Chapter 31: Essence of Heaven and Earth

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Essence of Heaven and Earth

What melted Jin Canghai’s Daluo Golden Seal was a Flaming Giant Bomb that descended from the sky.

Yi Xiaoyao stared blankly at the blazing flames before him, a sudden, strange sense of familiarity washing over him.

The blazing flames quickly receded, revealing an aged figure.

Silver hair, Red Robe.

"Senior?"

Yi Xiaoyao cried out in surprise. ’Isn’t this the silver-haired old man who helped me refine medicine to raise my Cultivation and gifted me the Nine Swords of Slaughter?’

"Flame Medicine Hidden!!!"

Jin Canghai’s voice trembled. He looked at the silver-haired old man in horror and couldn’t help but say, "You really are still alive!"

As soon as he spoke, a wave of stunned gasps went through the surrounding crowd.

"Flame Medicine Hidden? He’s the Flame Medicine Hidden who vanished without a trace eight years ago?"

Apparently, the silver-haired old man’s name was extremely famous. Even after having been gone for eight years, many people still found it thunderously familiar.

Flame Medicine Hidden snorted coldly. "Jin Canghai, to think that after eight years, you’re still helping the Cloud Transformation Sect look for me! This marriage alliance with the Tang Family... you must have been planning to use them to find my whereabouts!"

Jin Canghai’s eyes narrowed and he gritted his teeth. "You’re right. The marriage alliance with the Tang Family was to find you! Otherwise, with Tang Ruoxue’s level of talent, how could she possibly be worthy of my son, Jin Lingfeng?"

Flame Medicine Hidden immediately burst into laughter. "Well, I’ve appeared now. How come you don’t look very happy?"

Jin Canghai’s expression darkened. In his quest to find a trace of Flame Medicine Hidden, his son had been killed by Yi Xiaoyao.

More importantly, he remembered that Flame Medicine Hidden’s Cultivation had been completely destroyed eight years ago. But judging by how easily Flame Medicine Hidden had just dissolved his Daluo Golden Seal, it was clear that he, Jin Canghai, was no match for the old man before him.

Such a heavy price, such a powerful enemy—how could Jin Canghai possibly be happy?

Yi Xiaoyao listened from the side, completely baffled. However, he had a feeling that this senior’s appearance meant his crisis was over.

Just then, Flame Medicine Hidden turned to look at Yi Xiaoyao.

"Kid, eight years ago, your maternal grandfather was framed and killed by Jin Canghai’s scheme! Do you need me to act on your behalf and kill this scoundrel to avenge your grandfather?"

Instantly, Yi Xiaoyao and the members of the Tang Family were all stunned. Only Tang Feng remained silent, his expression complicated.

"What? The old Fortress Master’s death..."

The people of the Tang Family, upon learning the true cause of the old Fortress Master’s death, instantly erupted in furious roars directed at Jin Canghai.

"Kill Jin Canghai! Avenge the old Fortress Master!"

"Kill him!"

Jin Canghai, who had been overwhelmingly arrogant just moments before, now had cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

A moment ago, he had been the one demanding Yi Xiaoyao’s life. But now, the tables had turned in an instant. With just a single word from Yi Xiaoyao, his own life could be forfeit.

Yi Xiaoyao’s brow furrowed, and he shot a cold glance at Jin Canghai.

He still remembered the despair of facing death that Jin Canghai had just inflicted upon him. He had nearly died at Jin Canghai’s hands.

"No! In the future, I will avenge my grandfather myself! I will be the one to take Jin Canghai’s life! And I will be the one to wipe out the Jin Family!"

Yi Xiaoyao declared resolutely, his tone chilling.

"Good! Then I shall spare Jin Canghai’s dog life for you!" Flame Medicine Hidden laughed heartily upon hearing Yi Xiaoyao’s words.

Hearing this, Jin Canghai finally let out a sigh of relief.

However, his face still twitched. He, a dignified Golden Core Powerhouse, a top figure in Hunting City, had just been publicly humiliated by a mere boy and an old man.

"Flame Medicine Hidden! Don’t think I can’t do anything to you. You hid for eight years and dare to show your face now. It won’t be long before the Cloud Transformation Sect begins hunting you down! This time, you won’t escape even if you grow wings!"

"And my son was the personally accepted Closed-door Disciple of the Cloud Transformation Sect’s Sect Leader! Even if I can’t take revenge myself, the Sect Leader will kill Yi Xiaoyao for me!"

As Jin Canghai spoke, he burst into loud laughter.

