Chapter 309: Chapter 308: Phoenix Nirvana, Rebirth in Fire

...

Three days had passed since the duel between Shen Haoran and Murong Wanqing. For those three days, the entire Desert City was filled with heated discussions about Shen Haoran.

"What do you guys think this kid’s background is? He defeated the Murong Family’s young lady with just the strength of a Tier One Spirit Marquis!"

"Could he be a disciple from some major clan, out gaining experience? A mysterious identity, powerful combat strength, and he’s a High Tier Alchemist too. Maybe he really is from a major clan!"

"Then how does he know the Murong Family’s Secret Skill? You have to have the Murong Family’s legacy to use that. Don’t tell me the kid is an illegitimate son of the Murong Family, living on the outside!"

In Desert City, the discussions about Shen Haoran were endless. Meanwhile, deep within the Lan Family estate, in a secret chamber, a blue-robed figure was hidden in the darkness. Only a pair of large hands were visible, constantly rotating two lion-head orbs. Below him, Lan Sha stood respectfully, completely still.

"Is the one from the Murong Family still at the Han Family’s residence?" a cold voice suddenly rang out.

"Reporting to the Patriarch, yes, she is!" Lan Sha bowed and said respectfully. The person hidden in the darkness was none other than the Lan Family Patriarch!

"Then put the plan on hold for now. We can’t afford to provoke the Murong Family. Once she leaves, take down the Han Family immediately!" the Lan Family Patriarch said coldly. A powerful aura erupted from his body, stirring up a storm of Spiritual Power in the secret chamber. Faint black qi rose up and floated around the blue-robed figure.

Feeling the Lan Family Patriarch’s powerful aura, Lan Sha couldn’t help but swallow hard. The icy presence made his entire body uncomfortable.

"Alright, you are dismissed. Remember, watch the Han Family’s every move. This time, I will completely wipe the Han Family from the face of Desert City!"

"Yes!" Hearing this, Lan Sha felt as if he’d been granted amnesty and quickly retreated.

After Lan Sha left, the secret chamber roiled as countless streams of black qi began to converge. Soon, a human figure appeared within the chamber.

"My Lord!" As soon as the figure materialized, the Lan Family Patriarch immediately rose and called out respectfully.

"How is the matter I entrusted to you progressing?" a hoarse voice asked, as unsettling as nails scraping across glass.

"Replying to my lord, the young lady of the Murong Clan is currently at the Han Family’s residence. It is not convenient for us to make a move. Once she departs, we will certainly take down the Han Family in one fell swoop!" the Lan Family Patriarch replied.

"The Murong Clan... you mean the Imperial Capital Murong Family?" Hearing the Lan Family Patriarch’s words, the figure in the black qi seemed to grow unstable, and the qi around it roiled violently.

"Yes!"

"The Murong Clan is indeed a behemoth. Now is not the time to openly turn against them. Do not act rashly!" After a long moment, the figure’s emotions calmed, and it spoke faintly.

"Yes, my lord! It’s just... I don’t understand. With your power, my lord, why must you target the insignificant Han Family? It seems..." the Lan Family Patriarch asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Hmph. It is best not to ask questions you shouldn’t ask! Don’t forget, the power you now possess was a gift from me. Since I can give it, I can naturally take it away. You need only do exactly as I say!" the figure snorted, cutting the Lan Family Patriarch off. The black qi surrounding it suddenly turned violent, and an icy aura instantly enveloped the Patriarch. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Feeling that chilling aura, the Lan Family Patriarch was instantly drenched in cold sweat. He hurriedly replied, "Understood, my lord! This humble one will do everything in his power to complete the tasks you have assigned!"

The figure gave the Lan Family Patriarch one last cold look, then transformed into countless streams of black qi and vanished from the secret chamber.

After the black-robed figure disappeared, the Lan Family Patriarch let out a heavy sigh of relief, and his expression turned cold and sinister.

"Han Family, hmph!" The Lan Family Patriarch snorted. With a sudden clench of his fist, the two golden lion-head orbs were crushed to pieces!

...

At that moment, in a bamboo forest deep within the Han Family estate, Han Xu and Murong Wanqing were sitting in a pavilion, their gazes drifting toward the wooden hut from time to time, as if they were waiting for something.

"Sigh... It’s already been three days, and Brother Shen still hasn’t woken up," Han Xu said with a soft sigh. Hearing this, a flicker of worry also crossed Murong Wanqing’s eyes.

Inside the wooden hut, Shen Haoran’s eyes were tightly shut, a look of agony etched between his brows.

This was an Endless Fire Domain. Shen Haoran walked within it, his skin burned crimson and covered in gruesome blisters. It was a miserable sight!

Shen Haoran bit his lip hard. He raised his head and looked at a massive skeleton in the distance. A glimmer of resilience flashed in his eyes as he endured the agonizing pain and walked toward the enormous skeleton.

Golden flames coiled around the giant skeleton. Its wings were spread wide, as if it were about to soar into the heavens! If one looked closely, they would discover that these were the remains of the Ancient Divine Beast, the Vermilion Bird!

Shen Haoran steadily approached the Vermilion Bird’s remains. However, the closer he got, the higher the surrounding temperature soared, and the greater the pain Shen Haoran had to endure.

At this moment, Shen Haoran was completely unable to summon the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian to protect himself. He could only rely on his own resistance and his indomitable will to force his body forward!

Shen Haoran knew that his Spiritual Thought was trapped in this Endless Fire Domain, and that the secret to escaping lay with the remains of the Vermilion Bird!

Shen Haoran trudged forward with great difficulty. His shoes had long since been incinerated, and the flesh on his feet had turned black and hard, completely carbonized. The stench of burning flesh filled the air.

Staring at the Vermilion Bird’s remains less than a hundred meters away, Shen Haoran’s gaze hardened, and he stepped forward once more!

WHOOSH... With a single step, the clothes on his body began to spontaneously combust. The surrounding temperature had reached a terrifying level. Shen Haoran’s skin instantly cracked open, and wisps of blood-mist rose from his body—his very blood was evaporating!

"AHHH!"

The heart-rending agony made Shen Haoran cry out in spite of himself. But, in order to escape this hellscape, he endured the pain wracking his body, his eyes turning bloodshot as he actually started to run forward!

The hundred-meter distance felt like it took him centuries to cross. By the time he reached the side of the Vermilion Bird’s remains, the very bones in his legs had begun to melt, and Shen Haoran collapsed to the ground!

On the Vermilion Bird’s remains, the golden flames churned without end. Shen Haoran raised his head and stared blankly at the skeleton, his eyes dazed, completely ignoring the sparks that continually erupted from his own body.

FWOOSH... FWOOSH... The golden flames pulsed rhythmically. After a moment, Shen Haoran’s body was also covered in golden flames, which began to pulse in unison with the fire on the Vermilion Bird’s remains.

’Phoenix Nirvana, rebirth in flames... So that’s how it is. I understand now! Hahaha, I understand!’ Suddenly, Shen Haoran burst into wild laughter, his hoarse voice echoing throughout the entire Endless Fire Domain...