Feng Xian, having recovered from his injuries, slowly walked towards Han Feng.
"Han Feng, what did he say just now?"
Han Feng slowly turned around, his eyes red.
Mu Gu's words had ignited a glimmer of hope in Han Feng's heart. Even though so much time had passed, and this sliver of hope was extremely slim, in Han Feng's eyes, it was as bright as a torch, as radiant as the sun.
"Master... might still be alive."
Like a clap of thunder, Feng Xian stood frozen in place.
Han Feng raised his hand and transmitted that memory to Feng Xian.
Scenes of Mu Gu chasing Yao Chen flashed by one after another, until that familiar soul body figure resolutely leaped into the void storm.
"Soul body... Yao Chen entered the void storm as a soul body..."
Feng Xian's voice trembled.
Even with the protection of a physical body, a human entering a void storm could still die, body and soul destroyed.
Yet Yao Chen, dragging his severely injured soul body, had plunged headfirst into the void storm.
Although this was the only way to escape Mu Gu's pursuit, what Yao Chen faced next was a life-and-death situation.
"Master has the Bone Chilling Flame to protect him. He will definitely be able to get out of the storm."
Han Feng took a deep breath and said firmly.
He had witnessed Venerate Skyfire use the Fallen Heart Flame as a guide to survive for hundreds of years.
His master could definitely do it too.
The only question was, where was he now?
The sudden "surprise" disrupted Han Feng's state of mind.
Like a huge stone thrown into a lake, splashing countless drops of water.
At this moment, nothing else seemed important anymore. Han Feng only wanted to do one thing now: find Yao Chen.
Find that master who might still be in danger.
"I want to go see that void storm myself."
Han Feng checked that memory repeatedly and confirmed the location of the void storm.
"I'll go with you!"
Feng Xian said.
Han Feng nodded and took Feng Xian into the void.
A Dou Venerate expert already possessed the ability to roam the void. As long as they didn't encounter void turbulence or void storms, they could travel steadily.
A day later, Han Feng arrived at his destination at full speed.
Violent void power surged. A void storm was a rare void phenomenon. A hundred years in the human world was but a snap of the fingers for it.
Han Feng summoned the Void God Stele, using this treasure to enhance his affinity with the void.
At the same time, he unleashed the Profound Meaning of the Fallen Heart Flame, entering the [Brahma Heart] state.
Feng Xian watched as Han Feng condensed his soul power into a form and was about to throw it into the void storm. He quickly stopped him.
"What are you doing?"
Putting his soul power in there? Was he seeking death like Yao Chen?
"Only in this way can I find all the paths faster."
Han Feng signaled Feng Xian to let go.
"Uncle-Master, trust me. I am confident."
"If you do this, even if you don't die, your soul power will be severely injured!" Feng Xian roared.
That Han Feng could break through to Dou Venerate at this age was enough to show his talent.
Now seeing him do something that would damage his future, Feng Xian's first reaction was to stop him.
Unknowingly, Feng Xian had once again regarded Han Feng as his nephew-disciple.
"Let me do it."
Feng Xian pushed Han Feng aside and formed a seal with his hands.
His soul power was also at the Spirit Realm level, capable of large-scale perception.
However, just as Feng Xian was preparing to use his soul body to investigate the void storm, a sealing spell was imprinted on his back, stopping him from taking further action.
"Han Feng, you!"
Feng Xian looked behind him in shock.
"Uncle-Master, you are seriously injured now. Doing this kind of thing will really cost you your life."
Han Feng moved Feng Xian aside and took the spell-casting position again.
"Han Feng, are you going to disobey your master's orders?" Feng Xian roared angrily.
"Sorry. This time, forgive your nephew for not being able to obey."
Han Feng stared at the dark eye of the void in front of him, his gaze firm.
The next moment, his soul power surged into the void storm.
Like death by a thousand cuts, tiny void wind blades cut his soul, leaving dense scars.
Han Feng endured the pain, searching for possible paths one by one.
Three hours later, Han Feng's face was as pale as paper, and sweat poured down his face.
The paths in the void storm were difficult to investigate by ordinary means. Even a Dou Venerate expert would not dare to venture in easily.
Otherwise, Mu Gu would have followed him in back then.
Only a powerful Dou Venerate would dare to go in and find out.
But this method was too slow. Even if Han Feng and Feng Xian didn't stop, it might take years, or even decades.
Only by using soul investigation could the answer be found in a short time.
The disadvantage was that his soul power would be greatly damaged.
Within three hours, Han Feng had investigated tens of thousands of possible paths. Even with his current soul strength, he was overwhelmed.
Beside him, Feng Xian watched as Han Feng spared no effort, even risking his life, to find that extremely low-probability answer. His heart felt as if it had been struck hard by a heavy hammer.
The last trace of resentment towards Han Feng in his heart dissipated at this moment.
He had regained his mobility at this moment, but he dared not disturb Han Feng.
At this time, Han Feng's mind was very sensitive and had no defense. If he was impacted by external forces, he might die directly.
