The journey from the mine to Houtang Village took Huai almost five hours, yet Chen Feng spotted the settlement in less than half that time.

Seeing no one around, the two slowly descended to the ground.

Houtang Village hadn't changed much from over a month ago, except that following the incident with the mountain bandits, the youths were now more resolute and dedicated to cultivation; hardworking youths could be seen practicing everywhere.

Upon returning home, Elder Lao and Xiao Rou were just there, and the Bronze Armored Warrior, A’Can, was also present.

The moment the pair entered the door, they saw anxiety etched onto A’Can’s face.

After inquiring about the situation, they learned that the two Captains, Baldy and Tattoo, were missing. The Church’s involvement was linked to the mountain bandits, and they were currently investigating, likely to trace the connection to this location soon. If the two hadn't left so silently, eager to keep the mine treasure to themselves, the treasure would probably have been discovered already.

A’Can had come specifically to deliver the news upon learning the situation.

Chen Feng clarified the Church’s current movements and, seeing the truth in it, fell into deep contemplation.

As long as they didn't dispatch all fifty Deacons, the group, led by Baldy, should be able to hold the line against the bandits. Before leaving, he had also taught them the Wukong Technique. Although most of these people had cultivation too low to fly, their agility and strength had significantly increased. Baldy, in particular, due to his body being nourished by the battle aura, showed faint signs of breaking through from Silver Armored Warrior to Gold Armored Warrior.

With such a group guarding the place, he felt somewhat reassured. Chen Feng was considering how to divert the Church's attention.

After all, if the Church discovered that mine, their peaceful days would likely be over.

Before he could devise a plan, he heard Huai say from the side, "Xiao Rou, A’Can, you two go out first!"

Xiao Rou and A’Can exchanged a look, then reluctantly shuffled out.

Huai closed the door, took two quick steps, and directly knelt before Elder Lao: "Senior Wunian, I have waited a whole eighteen years, and I do not wish to remain here any longer. Therefore, I choose to venture out and test my fortunes again!"

Senior Wunian? Chen Feng watched Elder Lao and Huai. Judging by the tone, they weren't just father and son!

Elder Lao seemed to have expected this, sighing, "I know that these years have failed to extinguish the fervor in your heart." He glanced at Chen Feng and continued, "Have you made up your mind?"

Huai nodded firmly, "I have made up my mind. Having learned such excellent skills, I would be failing myself if I continued living like this."

"Alas!" A look of melancholy crossed Elder Lao’s face, and he shook his head, "Go then. I will take Xiao Rou and leave this place!"

Huai kowtowed deeply on the ground, "Thank you!" Then he rose.

Elder Lao looked at Chen Feng, "I don't know what method you used. He hid for eighteen years, yet less than a day after meeting you, you convinced him. I truly admire you!" Saying this, he closed his eyes, and a viscous sensation immediately filled the air as streams of energy flowed through the room like ripples on water.

"Bang!" A blinding light suddenly erupted from Huai’s body, like the breaking of some seal, shooting out a gentle, warm energy.

Chen Feng gave a wry smile, "So you are inherently a Nether Venerable, no wonder your cultivation is only at the sixth-level Bronze Armored Warrior rank!"

Even though he hadn't met a Nether Venerable before, feeling the power within him that was no weaker than his own, even a fool could understand the truth.

"Eighteen years ago, the Eight Great Courts split into two factions and warred for a long time, finally ceasing only when the Pope intervened. I was unfortunately swept into that conflict, and if Senior Wunian hadn't saved me then, I would have died!" Huai seemed to be recalling the past, then shook his head, "Alas, it’s all over. Back then, the two factions were merely wary of the Pope's prestige and strength. Now that the Pope is comprehending the Heavenly Dao and has remained secluded for so long, war is likely to erupt again soon!"

"Enough talking about that. Let’s focus on our own business," Huai regained his composure.

"Mhm, then we shall take our leave," Chen Feng said to Elder Lao.

Elder Lao responded faintly, "If you live, find me and Xiao Rou on Mochou Mountain." He then fell silent.

"Yes!" Huai acknowledged and walked out of the room with Chen Feng.

Huai called Xiao Rou over, his eyes filled with tenderness, "Daddy is going out on business. You must listen to Grandpa well from now on!"

Xiao Rou didn't grasp the farewell in his words and nodded repeatedly, "I always listen to Grandpa."

"Yes, Xiao Rou is a good girl!" Huai gently stroked her hair, beckoning to A’Can, "Don't make Xiao Rou angry from now on, understood?"

A’Can felt the words were a bit strange, but immediately his face lit up with ecstasy, and he knelt down, "I won't, thank you, Uncle!"

Huai could only offer a wry smile; it seemed A’Can had misunderstood him, thinking he was marrying his daughter off to him...

But perhaps that was for the best. A’Can was someone he had watched grow up, someone he knew inside and out—a decent young man indeed, worthy of his Xiao Rou.

After giving his instructions, Huai and Chen Feng walked out the main gate together and found two fine horses, galloping toward the nearest town.

"Following me isn't a death sentence, why are you acting like we're parting forever?" Chen Feng asked from his saddle.

