Chapter 923 - Court Master, Han Long

The Star Cat had utterly lost the will to fight. It was consumed by one thought: to escape this place.

However, the Great Five Elemental Palm had blocked its path of retreat. The surrounding area, which spanned several kilometers, was completely sealed.

With a loud rumble that felt like heaven and earth had shattered, the commotion was so intense that it could be felt in the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy thousands of miles away.

The surrounding valley began to crack open like an earthquake had struck, creating a long ravine. Violent shockwaves ripped through the forest like a hurricane, flattening all the surrounding trees.

The scene was terrifying. Han Feizi stood far away with a flicker of shock crossing his eyes. He couldn't believe this was the strength of someone at the fifth-level True Profound Realm.

It wouldn't be hard to believe if someone claimed that Liu Wuxie had reached the pinnacle of the Spirit Profound Realm. Then again, the cultivation couldn't represent everything, and combat strength was more important.

The last Star Cat was crushed to death, and the battle ended.

A large, bottomless crater had appeared on the ground, with spring water gushing from beneath. Soon, the crater became a small pond. Perhaps a few decades later, people would forget that a battle had occurred there.

"You comprehended the five elements?" Han Feizi asked, his eyes filled with shock and envy.

The five elements were notoriously tricky to comprehend, and balancing them was even more challenging. If a single element was too strong or weak, it would cause an imbalance among the five elements and lead to self-destruction.

The five elements had a natural cycle; if one element grew too powerful, the weaker element would be overpowered. If that happened, it would be impossible for the five elements to harmonize, which could result in a backlash.

"It's just a coincidence!" Liu Wuxie said. He didn't mention that it was thanks to the Five Elemental Suppression Steles.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

After all, the effects wouldn't be ideal if one tried refining the five elements individually, as some elements would inevitably be stronger or weaker than others. However, forging them into five suppression steles ensured balance, as they were crafted identically, differing only in elemental attributes.

Liu Wuxie and Han Feizi didn't linger around and quickened their pace to avoid further danger.

By the next day, the towering gates of the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy came into view. Since Han Feizi lacked a medal, entry was forbidden to him, prompting Liu Wuxie to smirk at him in amusement.

After months of traveling together, the two had forged a bond tempered by life-and-death encounters.

Han Feizi rolled his eyes at Liu Wuxie before he took out a unique flute from his robes. He placed it on his lips and began playing it, producing a deep and penetrating melody.

The melody could be heard even from thousands of meters. Sometimes, it sounded like muffled drums, chipping birds, or even an infant crying. Liu Wuxie couldn't quite say what it was. The melody wasn't exactly unpleasant, but it wasn't pleasant either.

Han Feizi played for a full minute before he put away the flute and sat down casually as if waiting for someone.

"That's it?" Liu Wuxie asked.

"That's it!" Han Feizi replied.

With that, they sat outside and waited. Without Liu Wuxie's medal, Han Feizi would've been driven away by the academy's protective array.

The two waited roughly fifteen minutes when a figure appeared out of nowhere. Han Feizi didn't seem surprised by the newcomer's presence, as if he had already anticipated it.

Liu Wuxie, however, was caught completely off guard. The figure had appeared silently behind them and had this person been hostile, the two of them might've ended up as corpses.

Before either could speak, the mysterious person slapped Han Feizi, sending him flying through the air and tumbling across the ground.

When Han Feizi got back to his feet, he merely chuckled sheepishly, showing no sign of anger.

Although Liu Wuxie had no idea what was happening, he drew his weapon and was prepared to fight.

"You've been gone for five whole years! Do you have any idea how far your father searched for you across the Central Plains?!" the middle-aged man roared.

"Uh..." Liu Wuxie was stunned and quietly put his weapon away. It was evident that Han Feizi was acquainted with this middle-aged man.

"About that...I went on a little trip and lost track of time," Han Feizi said, brushing it off casually. He made no mention of the Divine Race. He had deliberately left that part out, as he knew his father well enough to know that if he found out, he'd likely mobilize the entire clan and go to war without a second thought.

That might've been a choice he supported once, but five long years of captivity had changed him. He had reflected on many things during that time—chief among them, the terrifying might of the Divine Race.

He didn't want to drag his clan into a blood feud, and both sides would suffer casualties if a full-on clash occurred. This was why he brushed it off, saying he had taken a little trip.

"It's good that you've returned. I'll inform your father immediately so he can stop searching for you," said the middle-aged man as he took out a compass similar to the one Han Feizi had on him.

The middle-aged man set the compass down and began adjusting it. Liu Wuxie couldn't understand what he was doing. But a few minutes later, he stopped and put the compass away, evident that the message had been sent.

After confirming the middle-aged man posed no threat, Liu Wuxie finally took a moment to examine him properly. Judging by the man's robes, he wasn't from the Seven Peaks but hailed from the far more prestigious Three Courts.

The Three Courts were only second to the Myriad Phase Cavern, and this man possessed unfathomable strength. He was at least at the pinnacle of the Earth Profound Realm.

Could it be...?

