Fighting: I am Han Feng, I respect my teacher

With each strike, the air seemed to be distorted by the heat of the fire, and for a moment, only the clash, booming and roaring of fire filled the world!

Even though everyone around the arena had already retreated a hundred feet away, their skin was still stinging from the scorching heat.

Huo Ling gazed at the figure moving freely through the sea of ​​fire with a complex expression, and murmured to himself, "He... actually managed to force the clan leader to use his true strength?"

Just as the two fiery figures collided again, Han Feng suddenly turned around and slammed his palms together!

"Heartfall - Vermilion Bird Devours the Sun!"

The Fallen Heart Flame and the Void Devouring Flame surged violently within his body, and the two flames merged and erupted in an instant. A vermilion bird that blotted out the sky opened its mouth and spat out, as if it wanted to absorb the flames of the entire world!

A rare look of solemnity appeared in Yan Jin's eyes. He suddenly raised his hand and roared like thunder:

"The Flame God breaks the prison!"

The phantom of the fire lion suddenly transformed into a roaring giant shadow of a fire god, carrying the wrath of heaven and earth and the will of the fire race, to meet the Heaven-Devouring Vermilion Bird!

--boom! ! !

The next moment, the heavens and earth roared!

After a brief flash of light, there was utter silence.

The flames gradually subsided, the shadow of the Vermilion Bird slowly dissipated, and Yan Jin also took a half step back, his expression slightly solemn.

Han Feng stood still, his aura fluctuating slightly, but his eyes remained clear, and his breathing gradually returned to normal as his chest rose and fell.

"Chief Yan Jin, you flatter me."

Yan Jin stared at him for a long time, then suddenly laughed: "What a Vermilion Bird! A seven-star Dou Sheng, yet you can hold your own against my eight-star power... The strange fire on your body is probably more than a fusion of three kinds, isn't it?"

Han Feng smiled without saying a word, only saying, "The path of fire is complex and diverse. Although strange fire is powerful, it is merely a means. The true victory or defeat lies in the path within one's heart."

Yan Jin remained silent for a moment, then turned to face the crowd and said, "From this day forward, Zhuque will be an honored guest of my Yan Clan!"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire audience erupted in cheers.

Huo Ling looked at Han Feng, her eyes no longer filled with the worry she had shown before, but instead with an undisguised admiration and...respect.

While everyone was still reeling from the shock, Fairy Fire Spirit quietly approached Han Feng and said, "Since Lord Vermilion Bird has come to discuss the matter of fighting against the Soul Clan, why not stay in the clan for a few days? I will accompany you on a tour of the Fire Domain. Would you be interested?"

Han Feng was taken aback for a moment, then smiled gently: "It would be my honor."

Yan Jin coughed lightly and said, "Huo Ling, you're always so curious. Don't neglect important matters."

Fire Spirit turned and bowed to Flame Ash: "Clan leader, rest assured, I will treat our honored guest well."

Chapter 452 Heart-to-heart talk

The next morning, sunlight shone on the fiery area, and the fiery clouds drifted among the mountains, like a dream.

Han Feng's guest hall is located on a secluded peak on the west side of the Yan Clan's territory. The area is quiet and secluded, with fire lotuses blooming all around and a faint fragrance of flames wafting in the air.

Bathed in the morning light, Han Feng sat cross-legged on the stone platform in front of the house, his fighting spirit slowly circulating around him, and the Nanming Li Fire danced and moved lightly, like red feathers surrounding his body, as if a vermilion bird was perched there.

"Starting your training so early, it seems you're not the type to sit idle for long."

A soft female voice came from the forest. The Fire Spirit Fairy, dressed in a long fiery feather dress, walked in with light steps, carrying an exquisite jade teapot in her hand, and smiling broadly.

Han Feng opened his eyes, smiled and nodded: "With the Fire Spirit Fairy's invitation, even the best time for cultivation must be postponed."

