Jia Nan Academy, Library Pavilion.
In this different space personally arranged by a Dou Venerate expert, the energy of heaven and earth suddenly surged, gathering towards the location where Han Feng was refining pills.
The two elders, Qian and Bai, had been observing in secret, admiring Han Feng's exquisite and unparalleled alchemy skills.
"Truly amazing."
"But why do I feel something is not right?" Qian Mu frowned as he looked at the increasingly turbulent energy of heaven and earth.
"This amount of energy, could Elder Han be refining a peak seventh-grade pill?" Bai Lie said in surprise.
"Should be," Qian Mu nodded.
However, as time went by, the brows of the two became tighter and tighter.
"What pill is Elder Han refining exactly? Is this really seventh-grade?"
The two elders looked at each other, both seeing the fear in the other's eyes.
At this moment, Venerate Skyfire drilled out from the storage ring and arrived above the Library Pavilion.
"Who goes there?!" the two elders shouted.
"Don't worry, you two. I am Yao Tianhuo. At Elder Han's request, I am here to resist this eighth-grade Pill Lightning together with you."
"What!"
"Eighth-grade!"
The two elders couldn't care less about investigating Yao Tianhuo's identity, their faces filled with terror as they looked at the thunderclouds above.
Lightning surged there, and suddenly a second color appeared.
"It's over, it's really an eighth-grade Pill Lightning..."
For a moment, the two elders were filled with despair, their expressions dull.
What kind of person had they let in!
"Hmm? Did you two not know that Elder Han was going to refine an eighth-grade pill?"
Seeing that the two looked amiss, Yao Tianhuo added fuel to the fire.
The faces of the two elders turned bright red, especially Bai Lie, who felt extremely embarrassed thinking about his earlier boast.
It was Qian Mu who calmed down first.
"Now that things have come to this, it's useless to say more. Friend, we will resist the Pill Lightning together with you."
If they were elsewhere, they might have hesitated, but what place was this?
The Library Pavilion!
If they retreated, the academy's years of precious collections would be destroyed. By then, they would be the sinners of the academy!
No matter what, they had to block the Pill Lightning!
Han Feng was now fully focused on the pill, with no spare energy to think about anything else.
Although he had not broken through to the Spirit Realm, he could still amplify his soul power through the Innate Primordial Magnetism, control the spirituality between heaven and earth, and imbue the pill with spirit.
However, this process had to be done very carefully.
An eighth-grade pill was already beyond the scope of ordinary pills. An alchemist who could refine an eighth-grade pill could be proud for a lifetime.
Han Feng was currently only a mere Dou Emperor. If he could really refine it, it would probably be unprecedented, making countless alchemists worship him.
Finally, a third color emerged from the lightning in the sky. The power of the Pill Lightning further expanded. Han Feng knew that the pill was about to be completed. He quickly offered up a hand seal, and all his soul power surged out.
"Seal Heaven Lock Earth!"
Han Feng's soul power locked onto the pill, pouring endless spirituality into it. This was Han Feng's self-created pill technique, which could greatly increase the success rate of pill fusion and the quality of the finished pill.
His hands came together, and a "warning" thunderclap rumbled between heaven and earth.
The two elders, Qian and Bai, along with Yao Tianhuo, knew that the time had come and braced themselves, rushing into the sky.
Three peak Dou Ancestor experts jointly unleashed their Dou Qi, blocking in front of the Pill Lightning.
The three-colored Pill Lightning struck down fiercely the next moment. A dazzling lightning flash erupted between heaven and earth.
Yao Tianhuo's flame Dou Qi burned, transforming into the shadows of five giant beasts.
The two elders, Qian and Bai, also used a combination attack technique, doing their utmost to stop the heavenly thunder from falling.
However, an eighth-grade lightning tribulation was not something a Dou Ancestor could resist. The three weakened a portion of the heavenly thunder's power, but they were ultimately not Venerates.
"Elder Han, we can't hold on much longer!" the two elders shouted through gritted teeth.
Taking advantage of the moment the three were blocking, Han Feng completed the final refinement of the pill, adjusted his state at the same time, and slowly opened his eyes.
"Gentlemen, that's enough."
A twenty-four-leaf lotus flower quietly appeared in Han Feng's hand.
The three people in the sky finally couldn't hold on anymore and were struck down by the heavenly thunder, crashing towards three different directions.
Han Feng raised the lotus flower, and a vast energy bloomed in his hand.
"Go."
Boom!
The twenty-four-leaf lotus flower slowly bloomed, and a world-destroying power stirred heaven and earth.
The three-colored lightning that had struck down from mid-air could no longer advance at this moment.
Han Feng clasped his palms together. The twenty-four-leaf lotus flower rapidly rose into the sky and, with a bang, forced the lightning back into the clouds.
"Explode!"
Above Jia Nan Academy, the clouds were directly blasted open, stretching continuously for dozens of kilometers, as if a hole had been burned through.
