After giving his instructions, Han Feng went to the tea table in his elegant study, sat down on a soft cushion, and began to look through the recent almanacs.
He was checking which opportunities he could still seize and which had already passed.
[The empress of the Snake-People Tribe, Medusa, is a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, an ancient and exotic beast. She wields the "Green Lotus Core Flame," ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Her combat power is unparalleled, and after advancing to Dou Venerate, she unified half of the southern region of the Northwest Continent.]
However, at this point in time, Empress Medusa of the Snake-People shouldn't be that powerful yet.
If he was lucky, he might be able to take this "Green Lotus Core Flame" for himself.
In his previous life, Han Feng had not cultivated the Flame Mantra, so after finding and refining the Mysterious Yellow Flame, he had not paid any more special attention to news of Heavenly Flames.
However, he had once emulated his master Yao Chen and traveled the continent, seeing the sights of various places, and thus learned many secrets.
Although the Northwest Continent was a remote place, it was truly full of talented people.
Besides Medusa, the hegemon of the Chu Yun Empire, the "Heavenly Poison Woman," possessed the rare congenital Woeful Poison Body.
This type of poison body advanced extremely quickly; as long as she devoured poison, she could generate Poison Dou Qi and enhance her cultivation.
But the side effect was that as the Poison Dou Qi grew stronger, if her physical body's realm could not keep up, she would be unable to withstand the backlash and die suddenly.
During his travels across the continent, the Heavenly Poison Woman had once crossed paths with Han Feng in battle.
Possessing the power of the Mysterious Yellow Flame, the Heavenly Poison Woman was naturally no match for Han Feng. After defeating her, Han Feng did not press his advantage to kill her, but chose to leave.
In the following ten years, he accidentally found a method to resolve the backlash of the Woeful Poison Body in some ruins in the Central Plains.
But by the time he returned to the Northwest Continent, the Heavenly Poison Woman had already passed away.
This Heavenly Poison Woman was astonishingly brilliant. She broke through to Dou Venerate before the age of thirty. In a way, she was even more terrifying than he was.
Unfortunately, heaven is jealous of outstanding talents. The life of someone with the Woeful Poison Body is destined to be filled with calamities.
If he were fortunate enough to meet her in this life, he could lend her a hand.
The southern region had its geniuses, and so did the northern region.
The northern region of the Northwest Continent was closer to the Central Plains and was therefore more prosperous, with sects that were mostly stronger than those in the south.
The Heavenly Snake Mansion and the Lion Underworld Sect were super-factions with veteran Dou Venerates at their helms, not the least bit weak even when compared to those in the Central Plains.
Among them, the holy maiden of the Heavenly Snake Mansion possessed the "Jade Snake Three Flower Pupils," which could be called the bane of all snakes, and they often clashed with the Snake-People Tribe.
The Lion Underworld Sect later colluded with the Hall of Souls, igniting the flames of war in the Northwest Continent. They were eventually attacked by a united front, and just as they were on the verge of destruction, they were backstabbed by the Hall of Souls. Their end was truly miserable.
The situation in the Northwest Continent was not generally chaotic, but as the location of the Ancient God's Mansion, one could only say that it was destined to be extraordinary.
Besides the Northwest Continent, there were also some opportunities on the neighboring Nanli Continent, the Dongxuan Continent, and even further away in the Starfall Archipelago and the Boundless Void.
However, those places were too far from the Black-Corner Region, so it was better to handle matters in the Northwest Continent first before going there.
As for the Central Plains... Han Feng thought of the Falling Star Pavilion, and his eyes dimmed slightly.
In his current state, he didn't seem qualified to return to that place.
It was a place of sorrow; it was better to go back another day.
Otherwise, how would he explain things to Uncle-Master Feng?
Tell him the truth?
The other party wouldn't care if you were from a past life or this life. A kill was a kill.
The people Han Feng wanted to protect in this life, if they knew the truth, would probably want to tear him to pieces.
What an irony.
However, since Han Feng had chosen to continue living, it meant that he no longer cared.
If they misunderstand, then let them misunderstand. As long as you all can live on.
———
Three days passed. His subordinates were highly efficient and had already gathered all the fifth-tier medicinal herbs. They also had news on the final main ingredients.