Huo Ling chuckled, and with a wave of her hand, a warm jade tea table appeared out of thin air amidst the floating fire patterns. She sat down on the ground, poured tea with a flick of her sleeve, and the aroma of tea filled the air as the spiritual spring water mingled with the spiritual flames.

"Today I'll take you to a few sacred sites of my Yan clan as a welcome feast," she said softly, handing a teacup to Han Feng.

"Then it's annoying."

Han Feng took the tea, his fingertips touching the rim of the cup, which was slightly warm and had a gentle touch to it.

He took a small sip, and a faint bitter fragrance wafted between his lips and teeth.

"How about it?"

"Fire Spirit asked."

"bitter."

"Haha, bitter is just right. The flavor of this Fire Condensation Orchid is much stronger than that of ordinary spiritual tea."

"Fire Condensation Orchid, a special medicinal herb of the Yan Clan?"

Han Feng asked with a smile.

Fire Spirit nodded.

"Come with me, I'll show you what the place where the Fire Orchid grows looks like."

After Han Feng finished his tea, Huo Ling led him to a deep valley in the interior of the Yan Clan.

--------

Lingyan Valley.

The terrain here is low-lying, and the valley is filled with natural fire veins. Flame spirit flowers grow along the bottom of the valley, and the flickering flames are like stars falling to earth.

A delicate fragrance wafts through the air, refreshing and delightful.

"These are 'Fire Condensation Orchids,' which can only grow in the valley with the most abundant spiritual energy in the Fire Domain, and bloom only once every three hundred years."

Fire Spirit crouched down, lightly touching the petals with her fingertips. The flames leaped up and burst into sparks in mid-air.

Han Feng's eyes flickered slightly, and with a slight movement of his fingers, a Fire Condensing Orchid flew straight towards him, its fragrant sparks swirling around it.

A hint of surprise flashed in Huo Ling's eyes: "To make 'Huo Ninglan' so close, it seems you have a very pure flame within you."

Han Feng smiled but remained silent.

The flames of the Vermilion Bird are naturally of utmost purity.

If it were Void Devouring Flame or Nine Nether Wind Flame instead, it probably wouldn't be able to attract Huo Ninglan.

The two admired the scenery in Lingyan Valley for a while, and Huoling picked some Fire Condensation Orchids on the spot and put them into the teapot.

"This Fire Orchid takes quite a while to brew. Let's continue our stroll, and the tea will be ready by evening."

"Fire Spirit said."

The two continued out of the valley and headed towards the sky.

Passing through the clouds, Han Feng saw a huge platform in his field of vision.

Burning Star Platform.

This place is located above the fiery clouds of the Fire Domain. At night, one can see celestial fire and meteors, while during the day, it gathers the spiritual light of the sun. The rock platform is inscribed with the ancestral precepts and sacrificial texts of the Yan Clan.

"This is the sacred ground where our clan's disciples break through their cultivation levels. Many elders have comprehended the Dao here, and some have even burned their bloodlines to draw down sparks to temper their souls."

Huo Ling stood by the stone platform, pointing to a charred rock tablet.

Han Feng stepped forward and gently touched the ancient runes with his divine sense. He could faintly hear a low chant in his mind, like ten thousand fires roaring together.

He remained silent, closing his eyes and concentrating for a moment. Huo Ling, watching intently, asked, "Did you... hear it too?"

Han Feng opened his eyes and smiled: "It's just a slight echo. It seems that this place not only offers views of Mars, but also harbors ancient souls."

"I was scared and cried when I first came here as a child."

Huo Ling chuckled softly, her eyes filled with nostalgia. "My mother punished me by making me sit here all night, and I cried until dawn."

"Looking back now, perhaps it was because of that night that I truly embarked on the path of spiritual practice."

Han Feng glanced at her and said seriously, "You are an extraordinary saint, and not just because of your talent."

Huo Ling paused slightly, smiled gently, and said nothing more, only whispering, "You too."

Both of them were at the Great Perfection of the Heavenly Realm, just one step away from the threshold of the Emperor Realm.

Among the Yan Clan, even the clan leader Yan Jin probably doesn't possess the profound spiritual cultivation of Huo Ling.

