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

When he left Maple City, he gave the steward a blueprint and ordered him to lead people in rebuilding the place, tearing down the previous structures to construct a new Bamboo House.

First, it was to bid farewell to the traces left behind by his former self. Second, he had his own aesthetic preferences.

Everyone breathed in the faint bamboo fragrance lingering in the air and happily entered the Bamboo House.

There were slightly too many people brought back this time, but fortunately, there were enough rooms.

The women went upstairs to choose their rooms, while Han Feng headed to the tea room and turned the mechanism.

Beneath the tea room was an underground secret chamber built according to his requirements.

It could be used to store treasures or conduct research.

Since the secret chamber was newly built, some formations still needed to be inscribed around it before it could be put into use.

Han Feng merely gave it a preliminary inspection. After confirming that there were no issues with the construction quality, he returned to the tea room.

"My lord, you've returned."

As the wind stirred the bamboo forest, Han Lie, commander of the Maple Forest Guard, appeared at the doorway and dropped to one knee before Han Feng.

This man was Han Feng's trusted confidant. He possessed the cultivation of a Dou Wang, handled matters with experience and prudence, and had rendered countless meritorious services. Han Feng had bestowed the Han surname upon him as a sign of his trust.

"Gather all the elders tomorrow. I have something to announce."

"Yes."

Han Lie accepted the order.

"My lord, Elder Liu heard that you had returned and wishes to pay you a visit."

"Tomorrow."

Han Feng waved a hand, and Han Lie tactfully withdrew.

Inside the tea room, Han Feng spread a large sheet of paper across the table.

Over the next while, he needed to carefully consider the rules of the competition and the rewards.

If he held the competition sooner, he could establish contact with the people from Jia Nan Academy sooner as well.

Early the next morning, Han Feng left the Bamboo House and headed for the City Lord's Mansion.

Maple City's elders had been waiting there since early morning.

Han Feng had just returned, so they had to demonstrate a diligent and conscientious attitude.

"Greetings, City Lord."

As Han Feng entered the council hall, the elders all rose and bowed.

In Maple City, Han Feng was the greatest authority.

These so-called elders were merely holders of high-ranking positions. Overall, they were no different from the stewards; all of them assisted Han Feng in governing Maple City.

"Everyone, it has been a long time. Have you all been well?"

The elders exchanged glances, then replied in unison, "Thank you for your concern, City Lord. All is well."

Han Feng smiled, then took out a proposal and handed it to the elders for them to read.

"I intend to hold an alchemist competition. Take a look at the general proposal."

The elders were startled and began reading the words on the pages.

An alchemist competition in the Black Corner Region?

Young alchemists were required to participate.

The champion's reward: a Sixth Grade Dou Ling Pill recipe.

A Dou Ling Pill!

The City Lord was actually offering such a generous reward.

The elders' thoughts immediately began racing.

Han Feng tapped the table, drawing everyone's attention back.

"As for how exactly the competition will be carried out, all of you elders will need to put more thought into arranging it. I believe you can see how seriously I take this competition."

"Elder Liu, you will be responsible for this matter."

"Yes. This subordinate will certainly not disappoint the City Lord's expectations."

After saying that, Han Feng left the hall, leaving the elders behind to discuss the matter.

When he arrived at his office, Elder Liu followed him in.

"I heard yesterday that you had something to see me about."

Elder Liu nodded repeatedly, then took out several letters.

"Several major factions have sent letters requesting pills from you. They have come several times, and their attitudes have been quite sincere."

Han Feng glanced at the pile of letters on the table. The first one was from the Blood Sect, its envelope embossed with the pattern of a drop of blood.

"They weren't this eager before..."

"Perhaps because the City Lord refined a Rank 7 Pill, they have become even more persistent."

Han Feng recalled the Rank 7 Innate Pill he had refined when he had first transmigrated.

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have nearly forgotten."

Han Feng opened the first letter and read it.

Not only did it contain requests, but it also listed quite a few valuable items. Just as Elder Liu had said, these factions were indeed being sincere.

"I understand. I will handle these letters. Is there anything else?"

"Nothing else. However, City Lord, may I boldly ask what your purpose is in holding this alchemist competition...?"

Han Feng glanced at Elder Liu. The man was slightly bent at the waist, his eyes lowered, not daring to meet Han Feng's gaze.

"Elder Liu, just prepare for it without worry. When it is time for you to know, you will naturally know."

"Yes. Then this subordinate will take his leave."

After assigning the task, Han Feng felt much more relaxed.