But in the next moment, his laughter stopped abruptly, turning into a bloodcurdling scream.

Flame Medicine Hidden’s expression turned cold. He suddenly threw a punch toward Jin Canghai, and in that instant, a Flaming Giant Fist radiating an absolutely terrifying aura materialized out of thin air. It slammed into Jin Canghai, sending him flying backward while vomiting blood, his entire body engulfed in flames as he rolled on the ground.

Everyone in the vicinity scattered in terror. One could only imagine how terrifying a Flame must be to burn a Golden Core Powerhouse into such a wretched state!

"Hmph! You lapdog of the Cloud Transformation Sect, scram already!"

Flame Medicine Hidden gave a heavy snort, his voice saturated with Spiritual Power. Every member of the Jin Family violently coughed up a mouthful of blood before fearfully grabbing Jin Canghai and fleeing for their lives.

Even the onlookers, their Heart Spirits trembling in fear, scattered and fled.

"We disciples of the Tang Family thank you, Senior, for resolving our plight!"

The people of Tang Family Castle all bowed to Flame Medicine Hidden in gratitude.

Flame Medicine Hidden raised a hand casually. "Your old Fortress Master did me a great favor. There’s no need for thanks."

Then, he turned to Tang Feng. "Young Tang Feng, there’s no need to send me medicinal herbs, food, or clothing anymore. I’ve left some Cultivation Resources for you at my residence as repayment for your help all these years."

"Elder Yan, you’re leaving?" Tang Feng’s expression changed, and he frowned.

"Yes. What Jin Canghai said is true. Now that I’ve shown my face, the people of the Cloud Transformation Sect will definitely come for me. I have to leave."

As he spoke, Flame Medicine Hidden looked at Yi Xiaoyao and smiled. "Kid, you killed the Cloud Transformation Sect Leader’s Closed-door Disciple. I’m afraid you’ll have to run with me too."

"The Cloud Transformation Sect?" Yi Xiaoyao’s brows knitted. He had already agreed to become a disciple of the Cloud Transformation Sect’s Elder Mei Han, but now the sect had become his enemy.

Tang Feng knew what Yi Xiaoyao was struggling with and said, "Yi Xiaoyao, I’m afraid you can’t go to the Cloud Transformation Sect anymore. But with Elder Yan here, he can definitely take you to a place that suits you."

Yi Xiaoyao nodded. "This junior is willing to leave with you, Senior."

"There’s no time to lose. We leave now."

...

An hour later, Yi Xiaoyao and Flame Medicine Hidden appeared in a dense forest.

Along the way, Yi Xiaoyao had already asked about some of the things that were confusing him.

The reason Flame Medicine Hidden had appeared at Tang Family Castle and resolved the crisis was simple. After hearing Yi Xiaoyao mention the marriage alliance between the Jin and Tang Families, he had immediately guessed its true purpose. To prevent the Jin Family from harming the Tang Family, he had secretly followed Yi Xiaoyao to Tang Family Castle.

"Elder Yan, are you saying that eight years ago, my grandfather was not only framed by Jin Canghai, but also gravely wounded and killed by the Sect Leader of the Cloud Transformation Sect himself?" Yi Xiaoyao asked.

Flame Medicine Hidden nodded. "That’s right. Your grandfather and I were the closest of friends. Eight years ago, I was being hunted by the Cloud Transformation Sect and was saved by your grandfather. Later, Jin Canghai schemed to betray your grandfather to the Cloud Transformation Sect. The Sect Leader tried to force your grandfather to reveal my hiding place, but in the end, your grandfather swore to die before he would speak."

Yi Xiaoyao’s heart sank. ’So my grandfather’s death wasn’t just related to Jin Canghai, but also tied to the Cloud Transformation Sect! I almost joined my enemy’s sect!’

"Isn’t the Cloud Transformation Sect one of the Renowned and Righteous Sects? Why would they be hunting you? I don’t think you seem like a bad person, Elder Yan," Yi Xiaoyao asked, confused.

Flame Medicine Hidden sneered. "In this world, there’s no such thing as Renowned and Righteous Sects! There are no truly good or bad people either. There are only conflicts of interest and perspective."

"As for why they’re hunting me... it’s for the... Essence of Heaven and Earth!"

The next moment, Flame Medicine Hidden stopped walking. His entire body instantly erupted in surging flames, transforming into a Flame Giant hundreds of feet tall, radiating a terrifying aura!

...

(PS: We’re about to change maps! The next, more exciting part of the plot is about to unfold!)