The appearance of the Dou King legion made everyone in the audience hold their breath.
A full hundred sounds of heaven and earth resonating rang out in the air. An endless stream of heaven and earth energy flowed and gathered like a great river.
A Dou King expert could preliminarily communicate with the inner and outer worlds and control the energy of heaven and earth.
The scene before them now had far surpassed the scope that a Dou Emperor expert could control.
Unlike the ground troops from before, the Dou King legion had mastered air superiority and was a lineup that could truly contend with high-level cultivators.
The ground troops lacked this aspect of mobility.
After the Dou King legion's demonstration, various troops came on stage in sequence, among them was the Xue family's army led by Xue Yi, which used a spear and shield combination weapon.
Han Feng suddenly thought of the dense army stationed near the Purple Shattered Ruins.
What was displayed at the military parade was probably only one-tenth of the actual number, or perhaps not even that. The vast majority of the troops were holding fast at their posts.
However, just these who had appeared at the ceremony were already stunning enough.
The military parade was held in a quiet and solemn manner. No one in the stands spoke, but the excited and proud expressions on the faces of the Nanli Empire's citizens were undisguised.
With such a powerful army guarding them, the Nanli Empire would continue to be peaceful and prosperous.
It was just that these ordinary people did not know that the battle situation at the border was already urgent. A great battle with heavy casualties could break out there at any time.
If the crisis the Nanli Empire was encountering this time could not be resolved, it would lead to the fall of the entire southern region of the empire.
In the future, it might even spread further, until it destroyed this country.
Time passed bit by bit, and the military parade also came to an end.
Following a soaring firelight from the center of Zhuque City, the empire's most powerful weapon was revealed.
The sky-piercing puppet, [Vermilion Bird], with the strength of a six-star Dou Venerate, slowly spread its metal wings.
A powerful aura swept over, and everyone's body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Even though they were prepared, they still found it difficult to cope when they felt its pressure once again.
The [Vermilion Bird] circled over the imperial capital, displaying its powerful stance, before flying back and entering a dormant state.
There were also differences between eighth-grade spirit artifacts. This [Vermilion Bird] puppet was undoubtedly in the strongest category.
Han Feng looked at the [Vermilion Bird] returning to the imperial palace, his eyes moving slightly.
He, who was extremely sensitive to flames, had sensed a different kind of aura from that puppet just now.
There seemed to be a strange flame hidden in its body.
It was not a Heavenly Flame, but its level was definitely not low.
The Nanli Empress's voice sounded at this moment.
She said a few concluding words, and then announced the successful conclusion of the military parade.
The purpose of the military parade was, one, to warn the sects, and two, to boost the morale of the people.
Today, both had been achieved.
The Nanli Empress left the stage, surrounded by the crowd. The populace looked at that vermilion figure with extremely reverent eyes.
For a monarch to have such cohesive power, it was not only because of the country's system, but also because of her personal charm.
Han Feng didn't know much about this Nanli Empress, but at the banquet tonight, he would be able to see her up close.
"What did you think?"
After leaving the venue, Han Feng asked Medusa in the carriage.
"It was very shocking," Medusa answered truthfully.
Putting aside everything else, just the rare military formations and the sudden appearance of a hundred-member Dou King legion had already dealt a heavy blow to Medusa's shallow heart.
So, Dou Emperors and Dou Ancestors were not that powerful?
Medusa asked herself, if she were to encounter such an enemy, could she defeat them?
The answer was no.
The strength of the Nanli Empire lay not only in its top-tier combat power, but also in its vast middle class, which was enough to support the safe operation of the entire empire.
"The power of the group cannot be underestimated," Han Feng couldn't help but sigh.
In the eyes of most cultivators, huddling together for warmth was an effective way to enhance one's strength.
Only those cultivators standing at the pinnacle would feel that it was lonely at the top, and that there were few, or even no, objects for them to unite with.
The military system researched by the Nanli Empire was truly unique. They made good use of external objects to enhance the strength of their soldiers and improve their safety.
This was the biggest benefit of the art of weapon refining.
Through layers of armament, it protected people's safety to the greatest extent, allowing them to go all out in battle without any worries.
Without the art of weapon refining and those special weapons, the strength of the Nanli Empire's army would be greatly reduced.
Han Feng had seen the inner workings.
All tricks were useless in the face of absolute strength.
But for those ordinary soldiers, weapon refining was the best choice.
What she had seen at the military parade today had brought about a significant change in Medusa.