Feng Xian protected the surroundings while looking at Han Feng with concern.
Praying secretly in his heart that nothing would happen.
Fortunately, a moment later, Han Feng successfully withdrew his soul.
He staggered back a few steps, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.
"Feng'er, how are you?"
Feng Xian hurried up to support him.
"I'm fine."
Han Feng shook his head, opening his bloodshot eyes.
"Nonsense!"
Feng Xian immediately carried Han Feng on his back, preparing to leave this dangerous area. He looked back at the void storm, a trace of gloom flashing in his eyes, and then flew outward decisively.
Han Feng was too tired. Leaning on Feng Xian's back, he finally fell into a deep sleep.
After an unknown amount of time, Han Feng woke up on the bed in Yao Chen's room in the Falling Star Pavilion.
His first instinct was to prop himself up.
"Senior Brother, you're still injured. Don't move!"
Mu Qingluan was holding a sweat towel and washing it in a basin, her sleeves rolled up high, looking like a working maid.
Seeing Han Feng wake up, Mu Qingluan wiped his face for him.
"Senior Brother, you don't know, you sweated a lot just now."
Feeling the coolness on his forehead, Han Feng let out a long breath.
"Junior Sister, where is Uncle-Master Feng?"
"Oh, why are you in such a hurry? Rest well first. I'll go call Teacher over."
After wiping him clean, Mu Qingluan tidied up Han Feng's appearance before leaving with satisfaction.
A moment later, Feng Xian walked in.
"Uncle-Master."
Han Feng got up but was pressed down by Feng Xian.
"Don't get up. Rest well."
Han Feng leaned against the headboard, his face still pale.
He opened his mouth and said, "The teleportation direction of that void storm is concentrated in the northwest."
Feng Xian was stunned.
"You... found it?"
Han Feng shook his head slightly.
"Only the general direction. But where exactly Master landed, I don't know."
In the void storm, any residual energy would be cleared, so Han Feng couldn't accurately find Yao Chen's whereabouts.
"It's enough. You've done very well."
Feng Xian patted Han Feng's shoulder.
"Northwest. Fortunately, it doesn't lead to everywhere on the continent. We can search slowly."
Based on the location of that void storm, its northwest side, that is, the Northern Region of the Central Plains, the Western Region, and that remote Northwest Continent, were all possible landing spots for Yao Chen after leaving the void storm.
Feng Xian comforted Han Feng not to be too anxious.
Although he was also very worried about Yao Chen in his heart, as the elder of this family currently, Feng Xian knew he couldn't panic.
The probability of finding Yao Chen now was not high, and the things they had to do before were equally important.
Stopping the Hall of Souls' conspiracy was a matter of life and death for the entire Central Plains continent.
Feng Xian knew that he couldn't put everything aside just to search for that sliver of probability.
His emotions needed to be combined with reason.
If he wasted decades just to find Yao Chen, the final result would definitely not be the answer he wanted.
They would search, but they couldn't live just to find Yao Chen.
"Leave the rest to Uncle-Master. You rest well."
After Feng Xian left, Mu Qingluan continued to take on the responsibility of taking care of Han Feng.
"Senior Brother, why do I feel that Teacher's attitude towards you is different?"
Mu Qingluan lay by the bed and said.
Last time it was relatively cold...
She thought there was something bad between her teacher and senior brother.
"Maybe he saw that I was injured, so he couldn't keep a straight face anymore..." Han Feng looked at Mu Qingluan and joked.
"Teacher wouldn't be like that. He's always very gentle," Mu Qingluan retorted.
Han Feng looked up at the ceiling and said, "Yes..."
"Some things..."
Han Feng spoke, then suddenly stopped.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Senior Brother, you're annoying. You don't finish your sentences..." Mu Qingluan said unhappily.
Han Feng smiled lightly.
Some things... will not dissipate with the passage of time.
Master, we will eventually meet.
Right?
——————————
The answer to this question was unknown for the time being, but Han Feng had also calmed down.
It had to be said, Mu Gu was quite capable.
With a sentence or two, he had provoked Feng Xian to the point of almost becoming bedeviled, reversing a great situation.
Before dying, he had used a sentence to deter Han Feng.
If Han Feng didn't know the Spirit Devour secret method, he really wouldn't have been able to kill Mu Gu.
Because both of their soul powers were at the mid-stage of the Spirit Realm, the difference was not that disparate. If the other party resisted desperately, Han Feng wouldn't be able to probe his memories, so he could only torture him slowly to extract information.
But if Mu Gu could endure the pain indefinitely, then Han Feng couldn't do anything to him either.
Han Feng checked his physical condition.
His soul power was severely damaged and could not be fully utilized.
Before, Han Feng's biggest advantage lay in his soul power. Relying on his powerful soul power, he could fight against a Dou Venerate while at the Dou Ancestor stage.
After breaking through to one-star Dou Venerate, he could also match experts at the five-star Dou Venerate level.
Unfortunately, for a short time, this advantage was gone.
