C22 Red Flaming Feather

As the immortal crane spoke, it noticed Jiang Fann's lingering doubts and elaborated, "Frankly, your lives mean little to me, but should that obsession be reborn, I would be its first target. And if the Venerable Person regains strength, it will not spare it."

Suddenly, it all clicked for Jiang Fann. It made sense why the immortal crane had been leading them astray—it truly didn't want anyone discovering this place. Jiang had mistaken it for a guardian beast, a spirit tasked with protecting treasure, which was quite the oversight.

Yet, one thing was certain: Jiang Fann had been lured here by a treasure, the Red Flaming Feather. For an alchemist, the right ingredients and formulas were critical, but the fire source was the ultimate factor in determining a pill's quality.

Among the finest of fire sources was the Red Flaming Feather, a rarity said to grow on demonic beasts or those practicing the Fire Arts at the pinnacle of their power. When forged into a magical artifact, its quality was nothing short of remarkable. The allure it held for Jiang Fann was undeniable.

Without mincing words, Jiang declared, "I'm taking this Red Flaming Feather with me!"

"It's part of the inheritance reward, but you must wait until the obsession fades," the crane replied.

Jiang Fann nodded, content to wait. He sat down, legs crossed, and began to meditate, seeking to solidify his newly elevated state.

Two hours later, Jiang's eyes snapped open—the aura enveloping the statue had vanished. The immortal crane atop the statue gradually turned ethereal, eventually merging into the statue as a beam of light.

The Red Flaming Feather transformed into a fiery orb and soared towards Jiang, radiating intense heat. "If you can withstand the Red Flaming Feather's scorching temperature, it's yours to take. And you've done me a great service!"

Jiang Fann didn't reply, his focus entirely on the Red Flaming Feather. With his mastery over fire and knowledge of exotic flames, he was well-equipped to handle it. He began with the Fire Control Technique to counter the heat, which caused the feather's temperature to skyrocket. Patiently and meticulously, he tamed the Red Flaming Feather, gradually assimilating it with his Mortal Flame.

In under ten minutes, the Red Flaming Feather transformed into a streak of crimson and merged with Jiang Fann's body. Beside the fragment hovering in the Qi Sea, tranquility returned. The statue fell silent, and Jiang Fann departed without looking back. Despite the risks, the rewards were substantial. His rebirth might well be tied to this fragment, which proved its loyalty and spiritual essence by protecting him in a crucial moment.

Navigating the shadowy cavern, Jiang Fann emerged at the entrance to find Shi Chengtian frantically pounding on the cave mouth, behind which an enchantment was visible. Relieved to see Jiang Fann unharmed, Shi Chengtian's tension eased, though his words fell on deaf ears.

Approaching the enchantment, Jiang Fann realized the entrance was now one-way, allowing him to pass through effortlessly. Shi Chengtian sized him up, concern etched on his face. "You okay?"

Jiang Fann replied with a grin, "Better than ever!"

Noticing the shift in Jiang Fann's aura, Shi Chengtian's face lit up with joy. "You've made a breakthrough? You nearly gave me a heart attack! I was afraid you'd been duped. That treacherous immortal crane had no good intentions."

"Was the treasure you saw years ago a red feather?" Jiang Fann inquired.

Shi Chengtian paused, a memory surfacing. "Yes, it was fiery, almost too hot to touch. I tried to grab it several times, but the crane seemed indifferent. I wonder why."

Without delving into details, Jiang Fann and Shi Chengtian retraced their steps, quickly descending the mountain and heading towards the Dragon Bathing Pool. Han Qianxue must be growing anxious after a full day's delay.

Descending the mountain, they encountered youthful adventurers—some solitary, others in groups. Yet, Jiang Fann and Shi Chengtian stood out with their superior strength.

The secret realm attracted more than just juvenile geniuses; many hopeful youths came seeking fortune, dreaming of a meteoric rise to glory.

As Jiang Fann hastened along, he kept an ear out for the conversations of others.

"Lingloong Pavilion is privy to more information than most. They've been on the move without pause. They didn't lift a finger during the battle with the Black Armored Ants, and no one knows where they disappeared to. If my guess is right, they headed in this direction. Let's head that way!"

"You two are latecomers; I was among the first to arrive. If not for Little Heavenly King Chu Zhan rallying others to combat the Black Armored Ants, driving them back into their nest, who knows how many would've perished here. Chu Zhan's compassion and valor are truly commendable!"

The mention of Little Heavenly King Chu Zhan filled Jiang Fann with joy, triggering a flood of memories.

He had been in peril, captured, and it was Chu Zhan who had stormed a sect single-handedly to rescue him.

In the tumultuous times, that awe-inspiring battle, Chu Zhan's figure stood tall, never falling even in death. Who among his peers could rival him with a spear in hand?

Yet, as the Medicine King, by the time Jiang Fann arrived, Chu Zhan was no longer there, beyond help.

Hearing his name now stirred excitement in Jiang Fann; the very people he hoped to meet had all come.

Snapping back to reality, he thought of Lingloong Pavilion.

Based on the map Han Qianxue had provided, the monks of Lingloong Pavilion should have also made their way to the Dragon Bathing Pool.

At that moment, Shi Chengtian, map in hand, complained, "This map is a mess!"

Jiang Fann dismissed the concern. "The right direction is all that matters. Let's pick up the pace."

"How about I carry you in my lion form? It'll be much faster than running!"

After hearing the offer, Jiang Fann repeatedly shook his head.

"Let's not. Too many people, too much talk. It'd only bring trouble if the Demonic Clan caught wind of it."

...

Ten days flew by. Jiang Fann occasionally used the fragment to sense his surroundings, pausing to collect any special herbs he found, not sparing a single spiritual herb.

