Storming the Grandmaster Mansion

"How was it? How was it?"

The moment they left the imperial palace, Su Youqian asked Liu Chengfeng impatiently. It was clear he was terrified of the Empress of Qiuchi, much like a mouse encountering a cat.

The usually unrestrained Su Youqian had been perfectly well-behaved while inside the palace.

"It's done."

"Done? What conditions did my aunt set?"

Su Youqian knew the Empress of Qiuchi too well; she would never release the hawk until she saw the rabbit.

"Retrieve the Li Fire."

"Retrieve the Li Fire—"

Su Youqian let out a sharp cry, drawing the sound out long.

"Do you even know what the Li Fire is?"

"Isn't it just the flames from the Li Fire River?"

Liu Chengfeng certainly didn't know what the Li Fire was, but he remained confident in his heart.

"Brother, it's not that simple. To put it nicely, the Li Fire is the flames within the Li Fire River. To put it bluntly, the Li Fire is the residual flame of Divine General Lihuo."

"It's impossible to retrieve."

Su Youqian couldn't help but smile bitterly and shake his head.

"You're finished. If you can't retrieve the Li Fire and return empty-handed, my aunt will surely have your head."

"Has no one ever been able to retrieve it?"

"I might as well tell you: since the founding of the Qiuchi Kingdom, no one has ever been able to retrieve it. These are the residual flames of Divine General Lihuo; although they have never stopped flowing, they cannot be captured."

Su Youqian explained the situation regarding the Li Fire to Liu Chengfeng.

The so-called Li Fire was what Divine General Lihuo had created back in the day by using his Lihuo Divine Flame to draw down heavenly thunder and condense earthly fire.

Eventually, when the Spirit Vein Dojo was constructed, a small amount of Lihuo Divine Flame remained underground, flowing ceaselessly and even seeping into the Li Fire River.

However, no one in the Qiuchi Kingdom had ever seen the Li Fire, nor had anyone ever managed to extract it from the magma or the fire-attribute spiritual energy.

The Empress of Qiuchi ordering Liu Chengfeng to retrieve the Li Fire was, quite simply, an impossible task.

"Once the Ancestral Hall is activated and the Li Fire appears, the people from the Grandmaster Mansion will definitely try to fish it out. The Li Fire is of great benefit to the Grand Marshal's White Tiger Six Divisions Technique and the White Tiger Heart Method, so he won't miss this opportunity either."

"It seems obtaining the Li Fire won't be easy."

No matter how difficult the Li Fire was, Liu Chengfeng had to retrieve it.

"It's more than just difficult. Even if you actually manage to obtain the Li Fire, the Grandmaster Mansion might not let you leave."

"Forget it, I'll retrieve it first and worry about the rest later."

Time was running out, and Liu Chengfeng dashed toward the Grandmaster Mansion.

"You're really going to do it?"

Su Youqian hurriedly followed.

"Otherwise? Is there a better way?"

Su Youqian couldn't help but pull a long face; he didn't have a better plan either. If he had, he wouldn't have needed to beg his aunt.

"Senior, I wish to retrieve some Li Fire. Could you lend me a hand?"

On the way to the Grandmaster Mansion, Liu Chengfeng sought help from the Stone Lion.

"Hmph, you want to drink spiritual energy."

Deep in his mind, the Stone Lion set terms for Liu Chengfeng.

"Fine, once this is over, I will channel spiritual energy for you, Senior."

Liu Chengfeng agreed without hesitation.

"Bullshit. You aren't royalty, so your word doesn't count. Do you think I need you to forcibly channel spiritual energy?"

The Stone Lion was under a restriction and could not absorb spiritual energy by force; otherwise, he would have done so long ago.

"I can help you."

The Ancient Tree spoke up timidly. The Stone Lion remained silent, ignoring Liu Chengfeng.

Liu Chengfeng felt a surge of joy, hurriedly thanked the Ancient Tree, and sprinted toward the Grandmaster Mansion.

As Liu Chengfeng rushed toward the Grandmaster Mansion, the Empress of Qiuchi also fulfilled her promise.

With the Empress of Qiuchi's permission, Lady Chen launched an attack on the Young Sect Leader of the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect.

"On the territory of the Qiuchi Kingdom, how can I allow the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect to run wild?"

At the Cloud Rising Sect, Lady Chen rose into the sky. With a flick of her sleeves, a violent gale erupted, roaring like a dragon as it charged toward Ma Xian, the Young Sect Leader of the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect.

"Old Matriarch, I am acting under the decree of the Divine Dynasty to apprehend a criminal."

Standing atop his Golden Gourd, Ma Xian was startled. He swung his blade upward, dragging a thousand-meter-long blade light that sliced a mountain peak clean off.

Ma Xian, a young genius, made even talents like Ye Yitian pale in comparison before him.

However, compared to Lady Chen, there was still a significant gap; after a few exchanges, he fell into a disadvantageous position.

"Get down—"

Lady Chen's long sleeves billowed, and the sleeve blades surged like a torrential river, knocking Ma Xian down from the high sky.

