Fighting: I am Han Feng, I respect my teacher

Han Feng was stunned for a moment, looking into Huo Ling's clear eyes, as if he saw his own reflection from back then, gentle yet firm.

He chuckled softly, but his tone was incredibly serious: "Then I will not betray your trust."

Huo Ling smiled slightly, without saying anything more, and simply sat quietly beside him, the two of them watching the sunset spread across the Fire Domain.

Between heaven and earth, the light and flames surged like a tide, and the crimson clouds rolled. An inexplicable tacit understanding quietly took root and sprouted in the heart, like two flames gently intertwining in the wind, unspoken yet already burning hot.

……

As night fell, Han Feng returned to the guest hall. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he sensed someone waiting quietly inside.

He stepped into the hall. The lamps were not lit, but a faint flame flickered. A figure stood before the bed, with long hair flowing down his shoulders. His aura was as steady as a mountain, carrying an oppressive force, but without any hostility.

"Now that you're here, why hide yourself?" Han Feng said calmly, his gaze sharp.

The man turned around, his face resolute, his eyes as deep and calm as flames. He was Yan Hao, a highly respected elder of the Yan Clan.

Han Feng knew this person; it was mentioned in Gu Yuan's intelligence report. He had also seen the person at the previous conference; he was one of the people sitting at the very front.

Yan Hao, known as "Crimson Flame Mystic Lord", is one of the most influential elders in the Yan Clan and the guardian of the Fire Spirit lineage.

"Lord Suzaku, how have you been?" Yan Hao's tone was calm, as if he were observing him, or as if he had already seen through him.

Han Feng nodded slightly: "Elder Yan Hao, what brings you here so late at night?"

Yan Hao didn't mince words and said directly, "Huo Ling has said many good things about you, and I've come here just to say one thing."

His gaze was intense as he looked directly at Han Feng: "I am willing to lend you a hand and persuade some of the stubborn old men in the clan that if you are truly committed to fighting against the Soul Clan, the Flame Clan is not unreasonable."

Han Feng raised an eyebrow slightly, then cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your trust, Elder Yan Hao."

"It's not that I believe you," Yan Hao paused, then turned and walked out of the palace gate. "It's that I believe her."

His voice was low and deep: "If you fail her expectations, I, Yan Hao, will not tolerate you."

As soon as he finished speaking, a flash of fire appeared, and the figure was already gone.

Han Feng stood in the hall, silent for a long time, then suddenly chuckled softly.

"It seems we've chosen the right path."

With the help of the Fire Spirit lineage, and the relatively neutral attitude of the clan leader Yan Jin, persuading the elders will not be too difficult.

Everything is turning for the better.

The next day.

Han Feng woke up to find the sky brightening with the rising sun, and flames of different colors illuminating the heavens.

The scenery of the Yan tribe is diverse and colorful, and it seems to change every day.

Han Feng stood in the courtyard, recalling what Yan Hao had said last night.

I don't know how he'll help, but I can't stay in the Yan Clan for too long.

Moreover, there should be a Soul Clan planted within the Flame Clan, and the Soul Clan should already know that I came to the Flame Clan to persuade them.

A moment later, Fire Spirit came to visit again.

Yesterday, the two agreed that, with Huo Ling's introduction, they would visit the toughest members of the clan and persuade them step by step.

Although some members of the Fire Spirit lineage offered assistance, ultimately it was Han Feng who had to step in.

Without sincerity, you can't persuade people.

After leaving the courtyard, Huo Ling led Han Feng to a magnificent hall.

Huo Ling whispered, "You don't need to say much later. The person you're meeting this time is violent, sentimental, and stubborn. I'll lead the conversation, and you just need to go with the flow."

Han Feng nodded slightly: "Which elder in the clan is it?"

"Yan Xiang".

Huo Ling's voice was low, and his eyes flickered slightly. "He was an old acquaintance of my mother."

The two stepped into the hall, where flames blazed like ribbons. In the very center sat a man on a stone seat, surrounded by golden flames. His face was chiseled, and his eyes were like torches. It was clear at a glance that he was a person who had long held a high position.

"Why did you bring him here?" Yan Xiang glanced at Han Feng, his brows furrowing slightly, his tone revealing his displeasure.

Huo Ling stepped forward, gave a graceful bow, and said, "Uncle Xiang, I've come to ask you about the fight against the Soul Clan."

Yan Xiang sighed.

