Fighting: I am Han Feng, I respect my teacher

Han Feng and Huo Ling sat facing each other, only a few feet apart. They were surrounded by a red lotus flame array, and the soul fluctuations in the space were as gentle as water, as if they were isolated from all the disturbances of the world.

Huo Ling gently raised her hand, and the "Soul Fusion Flame Codex" in her palm opened on its own. The pages shimmered with faint soul flame light, and profound spiritual characters appeared in the void, then condensed into a rotating flame seal array between the two of them.

"According to the records, we need to merge the primordial soul fire with the soul's thoughts to build a resonance array, and then use the soul seal as a bridge to assimilate this primordial soul."

She looked up at Han Feng, her expression solemn.

“During this process, the soul will partially overlap. If one’s will is not firm, it is very easy to go astray and become possessed by demons… But I believe in you.”

Han Feng nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

He raised his hand and pointed, and the Vermilion Bird's feathers unfurled behind him. The Southern Bright Fire rose up, and from between the fiery feathers, the illusory image of the Vermilion Bird cried out, as if it were a divine bird soaring through the clouds.

Seeing this, Huo Ling no longer hesitated. The Crimson Lotus Karmic Fire slowly bloomed, its blazing flames rippling like water, merging with the Vermilion Bird Flame in the void.

In an instant, fiery red and golden crimson intertwined, and a bridge of souls, forged from flames, quietly connected the two souls.

"It's starting," Fire Spirit whispered.

The soul seal slowly condensed, and a wisp of her and Han Feng's souls extended towards each other along the Flame Bridge, gently touching.

boom--

An unprecedented and strange fluctuation erupted from the Flame Seal.

Han Feng felt a wisp of fire spirit's thought wave slide into her heart like water in an instant, carrying with it the tranquility, resilience, and a trace of emotion she had never expressed before.

At the same time, Huo Ling also sensed the will deep within Han Feng's soul, a will as steady as magma and as fiery as starlight.

This kind of communication is devoid of any lust, yet it is more profound and direct than any language.

The two were slightly shaken, then cleared their minds of all distractions and focused all their energy on activating the "Soul Fusion Flame Scripture".

The primordial soul slowly rose into the air, enveloped by the Southern Bright Fire and the Red Lotus Karmic Fire. The fire feathers and lotus flames intertwined and merged, transforming into a flowing sphere of soul flame light, suspended between the two.

"Lead the soul into refining!"

The two shouted almost simultaneously, and the power of their soul resonance was instantly compressed, pouring the primordial energy into the flame seal.

In an instant, the flames in the entire secret chamber surged back, the soul light surged like waves, and the red lotus and the vermilion bird shone brightly, transforming into an extremely dazzling soul fire ring that slowly rotated.

With each rotation of the Soul Fire Ring, the primordial soul power was divided into fine threads, which merged into the sea of ​​consciousness of the two people, gently and silently, like spring rain nourishing the fields.

Han Feng sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, the flame mark between his brows flickering, and the Vermilion Bird feathers seemed to shine brightly; Huo Ling's mind was calm, and the red lotus flames bloomed behind her, and strands of primordial essence seeped into her soul, making her radiance even brighter.

Time passed, and after an unknown period of time, the primordial soul essence was finally refined to nothing, and the Soul Fire Ring slowly extinguished.

Han Feng opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them. His mind was clear, and his spiritual power was noticeably more refined. Huo Ling's face was also slightly flushed, and his aura was more restrained and profound than before.

The two looked at each other, and in each other's eyes they saw the understanding and trust that came from a shared soul connection.

The flames died down, and the secret chamber returned to silence.

The flames of the Vermilion Bird subsided, and the radiance of the Crimson Lotus returned to the Fire Spirit's brow. The two remained seated, as if the wondrous scene of their souls merging still echoed in their hearts.

A moment later, Han Feng slowly stood up, flicked his sleeve to move the "Soul Fusion Codex" onto the table, and turned to look at Huo Ling.

"Although this cultivation is still quite a distance from the Emperor Realm, it can be considered a small breakthrough. If I have such an opportunity again in the future, I will share it with you." Han Feng said, his tone gentle, but with a hint of farewell.

Huo Ling also stood up, nodded slightly, and parted her red lips: "You're leaving, aren't you?"

Han Feng smiled slightly: "The Soul Palace is powerful. The matter of Burning Nether City has come to a temporary end. I cannot play a significant role if I stay in the Flame Clan. It is time for me to leave."

Fire Spirit remained silent for a moment, then took out an object from her bosom. It was a crystal-clear red lotus petal, its crimson and gold mingling, and inscribed with intricate spiritual patterns, as if reflecting a corner of her soul.

"This is the Crimson Lotus Fire Seal. If you ever need it in the future, simply infuse your soul into it, and I will sense it." She gently handed over the jade feather. "Even if you are at the ends of the earth, we can still communicate across realms."