Han Feng sensed the Void God Stele and found that its energy was indeed bottomed out, not a single bit left. Moreover, the recovery speed seemed much slower, seemingly due to severe overdraft.
That's true. If not for the Void God Stele covering him, Han Feng's soul would only have been injured more heavily in the void storm.
This could be considered going through thick and thin with him.
However, for a short time, he couldn't go anywhere.
Rest well first.
Han Feng suddenly remembered the gloomy expression on Xian'er's face before he said goodbye to her.
["Then Master, you have to come back quickly."
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon this time."
"Master, you said that last time too, but in the end, you were gone for so long."
"Ah? Did I?"
"Yes!"
...
"So, Master, you have to go and come back quickly this time. Don't make us wait too long."]
Lin Xian'er's gentle and sweet voice was still ringing in his ears.
Han Feng covered his forehead and sighed, "I'm going to break my promise again this time. I, as a master, have lost face."
For the next month.
Han Feng cultivated the Soul Mantra every day and took the soul treasures Feng Xian took out from the Falling Star Pavilion's inventory.
At the same time, he used the power of the stars in the Star Tower to recover from his injuries.
The throbbing pain caused by the soul injury gradually decreased, and Han Feng's condition improved significantly.
"The power of the stars is indeed extraordinary."
After another day of cultivation, Han Feng opened his eyes on the Starfall Platform, feeling that his body's vitality had increased a little more.
Apart from not being able to fully unleash his soul power, he no longer had any adverse reactions.
During this time, Feng Xian also began to make arrangements, conducting investigations based on the clues given by Han Feng.
However, the Northern and Western Regions of the Central Plains were too large. Once the investigation work began, it was unknown when it would stop.
"Uncle-Master."
Han Feng came to Feng Xian's residence and saw him refining weapons in the courtyard.
"You're here."
Feng Xian stopped his work, and a spherical mechanism bead slowly stopped rotating.
What is he refining? A new type of artifact?
Han Feng took a look, then asked, "Uncle-Master, how is the search going?"
Feng Xian took Han Feng indoors, where a huge map of the Central Plains was laid out on the table.
"The location of the void storm is here. Based on the route you detected, I have marked out all the ranges, but there are still too many targets."
Han Feng looked at the huge map, densely covered with tangled red lines, each representing a possible path.
Every inch on this map was a distance unimaginable to ordinary people.
Moreover, his master might not necessarily stay in the same place, which greatly increased the difficulty of the search.
"So I plan to create a new type of artifact that can detect soul bodies."
Feng Xian stated his idea. What he was refining just now was a detection artifact, but it was still in the research and development stage.
Han Feng nodded.
"This method is feasible. I have some friends in the Nanli Continent. Their soul detection artifacts there are very advanced. We can learn a thing or two from them."
"The Nanli Continent?"
Feng Xian was taken aback.
He knew that place. It was a unified country with considerable strength.
"I heard that the weapon refining technology there is a state secret, and exports are restricted. Can your friend make the call?"
Han Feng thought of the beautiful figure in the red imperial robe and nodded slightly. "She should be able to, right?"
"And I plan to make some more changes, adding the sensing criteria for Heavenly Flames. Master carries the Bone Chilling Flame, which is the most prominent sign."
"If it can be done, that would be for the best."
Feng Xian rubbed his chin.
"But I don't know much about Heavenly Flames. I might have to rely on you."
"Don't worry, I'm confident."
Han Feng said confidently.
The corner of Feng Xian's mouth twitched slightly, and he immediately said, "Don't always say 'don't worry.' You almost scared me to death last time!"
Han Feng was stunned and looked at Feng Xian in surprise.
He hadn't expected his Uncle-Master to speak to him in such an intimate tone. This hadn't happened for a long time.
Feng Xian seemed to realize something and lowered his head, coughing twice.
"Ahem, since you've recovered, get moving. We're still short of manpower."
Han Feng smiled, then said, "Uncle-Master, I have a friend in the Western Region named Yao Tianhuo. You can contact him for help. I'll make two trips to the Northern Region later, and I should be able to find helpers there too. As for the Northwest Continent, I will personally take charge of it."
"You have quite a few friends, but you are an alchemist after all, hehe."
Feng Xian also smiled and shook his head.
"Okay, I know. But before you leave, I still want to remind you. Finding Yao Chen's whereabouts is very important, but your safety is even more important. Never do anything as risky as before again."
Han Feng nodded.
"Nephew understands."
Stepping onto the road leaving the Falling Star Pavilion, Han Feng waved goodbye to his Uncle-Master and Junior Sister.
This incident of serious injury had brought him closer to Uncle-Master Feng.
Some things had changed, but also seemed unchanged.
Leaving the Falling Star Pavilion, Han Feng planned to return to the Medicine Saint Valley first.
When he and Yao Tianhuo discovered it back then, it was in the Southern Region.
So the distance wasn't very far.
Most importantly, if he didn't go back soon, Han Feng was worried that Lin Xian'er wouldn't recognize him anymore.