Legacy of Hatred

As careful as Liam had been in avoiding detection, there was no such thing as certainty in the cultivation world due to its countless methods. There would almost always be tracks to study.

It didn’t help that Liam had remained outside since secluding himself in a different room would have made for a poor guard.

Worst of all, Liam’s duty wasn’t specifically about eliminating threats. He had to avoid disturbing Grace during that delicate phase, and a battle carried that risk.

Liam wasn’t the level three bear, but the mountain wasn’t too big, either. He was also far from the average rooting expert, so he could definitely cause enough destruction to bother Grace, especially against that number of enemies.

’About thirty,’ Liam calculated, storing the pipe and reaching behind him, lifting the dark greatsword and placing it on his shoulder. He didn’t know the group’s identity or its purpose, but his role remained clear.

Time was of the essence. The fan appeared in the open, and Liam jumped on it to fly down the mountain’s slope. The enemy group was climbing from three different routes, but all within the range of his perception.

Still, seeing the central group put Liam in an even more serious mood. They were all men, and their white robes told him that he wouldn’t find women in the other two teams, either. Apparently, the Church of the Man only enlisted, well, men.

Liam was soon spotted, too. He was flying over ice, rocks, and patches of tundra, not even bothering to hide the black Qi leaking from his body, eventually leading to a silent stalemate.

A group of fifteen rooting and foundation experts stared up at Liam while he hovered about ten meters away, dark greatsword still on his shoulder. He could taste the fear in the air and see the anxiety in the faces below, but his black eyes eventually fell on the old man who stepped ahead.

"I’m Deacon Jesse," The old man cupped his fist, his bald head reflecting the morning sunlight. "Are you perhaps Master Black Qi?"

Liam’s feral face couldn’t get any more serious, but his mind could and did. He couldn’t look kindly upon the Church after what he had learned, and discovering that it had come specifically for him worsened things.

In normal circumstances, Liam would have gone for the kill at that point. Actually, he might have launched an attack without giving the Deacon the chance to speak. After all, his enmity with the Church was pretty much set in stone.

However, Liam had one priority in mind, and her name was Grace. Avoiding a battle would be ideal right now. Learning what the Church thought about him was also wise.

Technically, the Church only knew about Master William, not Liam, who had been part of Lancelot’s team, and it was unclear whether it had connected him to Master Black Qi.

Also, while there had been plenty of murder going on, Liam had only seized the Archbishop’s inheritance from the Church’s perspective. The latter knew nothing about Liam’s lineage and what he meant for their goal of creating the eighth ancestral bloodline.

One side had no idea Liam was already its sworn enemy.

Yet, Julian had seen Liam’s face and had definitely shared information with the Church. While not as bad as it could be, Liam was ready to bet that the situation was pretty terrible.

Still, even if Liam could consider engaging in the endless talking all cultivators seemed to like, he had to address a matter first.

"Unless your other teams stop climbing," Liam announced, "I don’t see the point in talking."

Liam had intercepted the central, bigger team, but there were two more on both sides at some distance away. It seemed they had noticed him, too, because their climb had slowed down, but it hadn’t stopped entirely.

At ninety-five roots, with wisps of black gales that embodied Hatred, a giant chunk of metal as sword, a face that embodied predators, and sheer foul mood, Liam’s presence was pretty much the definition of terrifying. Deacon Jesse shuddered at his veiled threat, gulping loudly, before stiffly nodding at one of his companions.

The companion didn’t notice the gesture because his entire being was frozen watching Liam, too wary and scared to divert his gaze or pay attention elsewhere. It took Deacon Jesse’s clearing his throat to snap him back to reality.

The rooting expert drew a white jade carved into the symbol of the Church, and Liam heard the distant footsteps coming to a stop. Diplomacy had won, sort of.

"What do you want?" Liam said, his decision to speak announcing that he could sense that compliance, implicitly warning the team not to try anything funny. He also didn’t confirm nor deny the previous question.

"If you are Master Black Qi," Deacon Jesse announced, "You also are Master William, the alchemist who accompanied Lancelot of the living fire and his two companions to Archbishop Ignatius’ inheritance."

Liam didn’t reply. His expression didn’t change, either, but the answer to an issue he had already considered had finally arrived.

After the events in the inheritance, Liam had gone to a deeper Outer Circle, moved to the border, and ultimately reached the northern region. He had put enough distance from that mess to be theoretically in the clear.

Nevertheless, it had been over two years since the inheritance. That was plenty of time to gather information and uncover shallow cover-up stories, especially for an organization as united, widespread, and respected as the Church.

It didn’t help that Liam had alchemy as a revealing thread. His alchemical skills had basically made the news wherever he went.

"And?" Liam asked, still avoiding addressing the matter.

"We have under good authority that Lancelot of the living fire wouldn’t have kept the inheritance all for himself," Deacon Jesse declared. "He would have given a share to all his companions."

’Julian,’ Liam instantly understood who that good authority was. After all, his former companion had seen how things had gone with the Trial of Greed’s rewards.

’But really,’ Liam cursed internally. ’How long do cultivators need to get to the point?’

Luckily for Liam’s patience, the Deacon finally expressed his wishes next.

"The Church is willing to forget the unfortunate events of the past," The Deacon explained, "As long as Master Black Qi hands back his share of Archbishop Ignatius’ inheritance and offers his services."

That was all in all a magnanimous offer considering the Church’s power in the Kingdom, but Liam didn’t even stop to evaluate it.

It wasn’t even about the fact that most of the inheritance was gone. Liam had killed to get those rewards, so they belonged to him. Any claim of ownership from the Church was simply bogus.

As for the services, Liam wouldn’t strengthen an organization he had to destroy.

Now, someone good with words might have pulled off a lie. Even Liam could deny everything despite hovering on one of the items the Church wanted to retrieve. Still, that wasn’t his character.

"I refuse," Liam stated. "Leave now."

Liam didn’t give any room for negotiations. Letting those teams go was dangerous, but it was better than risking disturbing Grace’s breakthrough. Yet, his statement featured a mistake that led to unforeseen developments.

"You are Master Black Qi then," Deacon Jess announced, "And Master William. So, you must also be the Pale Moon Sect’s nine-spiritual-roots genius with a poison core."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!