The Flame Clan Arrives

"Since I happen to be making a trip to the Yao Clan, you two can come with me!"

Old Man Shen Nong looked at the two who had finished dividing the gold coins and said with a laugh.

"Then we'll trouble you, Senior Shen Nong!"

"It's nothing!"

Old Man Shen Nong waved his hand, and a green Medicine Cauldron appeared before him. With a leap, he landed atop it. He reached out toward Yao Feng and the other, and a miraculous force lifted Yao Feng into the air. Before Yao Feng could react, the scenery around him rapidly shifted. In the blink of an eye, they had arrived before the Space Gate. Old Man Shen Nong had no intention of stopping. He took Yao Feng and Yao Ling straight through the Space Gate and flew toward the depths of the Yao Clan.

"C-Captain, did someone just go in!?"

A guard at the Space Gate asked the man beside him in a panic.

"Don't panic, don't panic. Didn't you see him riding a Medicine Cauldron? That's Old Man Shen Nong's trademark. Besides, the Yao Son was with him. We couldn't stop them even if we wanted to."

The captain replied calmly. He had guarded the Space Gate for decades and had long grown accustomed to Old Man Shen Nong's manner of arrival.

"Captain, is something major happening today? It would be one thing for people from the Thunder Clan and Flame Clan to come, but now even Old Man Shen Nong, who's usually nowhere to be found, has appeared."

"You'd better ask less about clan affairs. If you leak any clan secrets, ten heads won't be enough for you to lose."

"Yes, yes, Captain, you're right. I was being too immature..."

Medicine King Peak was where the sect's main hall stood. Upon the towering mountain that pierced the clouds, exquisitely carved buildings lay half-hidden amid the mist, like an earthly paradise.

At that moment, several old men in the Yao Clan's main hall at the summit were drinking and chatting merrily. Young faces sat behind each of them. The most eye-catching among them was a young girl dressed in a pale red gown, her cheeks concealed behind a veil. Her long red hair draped over her shoulders, her bright eyes cool and tranquil, while a burning flame mark rested upon her forehead.

Beside her sat a handsome young man in white with red hair. Even his pupils carried a faint red hue, giving him an unusual air.

Before them stood an old man in purple. Though he had a grizzled beard, his face was ruddy with health, without the slightest trace of age.

On the other side sat an old man in black with a square face and an imposing expression.

Behind him was another young disciple, with short dark-purple hair and a lightning mark on his forehead. His features looked somewhat honest and simple.

Yao Dan sat in the seat of honor, chatting cheerfully with the two old men.

"Well, well, you all arrived quite early!"

Before he even entered the hall, Old Man Shen Nong's voice rang out. In the blink of an eye, he appeared within the hall with Yao Feng and Yao Ling.

"Hehe, you old fellow, you're actually still alive." Yao Dan laughed heartily and teased him. Yet when he saw Yao Feng and Yao Ling appear alongside Old Man Shen Nong, curiosity flickered in his eyes.

"Hahaha, if you're still alive, how could I possibly die?"

Old Man Shen Nong laughed in response. As though he had noticed the doubt in Yao Dan's eyes, he explained,

"This kid helped me out in Yaotian City. Later, he ran into a little trouble, so I brought them back along the way."

"Greetings, Father!"

"Greetings, Clan Chief!"

Seeing Yao Dan seated above them in the hall, Yao Feng and Yao Ling bowed.

"Good, good. Feng'er, Yao Ling, these two are Elder Huo Yao of the Flame Clan and Elder Lei Mie."

"This junior, Yao Feng, greets Elder Huo Yao and Elder Lei Mie."

Yao Feng and Yao Ling bowed to the two old men together.

"Alright, come sit beside me." Yao Dan waved his hand. A maid hurriedly added another chair behind Yao Dan's seat. Together with the chair already there, it was just enough for Yao Feng and Yao Ling.

Yao Feng led Yao Ling past him. A fatherly smile flashed through Yao Dan's eyes before his expression instantly returned to calm.

"Old Man Shen Nong, it has been a long time."

"I have long admired your name!"

Huo Yao and Lei Mie clasped their fists toward Old Man Shen Nong in greeting.

"You are too courteous." Old Man Shen Nong chuckled, sat down at an empty table prepared for him, and reached for a grape, popping it into his mouth.

"Clan Chief Yao, your son has already reached the level of a two-star Dou Zhe at such a young age. Such talent is truly enviable!"

The old man called Huo Yao spoke with a smile. The young man behind him also looked curiously at Yao Feng. As for the girl in the red dress, her eyes remained as calm as ever, as though nothing interested her.

"Not bad, not bad. Now that the materials needed to construct the Spatial Array have been gathered, we should settle this matter without delay. The Soul Clan is ambitious, and if our three clans join forces, we will be able to support one another promptly should anything unforeseen happen in the future."

Yao Dan changed the subject. Though the three clans were now allied, one could know a person's face but not their heart. Moreover, the Eight Ancient Clans had fought one another for thousands of years, and their grudges could not simply be set aside. Naturally, he could not let them learn of Yao Feng's talent, lest something unexpected occur.

"Clan Chief Yao, rest assured. We came precisely to build a Spatial Array with the Yao Clan. The Soul Clan is growing powerful. If our three clans remain together in the future, we can look after one another." Huo Yao said with a genial smile.

So the Thunder, Flame, and Yao Clans had formed an alliance this early. Unfortunately, when the Yao Clan was destroyed, Nihility Devouring Flame sealed off the entire clan. Not even a single message got out, much less any chance for aid from the other two clans to arrive. But since I have come to this world, I will never allow the tragedy to repeat itself.

Seated behind Yao Dan, Yao Feng thought to himself.

"Clan Chief Yao, you know that our Thunder Clan is fond of battle. Since your son is here, why not let these two juniors have a match? If your son wins, then in the future alliance, my Thunder Clan will follow the Yao Clan's lead."

Lei Mie chuckled, speaking with considerable confidence.

It seems the Thunder Clan has ambitions as well. Seeing the youth behind Lei Mie, Yao Feng's heart tightened. The youth's aura was far stronger than his own.

"Oh? Elder Lei Mie is certainly in the mood for some amusement."

Yao Dan smiled, though his expression was inwardly unpleasant. With his cultivation, he could naturally tell that the youth behind Lei Mie was already a seven-star Dou Zhe. Although Yao Feng had somehow broken through to the two-star level, even a difference of one star was critical for descendants of great clans, much less a gap of five stars. Due to the special nature of the Yao Clan's cultivation methods, their early cultivation speed lagged behind others. Yet Lei Mie knew this and still insisted on doing this. It seemed the Thunder Clan's ambitions were not small either.

"Clan Chief Yao, Lei Dong is one year older than your son and is currently a seven-star Dou Zhe. However, I can have him suppress his cultivation. What do you think?"

Lei Mie said slyly. If Yao Dan agreed to suppress Lei Dong's cultivation, the Yao Clan would likely lose face. But if it was not suppressed and Yao Feng lost, they would lose face all the same.

"Elder Lei Mie must be joking. It is merely a spar. There is no need to suppress anyone's cultivation."

Seeing Yao Dan's awkward predicament, Yao Feng stood up directly and looked at Lei Mie as he spoke. He had not expected someone who looked so upright to be so adept at scheming.

"Good, good. Nephew Yao Feng has spirit. Lei Dong, then go and seek some instruction."

Lei Mie's expression shifted slightly before he spoke with a smile.

"Feng'er..."

As Yao Feng passed by Yao Dan, he spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Don't worry, Father!"