In the Endless Fire Domain, wild laughter echoed ceaselessly. Before the colossal Vermilion Bird Divine Remains, a sharp glint flashed in Shen Haoran’s eyes.

At this moment, he paid no mind to the golden flames burning on his body. Instead, he closed his eyes.

Shen Haoran had finally figured out how to break out of the Endless Fire Domain. The way was to be reborn in fire, just like the Vermilion Bird Divine Remains before him!

In this Endless Fire Domain, the more one struggled, the fiercer the surrounding flames burned, and the more terrifying the pain became. The only way to break free was to endure this suffering. In the end, one would break free from the cocoon like a butterfly and be reborn in fire!

WHOOSH...

The golden flames on Shen Haoran’s body grew more and more intense, eventually swallowing him whole! Engulfed by the golden fire, Shen Haoran showed no sign of pain. Instead, a slight smile touched the corners of his lips. Then, Shen Haoran, along with the colossal Vermilion Bird Divine Remains, vanished completely from the Endless Fire Domain.

RUMBLE...

A moment later, a series of thunderous cracks echoed through the Endless Fire Domain. In the sky, golden thunderclouds began to gather. The entire domain erupted into chaos; countless pillars of magma and fire shot into the sky, and the very earth trembled as if it were the end of the world!

SCREECH!

Suddenly, a clear cry rang out from within the golden thunderclouds, and the silhouette of a giant Vermilion Bird slowly materialized.

BOOM...

As the Vermilion Bird’s silhouette appeared, a terrifying sea of fire instantly poured down from the golden thunderclouds. In the blink of an eye, the entire Endless Fire Domain was enveloped in golden flames.

SCREECH!

With another cry, a Golden-Plumed Vermilion Bird soared into the sky! The Vermilion Bird Divine Remains had been reborn in the golden flames. After its rebirth, its plumes were fuller, its cry was clearer, and its spirit was purer. The Divine Power of a Divine Beast had returned to the world!

The Golden-Plumed Vermilion Bird circled continuously in the sky of the Endless Fire Domain. On its smooth back, a vortex of fire formed, and slowly, a human figure began to appear.

At a certain moment, the golden flames exploded outward, and Shen Haoran’s figure re-formed once more.

At this moment, Shen Haoran was glowing with a faint golden light, and a divine glint flashed through his eyes!

Glancing at the Golden-Plumed Vermilion Bird beneath his feet, Shen Haoran smiled faintly. Then his gaze hardened as he looked up toward the sky of the Endless Fire Domain.

"Break!"

A furious roar erupted from Shen Haoran’s throat. The Golden-Plumed Vermilion Bird beneath his feet, as if receiving a command, shot straight up and slammed into the sky of the Endless Fire Domain. In an instant, heaven and earth collapsed. The Endless Fire Domain was shattered!

「In the Han Family Bamboo Forest」 At that moment, Elder Bai and Han Feng suddenly felt an extremely powerful pressure descend from the heavens. Even someone as strong as Elder Bai felt his heart tremble.

’It’s that kid!’ The two exchanged a glance, then their figures flickered and vanished. When they reappeared, they were in front of Han Xu and Murong Wanqing.

"Grandfather, Elder Bai!" Han Xu and Murong Wanqing greeted them respectfully upon seeing them arrive.

"That kid... he’s about to wake up!" However, both Han Feng and Elder Bai wore grave expressions as they stared at the wooden hut, a faint aura rising from their bodies.

SCREECH!

Suddenly, a clear cry rang out from the wooden hut. It was immediately followed by an explosion of terrifying energy. A golden shockwave blasted the small hut apart, reducing it to countless splinters!

Then, before everyone’s shocked eyes, a Golden-Plumed Vermilion Bird soared into the sky. The tyrannical pressure of a Divine Beast instantly descended, bending and snapping all the bamboo in the surrounding forest!

"That’s... a Vermilion Bird!" Elder Bai cried out, staring at the Golden-Plumed Vermilion Bird in utter shock. ’The Four Great Divine Beasts vanished long ago in the Ancient Era,’ he thought. ’To think I’d be able to feel the tyrannical power of a Divine Beast again today!’

The Vermilion Bird came as quickly as it went. After soaring to the heavens, it dove straight down and shot into Shen Haoran’s body with a loud WHOOSH.

BANG...

With a muffled bang, a pair of enormous wings unfurled from Shen Haoran’s back. They were the Vermilion Bird Wings.

However, Shen Haoran’s Vermilion Bird Wings were now completely different. The pitch-black wings were now inlaid with golden edges, giving them a breathtakingly beautiful appearance. A faint trace of a Divine Beast’s pressure emanated from them.

To think that the Divine Beast’s Divine Power hadn’t harmed Shen Haoran, but had instead helped him perfect his Vermilion Bird Wings. Only now could these wings be called the *true* Vermilion Bird Wings!

Shen Haoran slowly opened his eyes and looked with delight at the Vermilion Bird Wings on his back. With a light flap of the wings, his figure instantly vanished, moving as fast as lightning!

WHOOSH...

Shen Haoran reappeared in front of the group.

"Brother Shen, are you all right?" Han Xu asked, quickly stepping forward to meet him.

"Thanks to you, Brother Han, I’m fine now!" Shen Haoran said with a light chuckle, retracting the Vermilion Bird Wings.

"Hey, if you’re going to thank someone, thank Miss Murong. If it weren’t for her, you’d probably be dead by now!" Han Xu said, waving his hand and pointing toward Murong Wanqing.

"Thank you very much, Miss Murong!" Shen Haoran said, cupping one fist in the other.

"Cousin, why be so formal? We’re family!" Murong Wanqing chirped, hopping in front of Shen Haoran and looking at him with great interest.

"C-Cousin?" Hearing Murong Wanqing’s form of address, Han Xu’s mind went blank for a moment. ’Murong Wanqing actually called Shen Haoran cousin? Doesn’t that mean Shen Haoran is also part of the Murong Clan? But his surname is Shen, not Murong... What’s going on?’

Hearing her call him that, Shen Haoran smiled and said, "It seems you’ve already guessed my identity, then?"

At his words, Murong Wanqing revealed the half of a Jade Pendant hanging from her neck and blinked her eyes.

"Can we speak in private?" Shen Haoran asked in a low voice, his eyes fixed on the half-pendant.

Murong Wanqing nodded and walked off to the side, leaving Han Xu to watch them go with a bewildered expression.

After they had moved some distance away, Shen Haoran frowned as he looked at Elder Bai, who was standing behind Murong Wanqing. "This..."

"Don’t worry, Cousin. This is Elder Bai. He was also Nanny Wan’s teacher back then!" Murong Wanqing explained to Shen Haoran.

"Young Master," Elder Bai said, nodding his head in greeting to Shen Haoran.

Shen Haoran nodded to them both, then turned to Murong Wanqing and asked anxiously, "Do you know how my mother is doing now?"

Hearing Shen Haoran’s question, Murong Wanqing let out a long sigh. "I knew the first thing you’d ask about after waking up would be Nanny Wan. I can’t hide it from you. Nanny Wan broke the clan rules and has been imprisoned in the Murong Family’s secret dungeon. Because her power was Sealed, and because the dungeon is incredibly cold and bleak, her health is failing. I snuck away this time to find Spirit Medicine for her!"

"What?! My mother is in danger!" Hearing Murong Wanqing’s words, a dense, murderous aura erupted from Shen Haoran’s body, and his eyes instantly turned blood-red...