Chapter 14:Qingshan Town

"Don't worry, I'm only here for the Heavenly Flame. I won't take your life."

After a moment, Gu Fei opened his eyes and fixed Han Feng with a piercing gaze. His voice was low, hoarse, and laced with an eerie calm. At the same time, Han Feng felt something chilling—his connection with the Sea Heart Flame had been completely severed.

This man is terrifying… To erase my bond with the Sea Heart Flame in mere moments…

[Han Feng feels fear and gratitude. Emotional value +50.]

Just as Gu Fei had anticipated, Han Feng—a pivotal figure in the original story—possessed immense luck. The surge of emotional energy he provided only reinforced Gu Fei's belief that coming to the Northwest Continent had been the right decision.

Once Gu Fei departed, Han Feng slumped in relief, as if he had narrowly escaped death. Only after confirming that Gu Fei was truly gone did he finally exhale.

Meanwhile, Gu Fei, now in possession of the Sea Heart Flame, set his sights on Black Seal City.

His plan was simple: investigate.

He wasn't making a special trip—merely stopping along the way to Jia Ma Empire. He didn't know whether Yan Yi of the Eight Gates had already acquired the remaining fragment of the  Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map, but since Black Seal City lay on his route, it was worth checking.

In the original timeline, Xiao Yan had arrived in the Black Horn Region after the three-year agreement and stumbled upon the auction for the third fragment of the map. If Yan Yi already had it, Gu Fei could seize it early.

The journey from Feng City to Black Seal City was long, so Gu Fei rested briefly upon arrival.

Then, he located the Eight Gates' headquarters and masked his aura.

No guards detected him. He moved like a ghost, slipping past every defense until he stood before Sect Master Yan Yi's secret chamber.

Cloaked in black, his face concealed, Gu Fei observed the man sipping tea with an air of indifference.

Yan Yi glanced up, unfazed.

With his status and strength, he feared no one.

This intruder must want something. Otherwise, he would have attacked already.

Over the years, Yan Yi had encountered many like him—powerful figures who concealed their identities, broke through defenses, and sought his services.

Treasure hunts, assassinations, fugitives… he had seen it all.

And each time, he profited handsomely by inflating the price.

I wonder what this one desires.

As expected, Gu Fei cut straight to the point.

"Do you have the remaining fragment of the map?"

His voice was low, his gaze unwavering.

"I'll trade a Tier 6 Elixir for it."

[Yan Yi is surprised. Emotional value +5.]

Gu Fei noted the subtle flicker in Yan Yi's eyes—the brief hesitation before he took another sip of tea, feigning calm.

But beneath that composure, greed stirred.

A Tier 6 Elixir!

In Black Seal City, such a treasure could spark a bloodbath. Though not as rare as a Tier 7 Elixir, it was still immensely valuable.

And this mysterious man was offering it for a mere map fragment?

He must be wealthy beyond measure.

Yan Yi's mind raced.

When Gu Fei mentioned the "fragment," Yan Yi knew exactly which one he meant.

Most incomplete maps weren't worth much—just scattered clues leading to uncertain treasures.

But this one was different.

It could unveil the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame's location.

Yan Yi smirked inwardly.

"I don't have any fragments here," he lied smoothly.

[Yan Yi feels greed. Emotional value +30.]

Gu Fei's lips twitched.

Liar.

The surge of greed confirmed it—Yan Yi had the fragment but was angling for a higher price.

With a flick of his finger, Gu Fei released a sliver of his aura.

[Yan Yi feels fear. Emotional value +10.]

The teacup shattered in Yan Yi's grip. His face paled, his body locking in terror.

Yet, greed still held him.

Gu Fei sighed

Fool.

He intensified his pressure, flooding the chamber with crushing energy. The walls groaned, and Yan Yi—trapped under the weight of Gu Fei's presence—felt death looming.

[Yan Yi experiences extreme fear. Emotional value +12.]

"I'll give it to you!" he screamed, his voice cracking. "Spare me!"

Though Gu Fei had no intention of killing him, the lesson was necessary.

With a faint smile, he withdrew his aura.

Yan Yi collapsed, gasping, before scrambling to retrieve the map.

Hands trembling, he offered it to Gu Fei.

Without a word, Gu Fei took it and strode out, leaving behind a trail of Yan Yi's lingering dread and resentment.

Gu Fei tucked the map fragment into his spatial ring, his mind already racing ahead.

Xiao Yan likely hasn't ventured into the Warcraft Mountains yet. At his current strength, it'd be suicide.

Since the protagonist hadn't claimed the second fragment, it would still be hidden in that cave. With one piece already in hand, Gu Fei's next move was clear: infiltrate the Warcraft Mountain Range and secure the second fragment.

At his level, traversing the mountains was trivial—so long as he avoided the ancient beasts lurking in its depths.

His ring still held ample supplies, so rest wasn't necessary.

Strength. I need more of it.

The  Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map—ranked third among Heavenly Flames, its power rivaling a 7-Star Dou Saint—was the key. Only the Nihility Devouring Flame and the mythical Emperor Flame surpassed it.

Once obtained, it would catapult his abilities to new heights.

The Warcraft Mountain Range

The forest was a tapestry of shadows and emerald canopies, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and primal energy. Gu Fei moved soundlessly, his aura suppressed to avoid drawing attention.

The cave should be near the eastern cliffs.

According to the original plot, the fragment was hidden behind a waterfall, guarded by a Tier 5 Magic Beast—the Green Shadow Leopard.

A trivial obstacle.

Gu Fei's senses flared as he detected the beast's presence. It lounged atop a boulder, its emerald fur blending with the foliage, golden eyes slitted in lazy vigilance.

[Green Shadow Leopard senses intrusion. Emotional value +15 (Hostility).]

The leopard's ears twitched. In a flash, it lunged, claws glinting like daggers.

Gu Fei didn't bother unsheathing his sword.

A flick of his wrist, and a surge of Dou Qi erupted—a crushing wave that slammed the beast into the cliffside. Stone cracked; the leopard whimpered, crumpling unconscious.

[Green Shadow Leopard feels terror. Emotional value +20.]

He stepped over its limp form and parted the waterfall with a gesture. Behind the cascading veil, the cave yawned open, its walls glistening with phosphorescent moss.

At its heart, nestled in a crevice, lay a yellowed parchment.

The second fragment.

Gu Fei's fingers closed around it. The moment the two pieces touched, they fused seamlessly, the map's cryptic markings glowing faintly.

Now, only one remains.

With the combined fragments, the path to the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame's resting place became clearer. The final piece was said to be in Qingshan Town, a backwater settlement on Jia Ma Empire's border—ironically, the same town where Xiao Yan would later begin his rise.

No time to waste.

Gu Fei exhaled, his resolve hardening. The Purifying Lotus Demon Flame wasn't just a flame; it was a legacy of the Demon Saint Jing Lian. Whoever mastered it would wield power enough to shake continents.

And he intended to claim it before fate could intervene.