Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Charge, Young Man

"Good!" Seeing that Shen Haoran had agreed, Su Xing grunted sullenly and left with Chai Hui.

Watching Su Xing’s retreating figure, Long Zhen snorted reluctantly. "Brother Shen, why did you agree to that? The guy’s a complete fool, just being played by Chai Hui!"

Hearing this, Shen Haoran watched Su Xing’s back and chuckled softly. "Is he a fool?"

"Well, I think he is! He’s obviously strong, and he knows Chai Hui is just using him to throw his weight around, but he still helps the tyrant. If that’s not foolish, what is?" Long Zhen said, curling his lip.

To this, Shen Haoran simply gave a noncommittal smile and offered no response.

"Let’s go. It’s a done deal, so what’s the point of dwelling on it? Back to the Red Flame Hall," Shen Haoran said, then started walking ahead.

Long Mo and Long Zhen exchanged a glance. They were finding it harder and harder to figure Shen Haoran out lately.

The three of them returned to the Red Flame Hall. After a quick greeting, Shen Haoran disappeared directly into his small room.

"Elder Yan, come out," Shen Haoran called softly.

A moment later, Elder Yan’s illusory form appeared before Shen Haoran.

"What is it?" Elder Yan asked, puzzled. ’Why call me out all of a sudden?’

Looking at Elder Yan, Shen Haoran scratched his head sheepishly, then said with a cheeky grin, "Elder Yan, you see... I just agreed to a duel with that Su Xing. It’s in half a month, and he’s a Tier Five Spirit General. It won’t be easy to beat him. Could you, uh, maybe spot me a Martial Skill?"

With that said, he stared at Elder Yan with wide, expectant eyes, awaiting his response.

"I knew it. You never call me unless you want something!" Elder Yan looked at Shen Haoran with disdain. "Don’t tell me you only accepted Su Xing’s challenge to swindle a Martial Skill out of me!"

"Hehe, not entirely! Su Xing is a man of deep loyalty and righteousness, but he’s been blinded by those very feelings. I need to knock some sense into him!" Shen Haoran said with a light laugh.

"I’m sure there’s more to it than that, you little rascal." Elder Yan shot Shen Haoran a look. ’This kid never makes a deal unless it benefits him.’

"Haha, I can’t hide anything from you, Elder Yan! You’re right. I want to win Su Xing over. People as loyal as him are rare in this world. Once I’ve earned his friendship, he’ll never betray me."

"Besides, it’s time I started planning for the future. I’ll have to go to the Imperial City to save my mother sooner or later. The Murong Clan is powerful, and I don’t believe I can take down the entire Murong Family alone. So, I need to start building my own power base!" A wise glint flashed in Shen Haoran’s eyes.

Hearing Shen Haoran’s words, Elder Yan nodded. ’The fact that Haoran can think so far ahead shows he has truly matured. A true expert isn’t just powerful in strength, but also in character and charisma.’ Elder Yan believed Shen Haoran possessed that kind of charisma.

"So, Elder Yan, about that Martial Skill...?" Shen Haoran prompted again, holding out his hand.

"Alright. Once you’ve mastered the First Layer of the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step, I will teach you its complementary Martial Skill: the Nine Dragon Stomp," Elder Yan said.

"The Nine Dragon Stomp!" Shen Haoran exclaimed. Elder Yan had told him about it before. The Nine Dragon Stomp was the signature technique of the legendary Nine Heavens Venerable, and its rank was no lower than Earth Tier High Level!

"Deal!" Shen Haoran agreed joyfully.

"Mm. For today, you focus on your Cultivation. I’ll go to the Red Flame Mountain Range and find a good Cultivation Ground for you," Elder Yan said, then vanished from sight.

After Elder Yan disappeared, Shen Haoran suppressed his excitement and began his Cultivation.

...

「The next day」, Elder Yan woke Shen Haoran from his Cultivation early in the morning and took him to the Red Flame Mountain Range.

Before Shen Haoran lay a river of crimson lava. The searing heat caused the surrounding air to shimmer and warp. Bubbles would occasionally rise to the surface and burst, splashing magma into the air as a faint, steamy mist rose all around.

Seeing this, Shen Haoran couldn’t help but gulp and ask weakly, "Elder Yan, the Cultivation Ground you mentioned... it’s not this, is it?"

"That’s right. A lava river. It took me quite a while to find such a perfect spot!" Elder Yan said, smiling at the river of magma before them.

"A perfect spot? How am I supposed to cultivate in a place like this?" Shen Haoran asked, rendered speechless by the surrounding lava.

"How? Do you see that boulder over there?" Elder Yan asked, pointing to a massive rock five hundred meters away.

"Yeah," Shen Haoran nodded, confused.

"Good. I want you to dash from here onto that boulder. Five hundred meters past that one is another boulder. You just have to use them as stepping stones to reach the other side of this lava river," Elder Yan said with a wide grin.

Hearing this, Shen Haoran’s expression turned grim. A distance of five hundred meters on solid ground would only take him a few bursts of speed to cross. But over this lava, with absolutely nothing to push off of, and without the ability to fly, how could he possibly leap five hundred meters in a single bound?

"Elder Yan, that’s a little unrealistic! I can’t fly, how am I supposed to make that leap?" Shen Haoran said with a grimace.

But Elder Yan just snorted coldly. "One can only stimulate their true potential through extreme challenges. If you’re fast enough, five hundred meters is nothing. You could easily cross a thousand!"

At those words, Shen Haoran glanced at Elder Yan’s stern expression, then back at the steaming lava, and couldn’t help but swallow hard.

"If you want to quickly master the First Layer of the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step, then you’ll make the jump. If you’d rather take your time, I can find another Cultivation Ground for you. I’m not forcing you. The choice is yours," Elder Yan said coolly, looking at the hesitant Shen Haoran.

Hearing Elder Yan’s offer, Shen Haoran quickly waved his hands. "No, that won’t be necessary! I don’t have that kind of time!"

He then looked at the gurgling, bubbling river of lava and took a deep breath. ’Damn it, I’m going for it! What’s the worst that can happen? I end up a roast duck? I refuse to believe I can’t make this jump!’

With that thought, Shen Haoran gathered his strength, ready to dash forward.

But before he could take a step, Elder Yan grabbed him.

Elder Yan held Shen Haoran back and quickly tapped several points on his body. Then he said coolly, "I’ve sealed your Fire Spirit Black Obsidian as well, just to make sure you don’t use it to cheat."

Shen Haoran’s face darkened. ’This old man is too damn shrewd!’ He had been planning on relying on the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian to protect him if he fell into the lava. He figured nothing too terrible would happen. But now, Elder Yan had truly cut off all his escape routes.

Elder Yan grinned at Shen Haoran, pointing to the boulder on the far side of the lava. "I’ll be waiting for you over there." And with that, ignoring Shen Haoran’s death glare, he floated away gracefully.

Shen Haoran shot a resentful glare in Elder Yan’s direction, then let out a great roar. "Let’s go, hero!" His body blurred into an afterimage as he charged straight toward the river of lava.