The Xiao family members quickly arranged for high-class accommodations. After Han Feng let Medusa and Zi Yan go off on their own, he followed Xiao Feng to see Xiao Tianbao.
"Little friend Han!"
Xiao Tianbao's face was glowing, and he was full of energy. Seeing Han Feng arrive, he was overjoyed.
"Senior Xiao, long time no see."
Han Feng greeted him.
"I heard earlier that you had come out of seclusion?"
"Haha, you led the Xiao family clansmen to win first place in the conference. If I had retreated any further, wouldn't I have missed this great opportunity?"
Times had changed. Since the Xiao family clansmen had shown such promise, Xiao Tianbao naturally didn't need to hold back anymore.
"Where is Senior Skyfire?"
"There, he's playing chess inside."
Xiao Tianbao pointed inside. At this moment, Yao Tianhuo was sitting in his seat, deep in thought over a chess game.
"Has Senior Skyfire been doing well these few months?" Han Feng asked with a smile.
"Sigh, not well, not well at all. I'm being tortured by him all day. If I had known earlier, I would have gone back with you."
Yao Tianhuo annoyedly put down his chess piece, decisively forfeiting the game.
"I'm not playing anymore!"
"Hehe, you're terrible but addicted. Do you think I want to play with you all day?" Xiao Tianbao cursed with a laugh.
"Little friend Han, do you have important business this time?"
Han Feng replied, "I promised Supervisor Xue last time that I would attend the imperial banquet. Senior Xiao should have received an invitation as well, right?"
As a Dou Venerate expert who had officially come out of seclusion, it was impossible for the imperial capital not to react.
"Naturally."
Xiao Tianbao also took out an invitation.
"That saves me the trouble. I was originally thinking that if you weren't in a hurry, little friend Han, you could go to the imperial capital with me for a visit."
"This banquet is not simple."
"Oh?" Han Feng asked curiously.
"I heard Supervisor Xue say that the Empress is going to announce a major event at the banquet. Is it related to this?"
"I'm not clear about that. It's just that every imperial banquet brings together the geniuses from all over the empire, and the most magnificent Heaven-rank auction is also held at this time."
Xiao Tianbao recalled, "I haven't been for many years. I remember last time, an eighth-grade Longevity Pill appeared at the auction, causing everyone to fight madly for it."
"An eighth-grade Longevity Pill? The Nanli Empire has such a powerful alchemist?" Han Feng was surprised.
"Not really. Apart from you, little friend Han, I haven't seen any other eighth-grade alchemists in the Nanli Nation. That pill most likely came from the Central Plains."
Han Feng nodded, then suddenly asked, "Does Senior Xiao know if there has been any unusual movement on the southern border?"
Xiao Tianbao was taken aback, and then his expression also became grave.
"Are you talking about the Purple Shattered Ruins?"
"Precisely."
Xiao Tianbao sighed.
"That place is very troublesome. I heard that a lot of troops have been rushing there recently. Although the specific situation is unclear, it's probably not good news."
Han Feng asked again, "Does Senior Xiao have any understanding of the Purple Shattered Ruins?"
Xiao Tianbao nodded.
"My father once entered the Purple Shattered Ruins with the Nanli Emperor to annihilate the enemy. He knows more about that place than ordinary people. Is little friend Han interested in the Purple Shattered Ruins?"
"Yes. To be honest, Senior Xiao, there is something I want in the Purple Shattered Ruins," Han Feng said truthfully.
Xiao Tianbao was slightly silent upon hearing this, but he did not ask further. He just said to wait a moment, then left the room to find something.
"Little friend Han, the Purple Shattered Ruins are no good place," Yao Tianhuo, who was on the side, advised.
That place was a forbidden area for humans. If not for some people who had the mission to protect their homes and had to go, no one would want to enter.
"Does Senior Skyfire also know something?"
Yao Tianhuo shook his head. "I've never been there, but you should still remember the magma world, little friend?"
"Of course."
"The Purple Shattered Ruins are even more dangerous than that place!"
Han Feng didn't feel much and just replied faintly, "Oh."
Yao Tianhuo covered his face.
"Forget it, forget it. I can't see through your strength now anyway. Just be careful."
Han Feng smiled. "This time, I'm planning to bring you along, Senior Skyfire."
"Ah?" Yao Tianhuo was startled.
"My strength hasn't recovered yet."
Han Feng said "helplessly," "Then I can't do anything about it. You're the only helper I have by my side now."
Yao Tianhuo's brows furrowed tightly, his face troubled.
The tables had turned on him.
"Sigh, you kid..."
Yao Tianhuo stood up and moved around a bit.
"Alright, I'll go with you to brave this Purple Shattered Ruins this time. I hope these old bones of mine are still useful."
Han Feng smiled. "A soul body doesn't have old bones."
Yao Tianhuo was just about to refute, but he saw Han Feng take out a pill that was emitting a faint red glow.
"Eighth-grade?" Yao Tianhuo asked uncertainly.
"Yes. It's for your resurrection. The Bone Generating and Blood Fusing Pill."
The pill bobbed up and down in Han Feng's hand, and Yao Tianhuo's mood bobbed up and down with it.
"You... you're preparing to resurrect me?"
"One of the things I came to do this time is to restore your Dou Venerate combat power."
Han Feng put away the pill and said, "Adjust your state these few days. I plan to resurrect you before we set off."
Yao Tianhuo was so excited that he was incoherent.
"Good, good, good! I'll go and adjust right now!"
The surprise came too suddenly. Yao Tianhuo was completely dizzy.
The chance for resurrection was just presented to him like that?
At this moment, Xiao Tianbao brought over his previous collection, which included a rough map of the Purple Shattered Ruins.
"Little friend Han, take a look. This is the route map my father drew back then."
Han Feng took it and saw that the map was drawn quite crudely, but it was a clue after all.
"The imperial family should have a more complete one. We can ask when we get to the imperial capital," Xiao Tianbao said.
"I have a few friends there too. They should be able to help."
"This is..."
Han Feng looked at the black stone sealed in a container in Xiao Tianbao's hand and asked in surprise.
"This thing is very dangerous. My father preserved it in a special container. I have never opened it."
Xiao Tianbao carefully handed it to Han Feng.
"My father said that the black ore inside is contaminated with a sinister aura and can cause living beings to fall into a state of madness."
"Only cultivators with strong soul power can resist it."
Han Feng silently looked at the black stone sealed in the container in his hand, thinking to himself that this was probably the most dangerous thing in the Purple Shattered Ruins.
"I understand. Can I study this thing?"
"You can, but you must be careful."
Xiao Tianbao was very generous towards Han Feng.
Han Feng returned to his room. After thinking for a moment, he undid the container's seal.
A restless aura emanated from it. After such a long time, it actually still retained the characteristics of the Purple Shattered Ruins.
Han Feng's eyes turned sharp. He unleashed his soul skill, and his soul power transformed into a large bell, covering the black stone.
Buzz buzz buzz!
The sound of the soul vibrated continuously. The aura emitted by the black stone was restricted and could no longer spread.
"What terrifying heterogeneous energy..."
After sensing it for a moment, Han Feng sealed the black stone again.
This thing could contaminate Dou Qi, and in turn, contaminate soul power. It was wonderfully similar to the demonic sword fragment.
"Could it be that these few human forbidden areas are all the work of one race?"
Han Feng couldn't help but frown as he thought.