C58 Entered the City Lord's Mansion

"Young Han, I declare that you are the victor of this year's Family Trials."

"Come to my City Lord's Mansion in three days to select a Martial Skill."

"The Human Origin Fruit will also be yours then. For now, return to your residence and rest for the next three days."

The City Lord spoke with a beaming smile.

Exhaustion was etched on everyone's faces after the grueling three-day trial.

"Thank you, City Lord!" Han Feng promptly bowed in thanks.

As he departed, Han Feng shot a glance at the Chang family, locking eyes with Chang Wenhua.

In that exchange, they each understood that given the chance, neither would spare the other. It was a feud to the death!

While the Han family's initial joy gave way to somberness on their journey home, they couldn't ignore their losses.

Of the ten who entered the trials, only five returned; the rest had perished in the Jade Peak Mountain Range, many believed to have fallen to Chang Wenhua's hand.

Fueled by their resentment towards the Changs, and particularly Chang Wenhua, the Han family deemed Chang Wenjun's demise at Han Feng's hand as deserved.

After a moment of reflection, Han Yu advised, "Han Feng, you're on the cusp of advancing to the Late Period of Mortal Rank. Dedicate this time to your cultivation. Once you've determined your body's attributes, come see me."

"Our Han family will offer you your choice of any Upper-class Human Rank Cultivation Method!"

Initially startled, Han Tiancheng and the others soon accepted the news as fitting.

Given Han Feng's feat of claiming first place in the Family Trials, coupled with his evident talent and strength, he certainly merited the Han family's finest Cultivation Method.

Han Feng accepted with a nod, though inwardly he mused, "With the Nine Flames And Strange Fire Art in my possession, I have no need for another Cultivation Method."

Word of Han Feng's triumph spread like wildfire throughout the Han family.

In no time at all, the Han household was abuzz with fervor.

Having established themselves in Renzhong City over the years, the Han family had risen from their initial struggles to become one of the top three families. Yet, until now, their highest achievement in the Family Trials had been second place—first place had always eluded them.

This time, they certainly gained significant prestige.

Yet, that was secondary. The real victory was the boost to the Han family's reputation, which would surely attract a host of talented individuals and powerful allies to their side, significantly bolstering the family's strength.

Upon hearing the news, Gu Wan was relieved. It was fortunate they had reconsidered their stance in time, avoiding a fatal confrontation with Han Feng. The mere thought of what might have been sent shivers down his spine.

Gu Ba was dazed, realizing the man who had been his inferior just two months prior had now reached such heights, while he himself was still struggling in the early stages of the Mortal Rank.

But it wasn't just the likes of Gu Ba and Gu Wan, the Han family's household staff, who noticed. The family's upper echelons, including the Elders, had elevated Han Feng to an esteemed status.

The Great Elder had even proposed Han Feng as a candidate for the role of Patriarch.

Han Yu had initially accepted the idea.

However, once Han Feng learned of this, he immediately declined.

With the Nine Flames Heavenly Fire Tower in his possession, Han Feng had set his sights far beyond the Great Jin Nation.

If his cultivation foundation reached a certain threshold, he had no intention of remaining confined to the Han family or Renzhong City.

His destiny was to venture out into the world.

Becoming the Family Head would mean being tethered to Renzhong City, a prospect Han Feng did not desire.

After Han Feng shared his feelings with Han Yu, the latter's face was a tapestry of complex emotions. After a deep sigh, he ultimately struck Han Feng from the list of candidates for Family Head.

Now removed from consideration, Han Feng was inside the Nine Flames Heavenly Fire Tower.

He placed the five petals of the Source Flower into the All Creatures Fire Cauldron.

"Refine!"

With that commanding call, the mortal fire in Han Feng's hands flared up, the fierce flames engulfing the base of the cauldron.

The Source Flower proved more challenging to refine than even a Lower-class Lower-grade Spirit Stone, taking a full day for Han Feng to transform the petals into a crimson origin fluid.

Gazing at the crimson liquid, Han Feng was momentarily lost in thought. "Just how much will my strength improve with this origin fluid?"

After a day had passed, Han Feng's cultivation of Internal Strength within his seventh Main Bloodline was fully solidified.

The following day, Han Feng successfully unlocked eight Main Bloodlines, reaching the pinnacle of the Middle Period of Mortal Rank.

His next objective was to amass Internal Strength at the peak of all eight Main Bloodlines, then to condense this strength and transform it into Attribute Genuine Qi.

Despite a full day's effort, Han Feng's mastery over the Internal Strength in his eight Main Bloodlines was not yet completely stable; a lapse in concentration could still result in a slight leakage of aura.

Nevertheless, Han Feng was no longer preoccupied with this minor issue.

On the subsequent morning, Han Feng rose and made his way to the City Lord's Mansion.

Outside the City Lord's Mansion, before Han Feng could utter a word, a captain of the guard approached him with a beaming smile, "Are you the renowned Brother Han Feng? The City Lord has been eagerly awaiting your arrival since dawn."

Han Feng was pleasantly taken aback, hardly expecting the City Lord to be awaiting him at such an early hour.

Yet, he soon surmised that the guard captain's words might be in jest. It couldn't be true.

"Thank you for your guidance," Han Feng responded, bowing slightly.

The guard captain, still smiling, escorted Han Feng into the City Lord's Mansion, to the residence of the City Lord himself.

Upon encountering the City Lord, Han Feng greeted him with due respect, "Greetings, City Lord!"

In that moment, Han Feng truly believed the City Lord had indeed been waiting for him since the break of day, which left him somewhat bewildered. Why would the City Lord show such unexpected favor?

After a moment's reflection, Han Feng decided that regardless of the City Lord's intentions, securing the Human Origin Fruit and the lower-grade Human Rank Martial Skill was of paramount importance.

The City Lord greeted Han Feng with a warm smile, "You're being too formal. If it's alright with you, just call me Uncle Sun."

A look of hesitation crossed Han Feng's face.

Seeing this, the City Lord understood Han Feng's wariness and reassured him, "Rest assured, I bear you no ill will. My generosity stems from a connection to your mother."

"You know my mother?" Han Feng asked, a mix of surprise and realization dawning on him.

The City Lord touched his nose with self-deprecating humor, "I may know your mother, but she might not know me."

"Look, your mom is quite dominant, and so is her family. Let's just say I'm trying to get on your mom's good side."

Once Han Feng grasped the situation, he still harbored some doubts, yet he respectfully addressed him as Uncle Sun. Failing to do so would have been inappropriate.

Regardless of his mother's formidable nature, the Han family was currently under the jurisdiction of the City Lord.

The City Lord's eyes sparkled at the mention of 'Uncle Sun,' and he chuckled, "Han Feng, here is the Human Origin Fruit you've earned for being first in the trials. Go ahead, take it."

The Human Origin Fruit resembled a pear and was a type of Spirit Fruit. As soon as the City Lord presented it, the room was enveloped in a delicate aroma.

Han Feng accepted the Human Origin Fruit with great care, and his Storage Belt immediately showed signs of strain, developing several cracks.

Observing this, the City Lord stroked his chin and remarked, "Han Feng, your Storage Belt is rather basic; it's barely holding up with the Human Origin Fruit. My household may not be wealthy, but I do have some higher-quality Storage Belts. I'll give you a new one right away."