At the peak of the mountain, a black figure darted like a streak of lightning. Faint silver electric sparks flickered beneath his feet, and in his hand, a massive black ruler sliced through the air with a menacing wind. Despite its size, the black ruler was wielded like a slender sword, displaying both power and dexterity.
“Shi!”
The massive ruler suddenly struck down, the sharp gale tearing through the air. A faint azure glow enveloped it, resembling a blue flame, making the ruler’s wind carry a scorching heat. The black ruler descended with overwhelming force, slamming into a large stone ahead. The impact caused a resounding boom, and the sturdy stone crumbled under the powerful force, scattering countless fragments in all directions. In mere moments, the stone, which was as tall as half a person, was reduced to a small base embedded in the mountain.
“Phew!”
Maintaining the pose of the heavy strike, Xiao Yan’s face flushed red. After taking a deep breath, the redness gradually faded, and his breath returned to a calm and steady rhythm. As his energy stabilized, the bulging veins on his arms subsided, and the strong sense of power between his tensed muscles gradually dissipated until it vanished entirely.
Withdrawing the heavy ruler, the silver electric sparks on Xiao Yan’s feet also disappeared. He twisted his head, and his body twitched, producing a series of crackling sounds from his bones, causing him to smile with satisfaction.
The day’s bone and marrow cleansing had nearly doubled Xiao Yan’s strength. His bones were more resilient, and even when his muscles moved slightly, he could feel a formidable power lurking beneath his skin, ready to burst forth. This not only made his physical strength much stronger but also enhanced his agility and nerve reflexes. Additionally, with his breakthrough to the Dou Ling stage, Xiao Yan could feel a profound transformation within his body.
In the past, Xiao Yan could maintain the “Lightning Three Thousand” for only about ten minutes. Now, due to his advancement, the Dou Qi stored in his body had significantly increased, allowing him to sustain it for five times longer. This clearly showed the difference between a Da Dou Shi and a Dou Ling.
“How does being a Dou Ling feel?” The Old Pharmacist, floating in mid-air, looked at Xiao Yan’s excited face and smiled.
“It’s indeed a different realm; the gap is enormous,” Xiao Yan nodded vigorously. Previously, without the “Buddha’s Anger Lotus” and the Blue Lotus Heart Fire, relying solely on his Da Dou Shi strength, he would have been no match for even a new Dou Ling, let alone a three-star one. Now, personally experiencing the might of a Dou Ling, he couldn’t help but admire his own previous audacity in challenging higher ranks.
“Now that I’m a Dou Ling, with the ‘Flame Decree’ cultivation technique, I can face ordinary two or even three-star Dou Lings. If I use the ‘Heavenly Flame Tri-Change,’ I might be able to contend with strong opponents like Bai Cheng. So, my strength is now enough to enter the ‘Strong List.'”
Xiao Yan clenched and released his fists, feeling the powerful energy within. A smile curled at the corners of his mouth. In less than half a year since entering the Inner Academy, he was close to entering the most prestigious ‘Strong List.’ This achievement was a source of pride, given the difficulty of standing out among the talented students.
Stretching his body, Xiao Yan stepped forward, looking down at the vast forest. After a while, he frowned, “I’ve been training in these mountains for over two months. It’s time to return to the Inner Academy. The so-called ‘Strong List Competition’ Lin Yan mentioned might be coming soon. If I can make it to the top ten, I’ll have the chance to enter the lower levels of the ‘Heaven Burning Qi Tower.’ For some reason, I feel that the ‘Origin Heart Fire Body Tempering’ is related to the Falling Heart Flame.”
“The Heaven Burning Qi Tower is indeed mysterious. Even with my soul power, I can’t penetrate it, so stealthy investigations are futile. However, I can still sense the presence of many strong guardians in the lower levels. Even a Battle Sect would find it difficult to break in. We know little about the situation of the Falling Heart Flame in the tower, but perhaps by venturing deeper, we might gain some information.”
With a sigh, Xiao Yan rubbed his temples, grumbling, “What a hassle.”