The Snake-People Tribe also had places where they forged weapons and armor, but their technology was too backward compared to the Nanli Empire.
If they could emulate the Nanli Empire and build a king's army, it would surely boost morale.
Unfortunately, the Snake-People Tribe was lacking in both technology and basic infrastructure.
Resources, resources!
All problems returned to the original point.
Medusa glanced at Han Feng, who was beside her. She hesitated for a moment, but in the end, did not speak.
She knew that this man would not refuse her personal request for alchemy, but if she wanted him to help the Snake-People Tribe, there was probably little hope.
She still had to rely on herself.
However, Han Feng seemed to have seen through Medusa's thoughts and smiled. "Are you thinking about how to improve the strength of the Snake-People Tribe?"
Medusa was startled and looked up at Han Feng.
"No need to be so surprised. Your thoughts are quite easy to guess," Han Feng said with a smile.
Medusa's expression darkened slightly, but she still said, "I was thinking, if the Snake-People Tribe could possess the weapons of the Nanli Empire, then perhaps our strength could rise to another level."
"A good idea, but the weapons of the Nanli military are absolutely top-secret. They won't agree to trade with you," Han Feng reminded her realistically.
Medusa nodded. Her expression didn't change, but she still felt a little discouraged.
"Your Snake-People Tribe has accumulated strength for so long. If you really want to find a new territory, it shouldn't be difficult, right?"
"With neighboring countries on all four sides, how can it be as easy as you say?"
Han Feng smiled lightly.
"That's right. Everyone has their own difficulties to face. In the end, they still have to solve them themselves."
"So, when are you planning to go back?"
Han Feng had always felt that Medusa should not stay by his side.
Before, it was because her strength was not enough. If she returned as a Dou King, she would inevitably be in an awkward situation.
But now that she had broken through to Dou Emperor and had the ability to take charge of the situation again, she should go back soon.
Medusa did not answer this question, but instead asked, "That Purple Shattered Ruins, is that the difficulty the Nanli Empire has to face?"
"Is it very dangerous there?"
Han Feng nodded. "Even an empire as powerful as the Nanli Empire will have to pay a painful price to pacify this crisis."
Medusa's eyes flickered upon hearing this.
Chaos is a ladder for advancement. Perhaps she could get what she wanted from it.
Returning to the hotel, Han Feng was surprised to see Zi Yan being chased and scolded by an old man.
"Whose stinky brat are you? Give me back my ingredients!"
Zi Yan knew she was in the wrong and didn't talk back, just ran around in circles to dodge.
Due to the inconvenience of using excessive Dou Qi in the hotel, the old man could only chase after her carefully, not forgetting to curse wildly.
Seeing Han Feng return, Zi Yan's eyes lit up.
"Uncle, save me!"
Han Feng, looking helpless, reached out and grabbed the back of Zi Yan's collar.
"Tell me, what trouble did you cause?"
Zi Yan's eyes darted around. "I just... saw some very fragrant ingredients and secretly took a little."
"What do you mean 'a little'? How much have you already eaten?"
Seeing that Zi Yan had been caught, the old man also stopped, muttering and cursing.
"Are you this girl's elder?" the old man looked at Han Feng and said.
Han Feng returned a polite smile.
"Old sir, I'm very sorry. I will compensate for any losses you've incurred."
Seeing Han Feng's good attitude, the old man's expression also softened.
"Three stalks of Heavenly Spirit Vine, one Profound Fragrance Fruit, and one Clear Spring Flower."
Han Feng looked at the culprit in his hand with an expressionless face.
You really know how to cause trouble.
Zi Yan smiled sheepishly, her mouth still savoring the strange fragrance of the Profound Fragrance Fruit and the crispness of the Heavenly Spirit Vine.
Han Feng thought for a moment, took out some ingredients of roughly equal value from his storage ring, slightly more than the old man's losses.
"Old sir, what do you think of this compensation? If you are not satisfied, I can go and find the ingredients you are missing in the city."
The old man looked at the ingredients Han Feng handed over, one of which was an extremely rare spirit fruit, and was stunned.
"All these, for me?" the old man asked uncertainly.
Han Feng nodded and handed the ingredients to him.
"Ahem, your attitude is not bad. Then let's just forget about this matter."
The old man coughed twice and then prepared to leave.
However, Han Feng noticed the Wenren family's crest on his clothes and asked, "Is old sir an alchemist from the Wenren family?"
