Lin Feng ignored the growing commotion. His eyes never left Gao Shan.

A faint smile appeared on his face, but there was not the slightest warmth behind it.

Instead, it felt like the smile of a judge preparing to announce a sentence.

"Tell me, Pill Master Gao Shan."

"Are you perhaps in cahoots with that wicked man?"

The entire marketplace instantly fell silent. One could hear a pin drop. No one had expected such a direct accusation.

Accusing a respected pill master of secretly cooperating with a criminal was no small matter.

Yet after everything that had happened today, no one dared dismiss Lin Feng’s words outright.

After all, this was the same man who had exposed the pill merchant’s scheme and whose treasure had effortlessly erased a Spirit Severing Realm expert from existence.

If anyone present had the right to make such a claim, it was him. Now countless eyes turned toward Gao Shan, waiting for his response.

"Ridiculous!"

Pill Master Gao Shan’s face darkened as he immediately denied the accusation.

"Why would I, a respected pill master, lower myself to conduct business with a lowly criminal?" he demanded. "Do you take me for a fool?"

His voice carried righteous indignation, but Lin Feng merely smiled. The smile made Gao Shan even more uncomfortable.

"And yet here you are," Lin Feng replied calmly.

His words caused many people to pause and think.

"If you truly have no interest in what happened here, then why did you come personally?"

The smile on Lin Feng’s face widened slightly.

"A man of your status should be busy with more important matters. Yet the moment that pill merchant was exposed and removed, you arrived almost immediately."

The crowd exchanged glances. The timing did seem rather suspicious. Gao Shan’s expression remained unchanged as he answered.

"I came to uphold order after the disturbance you created."

His voice rang out confidently across the marketplace.

"Murder is not something this city takes lightly. Regardless of who the victim was, someone died here today."

Many people nodded unconsciously. On the surface, his reasoning sounded perfectly reasonable.

The moment he finished speaking, the cultivators behind him stepped forward in unison.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

The synchronized movement created a heavy atmosphere. Their hands drifted toward their weapons while cold gazes settled upon Lin Feng.

It was obvious that they were prepared to apprehend him the moment Gao Shan gave the order.

The surrounding crowd quickly retreated several steps, unwilling to become caught in the conflict.

However, while pretending to act professionally, several of the cultivators could not help allowing their eyes to wander.

Their gazes repeatedly drifted toward the beautiful women standing beside Lin Feng.

Greed.

Lust.

Covetousness.

The ugly emotions were clearly visible in their eyes. Some even exchanged knowing smiles with one another.

In their minds, the outcome was already decided.

Once Lin Feng was dealt with, these stunning beauties would naturally become spoils to be divided and enjoyed.

Unfortunately for them, they had no idea what kind of existence they were provoking.

Lin Feng noticed their wandering gazes immediately. His smile remained on his face.

Yet the temperature in the surrounding area seemed to drop several degrees. A dangerous glint flashed through his eyes.

The foolishness of Gao Shan could perhaps be tolerated for a moment longer.

But those who dared look upon his women with such filthy intentions were rapidly exhausting whatever patience he had left.

They would have to eat the consequences of their actions soon enough. But first, Lin Feng suddenly spoke a series of seemingly unrelated words.

"Sun-Kissed Jade Marrow, Red Talon Ambergris, Normal Grain Husk, Dormant Spore Cap, and Obsidian Flakes."

The crowd looked at one another in confusion. Meanwhile, Gao Shan maintained a composed expression.

"Hm?"

He appeared indifferent, but deep within, his heartbeat quickened ever so slightly. Lin Feng’s eyes briefly met his.

"Those are the standard ingredients used in the creation of a Fasting Pill."

The crowd immediately understood that the conversation had shifted to alchemy.

Before Gao Shan could respond, one of the pill master’s disciples stepped forward.

The young man wore expensive robes and looked at Lin Feng with open disdain.

"You dare lecture the great Pill Master Gao Shan?"

His voice was filled with arrogance.

"You truly have eyes yet fail to see Mount Tai. A trivial pill such as a Fasting Pill would never even enter my master’s notice. He has long surpassed such low-level alchemy."

"Of course, of course."

Lin Feng nodded seriously.

"I have no doubt your master knows the Fasting Pill recipe by heart. After all, it is merely a low-grade pill."

The disciple smirked, believing Lin Feng had admitted defeat.

Unfortunately for him, Lin Feng continued.

"But don’t you know that the pill can be made perfectly well without Obsidian Flakes?"

The disciple’s smug expression froze. Gao Shan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Without waiting for a response, Lin Feng walked toward the fallen merchant’s stall.

The merchant’s corpse gone and now taken care of by a familiar big fatty far away from here. Countless eyes followed Lin Feng’s movements.

He casually picked up a pill from among the scattered merchandise. Holding it between two fingers, he raised it for everyone to see.

