Today's Shi Yuan was like a different person.
Although his expression and demeanor were still kind and gentle, the light in his eyes was something he did not have before.
"This poor monk thanks Elder Han for saving my life."
Shi Yuan gave Han Feng a deep bow.
Han Feng accepted it calmly.
"It is also thanks to you, Elder Shi, for being able to persevere until now. Otherwise, I'm afraid you wouldn't have been able to wait for my arrival."
Different life trajectories change different people and events.
In his previous life, Han Feng had never even heard of Shi Yuan's name, but in this life, he had saved him.
Shi Yuan beamed. In his heart, he thought that according to Buddhist teachings, Elder Han must be his fated person.
This kindness would be difficult to repay!
"I came today because I have something to discuss with you, Elder Shi."
"Please speak, Elder Han."
Han Feng took out the fragment.
"I found this in a mountain range. It contains an endless stream of demonic qi. Please take a look, Elder Shi, and see if it is related to your Eastern Xuan Continent."
Shi Yuan took the fragment with a solemn expression. The Dou Qi in his hand condensed into a Buddhist light and touched the demonic qi in the fragment.
In an instant, Shi Yuan threw it away in a panic, hastily chanting Buddhist scriptures to force out the wisp of demonic qi that had invaded his finger.
Han Feng beckoned lightly, and the fragment flew back into his hand.
"Elder Han, this thing is too terrifying. This poor monk has never seen such pure demonic qi."
Han Feng was unconcerned. A Heavenly Flame ignited in his hand. The previously arrogant demonic qi immediately chose to retreat and shrank back into the fragment.
However, as Elder Shi had said, this demonic qi was very pure and endless. Even a Heavenly Flame could not eradicate it.
"So, Elder Shi doesn't know the origin of this thing either."
Shi Yuan made a Buddhist gesture and murmured.
"Amitabha. This object is extremely strange. If it falls into the hands of others, it may cause disaster."
Just a moment's contact was enough for Shi Yuan to almost be eroded by the demonic qi again. One must know that he cultivated a superior Buddhist law that was specifically designed to deal with demonic qi.
If even he couldn't handle it, then in the entire Eastern Xuan Continent, probably only the imperial family and the Buddhist Venerable could deal with it.
"Could Elder Han please elaborate on how you obtained this item?"
Han Feng recounted the details of that day.
When Shi Yuan heard that this fragment had been swallowed by a magical beast and that the magical beast was unharmed, his eyes suddenly became a little strange.
He had been tormented by this demonic qi to the point of wishing for death. Why could a mere sixth-tier magical beast, when eroded by such tyrannical demonic qi, remain in a normal state?
"The origin of this fragment is probably not small. This poor monk even suspects that the appearance of the dark races on this Northwest Continent may be related to this fragment," Shi Yuan said with a serious expression.
"You must keep this item safe, Elder Han, and not let it fall into the hands of the dark races."
Han Feng nodded.
"That's natural."
No matter what secrets the dark races had, Han Feng had no time to deal with them now. It was best to avoid them.
"By the way, I have preserved the corpse of that magical beast. If you are interested, Elder Shi, you can study it. Perhaps you can find some answers."
As Han Feng spoke, he threw the huge body of the Six-Armed Demonic Ape into the air.
Shi Yuan gently raised a finger and caught the behemoth.
"Good. When I find out the reason, I will inform you, Elder Han."
The two stood up and bowed to each other. Han Feng took his leave.
Qin Miaoyin looked at the corpse of the Six-Armed Demonic Ape, a little scared and a little curious. She asked, "Master, what should we do with this thing?"
"Hehe, I will handle it," Shi Yuan said, looking at Qin Miaoyin, suddenly thinking of something.
"Miaoyin."
"What is it, Master?"
"Do you miss home?"
"Huh?"
Qin Miaoyin looked surprised. "Home? Isn't this my home?"
Shi Yuan was silent for a long time before he said, "There are some things that perhaps you can be told."
