The Method to Unravel the Mystery

"This is our Dong family's secret technique," Dong Zhen explained from the side. "According to the family's inheritance, this set of cultivation methods is quite heaven-defying. But please remember, benefactor, the inscriptions on this cultivation method will only last for a quarter of an hour. After a quarter of an hour, the inscriptions will disappear."

"If you need to open the scroll again then, it will require the blood of a Dong family member, plus the spiritual energy of the Spirit Gathering Realm."

Han Fei asked doubtfully, "Then, over all these years, haven't you Dong family members ever invited any experts at the Spirit Gathering Realm? It's such a waste to have such a heaven-defying cultivation method and not use it?"

Dong Zhen sighed, "This is also what I find most helpless about. I'd love to invite experts above the Spirit Gathering Realm, but I have to dare to do it, right? If I don't know their character, inviting someone would undoubtedly be inviting a god of slaughter for my Dong family."

Han Fei suddenly understood. Dong Zhen's worries were valid. If the person they invited saw a heaven-defying cultivation method like Innate Qi, would they wipe out the entire Dong family? After all, the Dong family didn't even have anyone at the third level of the Innate Realm. It wouldn't take a Spirit Gathering Realm expert even a hundred breaths to kill them all.

Han Fei sighed, "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you for the treasure?"

Dong Zhen chuckled self-deprecatingly, "This treasure is meant to be given to you, benefactor. Why would you kill us, father and daughter? Besides, if it weren't for you today, my daughter and I wouldn't have planned to live on. The Dong family has fallen to such a state in my generation; I don't have the face to meet our ancestors."

Han Fei's heart ached. This was the helplessness of people at the bottom.

Suddenly, Han Fei froze. He seemed to have remembered something and abruptly stood up, rushing outside. This left the Dong family members bewildered.

The eldest daughter of the Dong family said with a mournful expression, "Did we say something wrong? Benefactor..."

Dong Zhen shook his head, looking at the scroll in his hand, and sighed softly, "I don't know either, but it doesn't seem like we said anything offensive, and we were very sincere. This shouldn't be the outcome."

Dong Xin said, "Since Benefactor didn't take the scroll, why don't we first copy the cultivation method inside? When Benefactor returns, we can give him the cultivation method. This way, our Dong family gets the cultivation method and can repay his kindness. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"

Dong Zhen negated it, "No, since we've already decided to give the cultivation method to someone else, how can we copy it? Moreover, our Dong family members can no longer cultivate to the Spirit Gathering Realm, and in your generation, you're a female. Keeping the cultivation method is even more useless."

With that, Dong Zhen also left the main hall. Seeing Dong Zhen's unhappy expression, the servants at the door were all so scared they didn't dare to breathe.

Dong Xin, however, chased after him, wanting to persuade her father.

Meanwhile, Han Fei, who had rushed out of the Dong family, was heading quickly towards the inn.

In the chat group, Fuxi said, "Got inspired?"

Han Fei nodded, "Since this scroll can contain spiritual energy, then the scroll containing the map should also be able to contain spiritual energy. No wonder I couldn't figure it out. It turns out the key to unlocking the mystery was the most obvious thing: spiritual energy."

Upon returning to the inn, Han Fei took out the scroll and placed his palm on it, injecting his spiritual energy.

Buzz. As expected, the scroll immediately lit up and emitted a buzzing sound, as if unlocking some formation array.

Han Fei watched the scroll's transformation in surprise. Two vertical rows of text slowly appeared.

However, Han Fei didn't recognize these characters. They seemed to be some kind of special runes, or perhaps from another civilization. In any case, they were not common fonts.

Helpless, Han Fei asked the great deities in the Primordial Group.

However, they did not belong to this world, so naturally, they didn't know what these characters recorded.

Fuxi, who was the only one proficient in formation arrays, seemed to have noticed something.

"Although this is a formation array, it also incorporates another element, which is why I couldn't detect it. However, I can say that these emerging characters are alive. They should be left behind by the creator of this scroll, sealing their own spiritual energy within in a special way."

Chiyou said, "Hey, Fuxi, if you can't figure it out, just say so. Don't make excuses about another element concealing it. You're the ancestor of formation arrays, yet you're embarrassing our Primordial Group."

Yellow Emperor said, "The guy who lost a horn, if I had the Xuanyuan Sword in hand, I'd stab you to death with a single strike. Why are you so argumentative?"

Chiyou ignored the Yellow Emperor and continued, "Fuxi, do you know how to use this thing? If you don't, don't cause trouble here."

