Feeling the massive, cold snake pupil slowly scanning over them, everyone in the sky felt their bodies momentarily stiffen. The Heavenly Flame, the most powerful destructive force in the world, truly possessed the power to incinerate the heavens and boil the sea. In the face of such power, only those legendary strongmen who could cultivate their battle qi to a level on par with heaven and earth would not tremble in fear. The moment the sealing energy membrane shattered, Su Qian’s expression became extremely grave. He no longer bothered with the Gold and Silver Elders, who were staring at each other in bewilderment. Compared to these rampant invading Black-Corner Region strongmen, he was even more wary of the Falling Heart Flame within the tower. The Heavenly Flame was already fearsome, but one that had evolved with some form of intelligence was even more terrifying. These fellows from the Black-Corner Region, though greedy and ruthless, did not have the courage to attack the students of the Inner Academy, regardless of anything. These students came from various parts of the continent, and most of them had forces behind them. Perhaps these forces separately were not so formidable, but when combined, even the Black-Corner Region would find it hard to bear the anger. Moreover, the Jia Nan Academy, standing on the continent for so many years, naturally had a strong foundation. However, certain things were rarely brought out unless it was truly a matter of life and death. For example, the mysterious elderly gatekeeper in the secret valley where Xiao Yan and the others had entered, after winning the selection competition, was certainly no weaker than Han Gan. If they were to also act, these fellows from the Black-Corner Region would have long been defeated. “Inner Academy Elders, listen to my command, form the array!” With his eyes flickering, Su Qian suddenly gave a stern order, completely ignoring the nearby Gold and Silver Elders and the group of covetous strongmen from the Black-Corner Region, instructing the Elders to form the seal array again.
Upon hearing Su Qian’s command, the Elder Masters were startled. Glancing at the surrounding Black-Corner Region strongmen, they hesitated slightly before moving, forming the previous great sealing array at an extremely fast speed in the air above the Sky Flame Refining Tower.
Seeing the actions of the Inner Academy Elder Masters, those Black-Corner Region strongmen quickly gathered together, their curious gazes settling on the cracked spire of the Sky Flame Refining Tower.
“Keke, Mister Han, now that the Elder Masters of the Inner Academy are preoccupied, it is the perfect time for us to defeat them,” a wizened old man with a vicious face remarked, looking at the desperate Elder Masters trying to re-seal the flame, and addressing Han Feng with a peculiar smile.
“Haha, Elder Spotted, do not rush. After the great battle, the Elder Masters of the Inner Academy have expended a lot. On the other hand, the Heavenly Flame has been conserving its strength. It will not be easy for them to seal it this time. Not only that, but they might suffer significant losses under the impact of the Heavenly Flame.” Han Feng shook his head, saying, “We can wait until both sides are heavily damaged before we take action to seize the Heavenly Flame.”
While Han Feng spoke like this, his thoughts ran in a different direction. Although he currently had the advantage with the large number of assistants, he was not a fool. He understood clearly that provoking the full fury of Jia Nan Academy would result in a poor outcome for all present. His goal was merely the Heavenly Flame; he did not want to incur the enmity leading to life and death feuds. Seizing the Heavenly Flame would indeed cause a tense relationship, but it was still far from the point of deadly enmity. The reclusive experts of Jia Nan Academy may tolerate the seizure of the Heavenly Flame, but they would not endure the deaths and injuries of half of the Inner Academy Elder Masters.
Hearing this, the old man known as Elder Spotted furrowed his brows, nodding reluctantly. He originally had a deep conflict with Jia Nan Academy. The forces he belonged to frequently clashed with the Academy’s Guardian Team, resulting in numerous casualties. Now, with the opportunity to severely wound the Academy, he naturally did not want to miss it.
In the sky, as the overwhelming battle qi surged out from the Elder Masters’ bodies, a thin energy wall once again appeared. However, it was much thinner compared to the previous one. Clearly, the prior great battle had been a considerable burden on the Elder Masters.
As Han Feng and the others conversed, a bloody shadow suddenly flitted into the area, finally squeezing carefully into the crowd. Its gaze fell upon the black-robed young man not far away, filled with malevolence mixed with a trace of fear.
The intruding bloody shadow was Fan Lao. However, his appearance was almost unrecognizable, barely clinging to life.
Seeing Fan Lao’s pathetic state, the surrounding Black-Corner Region strongmen were not without a bit of schadenfreude, but mostly shock and gravity. For a man of his strength to be driven to such a state by a gaunt youth—how powerful could that fellow be?
“Elder Fan, are you okay?” Han Feng was also shocked by Fan Lao’s condition. After a moment, he frowned and retrieved a pill from his storage ring, quickly handing it to him.
