In a deep pit on another mountain peak, Duan Hong was in a sorry state, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
He had actually been defeated!
And so decisively beaten by a Dou Ancestor.
At this moment, he no longer wanted to go out, because this appearance would only make him lose more face.
When Duan Hong had carefully tidied himself up and returned to the martial arts stage, Han Feng and the Xiao family had already taken the championship amidst the cheers of the crowd.
Another elder who was hosting the conference handed the eighth-tier spirit ore to Han Feng.
The people of the Forging Heaven Pavilion were all silent, an immense sense of loss in their hearts.
In the past, that position had belonged to them.
"Han Feng, this matter isn't over..." Duan Hong clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
"Pavilion Master Duan is here!"
Seeing Duan Hong, the crowd made way.
Even though he had lost to a Dou Ancestor, which was very puzzling, no one would be foolish enough to provoke this Venerate's dignity because of it.
Duan Hong walked towards the award stage with an expressionless face, looked at Han Feng, and said faintly, "You are very good. That armor should be an eighth-grade, top-level spirit weapon, right?"
"That's right. Is Pavilion Master Duan alright?"
Han Feng's strike just now had extremely strong penetrating power, but for a three-star Dou Venerate, it was not a fatal injury.
The corner of Duan Hong's mouth twitched, and then he gave a dry laugh. "I'm fine."
The two of them were all smiles, but only they knew what they were thinking in their hearts.
The award ceremony ended, and the crowd gradually dispersed.
Although the Xiao family had won the final victory, their two strongest members were both seriously injured and still unconscious. If Han Feng had not been present, the Xiao family probably wouldn't have been happy even if they had kept their position as one of the four major artifact sects.
After all, this was a path of survival paved with the lives of their clansmen.
"Mr. Han, there's someone outside looking for you," someone reported.
Han Feng went out to meet him and found that it was the official supervisor from the Nanli Nation.
This person had not shown favoritism due to the Forging Heaven Pavilion's power and had maintained a neutral balance. Han Feng's impression of him was not bad.
"I am Xue Yi. It is a pleasure to meet you, fellow Daoist Han."
Han Feng returned the salute.
"Is there something you need from me, Supervisor Xue?"
Xue Yi smiled. "I am representing the officials to supervise this conference. Besides maintaining the balance of the conference, I also wanted to see which experts have come out this year."
As he spoke, he took out an invitation from his storage ring and handed it to Han Feng.
"This is an invitation to the imperial banquet. The Empress has ordered us to organize it with the highest specifications, saying that there will be an important announcement that day. If fellow Daoist Han has time, you can come to the capital for a visit."
Han Feng's heart stirred upon hearing this, and he accepted the invitation.
"Alright, I will make a trip."
Seeing that the item had been successfully delivered, Xue Yi chatted with Han Feng for a few more sentences, then took his leave.
"An imperial banquet."
Han Feng looked at the vermilion envelope in his hand, thinking that this was an excellent opportunity to get in touch with the Nanli Empress.
He wondered if the important matter she mentioned was related to the Purple Shattered Ruins.
The Xiao family members packed their things, preparing to leave Forging Heaven Mountain. However, Han Feng walked in at this moment and said to them, "You all should wait here for a few days. Senior Xiao will send someone over soon."
The Xiao family members were a little puzzled after hearing this. Why did they have to wait a few more days?
However, there were still smart people who understood the meaning behind his words.
"Does Mr. Han mean that the Forging Heaven Pavilion is going to..."
The person who spoke did not finish his sentence but made a gesture, slashing at his neck.
Han Feng nodded.
"In short, in this Forging Heaven Mountain, with the Nanli Nation's supervision, you will be much safer."
"Then what about you, Mr. Han?"
"I have to go out for a trip."
The Xiao family members opened their mouths, wanting to say something, but when they recalled that Han Feng had even defeated Duan Hong before, they figured he didn't need them to worry.
