After refining the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, Han Feng's cultivation increased significantly, breaking through two stars in one fell swoop, from the initial stage of six-star Dou Ancestor to the late stage of eight-star Dou Ancestor.
To be precise, it was three complete stars. If he were to cultivate in his normal state, it would take at least two years to reach this level.
This was one of the great benefits of the Flame Mantra. After refining a Heavenly Flame, he could absorb the energy within it and rapidly increase his cultivation.
In his previous life, Han Feng did not have this treatment when he refined the Mysterious Yellow Flame.
The Dou Qi of a late-stage eight-star Dou Ancestor was clearly much stronger. Han Feng could intuitively feel the improvement.
The Flame Mantra cultivation technique had officially advanced from the mid-level Earth Rank to the high-level Earth Rank.
Sea Heart Flame, Green Lotus Core Flame, Fallen Heart Flame, Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.
The flame formed by the fusion of the four Heavenly Flames presented an indescribably wondrous form.
When fully activated, it actually emitted a colored flame.
"High-level Earth Rank. The next step is the Heaven Rank."
Han Feng clenched his fist, and the colored flame extinguished.
With just four Heavenly Flames, it had advanced to the high-level Earth Rank. The Flame Mantra cultivation technique was now thoroughly mastered.
Outside the legendary Heaven Rank cultivation techniques, this was already the highest level a cultivation technique could reach.
As for the Heaven Rank, that level was something that only a very small number of people possessed, even among Dou Venerates.
Normally, only a Dou Saint expert could truly unleash the power of a Heaven Rank cultivation technique and a Heaven Rank Dou Skill.
If Han Feng wanted to raise the Flame Mantra to the true Heaven Rank, there was probably still a very difficult step to go.
Without further honing the power of the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, Han Feng rested for a while, then stood up and headed for the Purple Shattered Ruins.
More than half a month had passed since he had begun refining the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.
Han Feng was not clear about the specific situation in the Purple Shattered Ruins.
But since the token he had given to the Empress had not shattered, he should still be in time.
The speed of an eight-star Dou Ancestor was nearly double what it was before. Han Feng advanced at full speed.
He did not choose to go directly through the Void God Stele, because he still had to save some energy for a rainy day.
Above Jade Pass City, a flame light shadow flashed past. The monitoring army had not even seen clearly what it was before they lost sight of the target.
However, at this time, there were few troops left in the city. Most of them had been thrown into the battle of the Purple Shattered Ruins, so there was no time for regulation.
After Han Feng approached the Purple Shattered Ruins, he found that the number of troops stationed at the outer perimeter was several times more than before he had left.
For an ordinary person to enter the Purple Shattered Ruins was to exchange their lifespan for battle.
No matter how rich the empire was, it was difficult to support so many troops with protective equipment. At this critical moment, everyone could no longer care about their own safety.
Because once they retreated, the country they were protecting behind them would suffer a devastating disaster.
Han Feng scanned the area with his soul power but did not find any acquaintances.
So he stopped an injured guard and asked about the current situation.
The guard told him that the battle in the Purple Shattered Ruins was originally about to be won, but that night, the evil beasts suddenly rioted again. All the Dou Ancestor and Dou Venerate level combatants were dispatched, but it was still difficult to stop the other side.
So the Empress personally went down to the battlefield to intercept the evil beasts with the soldiers.
He was a wounded soldier who had retreated two days ago and was now responsible for guarding the camp.
After learning the news, Han Feng did not linger and flew towards the Purple Shattered Ruins.
The sights along the way were unbearable to look at.
Those soldiers who were once full of vigor were now all seriously injured, their auras weak, and their bodies invaded by evil qi. They would have to suffer for at least a few months.
It would be fine if the Nanli Empire won, but if they were defeated, how could the endangered Nanli Nation care about these wounded soldiers?
Han Feng suddenly thought of Ye Qingyun. If she were present, perhaps she could greatly alleviate the pain of these wounded soldiers.
The Azure Wood Longevity Body's Rain of Life was a large-scale healing secret technique.
Unfortunately, it could only be used by a Dou King expert. He didn't know if Qingyun had broken through.
But it was useless to think about these things now. One Ye Qingyun could not save the entire country's situation.
Han Feng entered the Purple Shattered Ruins, and his brows immediately furrowed.
How had the evil qi energy between heaven and earth become so thick?
Looking over, he saw a dense army formation in front, engaged in a contest with the evil beasts.
Metal halberds appeared and disappeared in the air. The soldiers' Dou Qi was almost depleted, and they could only hold on bitterly.
The evil beasts on the other side were not having a good time either. Every time the golden halberd swung, it would take the lives of dozens or hundreds of evil beasts. But they did not fear death at all and kept charging forward.
Among the generals present, there was only one five-star Dou Ancestor presiding over the overall situation. None of the other experts could be seen.
Han Feng instantly appeared above the barracks, forming a profound seal with his hand.
