Fighting: I am Han Feng, I respect my teacher

"Let me protect the Wenren surname."

Upon hearing the voice, Wenrenjing's body trembled, and his nose stung with tears.

After Wenren Xuan stepped forward, the scene seemed to fall silent again. At this moment, Han Feng slowly raised his hand.

The Empress looked at him.

"You are... Han Feng."

The Empress was naturally familiar with the celebrities who had made a name for themselves at the weapon-forging competition.

"Your Majesty, I am not a citizen of the Southern Li Empire. If I choose to go, will there be any reward?"

The Empress did not answer Han Feng's question immediately, but instead asked:

"Do you know what stepping into the Purple Shattered Ruins signifies?"

Han Feng nodded: "Senior Xiao has already told me everything, and I have also received more accurate information from Elder Wenren Jing. I choose to go to the Purple Shattered Ruins."

The Empress gave Han Feng a deep look and nodded:

"On behalf of the people of the Southern Li Empire, I thank you."

"As for the reward, as long as I can do it, I will certainly satisfy it."

Chapter 111 Parting

Han Feng's victory over Duan Hong, a three-star Dou Zun realm cultivator, at the weapon-refining tournament became a hot topic of discussion in the Southern Li Empire at the time.

However, Han Feng had just left the Empire at that time, so he did not feel the impact of this public opinion storm.

But there is no doubt that Han Feng has become a rising star in the Southern Li Empire. Although no one knows where he came from, the weapon-refining competition has helped him spread his fame.

A powerful expert capable of defeating a Dou Zun is worth the Empress's significant investment in hiring.

After Han Feng stood up, the other major families seemed to have finished their discussions, and in the end, each family selected one person to go.

There was no other way; at this point, the Empress would definitely remember which families hadn't contributed to the empire, so someone had to go.

Even if it's just for show.

The people who stepped forward afterward all looked rather grim.

Clearly, none of them stepped forward voluntarily; rather, they were treated as discarded objects, thrown out by their families as shields.

However, those forces that do not have a foothold in Vermilion Bird City have a great deal of room for maneuver.

Even if they don't go, Empress Nanli won't do anything to them.

It wasn't originally the center of the empire, so naturally it wouldn't have such close ties of interest.

Xiao Tianbao looked at Han Feng with gratitude in his eyes.

Because of Han Feng's words just now, his stance was directly shifted to the Xiao family, meaning that he was fighting on behalf of the Xiao family.

Wenren Jing's gaze towards Han Feng also became more affectionate.

She thought that when she got back, she would tell her silly son to cooperate more with Han Feng after entering the Purple Shattered Ruins.

When the Empress saw that the number of people who stepped forward was no longer increasing, she knew that this was about the limit.

She scanned the entire room and began to speak:

"On behalf of the hundreds of millions of people of the Southern Li Empire, I thank you all for your contributions. You are not alone, and I will not stand idly by while my soldiers charge forward. I will stand with you to completely suppress this calamity."

The Empress's words ignited a flame in the hearts of everyone present.

Although the atmosphere remained heavy, everyone had hope.

The Empress will fight alongside them; they are not discarded trash.

This was a glorious battle!

Some people secretly thought to themselves, "The Empress's words sound nice, but who knows what she'll actually do when the time comes?"

Some people harbor a cold glint in their eyes; they don't care about others' sacrifices, they just hope that the person isn't themselves.

Everyone harbored their own concerns, some worried about the border conflict, others plotting to profit from it.

After the Empress adjourned the meeting, Wenren Jing and Wenren Xuan came over to greet Han Feng.

"Young friend Han Feng, this is my son, Wenren Xuan. Like you, he is also going to enter the Purple Shattered Ruins. Could you please take care of him then?"

Han Feng nodded with a smile.

"Sir, you flatter me. Brother Xuan's cultivation is no less than mine."

Wenren Xuan bowed to Han Feng and said woodenly, "Brother Han, you are more powerful than my father to defeat Pavilion Master Duan Hong."

Wenren Jing's face twitched.

Wenren Xuan's cultivation is not weak; he has already reached the six-star Dou Zong realm, almost catching up with his father.

It is clear that Wenren Xuan is more talented.

In his previous life, when Han Feng met Wenren Xuan, he was already an eighth-grade advanced alchemy master and a seven-star Dou Zun powerhouse.

This has already surpassed the historical record of the Wen family.

Han Feng could tell that Wenren Xuan was the first to raise his hand that he was a true patriot and a protective father.

Perhaps good deeds are rewarded; not only did he not perish in the Purple Shattered Ruins, but he also made further progress after emerging, even gaining control of a strange fire.

You are blessed with good fortune.

However, this time you'll probably have to suffer.

Han Feng thought to himself.

After a conversation, Han Feng and Wenren Xuan agreed to travel together before setting off and to look after each other after entering the Purple Shattered Ruins.

When Han Feng returned to his cabin on the treasure ship, a smartly dressed woman wearing a feather-patterned mask was standing at the door and handed him a letter.

The Empress invited him to speak privately.

"Lead the way."

Han Feng followed the woman to the hidden chamber of the treasure ship, where the Empress, dressed in red, was waiting.

"Han Feng greets Your Majesty."

The empress turned around and looked at the person in front of her.

She had investigated Han Feng's identity. He first appeared in Chiyu City, where he was arrested by government soldiers because he was carrying an unknown soul entity.

