Public Outrage, Deal Revisited

As Zhao Tianming looked at the No. 3 Fire House, Li Yunfan's image immediately came to mind.

Although almost a year has passed, he still remembers his uncle who made the strange request very clearly.

"The No. 3 Fire House is being used by Uncle-Master Li Yunfan!" Zhao Tianming said with a strange look on his face.

"Li Yunfan?... Could it be Li Yunfan, who possesses the Fire Spirit Body and became a disciple of Uncle-Master Li Huayuan?!" The middle-aged man said in surprise after a moment's thought.

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed slightly, and their desire to seek compensation from the other party vanished instantly.

Although everyone is a Foundation Establishment disciple, the other party not only has a Fire Spirit Body, but more importantly, their master is a genuine Core Formation mid-stage cultivator. Even if they had ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare to ask the other party for compensation.

The group exchanged glances, all understanding each other's thoughts, and could only silently swallow their losses.

Upon hearing this news, Zhao Tianming couldn't help but swallow hard, feeling incredibly fortunate that he hadn't offended this senior martial uncle.

Just then, the white stone door of the No. 3 Fire House suddenly opened, and Li Yunfan walked out with a smile on his face and a sharp look in his eyes.

When he saw the crowd standing outside, all looking at him, he was slightly taken aback, but he quickly recovered and smiled as he cupped his hands in greeting to them.

"Yun Fan greets all senior brothers. Why are you all staring at me?"

None of the group answered tacitly. Just as Li Yunfan was starting to lose face, the middle-aged man finally sighed inwardly and began to explain to Li Yunfan.

After hearing the middle-aged man's words, Li Yunfan's face flushed slightly, and he coughed awkwardly.

It turned out that because of his own cultivation, the pills that these people had painstakingly refined were burned.

At the same time, he guessed why the others treated him this way. It was simply because of his background as a Core Formation cultivator disciple, no one dared to scold him or ask him for compensation. They could only express their dissatisfaction through this method.

"So that's how it is. In that case, I'm sorry to all my senior brothers!" Li Yunfan said apologetically.

"Junior brother, are you refining pills or magical artifacts? How did this cause the earth fire to go out of control?" the middle-aged man asked.

"I did not refine anything; I was merely using the earth fire to cultivate my techniques. I had no idea that this would cause such a thing..." Li Yunfan did not hide anything and directly told everyone that he had come here to cultivate.

Upon hearing this, the group's eyes revealed surprise and doubt. Could they be cultivating by using the earth's fire?

This earth fire is a spiritual fire even more powerful than innate true fire. Just what kind of cultivation technique does the other party practice that requires the use of earth fire to cultivate?

However, these people were all shrewd, and although they had doubts, none of them asked directly.

"Fellow senior brothers, it was indeed my oversight this time that led to the destruction of your pills. Consider this a favor I owe you all. If you ever need my help in the future, I will certainly not refuse!"

Upon hearing Li Yunfan's words, everyone's expressions softened, and their anger at him for causing the subterranean fire to go out of control subsided somewhat.

After nodding slightly to Li Yunfan, they each returned to their respective Earth Fire Houses to prepare to refine the necessary pills once more.

Even the old man surnamed Ye, after his expression changed several times, finally turned around and walked back to the Fire House with frustration and helplessness.

Although he still harbored resentment, he dared not show it openly and offend his junior brother, lest the junior brother hold a grudge and he suffer the consequences in the future.

Seeing that no one was going to pursue the matter any further, Li Yunfan breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that someone would come after him demanding compensation, as he was currently very poor!

After saying goodbye to the middle-aged man, he left the Land of Fire.

Back at Zhao Tianming's stone house, he took out a dozen or so low-grade spirit stones and threw them to him before leaving Yuelu Palace through the passage.

At this moment, Li Yunfan felt no joy at his breakthrough in cultivation technique, but rather a pang of regret for spending so many spirit stones.