"That's right. What's the matter?" The old man turned his body and looked at Han Feng.
"I am also an alchemist. I wonder if I can have a chat with you, old sir?"
Han Feng put Zi Yan down and asked.
"You can," the old man nodded.
"You two go back to your room first," Han Feng said to Zi Yan and Medusa.
The two women nodded. The former secretly glared at the old man, then quickly fled.
"Hmph..."
The old man looked at Zi Yan's back and snorted.
"That girl of yours is too mischievous."
Han Feng sighed. "She really needs to be disciplined."
The two of them strolled forward.
"Is little brother also invited to attend the banquet?" the old man asked.
This was the upper area of the hotel. Ordinary people were not qualified to stay here.
Especially during the empire's festival period.
"Yes, I came with Senior Xiao Tianbao. Does old sir know him?"
"Brother Tianbao?"
The old man was surprised. "Of course I know him. He and I are old friends."
Han Feng's heart stirred. The old man in front of him was very likely a leader-level figure in the Wenren family.
"So you're his junior. You should have said so earlier!"
The old man's attitude towards Han Feng instantly became much warmer.
It's really different when you have connections.
Han Feng used the topic of the Nanli Empire's pill domain as an opening and started chatting with the old man.
During the conversation, Han Feng learned the other's name.
The old man's name was Wenren Jing, a seventh-grade high-level alchemist, and the patriarch of the Wenren family.
In this region of the Nanli Empire, Wenren Jing's alchemy skills were the undisputed pinnacle.
He had come to the hotel originally to chat with Xiao Tianbao, but the other party was not there, so he had planned to refine pills while waiting.
Unexpectedly, his ingredients were "pilfered" by the "little expert" Zi Yan.
And so, the scene of "you chase, I run" that Han Feng had seen earlier occurred.
"Yesterday, Brother Tianbao asked me for a scroll of intelligence about the exploration of the Purple Shattered Ruins," Wenren Jing said, intentionally or unintentionally.
"Is little brother interested in the Purple Shattered Ruins?"
Han Feng nodded frankly.
Wenren Jing almost laughed.
"Others are trying to avoid that place, but you're actively going towards it."
"I heard from Senior Xiao that as long as one's soul power is strong enough, one won't be affected by what's inside?"
Wenren Jing nodded and gave more precise information. "It's not that you won't be affected. There will always be an influence. It's just that cultivators with strong soul power can resist for a longer time."
"Since you want to explore the Purple Shattered Ruins, I won't persuade you much. But there is one thing you must remember: don't exhaust all your strength in the Purple Shattered Ruins. Once your state drops to its worst, you probably won't be able to come out."
Wenren Jing spoke of some past lessons.
Han Feng listened silently.
"Old sir, the energy in the Purple Shattered Ruins is so dangerous. How do you deal with those who have been eroded?"
"The imperial family's legacy flame can purify the evil qi. Successive generations of Nanli rulers will cast a spell to save people. Apart from those who are forever left in the Purple Shattered Ruins, as long as one can come out alive, we have a way to heal them."
Legacy flame?
Purify the evil qi!
Han Feng felt as if he had discovered a huge secret.
What kind of flame could purify the evil qi that even three Heavenly Flames were helpless against?
Although a Heavenly Flame could also force the evil qi out of the human body to achieve the goal of healing, if one spoke of purification, that was on another level.
"This legacy flame, how many people in the imperial family have it?" Han Feng asked.
Wenren Jing shook his head. "I'm not clear about that, but it probably won't be too many."
If so many people had mastered it, the problem of the Purple Shattered Ruins would not be so troublesome.
The legacy flame was a secret of the imperial family, tracing back to a thousand years ago.
"Of course, after so many years, the imperial family has also researched some methods to suppress the evil qi. Although it cannot be completely purified, it can be regarded as a means for ordinary people to fight against the evil qi."
After all, the soldiers who entered the Purple Shattered Ruins did not have such a wondrous flame to use.
All they had was protective armor, and a pill to clear their souls.
Many cultivators had died after entering the Purple Shattered Ruins, so those who dared to enter, unless they had superb means, had the mentality of facing death.
After Wenren Jing's explanation, Han Feng finally grasped a clue.
The imperial family's legacy flame could purify evil qi.
The flame he had sensed in the [Vermilion Bird] puppet, could it be the legacy flame?
Han Feng thought in his heart about how to use the imperial family's legacy flame to purify the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.
Or, to go all in, and just get the legacy flame directly.