[However, you do not immediately take the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, because you still need Yao Chen to help you refine some eighth-grade pills.]
[When the day comes that you advance to an eighth-grade alchemist, that will be the moment you take the Bone Spirit Cold Flame.]
Ye Hao: "He's planning to squeeze every bit of value out of Yao Chen!"
At present, his alchemy had already reached the seventh-grade level. There was still some distance before reaching the eighth grade, so he still needed Yao Chen's guidance.
If that was the case, then in the end he probably would not eliminate Yao Chen.
That was Ye Hao's guess.
[The Black-Corner Region, the most chaotic place on the entire Dou Qi Continent.]
[Here, there is only one rule: the strong are respected.]
[As long as your fist is hard enough, you are the boss.]
[You travel on and off, spending two months before arriving in the Black-Corner Region.]
[You casually find someone and ask for the direction of Maple City.]
[You know that this city was named after Han Feng himself. He is the only person to receive such an honor.]
[…]
[Deep within the bamboo forest at the very center of Maple City.]
[A young man wearing a finely crafted blue alchemist robe embroidered with a maple leaf is refining pills.]
[He is Han Feng, renowned throughout the Black-Corner Region and known as the Medicine Emperor.]
[The moment Yao Chen sees Han Feng, his entire body trembles.]
[Anger, regret, and remorse intertwine endlessly within his eyes.]
[He never imagined that the orphan he kindly saved back then would ultimately become the executioner who caused his death.]
Pain.
Yao Chen's heart hurts so much that he can barely breathe.
[Yao Chen wants to go down personally to end Han Feng's life, but he discovers that Han Feng also possesses a Heavenly Flame.]
[Yao Chen grits his teeth and says: I never expected that such a rebellious disciple would also have such an opportunity! Heaven truly has no eyes, no eyes at all!!]
[You say with a faint smile: Not only does he possess the Sea Heart Flame, he's also relying on the half-step Flame Mantra he stole from you to continue devouring Heavenly Flames.]
"This is truly killing someone while destroying their heart."
Originally, with Han Feng's talent, if his character had been even slightly better, Yao Chen would certainly have valued him even more.
In that case, his achievements would only have been greater than what they are now.
People are greedy.
Han Feng was too eager to progress, giving Mu Gu an opportunity to take advantage of him.
And indirectly ruining his own future.
[After hearing your words, Yao Chen becomes so furious that his already illusory figure nearly turns transparent.]
[Your figure moves, silently appearing inside Han Feng's courtyard as you slowly walk toward him.]
[Your sudden appearance startles Han Feng.]
[Han Feng looks at you in horror, cold sweat pouring down his back.]
[He is a peak Dou Emperor, yet when you appeared he did not sense you at all.]
[He realizes in terror that your strength is probably already at the Dou Ancestor level.]
[Han Feng guesses that you may have come to request pills from him.]
[Thinking of this, he relaxes slightly.]
[Han Feng withdraws the Sea Heart Flame and stops refining pills, looking toward you: My friend, are you here to request medicine?]
[As the Medicine Emperor revered by everyone in the Black-Corner Region, he has his own pride. Even if you are a Dou Ancestor, he merely treats you with slightly more politeness.]
[You smile and shake your head.]
[Your smile makes Han Feng feel an inexplicable unease. From you, he senses a familiar aura.]
[You raise your palm and gently press your index finger downward.]
Boom!
[A terrifying soul pressure crashes down on Han Feng like a mountain.]
"Ahhh!!"
[Han Feng screams miserably as his knees shatter, his entire body collapsing onto the ground.]
[Han Feng's face turns pale as a sheet. Blood pours from his broken legs.]
[He cannot understand why someone with no grudge against him would appear and immediately break both his legs.]
[Han Feng is afraid. The pride of an alchemist disappears without a trace. He crawls to your feet, clutching your ankle as he trembles: My lord, spare me! I am a sixth-grade alchemist. I can refine pills for you.]
[You say nothing, only allowing Yao Chen to emerge from the ring.]
[The moment Han Feng senses Yao Chen's aura, all the blood drains from his face.]
[Han Feng says: Yao Chen! You're still alive! Is he… your new disciple?]
[Yao Chen smiles bitterly and shakes his head: If I had the qualification to take him as a disciple, that would have been wonderful.]
