. Maple City, this majestic city towering over the Black Horn Region, resembles a sleeping giant, emanating a frightening majesty.
Its towering walls, a barrier connecting heaven and earth, are constructed from impenetrable black stone. Weathered by the ravages of time and soaked in blood, they remain unbreakable.
Rows of heavily armored patrolmen stand like statues atop the ramparts, their hands tightly gripped with gleaming blades, their gazes piercing the ground beyond. The sunlight shone off their armor, refracting a dazzling light, as if declaring the city's inviolability.
At the entrance to Maple City, the atmosphere was tense. Rows of fully armed soldiers stood in formation, their expressions solemn and stern, meticulously and rigorously examining everyone entering and leaving. Every subtle movement, every suspicious aura, escaped their keen perception.
Xiao Ling, clad in a black robe, approached the outer city's guard post with ghostly swiftness. Most of these guards were Grand Fighters, and while well-trained, they seemed somewhat inexperienced in front of Xiao Ling.
Xiao Ling skillfully used his surroundings for cover, blending seamlessly into the darkness like a shadow in the night. His steps were as light as a gentle breeze, making no sound.
In the moment the guards were caught off guard, Xiao Ling flashed by, slipping in like a ghost, unnoticed.
At this moment, a soldier frowned, his face filled with doubt as he addressed the commander, "Commander, I just felt a strange air movement. Could someone have sneaked in?"
The commander glared at him fiercely and shouted, "Don't be so suspicious! Where's the person? How could I not sense it? It was just a simple gust of wind. If your wild guesses alarm the higher-ups, watch out for your head!"
The soldier shuddered at the commander's rebuke. He quickly lowered his head and murmured, "Yes, Commander, I was overly suspicious."
Xiao Ling continued deeper, weaving through the narrow, winding streets. The streets were lined with houses of varying heights, some dilapidated, others magnificent.
The crowd bustled, but everyone's face was wary and alert.
Arriving at the entrance to the inner city, the atmosphere became even more solemn. Several Douling-level guards wore serious expressions, their gazes darting back and forth as they scanned every passing figure.
Xiao Ling's gaze sharpened, knowing he wouldn't be able to get through so easily as before. He took a deep breath, and the Dou Qi within him began to slowly circulate.
Suddenly, Xiao Ling's form flashed like lightning, unleashing a lightning bolt of three thousand thunders.
In a flash of lightning, his figure vanished instantly. The Dou Ling guards felt their vision blur, and before they could react, Xiao Ling had vanished from their sight.
"Who are you?" a Dou Ling guard shouted, but all he heard was the empty streets and his own echo.
The other Dou Ling guards glanced around warily, their weapons gripped tighter.
Xiao Ling's figure moved like the wind, weaving through the shadows.
He dodged patrol after patrol, deftly avoiding traps and restrictions.
Further inside, Xiao Ling finally arrived at the exclusive residence of Medicine King Han Feng.
It was an elegant bamboo pavilion, surrounded by flowers and plants, and a variety of rare medicinal herbs exuded a unique fragrance.
The attic's architecture was unique, every detail revealing the owner's refined taste.
Three guards, each at the early stage of Dou Huang's power, patrolled the attic.
Their steps were steady and powerful, their aura powerful yet restrained.
Xiao Ling, perplexed by the sight of these three Dou Huangs, muttered to himself, "These three Dou Huangs are so unfamiliar. They're not familiar faces from the Black Horn Region, and they don't even appear in the original novel. Where did Han Feng find them? They pose no threat to me, just a bunch of ragtag creatures."
Clearing his mind of distractions, Xiao Ling took a deep breath, his gaze firm and focused.
Quickly forming a strange hand seal with both hands, Xiao Ling exerted his full strength to unleash the Dream Realm. Invisible mental waves spread out like ripples.
The three Dou Huang guards felt a surge of daze, their vision blurring and their minds shrouded in a hazy fog.
In their moment of distraction, Xiao Ling seized the opportunity, slipping into the attic like a dark shadow with lightning speed.
Entering the attic, the interior was a truly extraordinary spectacle. Precious calligraphy and paintings adorned the walls, and the bookshelves were filled with ancient tome.
In one corner, a massive alchemy furnace stood, still lingering with a faint lingering heat and the faint aroma of medicinal herbs.
Xiao Ling cautiously explored the interior, each step as light as a feather, fearing to alert Han Feng.
