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**
"That's right. I've already mastered Tier 7 alchemy, I just never went to the Pill Tower for certification, nor have I shown it in public," Han Feng admitted with a hint of pride in his tone.
Wei Yang nodded in understanding.
This wasn't strange at all.
The reason Han Feng had fled to this remote corner of Black-Corner Region, instead of staying in Central Plains, was clearly because he was hiding.
After all, in Central Plains, there were several old monsters who suspected that Yao Chen's disappearance years ago had something to do with Han Feng. There was no solid evidence, but the doubt remained.
That alone was enough to force Han Feng into exile.
Wei Yang smiled, "That makes sense. After all, as Yao Zun Zhe's personal disciple, if you hadn't even reached Tier 7 alchemy after all these years, that would have been a real disappointment."
"You…!" Han Feng stared deeply at Wei Yang. After exhaling lightly, he spoke again, "So you really do know my identity."
But he quickly calmed down.
This wasn't something too hard to figure out—for someone with intent.
Although few people in the Black-Corner Region knew his true identity, in Central Plains, many people were well aware.
Han Feng was, after all, a second-generation alchemist.
Even Su Qian of the Jia Nan Inner Academy knew Han Feng's full background. That Wei Yang knew as well wasn't so strange.
In fact, Han Feng was now eighty percent sure—Wei Yang was from Central Plains.
And he had come specifically for the Sea Heart Flame!
"I have a question I don't quite understand," Han Feng stared intently at Wei Yang. "Since you're also an alchemist, you should know this: a human body can only host one Heavenly Flame. If you try to contain a second one, the flames will reject each other, and that could cause a violent internal explosion."
"So, you already possess one Heavenly Flame. Why are you still after the Fallen Heart Flame and my Sea Heart Flame?"
"Moreover, that day, from the brief glimpse I caught, I could tell that your black flame was incredibly powerful. Its destructive power might even rival the top ten on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. You've likely already refined it into your lifebound flame, haven't you?"
"Why then… are you still targeting my Sea Heart Flame?"
"And if you know my identity, then you should also know—once word gets out, there will definitely be people seeking revenge for me.
I may not amount to much, but my master left behind many connections—even several Dou Zun among them. Aren't you afraid of them?" Han Feng's words at the end even carried a subtle threat.
"Connections?" Wei Yang sneered, tidying his sleeves, his voice calm but mocking.
"Who exactly are you talking about? The Pill Tower? The Falling Star Pavilion? Or perhaps… the Hall of Souls?"
"You—!" Han Feng's pupils contracted violently. His face turned pale with shock, and there was even a flicker of genuine fear in his eyes.
That feeling—like the deepest, most well-guarded secret in his heart had just been completely exposed.
"How surprising, huh?" Wei Yang shot him a sideways glance and said coldly: "Want people to not find out what you've done? Then don't do it in the first place."
"You thought nobody knew you were a dog for the Hall of Souls, and that you committed the unpardonable crime of killing your master? That no one in this world would ever learn of it?"
Boom!
Han Feng's entire soul trembled. His mind went blank.
That… was the deepest secret he had buried in his heart!
The only people who knew this besides himself were a few high-ranking members of Hall of Souls. How could this information possibly have leaked out?
His entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.
That wasn't anger anymore—it was fear.
If this truly got out, then he, Han Feng, would be finished. Completely ruined.
Becoming a rat on the streets wouldn't even begin to cover it.
A disciple who killed his own master was the most despised and unforgivable type of person in the entire world.
And if Yao Zun Zhe's old friends heard about it, they definitely wouldn't let him off easy. Flaying him alive would be considered merciful.
Then again…
Now that he thought about it…
He was already ruined, wasn't he?
He was technically already dead—his body destroyed, only a soul form remained—and now, even that was captured by someone.
So what was there to be afraid of?
At that thought, Han Feng forcefully calmed himself, taking a deep breath and steadying his emotions.
"So… you knew everything from the beginning. That's why you aren't afraid of retaliation." Han Feng let out a bitter laugh.
No wonder.
He had wondered why someone would so boldly target a disciple of Yao Zun Zhe.
Since Wei Yang already knew all his secrets, then there was no point pretending anymore.
"As for why I seek Heavenly Flames…" Wei Yang flipped his hand and tossed a scroll onto the table. "Isn't this the incomplete Flame Mantra you've been cultivating?"