"Okay, Mr. Han. Please be careful. The Forging Heaven Pavilion has a long legacy, and their foundation is definitely more than just the Heaven Suppressing Hammer."
"Mm."
Han Feng nodded, then turned and left.
The Forging Heaven Pavilion disciple who had been monitoring nearby immediately went to report.
Han Feng had gone down the mountain.
———
In the Forging Heaven Mountain Range, the clouds swirling around the peak suddenly dimmed.
Rolling thunder rumbled in the surroundings, and one after another, beams of light flickered.
Han Feng stopped, all was quiet, and the birds and insects fell silent.
"Are they here?"
He looked up at the sky and saw twenty-four figures in black robes surrounding him from above.
"Han Feng, I warned you before, but you wouldn't listen. In that case, I can't do anything."
Duan Hong appeared on the cliff with Duan Tianci, as if they had found an excellent viewing spot to enjoy Han Feng's final moments.
"This Spirit Refining Formation was specially prepared for you. Enjoy it."
As his voice fell, the twenty-four black-robed figures offered up twenty-four spirit beads that emitted a bright light, concluding a huge formation.
The formation sealed the surrounding space and actually formed a slowing field.
Han Feng looked around but couldn't find an escape route. Even the ground beneath his feet was sealed by the formation.
"The Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Beads are a spirit weapon in no way inferior to the Heaven Suppressing Hammer, specifically targeting cultivators with a speed advantage."
Duan Hong smiled coldly.
"I'd like to see how you'll dodge this time."
One by one, puppets rose from the formation. It seemed the other party had made preparations long ago.
Han Feng glanced at this formation, slightly surprised in his heart.
To think that the Forging Heaven Pavilion had such a foundation. Let's not talk about these large numbers of sixth-tier puppets for now.
If his senses were not wrong, the auras emanating from those twenty-four people were all at the Dou Ancestor level.
Han Feng moved his muscles and joints. The Red Emperor Armor automatically covered his entire body. Two vermilion bird wings suddenly ignited behind him, and the scorching firelight illuminated the darkness.
"Jin Xi, time to come out and work."
A golden saber flew out and transformed into the figure of a golden-haired young girl in mid-air.
"My lord, are these all enemies that need to be slain?"
Han Feng gave a hum, and formed a seal with his hands.
"Flame God's Descent!"
Boom!
The aura on his body instantly skyrocketed, and the soaring Dou Qi directly shook the formation.
"Let's end this quickly."
"Yes."
Han Feng and Jin Xi turned into a red and a golden shadow, instantly disappearing from their original spots.
In just three seconds, all the sixth-tier puppets in the arena were dealt with.
Duan Hong was already feeling that something was not right.
But seeing that the formation formed by the Sea-Calming Beads was still stable, he felt slightly relieved.
As long as Han Feng was in this Spirit Refining Formation, he would be finished sooner or later.
At that time, all the spirit weapons on his body would belong to the Forging Heaven Pavilion!
Han Feng scanned the positions of the twenty-four people, stomped his foot, and a huge green lotus slowly rose.
"Green Lotus Fallen Kill Formation!"
Han Feng's soul power locked onto the twenty-four people, and he pointed his finger.
"Break for me!"
The formless and shapeless Fallen Heart Flame instantly shot out, directly ignoring the formation barrier, and ignited in the hearts of the twenty-four people.
Boom!
The Dou Qi of the twenty-four people instantly fell into disarray. The Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Beads barrier weakened. Jin Xi seized the opportunity and slashed out with her saber.
The void shattered, and the barrier became much more illusory.
Han Feng followed up with a punch and slammed it on the illusory barrier. The firelight was violent, and the barrier shattered in response.
Jin Xi did not pause at all and charged at the twenty-four people.
However, when the saber light hit the twenty-four people, it actually made a sound like metal clashing.
Han Feng's eyes narrowed slightly. He controlled the flames to spread, and the surrounding matter was all incinerated.
