In the afternoon, Han Feng was in his room, looking through the map of the Northwest Continent.
He needed to plan out which places required manpower and which places could be entrusted to others for searching.
In the Jia Ma Empire, the Miteer commercial firm was spread all over the country, so their intelligence network could be used for the search.
As for the nearby Chu Yun Empire, Luo Yan Empire, and Mu Lan Empire, Han Feng hadn't really been involved with them, so he would need to go there and take a look.
The Black-Corner Region had a special geographical location, surrounded by three great empires.
The above were all empires to the west of the Black-Corner Region.
To the east of the Black-Corner Region was the famous Heavenly Snake Empire.
Its leading faction, the Heavenly Snake Mansion, was one of the most powerful forces in the Northwest Continent, with a Dou Venerate expert presiding over it.
To the south of the Black-Corner Region was another huge empire, the Lion Underworld Empire.
Its leading faction, the Lion Underworld Sect, was also a first-class faction in the Northwest Continent, with a Dou Venerate presiding over it.
These empires were constantly at war with each other, each wanting to unify the continent. However, since no one's strength could crush the other forces, they had been in a stalemate.
The mixture of large and small forces undoubtedly increased the difficulty of the search.
While Han Feng was thinking, someone came to visit outside the courtyard.
Han Feng put down the scroll, went to the front yard, and opened the door.
"Elder Han."
Shi Yuan made a Buddhist gesture.
"Elder Shi Yuan?"
Han Feng quickly invited him in.
The two sat down in the tea room, and Han Feng brewed tea to entertain his guest.
"In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed since we last parted."
Han Feng put the tea leaves into the pot and brewed them slowly over a low fire.
"How is your health recently?"
Back when Han Feng dispelled the demonic qi for him, he found that his life source was severely damaged, with only twenty years of life left.
Shi Yuan extended his hand, lifted his sleeve, and revealed a mark.
"This is a mark this poor monk planted on himself. The yellow line on it represents the remaining life."
Han Feng's pupils shrank.
Because the yellow line exposed on Shi Yuan's wrist was already nearing the end.
Shi Yuan withdrew his hand and smiled.
"Elder Han need not worry. I have fulfilled my lifelong wish. Now that I can see my benefactor again before passing away, I have no regrets."
Han Feng took a deep breath, his eyes solemn.
"How can this be?"
Logically, Elder Shi Yuan should still have quite a few days to live.
Unless he had suffered another incurable heavy injury in these years, overdrawing his body.
Shi Yuan did not explain, still maintaining a calm smile on his face.
"Let's not talk about this poor monk. Elder Han's current appearance suggests a great opportunity."
Han Feng was surprised.
Many people had seen Han Feng before and thought that his current appearance was a negative state.
Only Shi Yuan saw at a glance that Han Feng had obtained a great opportunity.
Han Feng smiled. "It was indeed a great opportunity, but I also have to thank Elder Shi for gifting me the technique back then. Without your Brahma Mantra, I wouldn't have been able to comprehend it."
"Fate arises and extinguishes. Elder Han is a fated person, so it is fitting for you to have this progress."
Shi Yuan smiled.
"Where is that girl who was with you back then?" Han Feng suddenly asked.
He remembered that Shi Yuan had a disciple named Qin Miaoyin back then.
Hearing this, Shi Yuan's expression changed slightly. Han Feng keenly captured a trace of grief, helplessness, and self-blame flashing through the other party's heart.
"She found a better home."
Shi Yuan closed his eyes, hiding the sadness revealed in his heart.
Little did he know, the fluctuations in his heart had already been sensed by Han Feng.
"Did something happen?"
Shi Yuan nodded slightly but was unwilling to say more.
"Elder Han, this poor monk has one last request."
Han Feng's face changed. He sensed that the vitality in Shi Yuan's body was rapidly converging.
He immediately prepared to extend Shi Yuan's life, but saw the other party slowly raise his hand, stopping his action.
"Elder Han, this poor monk has lived enough. My fate has come to an end. There is no need to trouble yourself anymore."
"If Elder Han has time in the future, could you send this poor monk's sarira to the Buddhist Sect in the Eastern Xuan Continent and give it to my senior brother, Fa Ming?"
Han Feng's movement paused. Seeing Shi Yuan's eyes, he finally sighed.
"Farewell."
Shi Yuan smiled with relief and slowly put his hands together.
He drank the tea in his cup in one gulp, then stood up and walked towards the door.
"Elder Han, take care!"
Han Feng watched silently as his back gradually moved away, knowing that this parting would be forever.
Shi Yuan returned to his courtyard. At this time, he was the only one in the entire room, lonely and cold.
Scenes from his life flashed through his mind, and a trace of enlightenment suddenly appeared in his eyes.
"Amitabha."
Waves of golden light spread from his body. Shi Yuan's body dissolved in the golden light. As the last wisp of vitality dissipated, a golden sarira replaced Shi Yuan's original position.