Almost grabbing the pill and stuffing it into his mouth, Fan Lao exhaled deeply, his ashen face gaining a touch of red. Fixing a venomous gaze on the black-robed youth with the green fire wings, his voice emerged, dry and hoarse: “That guy’s Heavenly Flame specifically counteracts mine. Otherwise, he would not have gotten off so easily.”
The crowd was naturally noncommittal to such an explanation. They had noticed the earlier battle between Fan Lao and Xiao Yan. The latter’s battle skills were in no way inferior, and defeat for him would have been inevitable, even without the element counteraction.
Han Feng’s eyes flashed, focused on the distant Xiao Yan, his thoughts churning. A youth capable of defeating a four-star Battle Emperor like Fan Lao, even discounting the elemental disadvantage, should be at the level of a five-star Battle Emperor. He could probably overcome him in a one-on-one encounter. While Han Feng knew that Xiao Yan controlled powerful battle skills, as a Level 6 Alchemist, he had received many real treasures in his daily practice of refining pills. High-grade battle techniques that were rare to others were not a novelty to him.
“I need to find out the background of this youth and capture him at the right time…”
Behind Xiao Yan, the green fire wings slowly unfurled. Seeing the retreating Fan Lao into the protective circle of the Black-Corner Region, he furrowed his brow. This cunning old man was now well-protected, making it very difficult to slay him. However, today’s battle, though not taking his life, had dealt a heavy blow, possibly leaving lasting injuries. Such wounds would make it difficult for the old man to advance further, no matter the means.
With these thoughts, Xiao Yan sensed a sense of warning and suddenly turned his gaze to Han Feng beside Fan Lao. Their eyes met, both hiding a cold, deadly intent only understood by the other.
His fingers slowly clenched, yet at this moment, the subtle voice of Yao Lao sounded in his heart: “Do not act rashly; there are many strong players around him. Even if I lend you my maximum strength, it would not be enough. Remember, unless you reach the Dou Wang stage, avoid direct confrontations with him. You should know how powerful one becomes after practicing ‘Furan Jue’ and devouring Heavenly Flames. Though he only cultivated a fragment of the technique, it must not be underestimated.”
Clenching his teeth, Xiao Yan hesitated, then slowly unclenched his fists. Acting rashly was not an option… Advancing to a Dou Wang… sigh, it would take at least two years, even at his speed. The gap was too large, and the barrier between the ordinary and the mighty of the continent was not easily broken.
Letting out a sigh, Xiao Yan turned his gaze to the top of the Sky Flame Refining Tower, his heart stirring. This would be the key to his rapid advancement to a Dou Wang, so he must obtain it at all costs!
As the crowd in the sky pondered their own plans, the sealing array controlled by Su Qian once again emitted a strong light. Just as the light reached its peak, the formerly silent apex of the Sky Flame Refining Tower resonated with a sharp screech. Instantly, sound waves like ripples spread out rapidly, destroying the already chaotic surroundings even more.
The moment the sound wave reverberated, the massive body erupted with a thunderous crash amidst the stunned gazes of the surrounding, crashing against the energy shield. The invisible flames, like a storm, collided fiercely with the shield, causing intense ripples and even signs of collapse.
Many of the Elder Masters paled slightly, their breaths becoming weaker at the collision.
“Is this… the Inner Academy’s Heavenly Flame? Goodness, I didn’t expect it to have evolved to near corporeality!”
The first-time witnesses among the Black-Corner Region strongmen, gazing at the invisible serpent occupying the vast space in the sky, exclaimed in shock and awe.
Han Feng, too, was stunned by the size of the Falling Heart Flame, but excitement soon replaced astonishment. Successful assimilation and consumption of it would definitely break through the barriers between Battle Emperor and Battle Sect.
A strange screech resounded across the sky again. Seemingly sensing the impending rupture of the seal, the invisible fire python’s colossal tail whipped, its massive body like a lightning bolt, slamming into an energy wall with a force that shook the very space!
With this powerful collision, the rippling energy wall finally crumbled, and a small crack unexpectedly appeared, spreading out like a spider web and occupying the entire side of the energy shield.
Su Qian observed the cracked energy wall, about to shatter, understanding that the seal had failed…
Boom! The giant head slammed into the collapsing energy wall, shattering it, and fragments of energy swirled around, the cylindrical energy wall utterly destroyed.
As the energy shield shattered, a crazed, ecstatic screech exploded from the massive, grotesque maw of the invisible python, free from its shackles. The invisible fire python did not immediately flee, instead lifting its head, fixing its cold, snake-like eyes on Xiao Yan and Han Feng, displaying a very human-like greed and desire!
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