"Ling'er, I know what you're thinking, but do you know what the consequences will be?"

"I am acutely aware of the power of the Soul Clan."

Yan Xiang's tone was low and his expression was complicated. "The reason your mother perished in the Soul Clan back then was because the opponent's strength was indeed too great."

“Now that ‘Void Devouring Flame’ is a nine-star Dou Sheng, with a vicious mind and ruthless methods.” He paused, then turned his gaze to Han Feng. “If we start a war against the Soul Clan now, who will win… it’s really hard to say.”

Yan Xiang was clearly expressing his genuine concerns.

Then, he stared at Han Feng again, his tone tinged with doubt: "This matter is significant, but it has always been an internal affair of our eight ancient clans. Now this 'Vermilion Bird' is pressing the Yan Clan step by step, and although his words sound nice... what exactly is he planning? Do you really know?"

Clearly, Yan Xiang didn't trust Han Feng much because of his fight with Yan Jin. He was a rigid person, deeply fixated on his own judgment.

At this moment, his tone changed, and he coldly snorted:

"Anyway, I feel that this kid has bad intentions."

Unlike Huo Ling's trust in Han Feng, Yan Xiang did not believe that Han Feng was the one who could bring hope.

Huo Ling's expression was solemn as he slowly said, "Uncle Xiang, no matter what, someone has to do the job of fighting against the Soul Clan."

“The Ling’er of the past, although her cultivation improved step by step, always lacked that courage in her heart… It was Lord Suzaku who gave me that courage. So this time, no matter what, I want to give it a try.”

Upon hearing Huo Ling's words, Yan Xiang fell into a brief silence. He could harbor hostility towards Han Feng, but he could not ignore Huo Ling's persistence and feelings—this junior whom he regarded as his own daughter, and who was now a Seven-Star Dou Sheng, second only to the clan leader in the Yan Clan.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke, his tone tinged with a hint of helplessness:

"Since it's your own decision, you'd better think it through."

Fire Spirit replied without hesitation, "I've made up my mind."

Yan Xiang closed his eyes and sighed:

"Alright, alright... Actually, that old devil Yan Hao already mentioned this to me beforehand. I will vote for you at the clan meeting."

"Thank you, Uncle Xiang." A hint of joy flashed in Huo Ling's eyes.

Upon hearing this, Han Feng seized the opportunity to step forward and bow in greeting.

"Thank you, Elder Yanxiang."

Yan Xiang snorted coldly, his expression returning to its indifferent state. He closed his eyes again, ignoring him completely.

Chapter 453 Burning Nether City

Over the next few days, Han Feng and Huo Ling visited several powerful elders in the Yan Clan and made considerable progress.

The Yan Clan were not all stubborn and inflexible; they also knew that this was an opportunity to stop the Soul Palace from expanding further.

However, the wariness between different ethnic groups is not so easily eliminated.

Although the Yan Clan and the Ancient Clan are not fighting each other now, they used to be locked in a life-or-death struggle.

Therefore, Han Feng's intervention was necessary.

Although the elders described the Soul Slaughtering Division as a "three-nothing force" without strong backing, it was precisely because of this simple background that the Yan Clan could cooperate with it without much burden.

Everyone has a high degree of freedom, and one wrong step won't lead to irreversible consequences.

This day marked the time for the Yan Clan's clan meeting.

Inside the Flame Heart Hall, all the elders gathered. The topic to be discussed today was quite simple: cooperation with the Soul Slaughtering Division.

A moment later, Yan Jin appeared and sat down in the main seat. The elder in charge of the ceremony announced the start of the meeting.

Han Feng walked in from the side of the main hall, and everyone's eyes slowly focused on him.

"Please read through the proposals provided by the Soul Slaughtering Division one by one."

Yan Jin raised his hand and waved it, and a curtain of fire appeared in front of the hall, with layers of text floating on it.

"First: Information sharing. All matters involving the Soul Clan and the Soul Palace will be shared without reservation."

"Second: The Yan Clan can send disciples to join the Soul Slaughtering Division to participate in peripheral hunting operations in order to understand the daily activities of the Soul Slaughtering Division."

"Three: A three-month period will be used to assess the results and determine the direction for deeper cooperation."

......

The terms of the plan are listed one by one. They seem lenient, but they are also thoughtful. They cleverly avoid the points that all parties are most afraid of. Obviously, Han Feng has carefully considered them when drafting the plan.

Huo Ling stood aside, quietly scanning each elder in the hall.

