Beyond the mountain ranges of the Inner Academy, there lies a city named Maple City. The city is not large, yet it holds a position of paramount importance within the Black-Corner Region. This significance stems from the fact that the Medicine King Han Xue resides here. As the foremost alchemist in the Black-Corner Region, Han Xue, who had long since become a Tier 6 Alchemist, held a high status in the hearts of many forces and powerful individuals. Naturally, a Tier 6 Alchemist, even on the entire continent, was a rarity. Even ordinary Battle Emperors and Battle Sects would show respect when meeting him, for everyone knew the influence a Tier 6 Alchemist could wield!
Maple City, this very city, was named after Han Xue. Such an honor, in the chaotic and bloodthirsty Black-Corner Region, was bestowed upon only a select few, and Han Xue was one of them. At the heart of the city, there was a bamboo forest that stood in stark contrast to the bustling markets outside. This bamboo forest had extremely strict defenses. Ordinary people couldn’t even approach it, for they would be attacked indiscriminately. Every year, quite a few people were killed by the bamboo forest’s guards for these reasons. Thus, although the place was serene, it was also considered a forbidden zone by many in Maple City.
Deep within the bamboo forest, there was a bamboo pavilion, its verdant color resembling emerald, permeating with a faint fragrance of bamboo. Inside the pavilion, in a high, windowed room, a man sat cross-legged, dressed in a set of alchemist robes. On the back of his robe, there was an intricately embroidered “Maple” character. At this moment, he was engrossed in a medicinal formula, completely focused and oblivious to his surroundings.
In the quiet, as the man lowered his head, he suddenly raised it, his sharp gaze piercing towards the distant northern sky, where he felt a strange and vaguely familiar energy fluctuation. His brows slightly furrowed, revealing a rather handsome face with thin lips tightly pressed, exuding a cold aura. Yet, this very coldness added to his charm.
“This feeling…” He slowly tapped the scroll against his forehead, muttering softly. In his mind, countless pieces of information flashed by, and after a while, the scroll suddenly froze as he shot his sharp gaze again towards the source of the energy fluctuation. With a voice filled with surprise and confusion, he said, “This seems to be the fluctuation of a Heavenly Flame?”
His calm state of mind was now agitated by the sudden energy fluctuation. His eyes narrowed, and after a moment, he closed them. Flicking his fingers, a deep blue flame, like clear lake water, mysteriously emerged from his body, enveloping him entirely. This deep blue flame was quite peculiar, looking like a flowing pool of clear water, yet the most truthful senses told him that it was not water but a flame. As the deep blue flame ascended, his soul power dramatically increased. The previously vague perception now became extremely clear, as if it were surging around him…
“It is indeed a Heavenly Flame!” The deep blue flame abruptly contracted, and the man leaped to his feet, his gaze burning as he stared at the distant mountains. After a moment, as if recognizing something, his brows furrowed once more. He muttered to himself, “The direction of the energy fluctuation seems to be coming from the so-called Inner Academy of the Jia Nan College. Could it be theirs?”
Although he had immense influence in the Black-Corner Region, the Jia Nan College was a formidable entity. Generally, even he would not provoke them easily. Of course, this reluctance would dissipate when certain benefits were at stake, such as… the allure of a Heavenly Flame!
“Han Beng!” The man turned abruptly and shouted in a deep voice. As soon as his words fell, a ghostly figure appeared in the bamboo house, kneeling on one knee. His voice, though hoarse, was respectful, “What are your orders, Master?”
“Take these tokens and notify the Earth Flame Sect, the Eight Gates, the Blood Sect, and have their sect leaders come to Maple City within two hours. I need their help. Also, take these two tokens to that place personally and invite those two gentlemen.”
The man casually threw out several oddly shaped tokens, which the kneeling figure caught lightning-fast. Just as he put them into his storage ring, two more tokens, one gold and one silver, shot over. The figure, who had remained expressionless, showed a slight change in demeanor as he took the unique gold and silver tokens. He said in a low voice, “Master, you are even inviting them? They seldom meet anyone, and this time, Master may need to offer something that will interest them.”