Wei Yang shook his head and looked at Han Feng with clear disdain. "What were you thinking, daring to cultivate this thing? A single Heavenly Flame, and the best it could evolve your technique was to a Mid-Level Xuan Grade?
After all these years, you've been stuck at the peak of Dou Huang, unable to advance a single step—how does that feel?"
Han Feng's eyes widened in utter shock and disbelief as he stared at Wei Yang.
His expression was as if… as if he'd seen a ghost.
He pointed a trembling finger at Wei Yang and stammered, "Could it be… you, you also practice Flame Mantra?!"
"No," Wei Yang shook his head flatly. "I don't."
"But I've heard of Flame Mantra. The first time I saw it, actually, was when I rummaged through your storage ring. That's when I discovered this incomplete scroll."
"Although I'm a little curious what the complete version of Flame Mantra looks like… it's a good thing yours is incomplete."
"Hm, no—actually, it's a very good thing I haven't seen the full version. Because I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to resist the temptation to cultivate it. Just like you back then," Wei Yang said with a shake of his head.
Hearing this, Han Feng instantly reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
He shrieked, "Y-You're lying! You must be cultivating Flame Mantra! Otherwise, why else would you be after my Heavenly Flame?!"
Wei Yang looked at him like he was looking at an idiot.
He shot back: "Why is it strange for me to target your Heavenly Flame? Who said only people cultivating Flame Mantra would want Heavenly Flames? Is the value of a Heavenly Flame itself not worth coveting?"
"Uhh…" Han Feng was suddenly at a loss for words.
And then—it hit him.
Right. Of course.
Even without cultivating Flame Mantra, the inherent value of a Heavenly Flame was immense.
Anyone who caught wind of its location would be unable to resist trying to seize it.
Han Feng shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts, his fingers still trembling as he pointed at Wei Yang.
His breathing was rapid, and only after a long while did his sharp voice rasp hoarsely within the secret chamber: "You… You've seen the incomplete Flame Mantra, right? You're definitely tempted, aren't you?"
"This kind of technique that can continuously evolve, has unlimited potential. One day, it might even reach High-Level Heaven Grade! And as long as you keep devouring Heavenly Flames, you can quickly absorb their power to enhance your own cultivation realm—it would save years of time, with no side effects!"
"That's why you kept my soul alive—so you could force me to reveal the location of the complete Flame Mantra, right?"
As he spoke, Han Feng's lips curled into a self-satisfied smile.
In his mind, he believed he had already figured out Wei Yang's true motive.
So he added, "I don't have the complete Flame Mantra, but I do know where it came from. And I know who has it!"
"As long as you swear to let me go, I'll tell you everything. Deal?"
To be fair—Han Feng's guess wasn't entirely wrong.
After all, any normal person, upon seeing a bizarre technique like Flame Mantra, would be at least tempted.
Besides, Wei Yang had at least two Heavenly Flames in his possession already.
The Black Sun Burning Heaven Flame, and Sea Heart Flame.
As the former owner of the latter, Han Feng could already faintly sense its aura emanating from Wei Yang.
With those conditions… how could Wei Yang not be tempted?
Unfortunately—
Wei Yang burst into laughter, shaking his head as if looking at a fool. "No. Let me say this again, seriously and clearly: I have zero interest in Flame Mantra. I don't want to see it, and I don't want to hear anything about it."
"I'm not like you. A technique that evolves by devouring Heavenly Flames—only lunatics like you would treat it as some kind of treasure and actually dare to cultivate it."
"Isn't being alive nice? Why go out of your way to court death?"
"There are plenty of paths to reach the pinnacle of cultivation. Why would I deliberately pick the most dangerous one?" Wei Yang's tone was dripping with contempt.
That perverse technique, Flame Mantra—he wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole.
Those whose fate wasn't strong enough—almost always died trying to cultivate it.
Why would he gamble that his fate was strong enough?
It wasn't like there were no other options.
Devouring Heavenly Flames—was that fun?
Wei Yang may have felt he had some kind of strange connection with Heavenly Flames, but it was precisely because of that that he was filled with caution.
He didn't even dare form the slightest thought of seeking the full version of Flame Mantra—for fear that he wouldn't be able to resist the temptation.
A connection with Heavenly Flames?
Illusion.
It was heaven testing his Dao heart.
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