Seeing Shu Han in distress, Song Changyi couldn't help but ask, "What's going on?"

Tang Shan'er observed the changes within Shu Han's body and exclaimed, "This young man is truly extraordinary. It seems that his survival was not by chance. He has actually comprehended the Heavenly Fire Conversion Formation and treated himself as a magic treasure to refine. However, in a short period of time, he absorbed too much of the heavenly fire's essence and a vast mixture of medicinal powers. His body has nearly reached its limit."

With deep concentration, Tang Shan'er manifested her Golden Core from between her brows. The radiant energy from the Golden Core shone upon Shu Han. She quickly sealed several of Shu Han's major acupoints, halting the chaotic rampage of the heavenly fire and medicinal power within him. This allowed Shu Han to recover from the intense pain.

Gasping for breath, Shu Han bowed in gratitude, "Thank you, Master Aunt, for saving me!"

Tang Shan'er nodded, "Currently, your body holds too much of the heavenly fire's essence and a mixture of medicinal powers. In the future, you'll need to devoutly refine these, or it may endanger your life."

Shu Han took a sharp breath. He was already aware that his internal condition was not good, but he hadn't realized it was this serious.

It seems that one shouldn't recklessly consume spirit herbs. Unrefined spirit herbs can be as lethal as poison to cultivators.

"Thank you, Master Aunt, for the guidance."

After adjusting his internal energy, Shu Han continued following Tang Shan'er toward the Fiery Cloud Mountain.

On the way, Song Changyi kept squinting and staring at him, making Shu Han quite uncomfortable. He couldn't help but ask, "Brother Song, why are you staring at me like this?"

Song Changyi whispered, "My mother has never treated any disciple this well, even going as far as to use her Golden Core energy. What have you done to earn her favor?"

Shu Han was taken aback, thinking, How would I know?

Tang Shan'er said indifferently, "Changyi, enough with the nonsense."

Song Changyi shuddered in response.

"Yes!"

The three continued flying towards the back of Fiery Cloud Mountain. Given the vastness of the Fiery Cloud Mountain, Tang Shan'er led them to the top area and they landed on a secluded hillside.

Tang Shan'er gracefully stepped forward and said, "We can't fly here, follow me on foot."

Shu Han looked around. The hillside was deserted, but as he followed Tang Shan'er upward, he gradually felt an inexplicable pressure. This pressure didn't seem to stem from a cultivator's power, yet it forced Shu Han to feel a profound solemnity and reverence.

Gradually, Shu Han spotted a gigantic black stele. It seemed to be cast from magma, with reddish patterns sprawling across it. On it, in flaming red characters, were the words: Fiery Cloud Heavenly Tomb.

For a moment, as Shu Han gazed at the tombstone, he felt as though countless mighty spirits were staring back at him. He couldn't help but bow in respect. Looking up, he noticed Tang Shan'er and Song Changyi doing the same.

Then, Tang Shan'er led Shu Han into the Fiery Cloud Heavenly Tomb.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Upon entering, Shu Han felt the desolate wind of a volcanic atmosphere brush against his face. The whispering wind seemed like the voices of the deceased recounting their glorious deeds.

At a glance, rows of tombstones belonged to Core Formation period powerhouses. These tombstones symbolized the profound foundation of the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect.

Tang Shan'er led the two of them to a group of closely packed tombstones. Facing them was a joint tomb. Tang Shan'er immediately knelt in front of it, whispering, "Father, mother, Shan'er is here to see you."

Song Changyi hurriedly knelt as well, murmuring, "Grandson Song Changyi pays respect to grandfather and grandmother!"

Shu Han quickly followed suit, bowing and saying, "Disciple Yu Tiancheng pays respect to the ancestors."

Then, glancing at this specially arranged row of tombstones, he recalled what Wei Haolong had told him about the chaos of the man-demon and couldn't help asking, "Master Aunt, did these seniors sacrifice themselves during the chaos of the man-demon?"

"The chaos of the man-demon..." Tang Shan'er's voice was filled with sorrow, "For the reputation of the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect, this story has been passed down for two thousand years. Today, another witness from that time has departed. Ah, father and mother, almost a millennium has flashed by."

Shu Han felt a lump in his heart, sensing an impending revelation.

Tang Shan'er continued, "Yu Tiancheng, as a disciple of your senior, you need to know the truth about that year. Listen closely, the man-demon that the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect speaks of was your master, my father's top disciple from the past, Zhu Tianyu."

"What?!"

Shu Han remained silent, but Song Changyi leapt up in shock.

"Mother, what on earth are you talking about?"

Listening silently, Shu Han connected the dots with what Elder Lu had said about the mad elder. He had more or less guessed the truth.

Tang Shan'er stood up. She wasn't taller than Song Changyi, and she placed a hand on his shoulder, saying, "Changyi, calm down."

Song Changyi stepped back and murmured, "You mean... it was that madman who killed my grandparents and nearly brought our Fiery Cloud Instant Sect to ruin?"

Turning, Song Changyi gritted his teeth and demanded, "For such a treacherous traitor, why didn't you or father execute him in revenge for our grandparents and the elders of Fiery Cloud Instant Sect? How can he still be alive?!"

Saying this, Song Changyi drew his sword, angrily intending to descend the mountain.

"Come back!"

"I won't!"

With teary eyes, Song Changyi yelled, "You and Father taught me to be loyal to the sect. This person betrayed and deceived, leading our Fiery Cloud Instant Sect to the brink of destruction. If you won't act, I will!"

Tang Shan'er raised her hand, pulling Song Changyi back with an invisible force. Without hesitation, she slapped him crisply across the face twice, stunning him.

Staring at the dazed Song Changyi, tears welled up in Tang Shan'er's eyes. Biting her lip, she angrily said, "No! Absolutely not!"

Seeing Tang Shan'er cry, Song Changyi immediately panicked. He quickly knelt before her, pleading, "Mother, I was wrong. Please stop crying. Punish me however you see fit."

Wiping her tears, Tang Shan'er sighed, "People call you a genius, and your father is hailed as a once-in-a-millennium talent in the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect. But nobody remembers that the sect's true number one genius was your senior."

"When I was just a naive young girl, your senior had already become my father's disciple. He treated my parents as if they were his own and was fiercely loyal to the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect. He personally mentored me, and without him, I might not have achieved the Golden Core path."

Listening from the side, Shu Han suddenly felt that Tang Shan'er's words were more for Song Changyi's benefit than his.

"Your senior wasn't born with a fire spirit root, but his comprehension was unmatched. When your father just entered the sect, your senior had already reached the False Core realm. During his Foundation Establishment period, he mastered the sect's most challenging 'Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art' and earned the title of the top cultivator below the Core Formation period among the six righteous sects north of Great Cloud."

"Song Jinglun, your father, was my father's last disciple. But as the sect leader, my father had little time to personally teach him. Most of his understanding of cultivation came from your senior's meticulous guidance. Without him, your father might not have achieved his current status!"

Suddenly, Shu Han felt a subtle disturbance from the southern side of the graveyard. He couldn't resist looking over, but all he saw was an empty slope.

Frowning, Shu Han wondered if he was being overly sensitive. Not convinced, he instantly activated his Clear Bright Spiritual Eye.

Under the Clear Bright Spiritual Eye, the place still appeared empty. However, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a transparent figure that vanished in a blink.