Battle Through the Heavens: Harmony of Flame and Shadow

Mo Tianxing's expression was grim as he looked at Han Feng and Fang Yan. These two were both at the peak of Dou Huang, and Han Feng even had the help of a Heavenly Flame. Even against a Dou Zong, they could hold their own for a time.

Not to mention, there was also the Elder of Eagle Mountain, a four-star Dou Zong. Mo Tianxing's eyes swept over this silent elder, and his heart grew heavier with caution.

Present were also the Golden and Silver Elders, Fan Lao, Su Mei, and many other powerful figures. The Black Emperor Sect couldn't withstand such an encirclement.

"Boom—"

At that moment, while everyone was in a standoff, the stone platform suddenly began to shake violently, as if something was about to burst out from the ground. The Bodhi Transforming Saliva erupted with a strong burst of clarity, making everyone feel refreshed, as though their souls were somewhat elevated.

"Move!"

Someone shouted abruptly, shattering the delicate atmosphere.

Countless greedy Dou Wangs and Dou Huangs made their moves, driven by the immense temptation.

Han Feng's face darkened, and a deep blue flame, like flowing water, surged from his body, exuding a scorching heat.

"A Heavenly Flame!"

At the appearance of the deep blue flame, exclamations arose from the crowd. Previously, it was rumored that the Medicine Emperor Han Feng controlled a Heavenly Flame, though its truth was uncertain.

Today, they unexpectedly witnessed it firsthand, and judging by its form, it was ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame Rankings: the Ocean Heart Flame.

The Ocean Heart Flame turned into a gigantic flame beast, roaring toward the crowd.

"Anyone who contends with me should weigh the consequences."

Han Feng's voice resounded, causing those with weaker strength to hesitate, their greed giving way to fear.

Han Feng's reputation as both a renowned alchemist and a ruthless figure was not to be trifled with. This moment of hesitation indeed deterred eighty percent of them.

Narrowly squinting, Han Feng's gaze swept over Mo Tianxing's group, then suddenly, a terrifying soul force exploded, sweeping towards them.

"Ah—"

"Han Feng, you deserve to die!"

"Han Feng, you scoundrel—"

Han Feng's soul power had reached the peak of the seventh grade, nearing the pinnacle of the mortal realm, which was devastating for these Dou Huangs and could even affect a Dou Zong.

"It's mine!"

Taking advantage of this, Han Feng darted toward the Bodhi Transforming Saliva. As he got closer to the viscous substance, his inner excitement grew.

Just as he was about to seize the Bodhi Transforming Saliva, a strange fluctuation emanated from the underground. However, everyone was so focused on the Bodhi Transforming Saliva that no one noticed.

Han Feng quickly took out a jade box to preserve the Bodhi Transforming Saliva. At that moment, an aura drew his attention. As he glanced at a fragmented map, his expression slightly shifted.

"A Heavenly Flame?"

"Han Feng, die!"

At that moment, angry shouts echoed, a mortal crisis approaching, forcing him to dodge awkwardly.

"Boom—"

In an instant, several terrifying combat techniques landed, completely collapsing the stone platform, leaving the black token and the fragmented map amidst the ruins.

"Han Feng, hand over the Bodhi Transforming Saliva!" Mo Tianxing's cold voice echoed as his eyes turned bloodshot, murderous intent pouring toward Han Feng.

"Han Feng, you can't handle this. Hand it over!" The Elder of Eagle Mountain also approached, his four-star Dou Zong aura exploding, locking onto Han Feng.

Being locked onto by two Dou Zongs made even Han Feng's hairs stand on end. But giving up what he got was impossible.

"Golden and Silver Elders, help me hold off the Elder of Eagle Mountain. I'll give you two Breaking Sect Pills afterward." Han Feng's words made their faces change. As a sixth-grade alchemist, Han Feng's influence was tremendous.

"Move!" Mo Tianxing decisively charged, his three-star Dou Zong aura erupting, making it difficult for everyone to breathe.

"Boom—" Han Feng quickly gathered flames to counter, but the Golden and Silver Elders were faster.

"Golden and Silver Elders, do you really intend to oppose our sect?" Mo Tianxing's face darkened. The Golden and Silver Elders were peak Dou Huangs, their twin minds perfectly in sync, allowing them to battle a low-tier Dou Zong.

With their help, Han Feng might indeed have a chance to escape unscathed.

Moreover...

"Lord Su Mei, Lord Fan Lao, Lord Yuan Yi, Brother Tian Xing, Great Elder Fang Yan, aid me in breaking free, and I will present you with both Emperor Extreme Pills and Breaking Sect Pills."

Han Feng generously threw out benefits to alliance with the Dou Huangs present, particularly targeting the three great elders of the Demon Flame Valley, all peak Dou Huangs.

If these people allied, even Mo Tianxing and Eagle Mountain's elder would have to be cautious.

"Hmph—, Han Feng, old man, your Breaking Sect Pills mean nothing to me. Hand over the Bodhi Transforming Saliva, or when our valley master arrives, it will be your death!"

Su Mei and Yuan Yi were already tempted by Han Feng's offer. Realizing the Bodhi Transforming Saliva was out of their reach, they chose to seize the immediate benefits instead of leaving empty-handed.

However, there were always exceptions. The great elder of the Demon Flame Valley coldly rebuffed, standing shoulder to shoulder with the second and third elders.

Han Feng's face darkened further. He was wary of the Demon Flame Ancestor's strength, but retreat was not an option.

"All of you hold off the Elder of Eagle Mountain and Mo Tianxing. Once I break through, the pills will be yours immediately!" Han Feng promised the Dou Huangs and Dou Wangs surrounding him, knowing this would cost him significantly—months to a year's worth of painstaking refining.

