"Ye Jianhuang, isn’t it time to settle our old score?" The seemingly honest man, who had been squatting on the ground, now stood up, hands still clasped together, giving Ye Jianhuang a simple smile.
Chu Shaoqiang didn’t recognize this middle-aged man, but he could see Ye Jianhuang’s fear.
Ye Jianhuang was indeed afraid.
This was the Fool’s City’s Master from back then, Sun Tiecheng, who instilled terror in others.
Ye Jianhuang loaded a pot of tobacco into his smoking pipe, lit it up, and while puffing, said, "I wasn’t the only one involved back then."
Sun Tiecheng chuckled, saying, "You’re not the only one I need to settle scores with. Just happened to run into you today, might as well start with you."
Ye Jianhuang exhaled a mouthful of smoke, under the shroud of smoke, trying to transform himself into smoke.
This is one of the most difficult techniques to counter in smoke cultivation; once transformed successfully, many attacks become ineffective.
Sun Tiecheng waved his hand, dispersing the smoke in front of him, coughing twice, and said, "Can’t you smoke something better? This stuff is choking me to death.
This lousy tobacco leaf will kill you sooner or later, burn you up, and you’ll turn into smoke then!"
The smoke dissipated, and Ye Jianhuang failed to transform into smoke.
Because Sun Tiecheng said earlier, when Ye Jianhuang dies and is burned, he’ll turn into smoke.
Thinking conversely, if transformed into smoke, does that mean Ye Jianhuang is dead?
Ye Jianhuang shook his head vigorously.
No, he shouldn’t think like that.
This is the Foolish Cultivation Technique, reversing outcomes.
Ye Jianhuang can transform into smoke because he is a Smoke Cultivator, and it has nothing to do with whether he’s dead.
But Sun Tiecheng kept smiling at Ye Jianhuang, "Try transforming into smoke, see if you’re dead, see if you can turn back!"
After a moment of stalemate, Ye Jianhuang didn’t dare transform into smoke. Instead, he took another puff and blew it onto Sun Tiecheng, hoping to turn Sun Tiecheng into smoke.
He knew it was difficult, but even a partial transformation, or just for a moment, could give him an advantage.
Sun Tiecheng waved his hand, he didn’t transform into smoke, just coughed twice again, "Are you smoking leaves from a tree? If you keep blowing smoke at me, I’ll sew your mouth shut.
With those little tricks, you think you can turn me into smoke? Whoever transforms into smoke will die here today!"
Gamble Cultivation Technique, Toss of Heaven and Earth.
Sun Tiecheng and Ye Jianhuang were betting against each other.
If Ye Jianhuang can turn Sun Tiecheng into smoke, Sun Tiecheng forfeits his life.
If Ye Jianhuang transforms into smoke himself, he forfeits his own life.
This cornered Ye Jianhuang without a retreat.
Does Sun Tiecheng know the Gamble Cultivation Technique?
Ye Jianhuang wasn’t sure, but he didn’t dare gamble, unsure if Sun Tiecheng had dual cultivation with other Taoist Sect techniques, or which of Sun Tiecheng’s words were true.
He didn’t dare transform into smoke himself, nor could he turn Sun Tiecheng into smoke, wondering what to do next?
Ye Jianhuang was in a panic, accidentally tapping his smoking pipe against the concrete, scattering ash everywhere.
He had many techniques, turning smoke into poison, weapons, or even a prison to trap opponents.
But would these work on Sun Tiecheng?
Without the ability to transform to smoke, Ye Jianhuang already abandoned the idea of fighting, uncertain even about escaping.
Sun Tiecheng, hands behind his back, spoke slowly, "Ye Jianhuang, aren’t you reputed for the Three-pot Smoking Pipe? You’ve only smoked one pot, not enough yet, keep smoking, try something better, I’ll wait here."
Three-pot Smoking Pipe, Ye Jianhuang, Master of Smoke Cultivation, without much action, he retrieved his smoking pipe and bowed respectfully to Sun Tiecheng.
"City Master Sun, I wronged you back then, spare my life and dispose of me as you wish."
Sun Tiecheng laughed, "Dispose of you as I wish? Do you want to transform into smoke or into ashes?"
Ye Jianhuang understood, transforming into smoke meant death, transforming into ashes meant obliteration, leaving not even the soul.
"City Master Sun, I beg you, spare my life!" Ye Jianhuang implored again.
"This is your life?" Sun Tiecheng grabbed at the air from a distance, Ye Jianhuang felt like something was missing inside him.
Sun Tiecheng held a handful of air, kneading and playing with it.
What technique is this? Did he extract life’s essence?
Ye Jianhuang felt there was something in that air, if Sun Tiecheng crushed it, his life would be gone.
"City Master Sun, have mercy."
Sun Tiecheng nodded, "Go wait for me at Fool’s City, don’t enter, just wait at the gate."
Ye Jianhuang said, "I haven’t been to Fool’s City in years, I don’t know where it’s located now..."
Sun Tiecheng chuckled, "Go find it, you’re a Master of Smoke Cultivation, it’s not a hard task, you can certainly locate it."
Ye Jianhuang dared not say more and walked away with his smoking pipe.
Not transforming to smoke, using no techniques, he left the abandoned factory step by step, cautiously as if he were an ordinary person.
Sun Tiecheng looked at Chu Shaoqiang, "Whose side are you on?"
Chu Shaoqiang replied, "Anyone is fine."
This answer sounded shabby, but it was truly from Chu Shaoqiang’s heart.
Sun Tiecheng chuckled, "Where’s Red Lotus?"
Chu Shaoqiang picked up the briefcase from the ground and handed it to Sun Tiecheng with both hands.
Sun Tiecheng frowned, "Trying to fool me with this bag?"
Chu Shaoqiang quickly reached and took Red Lotus out of the bag.
Layer upon layer of array protected Red Lotus, but switching to someone else, they’d fear touching it.
Sun Tiecheng, however, showed no fear, directly taking Red Lotus with his hand.
Chu Shaoqiang had mechanisms left on the array, ready to employ techniques to break it at any moment.