"It's been almost a year, Han Li must have accelerated the ripening of quite a few spiritual herbs... I wonder what his expression would be if he knew he'd become my junior brother?"

After thinking it over, Li Yunfan smiled knowingly and flew straight towards the Hundred Herbs Garden.

Looking at the Hundred Herbs Garden, which was completely calm and shrouded in the array, Li Yunfan calmly took out a transmission talisman, activated it, and sent it into the array.

Before long, the array in front of Li Yunfan fluctuated, revealing an opening about ten feet wide. Han Li, dressed in a yellow disciple's robe, was standing inside, smiling at him.

"Brother Han, it's been a long time! How have you been?" Li Yunfan said with a smile and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Thank you for your concern, Brother Li. I am perfectly fine!" Han Li smiled and returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

He then invited Li Yunfan into the thatched hut, poured him a cup of tea, and sat down in a chair, silently sipping his tea.

Seeing this, Li Yunfan couldn't help but mutter to himself, "You're quite composed..."

However, he was not an impatient person. Since the other party did not ask, he would not say anything. He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and put it down. The two of them remained silent.

After a full incense stick's time, Li Yunfan was the first to get restless. After all, he wasn't like Han Li, who knew nothing about what was going on and would have to flee to the Chaotic Star Sea if something happened in the future. He had a lot to do and didn't have much time to waste here.

However, seeing Han Li's calm demeanor, he felt somewhat uneasy and began to think about how to provoke him.

Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed into his mind, and he thought of something that would definitely break Han Li's composure.

"Ahem! It's been a year since we last met, Brother Han. Although I had complete faith in you, I can only truly put my mind at ease now that I see you safe and sound!" Li Yunfan said with a light cough.

"Thank you for your concern, Brother Li!" Han Li smiled slightly and thanked him softly.

Seeing that Han Li responded simply, Li Yunfan couldn't help but curse inwardly, "You little brat, just wait and see how I deal with you!"

"To be honest, I've never actually seen this secret realm before. Since Brother Han has been there, why don't you tell me about it? It would broaden my horizons!"

"Brother Li is now a Foundation Establishment cultivator. What kind of secret realm can't you explore in the future? I won't embarrass myself in front of you!" Han Li replied calmly to Li Yunfan.

"Brother Han, you are mistaken! This Crimson Trial is a joint event involving disciples from seven sects. Even though I am a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it is impossible for me to encounter so many disciples from other sects at once..."

After Li Yunfan finished speaking, he paused slightly, and seeing that Han Li's expression remained unchanged, he continued.

"By the way, I've heard that the Hidden Moon Sect practices dual cultivation, and has many female disciples, all of whom are quite beautiful. I wonder if there's anyone Brother Han finds appealing?"

Upon hearing this, Han Li's eyes twitched slightly. A beautiful figure in palace attire and the absurd night in the secret cave immediately flashed through his mind, and his expression changed slightly.

"Huh? Why does Brother Han's expression look a little strange? Could it be that I was right?" Li Yunfan chuckled inwardly, but on the surface, he pretended to be surprised and asked.

"Ahem! Brother Li, this matter is unimportant. Let's talk about serious business!" Han Li's expression quickly returned to normal, and he hurriedly changed the subject.

"I suspect that Brother Li's visit today is not merely to pay his respects to Han, but rather to continue his business dealings with him?"

Seeing that the other party had evaded the topic, he smirked slightly and secretly mocked the other party in his heart, but he did not press the matter. In any case, his words had already had an effect, and there was no need to delay the important matter.

"As expected, I couldn't hide it from Brother Han. Indeed, since Brother Han has returned safely, he must have gained a lot. I wonder if Brother Han is now willing to trade with me?" Li Yunfan nodded and said.

"I do have some medicinal herbs that I don't need, and trading them with Brother Li shouldn't be a problem!" Han Li pondered for a moment before nodding and saying.