"Move—"

In an instant, the battle erupted.

Mo Tianxing was blocked by the Golden and Silver Elders, and Eagle Mountain's elder was held at bay by Su Mei, Yuan Yi, and three other Dou Huangs. The subordinates of the Black Emperor Sect were also held off by Su Mei's men. A chaotic battle ensued.

While trying to break through, Han Feng was stopped by the three great elders of the Demon Flame Valley, led by Fang Yan.

Vast energies, rippling with spatial distortions, surged from Mo Tianxing, and in a ghostly flash, he appeared before the Golden and Silver Elders.

Scorching forces, like volcanic eruptions, blasted towards the brothers, their fierce blows targeting Mo Tianxing's chest.

The Golden and Silver Elders dodged, pouncing back violently, and the three clashed, energies and shockwaves of immense power rippling from them.

On another side, up against five Dou Huangs, including a peak Dou Huang, Eagle Mountain's elder couldn't break free.

"Today, let's witness the Medicine Emperor's prowess!" Fang Yan sneered, eyes on an 'in a jar' Han Feng. His hands formed seals, and a pale gray flame began to rise within him.

The second and third elders followed, their gray flames intertwining, coalescing above Han Feng's head.

With its emergence, the temperature suddenly spiked, causing distortions in the surrounding space. This flame seemed almost equivalent to a true Heavenly Flame.

"An extraordinary technique of the Demon Flame Valley, but inferior nonetheless," Han Feng remarked, eyes gleaming with amazement and joy. The strange flame felt highly beneficial to the remnant of the Devourer Technique he practiced.

Betraying Yao Chen for the Devourer Technique, he practiced an incomplete version, managed to devour the Ocean Heart Flame, and collected numerous beast flames over the years.

Still, his Devourer Technique remained at the high Huang level, unable to advance to earth class, limiting his progress and further cultivation.

Persistently stuck at the peak of Dou Huang, he knew only by devouring another Heavenly Flame could he break the barrier.

Though rumors of an undiscovered Heavenly Flame at the Jia Nan Academy persisted, and no confirmation had surfaced, this new peculiar flame offered a viable lead.

Yet now was not the time to linger. He must break out swiftly.

The grayish brown flame, akin to a tiny sun, radiated an intense heat, warping space around it.

"Whether it's an ordinary flame, the Medicine Emperor will determine!" Fang Yan sneered, confident in his deadly skill: their fused grayish brown 'pseudo-Heavenly Flame'. Over the years, many peak experts in the Black-Corner Region perished under it.

As the trio's hand signs changed, the grayish brown flame quickly turned into a small flaming bird, rushing at Han Feng.

"Raging Sea Fury!"

Facing the trio's assault, Han Feng's eyes glinted with caution yet disbelief in the flame's parity to Heavenly Flames. Still, three peak Dou Huangs' joint attack warranted vigilance.

The Ocean Heart Flame expanded, forming a vast sea of fire towards the bird. In a blink, as the bird flapped, the blue sea extended, enveloping the grayish brown flaming bird.

Wrapped in flames, Fang Yan's gaze cooled. His hand signs shifted, causing the bird to swell like a balloon, its flames raging against the azure sea.

"Ordinary fire is ordinary fire!" Han Feng smirked confidently, despite being somewhat astonished by the fusion flame. His hand clenched, and the azure sea ignited, bursting into an intense glow.

Momentarily, Fang Yan and the other two stumbled, their qi slightly disrupted.

In that lapse, a clashing sound echoed, and the flaming bird was crushed to fiery remnants, diving into the trio's bodies.

"Ugh—"

As their flames returned, Fang Yan and the others grimaced slightly from the damage sustained during the fiery clash.

"Heavenly Flames reign, others submit!" Fang Yan coldly eyed Han Feng, realizing their flame still paled drastically. Both being fire experts, Han Feng's natural Heavenly Flame gave him an edge.

"Second Elder, Third Elder, no more flame contests! Attack together and capture him!" Fang Yan ordered, the other two nodding, and shot towards Han Feng.

Han Feng's face fell; he could handle their flame, but not a direct three-on-one peak Dou Huang battle. Moreover, his technique couldn't endure prolonged combat!

"Ocean Flame Trident!" Han Feng roared, forming a deep blue trident from flames. Vast Ocean Heart Flame surged, enlarging the weapon to several meters, its heat palpable with roaring waves.

"Die!" Han Feng bellowed, launching the trident like a fiery dragon at the advancing elders.

"Red Sky Palm!" In response, the trio unleashed their attacks, a storm of techniques aimed at Han Feng.

"Boom—"

Within the ruins, an endless roar persisted, flames scorching the ground, causing spatial distortions with each hit. Blistering winds howled in the dark world.

"Run!"

Caught in the crossfire, Dou Lings and Da Dou Shis faced doom, any stray blow potentially fatal. They regretted their haste, realizing they stood no chance amid such power.

As they sprinted away, some wished they had more legs, cursing their greed.

"Spit—these guys, I'll teach them a lesson someday!"

In a secluded corner of the collapsed platform, Jiang Yun and Zi Yan reappeared. Jiang Yun set up a formation to obscure their presence, unnoticed in the chaos.

Zi Yan glared at the combatants, memorizing their faces for payback.

Jiang Yun picked up the map fragment, pleasantly surprised at its easy acquisition, thanks to the Bodhi Transforming Saliva's distraction.

"Alright, don't complain. It'll be over soon," Jiang Yun said, dusting off Zi Yan with a smile. 

(End of chapter)