Fuxi thought for a moment and said, "It's definitely not a coincidence that these runes and the map are on the same scroll. I suspect that the scroll needs to be activated with spiritual energy at the location marked on the map."

Han Fei nodded, indicating he understood.

Since he had found the method, Han Fei took a deep breath and calmed his emotions. Knowing the answer, he was no longer in a hurry to activate it. He needed to make thorough preparations.

The next morning, Han Fei arrived at the Dong family's entrance.

However, Han Fei did not force his way in. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back at the main gate, letting the guards announce his arrival.

Dong Zhen and his daughter rushed out and ushered Han Fei into the hall.

"Benefactor left in such a hurry yesterday without even finishing his drink. I thought I had said something to offend you."

Han Fei smiled and shook his head, "I apologize. Your words yesterday gave me some inspiration, and I figured some things out, which is why I left in such a hurry. Last night, I refined some Spirit Gathering Pills. They should be enough to help you, father and daughter, advance to the Spirit Gathering Realm."

As he spoke, he took out a hexagonal box. Inside, four Spirit Gathering Pills lay quietly.

Han Fei had refined a total of six pills. The other two were intended for his father and his second uncle.

"Please help me deliver this box to my father, Han Qishan, and have him give one pill to my second uncle each."

Dong Zhen took the two hexagonal boxes with surprise, "Benefactor, this... Our Dong family's lives were saved by you. How can we still accept such a precious gift from you?"

Han Fei laughed heartily, "If it weren't for you, I don't know how much longer I would have struggled with the problem that was bothering me. They're not worth much anyway. Just accept them, father and daughter."

With that, he pushed the Spirit Gathering Pills towards Dong Zhen and turned to leave.

Dong Xin called out to Han Fei, "Benefactor, take this."

She then handed Han Fei a booklet, "This is a copy of the Innate Qi cultivation method that I made yesterday. Please take it."

Han Fei nodded and accepted the cultivation method. In fact, the reason he came to the Dong family was, firstly, to explain his hasty departure yesterday, and secondly, he actually wanted this Innate Qi cultivation method, but he hadn't been able to bring himself to ask for it.

"Since that's the case, Han Fei thanks you here. Han Fei swears with his martial heart that the Innate Qi will never be passed on. Those who violate this will die a terrible death."

After leaving the Dong family, Han Fei did not linger and headed straight for the open space in the center of the three peaks marked on the map.

Meanwhile, in Luoan City, the selection of the city lord had also begun.

At the city gate, the woman in the black veil finally arrived in Luoan City.

In a rented manor, Fu Jiahao said respectfully, "Miss, I've already investigated. Han Fei is indeed in this city. However, I went to the inn where he was staying this morning, and the owner said Han Fei left early. Our informants said Han Fei left through the west city gate just as dawn broke."

The black-veiled woman frowned, "The west city gate? Did our informants not follow him?"

Fu Jiahao shook his head, "Han Fei's speed is too fast. Not long after leaving the city, his tracks were lost. However, I've already dispatched my best trackers to search for any clues Han Fei left behind. We should have news soon."

"The west city gate is rather remote and only leads into the mountains. It's surrounded by peaks, and without skilled trackers, it's difficult to find Han Fei's whereabouts. So, we can only wait."

The black-veiled woman took a deep breath. It was clear she harbored a bone-deep hatred for Han Fei. She, who detested trouble the most, had been put in such a passive position by Han Fei, making her want to kill him.

"Take me to the west gate."

Meanwhile, the black-veiled woman led a large group of experts to the west city gate. At this moment, Han Fei, following the location shown on his map, arrived at an open space in the center of three mountain peaks.

Han Fei said, "I've been here many times, but I still haven't solved the mystery. Today, I'll see what this mystery truly is."

As he spoke, Han Fei placed the scroll on the ground and unrolled it. Then, he placed his palm on the scroll and injected Spiritual Energy into it.

Instantly, two rows of bright characters appeared.

Following that, a continuous buzzing sound could be heard, as if the three surrounding mountain peaks were being stirred.

Immediately after, the ground began to shake, and cracks even appeared on the surrounding earth.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Two rows of golden characters suddenly flew out from the scroll, heading in different directions. Centered around Han Fei, they formed a circle with a diameter of thirty meters.

Hiss. A golden barrier appeared, enveloping Han Fei entirely. Outside the barrier, the earthquake intensified.

Rumble, rumble. The open space beneath Han Fei's feet suddenly began to rise slowly. The original open space bulged, forming a square altar.

At the same time, the black-veiled woman and her group, who had just entered the mountains, also felt the tremors from the mountains ahead. Their expressions shifted, and without regard for their subordinates, they rushed towards the source of the tremors first.