Shhh—!
At this moment, nearly all the top experts of the Black-Corner Region had gathered. Every single one of them was stunned by Xiao Ting's words.
Some were hearing the name "Yao Lao" — titled Medicine Venerable — for the first time. From that title alone, they understood he was a Dou Venerate-class expert.
For a young man who had already reached the peak of Dou Emperor as a 6th-tier alchemist capable of occasionally refining 7th-tier pills, having a powerful master was only natural.
Those who knew the inside story were even more shocked that Xiao Ting still dared to provoke him so openly.
"So… you're not giving me any face at all?"
The instant he heard the words "Yao Lao," Han Feng's expression darkened. Guilt, irritation, rage, confusion, and unease churned violently in his chest.
"I already told you — your face is worthless," Xiao Ting sneered, striking straight at his conscience.
"I have one question I don't understand. Answer it, and I might still let you keep some dignity."
"Eh?" Han Feng felt a chill in his heart, yet curiosity made him ask, "What question?"
"I actually know your background quite well," Xiao Ting said with a faint smile. "The current Feng City was once called Han Family Village — the place where your parents and clan lived. They were slaughtered by bandits. Yao Lao happened to pass by, saved you, and even helped avenge your parents. Am I right?"
Han Feng's eyes widened. His lips moved, but no sound came out.
The onlookers secretly envied the heaven-defying luck of becoming a Dou Venerate's disciple.
"When you were young, Yao Lao specially refined the Foundation Establishment Pill just to nurture you into the perfect alchemist and cultivator. He even evaluated your talent as superior to his own. Correct?"
Netizens: So envious! So envious!!
Han Feng's chest heaved violently, his expression flickering between light and shadow.
Xiao Ting finally dropped the bomb.
"Then why did you betray Yao Lao, collude with Hall of Souls, and ambush and kill him?"
Onlookers: ??? For real?! There really was a twist?! Han Feng actually… wait, seriously? Is there really such a stupid person alive? Some say he cut off his own arm — isn't that basically cutting off his entire body and leaving only a dog's brain behind?
"What a fool! What benefit is there in betraying a Dou Venerate who treated you so well?!"
Hu Gan's voice boomed across the sky, both announcing his arrival and acting as the perfect heckler.
"It's not that simple," Xiao Ting said loudly with a smile. "Yao Lao wasn't just any Dou Venerate — he stood at the very peak of 9-star Dou Venerate. For those who don't know, allow me to explain."
Onlookers: We have no right to know such distant matters. The Dou Venerate realm is something we don't even dare dream of.
"Dou Venerate experts range from 1-star to 9-star. The strongest stand at the peak of 9-star. Strictly speaking, those who reach the peak of Dou Venerate have already stepped into another realm — the Nine Revolutions Saint Realm — the nine stages one must pass to become a Dou Saint."
"One revolution is equivalent to cultivating from 1-star to 9-star Dou Venerate from scratch. Therefore, if a peak 9-revolution Dou Venerate has a method to distribute power evenly, it is possible to create nine peak 9-star Dou Venerate at once."
Everyone: !!!
"In other words," Xiao Ting folded his arms, voice turning cold, "to ambush someone this powerful, he must have trusted you completely and been completely defenseless."
"Such an honest teacher would have guided you carefully. You wouldn't have needed to do anything except follow his instructions, and you could have reached Dou Venerate and become an 8th-tier alchemist."
"Why did you betray him? Explain!"
Han Feng had no answer.
He was unwilling to reveal anything about the Flame Mantra. Even if his crimes were exposed, he would only be despised as a complete fool.
After all, who would choose a narrow, possibly dead-end bridge when a wide, sunny road lay before them?
Seeing Han Feng remain silent, Xiao Ting continued mercilessly.
"I remember you reached the peak of Dou Emperor as a 6th-tier alchemist in your early twenties. Ten or twenty years have passed — why are you still stuck in this state?"
"Are you deliberately trying to waste your talent and become useless without relying on any top expert?"
Pfft—!
Laughter erupted across the entire region.
Han Feng's face turned pitch black. "Don't talk nonsense! Just because you know a little doesn't mean you can string random words together and call it truth!"
"The one who killed my master was Hall of Souls's Elder Mu Gu!"
"As you said, my master was at the peak of 9-star Dou Venerate."
"Even if he trusted me completely, do you really think I would plot against him?"
Han Feng's words sounded somewhat reasonable.
"Chi chi chi chi…" Xiao Ting sneered again, ending the game instantly. "You can only fool people who don't know your situation. They won't understand my nonsense."
"If you truly felt no guilt, even if Yao Lao went missing or died, would you have been treated so miserably at Falling Star Pavilion?"
"Everyone on the Battle Qi Continent knows that Falling Star Pavilion's Wind Venerable and Yao Lao are sworn brothers who would die for each other."
"As long as you stayed at Falling Star Pavilion, Wind Venerable would have cherished and raised you like his own son. That way, you wouldn't have betrayed Yao Lao's kindness."
"Instead, you fled all the way to the Black-Corner Region in the northwest continent, far from Falling Star Pavilion in the central-southern region."
"Aren't you hiding because of guilt?"
"How about this — I'll send someone to inform Wind Venerable that Han Feng is here. What do you think?"
Han Feng's composure shattered instantly.
He knew exactly how much Wind Venerable and Medicine Venerable meant to each other.
If Wind Venerable found him, he would have no choice but to fully submit to Hall of Souls and become their dog. Sooner or later, he would be discarded like a used pawn — and then there would be no escape.
"Bullshit! Using my master's name to slander me — you're asking for death!"
Han Feng roared and summoned Sea Heart Flame, launching a massive blue flame wave toward Xiao Ting.
"What a coincidence! I also think that foolish, ungrateful bastard deserves to die!"
Xiao Ting could no longer hold back. He raised his hand and summoned Purple Beast Flame, merging it into the Thunder Flame Cauldron. The cauldron shot forward.
Wherever the purple flames passed, Sea Heart Flame retreated in fear. Han Feng's attack was instantly extinguished.
"What?!" Han Feng's eyes widened in shock.
This was the combination of the strongest battle technique left by that old man and the unique technique created by the Heavenly Flame. He had already reached the level of a beginner Dou Ancestor expert.
Yet he was actually forced to retreat by Xiao Ting's attack?!
"Heavenly Thunder Summon!"
Xiao Ting unleashed his soul technique once more — this time at full power, infused with Purple Beast Flame.
BOOM!
Countless bolts of lightning rained down, carrying terrifying purple heavenly flames.
Han Feng was completely suppressed. Only now did he understand why even the combined might of Elders Gold and Silver had nearly been killed.
"I am an alchemist. I am not suited for direct combat," Han Feng said coldly. "Brat… you don't understand the true power of an alchemist!"
Xiao Ting: ?
…