The Saintess of the mighty Dragon Profound Sect was now on her knees, begging for mercy.
Everyone's feelings were tangled and complicated.
"The Dragon Profound Sect has truly brought disaster upon itself this time!"
"Though it's a Supreme-level power, if an Immortal flies into a rage, it'll be reduced to dust!"
Many people whispered among themselves.
The Dragon Profound Sect was powerful, but this time it had kicked an iron plate.
Huo Ling'er took a deep breath and slowly came back to herself. It all felt like a dream.
Looking at the powerful figures kneeling before her... many of them had once been people the Fire Kingdom couldn't afford to offend.
All of this was because of Senior Li.
She glanced at Long Ziyin, a flash of coldness in her eyes.
"Disperse your cultivation and await judgment!"
She didn't care how Long Ziyin had treated her just now, but she would never forget that the other woman had even looked down on Senior Li.
That was unforgivable!
At her words, Long Ziyin's face changed dramatically.
She was actually being ordered to cripple her own cultivation...
Her body trembled as she wrestled with herself.
Once her cultivation was gone, she would become an ordinary mortal.
For a Saintess of a lofty Supreme-level power, that was simply unacceptable.
But if she didn't cripple her cultivation...
"An Immortal's wrath means even Supremes will die."
At that moment, Ling Xian reminded her, his expression complicated.
An Immortal!
Long Ziyin was plunged into despair.
She gave a bitter laugh and took out the Spirit Severing Nail!
Then she drove it straight into her own body!
She crippled her own cultivation!
Everyone sighed.
"Get out of here—"
Huo Ling'er spoke. Long Ziyin retreated with a bitter laugh and left.
"Princess Ling'er, since that senior has intervened, our Taiyan Holy Land will absolutely not interfere here!"
Ling Xian bowed to Huo Ling'er and said, "We'll take our leave."
Qing Luo of the Immortal Music Pavilion also bowed and bade them farewell.
In an instant, many of the people around them departed.
With a being beyond the Supreme level having intervened, no one else could lay claim to this place.
Some powers stayed behind to watch. They didn't dare compete for it, but they still wanted to see what was inside the Demon Venerable's coffin.
Huo Ling'er and the others turned toward the Demon Venerable's coffin.
When they reached it, they saw that it contained only a square block of wood.
A black flame burned atop it!
"That's Lihuo Supreme's Supreme Magic Treasure—the Heavenly Fire Divine Town!"
Someone cried out in shock.
"The Heavenly Fire Divine Town is said to have been made from ten-thousand-year-old Mystic Fire Wood, with the Dao of Lihuo Supreme's entire life forged into it!"
"Obtaining it is almost enough to create another Supreme."
"But this item has already been invaded by demonic qi. Unless an Immortal intervenes, anyone who uses it will die!"
Everyone discussed it among themselves.
"Former Sect Master, what do you think?"
Unsure what to do, Huo Ling'er turned to Yu Qishui.
Yu Qishui considered for a moment, then said, "Senior Li bestowed the Scroll upon us and sent us here. I'm afraid this is exactly the item he wanted!"
"We must bring it back to Senior Li!"
Huo Ling'er nodded.
She immediately stepped forward and picked up the block of wood.
"Be careful. The demonic qi in it is extremely powerful. It may well be what caused Lihuo Supreme to become a demon. It could corrupt anyone at any moment!"
An old man warned her.
Huo Ling'er shook her head. "This thing wouldn't dare cause trouble."
At her words, everyone froze for a moment, then understood. The terrifying Scroll was still with Huo Ling'er. The demonic qi could only shrink back and stay hidden—how would it dare act up?
"Let's go!"
Huo Ling'er said.
Soon, Huo Ling'er and the others left the Secret Realm.
They first returned to the Lihuo Sect.
Yu Qishui and the others were worried someone might follow them. If anyone disturbed Senior Li, it would be an unforgivable crime.
They returned to the Lihuo Sect and waited.
At the same time, news of the Lihuo Supreme Secret Realm appearing in the Cangli Mountain Range spread rapidly throughout the Southern Domain.
When people learned that Lihuo Supreme had turned into a Demon Venerable and killed Venerable Gu Tuoya of the Taiyan Holy Land, forcing even the Taiyan Holy Land's Supreme to retreat, the entire Southern Domain was thrown into an uproar.
The Taiyan Holy Land was one of the top powers in the entire Southern Domain.
It had been founded by an Immortal!
Moreover, sects like that usually had ways to contact their Old Ancestors in the Immortal Realm.
Even with such overwhelming power, they had been subdued by a Demon Venerable...
But that terrifying Demon Venerable had ultimately been killed by a painting.
The news sent shock waves across the entire Southern Domain.
"Could there still be an Immortal in our Southern Domain?!"
"Certainly. It's said that some Earth Immortals who haven't yet reached the height of their power will continue cultivating in seclusion in the mortal world. It must be someone like that."
"But no one has ever taken that final step onto the Immortal Path in a thousand years."
The news spread like wildfire.
Huo Ling'er and the Lihuo Sect were thrust into the eye of the storm.
The Southern Domain's gaze converged on the Southern Domain!