"Uncle, can you get me an academy medal? I plan to stay here for a while," Han Feizi said suddenly, his tone playful and shamelessly coy. Liu Wuxie nearly winced.

"Uncle..." So they were uncle and nephew. This middle-aged man was Han Feizi's uncle and held a high position in the academy.

"No. You're going back to the clan now," said the middle-aged man as he swatted Han Feizi aside.

"If you refuse, I'll just run away again. This time, I won't come back for another ten years," Han Feizi said with a mysterious grin.

The middle-aged man's face darkened. He raised his hand as if to strike Han Feizi but stopped midway, his fingers curling in frustration before falling back to his side.

"You..." His voice trembled with suppressed emotion. He stared at Han Feizi, lips parting as if to scold him, yet no words came out.

He knew Han Feizi's personality well. Since he said he would disappear for another ten years, he would do that. But if that happened, the entire Han Clan would fall into chaos.

"Take this medal! You can enter the academy with it, but you must not break any of the sect's rules. This medal is only valid for three months," said the middle-aged man helplessly.

"I knew uncle is the best!" Han Feizi said shamelessly, which left Liu Wuxie speechless.

Holding onto the medal, Han Feizi ran over to Liu Wuxie and waved it in the latter's face like a trophy.

"Get lost," Liu Wuxie said and gave Han Feizi a kick on his rear.

Surprisingly, the middle-aged man didn't mind it and even gave Liu Wuxie a thumbs-up in approval.

After some friendly exchanges, Liu Wuxie finally learned that this middle-aged man was called Han Long, and he was the court master of the Thousand Divination Court.

The Thousand Divination Court was the most renowned of the three courts. It was famed for its divinations, and it was rumored that it controlled many of the academy's decisions.

"Greetings, Court Master!" Liu Wuxie greeted politely with a bow.

"You've done well. Thank you for looking after him," Han Long said. He naturally knew Liu Wuxie's identity, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes before he understood his nephew's intentions.

He knew exactly what kind of person his nephew was, and he could tell that Han Feizi must've been trapped somewhere for five years. Otherwise, there was no way Han Feizi would've disappeared for five years.

The three returned to the academy, and Han Long arranged for Han Feizi to stay in the Thousand Divination Court. However, Han Feizi immediately rejected the offer, insisting on staying with Liu Wuxie instead.

However, Han Long wasn't too concerned. With so few people residing on Heavenly Gate Peak, one more wouldn't make a difference. Besides, with the academy medal, he could locate his nephew at any time, regardless of distance.

Han Long parted ways with them midway, which immediately put both Liu Wuxie and Han Feizi at ease. Their conversation became more relaxed and casual.

This time, Liu Wuxie returned to reforge the Heretic Blade and patiently waited for the sacred ground to open.

"This place isn't bad!" Han Feizi remarked as he looked around Heavenly Gate Peak. Its quiet, secluded atmosphere suited him well.

Neither of them liked crowds, and a peaceful environment was far more conducive to their cultivation.

"It's a nice place, but no extra houses are around. You'll have to figure something out," Liu Wuxie said.

Only four disciples lived on the mountain, each with their own quarters, and no spares remained. Liu Wuxie had already explained the situation on Heavenly Gate Peak.

"But there's a hut over there," Han Feizi said, pointing to a thatched hut far away.

"Go ahead then," Liu Wuxie said with a mischievous grin.

Han Feizi was clueless and skipped over to the thatched hut that belonged to Elder Madman, covering hundreds of meters in seconds.

When he opened the door, he was sent flying out like a broken kite before he crashed in front of Liu Wuxie.

"Hahaha!" Liu Wuxie couldn't hold back his laughter as he saw Han Feizi lying flat on the ground, covered in dust. Moments like these made him feel like a normal youth again, carefree and light-hearted.

Though being with his three senior brothers was also comfortable, the relationship between martial brothers was more solemn. The brotherhood of martial brothers came with responsibilities to protect.

On the contrary, friends could mock each other without hesitation.

"LIU WUXIE! YOU TRICKED ME!" Han Feizi shouted, scrambling to his feet with his face streaked in dirt and his pride thoroughly bruised. There was no doubt in his mind that Liu Wuxie had known exactly whose hut that was and had sent him in on purpose.

"That thatched hut belongs to Heavenly Gate Peak's elder. I advise you to stay away from it," Liu Wuxie said, walking over and helping Han Feizi to his feet. Though his tone was light, the gesture was a clear warning for Han Feizi to behave while on the mountain.

Han Feizi glared at Liu Wuxie before he ran over to the thatched hut and bowed.

"Junior Han Feizi pays his respect to senior. I apologize if I offended you earlier," Han Feizi said solemnly. After all, he had just barged into someone's room uninvited.

"You're Han Long's nephew?" Elder Madman stepped out from the thatched hut, clad in ragged clothes with disheveled hair hanging over his face.

"That's right," Han Feizi admitted honestly.

"Then, you should know your mission." Their conversation was cryptic, and Liu Wuxie couldn't understand a word.