All Parties Stir

In the secret chamber of Duke Fu's Mansion, Yuan Tiangang withdrew his hand from Ling Yan's crown.

After seven days of refinement and repair, Ling Yan's appearance had changed drastically. A red flame tattoo on his forehead shone brilliantly, and several golden, special patterns appeared on his face.

This was the Ling Family's inherited cultivation technique, Nine Revolutions of Fire Refining, which could be considered a top-tier technique.

It involved condensing True Qi into True Fire and nurturing a Natal Fire that resonated with the cultivator.

This technique was extremely difficult to cultivate, consumed vast resources, and the process was agonizing for the practitioner. A slight mistake could lead to a backlash from the True Fire, resulting in self-immolation.

Therefore, few within the Ling Family even practiced it.

Many had their True Fire backfire before reaching the fifth revolution, leaving them either crippled or dead.

However, the power of this technique was undeniable. It had played a significant role in Ling Yan's return from the ruins.

But with Yin Nether entering his body and damaging his meridians and foundation, Ling Yan's Natal Fire had been extinguished. Only now, with the Earth Fire Condensed Lotus, had his Natal Fire been rekindled, further enhanced by Yuan Tiangang's pure Yang energy.

This technique, Nine Revolutions of Fire Refining, created by the Ling Family's ancestor, theoretically allowed one to reach the Heavenly Being realm after nine revolutions. However, the ninth revolution was merely a concept, a theoretical possibility.

With the aid of the Earth Fire Condensed Lotus and Yuan Tiangang's pure Yang energy, Ling Yan had now reached the realm of his ancestor, the late stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm.

His Natal Fire was now stronger than ever.

Ling Yan was furious.

The might of heaven and earth emanated from his body, and the secret chamber was filled with soaring flames. In the corner, Ling Feng and Ling Ying were enveloped by a transparent barrier, sitting cross-legged and already cultivating.

Over the past few days, Yuan Tiangang had personally demonstrated for them, and Ling Yan had provided hands-on teaching. Both had benefited greatly, especially Ling Feng, as he was also practicing Nine Revolutions of Fire Refining.

Seeing all the flames in the secret chamber converge, with a golden lotus-like flame burning fiercely above Ling Yan's head, Yuan Tiangang knew it was done.

As Yuan Tiangang tapped his right foot, the heaven and earth restrictions within the secret chamber were removed.

How could such a scene not be celebrated?

The moment the flames entered Ling Yan's body, a golden ripple of fire spread outwards.

His aura, imbued with the might of heaven and earth, soared towards the sky.

The entire Tiandu City felt as if it had returned to mid-June. The snow on the ground melted rapidly, and snowflakes in the sky dissipated before they could even fall.

Ordinary people and martial artists in Tiandu City felt a strange, scorching heat in the sky, as if it were midsummer. However, those who had stepped into the Three Realms of Earth sensed a terrifying pressure, like a blazing sun that seemed capable of incinerating everything.

They all looked in the direction of Duke Fu's Mansion.

The entire Duke Fu's Mansion had become like a furnace, and its inhabitants fled in all directions.

The surrounding area was also scorching hot.

Inside the Dragon Abode Palace of the Imperial Palace, Emperor Gan, Chu Tianxiong, sat on the Dragon Throne, idly playing with a small bronze cauldron in his right hand. The words "Shan He" were inscribed on the cauldron's body. He tossed it up and caught it repeatedly.

Suddenly, Chu Tianxiong seemed to sense something. He looked in a certain direction with a look of interest.

Behind Chu Tianxiong, two figures appeared silently.

"Your Majesty."

"No matter, Old Ancestors, there's no need for formalities."

Chu Tianxiong was not surprised by the two behind him.

One of the white-haired elders spoke with a complex expression:

"Ling Yan has broken through."

He seemed to sigh, filled with emotion.

Indeed! He was also in the late stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, yet Ling Yan had also reached the late stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm.

Considering Ling Yan was more than a hundred years younger than him.

Hearing the elder's sigh, Emperor Gan, Chu Tianxiong, also spoke:

"This old fellow hasn't shown himself much in decades. I thought he was close to death!

Who would have thought he would break through now."

The other middle-aged man looked thoughtful.

"Your Majesty, should we try..."

The middle-aged man's words were interrupted by Chu Tianxiong.

