The Grand Duelist

Chapter 153: Start of an Epic Journey[14]

The leader of the underground group that solicited fees on the streets of Eichenwalde was also the leader of the strongest family within the City of Eichenwalde. His name was Matthew Astolfo. He was the current patriarch of the Astolfo Family and due to their position, fame, and strength...

No one within the city...

Not even the City Mayor of Eichenwalde dare to carelessly provoke the beehive known as the Astolfo Family.

It slowly became common sense for every resident within the City of Eichenwalde that the Astolfo Family shall never be challenged nor humiliated. 

However, at this moment...

That common sense was shattered. 

Someone actually dared to trample upon the dignity of the members within the group that Matthew Astolfo made!

Not only that but the person who dared to kill one of them and humiliate the survivors also claimed to be an Immortal!

I have to go... I have to meet that person... if he's weaker than me then I shall kill him to spare myself of the trouble.

Matthew decided.

He went outside and donned a disguise that made him look like an ordinary middle-aged man.

But why was he doing all of these? 

It was because he wanted to test that so-called person who claimed to be a cultivator. If that person could easily see through this disguise of his that he supplemented with spiritual energy.

Then, he would give that person the respect that he deserved just by being a cultivator that fought against the heavens.

Matthew snuck out of his residence and walked towards the street just behind the main street.

Raising his head, he instantly found his target near a dark alleyway.

So, that's the target shop? Hmmm, why does it look like it's deserted? Well, the night is about to come and this place is often empty since most of the foot traffic is at the main street itself... 

Matthew hid on the dark alleyway beside the shop and summoned his Divine Sense. His Divine Sense covered the entire shop, and he found two figures within the shop.

One of them belonged to a human, while the other belonged to a cat? 

What's going on? Didn't Hector say that there's an immortal in here? Why can't I feel any spiritual energy fluctuations from this guy? Could it be that he's just a mortal?

Wait...

What if his cultivation realm is high enough that it's impossible for me to detect it?

Matthew hesitated.

He was a man who always went into battle while prepared, but right now.

He had no preparations at all. In order to not offend the potentially fellow cultivator owner of the small shop. Matthew went out in a rush, and now that he was facing a conundrum, he suddenly felt at loss as to what he should do.

He thought for a moment and decided that he would just go inside the small shop.

I'll just go inside and be straightforward. I don't think that the owner of the shop would do something against me since he wanted my presence and summoned me through the use of my subordinates.

Matthew repeatedly nodded his head.

Taking a deep breath, he took a step forward and approached the front doors of the small shop.

Afterwards, he paused and spread his Divine Sense once again.

When he felt that there wasn't any spiritual energy fluctuation within the shop.

He took another deep breath and a fierce look appeared on his face.

He dashed inside the small shop and loudly declared, "Where's the owner of this shop?" His eyes landed at Joseph and he frowned when he saw that Joseph didn't even spare him a glance. He just continued on what he was doing, and that was cooking.

"[Master! A troublemaker! Should I attack?]" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth's voice rang within Joseph's mind.

"[If you asked me questions before you attacked a troublemaker then they will have enough time to wreak havoc within the shop. Next time, you shouldn't ask any questions before you attack. Ask those questions while you are attacking.]" 

Joseph responded with a piece of advice.

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth went silent, but Joseph took no offense to her silence. It was because her silence usually meant that she was in deep contemplation.

Joseph made it his habit to not disturb her whenever she was silent after a scolding.

"I'm the owner of this small shop," Joseph replied with a smile.

Matthew stared at Joseph and frowned.

He's the owner? That cannot be! Clancy and Hector said that the owner may be a cultivator.

Wait, did those guys lie to me?

No, that's impossible!

I've known them for at least a decade already! They also aren't the type of person to lie for something as crucial as this.

Then, what is going on? If they didn't lie, then why is the owner of this shop so young? 

Matthew fell into deep contemplation.

In the end, since he wasn't so sure of the background of the shop owner. He decided to probe first.

"I see, so you're the owner of this shop?" Matthew raised an eyebrow and let out a hint of his spiritual energy.

"Yes, I am. I just told you..." Joseph felt a wave of pressure descend upon him. However, a single thread of his Core Formation Spiritual Energy was enough for the pressure to dissipate as Joseph gauged the strength of his enemy.

A Foundation Establishment expert... Quite strong, I say...

Joseph let out a smile. He didn't say anything anymore.

"I came here to ask for an explanation. Do you have something to say about what you have done to my comrades?" 

"Oh? You should've asked those comrades of yours as to why they came here..."

"They came here upon my orders. It was my order for them to collect protection fees from the shops here, and in exchange. Those shops will be under my protection. Do you really think that something like that is unreasonable?"

"No, I don't. It seems like a good deal at first glance, but have you considered what will happen to the businesses here if those subordinates of yours whom I don't think have taken a bath in the last few months strolls around and collect fees as if they own the place?"

"Even though your intentions may be nothing but good. Everyone isn't under that kind of an impression. They are quite scared, you see?" 