Seeing Xiao Yan’s troubled face, the Old Pharmacist shook his head helplessly, “There’s nothing we can do. The Jia Nan Academy has a high reputation on the Dou Qi continent. Even some top-tier forces won’t easily offend them. Even if I were in my prime, I would have to carefully consider before trying to take anything from the Jia Nan Academy.”
Xiao Yan nodded bitterly. He had endured countless hardships to reach the Jia Nan Academy, all for the Falling Heart Flame. No matter what, he was determined to obtain it, even if it meant offending the Jia Nan Academy. To become a true powerhouse, the evolution of the ‘Flame Decree’ was crucial, and for that, the Different Fires were indispensable.
Turning his gaze south, towards the location of the Heaven Burning Qi Tower, the burning sensation in his eyes gradually faded. With a sigh, he flexed his shoulders, and the Purple Cloud Wings shot out. Flapping his wings, he transformed into a black shadow, swiftly flying towards the outer mountains. In an instant, he vanished into a small black dot in the distance.
Returning to the Inner Academy took nearly three hours. Such a long flight would have been impossible without Xiao Yan’s advancement to Dou Ling. As he neared the Inner Academy, he cautiously retracted the Purple Cloud Wings, landing in a secluded forest. Seeing no one around, he dashed towards the Inner Academy, which was already visible in the distance.
Using the Inner Academy badge on his chest, Xiao Yan entered the academy without any hindrance. Looking at the bustling crowd, he let out a long sigh. In the past two months, apart from Lin Xiu Ya and a few others, he hadn’t seen anyone else.
Inside the Inner Academy, Xiao Yan’s tense mood relaxed. His quick steps slowed, and he strolled leisurely towards the area where the Pan Gate and the newcomers were located. Without his signature giant black ruler, no one recognized him as the nominal “First Alchemist of the Inner Academy.” Thus, after a short walk, he reached the newcomer area unimpeded.
As he approached, Xiao Yan’s brow subtly furrowed. Normally, this area was always guarded by Pan Gate members, but now, it was empty. Entering the newcomer area, the deserted road made his frown deepen, and his pace quickened.
“Ah Tai!”
As he approached the pavilion, Xiao Yan finally saw a group of figures hurrying around the corner. Recognizing the leader, he called out.
Hearing the familiar voice, the group, initially in a rush, froze. The leader, Ah Tai, broke into a grin, looking at the black-cloaked figure in the distance. “Boss? You’re back?”
“Boss! Boss is back!” Behind Ah Tai, the group cheered upon seeing Xiao Yan’s face.
“Where are Xun Er and the others?” Scanning their faces, Xiao Yan noticed a hint of anger. His expression darkened, and a faint silver light flashed under his feet. In an instant, he appeared in front of Ah Tai, who was dozens of meters away, and asked, “What happened at the arena?”
Narrowing his eyes, Xiao Yan questioned, “What’s going on?”
“Those bastards from the White Gang,” Ah Tai’s face flushed with anger. “This morning, Senior Hu Jia led our Pan Gate members to the Heaven Burning Qi Tower to train. They found a spot and had already started training when the White Gang forcibly entered, using their numbers to drive us out. When Senior Hu Jia argued with them, they insulted her. Enraged, she fought back, but they had two hidden Dou Ling experts. She managed to injure one but was hit hard herself and was injured.”
“After bringing Senior Hu Jia back, Senior Wu Hao was furious and immediately led a group to the White Gang. According to the returning members, Senior Wu Hao issued a challenge to Bai Cheng. Xun Er and the others have all rushed to the arena.”
“Boss, those White Gang bastards are getting more and more arrogant, thinking we don’t have any Dou Ling experts. They keep picking fights!”
“Boss, we can’t stand for this anymore! We must fight them!”
Behind Ah Tai, the Pan Gate members roared with anger, clearly at their limit with the White Gang’s provocations.
Xiao Yan waved his hand, silencing the angry shouts. All eyes turned to him, full of expectation. His face darkened, and a faint, menacing light flickered in his black eyes. After a moment, he smirked, turned sharply, and said coldly, “Let’s go!”
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