"No need. The more you act, the more mistakes you make. Inaction can overcome all changes.

He's merely in the late stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, it's not time yet."

Chu Tianxiong then inquired.

"How is things in Haizhou? Are there any abnormalities?"

The middle-aged man quickly replied.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, there are no abnormalities. Moreover, Old Ninth is there."

"Li Yi."

Hearing His Majesty's voice, the chief eunuch Li Yi, who was outside the door, hurried into the hall.

After paying respects to Chu Tianxiong, he bowed to the two Imperial Clan ancestors.

"Duke Fu's Mansion has been loyal to the nation and has rendered meritorious service. We bestow upon you the precious medicine, Heart Burning Grass."

Meanwhile, in Duke Ding's Mansion, a burly man looked up at Duke Fu's Mansion with a resentful expression.

Sensing that scorching aura that seemed to burn the heavens, and seeing the might of heaven and earth, late-stage Celestial Phenomenon Realm, he clenched his fists.

As someone who had tilled the same land and slept in the same trench, he was all too familiar with that aura, and the unparalleled Nine Revolutions of Fire Refining.

"Old Ling, you truly deserve to die!"

The burly man's voice was hysterical, like a roar.

Among the Four Great Dukes' Mansions, Duke An's Mansion was the strongest, with that old fellow being late-stage Celestial Phenomenon Realm. Duke Wei's Mansion was the weakest, early-stage Celestial Phenomenon Realm.

He and Ling Yan were about the same age. They had both reached the mid-stage Celestial Phenomenon Realm, always progressing side-by-side with little difference in strength.

And yet, that bastard secretly worked harder behind his back, and most importantly, he succeeded.

You succeeded, but I haven't yet?

Wasn't it fine to be second together?

It's not like there's no one at the bottom.

You just had to compete for first place, you truly deserve to die!

Thirty years ago, you got a Divine Weapon, and that was already so enviable. Now your strength has increased.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. The burly man's face showed anger, jealousy, and envy, his expression quite contorted.

With a wave of his hand, the current Duke Ding stepped forward.

"Go, deliver a calling card and pay a visit to Old Ancestor Ling Yan, who has broken through to the late-stage Celestial Phenomenon Realm."

He didn't go directly. He knew that Ling Yan had just broken through and needed to consolidate his foundation.

In Duke An's Mansion, a white-haired old man looked in the direction of Duke Fu's Mansion, his eyes filled with solemnity.

After Ling Yan's breakthrough, he calmed his aura, the lines on his face gradually faded, and he knelt on both knees before Yuan Tiangang with an excited expression.

"Ling Yan thanks the Hall Master for the grace of remaking me."

Yuan Tiangang did not linger too long at Duke Fu's Mansion. Ling Yan still needed to consolidate his foundation. After giving some instructions, Yuan Tiangang took the Mysterious Feather Dao Robe and disappeared without a trace.

Yes, the Mysterious Feather Dao Robe, this Divine Weapon, Yuan Tiangang had mentioned it before, and Ling Yan had kept it in mind. He knew very well how he had reached the late-stage Celestial Phenomenon Realm.

It was entirely the Hall Master who had pushed him up. Ling Yan was now in the late-stage Celestial Phenomenon Realm and no longer needed to hide it.

Although that Divine Weapon greatly aided Ling Yan's combat and personal strength, it was ultimately no match for the sense of security that his current strength provided.

Therefore, Ling Yan still gifted the Mysterious Feather Dao Robe to Yuan Tiangang as a token of his gratitude.

Perhaps Yuan Tiangang wouldn't care, after all, this person wielded an Artifact!

But whether he accepted it or not, whether he gave it or not, and whether he cared about it were entirely different matters.

He could refuse to accept it, but you couldn't refuse to give it.

Perhaps he wouldn't care about such petty gains, and wouldn't think much of what you offered.

But you need to understand where yours came from, and keep that in mind. If you want to develop long-term and stand firm, you can't do without these connections.

The martial world is not just about fighting; it's about human relationships and social etiquette.

Ling Yan's aura burst forth for only a moment, but those with some standing in Tiandu City knew that the pillar of Duke Fu's Mansion had become even stronger.

Suddenly, calling cards poured into Duke Fu's Mansion, with visitors from all directions, arriving in an endless stream.

Even though Chu Xuanao knew this clearly, he still had to put on a show. He sent someone to deliver a calling card.