In the dead of night, Mu Jingbai emerged from the Fiery Cloud Onsen. Her lovely face was flushed red from the heat of the Fiery Cloud Onsen, reminiscent of a tempting red apple.

Mu Jingbai was in high spirits. After seven consecutive days in the Fiery Cloud Onsen, she had finally made a breakthrough to the intermediate realm. With her beauty and current cultivation level, finding a Dao companion at the peak of the Foundation Establishment shouldn't be a problem.

As she approached the entrance of her cave dwelling, Mu Jingbai suddenly noticed an ethereal silhouette slowly appearing on the cliff in front of her cave.

Upon closer inspection, she saw a man in white standing against the wind at the edge of the cliff. Alarmed, Mu Jingbai quickly knelt down and shouted, "Disciple Mu Jingbai pays respect to the Sect Leader Supreme!"

"There's no need for such formality."

Mu Jingbai stood up, her heart pounding. She noticed tear stains on the handsome face of the sect leader and couldn't help but ask, "Sect Leader, what's wrong?"

Song Jinglun seemed to be in a daze, with a wine flask and cup floating beside him. He replied, "The long night is hard to get through. Join me for a drink."

Joy surged in Mu Jingbai's heart. What an honor it was to drink with the sect leader! However, she was puzzled about why the esteemed sect leader would appear in front of her cave dwelling, especially given his strange demeanor.

Song Jinglun drank cup after cup, the tear marks on his face never drying.

Mu Jingbai didn't dare to speak. She could only keep drinking with him, the sect leader's voice hoarse and mournful, a far cry from his usual commanding presence.

"Ah, I, Song Jinglun, have been with the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect for nearly two thousand years. As the successor, I single-handedly took on the responsibility of the sect's rise and fall. I've made monumental contributions for the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect. Why?"

His voice grew more agitated, almost roaring, "Why? Why can't I win her approval? In what way am I inferior to that man? Whether it's cultivation or achievements, I have surpassed him! Why?"

Mu Jingbai, completely confused, tried to appease him, "Sect Leader Supreme, your contributions are unparalleled. You are the most accomplished individual in the history of Fiery Cloud Instant Sect!"

Crack!

Song Jinglun crushed the wine glass, his eyes bloodshot as he gripped Mu Jingbai's wrist, his voice edging on madness, "If that's the case, why, why does Shan'er still think of him? No matter her past, I've endured. I supported the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect, nurtured and taught Changyi, and took utmost care of her! Why does it feel like all of this is stolen? All this glory, I fought for with my life! In what way am I less than him?"

Mu Jingbai turned pale with fear, "Sect Leader... please calm down..."

With a furious roar, Song Jinglun cried out.

"Zhu Tianyu! Zhu Tianyu! Just wait! I'll reach realms you've never stepped foot in! Your name will be erased from Fiery Cloud Instant Sect forever!"

…

Shu Han and Song Changyi descended from the Fiery Cloud Heavenly Tomb.

Song Changyi had a gloomy look on his face. Confused, he said, "Why? That man clearly killed my grandparents, yet not only does my mother prohibit me from taking revenge, she insists I learn the Heavenly Fire Body Refining Art from him?"

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Shu Han was at a loss for words and responded, "Brother Song, in the future, if Master wishes to instruct me further on the Heavenly Fire Body Refining Art, should I call you as per our agreement?"

"Call me!"

Shu Han was taken aback, "I thought you were unwilling?"

"Since I promised my mother, I have to follow through."

Song Changyi bowed slightly, "However, my physical condition is still lacking. I hope Brother Yu can guide me in the future."

Shu Han chuckled, "Of course. Brother Song can visit my cave anytime to exchange martial arts insights and refine our physiques."

With a mischievous gleam in his eyes, Song Changyi said, "Why don't I just move into Brother Yu's cave?"

Shu Han was speechless. He replied with a wry smile, "That might not be very convenient."