That was the benefit of having a faction under his command. He did not need to handle everything personally.

"Han Lie."

"Present!"

Han Lie instantly appeared before Han Feng, dropping to one knee as he awaited Han Feng's orders.

"Keep Elder Liu under surveillance. Remember, do not let him notice."

"My lord, Elder Liu's cultivation is not weak. Ordinary Maple Forest Guard members..."

"That is why I want you to do it personally."

Han Feng looked at Han Lie and spoke each word distinctly.

"Then by your side..."

"Have Han Beng come."

"Yes!"

Han Beng was also a trusted confidant whom Han Feng had granted the Han surname.

However, unlike Han Lie, Han Beng had been raised by Han Feng since childhood.

It was just that the previous Han Feng had been somewhat resistant to the notion of master and disciple, so their relationship had remained one of master and servant.

Before long, Han Beng arrived at Han Feng's side and temporarily took over Han Lie's duties.

"Master."

"You broke through recently?"

Han Feng studied the young man before him and suddenly asked.

"Yes. I just broke through to Seven-star Dou Ling."

"Not bad."

Han Feng offered a word of praise.

To reach the Dou Ling realm at such an age showed that Han Beng's talent was not weak.

He had hope of breaking through to Dou Wang within five years.

Han Feng tossed Han Beng a scroll. "Study it carefully after you return. Do not slack off in your cultivation."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

Han Beng caught the scroll, opened it, and immediately fell to his knees in gratitude.

"You may leave."

Han Feng withdrew his gaze and began examining the letters from those major factions on the table.

Blood Spirit Ganoderma

After roughly skimming through the letters, Han Feng picked out several and tossed all the rest aside.

None of these factions were benevolent, so Han Feng only cared about who offered the highest reward.

Rejecting them all was not an option, at least not for now. It would disrupt the balance of the Black Corner Region and bring trouble upon Maple City.

However, selecting only a few and ignoring the majority would cleverly shift the conflicts among the various factions in the Black Corner Region, making them compete against one another.

This tactic of fanning the flames was old-fashioned, but practical.

Especially for those in positions of power.

Han Feng now stood at the pinnacle of the Black Corner Region's alchemy world. He alone chose others; no one could force him to choose them.

After summoning a steward and ordering him to send the selected letters back to their respective factions, Han Feng turned and entered the cultivation room to begin cultivating.

His Dou Qi cultivation had already reached the peak of Dou Emperor, so there was no need to refine it too meticulously before advancing to Dou Zong.

Soul Power had become Han Feng's primary focus.

After several months of arduous cultivation, Han Feng's Soul Power had successfully touched the barrier of the Spirit Realm.

To outsiders, the progress might have seemed negligible, but any high-level cultivator who had studied soul cultivation would understand how difficult it was.

The Spirit Realm meant that an alchemist could refine Rank 8 Pills and grant them additional spirituality.

In terms of combat strength, the Spirit Realm also meant that a cultivator possessed the means to contend with a Dou Zun expert.

If one even mastered some profound soul techniques, ordinary Dou Zun experts would not be a match for a Spirit Realm cultivator.

From this, one could see just how vast the gap was between Great Perfection of Mortal Realm and the Spirit Realm.

Han Feng attempted to strike at those barriers. Powerful Soul Power spread and surged continuously, shaking the surrounding space.

A quarter of an hour later, Han Feng's face was slightly pale. He changed his hand seals and stopped his attempt to break through.

Naturally, he had not imagined that he could break through to the Spirit Realm right away, but as long as he continued striking the barrier, it would gradually loosen.

The improvement of Soul Power required both the tedious daily accumulation of tiny gains and the fearless resolve to strike at barriers during breakthroughs.

Of course, advancing still required strategy.

Without a soul cultivation technique, one could not even sense the soul energy in heaven and earth, much less accumulate it bit by bit.

And without treasures that nourished the soul, recklessly attempting to break through like this would also leave hidden injuries upon the soul.

Han Feng took out the fifth-grade Spirit Nurturing Liquid Jia Xing Tian had previously given him and drank it in one gulp.

The powerful Medicinal Power of the spiritual liquid quickly began nourishing his soul, soothing the exhaustion from his previous attempt to break through.

It was only because this thing was rare that Han Feng had agreed to refine pills before.

Enjoying the comfortable sensation of his soul being nourished, Han Feng formed the Soul Seal again and began efficiently absorbing the scattered points of soul light between heaven and earth.

Time passed quietly.

In the blink of an eye, the seventh day arrived.