Meanwhile, deep within the attic, Han Feng sat in a secret room, absorbed in researching a mysterious elixir formula.
Xiao Ling's movements were so stealthy that Han Feng was completely unaware of his intrusion.
Xiao Ling quietly approached the room, secretly plotting how he would surprise Han Feng.
However, at that moment, Han Feng suddenly felt a surge of alarm. As a seventh-grade alchemist, his perceptions far surpassed those of ordinary Dou Huang masters, allowing him to detect clues undetectable to ordinary humans.
He jerked his head upwards, a flicker of suspicion and alarm in his eyes.
Han Feng's gaze quickly swept around him, and he growled, "Who dares to trespass here?"
Immediately, he unleashed his soul power, reaching the peak of the Mortal Realm, attempting to detect movement around him.
However, Xiao Ling had already prepared for Han Feng's scrutiny, employing his unique camouflage skills to perfectly conceal his presence.
Han Feng's soul power surged like a tide, but was unable to detect Xiao Ling's presence, forcing him to return empty-handed.
Han Feng frowned, wondering, "Strange! Am I overthinking?"
After a moment's reflection, Han Feng decided to put his doubts aside for now and focus on the elixir formula in hand.
Xiao Ling cautiously approached the secret chamber. Yao Chen's voice echoed through his ring: "Xiao Ling, I'll personally deal with Han Feng later. You stay by, shielding the battle with your soul barrier. Don't let anyone else notice."
Xiao Ling replied softly, "Master Yao, leave it to me. I'll ensure the task is accomplished."
A moment later, Xiao Ling arrived at the door of Han Feng's secret chamber.
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After casting the Dream Spirit, Xiao Ling hypnotized the Dou Wang guarding the secret chamber's entrance, causing him to fall into a coma.
Casually glancing at the jade pendant on the Dou Wang's waist, Xiao Ling said calmly, "Han Beng, isn't this Han Feng's trusted confidant? It seems the person inside this secret chamber is indeed Han Feng himself."
Gathering a surge of Dou Qi in his hand, Xiao Ling punched the secret chamber's door. Simultaneously, Yao Chen's figure emerged from the ring.
With a resounding "boom...", the thick stone wall was easily shattered by Xiao Ling, turning into a pile of debris.
Sensing the violent movement coming from the door of the secret room, Han Feng suddenly looked up. The moment he saw Yao Chen, his face suddenly changed, his eyes widened, full of fear, and he said in a trembling voice: "Teacher, you haven't dissipated yet!"
Looking at his former beloved disciple in front of him, Yao Chen's eyes widened with anger, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Han Feng, you traitor, you colluded with the Soul Palace for the sake of the Burning Art and murdered your master. Today is the day you die!"
Han Feng snorted coldly, his face full of His muscles twitched as he roared fiercely, "Teacher, don't blame me. It's clearly you who's jealous of my talent. You don't practice the Burning Technique yourself, yet you don't want to pass this peerless technique on to me. You deserve to die."
As he spoke, he turned his vicious gaze towards Xiao Ling behind Yao Chen. He suddenly sensed a familiar aura from Xiao Ling, which was similar to the half of the Burning Technique he had practiced, yet far more complete and powerful. He instantly became even more furious, his facial features contorted beyond recognition as he roared,
"How could this kid's Burning Technique be so complete and profound? It must be you, old man, being partial to me!"
"Humph, this is your new disciple? You actually passed the Burning Technique to a piece of trash from the Northwest Continent, but not to someone with such outstanding talent like me. My talent is much higher than yours, but you are blind!"
Yao Chen shouted angrily: "Han Feng, you ungrateful thing, how can you compare with Xiao Ling's character! He is honest, kind, and hardworking, but you are not upright and full of evil thoughts! You colluded with the Soul Palace and did something that is intolerable to heaven!"
Han Feng looked panicked, then pretended to be calm, and said stubbornly: "Humph, so what? If it weren't for the help of the Soul Palace, how could I have achieved what I have today!"
Yao Chen's eyes were cold, and he said in a cold voice: "You are an ungrateful person. "Your evil disciple who has colluded with the Soul Palace will only lead you to eternal damnation!"
Han Feng laughed wildly, and the laughter was sharp and piercing, as if it was going to break through the shackles of the secret room: "Hahahaha, teacher, you are just a remnant soul now, and you still dare to speak so arrogantly here. Today, it is not certain who will live and who will die! I want to see what your remnant soul can do to me!"