Deep within the Fire Kingdom's imperial palace.
"Your Majesty, that wretched woman must have killed Mingxuan and Consort Xuan! You must avenge them and kill her!"
A beautiful woman was weeping and pleading before the Fire Emperor!
The Fire Emperor wore a bright yellow robe, but his face was as gloomy as could be.
"Silence!"
The Fire Emperor roared. "Are you trying to get me killed?! There's a being beyond the Supreme level standing behind her!"
The beautiful woman instantly fell silent.
"Attendants, take my imperial decree and bring Princess Ling'er back. I will appoint her the next empress of the Fire Kingdom!"
The Fire Emperor's gaze was grave.
The beautiful woman was struck as if by lightning...
Some time had passed.
Yu Qishui and the others finally confirmed that no one was spying on them nearby.
In truth, they had been worrying needlessly. Who would dare spy on an Immortal? That would only bring disaster upon their sect!
They made their way toward the Small Mountain Village.
Before long, they finally entered the Small Mountain Village.
The villagers were almost used to seeing them now, and greeted them as they passed.
When they reached the Small Courtyard, Mu Qianning stepped forward and knocked on the door.
"Qian Ning has come to pay her respects to Senior Li."
Her voice rang out, and Li Fan's calm voice came from inside the Small Courtyard. "Come in."
They entered and saw Li Fan beneath the peach tree, holding Little White as he basked in the sun.
He looked utterly relaxed.
Their feelings were complicated. Perhaps this was what an unparalleled powerhouse was like: he had killed a Demon Venerable, yet could still calmly bask in the sun...
He didn't take the matter to heart at all.
"Thank you for the painting, Senior Li!"
Huo Ling'er stepped forward, gratitude filling her beautiful eyes. "Ling'er has finished using it. I've brought it back to you, and I've also brought you this item."
She respectfully offered him the Scroll along with the Heavenly Fire Divine Town.
Li Fan smiled. "The painting was a gift to you. You don't need to return it."
"But this block of wood is rather interesting."
He reached out and took it. It felt surprisingly heavy in his hand, and a hint of coolness lingered against his palm.
"Mm. It's much better than ordinary firewood."
Li Fan offered his assessment.
Everyone's expressions grew complicated. This was an item with which a Supreme had proven the Dao, yet in Senior Li's eyes, it was only a little better than firewood...
Still, they had to admit that this was an absolutely "fair" assessment!
After all, the person before them even used Mystic Fire Wood as firewood to cook Cat Food for his pet.
Holding the block of wood, Li Fan wondered if these people had heard from the villagers that he was good at carving, and had brought him a piece of wood for that reason.
His carving skills were absolutely perfect, so perhaps this Wood Carving could be worth a little money?
Thinking of how poor Mu Qianning and the others were, and how pitiful Huo Ling'er's background was, Li Fan let out a soft sigh and said,
"Since you know I'm somewhat skilled at this, and you've brought me the materials, I'll help you out this once."
Li Fan spoke, then went inside and took out his Engraving Knife.
It was black, with only its edge a pale gold.
Needless to say, the system had given this to Li Fan too.
Li Fan held the block of wood in one hand and the knife in the other, and began carving.
Yu Qishui and the others were overjoyed.
It seemed they had guessed Senior Li's intentions correctly after all. The Heavenly Fire Divine Town really was useful to him.
When they saw wood shavings fly as Li Fan carved, they were even more astonished.
"What kind of Engraving Knife is that... It can cut through ten-thousand-year-old Mystic Fire Wood so easily?"
"Unbelievable... I can clearly feel that what the knife is carving is the Great Dao itself, the very fabric of heaven and earth!"
Yu Qishui, Wei Yushan, and the others were all stunned.
Mu Qianning and Huo Ling'er were even more entranced. As Senior Li carved, he seemed to have fallen into a state of Dao, like an Immortal Venerable who had transcended the nine heavens, with nothing capable of disturbing his thoughts.
Beneath Li Fan's Engraving Knife, the rough shape of a palace began to emerge.
The shape gradually filled out, with carved dragons and painted phoenixes, elaborate halls and winding corridors. Though the palace was only palm-sized, it radiated an air of majestic grandeur!
It looked like an Immortal Palace!
At the end, Li Fan carved two small characters onto it: "Liatian."
It had been made from Mystic Fire Wood. "Li" represented fire, while "Tian" meant lofty heights.
The palace would make for a good omen in the Fire Kingdom, and Huo Ling'er and the others would have an easier time selling it.
After carving the characters, Li Fan gently blew on it, sending the last of the wood shavings away.
The others were utterly shaken by the sight.
They clearly saw that the wooden palace, already extraordinary in its own right, had become filled with abundant Dao Rhyme and surrounded by immortal aura the moment Li Fan blew on it!
What Li Fan had blown out... was a breath of immortal qi!
A single breath of immortal qi had transformed a Wood Carving that was already a treasure into something beyond imagining!
Li Fan turned around and saw their expressions. A little pride crept into his heart.
His carving skills really were pretty good.
He handed the Wood Carving to Huo Ling'er and said, "Here, take it."
