I conquer the immortal with my strength.

Chapter 617 The Teachings, The Return Journey

After explaining all the information she had gathered and investigated, the Red Fire Raven Mother gave an order.

Suddenly——

"Croak—croak—!"

The hoarse, deafening cawing of crows echoed through the valley.

Hundreds and thousands of fire crows flapped their wings in unison, their fiery plumage illuminating the sky. Some soared through the clouds, others swept across mountains and rivers, and still others fled east and west. In an instant, the sky was filled with crimson flames, crisscrossing and intertwining, like a curtain of fire woven into the heavens.

A moment later, the fire shadows gradually dissipated, leaving only countless embers in the world, dancing in the wind like scattered stars.

Inside the True Fire Palace, Xia Daoming sat cross-legged atop a pillar of fire, his golden eyes deep and unfathomable. Watching the fiery shadows recede into the distance, a slight tremor ran through him:

"This trip to Biya Ridge has indeed been worthwhile. We have obtained the fire, won over the hearts of the people, and with scouts scattered everywhere, news will naturally flow in continuously."

Soon after, the Crimson Fire Raven Mother returned to the palace, bowing her head respectfully and saying:
"Master, I have already given the order, and all the spies have been dispatched to various places."

"Very good." Xia Daoming nodded slightly.

The Crimson Fire Crow Mother then presented two storage rings with both hands, her voice solemn:

"These are the main spoils of this battle, as well as the offerings from Jade Raven Ridge."

Xia Daoming casually took it, and with a sweep of his divine sense, he saw a mountain of immortal stones and precious materials piled up inside, and couldn't help but ponder for a moment. He took most of the immortal stones and top-grade nourishing items, and pushed the rest back to the Crimson Fire Crow Mother.

In the path of Qi Refining, the foundation at the True Immortal stage is solid, and the framework is complete. However, the consumption of Immortal Stones is enormous. With each breakthrough in realm, the required Immortal Stones increase almost exponentially. Even though he slew the Black Bear, looted the treasure vault, and today obtained the wealth of the Valley Master of Xuanyuan Valley and the Black and White Twin Fiends, his accumulation is still far from sufficient.

The path of body refinement is similar to that of qi refinement, mainly lacking true water and true fire, as well as top-grade nourishing materials.

Therefore, what is rightfully yours should be accepted.

"Take these and distribute them to your clansmen," Xia Daoming instructed calmly.

"Thank you, sir!" The Crimson Fire Crow Mother felt a warmth in her heart and was immediately relieved.

If the Qingyu Fire Crow Clan were to levy exorbitant taxes, even with protection, they would still perish; but Xia Daoming has shown a measured approach, displaying both authority and benevolence.

She secretly thought to herself: This is a wise ruler.

Xia Daoming smiled and said, "I will not stay here for long. Before I leave, you can summon the elders of your clan to the palace, and I will teach you some Taoist arts."

"Ah!" The Crimson Fire Crow Mother was taken aback at first, then overjoyed and repeatedly expressed her gratitude. The Azure Feather Fire Crow clan has a strong bloodline, but lacks a powerful lineage. If they could receive guidance from a master, they would surely open up a new world for themselves.

"Go." Xia Daoming's gaze was cold, and his expression was calm.

Soon, the Crimson Fire Raven Mother entered the palace with nine clan elders.

One of them was a Second-Level True Immortal, three were First-Level True Immortals, and the remaining five were all Void Immortals. Of the nine, only two had ever seen Xia Daoming's true face, but the entire clan had witnessed his power in killing the Valley Master of Xuanyuan Valley with a single strike amidst the dark clouds.

As they entered the True Fire Palace, their faces were filled with excitement and awe, their hearts burning with passion.

After bowing respectfully, the nine elders took their seats in turn. The True Fire Palace was as bright as day, yet so quiet that one could almost hear their own heartbeats.

Xia Daoming sat upright atop the pillar of fire, his golden eyes darting about, his voice booming like a bell, yet utterly devoid of any hint of warmth or malice.

"Your bloodline originates from the ancient raven, and your flames are imbued with spirit, so you are inherently bound to the Way of Fire. Unfortunately, your cultivation over the generations has been confined to one corner, using flames as weapons, but rarely taking fire as the Way."

Upon hearing this, the Crimson Fire Crow Mother and the elders of the various clans were all shocked and secretly ashamed.

Xia Daoming raised his hand and a point of crimson flame rose from his palm. The flame was initially as small as a lamp bean, but in an instant it transformed into the shape of a crow. With a flap of its wings and a cry, the flames surged and the palace trembled.

"This is the manifestation of the heart fire. If a fire cultivator only knows how to burn things, it is a wild flame; if one can entrust one's spirit to the flame, the fire can become a spirit, and can live and breathe together with oneself."

