Battle Through the Heavens: I Am Han Feng, Respect the Teacher and Value the Dao

"It's good that you're all right."

Ye Qingyun let out a sigh of relief as the two little ones behind her ran toward Han Feng.

"Uncle Han, you're amazing!"

Qinglin looked at Han Feng with admiration. Her emerald-green pupils had shifted into a strange shape, making her look adorable.

Han Feng touched Qinglin's head in surprise. Her pupils could change shape—what kind of strange talent was that?

The change was too subtle, though, and Han Feng could not make out anything unusual.

"Master is obviously amazing!"

Lin Xian'er continued praising Han Feng without thinking, her face full of pride.

Qinglin clapped her little hands and giggled happily.

"Master, it seems like a lot of people have come outside."

Ye Qingyun walked over and reported to Han Feng.

"I know."

Han Feng nodded at Ye Qingyun, indicating that he would handle it.

"All of you, stay in the room. I'll go see what those people outside want."

Han Feng spoke to the three of them, then headed for the main gate alone.

After opening the gate, he found quite a crowd gathered outside. On one side were members of the Mite'er Family, with Supervisor Garton standing proudly at the front. Facing the equally imposing Mo City army, he showed no sign of weakness.

Eileen was currently speaking with the army's commander.

When Han Feng stepped out, everyone immediately turned to look at him.

"Master Han, I am Yang Guan, commander of the Mo City army."

The officer who had been speaking with Eileen stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Commander Yang."

Han Feng gave a slight nod in return.

"If you have something to discuss, why not choose a representative? Crowding the entrance like this is rather disruptive."

Yang Guan immediately ordered the soldiers to clear the area before returning on their own.

Only a handful of people remained on the Mite'er Family's side as well.

"Master Han, the City Lord wishes to invite you to the City Lord's Mansion as a guest."

Yang Guan said to Han Feng.

"Tell him I'll pay him a visit when I have the time."

Yang Guan hesitated briefly, then nodded.

"Then I'll return and report back."

After Yang Guan left, Supervisor Garton solemnly stepped forward and bowed deeply to Han Feng.

"Master Han, I never expected you to be a Rank 6 Alchemist."

"Supervisor Garton, there's no need to be so formal."

After saying that, Han Feng looked at Eileen.

"What, did I scare you too?"

Seeing Han Feng tease her, Eileen smiled softly. "Of course. A Rank 6 Alchemist—there isn't even one in the entire Jia Ma Empire."

"Mr. Han truly gave me quite a shock."

Han Feng shook his head. "All right, it's getting late. Hurry back."

Eileen gave Han Feng a slight bow, then left with Garton.

"Master Han, if you ever need anything, be sure to come to Mitel Business!"

Supervisor Garton called out enthusiastically, waving as he left.

As he watched the two depart, the smile on Han Feng's face faded.

"Come out."

He spoke toward the shadows nearby.

Hai Bodong slowly emerged and looked at Han Feng. "I never expected you to be a Rank 6 Alchemist."

When Han Feng saw Hai Bodong, he frowned. "You're the owner of the Ancient Painting Shop?"

He still remembered this unconventional old man quite clearly.

"That is indeed this old man."

Hai Bodong bowed to Han Feng before speaking. "There is something I would like to ask Master Han to help me with."

Boundless Sea

"Come in first."

Han Feng turned and returned to the house, with Hai Bodong following behind him.

"Your skills don't seem weak. Are you living in seclusion in Mo City?"

"Yes."

Hai Bodong's voice was hoarse.

"Tell me. What do you want from me?"

Seeing that Hai Bodong still did not seem inclined to chat, Han Feng went straight to the point.

"I would like to ask Master Han to examine how the seal within my body can be broken."

"A seal?"

No wonder his Dou Qi had felt somewhat off, Han Feng thought.

"Hold out your hand."

Hai Bodong fell silent for a moment, then extended his aged arm.

Han Feng condensed Dou Qi between two fingers and placed them on Hai Bodong's pulse, examining the condition within his body.

A moment later, Han Feng withdrew his hand.

"Where did you receive this seal?"

"The Snake People Tribe."

Han Feng nodded.

The seal inside the man's body was highly unusual. It was likely an exclusive inherited technique of a certain clan.

To break it, Han Feng would need to spend a great deal of time researching it, then send Dou Qi into the man's body to undo the seal.

All told, it would probably take at least two months.

