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

Mite'er Family.

Eileen entered the room and took out the fifth-tier Youth-Preserving Pill Han Feng had given her.

Her beauty would never fade, her heart as constant as the sea.

Mr. Han, I'll be able to see you again in this life, won't I?

She smiled faintly, raised her slender neck, and swallowed the pill in one gulp.

(End of Volume One: "Jia Ma Empire")

Black Corner Region

Over the Black Domain Great Plains, a white, two-winged eagle soared through the sky, crossing the strange black grasslands as it flew toward the Black Corner Region.

Everything below exuded an air of desolation. They occasionally passed over a few tribes, but there were pitifully few people within them.

Ye Qingyun looked at the scene below, a chill creeping into her heart.

Just now, she seemed to have seen several people casually slaughtered.

"Strength is the most important thing in the Black Corner Region," Han Feng suddenly said.

"If you dare set foot here without strength, you'll die horribly."

Medusa swept her gaze over the land below, her expression indifferent.

Of everyone present, aside from Han Feng, she was the only one who remained completely calm.

Ye Qingyun took several deep breaths and nodded firmly.

"I'll adapt to this place!"

She spoke earnestly, as though she had made some kind of resolution.

Han Feng smiled. "There's no need to be so serious. As long as you're mentally prepared, that's enough. We probably won't be staying here for long."

Once they reached Jia Nan Academy, things would be much safer there.

The problem Han Feng needed to solve now was simple.

He needed to change his reputation.

All under heaven bustle for profit; all under heaven scramble for gain.

Even Dou Zuns and Dou Saints could not escape the pursuit of fame and fortune.

Once a cultivator gained strength, they had to seek benefits for themselves. Otherwise, what good was great strength if they did not even have money for food?

Once one had money, one naturally also needed fame.

Fame represented status and how others viewed you.

Strength alone was not enough for that.

You had to display it and let others know what you had done.

Of course, the stronger you were, the easier it was to accomplish deeds that shook the world.

Good reputations came from saving the common people and benefiting the world; bad reputations came from destroying continents and plunging living beings into misery.

Whether righteous or evil, the scale of one's reputation depended on the impact of one's deeds.

What Han Feng planned to do next was very simple.

He would hold a grand alchemy competition, inviting all young alchemists to participate. There would be no restrictions on faction or nation, but participants had to be under thirty.

Since it would be held in the Black Corner Region, people from other nations generally would not dare to come. Thus, Han Feng's invitation would naturally be directed at Jia Nan Academy's Alchemy Department.

He would offer generous prizes, then send out invitations specifically for them.

Jia Nan Academy was not an ivory tower that blindly sheltered its students. They often had instructors lead students into the Black Corner Region for training, so the academy would most likely agree to this. At most, they would send a few powerful experts along.

This was an open scheme. He was not afraid that Jia Nan Academy would refuse to come.

After all, if they did not come, it would mean Jia Nan Academy's Alchemy Department was unworthy of its reputation. Its students would not even dare compete with the young alchemists of the Black Corner Region and were nothing but trash.

If this alchemy competition was held successfully, it would also reestablish the standing of Han Feng and Maple City.

They would shift from their former underworld-leaning image to neutrality.

A profession like alchemy was the easiest to remain neutral in, because both righteous and evil factions needed pills, and no one would lightly offend an alchemist.

The Cloud Patterned Eagle flew across the Black Domain Great Plains and arrived at the nearest city.

Black Seal City.

"We'll rest here for today. We've been flying for so many days; everyone is tired."

The dull journey through the air could numb one's spirits, so Han Feng decided to rest briefly in Black Seal City.

He would also take the others around to experience the true atmosphere of the Black Corner Region.

Because of Han Feng's name, Maple City was much safer. Black Seal City, however, was a truly chaotic place.

The Eight Fan Gate, the rulers of this place, were more than happy with the arrangement.

After all, maintaining public order was no small expense. The Jia Ma Empire's annual investment in security for its Holy City was undoubtedly substantial.

Upon entering Black Seal City, they first paid a hefty entrance fee.

Han Feng had no intention of revealing his identity as the Medicine Emperor. He planned to stay the night peacefully before leaving.

The people entering the city alongside them kept sweeping their gazes over Cai'er and Ye Qingyun, while some also stared at Lin Xian'er, Qinglin, and Medusa.

"Bringing his whole family to the Black Corner Region? Is something wrong with that pretty boy's head?"

A bald, burly man carrying a broadsword mocked them with a grin, while the others watched the show in silence.