————————————
Looking at the golden sarira on the seat, Han Feng was silent.
A reunion that was hard to come by, but passed in a flash.
Shi Yuan died willingly, without leaving any residual soul. He was like most ordinary people, silently ending this life.
Putting the sarira into a treasure box, Han Feng noticed a letter on the table.
Opening it, it was Shi Yuan's last words.
"In this life, Shi Yuan has no magnificent deeds. Since leaving the Buddhist Sect to experience the world, I have gone astray and violated the precepts, too ashamed to return to the Buddhist Sect. However, Shi Yuan kept the teachings of the Buddhist Sect in mind. When encountering injustice, I would lend a helping hand. If I spend the rest of my life as an ascetic monk who is happy to help others, it would not be a waste of the Buddhist Sect's cultivation."
"But even with unity of knowledge and action, who would have thought that the world is unpredictable and demons are rampant. This poor monk had to fight with his life to suppress them."
"My disciple Miaoyin is intelligent, kind, and has excellent talent. The thing I regret most is that after bringing her to the Sound Valley, I neglected to care for her, causing her to deviate from the path."
"But there is no medicine for regret in the world. I only hope that Miaoyin can be honest with herself in the future and live a new life."
"Elder Han, when you see this letter, this poor monk should have left this world. I regret not being able to discuss words with you over wine again. Sorry, sorry. The first precept this poor monk broke back then was greed for cups, haha."
"On the left side of the bookshelf, third column, fifth row, there is a hidden compartment mechanism. The things inside might be of some help to Elder Han."
The content of the letter came to an abrupt end. Han Feng put away the letter, went to the bookshelf, found the described location, and pressed the mechanism.
Click.
The hidden compartment in the room opened. Han Feng looked inside and found that they were all Buddhist scriptures, personally written by Shi Yuan stroke by stroke.
These things were of little value to outsiders, but for Han Feng, who was new to the Brahma Dao, they were a direction for learning.
Since the awakening of the Fallen Heart Flame, Han Feng had vaguely guessed that the "Flame Mantra" might be related to Buddhism and the Brahma Dao.
This gift from Elder Shi Yuan was indeed of great help to Han Feng.
Thinking that the other party had passed away, Han Feng sighed.
"Sound Valley..."
What kind of changes had happened to Elder Shi's disciple that made him write it as his biggest regret in the letter?
Han Feng couldn't help but think of the experience between him and Yao Chen.
A wave of worry arose out of thin air.
Master wouldn't have committed suicide like Elder Shi because he couldn't think things through, right?
Han Feng's expression was uncertain.
Thinking about it carefully, Master shouldn't do that.
The reason Elder Shi Yuan chose to end his own life was that his days were numbered. But Master was a Dou Venerate. Whether it was his soul source or life level, he was higher than a Dou Ancestor.
The chances of him surviving were still very high.
But he had to speed up the progress. When Han Feng thought that Yao Chen might be like Shi Yuan, quietly passing away in a certain place after being heartbroken by his disciple, he blamed himself endlessly.
Shi Yuan's experience served as a mirror for Han Feng, making him secretly decide to speed up the progress.
Even if he had to use some special means, he didn't care anymore.
Early the next morning, Han Feng explained the passing of Elder Shi Yuan to Su Qian.
Su Qian immediately let out a long sigh.
"He was a friend of the headmaster, and their relationship was quite good. Unfortunately, the headmaster has not returned yet and missed seeing him one last time."
Han Feng expressed his wish to keep Shi Yuan's courtyard, and Su Qian agreed.
Two days later, Han Feng left Jia Nan Academy and returned to Feng City.
At this time, the Maple Forest Guard had already notified the large and small factions in the Black-Corner Region, inviting them to attend the Full Moon Banquet in three days.
Han Feng decided to complete the formal unification of the Black-Corner Region at the banquet.
————————————
Su Mei, the master of the Rakshasa Gate, came to Feng City with the treasures offered this time.
Hearing that City Lord Han had finally returned this time, as a "veteran" who had submitted long ago, she naturally had to express her attitude actively.
Now the strength of the Rakshasa Gate could be ranked in the top ten in the Black-Corner Region. Su Mei was very glad for the decision she made back then.
Walking with an enchanting gait, Su Mei entered the city gate.
She went directly to the City Lord's Mansion to pay a visit, wanting to see Han Feng.
However, the Maple Forest Guard stopped her. "Gate Master Su, the City Lord has ordered that no outsiders are to be seen today."
Outsider?
Su Mei was stunned, looking at the City Lord's Mansion with some disappointment.
It would be great if she could become an insider someday.
She fantasized unrealistically.
Maple Building Bamboo Forest.
The massive Dou Qi in Han Feng's body slowly rotated, breaking through the limit and reaching the two-star Dou Venerate realm.
Reaching the Dou Venerate rank, each star level required a long time of accumulation, unless one devoured a Heavenly Flame with energy reaching the Dou Venerate rank.