Han Feng silently watched the "World-Destroying Lotus" blooming in the sky. The three-colored Pill Lightning had already dissipated without a trace at some point.
"What powerful strength."
A trace of inspiration suddenly rose in Han Feng's heart. This twenty-four-leaf lotus flower was formed by him storing the energy of heaven and earth.
If he purely condensed it with the vast energy of the Heavenly Flame itself, would it also possess similar power?
This thought took root in Han Feng's mind, and he decided to try it when he had free time in the future.
"Did it succeed?"
The two elders, Qian and Bai, climbed out of the small pits on the ground.
"He can actually unleash such powerful strength."
Before, they had looked at Han Feng as if looking at a junior. Although his alchemy skills were outstanding, his cultivation was ultimately much lower than theirs.
But after observing today, they discovered that this Elder Han was actually deeply hidden.
Han Feng put away the eighth-grade pill and walked towards the two elders.
"Many thanks to you two this time. Please accept this small gift."
The two elders took the jade bottles. Looking at the two sixth-grade healing pills inside, the soreness from the lightning strike seemed to have eased a lot.
"For Elder Han to refine an eighth-grade pill at such a young age, it is a fortunate event for us two to witness it personally."
Han Feng knew that this matter was over. After thanking them again, he called Yao Tianhuo and left the Library Pavilion.
"Youth is truly formidable..."
The two elders watched Han Feng leave and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
———
"I need to go out for a trip. It might take a while. You all cultivate peacefully in the academy. Don't worry about me."
In the Inner Academy, Han Feng was saying goodbye to Ye Qingyun and the others.
"How long will it take?"
Han Feng had been in seclusion for three months. Now, after just a few days, he was leaving again. The women were a little reluctant.
"Maybe about half a year."
"That long!"
Han Feng comforted them a few more times, told Cai'er to protect them well, and then turned to leave.
"Are you going to the Central Plains?" Su Qian asked in surprise.
"Yes, to find a blessed land and prepare to break through to Dou Ancestor," Han Feng said frankly.
"Speaking of which, it took me quite a bit of effort to break through to Dou Ancestor back then. Elder Han, I wish you a smooth journey."
Han Feng bid farewell to Su Qian.
"Take care."
———
After leaving Jia Nan Academy, Han Feng released Yao Tianhuo and chatted with him along the way.
To be able to grow into a Dou Venerate in the Central Plains was quite a legendary figure.
Han Feng listened to Yao Tianhuo's self-narration, learning about the stories of his century.
...
Sky Piercing Mountain Range, Sky Horizon City.
This was the closest city to the Black-Corner Region that had a spatial wormhole.
Spatial wormholes were fast teleportation channels set up by Dou Venerate experts, capable of greatly shortening the travel time between various continents.
The Central Plains region was vast and was the center of the entire Dou Qi Continent. For remote places like the Northwest Continent, if one wanted to travel to other continents, one had to pass through the Central Plains.
The destination of Han Feng's trip this time was the "Heavenly Eye Mountain Range," located in the northern region of the Central Plains, not far from the Northwest Continent.
Will I meet old acquaintances?
Before even setting off, some complicated emotions arose in Han Feng's heart.
The Central Plains, a place that carried the peace and joy of the first half of his life and the battles and slaughters of the second half.
It is said that one feels timid when approaching home. Han Feng was no exception.
After entering Sky Horizon City, Han Feng first went to the largest-looking shop to buy some supplies, and then inquired about the local intelligence.
The spatial wormhole in Sky Horizon City was controlled by the Luo family. The Luo family's ancestor was a four-star Dou Ancestor expert who had suppressed many hungry wolves wanting to snatch this fat piece of meat. He could be considered quite capable.
Entering the spatial wormhole required paying a hefty sum, and one also needed a space boat to travel through the wormhole.
This thing was refined by weapon refiners and was extremely expensive to build, each costing over a million.
The Luo family's weapon refiners had made quite a lot of money from the people of the Northwest Continent through this industrial chain.
Under the recommendation of the shop assistant, Han Feng went to the Luo family's shop. He looked at the styles of several space boats and found that their quality was all average, not even as good as the old model from years ago in his Ethereal Sea Storage Ring.
"Forget it. I'll make do for now and change it when I get to the Central Plains."
Han Feng didn't buy another one and went straight to the square where the spatial wormhole was built.
After paying the fee, Han Feng walked step by step towards the towering stone platform.
"Friend, didn't you buy a space boat? Would you like to ride with us?" A burly man on the wide steps invited enthusiastically.
Han Feng shook his head.
"No need."
He took out the space boat from his storage ring, skillfully stepped onto it, and entered the huge spatial wormhole.
The burly man was not discouraged. He chuckled and continued to look at others.
Inside the spatial wormhole, violent spatial power flowed. Han Feng stayed in the space boat, cultivating in meditation.
The eighth-grade pill he had refined before was named the Myriad Manifestation Reverse Life Pill.
It took its meaning from the renewal of all things, giving a cultivator a chance to defy heaven and change their fate.
Whether Han Feng could break free from the shadows and gain a new life depended on this time.
Time passed quietly. At the front of the wormhole, a silvery-white point of light grew larger and larger, until the space boat drilled into it. A brand new city appeared before Han Feng's eyes.
Heavenly North City.
Han Feng stepped off the space boat and put it back into his storage ring.
"Finally arrived."
Taking a deep breath, Han Feng looked at the city streets on both sides, falling into a brief reminiscence.
An old man held a young child's hand and pointed into the distance.
"Feng'er, Master will take you back to the Northwest Continent to take a look. Your original hometown is there."
"The Northwest Continent is too far away, Master! I want to go back to the Falling Star Pavilion!"
"Hehe, that's not up to you... Mainly because Master has something to do there. Be good."
"Alright then."
...
"Young friend, young friend?"
"Hmm?"
Han Feng was startled awake.
A manager pointed the way.
"It's time to go. Don't block the way here. The flow of people will be heavy later."
"Sorry."
Han Feng quickly walked away, suppressing those memories in his heart.
Leaving the spatial wormhole square, Han Feng came to a teahouse, ordered a few small dishes, and began to eat.
"This Heavenly North City has two overlords. One is the Han family, and the other is the Hong family!"
While eating, Han Feng listened to the storyteller in the teahouse recounting the history of Heavenly North City.
As a well-known major city in the northern region of the Central Plains, the strength of these Han and Hong families was naturally not weak.
The patriarchs of both families were Dou Ancestor experts, and the ancestors behind them were even stronger.
In the Northwest Continent, just one such family could rival an entire Jia Ma Empire.
The Central Plains was like this. If you didn't have the cultivation of a Dou Ancestor, you couldn't establish a foundation and form your own sect.
After eating, Han Feng inquired about the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range.
"Sir, you must be asking about the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, right?" the waiter asked, bending down with a towel slung over his back.
"Yes," Han Feng nodded.
"Then you're a bit unlucky. The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool opened two months ago and is now closed."
"Two months? Thank you."
Han Feng put down two gold coins as a tip, then stood up and left.
He didn't care that the Blood Pool was closed. On the contrary, he was more worried about running into it while it was open, with too many people and prying eyes.
The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool opened once every three years for five days at a time, with a quota limited to ten people. These regulations were actually similar to the Body Tempering with the Source Heart Flame at the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower. It was simply that the accumulation of energy required time, so it could not be opened frequently.
The Gold Swallowing Mouse clan, which guarded the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range, could rely on their advantage as hosts to enter the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool to cultivate all year round.
Han Feng was very clear on this point.
Therefore, he just needed to go over there. As for whether the other party agreed or not, it was not within Han Feng's consideration.
Agreeing would be best. If they disagreed... Han Feng, who had forcefully held back at the Third Revolution Dou Emperor level, might have a bit of a temper.
After resting for two days, Han Feng left Heavenly North City and headed for the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range.
The vicinity of the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range was teeming with magical beasts. Just in the short time after flying into the mountain range, Han Feng had already seen many sixth-tier magical beasts, and even one seventh-tier one.
"Human, the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range is already closed. Leave quickly!" A long voice came from within the mountain range, sounding like a warning.
"I have come to borrow the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool for use," Han Feng replied, adding a trace of soul power to his voice.
Buzz!
Perhaps the soul power had taken effect. The other party did not reply again but came personally instead.
A figure with a human body and a mouse head flew rapidly out from the deep mountains, stepping on the air and stopping steadily.
He looked at the human before him with apprehension and probed again, "You've come too late, sir. The heavenly tide passed two months ago. The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool has no breakthrough effect now."
"I am aware that the energy at the bottom of the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool is abundant, so please don't make such excuses."
The expression of the Dou Ancestor expert from the Gold Swallowing Mouse clan suddenly darkened. The secret discovered by their clan had actually been exposed!
A trace of killing intent flashed in Jin Gu's eyes. "How did you find out?"
Han Feng's expression was calm. "The Blood Pool is right there. Are only your Gold Swallowing Mouse clan allowed to discover it?"
Jin Gu was silent for a long time. In the end, still wary of Han Feng's soul power, he did not make a move. "Come with me."
On the way to the mountain top, Jin Gu suddenly asked, "How many people know about this matter?"
Han Feng replied, "I haven't told anyone else, but I don't know if others have discovered it."
Jin Gu frowned, feeling increasingly depressed.
"You are only a Dou Emperor. Why is your soul power so tyrannical?"
Han Feng smiled lightly.
"Talent."
Jin Gu: ...
"You're an alchemist, right?" Jin Gu stopped beating around the bush.
"Yes."
Jin Gu sighed in his heart, thinking what a hassle. Alchemists and the like were the most difficult to serve.
Forget it. Let the clan leader deal with the headache later.