However, Han Feng ignored them and led the women toward an inn in the city.

"Coward!"

The big man spat on the ground, but did not make a move.

The people beside him were immediately somewhat disappointed. They had hoped to profit from the chaos.

If the big man and that pretty boy ended up mutually wounded, wouldn't those lovely young ladies become theirs?

In the Black Corner Region, cultivation did not represent everything. So long as one used schemes and traps well, it was common for a Dou Zhe to kill a Dou Shi.

In just a few short streets, Han Feng and the others witnessed no fewer than three bloody brawls.

Blades drew blood with every strike. The sounds of metal tearing into flesh and dull blades cracking bone made the women's scalps tingle.

Lin Xian'er tightly clutched Han Feng's hand, while Qinglin clung to Ye Qingyun as well.

Cai'er, however, continued watching one slaughter after another with innocent eyes, seeming rather interested.

"One large suite."

Han Feng arrived at the largest inn in the city and booked a high-class suite.

The clerk glanced at the group behind Han Feng and assigned him the largest room according to their number.

Once they entered the room, Ye Qingyun and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.

What they had seen just now had truly been frightening.

They finally understood what Han Feng had meant when he spoke of the words "Black Corner Region."

They had not felt it before, but now they knew just how chaotic and bloody this place was.

"Scared?"

Han Feng looked at Lin Xian'er and asked with a smile.

"A little."

Lin Xian'er answered honestly.

"The Black Corner Region is like this. It puts the dark side of the Dou Qi Continent on full display, without any attempt to hide it."

Did such things happen in the Jia Ma Empire? Of course they did, but they would not happen openly.

The Black Corner Region merely allowed people to act even more recklessly.

"Sister Cai'er, aren't you afraid?"

Qinglin tugged at Cai'er's skirt and asked timidly.

"Why would I be afraid? What's there to fear?"

Cai'er replied as if it were only natural.

"They're all very weak."

Ye Qingyun and Lin Xian'er exchanged a glance, and each saw something in the other's eyes.

That was right. They were simply not strong enough!

The only two low-level female cultivators in the household who diligently practiced, regardless of age, made an even firmer decision at that moment.

Cultivate diligently!

Medusa jumped onto the table and sat down. Only then could she barely look Cai'er in the eye without having to crane her neck upward.

She gave a cold snort.

Where did you think your strength came from?

Han Feng went downstairs to order some food. After they had eaten, everyone began attending to their own business.

Those who needed to cultivate cultivated, and those who needed to study studied.

Early the next morning, Han Feng rose early and went downstairs to buy breakfast.

On the streets they had passed through earlier, the corpses had already gone cold, and some cleaners were gathering them up.

Han Feng silently glanced at them before withdrawing his gaze.

After returning to the inn and waiting for everyone to finish breakfast, Han Feng led out the Cloud Patterned Eagle and continued on their journey.

After flying for roughly another two and a half days, Han Feng and the others arrived at Maple City.

"We're here."

Han Feng spoke up in reminder as he guided the Cloud Patterned Eagle down.

Maple City

After Han Feng revealed his identity in Maple City, he rode the Cloud Patterned Eagle into the city beneath the awed gazes of the soldiers.

So this is Master's territory?

Ye Qingyun looked around curiously. Whether in terms of urban development or the flow of people, the scene below was far superior to Black Seal City.

It was clean, refreshing, and orderly. Even after flying across more than half the city, they had not seen any slaughter or bloody battles.

Within the Black Corner Region, Maple City was undoubtedly a city that stood apart.

No matter how tyrannical, violent, or lawless one might be, once they entered Maple City, they had to follow the rules.

The [Maple Forest Guard], cultivated by the previous owner of this body at great expense, were all first-rate killers who obeyed orders without question and feared neither life nor death.

They were usually responsible for maintaining public order in the city, while secretly following Han Feng's commands to investigate certain hidden matters.

Maple City was vast. Although Han Feng was its overlord and possessed the highest status and authority, a few parasites would inevitably emerge within the city.

Nothing might be discovered in a short time, but if left unchecked, it would sooner or later lead to disaster.

This time, aside from holding the alchemy competition, Han Feng also intended to properly straighten out Maple City.

The Cloud Patterned Eagle landed amid a bamboo grove. The wind rustled the bamboo leaves with a soft swish.

"Master, it's so beautiful here. Are we going to live here?"

"Mm. From now on, this will be Xian'er's home."

Han Feng looked at the bamboo house before him with satisfaction.