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After Yao Chen collected the souls of Han Feng and Protector Jiu, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian arrived before him.

"Teacher, how do you intend to deal with those two?"

Seeing that Yao Chen had not destroyed them outright but had merely imprisoned them, the two asked out of curiosity.

Yao Chen fell into deep thought for a moment. Although Han Feng had been seduced by the Soul Hall, he had raised him from childhood and nurtured him like a son, so a trace of reluctance inevitably stirred in his heart.

"This wicked disciple Han Feng, his character is corrupt; he was seduced by the Soul Hall into killing his master and deserves to be hacked into ten thousand pieces. But..."

A look of difficulty appeared on Yao Chen's face, and Xiao Yan, seeing his thoughts from the side, spoke up.

"Teacher, for a beast like Han Feng, death would be letting him off too easily. Why not strip away his memories and cultivation, and let him experience the life of a street peddler, struggling for his livelihood every day, suffering for the rest of his life?"

Seeing the tension on Yao Chen's face ease, he continued.

"Teacher, what do you think of this punishment?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Yao Chen understood that his disciple was providing him with a way out, and he replied.

"Little Yanzi, you are truly worthy of being my disciple. Such a punishment is indeed letting him off lightly, but very well, let it be done according to your wishes."

Xiao Yan raised his hands and bowed to Yao Chen: "Understood, Teacher."

Yao Chen then released Han Feng's soul from the jade bottle, and the first thing Han Feng did upon seeing Yao Chen was to beg for mercy.

"Master, I was wrong! I beg you, old man, to show mercy and spare my dog's life."

Seeing the calm expression on Han Feng's face, Yao Chen suddenly furrowed his brows and said to Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian.

"Little Yanzi, you and the girl go find a household first; I will come once I have finished dealing with this."

Xiao Yan agreed, then took Xiao Yi Xian and flew toward Maple City to search.

Watching them fly into the distance, Yao Chen sternly addressed Han Feng regarding his past incomprehension.

"Wicked disciple! Why were you in such a hurry? Everything I possess would have been yours sooner or later."

Hearing Yao Chen's words, Han Feng lowered his head in shame.

"Teacher, I was wrong. At the time, people from the Soul Hall found me and ordered me to assassinate you. At first, I firmly refused them, but later they kept sending me cultivation techniques, Dou Skills, and training resources, claiming they wanted nothing in return, so I accepted them. I never expected them to poison the scrolls; that poison was colorless and odorless, affecting only my soul. They said if I didn't obey them, I would be utterly destroyed, body and soul. That is why this disciple committed such an act of betraying his master and ancestors."

Yao Chen remained expressionless, merely stroking his beard as he said.

"When the Soul Hall came to find you back then, why didn't you notify me immediately? Had I known, I would certainly have helped you detoxify."

"At that time, you and Venerable Feng had gone out to explore ruins, and this disciple truly could not find anyone. Furthermore, they said that if I spoke of the poison to any outsider, they would trigger it immediately, and I would be destroyed, body and soul, in an instant."

Han Feng spoke through a flood of snot and tears.

"So it was this old man's fault all those years ago!"

Yao Chen turned his back and laughed toward the sky, though a single tear remained at the corner of his eye.

A moment later, Yao Chen used his Heavenly Flame to evaporate the tear, turned around, and said to Han Feng.

"Since the matter has already occurred, I will not dwell on the past. Han Feng, considering that I raised you from childhood and that you were later coerced into committing this act of betraying your master and ancestors..."

At these words, Han Feng's eyes filled with gratitude; he knew he would not have to die.

"But while the death penalty may be avoided, the living penalty is unavoidable! After all, this was an act of master-killing; I shall punish you by making you live as an ordinary person from now on."

Upon hearing this, Han Feng immediately kowtowed violently to Yao Chen, thanking his master repeatedly.

"Do not be happy too soon; I am going to erase your memories and abolish your cultivation."

Before Han Feng could react, Yao Chen reached out with a hand wreathed in the Dream-Illusion Blazing Flame, placing it atop his head to hypnotize the depths of his soul.

"Do not blame me for being heartless; I fear that if I continue to speak with you like this, I will be unable to bring myself to do it. From now on, live your life properly."

In the blink of an eye, Han Feng's soul had been successfully hypnotized.

Yao Chen then continued to use the Dream-Illusion Blazing Flame to abolish all of Han Feng's cultivation, and he also reclaimed his Heavenly Flame, the Sea Heart Flame.

Looking at Han Feng's current state, Yao Chen placed him into a jade bottle.

"As for you, scum of the Soul Hall, I will use you once I have gathered the materials for the Heavenly Demon Puppet."

Yao Chen cursed at Protector Jiu, who was in another jade bottle.

At this moment, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian sent a signal to Yao Chen, indicating they had found a suitable candidate.

Yao Chen immediately used the Flying Thunder God to teleport over.

"Teacher, what do you think of this family?"

Xiao Yan pointed to the blacksmith shop in front of them.

"The man of this house just had a dispute with Han Feng's subordinates while forging iron; he was beaten severely and is on the verge of death."

"He has five children who need someone to look after them, and his wife left him years ago because she was bullied and looked down on him for having no prospects."

Yao Chen looked at the middle-aged man lying on the sickbed and nodded.

"Very well, this will do. Let this wicked disciple experience the consequences of his own sins."

Saying this, Yao Chen placed Han Feng's soul into the middle-aged man's body and healed his injuries.

"Little Yanzi, girl, let us leave this place; let him suffer the rest on his own."

Yao Chen took Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian and departed, though they were unaware that he had secretly tucked a pouch of gold coins under the pillow.

"Wicked disciple, I hope you can turn over a new leaf this time."

Yao Chen and Xiao Yan were now preparing to head toward Jia Nan Academy, bound for the Fallen Heart Flame.

When they were still an hour away from Jia Nan Academy, Yao Chen and the others came to a halt.

"Little Yan, lass, your cultivation levels are currently too high; Jia Nan Academy will not accept you. This master must place a seal on your cultivation to lower you to the level of a three-star Dou Ling, so that you may easily enter the academy."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian both nodded in agreement.

"Little Yan, as for the Heavenly Flame on that wicked disciple Han Feng, I will bestow it upon you once this matter concludes. And lass, I have found the medicinal pill to thoroughly transform your constitution. During this time, stay here with Little Yan and cultivate diligently; do not be mischievous. Once this Fallen Heart Flame erupts, you must notify this master immediately."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian's eyes were filled with reluctance to part with Yao Chen.

"Understood, Teacher, please begin. We will certainly not fail your expectations."

With that, Yao Chen began to employ the technique to suppress their cultivation.

Yao Chen's expression was solemn as his hands rapidly formed seals, mysterious rays of light swirling at his fingertips.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian stood before him, their expressions tense yet filled with trust.

As Yao Chen chanted incantations, the light flew toward the two like ropes, instantly enveloping them.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian felt a powerful force invade their bodies, and the circulation of their Dou Qi became sluggish.

The light gradually receded, and the aura emanating from the two plummeted.