"If it isn't the Medicine Emperor of the Black-Corner Region, Han Feng himself."
Xiao Tian studied the man before him. Han Feng had the appearance of a gentleman, but his heart was blacker than pitch. He would stoop to any means to get what he wanted.
Yao Chen had raised him as his own son. He had even turned down Xuan Yi's confession just to devote himself fully to nurturing Han Feng. And yet, for the sake of the Burning Technique, Han Feng had colluded with the Hall of Souls and murdered the very master who had cherished him so deeply.
Yao Chen's refusal to hand over the Burning Technique had been for Han Feng's own protection. The old man himself had never once cultivated it. From only a few words, he could guess the risks involved were immense. That was why he had been unwilling to let Han Feng walk that path. Absorbing even a single Heavenly Flame could reduce a person to ashes at the slightest mistake, and the Burning Technique demanded absorbing multiple. It was like dancing before the King of Hell, over and over again. Yao Chen could not bear to let Han Feng take even that small risk.
As for why Yao Chen later relentlessly coaxed Xiao Yan into cultivating it—that was an entirely different matter. He had noticed something peculiar about Xiao Yan. And at the time, Yao Chen was purely using him. If the boy succeeded, he would gain a disciple for free. If he failed, Yao Chen could simply walk away and find the next one. After all, he had already spent three years absorbing Dou Qi and had recovered a fair amount.
"Hehe. Elder Su Qian jests. The title of 'Medicine Emperor' is merely something my friends in the Black-Corner Region casually toss about. It should not be taken seriously." Han Feng's thin lips curved in a faint smile, but that smile dripped with arrogance.
Hu Gan, who had rushed over to reinforce the Inner Academy's defenses, flew in from a distance and landed beside Su Qian. His expression darkened as he frowned at Han Feng. "Han Feng, this is the territory of Jia Nan Academy. You have come uninvited. What exactly do you intend to do?"
Han Feng registered the challenge in Hu Gan's words, but his expression remained as mild as a spring breeze. He smiled lightly, his gaze drifting toward the deep cave that sealed the Fallen Heart Flame. "Heavenly Flames are rare treasures of heaven and earth. Is it not a bit too cruel to wound it and seal it away in a dark, sunless cave? Han is here today to request that Elder Su Qian release the Heavenly Flame inside. Please, do not continue with such acts of imprisonment."
"Your academy's actions are truly unacceptable. They utterly violate the ethics of the continent."
The moment Han Feng's words left his mouth, strange expressions flickered across every face present. Even Xiao Tian couldn't help but inwardly applaud the man's sheer thickness of skin. Here was the strongest liar in the entire original story, a man who could twist white into black. Even Zhao Gao would have to bow in defeat.
Even the people standing behind Han Feng shot him odd looks. In their Black-Corner Region, casual killing was as common as breathing. The number of lives ended by their hands was beyond counting, let alone acts of so-called imprisonment—such things were everywhere.
"What a glib tongue. I never imagined you, Han Feng, could be so eloquent. If you want the Heavenly Flame, just say so. There is no need for all this posturing." Su Qian flicked his sleeve, his gaze cutting into Han Feng and the retinue behind him.
"As expected of the renowned Medicine Emperor of the Black-Corner Region. His influence is indeed something else. He even managed to summon the Di Yan Sect, Eight Gates, Di Yan Zong, and even Demon Flame Valley."
Lord of Maple City, Medicine Emperor Han Feng—peak Nine-Star Dou Huang. Sect Master of Di Yan Sect, Old Ban—Seven-Star Dou Huang. Sect Master of Di Yan Zong, Yan Lin—Three-Star Dou Huang. Sect Master of Eight Gates, Yuan Yi—Two-Star Dou Huang. Demon Flame Valley, Old Eagle Claw—Six-Star Dou Huang.