Matthew frowned, "Did you call me here just to scold me? You think you're qualified?"

Matthew increased the pressure he was exerting towards Joseph but at this moment, his frown deepened.

It was because he noticed that even though he was now using half of his cultivation to pressure Joseph.

It felt like nothing was happening.

Joseph was still standing there, and there was still this languid smile on his face.

This guy... He's definitely not a mortal... As for his cultivation... Damn, I can't see through him! Could it be that he's a Core Formation Realm Expert? Impossible! People like them are only at the Capital!

But... If he's acting like a mortal even though he's a cultivator... There's a huge chance that he may be a peak Core Formation Realm expert that's trying to comprehend the ways of the heavens to awaken his Nascent Soul.

In that case...

No...

I think I'm jumping to conclusions here...

Core Formation Realm experts aren't cabbages on the streets that you can just find everywhere. Until I am completely sure about the identity and the cultivation of this young man, there's no way that he can just order us around!

Matthew's innate arrogance as the Head of the Astolfo Family came out and a stern look appeared on his face.

"Can we not waste more time anymore? If you have something to tell me, then I hope that you can just tell me outright. I don't have that much time to deal with nonsense like this." Matthew had a look of displeasure on his face.

But Joseph was actually shaken and astonished by Matthew's reaction.

What? 

He's not mad?

I thought he'd get mad and start pointing at me while shouting, "courting death", if I tried to show him some arrogance.

Wow, he's quite a sensible man.

It seems like I'll be able to test that theory of mine as soon as possible.

Joseph's languid smile disappeared as he turned around and walked towards the kitchen.

When he returned, he brought with him a bowl of Entrada Family's Secret Special Egg Fried Rice.

He placed it on the elevated platform that faced the desks of the restaurant as he said.

"Eat this..."

Huh?

Matthew was speechless.

He didn't know what to say.

He came here demanding an explanation, yet his enemy. If you can even call him as his enemy was actually giving him food instead of trying to fight him outright? What was going on?

Wait... What if that bowl of Egg Fried Rice is loaded with poison?

No, that's stupid...

There's no way that someone would blatantly offer poisoned food towards someone that he wants to kill...

But there's also this popular adage that if you want to hide a tree, hide it in the forest. The best way to hide a lie is behind the facade of frankness. What if this man knows about those adages and is trying to kill me in an unexpected manner like this?

But should I refuse or what? If I refuse, what will happen?

If I refuse him, will he kill me? 

No, I don't think so.

If he wanted to kill me, with his unfathomable cultivation strength then he could've done that already. 

And I don't think that he would like bloodshed for he's trying to act like a mortal in order to comprehend the heavens.

But if that's not the case, just what the hell is he planning...

Matthew furtively glanced at Joseph and found that there was this look of indifference on his face that he couldn't decipher.

Goddamned it, I can't read what this guy is thinking...

Shit, what should I do...

Matthew maintained a look of calmness on his face, but inwardly he was already panicking.

Thankfully, Joseph swiftly ended his plight by saying.

"Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with that bowl of Egg Fried Rice. You're hungry, right? Eat up first, then we'll talk about the specifics as to why I summoned you here." Joseph casually said as he took a chair and lazily sat down. 

Matthew reluctantly lifted the bowl of Egg Fried Rice. His eyes focused and narrowed into each component within the bowl and he found nothing out of the ordinary. Yes, he found nothing strange and dangerous within the Egg Fried Rice. 

But...

Wow, it smells so good... Is this really Egg Fried Rice? 

Why is this Egg Fried Rice so beautiful?

How did he cook something like this?

Matthew took the chopsticks that sat beside the bowl and started eating.

As soon as Matthew placed a mouthful of it into his mouth, an inexplicable burst of flavor occurred inside his mouth!

Matthew was left trembling.

"This..."

"How can something like this..."

"Exist...?" 

Tears dripped down Matthew's cheeks all of a sudden, astonishing Joseph who inwardly panicked.

What the fuck? Why the hell is he crying? Should I feel happy that the Egg Fried Rice I made was so delicious that it moved him to tears, or what?

Joseph couldn't understand why Matthew was crying.

But Matthew himself knew why he was emotionally moved by this particular Egg Fried Rice.

As a cultivator, Matthew cultivated in defiance of the heavens.

Cultivation itself was cumbersome, lonely, and tedious. 

Even though Matthew was quite used to the loneliness and the peculiarity of cultivation. That didn't mean that he couldn't feel any emotions and didn't have any feelings. Cultivators were often called by mortals as Immortals but they all started as mortals.

It was impossible for any cultivator with a cultivation realm below that of a god to be detached from the emotions, worries, goals, and ambitions of a mortal. This was why even though Matthew was hard at work on his cultivation, he also had his own hobby.

And that hobby of him was something that everyone could relate to.

It was eating.

Yes, Matthew had the hobby of eating.

He often traveled to the remote corners of the continent in order to taste delicacies that he had never tasted before. Of course, it didn't mean that only Matthew had a hobby like this.