Song Changyi nodded, not pressing the issue, "Brother Yu needs to recuperate and prepare. In three years, it will be the Fiery Cloud duel. That's the best opportunity to improve one's ranking. With your current late-stage cultivation, if you're well-prepared, there's a chance to break into the top three of the Fiery Cloud Leaderboard."

"If one achieves the first place in the Fiery Cloud Leaderboard, does that mean they can seize the Earth Dragon Fire Source?"

Song Changyi nodded, "Not only that, the sect will also teach Brother Yu the coveted Heavenly Fire Manipulation Art."

Shu Han thought, But I've already mastered it. Nevertheless, having another type of heavenly fire is indeed a rare advantage.

"And if I'm fortunate enough to win first place?"

Song Changyi grinned and bowed, "Then I will be waiting for Brother Yu at the Fiery Cloud Leaderboard arena!"

After parting with Song Changyi, Shu Han flew towards his cave dwelling. The past recounted by Tang Shan'er weighed heavily on Shu Han's mind. He never imagined that the mad elder was the legendary man-demon from the past.

Listening to Tang Shan'er describe the glory of the mad elder in his prime, and then thinking of his current crazed state, Shu Han couldn't help but feel melancholic.

Is breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage really that difficult?

Even the powerful mad elder, a once-in-a-lifetime genius, went mad because of the challenges at the Nascent Soul stage.

The unparalleled Song Jinglun in white, already at the peak of the Core Formation's late stage, has been stuck at this realm for centuries. Whether he can smoothly break through to the Nascent Soul stage in the future remains uncertain.

Shu Han was filled with emotion. Although his current cultivation was stronger than before, he increasingly felt that reaching the Nascent Soul stage was an insurmountable task.

"Linlin, wait for me!"

Arriving at his cave dwelling, Bai Xingyan had been waiting for him for quite some time. Seeing Shu Han's return, Bai Xingyan couldn't help but rush forward excitedly and greeted, "Disciple greets Master on his return."

Shu Han nodded with a smile and led Bai Xingyan into the cave dwelling.

As Bai Xingyan followed Shu Han inside, with every step, he noticed brilliant starlight emanating beneath his feet.

As they walked further, Bai Xingyan felt as though he had entered another world and was now walking on a galaxy with Shu Han.

Shu Han chuckled, "Recognize it?"

Bai Xingyan replied, "Of course, being from the Bai family, how could I not recognize the Stellar Wish Formation?"

With a wave of his hand, Shu Han dispelled the formation.

Bai Xingyan curiously inquired, "Master, how are you related to the Bai family?"

Shu Han asked, "Do you know Bai Yunxuan?"

Bai Xingyan replied, "Of course. Bai Yunxuan is my uncle. But ever since our family faced that catastrophe, he has been missing. Master, do you know him?"

Shu Han sighed deeply, "More than just knowing him. He was my mentor. Without his guidance, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today."

Subsequently, Shu Han gestured for Bai Xingyan to sit and recount the affairs of the Mystical Dragon Sect to him, omitting certain details. Upon hearing this, Bai Xingyan couldn't help but lament, "Uncle was the pride of the Bai family for the past century, yet he met such a fate."

Shu Han inquired, "What's the current state of the Bai family, and how did you come to join the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect?"

Bai Xingyan clenched his fists, "To be honest, Master, the Bai family is no more. After that disaster, the members scattered far and wide, with most having lost contact. The family members I lived with were discovered by our arch-enemies, the Jiang family, and were exterminated three years ago. I was the only one who managed to escape."

"Was it for the Bai Family Artifact Refining Manual?"

Bai Xingyan nodded, his hands turning pale from the grip, "Yes, we've repeatedly told them that the refining manual was lost, but it seemed they were hell-bent on eradicating the Bai family. My father had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage, hoping to restore the family's honor. Little did he know he would be ambushed by a peak mid-stage old devil from the Jiang family. After sending me away, he was killed by those from the Jiang family."