"Tch. Trying to rob me and scheme against me? They were really courting death!" Shen Haoran’s spirits soared as he watched the thick smoke rise in the distance.

Seeing the tremendously powerful explosion, Elder Yan couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, "Shen the kid, do you realize you’ve created a powerful Martial Skill unique to you alone?"

Indeed, this was a Martial Skill that only Shen Haoran could possibly execute. Although the Spiritual Powers of the Five Elements Attributes were known to create and counteract each other, fusing Spiritual Powers of different attributes was considered fundamentally impossible!

Spiritual Power itself was an extremely volatile form of energy. People only dared to absorb it into their Dantian after using a Cultivation Technique for refinement. Forcibly fusing two different attributes of Spiritual Power would instantly detonate this berserk force, unleashing a might that no Martial Skill could hope to match. After all, Spiritual Power was the most primal force in this world!

But Shen Haoran was different. Due to the unique nature of his Chaos Heaven-Dominating Technique and Chaos Divine Body, his Spiritual Power was already a form of Chaotic Spiritual Power, created from the fusion of five attributes. However, under the refinement of the Chaos Heaven-Dominating Technique, this Chaotic Spiritual Power had been rendered completely docile and could not be directly detonated.

However, if he were to separate the Five Elements Spiritual Power within it, then use the Chaos Heaven-Dominating Technique to find a unique point of equilibrium and fuse them, he could preserve the Spiritual Power’s volatile essence. And the moment that equilibrium was broken, the destructive power contained within would be completely unleashed!

"Don’t be too amazed just yet, Elder Yan. This Martial Skill is only in its infancy; it’s far from mature. Because my strength is still low, I can only barely control the Spiritual Power of two attributes. But once I grow stronger, I’ll be able to control three, or even all five. The power then... heheh..." At this, Shen Haoran let out a chuckle that sounded utterly chilling.

Hearing this, Elder Yan couldn’t help but shudder. ’I can’t even imagine what would happen if someone were suddenly hit with an attack like that in the middle of a fight...’

Although Elder Yan was inwardly amazed by Shen Haoran, as a mentor, he also spotted several problems. He immediately said, "This Martial Skill of yours is powerful, but it has a fatal flaw: it takes time to prepare! In the heat of battle, your opponent won’t give you that kind of opportunity. Moreover, it consumes a massive amount of Spiritual Power and Spiritual Thought. It’s best not to use it under normal circumstances, but you can definitely keep it as a trump card."

Elder Yan’s words were like a bucket of cold water dumped on Shen Haoran’s head. ’He’s right. Fusing different types of Spiritual Power takes time to find that unique point of equilibrium, and it’s incredibly draining on my Spiritual Thought! An opponent could kill me several times over in that window.’

"You can improve it later. For now, focus on increasing your strength. I will teach you other Martial Skills!" Elder Yan said, comforting the dejected Shen Haoran.

The moment he heard Elder Yan was going to teach him Martial Skills, Shen Haoran perked up. He had been waiting for this day for so long! Every time he had asked Elder Yan for Martial Skills in the past, the elder had always turned him down, using his insufficient strength as an excuse. He had finally agreed!

"Let’s get out of here first. The men from Blood Skull will definitely be coming to investigate soon." After speaking, Elder Yan’s form dissipated and returned once more to the Sealing Spirit Pearl.

After Elder Yan vanished, Shen Haoran plunged into the dense forest and disappeared from sight.

...

「At the Blood Skull Mercenary Corps base.」

The large courtyard was in an uproar. Figures scurried back and forth, each person carrying a bucket of water, their faces etched with panic.

"Faster, move it!" came a series of urgent shouts, the voice thick with anxiety.

This was none other than Blood Skull’s third-in-command, Xiang Tian. He stood in the courtyard, relentlessly hurrying the Blood Skull members while gazing worriedly at the sea of fire not far away. That was where Xue Qinghe’s private chamber for his cultivation was located.

Apparently, after Xue Qinghe and Xiang Tian had heard the explosion from the forest, Xue Qinghe had sent Xiang Tian away and returned to his chamber to continue his cultivation.