“Just do as I say. If I can achieve my goal, giving them what they want will be no problem.” The man waved his hand indifferently.
“Yes!” The figure immediately responded without hesitation, respectfully. Then, he quickly disappeared into the darkness.
As the shadow vanished, the man let out a long breath and slowly walked to the window, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains. Deep blue flames surged in his eyes. “A Heavenly Flame… Haha, I’ve been searching for so many years, and it turns out to be hidden in the depths of the mountains. If I can obtain the second Heavenly Flame and devour it, then…”
His always cold face suddenly flushed with fervor. He clenched his fists and was about to speak, but his brows suddenly furrowed. He clutched his chest, coughing sharply, and his breathing became slightly ragged.
After a bout of coughing, he finally calmed down. He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, whispering, “Damn old man, if you had just let me practice the ‘Flame Decree’ back then, everything would have been fine. What nonsense about a flawed nature? My alchemy talent is far superior to yours!”
Though his voice was low, the fury and hatred in his tightened fists were evident.
……
“Bang!” The intangible fire python slammed into the colorful energy net again, creating a thunderous explosion. However, the energy net, tightening and loosening, made it difficult for the intangible fire python to escape. But as the fire python continued to collide, the colorful net grew dimmer, and the faces of some elders gradually paled. Their rapid breathing indicated the significant effort required to resist the fire python’s attacks.
“Bang!” The intangible fire python furiously battered the energy net, its massive body and overwhelming energy making each impact terrifying. In this nearly frenzied collision, about an hour later, one elder finally faltered.
“Spurt!” In a fierce collision, an elder’s Dou Qi first depleted, and he spat a mouthful of blood, unable to control it. He barely managed to use the remaining Dou Qi to flap his wings and slowly descend.
With the loss of one elder, the pressure on the others increased. The intangible fire python, sensing the opportunity, accelerated its assaults. Within ten minutes, another elder retreated, spitting blood, and twenty minutes later, a third elder withdrew as well…
Seeing the pale, retreating elders, Su Qian’s expression grew grimmer. For years, he had dealt with the Falling Heart Flame, but he had never truly seen its full fury. Now, witnessing it, he understood how truly terrifying such a force of nature was. In just three hours, eighteen elders had already retreated, leaving only eight and Su Qian to struggle on.
Despite the heavy losses among the Inner Academy elders, the intangible fire python was not in good shape either. Its constant collisions and energy consumption had dimmed its flames, and its impact weakened.
As the elders struggled, they saw a glimmer of hope in the weakening assaults of the intangible fire python.
Hidden in the ground’s flames, Xiao Yan watched the elders, one after another, retreat, spitting blood. Wiping away a cold sweat, he thought, “So many elders working together, yet they still suffer such a fate. It seems subduing the Falling Heart Flame will be even more difficult than consuming the Green Lotus Core Flame.”
“Judging from the situation, the Inner Academy elders can’t hold on much longer. Teacher, when should we make our move?” Xiao Yan asked anxiously in his mind. If the Falling Heart Flame broke through, it would likely disappear, making it extremely difficult to find it again.
“Don’t worry…” The Pharmacist Elder’s voice echoed in his mind. “There are many powerful auras approaching from the east. It must be the reinforcements from the Outer Academy. Let them tire out the Falling Heart Flame.”
Xiao Yan was startled and quickly looked towards the eastern sky. Indeed, he saw some black dots.
The black dots rapidly expanded, and in a short time, they transformed into a large group of figures, appearing in the sight of the Inner Academy.
“Ha-ha, Elder Su, we’ve mobilized a lot of people. I hope we’re not too late,” a familiar, elderly voice rang out. It was none other than Vice-Principal Hu Gan of the Outer Academy.
Seeing the timely reinforcements, Su Qian breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed today wouldn’t end in the worst-case scenario.
As the Outer Academy reinforcements arrived at the Inner Academy, in the far-off Maple City, numerous influential figures in the Black-Corner Region gathered. Under the laughter of the man with the maple leaf on his back, a large group of powerful fighters soared into the sky, spreading their Dou Qi wings and heading swiftly toward the Inner Academy beyond the mountains.
A great battle was imminent!
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