Yao Chen stopped talking nonsense, and with a wave of his hands, the bone spirit cold fire instantly rose from his palms. The white flames jumped, emitting a heart-pounding terrifying temperature and extremely cold ice. The flames were like a ferocious beast, with bared fangs and claws, as if to burn all the evil in the world to ashes.
The moment Han Feng saw the Bone Spirit Cold Fire, eagerness and greed flashed in his eyes. He thought to himself, "If I can devour this Bone Spirit Cold Fire, my Burning Art will surely rise to a higher rank. Breaking through to Dou Zong and Dou Zun will no longer be a problem, and I won't be trapped in this Dou Huang realm!"
But he quickly concealed his desire. With a wave of his hands, a blue Sea Heart Flame blazed before him. He proudly boasted to Yao Chen, "Teacher, look! Even after leaving you, I've still been able to obtain the Strange Fire. This proves my talent far surpasses yours!"
Yao Chen flashed and charged at Han Feng like a ghost, shouting, "Han Feng, prepare to die!"
Unwilling to be outdone, Han Feng met Yao Chen. The two collided instantly, flames intertwining and Dou Qi surging.
The chamber was instantly filled with white and blue light. The shockwaves from the powerful collision caused deep cracks in the surrounding walls, and the ground shook violently, sending sand and rocks cascading down.
"Boom!" A tremendous roar echoed through the secret room, and the entire chamber seemed to be collapsing.
Han Feng, fending off Yao Chen's attacks, panted and cursed, "Teacher, you're courting death! I will never lose to you!"
Yao Chen sneered, "Han Feng, you've committed countless evil deeds, unforgivable by Heaven! Today is your end!"
With that, the power of the Bone Spirit Cold Fire intensified again. The white flames instantly transformed into a fiery dragon, swooping down upon Han Feng with bared fangs and claws.
Han Feng screamed in agony, "No! Impossible! How could a mere remnant of your soul possess such powerful spiritual power?"
Fear and despair filled Han Feng's face, and sweat streamed down his face. His previous arrogance had long since vanished.
Yao Chen sternly shouted, "Han Feng, you evil creature! Today, I will make you pay!"
Han Feng's fighting spirit gradually subsided, and the glow of the Sea Heart Flame grew fainter, like a candle in the wind.
He struggled frantically, crying, "Teacher, spare me! I was wrong!"
Yao Chen remained unmoved, intensifying his attacks.
Just as Han Feng was about to collapse, he suddenly pulled a black token from his bosom and shouted, "Teacher, if you don't let me go, I will use this token to contact Soul Palace's Guardian Xuan. And then you'll all be in trouble!"
"Teacher, you don't want to be discovered by the Soul Palace, do you?"
Yao Chen roared. "You despicable villain, you think the Soul Palace can save you?"
Xiao Ling, standing nearby, wasn't worried; instead, he felt secretly delighted. He thought to himself, "This Guardian Xuan is only a Dou Zong. If he could give me a Dou Zong soul, I'd be happy too. Now that he has no body, he can be directly absorbed by the Ten Thousand Souls Banner."
A flicker of determination flashed in Yao Chen's eyes, and the power of the Bone Spirit Cold Fire instantly increased to its maximum. The powerful flames rushed towards Han Feng.
The flames, like a flash of white lightning, instantly engulfed Han Feng.
Han Feng screamed in despair, "No!"
He tried to crush the black token in his hand, but he couldn't muster the strength.
Finally, Han Feng was hit by Yao Chen's powerful force and fell to the ground, dying.
His body was charred black and exuded a pungent smell. The once gorgeous dark blue robe was already in tatters.
Yao Chen floated forward and snatched the black token.
Activating his fighting spirit, he struck Han Feng's body into a bloody mist with a single palm.
With his body destroyed, Han Feng's soul body instantly turned into a stream of white light, trying to escape.
Yao Chen stretched out his hand and beckoned, and powerful soul power instantly surged out, and he grasped Han Feng's soul body tightly in his hand.
Releasing a layer of bone spirit cold fire, sealing Han Feng's soul, Yao Chen said coldly: "Traitor, do you think you can threaten your master with the Soul Palace? You are just a mere Soul Palace guardian. I will capture every one of them."
(End of this chapter)