But not long after Xiang Tian had left, a deafening explosion had ripped through Xue Qinghe’s cultivation chamber. By the time Xiang Tian rushed back, he found the entire chamber completely engulfed in a sea of flames, with smaller explosions still echoing from within the inferno.

The thought that Xue Qinghe was still inside spurred Xiang Tian to instantly circulate his Spiritual Power, enveloping his entire body as he prepared to charge into the inferno to rescue him. However, the blaze was too intense; he was forced back after only a few steps. Left with no other choice, Xiang Tian could only summon men to put out the fire. In an instant, the entire Blood Skull base was thrown into chaos. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Xiang Tian stood in the courtyard, his face a mask of anxiety as he watched the unrelenting flames. Xue Qinghe was still inside, his fate unknown. If Xue Qinghe died in there, the consequences would be unimaginable. Just thinking about Xue Qinghe’s identity made cold sweat break out on Xiang Tian’s forehead. He roared, "Hurry up! Have none of you eaten today? You useless lot! If anything happens to the Corps Leader, you’ll all be buried with him!"

Seeing their third-in-command’s fury, the men in the courtyard could only work faster, desperately flinging bucket after bucket of water into the inferno.

Just as everyone was frantically fighting the fire, the sound of footsteps suddenly emerged from within the blaze.

TAP... TAP... TAP...

Everyone looked up toward the inferno. A figure was slowly emerging. It was Xue Qinghe!

Xue Qinghe advanced slowly through the flames, the intense heat distorting his silhouette. Seeing that he was still alive, Xiang Tian let out a long sigh of relief and rushed forward to meet him.

However, as he drew closer and got a clear look at Xue Qinghe’s face, even he—a man accustomed to walking among piles of corpses—was frozen in horror, his body trembling uncontrollably.

By this time, Xue Qinghe had walked out of the inferno, enveloped by a faint, shimmering Spiritual Barrier. Presumably, it was this barrier that had saved his life.

But even with the barrier’s protection, Xue Qinghe’s current state was ghastly. His once-pristine white robes were riddled with burnt holes and caked in ash. Most of his long hair had been singed away. More horrifying still, his once-handsome face was now completely ruined. The entire right side of his face was destroyed, the skin blackened and carbonized. Half of his upper jaw was exposed, revealing his teeth in a terrifying visage illuminated by the flickering flames.

"Has Old Bear returned?" Xue Qinghe asked, his voice oddly flat as he looked at Xiang Tian.

Snapping out of his stupor at Xue Qinghe’s question, Xiang Tian replied fearfully, "Reporting to the Corps Leader, Old Bear went to see off Leng Feng and hasn’t returned yet!"

The moment Xiang Tian finished speaking, a violent aura erupted from Xue Qinghe. Standing closest to him, Xiang Tian felt as if he had been plunged into Purgatory, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

"Leng Feng... Hmph. How clever of you! I, Xue Qinghe, swear I will tear you to pieces!" Xue Qinghe’s face could no longer form any expression, but the chilling intent in his voice felt cold enough to extinguish the raging inferno itself.

"Xiang Tian, relay my orders! All members are to search for Leng Feng’s whereabouts. I want him found, dead or alive! Whoever captures Leng Feng will be promoted to fourth-in-command!

Also, spread the news that Leng Feng is in possession of a Top Grade Spirit Stone. Make sure every Martial Artist in town knows about it! I want him to have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide!"

"Yes, sir!" Xiang Tian acknowledged, then immediately turned to leave.

’Leng Feng, just you wait! I will make you experience a fate worse than death!’

After speaking, Xue Qinghe’s rage was still not sated. He turned and saw a young man staring at him, trembling in fear. He grabbed the youth and pulled him close. "What? Am I so terrifying?"

"N-no..." the young man stammered in terror.

SQUELCH!

"You lie!" Xue Qinghe snarled. He thrust his hand directly into the young man’s chest, piercing his heart. Activating his Cultivation Technique, he instantly drained the youth, leaving behind nothing but a dried husk.

After draining the young man’s blood, Xue Qinghe casually tossed the corpse aside. He then glanced at the other Blood Skull members filling the courtyard. A cruel grin stretched across his disfigured face, and his figure vanished in a flash. The next moment, blood splattered everywhere...