Unfortunately, the Fire Spirit does not possess any wood-attribute energy, thus preventing it from becoming an alchemist.

Otherwise, she would probably be a remarkable alchemist by now.

After touring the Burning Star Platform for a while, Fire Spirit led Han Feng to the other scenic spots and wonders.

The two walked together through the Flameheart Forest, the Blazing Sun Cave, and the Heavenly Fire Steps. Each place carried the heritage and legacy of the Flame Clan for thousands of years. The Fire Spirit explained in detail and occasionally joked softly. The atmosphere between the two gradually changed from the initial restraint to natural intimacy.

As evening approached, the two arrived at a high platform called "Red Cloud Cliff".

The terrain here is high and far, overlooking the entire Fire Domain. The sky is covered with red clouds, and the spiritual fire rises and dances, with the wind stirring up the fire feathers.

Huo Ling took out an ancient stove and personally poured spiritual tea for Han Feng, saying, "This Crimson Cloud Cliff was my mother's favorite place back then."

Han Feng looked at her, his gaze shifting slightly: "Who is the Fire Spirit Fairy's mother?"

Throughout the journey, Huo Ling mentioned her mother many times, her words filled with admiration and respect. From this, it can be inferred that Huo Ling's mother was definitely not simple.

"My mother was a Dou Zun."

"Fire Spirit said."

“My mother’s cultivation level wasn’t outstanding, but she was a very capable person in all aspects. Even the clan leader praised her more than once.”

"Of course, one reason is that there are many high-ranking people in my mother's branch of the family, so they are all familiar with each other, and even if her cultivation is a little weak, it doesn't matter."

"Fire Spirit said."

Even in ancient families, the relationships between people were extremely complex.

Even among the core members of the Yan Clan, there are different ranks.

"Your mother is truly remarkable for being able to raise someone like the Fire Spirit Fairy."

Huo Ling smiled gently, not denying her own excellence.

She took a sip of tea: "Lord Suzaku, although I am very curious about you, do you know why I am helping you?"

"I don't know."

Han Feng put down his teacup and shook his head.

Huo Ling gazed at the distant place where clouds and fire met, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes.

She said slowly, "My mother perished at the hands of the Soul Clan."

Han Feng's pupils contracted.

So you also have a deep-seated hatred...

"The Soul Clan killed my loved ones, and I want revenge more than anyone else."

Huo Ling looked at Han Feng with complicated emotions, remained silent for a long time, and then said, "Zhu Que, I believe you. But persuading the entire Yan Clan is not something that you and I can do alone."

"I see."

Han Feng nodded.

"I'm not in a hurry. We can't be impatient in fighting the Soul Clan either. But we must unite. I just hope that Fairy Fire Spirit can act as a bridge for me and facilitate communication with the elders."

Fire Spirit chuckled: "You actually trust me quite a bit?"

Han Feng's eyes were calm as he said, "If I didn't trust you, why would I have come here?"

Fire Spirit gazed at him for a long time, then nodded and said, "Alright, I will help you relay messages and will communicate with you frequently, but you must promise me..."

"If that day ever comes, would you be willing to fight for the Yan Clan?"

Han Feng looked up, the firelight reflecting in his deep eyes.

He slowly replied, "If that day comes, I will use the Vermilion Bird Fire to burn down the Soul Clan's territory."

The two looked at each other and smiled, the spiritual tea in their cups rippled slightly, as if the waves of fate had just begun to stir.

----------

As the fiery glow deepened and night fell, the spiritual light on Crimson Cloud Cliff grew ever clearer.

Huo Ling tilted her head slightly, gazing at the wispy fiery clouds on the horizon. After a moment, she spoke softly, "The sentence my mother often told me was, 'Fire is not for destruction, but for illumination.'"

Her tone was very soft, as if she were talking to herself, or as if she were confiding in Han Feng.

Han Feng listened quietly.

Fire Spirit suddenly turned her head, her eyes clear: "I think you are the one who can illuminate the darkness."

“I will make them believe in you, just like I did.”