint light of night.
“Who are you, and why are you following me?” he demanded coldly, brandishing a de that glinted in the light. From its sheen, Liu Wuxie could tell it was a fine weapon.
“You’re the one who set fire to the oil mill!” used Liu Wuxie, standing just five steps away from the ck figure. With the cliff at his back, the ck figure had no escape unless he could fly. Liu Wuxie deactivated Ghost Eye and studied the ck figure. From his tone of voice, Liu Wuxie didn’t recognize him.
“Brat, you dare to meddle in this affair when you’re only in the Xiantian Realm? You must have a death wish!” sneered the ck figure, swinging his de at Liu Wuxie without hesitation. He knew that Liu Wuxie was not as simple as he seemed since he had managed to catch up with him, so he aimed to strike first and gain the upper hand inbat.
The ck figure’s de technique was fierce, aimed directly at Liu Wuxie’s throat. His attacks were merciless and unpredictable, a style of de technique seldom seen in Azure Billow City. Liu Wuxie was familiar with the martial techniques of the four major ns, including those of the City Lord Mansion, but he knew of no one in Azure Billow City who practiced such an unusual de technique.
This de technique might not be as formidable as Liu Wuxie’s Blood Gleam de Art, but it was powerful when executed by an expert in the fifth level of the Spirit Cleansing Realm. The iing attacks ovepped, sending a powerful shockwave to the surrounding area.
However, since Liu Wuxie had left in haste and had not brought his de, he was forced to rely on his Seven Dipper Steps to evade the lethal blow.
The ck figure was taken aback that Liu Wuxie had managed to dodge his attack so easily.
“Interesting...you’re not weak since you can evade my Frost Sting de Art!” he eximed, twisting his wrist and spinning his de 180 degrees to target Liu Wuxie’s legs. A frigid aura emanated from his de, freezing Liu Wuxie’s legs.
Despite facing such a formidable enemy, Liu Wuxie didn’t resort to using Ghost Eye. Instead, he relied on his speed and control over the battle to kill his opponent. The two figures intertwined as Liu Wuxie dodged the iing attacks, and the ck figure’s strikes failed even to graze Liu Wuxie’s clothing. The ck figure grew increasingly astonished as the fight progressed.
“Who the hell are you?! Since when did such a monstrous genius capable of facing the Spirit Cleaning Realm in the Xiantian Realm appear in Azure Billow City?!” he eximed, his voice betraying his shock.
From his tone, he seemed to be in his thirties, and even after forty moves, he had still failed to take down Liu Wuxie. He had never heard of such an expert in Azure Billow City, which left only one possibility: this person was not from Azure Billow City and might be an expert from anotherrge city.
“I should be the one asking you. What grudge do you have with the Xu n to light their oil mill?” retorted Liu Wuxie, striding forward with his Seven Dipper Steps. Only he would dare to make such a risky move to go on offense instead of defense in this situation. He suddenly raised his fist and threw a simple punch with an unpredictable trajectory that was impossible to track.
This was a case of simplifying somethingplex; any martial technique would have an unexpected effect in Liu Wuxie’s hands as he was only using a foundation fist technique meant for tempering the physique.
The ck figure was stunned and quickly retreated as Liu Wuxie could find the ws in each of his attacks. He was horrified to discover that Liu Wuxie’s punch was lethal and wasn’t as simple as it looked. He couldn’t find ws in Liu Wuxie’s seemingly simple punch.
Though the foundation fist technique was widely known among martial cultivators, no one in the entire Great Yan Dynasty could perform it to such a level, so it was no wonder that the ck figure’s face was filled with horror. He swung his de horizontally in defense, a suicidal move that would result in heavy injuries to both sides. Even if Liu Wuxie’s attacknded, the ck figure’s de could still sever his hands.
The ck figure was inferior to Liu Wuxie in his use of true essence, as Liu Wuxie’s dantian provided him with an endless supply. Liu Wuxie’s true essence surged like a tidal wave, allowing his punches to take on various forms, like a tiger roaring as it broke free from the cage.
No one would believe it if someone said the true essence of an expert in the Spirit Cleansing Realm couldn’t bepared to someone in the Xiantian Realm. So the ck figure was appalled, watching Liu Wuxie’s fist getting closer to him.
“You can’t dodge it no matter how hard you try!” Liu Wuxie let out a peal of contemptuousughter, disappearing from sight and leaving behind an afterimage before reappearing behind the ck figure.
“Shit!” The ck figure was shocked by Liu Wuxie, whose fighting prowess far exceeded his prediction. He realized that he couldn’t dodge this attack and quickly retreated. But when Liu Wuxie appeared behind him, he pulled the brakes and shot forth instead.
“Too slow!” Liu Wuxie’s fist was like a sledgehammer mming on the ck figure’s back. The powerful momentum behind his punch made the ck figure stagger before flying forward and smashing into the rubble.
Blood dripped from the ck figure’s lips, and his mask fell. Just as Liu Wuxie had guessed, he was in his thirties, and this was the first time Liu Wuxie had seen this person. The ck figure didn’t feel great after Liu Wuxie’s true essence entered his body and messed up his meridians, making it hard for him to catch his breath.
“Now, tell me who sent you here!” Liu Wuxie’s voice was cold as he approached the ck figure. He had to find out who was trying to target the Xu n.
“Hahaha! If I’m not mistaken, you must be that wastrel son-inw of the Xu n!” The ck figure guessed Liu Wuxie’s identity and let out tragicughter. It was rumored that Liu Wuxie was garbage and couldn’t cultivate, but the strength he disyed that night wasparable to the fifth level of the Spirit Cleansing Realm.
“You know me?” asked Liu Wuxie, momentarily taken aback. He didn’t recognize this person and was certain that he wasn’t from Azure Billow City, so how did he know him?
“It’s really you! I never expected the rumored garbage to be so powerful. I have lost tonight, but you’re not strong enough to kill me!” The ck figure dashed out. He had chosen to escape since he couldn’t beat Liu Wuxie.