Not to mention whether this man, with his intense vigilance, would be willing to do that, Han Feng himself did not have the time to waste on it.

"This seal is rather troublesome. I can't deal with it in a short time. Sir, you should return and wait for now, or seek out a cultivator skilled in sealing arts."

Han Feng put it tactfully, but it was already a refusal.

Hai Bodong, however, was unwilling to give up so easily. A Rank 6 Alchemist—how many years would it take before he encountered another one?

"Master Han, I do have a method here."

Hai Bodong took out a scroll of Pill Recipes and said, "I paid a tremendous price to obtain this pill recipe. The pill is called the Calamity Breaking Pill. It is a Rank 6 pill capable of breaking most seals."

"The Calamity Breaking Pill? This pill can indeed solve your problem, sir. However, it should require Heavenly Flames to refine, shouldn't it?"

Han Feng was somewhat surprised that Hai Bodong had managed to obtain such a rare Rank 6 pill recipe.

"Master Han knows of this pill?"

Delight appeared on Hai Bodong's face. Master Han truly is extraordinary. My hope of breaking this seal has grown even greater.

"I happen to have some clues about Heavenly Flames."

Hai Bodong said, "If Master Han is willing to refine the pill for me, I am willing to offer those clues!"

"Oh?"

Han Feng was surprised. "Fine, as long as the clues you give me are genuine."

Hai Bodong took out a map and handed it to Han Feng.

"Master Han, this is a map I drew while traveling through the Tagor Desert. I marked three places most likely to contain Heavenly Flames."

Han Feng accepted the map and swiftly compared it to the one he had recorded in his mind.

He had already investigated one of the locations, and there had been no Heavenly Flame there. As for the other two...

"Since you know about Heavenly Flames, why didn't you go take them yourself?"

"I originally intended to. A wondrous treasure of heaven and earth like a Heavenly Flame would fetch an astronomical price even if I could not use it myself."

Hai Bodong spoke honestly.

"But look at the state I'm in now, Master Han. How could I possibly have the ability to subdue a Heavenly Flame?"

Han Feng asked curiously, "It seems you had quite a glorious past, sir. How should I address you?"

"Haha, I am Hai Bodong. I was once one of the Top Ten Experts of the Jia Ma Empire."

Hai Bodong stroked his beard, but when he saw Han Feng's utterly calm expression, he coughed awkwardly.

"I also have another title: the Ice Emperor."

Surely he had heard of the Ice Emperor? That was a title that had appeared in the Sect Battle of the Northwest Continent.

Han Feng nodded and smiled cooperatively. "So you are the Ice Emperor."

Never heard of him...

"By the way, Elder Hai, you'll have to provide the medicinal ingredients for this pill yourself."

Hai Bodong's faint smile stiffened slightly.

"Haha, Master Han, I have one more favor to ask."

Han Feng's expression turned strange.

"Elder Hai, don't tell me you want me to gather the medicinal ingredients for you?"

"No, no, no. I understand the rules of alchemists."

Hai Bodong hurriedly waved his hands, his voice troubled. "It's just that one of the ingredients I still lack grows only deep within the Tagor Desert."

"Elder Hai, I have no intention of provoking the Snake People Tribe. I've heard that their queen, Medusa, possesses extraordinary combat strength. She truly cannot be underestimated."

Han Feng shook his head. "This injury of yours was probably inflicted by her as well, wasn't it?"

Hai Bodong nodded. He seemed to recall some shadow from the past, and his expression became rather unpleasant.

"Wait, I have one more thing!"

Hai Bodong suddenly cried out.

He took out a damaged ancient map from his storage ring.

"The reason I was injured by Medusa back then was because of this fragmentary map. Since Medusa took an interest in it, it certainly isn't an ordinary object."

After offering up the fragmentary map, Hai Bodong bowed deeply to Han Feng.

"Master Han, I possess nothing now. If I cannot remove this seal, I fear I will die of old age in this desert. You are the only person in these past decades who has any hope of saving me. I, Hai Bodong, have never lightly owed anyone a favor. If you are willing to lend me a hand, I will remember this kindness for the rest of my life!"

Hai Bodong's plea was so solemn that it was surely the first of its kind in his life.

However, Han Feng stared blankly at the fragmentary map Hai Bodong had handed him. He had frozen in place and heard nothing else.

Isn't this... the fragmentary map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame?