"It's fine. He will recover after resting for a few days."
In the guest room, two injured men, wrapped in bandages from head to toe, lay quietly on the bed.
Han Feng withdrew his hand from taking their pulse, wrote down a few prescriptions, and had the Xiao family members go back and brew the medicine according to the methods on them.
"Mr. Han, thank you so much this time."
A Xiao family clansman solemnly thanked Han Feng.
Han Feng smiled.
"You don't have to thank me. They were able to achieve victory entirely through their own will."
"No, the two elders were already prepared to die for this competition. It was you, Mr. Han, who saved them."
The entire room of Xiao family members bowed in unison to Han Feng.
Towards their enemies, they would rather be unyielding. But towards their benefactor, they were willing to bow their heads.
Han Feng didn't say much, just looked at Xiao Teng and Xiao Yi on the bed and said softly, "Everyone, it's time to go."
———
The rest time was over. On the martial arts stage, the audience once again packed the stands.
The final match of the weapon comparison stage.
This was the peak arena belonging to the major sects.
The weight of this match would far exceed the previous two.
The foundational weapons that the major sects brought out were all top-grade.
Among them, the Forging Heaven Pavilion was the most outstanding. Their sect-guarding weapon was an eighth-grade, mid-level spirit artifact—the "Heaven Suppressing Hammer."
In previous competitions, no one had been able to completely withstand the attack of the "Heaven Suppressing Hammer."
This was not only because the power of the spirit artifact was too strong, but also because Duan Hong, a Dou Venerate, was wielding it personally. No one could withstand a Dou Venerate's attack.
An eighth-grade spirit artifact corresponded to a Dou Venerate. As the Pavilion Master of the Forging Heaven Pavilion, it was beyond reproach for Duan Hong to go on stage himself.
Everyone knew that the young man representing the Xiao family was in for it.
If Xiao Teng and Xiao Yi had a chance to survive, then Han Feng, who was directly facing Duan Hong, would probably only meet death.
Han Feng led the Xiao family clansmen to the mountaintop martial arts stage. The people on the roadside made way, looking at them with eyes of awe and pity.
We cannot fight the Forging Heaven Pavilion because he is too powerful, but you have shown us that the peak can also be shaken.
"Mr. Han, the upcoming match is very dangerous. Why don't you..."
A Xiao family clansman behind him couldn't help but speak.
"What, you don't believe me?"
Han Feng glanced at the person who had spoken.
"No, no! It's just... you don't really need to go and fight Duan Hong. He... he is a Dou Venerate, after all."
The Xiao family members waved their hands repeatedly, but the meaning in their words was already clear.
Even the Xiao family members did not believe that Han Feng could withstand Duan Hong's anger.
On the contrary, they felt that Han Feng didn't need to challenge a Dou Venerate for the sake of the Xiao family. Now, even if they didn't participate in the final match, the Xiao family would not be kicked out of the four major artifact sects.
Han Feng smiled and said softly, "This is no longer just a matter for your Xiao family."
Duan Hong already held a grudge against him. If he chose to back down, the other party would only become more aggressive.
What's more, Han Feng had never taken him seriously in the first place.
Since the Xiao family had delivered an answer that far exceeded expectations, it was time for Han Feng to draw a perfect conclusion to this competition.
After Han Feng sat down, the competition proceeded as scheduled.
The first to appear were the sect masters of two small sects. Both were Dou Emperor experts, using sixth-tier weapons, and their fight was average.
Slowly, the level of the cultivators on both sides of the competition went from initial-stage Dou Emperor to high-level Dou Emperor.
By the time the last few potential sects appeared, the level of the sect masters on both sides had already reached the Dou Ancestor rank, and the weapons used had also become seventh-grade spirit weapons.
The sects of the Nanli Empire generally pursued weapons as a powerful aid to themselves and had researched various ways to use them, with tricky angles and all sorts of tricks.
In the matter of weapon refining, perhaps even the vast Central Plains was not as passionate as the Nanli Empire.
The Jade Blade Sect, which had been trying to pull the Xiao family down, had failed repeatedly. The sect master, Bi Changtian, was seriously injured by the hidden weapons of the Tang Sect's master. When he was carried off the stage, it was unknown if he was dead or alive.
The Tang Sect's master was a two-star Dou Ancestor, who had previously performed mediocrely.
No one had expected that in just a few years, the other party would actually refine such a terrifying hidden weapon, directly beating the four-star Dou Ancestor Bi Changtian into such a state.
This was the charm of the Weapon Refining Conference. Every session, there would be a dark horse who would counterattack, thereby achieving fame and success. Some could even be valued by the empire because of this and establish a connection with the imperial family.
Everyone knew that the Tang Sect would probably develop at a high speed in the next few years.
After enjoying the competitions of the other sects, the four major artifact sects began to take the stage.
The Divine Mechanism Sect and the Hundred Refinements Villa. The cultivation of the two sect masters was at the eight-star and seven-star Dou Ancestor levels, respectively, but the weapons they used were both seventh-grade, top-level spirit artifacts.
The two of them leaped down from the high platform, their feet tapping lightly, and landed safely.
"We've been fighting for so many years. I wonder if you've made any progress?"
The Villa Master of the Hundred Refinements Villa, Qin Heng, carried a ring-pommeled broadsword. With every step he took, it made a clanging sound.
The Divine Mechanism Sect's master took out a formation disk. A dozen or so iron balls flew out from it, and upon falling to the ground, they all transformed into Vajra puppets, instantly forming a regularly arranged military formation.
"You'll know once we fight," the long-bearded old man said with a calm smile.
Clang!
The bell rang. Qin Heng grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.
"Vajra Indestructible!"
A metallic luster emanated from his body. The Dou Qi in his body resonated with the ring-pommeled broadsword, reaching the realm of man and saber as one.
The Divine Mechanism Sect's master calmly retreated behind the puppets, using the formation disk to control them to attack.
Clanging sounds constantly rang out on the field.
From time to time, a puppet that had been hacked to pieces by the broadsword would fly out of the small military formation.
Qin Heng knew he couldn't drag it on any longer, so he unleashed an Earth-rank Dou Skill. The Vajra broadsword transformed into the shadow of a fierce tiger spirit artifact and struck down fiercely.
Roar!
The barrier of the arena buzzed and vibrated. The smoke and dust dispersed, only to see Qin Heng break through the puppet army formation and slash towards the Divine Mechanism Sect's master.
Han Feng, who was watching the match, his gaze narrowed slightly.
He saw the scrawny Divine Mechanism Sect master suddenly strip off his long robe, revealing a body embedded with metal contraptions.
He modified his own body into a puppet?
The Divine Mechanism Sect's master raised his hand to block. A mechanical device spread out from his arm, supporting a huge pincer hand that directly grabbed the Vajra long saber.
"Changed your style again this year?"
Qin Heng looked at the device on the Divine Mechanism Sect's master's body and sneered.
"Hmph."
Surging Dou Qi dispersed, and the two became locked in a fierce battle.
The puppets that were originally scrapped on the field were suddenly activated at this moment and flew towards the two from all directions.
Qin Heng sensed the puppets flying from behind him, clicked his tongue, and jumped back, hacking the surrounding puppets to pieces with a few strikes.
However, using this gap, the remaining puppets had already transformed into weapon components and assembled themselves onto the Divine Mechanism Sect's master's body.
Clank, clank!
The originally thin and small old man was now even taller than Qin Heng. He rubbed his thick mechanical arm and revealed a sinister smile.
"Let me give you a taste of my new move!"
Qin Heng gave a dry laugh, feeling a little stressed.
His cultivation was one star weaker than the other's, but relying on his youthful strength and the realm of man and saber as one, it was no problem to suppress that old man.
But once he was drawn into the other's rhythm, it would not be so easy to fight.
"Puppet masters are so troublesome," Qin Heng muttered, shook his long saber, and charged out again.
An incense stick's time passed, and the situation on the field gradually settled.
One of the Divine Mechanism Sect's master's mechanical arms was chopped off by Qin Heng, but he still managed to drive his mechanical killing move into Qin Heng's body.
Qin Heng admitted defeat, breathing heavily. The referee announced the Divine Mechanism Sect's victory.
After they left the stage, the attendant pressed a mechanism, and the competition venue began to change automatically.
The final heavyweight finale match naturally had to be of a higher standard.
A few minutes later, the arena was completely silent, the atmosphere suppressed to the extreme.
As the bell rang, Han Feng and Duan Hong both stood up and stepped into the arena.
On the peak of Forging Heaven Mountain, two figures stood opposite each other.
At this point, Duan Hong was not in a hurry. He looked at the sky very calmly.
"I'll give you one more chance. If you admit defeat, I can spare your life."
Han Feng smiled.
"Why does that sentence sound so familiar?"
Duan Hong's expression changed, and then he looked at Han Feng with a cold gaze.
"Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. Since that's the case, then don't blame me."
Buzz!
The aura of a Dou Venerate erupted from Duan Hong's body. The terrifying pressure made everyone's face change color.
"Pavilion Master Duan is serious this time."
"Should we move back a little?"
The people in the front few rows silently left their seats and retreated to the back.
Such a comical phenomenon, it was the first time in so many years of the Weapon Refining Conference.
Boom!
A huge war hammer appeared on the field. Duan Hong lifted it up effortlessly.
This heavy pressure, just looking at it, one could feel it was not light.
"Heaven Suppressing Hammer, an eighth-grade spirit artifact."
Han Feng recalled the intelligence the Xiao family had told him just now.
With this spirit artifact, Duan Hong, with his three-star Dou Venerate cultivation, had fought against a three-star Dou Venerate and a two-star Dou Venerate, and had almost crippled that two-star Dou Venerate.
Such a combat record was quite impressive.
After all, to be able to fight one against two at the Dou Venerate realm, and against Venerates of a similar realm, was definitely much harder than fighting one against two at the Dou Emperor stage.
"Where's your weapon? Take it out," Duan Hong looked at Han Feng and said impatiently.
Han Feng tapped his chest twice. The vermilion bird imprint emitted a bright red light, and the patterns spread to all parts of his body.
Crimson feather armor began to arm his entire body, piece by piece.
Seeing this, the sect master of the Divine Mechanism Sect cried out in surprise.
"What kind of weapon is this!"
As a mecha-armor enthusiast, he loved this kind of style. However, the armor on Han Feng's body looked much more advanced than his own embedded technology.
"What is this?"
When Duan Hong saw the crimson feather armor on Han Feng's body, his brows immediately furrowed.
A newly appeared eighth-grade spirit artifact represented a huge variable.
The two consecutive defeats earlier had not only caused Duan Tianci, the person involved, to have his Dao heart collapse, but had also made Duan Hong have a trace of doubt.
No, impossible!
He was a Dou Venerate. No matter what, he couldn't possibly lose to a Dou Ancestor!
"Hmph, let's begin!"
Killing intent erupted in Duan Hong's eyes. Not intending to give Han Feng a chance to strike, he raised the Heaven Suppressing Hammer, and his Dou Qi surged wildly.
"Heaven Suppressing!"
Buzz!
The artifact spirit of the Heaven Suppressing Hammer materialized. A war hammer over 300 meters tall appeared above Duan Hong's head.
As a Dou Venerate, Duan Hong's compatibility with the Heaven Suppressing Hammer was already extremely profound. His first move was his peak killing move.
"...Heavy Kill!"
Boom!
The giant war hammer fell. The air in mid-air was already friction-burned to the color of flames.
The spectators in the stands retreated one after another. They had no doubt that if they were a little closer to the martial arts stage, they would be directly killed by the aftershocks of the Dou Venerate.
The referee was sweating profusely. Looking at the giant hammer in the sky, he braced himself and propped up a Dou Qi shield.
