Listening to Wei Haolong's recounting, Shu Han couldn't help but be moved. He remembered back in his hometown, Canglang Mountain, where families would often abandon baby girls. The cruelty was universal; those deemed less useful were even denied the basic right to live.

He patted Wei Haolong on the shoulder, saying, "If that's the case, embrace her will. Live openly in the way you enjoy, free from others' expectations."

Wei Haolong responded with a bitter smile, "That's easier said than done. If I dared show myself in this form, my father would be the first to kill me."

Scratching his head, Shu Han replied, "True, but no one has the right to dictate how another should live, not even your father."

Brushing off Shu Han's hand, Wei Haolong's expression eased a bit after listening to him. Approaching the courtyard, he said, "Enough chatter. I'll teach you the 'Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art' and the art of invisibility. In return, you must teach me your eye technique."

With that, he pointed to a cushion in the courtyard, signaling for Shu Han to sit.

As Shu Han sat cross-legged on the cushion, Wei Haolong stood before him, his face solemn. With a gesture, a blazing Earth Dragon Fire enveloped him.

The Earth Dragon Fire swirled around, encompassing both of them within a vortex of flames.

Within this fiery whirlwind, Shu Han observed the Earth Dragon Fire morphing into various forms under Wei Haolong's command. The ferocious heavenly fire seemed to gain a life of its own as if it was sentient.

Wei Haolong explained, "The 'Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art' is the pinnacle fire-controlling technique of our Fiery Cloud Instant Sect! In the north of the Great Cloud, no other fire technique can compare. The essence of this secret art is using one's body as a furnace, integrating the heavenly fire into every meridian, acupoint, and dantian, melding it seamlessly with one's spiritual power. Heavenly fire is spiritual power and spiritual power is heavenly fire!"

Suddenly, the surrounding Earth Dragon Fire transformed into ancient characters, floating around Shu Han. As Shu Han beheld these characters, his consciousness entered a state of enlightenment, and his inner Black Abyssal Fire source naturally followed this secret technique, flowing through his dantian and meridians.

Shu Han realized that the best way to precisely control the flames was to bind them within a refining furnace. That's why alchemists and artifact refiners always had alchemy furnaces as essential tools. The primary reason was mastery over the flame's intensity.

The founder of the 'Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art', with his extraordinary talent, developed this technique, turning the cultivator's body into a furnace to control the heavenly fire. When one fully masters the 'Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art', they essentially become a walking alchemy furnace.

So that's how it is!

Shu Han quickly grasped the essence, eagerly studying the runes conveyed by Wei Haolong, and gradually mastering the essence of the "Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art."

Soon, the astute Shu Han discovered that many runes within the "Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art" closely resembled the formation of Fiery Cloud Onsen. The method of controlling heavenly fire was almost identical.

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Shu Han shared his insights with Wei Haolong. Wei Haolong nodded in appreciation, "I hadn't realized you were such a genius in formation patterns to pick up on this so quickly. You're right, the formation method of Fiery Cloud Onsen indeed evolved from the 'Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art'. All our fire-controlling techniques in the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect originated from this art."

Thus, Shu Han continued his devoted study of this secret technique. As he read the section about using one's body as a furnace, he felt a sense of familiarity with those runes.

Suddenly, he pulled up his sleeve, revealing a black pattern on his wrist. To his surprise, it closely resembled the patterns of the "Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art."

A realization hit him: the mad elder's secret heavenly fire body forging technique also originated from the "Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art."

However, it wasn't surprising since the mad elder used to be the senior brother of the Sect Leader, so he must have had his unique understanding of the "Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art."

Shu Han studied in the courtyard until dawn, imprinting every detail of the wondrous "Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art" into his memory. Now, he felt fully prepared to refine the Black Abyssal Fire.

Wei Haolong, who had been watching over Shu Han, said as soon as Shu Han awakened, "Done! I've taught you the entire 'Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art.' Now it's your turn to teach me the eye technique. Once I verify its authenticity, I'll give you the subsequent invisibility technique."

Without hesitation, Shu Han handed Wei Haolong an imprint detailing the Clear Bright Spiritual Eye technique.

Wei Haolong was overjoyed initially, but after scanning it briefly, he frowned, waving the thin sheet of paper, "Is it this simple? Did you give me an abridged version?"

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, understand? Rest assured, what I gave you is the complete version, but..."

Hearing this, Wei Haolong became furious, "I broke the sect's rules to teach you the full 'Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art,' and you're giving me a 'but'? What 'but'?"

Seeing that Wei Haolong was about to lose his temper, Shu Han quickly said, "Calm down. This eye technique, named Clear Bright Spiritual Eye, requires not only the spell but also a special potion for cultivation."

With that, Shu Han tossed a bottle of potion to him.

Still unsatisfied, Wei Haolong demanded, "I want the potion's formula."

Shu Han smiled, "Sorry, the formula is not for sale."

"You!"

Whoosh!

Wei Haolong instantly drew his silver spear, ready to confront Shu Han. Shu Han hastily raised his hands to pacify him, "Calm down! Listen to me! Although I can't give you the formula, I can provide you with the potion for free indefinitely. If you try to prepare it yourself with the formula, it wouldn't be as efficient as my supply."

Wei Haolong frowned, "You're afraid I'll spread this technique."

Shu Han replied, "Yes, the fewer people who master it, the better. Otherwise, it would be detrimental to our invisibility techniques."

Wei Haolong huffed angrily, "Fine! I'm only interested in your eye technique anyway." He then threw over a page, "Here's the invisibility technique for you."

Shu Han took a glance and immediately frowned, "This is too much! This page is clearly torn from a book. How am I supposed to practice without context?"

"Hmph! You're one to talk after tricking me first. I'll give you the invisibility technique bit by bit to prevent you from being sly and withholding the potion in the future!"

In anger, Shu Han drew his Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword, exclaiming, "Damn it! I'll teach you a lesson!"

Wei Haolong gripped his spear, scoffing, "Come on then! Think I'd be afraid of a mid-phase cultivator like you?"

Bang!

The two clashed in the courtyard at lightning speed. Flames and sparks flew, but the courtyard remained undamaged. With his Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword, Shu Han was repeatedly forced back by Wei Haolong. However, his eyes gleamed even brighter. Throughout the fight, he gradually grasped how Wei Haolong controlled the Earth Dragon Fire, deepening his understanding of the "Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art."

"Enough!" Shu Han, looking defeated, called out, "You're indeed formidable! Not only are you adept at disguising as a woman, but you also pack quite a punch in a fight."

Wei Haolong laughed heartily, taking Shu Han's words as a compliment. He waved his hand to disperse the maze, opening a path for Shu Han, "Next time, bring more potions. Otherwise, I won't go easy on you like today."

Cursing under his breath, Shu Han dusted himself off and was about to leave through the maze passage. However, he suddenly noticed the mad elder sound asleep under a bamboo tree outside.

"Senior!"