Huo Ling'er stared at him in a daze. "Y-you're giving it to me?"
Li Fan looked puzzled. "You don't want it?"
Only then did Huo Ling'er come back to herself. Overcome with gratitude, she said, "I do, I do... I'm so unworthy. You've gone to all this trouble for me, Senior!"
She accepted it in both hands.
At that moment, she could clearly feel that after Senior Li's carving, all the demonic qi in the Wood Carving had vanished without a trace!
Moreover, the palace was filled with rich Dao Rhyme, accompanied by the rules of the Immortal Dao.
She felt that with a single thought, she could attune herself to the palace. She could also sense the many wondrous uses it held.
This was undoubtedly an invincible Immortal Treasure.
It could establish a power on the level of a Holy Land!
"There's some scrap left over. I'll make you another little trinket."
Li Fan smiled and used up the remaining wood as well. Before long, two Phoenix Hairpins had taken shape.
"Here, it's just right. One for each of you."
Li Fan handed them to Mu Qianning and Huo Ling'er.
The hairpins were exquisitely crafted, with an ethereal immortal aura. The two beautiful girls immediately grew delighted and thrilled.
"Thank you, Senior!"
"Thank you, Senior!"
The two were so excited that their hearts bloomed with joy.
Yu Qishui and Wei Yushan were also immensely gratified as they watched this scene.
This time, the treasure Senior Li had bestowed was absolutely something that could accompany the two girls throughout their cultivation for the rest of their lives.
"Senior, your kindness and virtue are so great that we truly don't know how to repay you..."
Yu Qishui could not help speaking up.
Li Fan merely shook his head and said, "There's no need for that. They were just small matters I could handle with a lift of my hand. I've stayed in this mountain village for so long, and your coming here is fate as well."
After thinking for a moment, he continued, "If you don't mind telling me some strange and interesting tales from the cultivation world, that would be nice too."
Although he was still an ordinary mortal, once he completed the system's missions in the future, he would still have a chance to set foot on the path of cultivation.
Although Yu Qishui and the others were paupers at the very fringes of the cultivation world, their experience was certainly greater than that of an ordinary mortal like him.
It would be good to hear some knowledge in advance and lay a foundation.
Upon hearing this, Yu Qishui and the others instantly grew solemn, understanding dawning in their hearts!
Senior Li was finally assigning them a task!
Strange and interesting tales!
What level would strange and interesting tales capable of attracting Senior Li's interest have to be? At the very least, something like a Demon Venerable emerging into the world.
It seemed Senior Li was also keeping an eye on something, which was why he wanted to learn about the happenings throughout the Profound Heaven Realm.
And they were Senior Li's eyes and ears.
"We will definitely go through fire and water for Senior Li!"
Yu Qishui declared on the spot!
"Ling'er will gladly give her all, even if it means her liver and brain are strewn across the ground!"
Huo Ling'er also spoke solemnly.
Li Fan, however, felt a toothache coming on. Was this really necessary? I only asked them to tell me some gossip when they had nothing else to do... Truly speechless.
"All right, you all may go. I should head up the mountain to paint as well."
Li Fan spoke up. It was almost sunset, and he planned to continue painting the evening sky.
The group respectfully took their leave.
Back at the Lihuo Sect.
"This is an unparalleled treasure!"
Huo Ling'er took out the wood carving.
Yu Qishui and the others all looked at it solemnly.
Huo Ling'er said, "The demonic aura has been completely removed. Moreover, the rumbling of the Great Dao can be heard within it!"
With a thought from her, the entire wooden carving suddenly resounded with the Great Dao. In the next moment, the group was overcome by a wave of dizziness, and they unexpectedly appeared inside a vast palace!
High above the palace hung a plaque bearing the words: "Li Tian"!
"Have we entered the palace Senior Li created?"
The group was dumbfounded.
"This item is practically a divine object. The Li Tian Divine Palace, once enlarged, becomes a Daoist ground for cultivation when one enters it. The speed of cultivation will multiply!"
Yu Qishui spoke gravely.
"Everyone, I think Senior Li bestowed this item upon us precisely so that we could grow faster and establish a force capable of doing something for Senior Li!"
Huo Ling'er said, "At the very least, it must reach the level of a sacred ground!"
The group all nodded solemnly.
"The essence of the fire Dao left behind by Lihuo Supreme has already been purified by Senior Li and remains within this palace. Let us cultivate together and break through quickly!"
Huo Ling'er spoke.
She harbored no selfish intentions. Although Li Fan had said that the palace was for her, she understood even more clearly that it belonged to all of them.
She was merely its custodian.
The group all nodded solemnly.
Huo Ling'er's heart became one with the palace. The cultivation power left behind by Lihuo Supreme, hidden within it, surfaced in its entirety and supplied the four of them in their cultivation!
Within the main hall, the sound of the Great Dao rumbled. One day of cultivation for them was equal to a hundred years!
Time flew by.
Several days later, outside the Lihuo Sect.
"The Fire Emperor's Edict has arrived! Third Princess Huo Ling'er, come out to receive the edict!"
A loud shout rang out, shaking the mountains!
Before you continue