Four Heavenly Flames rotated behind him, condensing into a vast energy.
"Lotus Sea Spirit-Fallen Formation!"
"Rise~"
Buzz!
A huge formation appeared under the feet of all the evil beasts. The rich power of the Heavenly Flames overwhelmed the evil qi and directly detonated!
Boom boom boom!
In an instant, heaven and earth trembled. The evil energy in the air rapidly decayed under the power of the four-colored Heavenly Flames. The several thousand evil beasts present were all slaughtered by Han Feng.
The Nanli soldiers looked up in a daze at the god-like figure.
They were saved...
Han Feng had annihilated the army of evil beasts in one blow, but he knew that this was only a part of them. The truly threatening evil beasts had not yet been resolved.
With no time to linger, Han Feng sensed the location of the token and flew quickly in that direction.
The generals and soldiers saluted Han Feng. Although they did not know him, they would forever remember this kindness in their hearts.
After traveling in the Purple Shattered Ruins for a quarter of an hour, Han Feng finally arrived at a continuous mountain range.
At the outer perimeter of the mountain range, the traces of a great battle were very obvious, extending all the way to the entrance of the range, which was enveloped in a thick darkness, making it impossible to see the road ahead.
"A domain?"
Han Feng walked to the entrance. His hand, wrapped in Heavenly Flame, touched the edge of the darkness. He instantly sensed the fluctuation of a domain.
This is bad...
The power of this domain was not as simple as mere spatial laws.
After a cultivator broke through to Dou Ancestor, they would come into contact with spatial power and their lifespan would increase, but the most important thing was the evolution of their body's essence, allowing for more possibilities.
After breaking through to Dou Venerate, their spatial power would be further deepened, but the most important thing was that the cultivator would begin to think about their future direction and comprehend the laws.
After the laws, came the domain.
Generally speaking, only a cultivator whose cultivation had reached the Half-Saint level or higher could unleash this kind of power.
Alternatively, if one cultivated a Heaven Rank cultivation technique or Dou Skill, with good luck, one could also unleash it. For example, the Universe Domain that Han Feng now mastered came from the Heaven Rank Dou Skill "Heaven Origin Finger."
In addition, some rare physiques or rare spiritual objects, when developed to a deep level, could also have the opportunity to unleash a domain.
But this probability was too small. And a cultivator who could develop a domain, how could they be weak? Even if they hadn't reached Half-Saint, they would definitely become one in the future.
Although Han Feng was only a Dou Ancestor, he had the experience of a Dou Saint from his previous life, so he could unleash a domain at the Dou Ancestor stage.
The expert behind the Purple Shattered Ruins couldn't be a Half-Saint, could he?
Thinking of this, Han Feng's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
Even if he also had a domain now, it was only limited to bullying cultivators below the Half-Saint level. If he were to clash with a Half-Saint expert, his domain would probably be broken in a second. There was no comparison.
This had nothing to do with the domain's ability. It was purely that a Half-Saint expert could crush the current Han Feng with a casual blow.
To break laws with power, a very simple truth.
No law can indefinitely resist power.
If it wasn't broken, it was just that the power was not enough.
Whether it was Dou Skills or domains, they were all different means of expression developed under the condition of possessing equal power.
Thinking of this, Han Feng calmed down.
The current situation was not something he could change alone. Even if the other party was not a Half-Saint, but a high-level Dou Venerate with an extremely deep foundation, it was not someone the current Han Feng could defeat. He could only go and ask the Empress what back-up plan she had.
If it really didn't work...
Han Feng was silent.
He was not a person who got stuck on a single issue. He still had other important things to do, so it was impossible for him to swear to defend the Nanli Nation to the death like the Empress.
As for the Purple Shattered Ruins destroying the Dou Qi Continent?
What a joke. In the nearby Beast Region, there were Dou Saint existences. If those people were angered, they could just send out one to level the Purple Shattered Ruins.
Therefore, the only one truly facing this disaster was the Nanli Empire.
Han Feng's five fingers condensed. The embryonic form of a profound and mysterious domain was born.
In a head-on collision, Han Feng was probably no match. But to break through from the side, for Han Feng, who also possessed a domain, was not difficult.
Five Fingers Define the Universe!
Han Feng pressed his hand, which was emitting a white light, onto the black domain. The originally indestructible barrier actually began to melt, revealing a small loophole.
Han Feng's figure flashed, and he drilled into it.
At this moment, inside the dark domain.
A huge evil eye suddenly turned to the position where Han Feng had entered, a trace of surprise flashing in its pupil.
"Interesting..."
It condensed a ball of black fluid out of thin air and shot it at the Nanli Empress.
The Empress held the Nanming Li Fire Sword, and behind her stood all the experts of this campaign.
A hundred or so people condensed a defensive shield, blocking the black arrow.
"This is not a solution..."
The [Vermilion Bird] puppet's energy had been exhausted, and it could no longer fight. But thanks to its protection, the hundred or so of them had been able to hold on until now.
