Soul Hall (Part One)

Standing atop pill clouds, holding a Grade Eight spiritual pill in his palm, he spoke with a gentle smile.

"I am Han Feng, the current Pavilion Master of Starfall Pavilion."

The sudden voice instantly silenced the discussions of all the cultivators gathered below the Heavenly Star Mountain Range. Countless people stared in astonishment at the man who had teleported over in a single step and appeared at the Four Pavilions Assembly venue. Faced with this unexpected arrival, many were utterly confused about what was happening.

"The Pavilion Master of Starfall Pavilion? Isn't Starfall Pavilion's Pavilion Master Venerable Feng? Who is this man?" Some cultivators who had arrived from elsewhere tilted their heads, their faces filled with confusion.

Hearing the question, an elderly man who seemed eager to show off his knowledge excitedly explained, "You don't know this, do you? Starfall Pavilion was actually founded by two Dou Venerate experts. One was Venerable Feng, Feng Xian, Starfall Pavilion's Pavilion Master who handled matters in public. The other was Venerable Yao, Yao Chen, who had once made a name for himself throughout the Central Plains and forcefully claimed the championship of the Pill Tower's Pill Convention!"

Gasping sounds rang out one after another upon hearing the old man's explanation.

"The Pill Tower Pill Convention champion! That's incredible!"

"Eh? That's not right. Didn't you say Venerable Yao was called Yao Chen? Isn't he called Han Feng?" someone asked after spotting the inconsistency.

The know-it-all old man revealed a meaningful smile that seemed to say, "You don't understand," and said, "Don't rush, I'm not finished. Although Venerable Yao founded Starfall Pavilion with Venerable Feng, he devoted himself to the study of alchemy and rarely showed himself. However, he took in a disciple, and that disciple was this Han Feng. But it was said that Venerable Yao suddenly vanished without a trace over a decade ago. The one who inherited Venerable Yao's title and legacy was his disciple, Han Feng. After Venerable Yao disappeared, Han Feng displayed extraordinary talent in alchemy and refined many pills for Starfall Pavilion's disciples to use, so the disciples of Starfall Pavilion all called him Venerable Yao."

"In truth, there had long been rumors that Venerable Feng intended to step down and seek out his missing old friend, Yao Chen. This Four Pavilions Assembly was actually the inauguration ceremony for Venerable Yao Han Feng to announce his appointment as the Pavilion Master of Starfall Pavilion."

Hearing this, everyone in the Heavenly Star Mountain Range finally understood. So that was what had happened.

The last person to appear naturally drew the attention of everyone present. Not to mention that Han Feng's entrance had been exceptionally flashy, arriving alongside the completion of a Grade Eight pill. It was simply unmatched.

When Han Feng appeared with that ever-gentle smile on his face, Venerable Lei and the other two did not look particularly pleased.

The three had long heard that Venerable Feng intended to leave Starfall Pavilion to search for his missing old friend. They had thought that Starfall Pavilion would be leaderless and without a Dou Venerate, perhaps giving them the chance to turn four pavilions into three and divide up Starfall Pavilion's territory. That was why they had planned to use this opportunity to investigate.

Yet they had never expected that Han Feng had not only broken through to the Dou Venerate realm, but had also successfully refined a Grade Eight pill, becoming a Grade Eight alchemist!

If he had merely been a one-star Dou Venerate, the three Venerables would not have taken him seriously. After all, even a single minor level within the Dou Venerate realm represented an enormous gap; a difference of two stars meant there was no fight to speak of. But a Grade Eight alchemist was different. Everyone knew that alchemists were like hornets' nests. Once provoked, if they drew the retaliation of a Grade Eight alchemist, even the Four Pavilions would find it difficult to bear.

The three Venerables exchanged glances and silently put away all their little schemes. Han Feng had deliberately completed the pill at this moment precisely to intimidate everyone, and clearly, he had achieved his goal.

Thus, the Four Pavilions Assembly came to a simple and smooth conclusion amid this undercurrent-laden peace.

Inside the Pavilion Master's residence of Starfall Pavilion, Han Feng, the current Pavilion Master, sat crouched before a tea table. Flames danced beneath the tea stove, while a wisp of sea-blue Heavenly Flame slowly burned. It was the Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. A Grade Eight alchemist personally tended the stove, using Heavenly Flame to brew tea with famed spring water.

A moment later, mist curled through the air and the fragrance of tea drifted about. The entire scene became exceedingly quiet, so quiet that only the crackling of the flames could be heard.

Han Feng looked out the window, admiring Starfall Pavilion's dreamlike scenery.

"Jie jie jie." Suddenly, a strange laugh came from behind Han Feng. "Venerable Yao, you're using that old fellow's name. Aren't you afraid it'll shorten your life? Jie jie jie."

A black shadow flashed over like a ghost. In an instant, a black-robed figure wearing a hood appeared behind Han Feng.

Sensing the newcomer, Han Feng gently set down his teacup and slowly rose. He clasped his hands, bowed slightly toward the visitor, and said, "This nephew, Han Feng, greets Martial Uncle Mu Gu."

"Jie jie jie." Hearing this, the black-robed man slowly removed his hood and revealed his true face. It was none other than Soul Hall's Elder, Elder Mu Gu. "I thought that after becoming 'Venerable Yao,' you had forgotten this martial uncle of yours."

Han Feng hurriedly shook his head and said softly, "How would Han Feng dare? Han Feng only has what he has today thanks to Martial Uncle and Soul Hall. I would never dare forget."

Seeing Han Feng's respectful appearance, Mu Gu could not help but sneer. "Heh, you really know how to put on an act. You look so respectable, but if people learned that you colluded with a Soul Hall Elder to harm your own master, once such an unforgivable deed was exposed, forget that old fellow Feng Xian. Xuan Yi, one of the Pill Tower's giants, Fairy Qing of the Flower Sect—those old flames of Yao Chen's would probably seek revenge against you at any cost."

Hearing Elder Mu Gu's threatening words, Han Feng instead calmed down. He slowly straightened up, a chilling smile on his lips. "Martial Uncle, we are tied together. If word gets out, there will likewise be nowhere in heaven or earth for you to hide."

Han Feng smiled faintly. "Back then, you took his Bone Chilling Flame and Black Demon Cauldron. If this matter gets out, they will probably come looking for you first... Elder Mu Gu."

Mu Gu's face immediately darkened upon hearing Han Feng's words. Han Feng's Sea Heart Flame sat on the table, but Mu Gu did not covet it because he was noble. It was because he already possessed the Bone Chilling Flame, ranked eleventh on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Without a special cultivation method, a person could only contain one Heavenly Flame within their body. Otherwise, the Heavenly Flames would clash, causing their body to explode and perish.

"Hmph!" Mu Gu snorted coldly and did not continue the topic. He tossed a token engraved with the character "Soul" and a soul jade slip onto the table, then said, "The Hall Master knows that you have become a Grade Eight alchemist. He wants you to cultivate diligently. He hopes that at the upcoming Pill Convention, you can accompany me to the Pill Tower, claim the championship, and subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame. That jade slip contains a soul cultivation technique that can increase your soul power. It is a gift from Soul Hall."

"Also, the Hall Master hopes you will turn Starfall Pavilion into a branch hall of Soul Hall." With that, Elder Mu Gu flicked his sleeve and vanished. He had merely come to deliver the Hall Master's order.