The black clothes on the twenty-four people turned to nothing, revealing the twenty-four human puppet figures inside.
"Human puppets."
Han Feng frowned. The Forging Heaven Pavilion had actually touched this taboo.
Logically, human puppets were completely banned in the Nanli Empire.
"Damn it!"
Duan Hong crushed the control light bead in his hand, his aura becoming extremely unstable.
"How could he possibly break the Sea-Calming Formation!"
It was over now. Han Feng had discovered the secret of the twenty-four human puppets. If this was leaked, the reputation of the Forging Heaven Pavilion would fall to rock bottom.
"Father, what do we do?"
Duan Tianci panicked.
Duan Hong's eyes were sinister.
"What do we do? Of course, we kill him!"
The Heaven Suppressing Hammer was summoned. While Han Feng was still dealing with the twenty-four human puppets, Duan Hong smashed down from the sky.
The full-strength attack of a three-star Dou Venerate was extremely swift and fierce. Han Feng dodged in time, but was still sent flying by the aftershock.
Several human puppets were accidentally injured, but Duan Hong didn't care about that at this moment. The Heaven Suppressing Hammer whistled and danced, actually forming an extremely strong field.
Han Feng recalled Jin Xi to his hand, gripped the golden saber, and took a deep breath.
"Void Shatter!"
Hwa!
The long saber slashed out. With the amplification of the Red Emperor Armor, the power of this slash was even greater than before, enough to threaten the life of a three-star Dou Venerate.
The saber light and the hammer shadow collided, and a frightening airwave erupted in the sky. The surrounding mountain soil and trees were all overturned.
The two fought from the ground to the high sky. The continuous commotion dispersed the clouds.
This was the first time Han Feng had fought so heartily. Various Dou Skills were unleashed, and his state gradually entered its peak.
On the other hand, Duan Hong was filled with shock and uncertainty in his heart, and even had a premonition of the crisis of death.
Even if he had carelessly lost to Han Feng on the martial arts stage before, he had only compromised because of shame. He had never thought that he would really die at the hands of this Dou Ancestor.
"Die!"
The Heaven Suppressing Hammer danced with a heavy shadow. Three hammers merged into one, smashing fiercely at Han Feng.
Han Feng's soul power resonated with Jin Xi. The two of them breathed at the same frequency, as if they had become one.
Man and saber as one!
"Thought Ceases, Wind Ceases."
Han Feng slashed out. It looked ordinary, and even the airflow around him did not seem to be stirred.
However, the next instant, the Heaven Suppressing Hammer was fixed in place by the long saber.
Such a huge might was actually instantly neutralized.
Duan Hong stood frozen in place, his body stiff and unable to move.
Every muscle in his body felt as if it was being cut by a sharp blade. At this moment, an uncontrollable pain erupted, but his body was unable to move, and he could only feel the pain in his soul.
Han Feng silently walked to Duan Hong's side and saw the pleading in his eyes.
"The father is to blame for the son's lack of teaching. Duan Tianci has already been executed. Go and accompany him."
He had originally thought that Duan Tianci's arrogance was his own bad habit, but he hadn't expected that Duan Hong, his father, was even worse.
No wonder the other party was so unscrupulous.
The Spirit Devour secret technique was unleashed, and Han Feng refined Duan Hong's soul body.
On the other side, the puppet Han Feng had secretly sent out had also perfectly completed its work, bringing back Duan Tianci's corpse.
Duan Hong had chosen a good place. It was quite quiet here, and there was plenty of time to deal with the scene.
After collecting the useful things, Han Feng burned away the traces of the battle with a fire.
The twenty-four Sea-Calming Beads were each an eighth-grade low-level spirit artifact. When used together, their power was no less than an eighth-grade high-level spirit artifact.
Compared to the Heaven Suppressing Hammer, the Sea-Calming Beads were actually more troublesome. If used properly, perhaps even a four-star Dou Venerate would have to die with regret.