Han Feng took the jade feather, his palm slightly warm. He looked up at Huo Ling and said, "I also have something to give you."

With a flick of his fingertip, the Southern Bright Fire condensed in his palm into a small, exquisite Vermilion Bird Soul Seal, crystal clear with golden feather fire patterns slowly flowing inside.

"This seal is called 'Flame Heart Seal.' Keep it by your side. If there is any unusual movement of your soul power, that is when I will send a message."

Huo Ling took the Soul Seal, gently stroking it with her fingertips, feeling the familiar aura within. A soft look appeared in her eyes, and she said in a low voice, "If you have some free time, you can come and stay with the Yan Clan for a few more days. The clan leader said you are a distinguished guest here, and no one will object."

Han Feng's expression shifted slightly, but he didn't say anything more, only nodding gently: "Okay."

The two walked out of the secret hall side by side. The wind from the Flaming Mountain blew against their faces, blowing the Fire Spirit's loose hair. She suddenly turned her head, her eyes reflecting the morning light.

“I used to think that only the closest of relatives could build such a resonance… but after forming a soul bond with you, I realized that some connections are destined by fate.”

Han Feng stopped, looked into her eyes, and said softly, "Do you believe in fate?"

Huo Ling chuckled softly, her eyes seeming to flicker with firelight, yet also carrying a faint hint of reluctance.

“I didn’t believe it before, but now I do.”

Han Feng gazed at her intently for a moment, then turned around. His fiery wings billowed in the wind, and his figure flew towards the horizon, gradually disappearing into the distance.

The Fire Spirit stood there, gazing in the direction he had disappeared. After a long while, she murmured to herself, "Vermilion Bird, Vermilion Bird... May your wings never break and your flame never be extinguished."

The wind was fierce on the mountaintop, and the sky was gradually brightening.

A soul-to-soul connection between Han Feng and Huo Ling has been quietly etched into their hearts; it is not romantic love, but it has already transcended ordinary feelings.

At some point in their future battles, when that wisp of crimson flame sweeps across the battlefield, they will both remember—on that day, their souls resonated in unison.

----------

Ancient tribe.

Han Feng came to this place alone.

The familiar bluestone bricks and tiles have created a simple and rustic courtyard.

This is Gu Yuan's residence, and it doesn't look like the kind of place reserved for a top expert on the continent.

Gu Yuan, dressed in a coarse linen robe, sat upright in the courtyard, with a pot of tea brewing in front of him.

"came back?"

Gu Yuan's voice was calm and unhurried; he had sensed Han Feng's arrival long ago, without Han Feng needing to speak.

As Han Feng entered the courtyard, he was no longer as reserved as when they first met. Instead, he walked straight to the empty seat in front of Gu Yuan and sat down with a sense of ease and friendliness.

He gently removed the mask from his face and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Senior Gu Yuan, the Yan Clan has already reached an agreement."

Gu Yuan smiled slightly, personally poured Han Feng a cup of tea, and said in a gentle tone, "As expected of you, you even solved a problem like the Yan Clan."

Han Feng took the teacup, brought it to his lips and took a small sip, a smile playing on his lips. "This cooperation went smoothly, and the Yan Clan's attitude was better than expected, which is a pleasant surprise."

Gu Yuan sat upright, a hint of curiosity in his smile. "How did you do that?"

Han Feng said, "Speaking of which, it was the Soul Clan's own doing. The Fire Spirit Fairy's mother was once harmed by the Soul Clan, so this time she took the initiative to help me, which is why I was able to persuade the Flame Clan's higher-ups to agree to the alliance plan so easily."

Gu Yuan nodded.

"Fire Spirit Fairy, huh? Tsk, you've got some good luck with women, kid..."

Gu Yuan's focus was clearly somewhat off.

Han Feng coughed lightly, bringing the powerful expert, who had shown a hint of gossip, back to the main topic. "In short, with the matter of the Flame Clan resolved, all that's left are the Thunder Clan and the Medicine Clan."

Gu Yuan put down his teacup, his eyes darkening slightly. "Negotiations with the Lei Clan will be very difficult, definitely more so than with the Yan Clan. The Yao Clan is no simple matter either. Their clan rules are strict and rigid. Although they are not as strong as the Yan Clan, the tempers of some of their high-ranking members are no less than those of the Lei Clan, and may even be worse."

The rules and regulations of the Medicine Clan are even more conservative than those of the Ancient Clan.

Some elders often arbitrarily use clan rules to give special interpretations, oppressing those of lower status in the clan. While this approach ensures the stability of the upper structure, it greatly suppresses the lower-level members of the medicine clan, making it difficult for them to find a way out.

As a result, the lineage of the Medicine Clan has been declining, with each generation being less capable than the last.

Of course, in such a large family, there will always be one or two monstrous geniuses, so the lineage has not been broken and it is showing some signs of prosperity.