The sixth-grade Life Jade Essence was available at the Thousand Medicines Workshop. The price was a bit steep at three million gold coins, but the quality was decent, and it had already been purchased.
As for the seventh-tier Heavenly Fragrance Spirit Wood, the Black Emperor Sect had some information.
However, the Sect Master of the Black Emperor Sect, Mo Tianxing, seemed a bit curious about Han Feng's search for a seventh-tier medicinal ingredient, so he hoped to trade in person. He had already arrived in Feng City.
"Then let's make the trip."
Han Feng stood up and walked towards the door.
Mo Tianxing, a veteran expert of the Black-Corner Region, had just broken through to Dou Ancestor half a year ago and was currently in the limelight.
Even Han Feng, as a sixth-grade alchemist, would not have dared to slight this Sect Master Mo in the past.
When he arrived at the reception hall of the City Lord's Mansion, he saw an old man in black and yellow robes sitting gracefully in his seat. Behind him floated a semicircular, dragon-scale magical artifact.
The artifact floated behind him, rising and falling, demonstrating the Dou Ancestor expert's masterful control over spatial power.
This kind of aura carried its own deterrent force, but the current Han Feng saw it as nothing special and walked into the hall at an unhurried pace.
"Sect Master Mo, I was only looking for the seventh-tier Heavenly Fragrance Spirit Wood. How did I manage to attract your presence as well?"
Han Feng greeted him and sat down in the main seat with composure.
Mo Tianxing opened his eyes slightly, a trace of surprise flashing through them.
This Han Feng's demeanor seemed to be a little different.
In the past, although he was more respectful, one always felt that he was hiding something.
Now, he was neither servile nor overbearing. It felt as if he had shed his disguise and was more sincere.
Having become a hegemon in the Black-Corner Region, Mo Tianxing naturally did not lack the ability to judge people.
He was especially familiar with those cunning villains who acted one way to your face and another behind your back.
Because he was that kind of person.
"Master Han Feng is searching for a seventh-tier medicinal ingredient, so its use must be very important. I happen to have a favor to ask as well, so I personally escorted it here."
Mo Tianxing put down his teacup and shifted his chin slightly.
The attendant behind him immediately brought out a treasure box and opened it.
"The leaves of the seventh-tier Heavenly Fragrance Spirit Wood. I have brought them for Master Han Feng."
With a wave of his hand, Mo Tianxing sent the treasure box flying from mid-air to land in front of Han Feng.
Two crystal-clear leaves lay quietly stacked inside the box, emitting wisps of a strange, clear fragrance.
This Heavenly Fragrance Spirit Wood only grew seven leaves upon maturity. These two leaves alone were worth no less than ten million.
Han Feng closed the lid and said slowly:
"It is indeed a top-quality Heavenly Fragrance Spirit Wood leaf. What is it that Sect Master Mo desires?"
"Haha!"
Mo Tianxing laughed twice. "Medicine Emperor is indeed straightforward. This old man has come this time to request a Spirit Abyss Pill for my worthless son."
"Spirit Abyss Pill?"
This was a fifth-grade medicinal pill for Dou Spirit experts. Not only could it allow the user to immediately break through by one star, but it could also accelerate the maturation of their Dou Qi crystal, thus speeding up their cultivation. It also had a certain effect on tempering the body.
Han Feng nodded. "Of course, but by that calculation, it seems Sect Master Mo is getting the short end of the stick?"
One Heavenly Fragrance Spirit Wood leaf in exchange for one Spirit Abyss Pill was a fair trade.
But two leaves were worth more than one Spirit Abyss Pill.
Mo Tianxing said nonchalantly, "How can it be considered a loss when it's a matter of mutual agreement?"
Han Feng remained noncommittal. Mo Tianxing was trying to make him owe him a favor.
However, he did not refuse.
"Then it's settled. If Sect Master Mo needs any pills refined in the future, you can contact me at any time."
"Excellent!"
Mo Tianxing was very happy. Although he had lost out on this transaction, it might not be the case in the long run.
Being able to use seventh-tier ingredients for alchemy meant that Han Feng's alchemy skills had also reached the threshold of the seventh grade.
The benefits of being on good terms with a future seventh-grade alchemist could not be measured in money.