[Han Feng's pupils shrink.]
Snap!
[You snap your fingers, and Han Feng's arms explode apart.]
[You say: Hand over the Sea Heart Flame. I can consider giving you a quick death.]
[Han Feng laughs miserably.]
[You are a man who keeps his word. You do not take action, leaving the chance for revenge to Yao Chen.]
[Yao Chen's eyes fill with tears as he burns Han Feng to death with the Bone Spirit Cold Flame.]
[Han Feng's soul attaches itself to the Sea Heart Flame, attempting to escape.]
[But you anticipated this long ago and set up a spatial blockade in advance, intercepting him.]
[You erase Han Feng's consciousness.]
[You obtain the Sea Heart Flame.]
[You also obtain Han Feng's pill cauldron, the Myriad Beast Cauldron.]
[This is a cauldron ranked on the Heavenly Cauldron List.]
[It will provide you with immense help in future alchemy.]
[Han Beng notices something is wrong and runs in. When he sees Han Feng lying in a pool of blood, he is terrified out of his wits.]
[You capture him and force him to take you to Han Feng's treasure vault.]
[You accept everything in Han Feng's treasury and casually eliminate Han Beng.]
Ye Hao: "Now that's more like it. Since I'm already here, how could I possibly miss it?"
Han Feng's reputation in the Black-Corner Region is extremely high. His reserves must be very abundant.
Moreover, Han Feng's soul power is also quite strong.
This would save him the time of searching for soul bodies elsewhere and give him enough time to devour and refine the Sea Heart Flame.
[You leave Maple City. Your next destination is Black Seal City.]
[You remember that another fragment of the Purifying Lotus Demonic Flame map will appear here.]
[Black Seal City is controlled by the Eight Gates. Its gate master, Yuan Yi, is a two-star Dou Emperor.]
[When you arrive at the Eight Gates, Yuan Yi is organizing the items that will appear in the next auction.]
[Yuan Yi sees you and cups his fists: My apologies, the auction is still some time away. If you want a VIP entry ticket, please come back next month.]
[You ignore him and simply say: Bring out all the maps your Eight Gates possess.]
[Yuan Yi freezes for a moment, then laughs.]
[He feels that you are publicly challenging his authority.]
[The next moment.]
[You merely release a trace of your aura.]
[Yuan Yi's knees go weak and he immediately collapses to the ground.]
[Yuan Yi instantly orders his subordinates to bring all the maps from the warehouse.]
[Thousands of maps are brought out, yet not a single one is the fragment you want.]
[You tell Yuan Yi to search the entire Black-Corner Region with all his strength. If the fragment you want is not found within three months, you will erase the entire Eight Gates from existence.]
[Yuan Yi nods while wetting his pants.]
Ye Hao: …
Is he nodding with both heads at once?
[You leave Black Seal City and find a remote valley within the Black-Corner Region.]
[You set up several layers of defense.]
[You begin devouring the Sea Heart Flame.]
[Seven days later.]
[You successfully refine the Sea Heart Flame and evolve the Flame Mantra to the High Xuan Class.]
[Your soul power stabilizes at the Late Mortal Realm Great Perfection, only one step away from the Spirit Realm.]
[Your cultivation reaches the seven-star Dou Ancestor.]
[You return to Sky Burial Ravine to deliver the collected souls.]
[A new Elder arrives at the branch hall. Hearing that your performance is outstanding and that your strength has increased rapidly, he promotes you to a Heaven-Class Protector.]
Ye Hao: …
Whenever he sees the words "outstanding performance," it just feels strange.
[The Elder tells you that they are searching for the whereabouts of the Xiao Clan, one of the Ancient Eight Clans. Whoever provides clues will receive a tremendous reward from the Hall Master.]
[He tells you to seize the opportunity.]
[You do not report immediately.]
[Instead, after leaving for more than a month, you return and voluntarily seek out the Elder.]
[You say: Elder, this subordinate discovered a clan with the surname Xiao in the Jia Ma Empire.]
[You do not speak with complete certainty, leaving yourself some room.]
[The Elder is overjoyed and immediately leads people to Wu Tan City in the Jia Ma Empire.]
[You secretly rejoice.]
[Your plan seems to be about to succeed!]
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