Of course, given Han Feng's cultivation level, he should not have resisted, which is why he was taken away for routine questioning.

Otherwise, the mere Crimson Feather City wouldn't be able to stop Han Feng, this prodigy.

Then, he represented the Xiao family in the weapon-refining tournament and defeated Duan Hong, the head of the Forging Heaven Pavilion.

Duan Hong, as the leader of the four major weapon sects, was arrogant and had committed countless illegal acts in private. However, due to the lack of evidence and the fact that the other party was a three-star Dou Zun, they had been unable to do anything about him.

Not long after Han Feng defeated Duan Hong, this arrogant pavilion master disappeared.

The Forging Heaven Pavilion claimed to be in seclusion, but according to the firsthand intelligence brought back by Xue Yi, Pavilion Master Duan Hong and Young Pavilion Master Duan Tianci had both disappeared, and it was very likely that they had met with misfortune.

Considering their feud with Han Feng, the Empress wondered if this matter was related to Han Feng.

In addition, the patriarch of the Xiao family also stepped forward quickly, and with the power of a Dou Zun, he quelled the chaos of the four major weapon sects, forcing the Forging Heaven Pavilion to close its mountain overnight and not even participate in this imperial celebration.

All of these things are inextricably linked to Han Feng.

The Empress wanted to continue the investigation, but discovered that Han Feng had suddenly disappeared for several months, and she didn't even know where he had left from.

"Han Feng, you can tell me what reward you want now."

Han Feng pondered for a moment and then said, "I have heard that Your Majesty possesses a flame that can completely purify the evil energy within the Purple Shattered Ruins."

The Empress understood what Han Feng meant.

"You want the royal flame?"

"I just wanted to know."

After a moment of contemplation, the Empress said, "Actually, it's not a secret. The inherited flame of the Sikong royal family is the symbiotic flame of the divine beast Vermilion Bird."

"It can completely burn away the evil aura in the Purple Shattered Ruins, making it a powerful guarantee for the empire to guard the Purple Shattered Ruins."

The mythical beast Vermilion Bird?

These mythical beasts, which have only been seen in historical records, are from a time far removed from our present existence.

"Your Majesty's ancestors possessed the bloodline of the Vermilion Bird?"

The Empress remained silent. "The Sikong royal family are merely followers of the Vermilion Bird and dare not presume to claim descent from the Vermilion Bird."

"However, your wish may be in vain. Only those with royal blood can attempt to refine the Flame of Inheritance. I cannot help you with that."

"I understand. I don't necessarily need the royal family's flame of inheritance, but I might need Your Majesty's help later."

"What's the deal?"

"The busy work of dispelling the evil spirits in the Purple Shattered Ruins."

The Empress nodded in agreement. Exorcising evil spirits was her duty as a member of the royal family, and she would have helped even if Han Feng hadn't asked.

"I would have done this even if you hadn't asked. Now, make another request."

Han Feng shook his head, not mentioning the reward again, but simply said:

"If we can successfully quell the disaster at Purple Shattered Ruins this time, Your Majesty can then reward those who have contributed."

Han Feng had a fairly good impression of the Southern Empress, and if possible, he wouldn't mind saving this emperor once.

But he couldn't guarantee it.

The unfathomable aura emanating from the Empress blurred his senses; she must have reached the level of a high-level Dou Zun. Even she had to sacrifice herself to seal the calamity. Could Han Feng, a mere five-star Dou Zong, really solve it?

Han Feng secretly guessed that the enemies he encountered in the Purple Shattered Ruins might have reached the level of a high-level Dou Zun, or even a peak Dou Zun.

As for a demigod, that's generally unlikely.

If there truly is a half-saint level being in the Purple Shattered Ruins, then the Southern Li Empire will certainly be unable to resist, and even if the Empress sacrifices herself, it will be to no avail.

Han Feng certainly has no way to solve this now, and has no other option but to run for his life.

Although the term "half-saint" contains the word "half," it still represents someone who has reached the threshold of sainthood.

Even a peak-level Nine-Turn Dou Zun would be powerless to await death in the face of a Half-Saint.

The difference is obvious.

After bidding farewell to the Empress, Han Feng returned to his room.

He took out the Heavenly Origin Flower from his storage ring and began to improve his proficiency in the Heavenly Origin Finger technique.

If the fifth finger can be fully tempered before entering the Purple Shattered Ruins, it will greatly increase the chances of victory.

Unfortunately, I don't have enough Tianyuan flowers. I originally planned to plant them in Yaosheng Valley first, but there's not enough time.

Han Feng plans to go to the Wen family tomorrow to ask around, since they are a family of alchemists and might have a way.

The next day, Han Feng went to find Wenren Xuan early in the morning.

"Brother Xuan, there's something I'd like to ask you."

"Brother Han, please speak."

Han Feng took out the Tianyuan Flower.

"A fifth-grade Heavenly Origin Flower. I need this medicinal herb for my cultivation. Does the Wen family have any way to obtain it?"

"I remember having some Tianyuan flowers in stock. I wonder how many Brother Han would like?"

Wenren Xuan asked.

"Maybe thirty or forty flowers, the more the better."

Han Feng estimated his current progress and said.

Wenren Xuan nodded.

"I will send someone to collect it when I get back, and I will give it to Brother Han before I leave."

"Thank you."