Gazing at the tower door that had just opened, the crowd immediately erupted in a commotion. Xiao Yan had to pause his introduction, shrugged helplessly at Han Xue, and then watched as the gap between the doors widened. Once the gates were fully open, the crowd outside the tower surged forward like a tidal wave. Amidst the bustling throng, Xiao Yan and his companions used the advantage of numbers to rush into the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower. After entering the tower, Han Xue, due to her different route, led the other women away from Xiao Yan. Before parting, she reminded Xiao Yan to be vigilant about the movements of the “White Gang.”
Naturally, Xiao Yan understood the kindness in Han Xue’s words. As he watched their figures disappear from sight, he turned to the Pan Gate members. Earlier, when they entered the tower, he had already warned them to be cautious of the first heart fire roasting and even shared the secrets of how to properly resolve it. Therefore, although the newcomers were now stiff, eyes tightly shut, and faces flushed, there were no extreme reactions.
After waiting for nearly two minutes, Xuner was the first to open her eyes. Her face was glowing faintly, indicating significant gains from the heart fire refining her Dou Qi. Surprised by Xuner’s quick recovery, Xiao Yan realized that with the knowledge of resolving the heart fire, the first roasting session had lost its testing effect. The supposed standard of lasting longer to excel was now useless. Instead, the goal was to see who could quickly dissipate the heart fire and refine their Dou Qi. Thus, Xuner’s speed left Xiao Yan quite astonished.
As expected, after Xuner, Hu Jia was the next to awaken. Following her, the Pan Gate members gradually regained consciousness. Although their awakening times varied, the radiant expressions on their faces indicated substantial benefits from the heart fire roasting. It seemed the Falling Heart Flame indeed provided great assistance in cultivation.
“This Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower is truly wondrous. No wonder the seniors progress so rapidly. The Inner Academy relies on it…” Xuner’s face held a hint of amazement, but there was an undercurrent of something else that was hard to detect.
“Training here indeed yields remarkable results,” Hu Jia exclaimed, nodding in delight. “In less than a year, I’m sure I’ll reach the Dou Spirit level!”
The other Pan Gate members echoed her enthusiasm, their eager expressions revealing their eagerness to find a place to train immediately.
“Is this Xiao Yan?” Just as Xiao Yan was about to lead the group to a training room, a middle-aged man approached, smiling warmly at him.
“Indeed, I am Xiao Yan. Is there something the teacher needs?” Xiao Yan replied politely, recognizing the special emblem on the man’s chest, which only Inner Academy teachers wore.
“I am here on Elder Liu’s orders to guide you to the ‘Intermediate Training Room,'” the middle-aged man said with a low laugh.
Xiao Yan’s eyes lit up, remembering Elder Liu’s mention of the unique Intermediate Training Room. He thanked the man and followed his lead.
“Follow me,” the middle-aged man said, glancing at Xiao Yan with a slight nod before leading the way.
Xiao Yan gestured for the others to follow and hurried after the middle-aged man. They walked through winding corridors until they reached a rather old-looking training room.
Looking at the dilapidated training room, Xiao Yan and the others were somewhat speechless. The middle-aged man, seeing their expressions, chuckled and pushed the door open. Xiao Yan hesitated briefly before leading the group inside.
As they stepped into the room, a subtle chill rose from the stone floor, giving them a refreshing sensation. The room was well-lit with soft, soothing lights, spacious enough to accommodate forty people. In the center was a large, black rock platform elevated slightly above the ground.
“Xiao Yan, the black stone area in the center is where you will train,” the middle-aged man explained, pointing to the clearly demarcated lines. “Each person has ample space. There are slots for your fire crystal cards. Insert them and activate your technique, and the heart fire will flow continuously, helping you refine your Dou Qi, strengthen your meridians and bones, and enhance your strength.”
Curious, Xiao Yan and the others gathered around, indeed seeing the designated training areas and slots on the black platform.
“As this is your first time training in the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower, I must explain some rules,” the middle-aged man continued. “Although the heart fire can significantly boost your strength, you must not neglect rest. The heart fire contains a force that can cause Dou Qi to become chaotic. You must take breaks to allow this force to settle.”
He advised them to train for half a day and then rest overnight, increasing their training duration gradually as they grew stronger. At the Dou Spirit level, they could train for several days without leaving the tower, but for now, they should follow the prescribed schedule.
Nodding in understanding, Xiao Yan and the others prepared to begin their training. As the middle-aged man turned to leave, Xiao Yan caught up with him and discreetly handed over a small jade bottle containing a calming pill.
“Thank you, Teacher. This is a pill to help with focused training,” Xiao Yan said with a smile.
Surprised, the middle-aged man accepted the gift, his eyes lighting up. He assured Xiao Yan that he would watch over the area and encouraged them to train diligently.
With a grateful nod, Xiao Yan returned to the room and closed the door. Outside, the middle-aged man smiled, appreciating Xiao Yan’s thoughtful gesture.
“Wow, this training method is truly unique,” Hu Jia remarked as they entered the room, touching the black platform.
Xiao Yan nodded, feeling the warmth of the black stone. The peculiar warmth seemed to make the flow of Dou Qi within him more active.
“Let’s find our spots and see how many of us can advance in this first session!” Xiao Yan withdrew his massive black heavy ruler, storing it in his ring, and leaped to a spot on the left.
Following Xiao Yan’s lead, the Pan Gate members found their positions. They sat cross-legged on the platform, feeling the growing warmth. Xiao Yan took a deep breath, produced a green fire crystal card, and carefully inserted it into the slot. A faint light appeared, and the number 148 on the card decreased by one, indicating the deduction of a unit of fire energy.
Soon, the room was filled with the soft clicking of cards being inserted, and the faint glow from the slots. The room fell silent, save for the steady, powerful breathing of the trainees, as they began their rigorous cultivation.
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