No wonder Duan Hong was so certain that he couldn't break the Sea-Calming Formation.
But unfortunately, he hadn't expected that he had a wondrous item like the Fallen Heart Flame, which directly ignored the formation and interfered with the operation core of the twenty-four human puppets, causing a loophole in the formation, which was then broken by him in one fell swoop.
The two unique skills, the "Heaven Refining Hand" and the "Soul Forging Art," were also sorted out by Han Feng from Duan Hong's memories. He could browse through them in the future to see if they were really that magical and could refine all things in the world.
Duan Hong's strength was actually not weak, but unfortunately, he had met him.
Han Feng's figure disappeared in the mountain range.
A few days later, the news of the Forging Heaven Pavilion's Pavilion Master, Duan Hong, disappearing spread in the Forging Heaven Mountain Range.
The culprit, Han Feng, had snuck out of the mountain range's secret land with a large pile of spirit ores and a vein of spirit essence.
Relying on Duan Hong's memories and the sensory ability of the Innate Primordial Magnetism, Han Feng had been digging for treasure in the Forging Heaven Mountain Range for the past few days, and had even taken a trip to the Forging Heaven Pavilion's treasury.
Not to mention the spirit ores that were revered as treasures, the vein of spirit essence was the essence of a spirit vein. After being stolen by Han Feng, the output of spirit ores in the Forging Heaven Mountain Range would probably decrease year by year.
The Medicine Saint Valley was a place where grass and trees gathered, but its terrain was too low and not suitable for placement. So Han Feng prepared to transfer the vein of spirit essence to the Falling Star Pavilion, to benefit his former home.
With Venerate Feng, a weapon refining grandmaster, there, this precious vein of spirit essence would definitely not be wasted.
On the way back, Han Feng heard that the name of the Xiao family's ancestor, a Dou Venerate, had already spread.
It seemed this old treasure had chosen to come out of the mountains after all.
Perhaps it was because the Xiao family had been in the limelight too much this time. If he didn't stand up, the Xiao family's number one position would very likely be unstable.
Or perhaps, seeing his two clansmen being so competitive, Xiao Tianbao's heroism had gradually grown, and he had decided not to hide anymore.
All in all, with him, a Dou Venerate, presiding, and the news of the Forging Heaven Pavilion's Pavilion Master disappearing, it would probably not be long before the ranking of the four major artifact sects would completely change.
The former number one would be gone forever, and the former laggard would become the most powerful artifact sect.
The important person who had caused this change, Han Feng, had now disappeared without a trace, as if he had never existed.
But no one in the Xiao family dared to forget that it was this "Mr. Han" who had led them to victory in the conference and brought the Xiao family back to life.
———
Han Feng knew that the Xiao family members had safely returned to Red Feather City, so he used the Void God Stele to transfer to the Falling Star Pavilion.
After resting in Yao Chen's room for two days, he found an opportunity to bury the vein of spirit essence at the foot of a remote mountain peak in the Star Region Pavilion.
After the work was officially completed, Han Feng sensed the puppet he had previously sent to the Northwest Continent and used the Void God Stele to cross a super long distance, returning directly to Jia Nan Academy.
At this time, the puppet was sitting blankly in the forest outside Jia Nan Academy.
Han Feng's figure stepped out of the void. Looking at the puppet sitting blankly beside him, he retrieved the spatial anchor point from its body.
"I'm finally back."
Han Feng let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if he had returned home in glory.
During these days, he had naturally advanced to the five-star Dou Ancestor realm, and his foundation was solid.
It was also thanks to that hearty battle with Duan Hong. Otherwise, Han Feng would not have advanced to the five-star level so quickly; at most, he would have reached the four-star level.
"I wonder how Xian'er and the others are doing."
Han Feng remembered that he had promised to come back in half a year. He shouldn't be overdue, right?