"This pill right here is the proof."

The crowd immediately focused on the pill. Lin Feng slowly rotated it in the sunlight.

"Everything appears normal on the surface. In fact, its effects are nearly three times stronger than those of an ordinary pill of its kind."

Several cultivators nodded. That was exactly why so many people had been tempted to buy them. Then Lin Feng’s voice grew colder.

"But that increased potency comes at a price."

He held up the pill.

"The addition of Obsidian Flakes creates a temporary amplification effect, allowing the consumer to absorb spiritual energy at an accelerated rate."

The crowd listened carefully.

"However, the process also consumes a portion of the user’s life force."

Lin Feng looked directly at Gao Shan.

"Every single pill consumed shaves years off the user’s lifespan."

"Ten years, at the very least."

The entire marketplace fell silent. Even the wind seemed to stop blowing. The accusation was simply too shocking.

Ten years of life. That was not a side effect. That was murder disguised as medicine. Many cultivators instinctively looked toward Gao Shan.

Others looked at the pills still displayed on the merchant’s stall. Their expressions gradually changed from curiosity to horror.

Lin Feng calmly tossed the pill back onto the stall.

"Of course," he said with a faint smile, "someone with Pill Master Gao Shan’s knowledge should have recognized such an obvious modification immediately."

His words hung heavily in the air. The implication behind them was impossible to ignore.

If Gao Shan truly knew alchemy as well as everyone claimed, then there was no way he could have failed to notice the problem.

And if he had noticed...

Then why had he done nothing?

The silence became so complete that even the sound of a needle hitting the ground would have been clearly heard.

"Preposterous!"

Pill Master Gao Shan’s face twisted with rage.

"I don’t know this man, nor do I know anything about the pills he was selling!" he roared. "Yet you dare stand before everyone and tarnish my reputation?"

His aura surged violently.

"I’ll have your head for such slander!"

The crowd shuddered. Many could already sense the killing intent radiating from the famous pill master. It was no longer merely anger.

Gao Shan genuinely wanted Lin Feng dead. Whether it was to defend his reputation or silence him forever, nobody could say for certain.

However, just as Gao Shan was about to continue, Lin Feng calmly raised a single finger.

The simple gesture somehow caused the entire marketplace to grow quiet. A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Oh?"

"Then perhaps you can explain one more thing to me."

Lin Feng’s gaze sharpened.

"And perhaps everyone else here would also like an explanation."

A feeling of unease suddenly rose within Gao Shan’s heart.

Lin Feng continued without giving him a chance to interrupt.

"As every alchemist present should know, Obsidian Flakes are not a common material."

He slowly looked around at the crowd.

"In fact, only one clan possesses exclusive ownership of the Obsidian Flake mines in all of Fragrant Mist City."

The crowd immediately reacted. Several people seemed to realize where Lin Feng was heading.

"No way..."

"Surely not..."

Lin Feng’s smile widened.

"Do I need to tell everyone which clan that is?"

His finger slowly pointed toward Gao Shan.

"The Gao Clan."

Boom!

The words struck the crowd like a thunderclap. The marketplace instantly erupted into chaos.

"The Gao Clan controls the mines!"

"He’s right!"

"If those pills truly contain Obsidian Flakes, then the material had to come from somewhere!"

Countless suspicious gazes turned toward Gao Shan. The pressure on the pill master increased dramatically. His expression became increasingly ugly.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng remained calm and composed.

"The merchant sells pills enhanced with Obsidian Flakes."

"The Gao Clan possesses the city’s only source of Obsidian Flakes."

"And now, immediately after the merchant’s death, the most influential member of the Gao Clan arrives personally to protect his interests."

Lin Feng shrugged.

"Perhaps it’s all just an incredible coincidence."

The sarcasm in his voice was impossible to miss. That statement became the final straw.

"I am a great pill master!"

Gao Shan exploded. His voice boomed throughout the marketplace like rolling thunder.

"I have devoted hundreds of years to the Dao of Alchemy!"

His cultivation erupted without restraint. The ground beneath his feet cracked. Spiritual energy swirled wildly through the air.

"I will not tolerate such disrespect!"

The cultivators behind him immediately retreated. Even they could sense that Gao Shan had completely lost control of his emotions.

At that moment, many people realized something important. An innocent man would likely have continued defending himself.

But Gao Shan looked more like someone whose secrets had been exposed. His furious reaction only made the crowd more suspicious.

Unfortunately, Gao Shan no longer cared what anyone thought. The only thing on his mind was eliminating Lin Feng.

Forever.

"Die!"

With a furious roar, he launched himself forward. The next moment, he attacked.

The terrifying force of a veteran expert erupted toward Lin Feng like a raging tsunami, causing countless spectators to retreat in fear as the battle finally began.