The other few people present also propped up their shields with all their strength.
Those who dared to remain in the arena were all experts above the high-level Dou Emperor. They were barely qualified to withstand the aftershocks and would not become small shrimps caught in the crossfire.
Such a momentous scene, they were willing to take the risk to watch.
The number of people in the arena instantly decreased from hundreds and thousands to just a dozen or so.
The Xiao family's Dou Emperor stared fixedly at the situation in the arena, not daring to blink.
He saw Han Feng's vermilion bird wings flap lightly, and his body turned into a red stream of light, charging at the war hammer.
What!
The several people watching the battle from outside the arena widened their eyes.
To rush up so recklessly, wasn't he seeking his own death?
Did he not know the tyranny of the Heaven Suppressing Hammer? That heavy blow was definitely top-notch.
Seeing Han Feng's action, Duan Hong sneered in his heart.
Arrogant!
The force in his hands had already been maximized. The gravity field locked onto Han Feng and smashed down hard.
Boom!
However, the next second, Duan Hong felt a vast force transmitting from below the Heaven Suppressing Hammer.
This...
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Before he could react, Han Feng had thrown out three consecutive punches. The descending speed of the war hammer instantly slowed down a lot.
"It really is heavy enough."
Han Feng shook his numb hand.
The Heaven Suppressing Hammer, with its high-position advantage, was indeed difficult to block when it smashed down like this.
However, Han Feng had other methods.
A ball of silver liquid flowed out from his palm, condensing into a round sphere.
"Heaven and Earth Magnetic Field!"
Han Feng slapped the Innate Primordial Magnetism in his palm. The moment it came into contact with the Heaven Suppressing Hammer, streaks of white lightning shot out from the central sphere in all directions.
The huge heaven and earth magnetic force drew power from nature and instantly blocked the Heaven Suppressing Hammer.
Duan Hong was greatly shocked and hurriedly tried to stabilize his body.
However, the counter-shock force from the magnetic field's explosion was too great. Duan Hong and the Heaven Suppressing Hammer were sent flying out together.
This scene was somewhat similar to when Duan Tianci's sneak attack was counter-shocked.
"Damn it!"
Duan Hong was a Dou Venerate, after all. He slapped a palm behind him to stop his body. He gripped the end of the Heaven Suppressing Hammer, intending to do a spinning strike to dissipate the counter-shock force.
Unfortunately, Han Feng had already arrived.
With a light flap of his vermilion bird wings, Han Feng erupted with a speed comparable to a Dou Venerate and arrived at Duan Hong's side.
"Fire Owl!"
The palm, covered in crimson feather armor, ignited with a crimson flame and quickly slapped at Duan Hong's ribs.
Bang, bang, bang!
After several consecutive palm strikes, on the third palm, Duan Hong's protective Dou Qi was finally torn apart.
With a melodious cry of a vermilion bird, Han Feng's strike directly sent Duan Hong flying off the martial arts stage, smashing into another mountain peak.
As for the Heaven Suppressing Hammer, it was now firmly held by the Innate Primordial Magnetism. Not only did it not help Duan Hong, but it also made him get distracted, allowing Han Feng to succeed in his surprise attack.
Casually tossing the Heaven Suppressing Hammer outside the martial arts stage, the moment the hammer's face landed, Han Feng flashed in front of the referee.
"Can you announce the result now?"
The referee stood there dumbfounded, feeling that the scene before him was extremely unreal.
Am I dreaming?
He craned his neck to look at the other mountain peak, only to see that Duan Hong had not returned after a long time.
Looking again at the crimson armor in front of him, the referee staggered back several steps and tremblingly announced the Xiao family's victory.
They had won all three matches.
The champion of this Weapon Refining Conference, without a doubt, belonged to the Xiao family.
The official supervisor from the Nanli Nation stood up and looked at Han Feng with admiration.
What a formidable young man, to actually defeat a veteran Dou Venerate like Duan Hong.
It seemed that one more person had to be added to the empire's invitation list.