She knew that what could truly change the situation was not just these cold, hard terms, but rather—trust.

Sure enough, the first sound rang out soon after.

"Ha, that sounds nice, but a three-month battle results assessment? What results has your Soul Extermination Division produced so far?"

The speaker was an elderly man in a red robe, his face covered with fiery patterns, and his eyes and brows radiating a sharp edge. His name was Yan Shu, a powerful elder in the clan, a five-star Dou Sheng, and he was known for his caution and suspicion.

"I've heard that the Soul Clan has been quiet lately and shows no intention of making any further moves. Could it be that the Flame Clan disciples are just following you in besieging the mere Soul Palace?"

In the eyes of the Yan Clan, the Soul Palace was truly an insignificant force that they would never normally pay any attention to.

Han Feng remained calm, cupped his hands, and said indifferently, "The Soul Palace should not be underestimated now. According to our investigation and assessment, there are quite a few experts above the level of Half-Saint in the Soul Palace."

"Even for the most outstanding genius of the Yan Clan, it wouldn't be an easy task to fight against a powerhouse of half-saint or above, would it?"

Any battles involving the Holy Realm are very serious.

For the elders present, a mere half-saint is naturally not a concern, but for ordinary members of the Yan Clan, a half-saint is indeed a formidable enemy.

"Moreover, our cooperation against the Soul Clan is a long-term endeavor, and we must not be impatient. If we try to seize the time and resolve everything quickly, we will only expose our weaknesses to the enemy."

Han Feng said, word by word.

"The results achieved in three months were only to deepen the trust between the two sides, and the foundation for cooperation was formed in these small steps."

Upon hearing Han Feng's words, Elder Yan Shu snorted coldly but did not refute them further.

At this moment, another elder spoke up, his voice steady: "What I am more concerned about is whether the Soul Slaughter Division can withstand the counterattack of the Soul Palace if the war really breaks out?"

"Just as you said, the Soul Palace is not what it used to be. Although you are a Seven-Star Dou Sheng, the Four Demon Saints in the Soul Clan are all at the Seven-Star Dou Sheng level."

Han Feng replied, "The Soul Clan's focus is currently on the area surrounding the Ancient Clan. It will take some time before they truly mobilize their main forces to expand outwards. What my Soul Slaughter Division is doing is precisely seizing this opportunity to destroy their outer strongholds one by one."

During the meeting, the elders took turns asking Han Feng questions. Their questions were tricky and seemed to be deliberately making things difficult for Han Feng, but they also pointed out key points that needed careful consideration in the cooperation process.

Faced with such a barrage of questions, Han Feng remained calm and responded to each one.

After the elder had asked all the questions,

Han Feng bowed respectfully to the conference table and said:

"I do not expect you all to fight a desperate battle for my Soul Slaughtering Division, I only ask that those who are willing to fight lend me a helping hand."

After these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.

Han Feng's final words, "Those who wish to fight, may lend a helping hand," carried an undeniable power beneath their calm exterior, resonating deeply in the hearts of every elder.

They could sense that Han Feng wasn't pleading, but rather engaging in a dialogue with them on an equal footing.

Huo Ling took a small step forward, her gaze sweeping over the elders, her voice clear and carrying an barely suppressed heat:

"In recent years, the Soul Slaughtering Division has destroyed more than ten strongholds of the Soul Hall in the Northern Region, and has also breached countless branch halls on other continents, forcing the Soul Hall to shrink its peripheral forces. These are all true events, and I have sent people to investigate and verify them!"

"Now that the Soul Clan is eyeing us covetously, if we don't even dare to take the first step towards our initial alliance, it will only embolden them further."

Fire Spirit's words were neither aggressive nor weak, which was exactly the kind of character that the most outstanding figures in the Flame Clan should have.

An elder frowned and said in a low voice, "This girl... is even more ruthless than her mother was when she was young."

Yan Xiang replied coldly, "Her mother died at the hands of the Soul Clan. She has the right to hate, and she also has the right to choose to fight."

His words were like knives, sharp and cold, causing many people in the hall to fall silent.

A moment later, Yan Xiang, leaning on his cane, slowly stood up, his gaze fixed intently on Han Feng, and said in a deep voice:

“I don’t like outsiders, and I don’t easily trust people, but—if Fire Spirit is willing to take this gamble, I will take it with her.”

"My two personal disciples will be at your command and will assist you in battle within three months."