But due to the matter of finding Yao Chen, Han Feng hadn't been able to attend to the Mysterious Yellow Flame immediately.
So he could only take it slowly for now.
However, Han Feng's soul had recovered now, and he could unleash his full power without any scruples. So a six-star Dou Venerate was Han Feng's true combat power level.
Under the nourishment of the Vermilion Bird's spirit, the spirituality of the Red Emperor Armor gradually improved, and its functions were gradually unlocked.
The most powerful one was the liberation of the flame laws, opening a small-range Red Emperor Domain.
This was an ability that only experts above the Half-Saint level possessed.
But through the Saint weapon, it could be displayed at the Dou Venerate rank.
With the Red Emperor Domain, even high-level Dou Venerates were nothing to fear.
Han Feng walked out of the bamboo building and came to the grave he had built for Yao Chen when he first transmigrated.
[Tomb of Benevolent Master Yao Chen]
Han Feng reached out and gently wiped the tombstone, removing the dust.
This grave was not only for the Yao Chen of this world.
It was also for the Yao Chen of his previous life.
"Master, I will definitely find you."
Han Feng murmured to himself.
The south wind blew, and the bamboo leaves rustled.
Han Feng looked up, letting the breeze brush his cheeks, enjoying a moment of peace.
——————————
Full Moon Night.
This was a very traditional festival.
Because of the significant characteristics of the time, tonight's moon would present the fullest shape of the year.
For cultivators, this day was also a day of grace when the energy of heaven and earth was higher than at other times.
Many cultivators with insufficient resources would look forward to the arrival of this day, attempting to break through at midnight, which would be easier than usual.
As evening fell, the banquet in Feng City also began to admit guests.
The leaders of the large and small factions in the Black-Corner Region entered the venue one by one and took their seats according to their status.
Sitting at the very front were the Great Elder of the Demon Flame Valley, Fang Yan, and Mo Tianxing of the Black Emperor Sect.
Fang Yan was an expert at the peak of the nine-star Dou Emperor realm. The valley master of the Demon Flame Valley, Old Demon Di, was in seclusion all year round, so he managed the entire faction on weekdays.
This time, it was also because Old Demon Di was still in seclusion that Fang Yan came to the appointment.
Mo Tianxing's aura was much deeper. When they first met, he had just broken through to Dou Ancestor. Now he had probably reached the level of a mid-level Dou Ancestor.
When the time was about right, Han Feng entered from the backstage.
His appearance instantly attracted the attention of everyone present.
Seeing Han Feng again, a trace of surprise flashed in Mo Tianxing's eyes.
Logically, Han Feng was in his prime and shouldn't have white hair so early. With his current appearance, could it be that he had damaged his source in these years?
Fang Yan also began to think in his heart.
The Black-Corner Region was a struggle for benefits. The rapid development of Feng City recently had made many factions jealous, including the Demon Flame Valley.
But because the other party was a city that provided pills, which was a rigid demand, the Demon Flame Valley did not dare to offend them easily.
But if something happened to Han Feng, then something could be done about Feng City.
"Han thanks everyone for coming from afar to attend Feng City's Full Moon Banquet."
"I have been wandering in the Central Plains these years and haven't returned for a long time. I have become estranged from everyone. Now that I am back, I want to take advantage of the festival to get familiar with everyone."
As soon as these words were spoken, many factions echoed them.
"Lord Medicine Emperor is too polite."
"It is our blessing to receive your invitation!"
Han Feng nodded with a smile.
However, soon there were discordant voices.
"What did the Medicine Emperor experience in the Central Plains? Why has his hair turned white?"
"I heard that failing to break through to Dou Ancestor will result in a huge backlash. Could it be that the Medicine Emperor was injured because of this?"
"That can't be right. The Medicine Emperor is a seventh-grade alchemist. Refining a Dou Ancestor-Breaking Pill should be a piece of cake."
Su Mei listened to some bold people discussing unscrupulously there and snorted lightly.
Many years ago, the Medicine Emperor had broken through to Dou Ancestor and subdued the Gold and Silver Elders. How dare these short-sighted people criticize the Medicine Emperor?
Han Feng smiled as he looked at the crowd below. He was not angry, nor did he refute those who spoke rudely.
"Let the banquet begin!"
He said loudly, and delicacies and fine wine were served one after another.
Some people cautiously verified the dishes and only ate them after confirming they were non-toxic.
They only tasted a little, considering it a pass as long as they didn't embarrass Han Feng.
Everyone was extremely wary. Han Feng invited everyone to a banquet, so it was hard to guarantee that he didn't have any bad intentions.
The banquet proceeded as usual, with some entertainment programs performed in turn.
When everyone had eaten almost enough, Fang Yan of the Demon Flame Valley suddenly asked, "Medicine Emperor, you didn't invite us here just to enjoy the festival, did you?"