"Because I am a wanted fugitive across the Eight Great Courts!" Huai replied.

"Oh!"

Huai looked closely at Chen Feng. Upon hearing he was a wanted man, the expression on the other's face hadn't changed in the slightest, seemingly unconcerned. He couldn't help but ask, "I am a wanted fugitive, and you still dare to shelter me? Aren't you afraid I’ll drag you down?"

"I want to borrow your talents," Chen Feng stated.

This sentence was spoken plainly, without any embellishment, yet it deeply moved Huai.

What was the greatest power in this world? Naturally, it was the Eight Great Courts. For this person to disregard the Courts for his sake showed incredible resolve. This instantly made Huai feel the sentiment of "a national scholar treats me with utmost respect," and he silently resolved to repay Chen Feng handsomely.

"By the way, up ahead is a mountain hollow with no sign of human habitation. I wish to spar with you!" Chen Feng pointed ahead.

"Spar with me? I have already recovered my strength; I possess the power of a sixth-level Nether Venerable!" The implication was that he didn't think highly of Chen Feng's current capabilities.

Nether Venerables could sense and commune with nature, making them very sensitive to energy fluctuations. Huai could sense that the energy fluctuations within Chen Feng were not as high as his own, which stemmed from the battle aura he had learned.

"We can try," Chen Feng smiled faintly.

Never having fought a Nether Venerable didn't mean Chen Feng was afraid. On the contrary, possessing the techniques of the Fist Emperor, he held a strong confidence in his own cultivation.

The two arrived at the mountain hollow, tethered their horses to trees five hundred meters away, and stood facing each other.

The moment Huai released the energy within him, he seemed to dissolve into nature. Chen Feng used his spiritual sense but could not detect him at all. If he hadn't seen him with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed there was a person standing there.

"Indeed, there's something to this," Chen Feng sneered, taking a deep breath. The muscles in both his arms instantly doubled in size, the powerful contours looking as if cast from steel, exuding infinite strength.

"Bang!" With a sudden stomp, he left a circular crater in the rock and earth beneath him, rocketing toward Huai like an arrow.

"Be careful!" Seeing the other party showing no intention of dodging, he shouted and brought his right arm down in a hammering strike toward Huai’s shoulder.

"Whoosh..."

The punch, imbued with hundreds of thousands of pounds of force, slid harmlessly past Huai’s shoulder, as if striking air, exerting no purchase! If he hadn't held back a fraction of his strength, his wrist would surely have been dislocated.

"Nether Apprentices use Mingsi to commune with nature, integrating their bodies into the natural state. While your punch was ferocious, I guided its power into nature. How can the strength of one person ever crush nature? If you cannot crush it, you cannot harm me," Huai explained. "However, my integration with nature is not yet perfected. If your strength were even a fraction greater, you also couldn't effectively neutralize this power."

"Now it's my turn to attack. You can experience a Nether Venerable’s assault!" Huai declared, raising his right hand and suddenly bringing it down in a chopping motion toward Chen Feng!

This palm strike descended like a collapsing mountain. Everything around seemed to be imprisoned; even the air ahead appeared to be obeying Huai's command.

"Thud!" Chen Feng’s chest felt as if it had been struck by a massive hammer. The tremendous impact sent him flying back over twenty meters.

"What a sharp attack?" Chen Feng’s eyes gleamed, "I didn't expect this kind of attack could rely entirely on the power of nature!"

"Exactly! Wouldn't this kind of attack be the perfect counter to Mages?" Chen Feng suddenly realized. Mages draw upon the elemental forces of heaven and earth using the magic power within their bodies. If all the natural power is already controlled by another, how can they cast spells?

"It seems pure physical strength alone is not enough to match him. How about testing my Domain?" Chen Feng suddenly expanded his Domain power, instantly engulfing Huai within it. However, he did not activate the Heart of Slaughter within the Domain.

"What is this thing?" Huai asked as he found himself enveloped in a pale violet mist.

"This is the Domain of a Battle Venerable!" Chen Feng chuckled, just about to use the Domain’s power to restrain the opponent, when he suddenly felt a strange sensation—the opponent's body was merging into his Domain. It felt as if another 'himself' had appeared inside his own Domain.

"The Nether Venerable's integration with nature is truly formidable; it can even merge into a Domain. If it were an ordinary Battle Venerable, and the Domain couldn't be autonomously controlled, he would have been cut down immediately!" Chen Feng shook his head, "But my Domain... merging into it is seeking death!"

With that, purple flames suddenly erupted within the Domain. "Ah..." Huai let out a shriek and shot out of the Domain like an arrow.

Though he escaped quickly, his hair and eyebrows were scorched, emitting a puff of acrid, burnt smell.

"Damn it, what is this thing? Why is it emitting fire?" Huai roared.

Chen Feng stood his ground, watching the other’s wretched state, and couldn't help but laugh. The Nether Venerable's Path of Integration with Nature was the nemesis of Mages, but also the nemesis of Battle Venerables. And since he possessed the Endless Slaughter Domain...

That meant the deeper the opponent merged into his Domain, the more damage they would suffer from the flames and the Will of Slaughter!

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