"Hehe. Elder Su Qian, you are still as direct as ever. You understand the importance of Heavenly Flames to us Alchemists. Why not do me a small favor? As long as you hand over the Heavenly Flame, you may name any condition. If it is within my power, I will do everything I can to fulfill it." Han Feng smiled, his eyes burning with undisguised greed as he gazed at the sealed deep cave.
*If I can obtain a second Heavenly Flame and refine it, I will gain overwhelming power. That damned old man... if only he had given me the Burning Technique back then, none of this would have happened. I wouldn't have been forced to clutch this incomplete Burning Technique all these years, racking my brain just to grasp a fragment of its method—and even injuring my own body in the process.* The hatred in Han Feng's eyes flared and vanished in an instant, unseen by anyone.
"Do you a favor? If your teacher, Venerable Yao, were here, I might consider it. But you—you would do better to go back and cultivate for a few more decades. Only when you've reached your master's level can you speak of favors. You are not worthy yet."
Su Qian thought of the three Dou Zongs standing behind him, and of the unfathomable Eternal Heaven Divine Palace at their backs. His confidence surged. He did not bother with pretense and sneered openly at Han Feng.
"Since Elder Su Qian is unwilling, then Han has no choice but to take it by force."
Han Feng's expression instantly turned to ice. In all the Black-Corner Region, who dared speak to him—the illustrious Medicine Emperor—in such a manner?
"Elder Su Qian, I advise you to obediently hand over the Heavenly Flame. Otherwise, given the natures of the people behind me, should a true battle erupt, your academy will be utterly destroyed."
As his words fell, a deep blue flame, like liquid, erupted from his body. It shot upward, its blistering heat warping the surrounding space.
"That is a Heavenly Flame!"
The elders and the sharper-eyed students who recognized the flames cried out in shock.
Xiao Tian watched the deep blue Heavenly Flame swirling around Han Feng's body and mused inwardly. *The Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth. The color of the deep ocean. As it rises, it spreads slowly, like clear seawater—hence the name.* Xiao Tian had already decided: once he obtained this flame, he would gift it to Xiao Yan, as he had already taken Three Thousand Burning Flame.
"You think with your peak Dou Huang strength and these few other Dou Huangs, you can take it by force? You truly do not know your place."
Su Qian's piercing gaze swept over Han Feng and his cohorts. The aura of his own power pressed down upon them like a descending mountain.
"With Elder Su Qian's Dou Zong strength, we alone naturally cannot be your match. But we are not your opponents today."
Han Feng let out a cold laugh and took a slight step backward. With an air of deep respect, he called out to the empty void, "Misters Jin and Yin, please reveal yourselves."
"Haha! Han Feng, you do understand the price of asking us to act, don't you? When this is over, if you cannot produce what was promised, then you will..."
As Han Feng's voice faded, two figures—one gold, one silver—materialized in the sky. Their words were laced with menace.
Watching the scene unfold, Xiao Tian nearly laughed aloud. Medusa, standing beside him, saw the strange expression on his face and looked at him in confusion. She even reached out and touched his forehead. No fever.
From a distance, Han Yue watched Medusa's hand rise to Xiao Tian's brow. Her own jade-like hand clenched into a tight fist. Then, slowly, it relaxed.
Xiao Tian wanted to laugh because Han Feng was, at this very moment, being openly threatened by two mere peak Dou Huangs. Had he not committed the sin of patricide, with Venerable Yao as his backer, peak Dou Huangs wouldn't even be worthy of carrying his shoes.
And there was another source of dark amusement: Su Qian, a Three-Star Dou Zong, would fight these two—who could match a Dou Zong when fighting together—to a bitter draw. Thus earning himself the title of "the Weakest Dou Zong." Xiao Tian's thoughts drifted to Hai Bodong. That man had spent his entire life only fighting peak-level battles, a Dou Huang who traded blows with Dou Zongs. He had truly earned the title of "the Strongest Dou Huang."
"Old Man Jin Yin. I didn't expect even you two to be dragged into this."
Su Qian's expression was grim as he stared at the twin brothers in their gold and silver robes.