Unfortunately, it was almost at its end.
Once the Nanming Li Fire was extinguished, the evil eye would definitely kill everyone in an instant.
By now, the Empress had also seen through the other party's plan.
The one that evil eye feared had always been only "Vermilion Bird." It wanted to drag down all the people present who had mastered the power of the Vermilion Bird, and then invade the Nanli Empire, completely destroying the legacy left by the Vermilion Bird.
"Hehehe..."
A sinister laugh came from the evil eye. A chill rose in the Empress's heart.
She could feel that this evil eye's strength was beyond imagination. It was just that it seemed to be in a sealed state, so it could only manipulate the evil energy in the air to attack.
But even so, the combat power it displayed had far surpassed her, a seven-star Dou Venerate. Conservatively estimated, it had already reached the level of a nine-star Dou Venerate.
Although she was very unwilling, the fact was that the two-star gap was enough to crush all of the Empress's resistance.
Moreover, the other party was not an ordinary demon. Behind it, a great terror was hidden!
"Is this the only way..."
The Empress looked at the [Vermilion Bird] that had fallen beside her. Those bright eyes had already dimmed.
But if one looked closely, one could still see a small flame burning in the depths of the mechanical pupils.
The Empress took a deep breath and began to murmur, "Using my body as a guide, I awaken the sleeping spirit of the Vermilion Bird! Please protect the Nanli Empire one last time..."
At this very moment, a figure streaked across the darkness and arrived by the Empress's side.
"Your Majesty, it's me."
The Empress, who was preparing to perform the secret technique, was startled. Only after hearing Han Feng's voice did she feel relieved.
"Han Feng, you succeeded?"
A black thorn shot towards Han Feng. Han Feng had not been included in the defensive perimeter. He raised his hand and struck out with a four-colored flame. The huge counter-shock force sent him flying. The Empress quickly opened the formation and protected Han Feng inside.
Inside the formation, Yao Tianhuo breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Han Feng.
He's finally here...
"Your Majesty, what is your plan?" Han Feng didn't waste any words and asked directly.
The Empress looked at the evil eye in the distance and sighed. "The opponent is too strong. I plan to sacrifice my life to awaken the Vermilion Bird's spirit and seal it directly."
"The Vermilion Bird's spirit?"
Han Feng's eyes lit up.
Isn't this a coincidence?
The Myriad Beast Spirit Flame had just been refined and was in need of a powerful beast spirit for protection.
"Let me try."
The Myriad Beast Spirit Flame ignited in Han Feng's hand.
"This Heavenly Flame has a special effect on beast spirits. If Your Majesty is willing to trust me, I can try to awaken the Vermilion Bird's spirit."
The Empress pondered for a few seconds. The other side sent another black thorn striking over. She raised her hand to block it, and her face turned a few shades paler.
"The Vermilion Bird's spirit is hidden in the puppet's core."
Although she didn't have much hope for Han Feng, after all, the gap in strength was there, Han Feng's words gave her a tiny glimmer of light.
If he succeeded, she might not have to die.
If he failed, it would not be too late to offer herself as a sacrifice.
No one wanted to die, especially Sikong Chan, who was only in her fifties.
Her talent was for all to see. She wanted to try to break through that realm and lead the Nanli Empire to new heights.
At that time, no one on the continent would dare to look down on the Nanli Empire.
But all of this was pinned on the three words "stay alive."
Han Feng did not hesitate and walked towards the [Vermilion Bird] on the side.
His gaze swept over [Vermilion Bird]'s entire body. Then, he squatted down at its chest and slowly stretched out his hand, which was entwined with the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.
Buzz!
Upon touching the [Vermilion Bird]'s core, Han Feng vaguely sensed a weak pulse.
That must be the Vermilion Bird's spirit.
But it was so weak. No wonder it required such a great price to awaken.
Moreover, after this awakening, this residual spirit of the Vermilion Bird would probably completely dissipate.
It's a good thing I came.
When an opportunity arrives, it is just this opportune.
Han Feng's eyes closed and opened. A domineering and condescending aura spread out invisibly. He raised his hand and swiped, and the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame transformed into a catalog.
"Profound Meaning of Heavenly Flames ~ Myriad Beast Catalog!"
The moment the catalog appeared, the Vermilion Bird's spirit in the [Vermilion Bird]'s body began to tremble faintly.
On the other side, the evil eye was greatly shocked. Its pupils instantly contracted, and it quickly gathered a large amount of evil qi, preparing to interrupt this sudden variable.
Han Feng's gaze was fixed on the Vermilion Bird's core. As if seeing through the years, he saw the divine beast that had suppressed the southern lands in the ancient times.
"Divine Beast Vermilion Bird, return to your place!"
"Chirp!"
As his voice fell, a cry that resounded through the clouds rose in response.
In the Empress's shocked gaze, behind Han Feng, a Vermilion Bird, its body burning with raging flames, slowly spread its wings.