The Dragon Bathing Pool, though called a pool, spanned over a thousand meters in diameter, nestled amidst a dense forest.

In the heart of the dense forest, Jiang Fann and Shi Chengtian were leisurely roasting a demonic beast they had caught for a meal.

They had departed in such haste earlier that day that they hadn't agreed upon a specific rendezvous point.

Jiang Fann had previously assumed this was merely a bathing spot for a black dragon, never imagining the vastness of the area. Now, hoping to regroup, it was all down to chance.

Shi Chengtian, his mouth greasy from the feast, couldn't resist teasing them. "You two are quite the pair, thinking you can find your way in this massive forest by luck alone."

Jiang Fann chuckled, "Seems like even eating can't keep your mouth shut. No need to fret, we'll just keep an eye out for any commotion and join in. We're bound to run into them eventually."

Shi Chengtian gave Jiang Fann a thumbs-up, a gesture of respect.

Upon reaching the lakeside, Shi Chengtian couldn't wait to dive in for a refreshing bath. But no sooner had he leaped into the water than he frantically signaled to Jiang Fann.

"Pull me up, quick!"

Jiang Fann, taken aback, noticed Shi Chengtian was sinking fast, the water already swallowing him whole.

Instead of rummaging through his Hundred Treasures Bag for a rope, Jiang Fann quickly tossed one end to Shi Chengtian. Once he had a firm grip, Jiang Fann hauled him back to dry land with all his might.

Panting heavily on the shore, Shi Chengtian fixed his gaze on the lake. "There's something seriously off about this lake. It's like something's pulling me down—I couldn't swim up at all!"

Jiang Fann shook his head, "Nothing's pulling you, or else I wouldn't have been able to pull you out so easily. There's definitely something odd about this pond."

With that, Jiang Fann plucked a leaf from a nearby tree and dropped it into the water. The leaf sank immediately, and Jiang Fann understood the problem.

"The water in this pond has no buoyancy! Looks like it's either been enchanted or there's some other force at play."

Shi Chengtian muttered in dismay, "This secret realm is full of surprises. If it weren't for your quick thinking, I might have been a goner just now."

Jiang Fann chuckled, "Why not just stand by the lake and splash some water on yourself? Let's cool off and get going!"

Shi Chengtian, his enthusiasm waned, stripped off his clothes and wrung them out. "Let's just leave. This Dragon Bathing Lake gives me the creeps."

By the following day, news had finally arrived.

The trio from Lingloong Pavilion reached the Dragon Bathing Lake and sat cross-legged by the shore, seemingly waiting for something.

They had detected a spy the day before and had tracked the person down in the dense forest.

The three disciples from Lingloong Pavilion cornered the spy and nearly executed him.

But the spy's friend arrived swiftly, managing a narrow rescue, and even issued a challenge to the Lingloong Pavilion's trio!

Shi Chengtian popped a piece of meat into his mouth.

"Does this count as trouble? Should we check it out?"

Jiang Fann nodded. "Definitely. Lingloong Pavilion must be privy to the lake's secrets, and I bet Han Qianxue will show up too."

Jiang Fann wasn't the only one with this thought; upon hearing the news, numerous cultivators set off in that direction.

Everyone was eager to test their fortune. If they could gain something from it, the journey would be worthwhile.

Standing amid the crowd, Shi Chengtian's imposing stature drew many curious glances.

Jiang Fann's lips quirked into a smile as he observed the standoff in the distance; Di Qiu was indeed part of it.

The strength of Lingloong Pavilion's disciples was commendable. All three were at the Innate Stage, with one having advanced to the mid-Innate Stage. United, they were a force to be reckoned with in this mystical realm.

On the opposing side were five individuals, each with a distinct dress and demeanor, two of whom were also at the Innate Stage. One was a familiar face—Qin Feng.

Di Qiu's brows knitted together at the sight of Qin Feng, clearly displeased.

"So it's you, Qin Feng. I should have known you'd be the one bold enough. Back at Loongze Lake, you took my holy medicine for detoxification. Now you're stirring up trouble for me again. Is this your idea of a vendetta?"

Qin Feng remained as ever, his face wreathed in smiles, exuding charm with a folding fan in hand.

"Di Qiu, you're taking the fun out of this. Your Lingloong Pavilion struck my old friend first, so naturally, I can't just stand by."

Di Qiu retorted with fury, "Would we have laid a hand on him if he hadn't been spying on us?"

The injured man standing next to Qin Feng chimed in, "Isn't your Lingloong Pavilion being a bit too tyrannical? My eyes are my own—I'll look at whatever I please. What's it to you? You might have your sect elders' protection out there, but in here, no one gives a damn about your status. If it comes to it, we're ready for an all-out brawl!"

The man with Di Qiu scoffed, "Big talk for someone like you."

Qin Feng stepped forward, "Mo Dao! Still the same foul mood after all this time, I see. Yet in a decade, you've never bested me! I doubt today will be any different."

The smile vanished from Qin Feng's face, replaced by a serene calm. He fixed his gaze on his opponent, clearly ready to engage at a moment's notice.

Jiang Fann surveyed the crowd, searching for Han Qianxue. With all three from Lingloong Pavilion present, it stood to reason that Han Qianxue would be there too.

He wasn't concerned for Qin Feng's safety. If Qin Feng was bold enough to take a stand, he surely had his reasons.

Both parties were poised for confrontation. Qin Feng's fan radiated a halo of light, a clear sign of a spiritual treasure, though its quality remained unknown.

But just then, the tranquil waters of the lake stirred, a whirlpool forming on the surface and growing larger, drawing the gazes of many onlookers.