Unable to best her, Ma Xian turned and fled upon seeing the situation. Lady Chen did not pursue, remaining to guard the Cloud Rising Sect.

The intense battle was heart-stopping, the pressure of the Great Dao leaving the Cloud Rising Sect gasping for air. Ma Xian's defeat and retreat allowed everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

Liu Chengfeng and Su Youqian arrived at the Grandmaster Mansion but did not immediately force their way in, standing on high ground outside to observe the mansion from afar.

Looking from a distance, they saw that a formation had already been set up over the Li Fire River.

There were three bridges over the Li Fire River; Ye Yitian and Ye Yiqing each occupied one, while Cheng Nan held the middle bridge.

They had set up a formation beneath their feet to draw magma from the Li Fire River, pulling it out and separating it through the formation.

The separated magma then surged toward Cheng Nan, who used the Fire Controlling and Flame Separating Technique to meticulously sift through the molten flow.

In front of Cheng Nan sat a Crystal Ancient Urn, only the size of a human head, with a formation inscribed inside.

This urn was used to contain the Li Fire.

However, despite their painstaking efforts to strip the magma, Ye Yitian and the others had yet to sift out any Li Fire.

The experts of the Grandmaster Mansion all knew that the magma flowing from the Ancestral Hall must contain residual flames of Li Fire.

But trying to extract Li Fire from such a vast amount of magma was even more difficult than sifting gold dust from a sea of sand.

"Cheng Nan is truly the best alchemist in the Qiuchi Kingdom; his mastery of the Fire Controlling and Flame Separating Technique is superb."

They watched Ye Yitian and the others working busily from afar.

Ye Yitian and his sister performed the rough selection of the magma, and then Cheng Nan conducted the fine sifting; there was no doubt that Cheng Nan's fire-controlling skills surpassed theirs.

When it came to controlling fire and separating flames, no matter the type of god-cultivator, they could not compare to alchemists or sword-smiths.

They were the true kings of fire control.

Even Ye Ziyang had entrusted the heavy responsibility of extracting the Li Fire to Cheng Nan.

While Ye Yitian and the others were busy, the experts of the Grandmaster Mansion guarded the four directions to prevent interference. Aside from them, Pan Nuolin of the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect was watching the spectacle from the side.

Liu Chengfeng opened his Sky Eye to look at the Li Fire River; through the Sky Eye, he could see the Li Fire that others could not.

Within the magma of the Li Fire River, there was indeed Li Fire, as thin as a strand of hair and fused with the magma, making it impossible to separate.

"How do we take it now? Not to mention how to extract the Li Fire, just the fact that the Grandmaster Mansion is guarding it means we can't get to it."

Looking at the scene before him, Su Youqian was at a loss.

"I'm going."

Liu Chengfeng charged directly into the Grandmaster Mansion. The mansion instantly filled with a murderous aura as the experts of the Grandmaster Mansion drew their blades and swords, locking their eyes on Liu Chengfeng.

At this moment, one order from the city would have sent the experts of the Grandmaster Mansion swarming to kill him.

"Everyone, harmony brings wealth, harmony brings wealth. We are also here under the orders of His Majesty."

Su Youqian hurriedly followed behind Liu Chengfeng.

Su Youqian's words caused the experts of the Grandmaster Mansion to refrain from acting rashly.

"What do you want?"

Ye Yitian stopped his work and glared at Liu Chengfeng.

"To take the Li Fire."

Liu Chengfeng said this with his mouth, but his eyes were fixed on Pan Nuolin.

"Take the Li Fire? Just you? Only those with peerless and profound fire-controlling techniques can extract Li Fire. Are you capable of that?"

Cheng Nan sneered, also stopping his work, his gaze filled with malice.

"Are you capable? If you were, you wouldn't need me to open the Thunder Fire Divine Tablet."

"You—"

Cheng Nan was so angry his face turned ugly; bringing up that matter was like picking at his scars.

"The Li Fire is not for you to take. Leave at once."

Ye Yiqing felt uneasy; in her heart, she actually felt that Liu Chengfeng might be able to obtain the Li Fire.

Liu Chengfeng ignored Ye Yiqing and kept his eyes on Pan Nuolin.

"You want to apprehend me."

Pan Nuolin had been watching the fun, but seeing Liu Chengfeng target him, he burst into laughter.

"There is a path to heaven, yet you refuse to take it; there is no door to hell, yet you insist on breaking in."

"I was merely a guest, but since you insist on throwing your life away, fine. I will take you down first, then apologize to Senior Ye."

"Today, I will kill you first, then take the Li Fire."

Liu Chengfeng let out a loud shout, the Thunder Sound Staff in his hand.

Since the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect threatened him with the Cloud Rising Sect, he would slaughter the disciples of the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect.

"How arrogant. I shall sever your limbs and drag you to the Divine Dynasty for a living sacrifice."

Pan Nuolin shouted, his body like an arrow and his sword like lightning, charging toward Liu Chengfeng. His sword transformed into electric light, splitting into four to strike at Liu Chengfeng's limbs.

