Chapter Fifty-Nine: Honoring the Appointment

After Hua Feng watched them leave and waited until they were out of sight, he returned to the wooden cabin, lost in thought for a while. He packed his belongings simply, preparing to return to the farmhouse, and then planned to tell Shen Qiu he would be away for a while to visit Yun Meng—hoping, if possible, to bring her back to stay with him.

Suddenly, as he picked up his backpack, a sealed letter fell to the floor. Hua Feng picked it up and saw written on it: "To Hua Feng, from Nangong Li." He quickly opened the envelope and unfolded the letter to read.

"Dear Hua Feng,

By the time you read this letter, I should already be gone. Thank you for your companionship over the past year. Please forgive me for lying to you; when I first met Panda Mozart, it wasn't just a recent acquaintance—we've actually been friends for over five hundred years.

My initial purpose in getting close to you was to use your unique constitution to balance the extreme cold and dark demonic power eroding my body. I hope you can forgive my impure motives. Nevertheless, the days spent with you afterwards were truly joyful; each day brought happiness I'd never experienced in the Demon Realm. No wonder so many of my kin dream of visiting the Human Realm—perhaps humans are simply born to enjoy life more than demons.

Ah, enough rambling. Recently, the Demon Realm has been plunged into chaos and bloodshed again, and even the Heavenly Fox Clan isn't spared. I must go help my father lighten his burden. Once the situation stabilizes, I'll come find you, just as I did when I first helped you, and stay by your side.

Don't try to evade me! Although our union was forced upon us, it's the tradition of Heavenly Fox Mountain—unless you die, I am bound to you for life.

Enclosed in the envelope is a ring, a token of my affection for you. I asked Mozart to specially craft it as a spatial storage ring; it has the ability to hold up to ten tons of items. I noticed you always carry a backpack when traveling—how troublesome! Well, I've rambled again. Keep it safe, and go find your Yun Meng! Good luck! — Xiao Li."

Hua Feng finished reading and couldn't help but smile wryly. "Well, the thoughts of girls are truly unfathomable!" he shook his head and poured out the ring—a black-gold band decorated with dragon patterns, exquisitely beautiful. He tried to probe it with his mind, and the ring accepted him as its master.

He sensed about ten square meters of space within it, amazed that something he'd only seen in novels and films was now his reality. He carefully stored Nangong Li's letter, placed his backpack items into the ring, and discovered the golden staff he'd brought back from Antarctica but rarely used since.

He resolved to forge this golden staff into a weapon suited to himself in the future. He practiced retrieving items from the ring using his mind, finding almost no delay.

The moon hung high in the sky; the night was deep. The dense vegetation of the primeval forest meant that, even on a full moon, little light penetrated. Fortunately, this area was open ground. Before leaving, Hua Feng glanced at the wooden cabin where he'd lived for nearly a year, and at the Dragon Leap Pool and Heartless Valley, where he'd often bathed, fished, and daydreamed. Without looking back, he sped toward his residence, determined that this journey would be one of brilliance. Good luck!

Since reaching the Emperor Yuan realm, this was the first time Hua Feng traveled at full speed. In just a few minutes, he crossed dozens of kilometers. He saw several teams of Chiyou Hall and Lieshan Hall disciples keeping watch; sentries were posted on walls and rooftops. Hua Feng suppressed his aura to avoid alerting them, leaping over layers of defenses and quietly returning to his own quarters.

Early the next morning, Hua Feng sought out Shen Qiu to briefly explain what had happened the previous day.

"Congratulations, boss! Now your strength is second only to the six elders of the Six Sages Tomb among the farmhouse ranks. Though Miss Nangong has returned to her clan, you are already capable of commanding the Elder Council." Shen Qiu’s face was full of joy; it was the first time he'd met a hero advancing so rapidly in cultivation.

He felt he'd chosen the right person to follow. Perhaps this young man could one day revive the farmhouse and let the divine power of Shennong nourish all things.

"Don't flatter me. Right now, I want to go bring Yun Meng back. I'll leave matters at home in your hands, Brother Shen." Hua Feng was well aware that, though the Emperor Yuan realm seemed powerful, compared to the true cultivators of this world, his own abilities were still lacking.

According to his plan, after the journey to the Northern Domain, he would apply for a position in the One Qi Dao League, hoping to better understand this world and meet more cultivators—not just learn from books, which always felt too abstract.

"Rest assured. Although my strength isn't the greatest, with the checks and balances of Shennong Hall, Kuikui Hall, and Gonggong Hall, the farmhouse's power remains balanced. You focus on your mission."

"Alright, I trust your abilities, Brother Shen. I shouldn't be gone too long. If anything comes up, call me, or use the Daoist thousand-mile voice transmission—it’s convenient, even if it requires paper cranes. Also, don't announce my advancement yet; otherwise, the farmhouse might face trouble. So many cultivation sects want to know how to quickly produce Emperor Yuan cultivators. The innocent often suffer for the treasures they hold; human greed, even in this age, remains frightening." Hua Feng instructed.

"Understood. Leave it to me! Should I arrange someone to accompany you?"

"No need. I'm setting out now; it's easier alone."

After speaking, Hua Feng turned to depart, and Shen Qiu did not see him off. Hua Feng greeted the farmhouse disciples he met along the way, then went alone to the garage several kilometers away, took an SUV, and sped onto the highway heading for the Greater Khingan Mountains.

On the way, he confirmed Yun Meng’s location. She, restraining her excitement, only told him she was near the Greater Khingan Mountains, and that someone would guide him into the Northern Domain Mystic Realm. Whatever the case, if all went well, he would see Yun Meng by tomorrow morning. Hua Feng felt quite happy. He floored the accelerator, the SUV roaring toward the destination in his heart.

This world appeared tranquil, but many knew it was only the calm before the storm.

After driving for more than ten hours, Hua Feng finally arrived at the forest region of the Greater Khingan Mountains at ten o'clock at night. He hid the car, changed into a formal black trench coat paired with a white shirt, black trousers, and black leather shoes, and walked alone into the depths of the primeval forest.

Silent as a shadow, Hua Feng didn't notice that in the darkness, a pair of pure black eyes glowed faintly, watching his every step after leaving the car.