The next morning, Medusa and Cai'er continued to go out to gather herbs. Their harvest yesterday was not good, as they had only found one sixth-tier medicinal herb. Today, they were prepared to redouble their efforts.
Han Feng practiced his Dou Skills in the courtyard for a while, trying to recapture his old feeling.
After everyone else had begun their cultivation, he left the courtyard alone and walked down a forest path.
"The residence that Elder Su mentioned should be this one, right?"
Han Feng arrived at a small courtyard hidden in the mountains and knocked on the door.
After more than ten seconds, the sound of light footsteps came from within the courtyard.
Creak.
A beautiful young girl opened the main door.
"Excuse me, who are you looking for?"
Han Feng was taken aback.
"I am Han Feng. I have come to visit Elder Shi on the word of Great Elder Su Qian."
"Please come in."
The young girl stepped aside. After Han Feng entered, she closed the main door again.
Leading Han Feng to a pavilion in the courtyard, the young girl brought tea.
"Please wait a moment. I will go and inform my master."
The young girl turned and left with quiet steps.
Han Feng looked at the young girl's back and, for some reason, felt a sense of "tranquility."
After waiting for about ten minutes, he had already finished a cup of tea. Han Feng finally saw a kind-faced monk slowly walking into the pavilion, supported by the young girl.
"Elder Han."
The monk saluted Han Feng, and Han Feng stood up to return the gesture.
"Elder Shi."
Han Feng was a little surprised. This Elder Shi was actually a monk.
"I've made a fool of myself in front of you, Elder Han."
Elder Shi's body seemed to be in serious trouble. He even needed to be supported for ordinary walking, and his movements as he sat down now were also very careful.
"Not at all," Han Feng said with a kind smile.
"I apologize. This poor monk has not left my home for a long time and is a bit out of touch with the news of the Inner Academy. May I ask for Elder Han's great name?"
"I am Han Feng, a seventh-grade alchemist. I heard about Elder Shi's situation from Elder Su Qian. If you don't mind, Elder, I can diagnose you."
Hearing that Han Feng was a seventh-grade alchemist, a trace of clarity flashed in Shi Yuan's cloudy eyes.
"Then I will have to trouble you, Elder Han."
Han Feng reached out and placed his finger on Shi Yuan's somewhat withered wrist.
His soul power probed out, and Han Feng's brow furrowed.
Seeing this, the young girl standing on the side couldn't help but feel her heart rise in her throat. On the contrary, Elder Shi Yuan remained kind-faced, as if he didn't care at all.
"It must have been difficult for you to hold on until now, Elder Shi."
Han Feng withdrew his hand, feeling a bit emotional.
From a preliminary judgment, eighty percent of the life force in the other party's body was already gone, and there was something suspected to be demonic qi corroding his meridians.
If not for the fact that the other party had the foundation of a Dou Ancestor, in this situation, he would probably have already fainted.
"Elder Han need not be so emotional. This poor monk is already used to it," Shi Yuan said with a smile.
He had long been prepared. Although he was struggling now, it was only to seize that slim chance.
"How did you receive this injury, Elder Shi?" Han Feng asked.
Shi Yuan did not explain directly but seemed to be lost in memory instead.
"Does Elder Han know where this poor monk came from?"
Han Feng thought for a moment and said tentatively, "Could it be the Eastern Xuan Continent?"
Shi Yuan's expression was a little surprised.
"I didn't expect Elder Han to know."
Han Feng smiled. "I have been to the Eastern Xuan Continent before. Buddhism is prevalent there, so I had this guess."
Shi Yuan nodded.
"My injury, speaking of which, is related to the Black Abyss of the Eastern Xuan Continent."
"The Black Abyss?"
Han Feng's heart stirred. He saw Elder Shi continue, "The Black Abyss is a forbidden land for humans. An unimaginable great war once broke out there, and it is said to be related to the ancient Dou Gods."
"Elder Han should have heard of the dark races, right?"
"Yes."
"The dark races were born from the Black Abyss. They are born with a strange kind of Dou Qi that possesses extremely powerful might. The people of the Eastern Xuan Continent call it, demonic qi."
"This poor monk's injury was left by the dark races."
After hearing this, Han Feng also roughly understood.
"So, Elder Shi's injury was sustained on the Eastern Xuan Continent."
"No."
A subtle change began to appear in Shi Yuan's expression.
"This injury was sustained in the Black-Corner Region."
Han Feng was taken aback.
"So Elder Shi went to such great lengths to say this."
Shi Yuan nodded.
"For the dark races to appear on the Northwest Continent is by no means an ordinary matter."
Han Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, lost in thought.
"That dark race creature in the Black-Corner Region, was it dealt with by you, Elder Shi?" Han Feng suddenly asked.
Shi Yuan nodded.
"I risked my old life to barely erase it."
The young girl on the side should be hearing this for the first time. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her eye sockets turned red.
"Elder Han, can you save my master?"
Han Feng gave the young girl a reassuring smile and continued to ask Shi Yuan, "I've heard that you and the headmaster are friends, Elder Shi. Could he not solve your problem?"
Shi Yuan shook his head. "Headmaster Mang has already helped a lot. Without him, this poor monk might have died a few years ago."
"Is he helpless against the demonic qi?"
"Yes, the demonic qi is very difficult to deal with. In a situation like this poor monk's, unless it's some powerful spiritual object of heaven and earth, there is no other way."
A light flashed in Han Feng's eyes. He said without changing his expression, "Even the Heavenly Flame in the Inner Academy can't eliminate the demonic qi?"
Elder Shi did not notice Han Feng's trick at all and said frankly, "Although the Fallen Heart Flame is powerful, the demonic qi in this poor monk's body requires exquisite flame control to be removed. Otherwise, it would burn this poor monk to ashes."
"You could just find someone to refine the Heavenly Flame."
"How could it be that easy? Refining a Heavenly Flame is extremely dangerous. If it were to cause someone else to lose their life, wouldn't it be this poor monk's fault?"
Han Feng smiled. "I'm afraid you're worrying unnecessarily, Elder Shi. If there were an opportunity to refine a Heavenly Flame, I don't know how many people would be willing to rush forward."
"Hehe, the Fallen Heart Flame is the foundation of the Inner Academy's establishment. The reason Headmaster Mang chose this place to build the academy back then was because he valued this Heavenly Flame," Elder Shi said. "So, the qualification to refine it is only for the elders of this academy. If an outsider were to refine it, then wouldn't the Fallen Heart Flame be lost?"
Han Feng's mood was exceptionally relaxed at this moment, because he had long had a way to treat Elder Shi.
To have also gotten some information about the Heavenly Flame was an unexpected joy.
"Then it seems that the strength of this academy's elders is insufficient, to have let you suffer for so many years, Elder Shi," Han Feng joked.
Shi Yuan also smiled upon hearing this.
But the next second, he could no longer smile.
He saw a scorching flame suddenly rise in the hand of the Han Feng before him. It rolled like an ocean wave, sending out ripples.
"A Heavenly Flame!!!"
Shi Yuan could no longer remain calm, his face pale with shock.
The Heavenly Flame before him was not just a simple spiritual object of heaven and earth, but also his hope for survival.
Under the azure light of the flame, Han Feng's face was so gentle and kind.
"Elder Shi, when shall we begin the treatment?" Han Feng asked with a smile.