Pan Nuolin was at the first stage of the Connection Realm and practiced the Lightning Chasing Heart Method; when unleashed, his body crackled with electric light.

The Light Chasing Sword struck out, lightning chasing the light with incredible speed.

Both Pan Nuolin's heart method and techniques were of the low-grade Sage Scroll tier.

His speed reached twenty thousand li per day, and his strength was two hundred thousand jin.

The fast and fierce sword strike aimed straight for the limbs, and by the time the sound rang out, it had already reached before Liu Chengfeng.

What a fast sword, what a fierce sword.

"Break—"

Liu Chengfeng let out a long howl, the five strikes of Earth Splitting unleashed, blood energy erupting. As his heart method circulated, one strike followed another in rapid succession, the five strikes flowing as one.

The five strikes formed a single entity, exploding with five times the power. As they crashed down, the air shattered and the Thunder Sound Staff roared like a thunderclap.

Staff smashed against sword, one strike chasing the next with a series of thunderous bangs, sparks scattering everywhere.

Liu Chengfeng pushed his speed and strength to the limit, each strike stacking crazily until his power matched Pan Nuolin's, his speed not a whit inferior.

In the blink of an eye, the two sides exchanged over twenty moves. Pan Nuolin's sword was like flowing light, his sword momentum ferocious, yet he was still suppressed by Liu Chengfeng's staff momentum.

This scene left the experts of the Grandmaster Mansion dumbfounded; usually, a Treasure Mountain expert would only be crushed when facing a Connection Realm expert.

Yet now, Liu Chengfeng and Pan Nuolin were locked in an inseparable battle, which was simply outrageous.

Liu Chengfeng's disadvantage lay in his weapon; although the Thunder Sound Staff was good, it was far inferior to the Light Chasing Sword forged from Vein Gold.

After twenty-some moves, the Thunder Sound Staff was covered in nicks and scratches; if the fight continued, it would surely snap.

"Die—"

Liu Chengfeng let out a long roar, the Golden Dragon Heart Method circulating to its limit. With the Dragon Scale phenomenon protecting his body, his sword-body glowed brilliantly.

Following his roar, he spat out sword qi, the sword radiance flaring. The Thunder Sound Staff in his hand smashed out wildly, the Mountain Staff, River Staff, and Thunder Staff techniques pouring down.

Pan Nuolin was shocked, his sword splitting into hundreds, forming layers of sword curtains as Origin Mud emerged to protect his entire body.

The Flying Rosy Cloud Gold Sword Technique and the Nine Water Sword Pellet shot out instantly, piercing through the sword curtain. By the time the sword momentum ended, the Thunder Staff had already rained down crazily, smashing heavily onto Pan Nuolin.

Even with the protection of the Origin Mud, Pan Nuolin was still sent flying by the Thunder Sound Staff, blood spraying wildly.

"I am here to kill you—"

Liu Chengfeng chased after him with an arrow-step, opening his mouth to howl, the Nine Water Sword Pellet once again turning into a silver sword of death.

"Stop your slaughter—"

Ye Yiqing, who was closest, shouted and moved to intervene.

Ye Yiqing's sword rose like a peacock spreading its tail, flames surging up like a firebird soaring into the sky. With a sweep of her sword screen, she blocked the silver sword and shattered it to the ground.

The Nine Water silver sword was unique; even when shattered to the ground, it would return to Liu Chengfeng's body.

Also at the first stage of the Connection Realm, Ye Yiqing was far stronger than Pan Nuolin.

The Ye Clan's Fierce Beast Heart Method was a mid-grade Sage Scroll, and the Four Fierce Beasts Technique was a high-grade Sage Scroll.

Even though the Peacock Sword in Ye Yiqing's hand was only forged from low-grade Vein Gold, it was still enough to hold the upper hand over Pan Nuolin.

Ye Yiqing's Four Fierce Beasts Technique specialized in the Fierce Bird, with extremely potent fire, which was why a single sword strike could shatter the silver sword.

"Come again—"

Liu Chengfeng roared, his Blood Sea churning, divine blood raging, blood energy endless, and spiritual energy whistling without cease.

His body was like a Treasure Mountain, his aura like a mad dragon, his sword-body glowing, sword radiance erupting.

The two innate heart methods of the Blood Sea and Treasure Mountain circulated to their limit, making Liu Chengfeng's blood energy and physical body go berserk.

As his blood energy raged, his strength soared; as his physical body went berserk, his sword-body bloomed.

Following his long howl, the air shattered incessantly, cold light rising everywhere as one silver sword after another shot out in an endless stream, thundering toward Ye Yiqing.

"Break—"

Ye Yiqing was startled and cried out, her sword like a peacock spreading its tail. One sword strike followed another, each as heavy as a mountain, flames surging.

Ye Yiqing had already built a sword-mountain, and as the flames erupted, it was like a volcano exploding.

She intended to use this sword-mountain to block the silver swords that Liu Chengfeng was bombarding her with in an endless torrent.