Emperor's Reckoning

The hue of mana was seeping out of the rubbles—as the remnants of the ingredients and pills that were crushed along with the famous building. There, atop the ruins, stood a young man with his eyes glaring down.

He held a man that was limp—lifeless without a twitch of a muscle by the face. His supreme presence was exuded, and for the many people that watched him from below, the scene would etch inside their minds forever as they live their life.

Cherie was out of words. She knew he was a mysterious being, but she would have never thought that things would turn out this way. Out of all the important buildings in Alchemy Union, the First Hall fell victim to his act.

Porealus let out the biggest sigh he had ever let out in his life. He was sure that Lyon would do something but not to this extent. (This madman!) he couldn't describe him more than that.

"He must have a reason for this," said Zet's grandfather with a nod.

"Forget it!" said Carius as he shook his head. "He has endangered us all, what reason could be used?"

Ivy gritted her teeth, "What is he doing!?"

"Hold it!" the matriarch grabbed her wrist before the latter turned and faced her. The matriarch sighed, "No matter what we do now, it will be for naught." She shook her head. "He is beyond our comprehension, and the Alchemy Union will surely act against him. If you want to meet your mother, stay low."

Ivy had her eyes widened before she calmed her emotion down. (That's right, what he did is no concern of mine, Mother is my priority).

"A friend of Red Lotus," Lyon looked at Ning who was struggling to get up. He threw the corpse down before a loud thud made Ning open her eyes wide.

The corpse was unsightly. Its entire face was unrecognizable. Blood flowing out of his orifices without any sign of stopping. She couldn't even sense his soul anywhere. He was dead beyond saving.

She clenched her jaw before she looked up with a glare. She couldn't believe that she was being demeaned to such an extent. Ning of Red Lotus, she was the famous woman from Sixth Heaven! Not even the former generation dared to mess with her, yet here she was. Meeting someone that broke her image like a twig.

"Young friend!" the headmaster shouted as he frantically looked at him from below. "I-Is this your doing?!"

It was the question that held the others by their breaths. They too wanted to know, if this young man actually single-handedly ruined the First Hall to such an extent. Nobody in history since the making of Alchemy Union did this ever happen.

(Please say no) thought Porealus as he crossed his fingers albeit being belied by his trembling. He was praying that the reality was not so, however.

"I did," answered Lyon as he crossed his arms.

A sea of gasps were soon heard. They couldn't believe it even though they saw it with their very eyes. A young man that had arrived just yesterday, had already pulverized the First Hall of the Alchemy Union.

"Heh," Ning smirked before she laugh. "Hahahaha! Lyon, you! Do you know what you set yourself into? Hahaha! You have greatly offended the Alchemy Union! Do you know how many powerful people you have to face?!"

"Ah! Lady Ning!" a shout from the distance was heard.

"Lady Ning!"

"Lady Ning!"

A group of five people was coming in a rush. Their presence was adamantly powerful but it was nothing compared to Lyon. Still, they all had the same ornaments on their forehead, the Red Lotus.

"Oh crap they are from the Red Lotus!" said one of the onlookers.

"Glad I'm not in his shoe right now," said another.

"Lady Ning, are you alright?" asked one of the two male cultivators.

"Lady Ning, what happened there?" asked one of the three female cultivators from the same group.

"This couldn't even make my clothes dirty," said Ning as she shook her head, "That guy, however."

The group of five furrowed their brows before glaring at Lyon. The male cultivator whilst pointing at Lyon. "You! State your name! Daring to treat the Red Lotus's beauty like this,  what you're doing is blasphemy against heaven!"

"This doesn't concern, Red Lotus," Cecile answered.

The others immediately turned their head as well. They saw the auburn beauty standing with her arms crossed. Behind her, were the three generals plus Lumina and Hilde.

The princess of the Bolg Kingdom seemed lifeless as she looked at the rubbles. Even she with her famed Gae Bolg wouldn't be able to pull this off, yet he was doing it with a fist against a face.

"Who are you, lady? Are you siding with this man?" said the man guarding Ning with furrowed brows.

"She is!" said Ning as she nodded.

Cecile shook her head, "This doesn't concern the Red Lotus at all! The corpse beside you isn't even from the Red Lotus, only a self-identified friend of yours." Then she shrugged. "After all, would a friend of Red Lotus would be this weak? Am I right? Miss Ning?"

(Tch!) Ning glared at her. (This woman!) she was irritated by Cecile's conspicuous smile. (She knew I wouldn't admit it!). She had the power to turn the friendship she had established either into reality or just a fart farse. Nobody would dare go against her decision, no matter how ridiculous it was. However, she was guided. She was guided to an answer that Cecile wanted her to answer.

"In any case, my husband has actually done you a favor," said Cecile with a smile before she puckered up. "Hmm, imagine how bad would it be if he was abusing his fake identity, wouldn't it tarnish Red Lotus's reputation?"

Ning gritted her teeth and balled her fists. She glared at Cecile as if she wanted to rip her face apart with her claws. The situation was supposed to corner Lyon by using Alchemy Union's pride. She didn't have to admit that he was the friend of the Red Lotus then. However, Cecile saw right through her.

If she admitted it, then Lyon would be cornered, however. (I can't! If I admit that he is a friend of the Red Lotus then the entire clan would move against him! Bad idea, if the entire clan moved then the patriarch would look into this matter in detail! Especially with the First Hall of the Alchemy Union being destroyed! I would be punished! Damn it all!).

"I-Is that true, young friend?" asked the headmaster. His tone was lowered than before.

"That is the truth, right, Miss Ning of Red Lotus?" answered Cecile with a smirk on her face.

'I'll show you what is the consequence of offending me!'

The words rang inside Ning's mind as she was reminded of her glare then.

Lumina was looking at Cecile. The gap between her was too far and wide. She might be an ex-princess herself but regarding persuasion, prevarication, and the likes of diplomatic affairs, she was far behind this auburn woman. It was the accumulation of experiences that she had partaken in the previous life, something that she lacked.

Lumina shifted her glance toward Lyon before she sighed and showed a weak smile. She never thought that he would take it this far and beyond for her. The risk of offending the Alchemy Union was something not even kings would consider, yet the youth went and did it.

Azleid was watching from the sides—being avoided by the gazes of the others. His brows furrowed as he looked up at Lyon with his arms crossed. (The material made for the First Hall is not something that easy to be destroyed with a single fist, yet he did it).

"Sadly, this is something unfortunate that happens, hah~."

Azleid and Ning widened their eyes, "Mavis!"

"Young master Mavis?" said the headmaster.

"En, this is something truly unfortunate," Mavis shook his head before he approached the headmaster and shook his head again.

"Oh?" Cecile smiled before Kesya seeped into her ears with her whispers and giggles.

"See, I told you his charm is unbound, hihihi!"

(What are you saying, Mavis?!) thought Ning as she glared at him.

"This is just an unfortunate event, headmaster of Alchemy Union," said Mavis as he shook his head before pointing at the corpse. "You see that wild cultivator that died at the hands of our hero, my brother, Lyon."

"Brother?!" The crowd was gobsmacked by the revelation, especially the headmaster. Nobody would have ever thought of linking the dark-haired charming young man to the blue-haired one.

"Yes? Why are you all surprised?" asked Mavis as he furrowed his brows.

"N-No, young master Mavis, we certainly not surprised," said the headmaster.

"Right," Mavis raised his brows, "As I was saying, the full story of this accident went like this..."

Azleid furrowed his brows. (Why is he doing this? What did he discover?).