Unfortunately, this momentum will soon be shattered by the Soul Clan.

When your clan is exterminated, no one will follow your clan rules.

Even the most arrogant person can be dealt with in a single blow.

After hearing Gu Yuan's words, Han Feng gained a deeper understanding of the situation of the two races.

Han Feng harbored no goodwill towards the Yao Clan because his teacher, Yao Chen, was falsely accused and expelled by the Yao Clan's law enforcement elder.

However, since the teacher was a member of the Medicine Clan and had always hoped to return to the clan one day to have his parents' names engraved in the family genealogy, Han Feng couldn't make the decision lightly.

As for the Thunder Clan, Han Feng does have an acquaintance who can act as a go-between—Mang Tianchi, who was once the dean of Canaan Academy.

However, it's unclear where this dean is traveling and enjoying himself these days.

Seeing Han Feng's silence, Gu Yuan clearly realized that he was not entirely confident about the upcoming situation and was probably still thinking about how to deal with it.

He continued, "Actually, we have already taken the initiative in the current situation. It doesn't matter if the Thunder Clan and the Medicine Clan don't join for the time being. Moreover, once the alliance is truly established, the Thunder Clan and the Medicine Clan will have no choice but to join if they don't want to be isolated."

Gu Yuan paused, his gaze slightly focused, and he analyzed in a relaxed tone: "Before, the Yan Clan had not yet joined. If these three clans united, they could indeed form a force to be reckoned with. But if only two clans remain in the end, the original triangular balance will collapse. The Lei Clan and the Yao Clan each have their own temperaments, so the possibility of them uniting is not high. Therefore, I am not so worried now."

After hearing this, Han Feng nodded, deeply agreeing with the statement: "That's indeed the case."

Thinking about it this way, whether he can persuade those two families is no longer important. Of course, he still has to try. No matter what the outcome, he has to make contact with them first.

"By the way, Senior Gu Yuan, this time I joined forces with the Yan Clan to destroy the newly established Heavenly Palace of the Soul Palace, which may cause some reaction from the Soul Clan."

"A new heavenly palace? No problem."

Gu Yuan smiled and refilled the empty cup with tea.

"I also killed Hun Yan."

Wow~

Gu Yuan paused slightly as he poured the tea.

"cough."

He coughed lightly and slowly put down the teapot.

"Soul Flame, one of the Four Demon Saints?"

"It's him."

Gu Yuan remained silent for a moment.

"That definitely needs to be taken seriously."

The four Demon Saints of the Soul Clan are no small figures; in the ancient clans, they would be equivalent to the three immortals.

If any of the three are injured, Gu Yuan will personally intervene.

"Looks like you've caused quite a stir in the Yan Clan this time," Gu Yuan said with a wry smile.

With the death of Hun Yan, one of the Four Demon Saints of the Soul Clan, and Hun Jing, who had previously perished in the Spirit Clan, only two of the Four Demon Saints of the Soul Clan remain.

This is indeed a huge loss for the Soul Clan.

It should be noted that, apart from the Flame and Thunder clans, the patriarchs of the Medicine Clan, Stone Clan, and Spirit Clan are only at the Seven-Star Dou Sheng realm.

Han Feng nodded and continued, "I think the Soul Clan will definitely make some moves soon. Senior Gu Yuan, I'll have to trouble you to keep an eye on things."

Gu Yuan sighed, finished his tea, and said slowly, "Alas, these are turbulent times, there's nothing we can do about it. But it's not all bad; it's good to see what tricks they'll pull next."

"Actually, the Soul Clan has been quiet for a long time, and we have been quite passive. If they take the initiative to attack this time, we can find some weaknesses in them."

As the saying goes, if the enemy doesn't move, I won't move.

The current situation calls for an external force to break the deadlock.

Han Feng's identity happens to be outside the eight clans, and the Soul Extermination Division is like a sharp bayonet, capable of piercing a key point in the overall situation.

And various forces can then engage in a struggle around this juncture.

Thinking of this, Gu Yuan suddenly gave Han Feng a strange look.

This kid... he didn't include me in his scheme, did he?

So far, although the battle between the Ancient Clan and the Soul Clan has been led by Gu Yuan, all the previous preparations were based on intelligence provided by Han Feng.

Gu Yuan understood everything and naturally had no doubt about Han Feng's motives.

In fact, he was very clear about Han Feng's abilities. If it weren't for Han Feng's previous groundwork, the Ancient Clan would never have been able to confront the Soul Clan so quickly, and he himself would not have made up his mind to launch the Anti-Soul Alliance.

If this measure had not been taken, the Eldar might have been completely wiped out long ago.

The other families were also unable to detect the truth, and the final result would only be worse.

Gu Yuan smiled slightly and did not continue to think about the question.

To him, Han Feng was already considered one of his own.