Before, he couldn't even protect himself, so he naturally couldn't handle Qin Miaoyin's problem.
If he had died, Qin Miaoyin could only continue to live a simple life, forced to forget her former home.
Now it was different. Even with only a three-star Dou Ancestor cultivation, Shi Yuan was still confident enough to set foot in the Central Plains.
"The Sound Valley in the Central Plains. When I have time, I will take you there."
"The Sound Valley? What are we going there for?" Qin Miaoyin asked, puzzled.
Shi Yuan smiled and, from somewhere, took out a dusty scroll and handed it to Qin Miaoyin.
"To see your mother's home before she died, and by the way, to demand an explanation."
Qin Miaoyin took the scroll in a daze. Opening it, she saw the name of a cultivation technique.
"Heavenly Sound Mantra"
———
Han Feng returned home. Seeing that it was still early, he went out again and headed for the medicine management repository.
The students of the Inner Academy did not have a fixed curriculum, so most of them cultivated on their own. If they had Fire Energy, they would regularly go to the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower to temper their Dou Qi with the help of the Fallen Heart Flame.
Besides cultivation, the school also had a training ground, a Dou Skill Pavilion, a Cultivation Technique Hall, a mission board, and other public facilities.
Sparring, studying, going on adventures, accepting missions, and so on. All in all, the life of an Inner Academy student was very free and also very fulfilling.
Han Feng arrived at the medicine management repository. As soon as he walked in, he heard someone arguing inside.
That voice, it sounds like Elder Hao?
Han Feng observed secretly for a moment and found that the person arguing with Elder Hao was actually a little girl with purple hair.
Her hair color was the same as Lin Xian'er's, but her personality... Lin Xian'er was clearly much more obedient.
"What do you think this place is? You just take things as you please. Do you think fifth-tier medicinal ingredients are snacks?"
"None of your business. I'm hungry, so I have to eat!"
"My little ancestor, if you have the ability, go and find them in the mountain range yourself. Can you stop staring at my place?"
"It's too much trouble to find them myself. I don't want to."
"You, you, you! If you keep this up, I'm going to find Great Elder Su Qian."
"Go ahead, I'm not afraid of him!"
The purple-haired girl pouted, looking as if she feared nothing.
"Elder Hao, have I come at an inconvenient time?"
Han Feng walked in, interrupting their argument.
"Elder Han?"
Elder Hao, as if he had found a helper, quickly ran to Elder Han's side and began to complain about the purple-haired girl's crimes, saying that she had already stolen an unknown amount of medicinal ingredients.
"This little girl is..."
"Her name is Zi Yan. She is a transformed magical beast that the Great Elder picked up from the forest."
Elder Hao grimaced. "She eats a lot, and her stealing skills are extremely high. It's impossible to guard against."
"A magical beast?"
Han Feng was taken aback, then looked at Zi Yan.
Why is it another young transformed magical beast?
"Little sister, I have some business with Elder Hao. Do you see..."
Han Feng tried to communicate, but Zi Yan turned her head and ignored him.
"Here, this bottle of pills is for you. You can have them as snacks. They're definitely tastier than chewing on raw herbs."
To lure the little loli away, Han Feng bled a little.
Zi Yan was indeed curious upon hearing this. Her little nose sniffed, and she snatched the pills.
"It smells so good!"
"Nom."
Zi Yan ate a pill in one bite, chewed it, and her eyes instantly lit up.
"So delicious!"
Zi Yan looked at Han Feng gratefully.
"Thank you, Uncle!"
Han Feng smiled. "Alright, go and eat them slowly on the side."
Zi Yan smiled happily, then threw the stolen herbs in her arms back to Elder Hao.
"Nyah nyah nyah, you smelly old man!"
"You..."
Elder Hao raised his fist, which was the size of a sandbag, but of course, he only pretended to swing it twice.
"This little demon king is getting more and more unruly!"