Shu Han stayed in the city for half a month. However, during this time, the mad old man mysteriously disappeared. No matter how much he searched, Shu Han couldn't find any trace of the old man's departure.
Sigh!
Shu Han gripped his wrist, where a black pattern appeared faintly. He didn't understand the meaning of this mark. Yet, he found that because of its presence, the core essence of his Black Abyssal Fire was slowly withering.
The Black Abyssal Fire essence was already scarce, and now it was diminishing even more. If this continued, it would vanish! This alarmed Shu Han greatly. The precious Heavenly Fire essence that he had obtained with great difficulty couldn't just disappear mysteriously. He decided he must hurry to the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect to find a way to nurture and control the Heavenly Fire.
However, in the past half a month, even with his avatar inquiring around, he still couldn't find out why the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect was hunting him. Not only did he fail to find the reason, but he also discovered that the bounty on his head kept increasing. In just half a month, it had risen to 5,000 lower-grade spirit stones.
This gave Shu Han a great headache. He couldn't fathom whom he had offended from the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect to warrant such attention. Seeing the steadily increasing bounty, it seemed like they were determined to get him at all costs.
Thump!
Shu Han slammed the railing, thinking angrily: 'If you're so eager to find me, why put out a bounty? I, Shu Han, will come to you myself and see who you truly are!'
Then, disguising himself as Fei Zhengyang, and with the token given by the man in white, he turned into a streak of light and headed towards the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect.
The Fiery Cloud Instant Sect didn't have any Nascent Soul cultivators. Unless there was a Core Formation cultivator with an exceptionally profound vision technique, they would not be able to see through his basic Heaven-Earth Transformation technique.
Shu Han once imagined turning his main body into Fei Zhengyang and using his avatar to claim the bounty, all the while using the avatar to find out who wanted to capture him alive.
But upon reconsideration, he found the idea impractical. After all, he had already revealed his strength in front of that Core Formation elder from the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect.
Imagine a formidable Core Formation expert finding it hard to deal with someone, only to be captured by a Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator. It would be absurd.
Furthermore, his avatar needed to constantly draw on spiritual power to sustain itself. If detained, they would definitely strip away his storage pouch and spirit stones, making it impossible for the avatar to maintain itself for long.
Thus, Shu Han decided to secretly investigate who was behind the bounty. After all, he wasn't in a hurry. He had the advantage of hiding in the shadows, while the other party was in the open.
Flying swiftly towards the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect, after about a day's journey and just before sunset, Shu Han finally saw the majestic gate of the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect.
Unlike the traditional cave heavens and blessed lands of the Purple Sun Sect, the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect was established atop a magnificent volcano.
The massive amounts of fire-attributed spiritual energy spewing from the volcano's mouth tinted the entire sky red. Even from a distance, one could feel the intense and turbulent fire spiritual energy in the air.
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Staring at the bubbling volcano in the distance, Shu Han could sense the restless throbbing of his Black Abyssal Fire essence.
The flames raging within the volcano were the foundation of the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect, the Earth Dragon Fire.
Compared to the essence of the Black Abyssal Fire, the Earth Dragon Fire was immensely more potent—much like the vast difference between a Qi Refining cultivator and a Nascent Soul cultivator.
The volcano was dotted with numerous palaces and cave dwellings. Countless cultivators riding fiery clouds traveled to and fro.
As Shu Han drew closer to the enormous volcano, he was suddenly stopped by a group of cultivators.
Fiery Cloud Instant Sect's cultivators had temperaments as fiery as their namesake, all donning fiery red robes. Noting that Shu Han wasn't one of their own, they blocked his path and haughtily demanded, "Bold! Ahead lies the gate of our Fiery Cloud Instant Sect. It is not a place for rogue cultivators! Leave now, or your life will be forfeit!"
Shu Han respectfully replied with a bow, "My name is Yu Tiancheng, a mere rogue cultivator. I've long admired the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect and have come specifically to join. I ask fellow daoists to grant me passage."
As he spoke, he produced four small bags of spirit stones. Upon seeing the spirit stones, the demeanor of the Foundation Establishment cultivators softened. They asked, "You wish to join the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect. Do you have a recommendation from one of our members?"
"Yes." Shu Han presented the fiery cloud token and said, "I don't know the name of the senior who granted me this, but I'm indebted to him for bestowing me with this token. May fellow daoists inspect it and decide whether I may pass?"
Upon examining the exquisite fiery cloud token, their faces displayed evident shock. They exchanged glances, visibly trembling.
One of them quickly bowed deeply before Shu Han, taking the token with trembling hands. He spoke with remorse, "Please forgive us, senior. We were merely following orders. If we have acted out of line, we hope senior can overlook our mistakes. And you all! How dare you accept the senior's spirit stones? Have you lost your minds? Return them immediately!"
"Yes, yes!"
The four hurriedly and respectfully handed back the bag of spirit stones. Upon inspection, Shu Han was surprised to find more spirit stones in the bag than before. It was clear that these disciples had added their own spirit stones to it.
Were they that frightened?
Shu Han, a bit astonished, took back the bag of spirit stones and the token, and said, "There's no need for you four to be this tense. I'm just a rogue cultivator looking to join the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect. Let's just follow whatever procedures are necessary."
"How can we? You are an esteemed guest of the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect! Senior, please follow me to the Guest Reception Hall. A senior elder from our sect will personally meet you!"
An esteemed guest? And a meeting with an elder?
Shu Han touched the token and, surrounded by the respectful entourage of the four, flew towards the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect. He couldn't help but ask, "Can any of you tell me, is this token very significant in the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect?"
One of them sheepishly replied, "Senior, you're joking. This is the Sect Leader's personal token!"
The Sect Leader's token!
Shu Han was taken aback. He had guessed that the man in white had a high position within the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect, but he had never imagined he was the renowned Sect Leader of the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect, famous throughout the northern regions of the Great Cloud. Holding the token, he couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive.
The man seemed genuinely refined and approachable, without the overbearing demeanor typical of world-renowned experts. He was worlds apart from the Purple Sun Sect Leader who looked down on everyone.
Logically, a friendly demeanor should be more reassuring. But for some reason, Shu Han preferred dealing with the haughty likes of the Purple Sun Sect Leader, feeling that such behavior was more normal.
Imagine, someone with a millennium of cultivation experience, standing at the pinnacle, having seen countless ups and downs in the world. To such a person, a mid-level Foundation Establishment cultivator like Shu Han would seem even more insignificant than an ant. Why would they greet him with a smile? When a giant treats an ant with courtesy, should the ant feel elated or tremble in fear?
Due to his cautious intuition, Shu Han felt it best to quickly obtain the technique to control the heavenly fire and then distance himself from the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect.
Soon after, he was escorted by the four disciples into a resplendent guest hall. The hall was adorned with fiery red jade and gilded decorations, and a pot of invigorating Fiery Cloud Immortal Tea was prepared for him. The treatment he received was comparable to that of a Core Formation cultivator.
As Shu Han settled into the guest hall and the four disciples left, he sipped the tea. Soon, an elderly man entered. Upon seeing the man's face, Shu Han almost spat out the tea he was drinking.
It was that old geezer!