Many cultivators, including those that have incredibly high cultivation realms, for as long as they started as a mortal would always crave the delicious delicacies of the mortal world.

Eating was optional for cultivators, but who would refuse a delicious treat?

At this moment, Joseph could finally understand Matthew's feelings.

His spiritual energy churned, in a way that it had never done before.

Thunder rumbled from the distance and clouds rolled against each other producing lightning that eventually dissipated for it was still not the right time to descend. 

Cooking and Eating...

Both of these concepts are something that not even a god can escape from.

In other words, Cooking and Eating could be considered as a part of a concept that transcends the limitations of cultivation.

But what are those concepts?

If I say that cooking involves taking the lives of animals and vegetables to supplement the life of another.

Can I say that cooking is somehow connected to death, while eating is intertwined with life for it nurtured the life of everything or everyone in this world?

Yes...

Cooking is death...

Eating is life...

Both are concepts intertwined with the Grand Concept of Life and Death!

Joseph's eyes twinkled with enlightenment. 

His spiritual energy surged and the core that formed his cultivation inside his dantian madly spun.

"[Master! Absorb the spiritual energy in the surroundings! Take this opportunity to push yourself into the Pseudo-Nascent Soul Realm!]" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth's voice rang inside Joseph's mind.

Joseph hurriedly separated the space of the small shop from the space of reality. He placed the space of the small shop into an independent space so that he wouldn't disturb the surroundings of reality when he started absorbing the spiritual energy in the area.

Joseph leaped and landed onto the ground cross-legged.

He opened his mouth and started sucking in the spiritual energy in the air into his body.

[You are absorbing the nearby Spiritual Energy...]

[You have acquired Experience: 23,125] 

[You have acquired Experience: 25,722]

[You have acquired Experience: 28,201]

[...]

Wha...

Matthew staggered backward and fell onto his butt.

The changes happened so fast, and so suddenly that it gave him no time to react. He turned to look at the exit of the small shop and realized that there was an illusionary mist covering the space of reality.

In other words, Matthew quickly realized that Joseph had sealed the entire small shop in an independent space.

There's no way for Matthew to escape!

Staring at Joseph, Matthew felt his mouth run dry.

His throat moved ever so slightly to whisper these words of astonishment.

"P-P-Peak Core Formation Realm Expert?!" 

Matthew suppressed the fear that appeared in his heart.

What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck?! What the fuck should I do?! Shit, should I go out?

No!

If I go out that can be considered as disturbing his cultivation, if senior notices that I did something like that then fuck, I'll be deader than dead!

Then, what the fuck should I do?

Should I just stand here, or what...? 

Matthew's eyes darted around the room as if he was looking for some cover. However, his eyes subconsciously landed on Joseph and his pupils constricted when he saw that there was a mini-version of Joseph that had the size of an infant floating above his head.

A Nascent Soul!

Senior is trying to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm?!

Shit, if that happens then Heavenly Tribulation will descend! 

If Heavenly Tribulation descends and I'm standing this near to him...

Fuck...

Sorry, Mama, Papa... It seems like I'm fucked...

Matthew collapsed onto his knees, despair could be seen on his face.

But he soon raised his head and determination flashed across his face.

I can't just die here... No, I won't let myself die here... I still have about a hundred years of my lifespan! I earned a lot of money and I established an empire of money-making schemes only for me to die without enjoying the riches that I made by myself?

I'm not willing!

I am not willing!

Matthew raised his head and stared at Joseph.

But how do I stop him?

Matthew's mind madly spun in order to find a solution in his current conundrum.

Meanwhile above the City of Eichenwalde. The skies suddenly darkened as the clouds rolled and clashed against each other. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed within these clouds, but for some reason...

These dark clouds were still gathering each other's company as they increasingly became bigger and bigger. 

Fuck it!

Matthew inwardly screamed and his Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation madly spun.

Spiritual Energy gathered onto his fist and he flew towards the entrance of the shop. Surprisingly, instead of attacking Joseph in order to stop him, he attacked the entrance of the shop instead so that he could shatter the independent space and escape.

However...

Before he could even reach the entrance.

A cat leaped in front of him and under Matthew's astonished eyes.

The cat roared in anger and a soundwave directly struck Matthew on his chest, sending him flying backward as a fountain of blood rushed from his chest towards his throat.

A trail of blood followed him as he crashed against the walls of the shop, he couldn't stand up anymore nor make any noise...

His condition, unknown.

The cat became enveloped with a dazzling light and when that light vanished...

The cat was nowhere to be found.

It was replaced by a beautiful young woman who had a clear look of worry in her eyes as she stared at the skies.

"Heavenly Tribulation?"

"No... This is Lightning Tribulation..."

"But why would Lightning Tribulation suddenly appear at this moment? Did a treasure appear right in this shop? Or could it be that..."

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth glanced at Joseph who was sitting cross-legged on the ground...

"Did Master comprehend a Grand Concept?"