Having said that, he gently blew on it, and the raven-shaped fire spirit scattered into specks of flame, transforming into countless tiny runes that surrounded the elders of the various clans, warm but not scorching. The elders were dumbfounded, feeling as the fire runes touched their bodies, the latent fire within their bloodlines was gently drawn in, as if a bright lamp had been lit in their hearts.

"Fire has five properties: intensity, burning, melting, refining, and illumination. You mostly focus on the two paths of intensity and burning, but neglect the cultivation of melting, refining, and illumination," Xia Daoming continued, his words resounding.

"Those who can fuse can dispel ice and neutralize all poisons; those who can refine can hammer bones and melt blood, temper the soul and forge the body; those who can see are the light of wisdom in the fire, able to break through illusions and see through one's own heart. Only by cultivating all three can one attain the Great Way."

Having said that, he flicked his sleeve, and a curtain of fire suddenly appeared above the True Fire Palace. Within the curtain of fire, a blue-feathered raven soared and circled, from attacking the flames to using the fire to protect itself, then drawing the flames back to its heart, and finally transforming into a long rainbow of fire that shot straight into the heavens.

That was a cultivation method he deduced using the Southern Bright Fire as a guide, directly pointing to the innate talent of the Fire Crow clan.

The nine elders were all deeply moved, their blood boiling, their eyes filled with fervor and reverence.

The Crimson Crow Mother prostrated herself on the ground, her voice trembling as she cried out.
"What you say, Master, points directly to the origin of the Great Dao. We servants have benefited immensely from it! Our Azure Feather Fire Crow Clan is willing to serve you for generations to come, without any disloyalty!"

The crows cried out in unison, the palace trembled, and the flames echoed, as if the mountains and rivers had made a vow.

Xia Daoming's gaze was calm, yet revealed a hint of satisfaction. He thought to himself, "As expected of someone with the bloodline of the Fire Crow, they have an innate aptitude for the Way of Fire. Teaching them the Way of Fire is just a matter of lifting a finger for me, but it will give them a useful tool. In the future, they will have no shortage of people to travel around and gather information. For them, however, it is a chance to change their destiny."
-
More than ten days later, Xia Daoming quietly left Biya Ridge and rode the Cloud Mane Leopard all the way to Biyuan County.

The gentleman does not stand under the wall.

He has exceptionally favorable conditions and immense potential for growth. In particular, he has obtained the True Fire of the Sun and the True Water of the Moon, as well as many immortal stones and nourishing substances. What he needs most is a place where he can safely consume his gains and grow as quickly as possible.

Compared to Luochuan County, a place teeming with powerful individuals and teeming with hidden talents, Biyuan County, a remote lower county, is clearly safer and allows him to cultivate in peace.

On the return journey, Xia Daoming did not delay. Moreover, after eating bear meat, the Cloud Mane Leopard was physically strong and its speed greatly increased. It could run like the wind and not get tired even if it ran day and night.

Just over ten days later, Xia Daoming arrived in Biyuan County.

Upon entering the county town, Xia Daoming, with his keen senses, immediately noticed that the atmosphere was different from when he last visited.

That time, the atmosphere in the county town was generally peaceful.

But this time, he sensed a tense atmosphere, a sense of impending doom.

Even occasionally, illusory immortals and true immortals would fly out of the county town.

In a lower prefecture like Biyuan County, it is rare for True Immortals to leave the city.

They mostly flew in the northwest direction.

Jade Stream, Green Pool, and other sacred sites are located to the northwest of the county seat.

However, in the northwest direction, besides the six sacred sites including Yujian, there are hundreds of other sacred sites.

Those vassal states were closer to the county seat and were mostly more prosperous than vassal states like Yujian.

Some of these sacred lands even have veins of immortal stones, and these sacred lands are the battlegrounds fought over by various True Immortal forces in Biyuan County.

"I wonder which place in the northwest has encountered a problem that has alarmed so many Void Immortals and True Immortals!" Xia Daoming rode his Cloud Mane Leopard out of the city gate, glancing up from time to time at the Void Immortals and True Immortals riding spirit birds or riding treasures in the air, thinking to himself.

He didn't think about places like Yujian.

Those were all remote, impoverished, and barren places with little of value; otherwise, the City God of the City God Pavilion would not have so easily assigned the five sacred sites, including Green Pool, to Xingyi for her to govern.

The Cloud-Maned Leopard sped across the northwestern land, traversing one sacred land after another, getting closer and closer to the Jade Stream Sacred Land.

Xia Daoming's expression changed, and his gaze turned somewhat cold.

The direction those illusory immortals and true immortals were heading was actually towards the Jade Stream Land!

　There will be another update this afternoon.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)