Fen Jue

"Don't go, Cousin Xiao Yan!!! Mei'er doesn't want you to leave!"

After Xiao Zhan left, Xiao Mei pressed herself tightly against Xiao Yan's back, her voice thick with tears as she tried to make him stay.

Yet Xiao Yan, who would normally have comforted Xiao Mei at once, remained unmoved, his eyes filled with determination.

He had made this decision before the New Year. He would not change it for anyone.

Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Yan with a complicated expression and asked softly.

"Have you really decided?"

"Mm." Xiao Yan nodded, looking solemnly at Xiao Yu. "I have to go."

If he wanted to proclaim his Righteous Path to the entire world, he first had to perfect it himself. If there was some enormous flaw in his Righteous Path that even he could not accept, then how could he speak of promoting it?

But merely thinking about how to mend that flaw was far from enough.

He had to experience it personally, feel it for himself, before he could see it clearly.

"Is that so?"

Xiao Yu murmured, sighing silently in her heart.

Judging by Xiao Yan's expression, there was no room for discussion on this matter.

Xiao Yu shrugged lightly and smiled helplessly.

Honestly, he was usually so easygoing, yet on certain matters he was so resolute that no one could argue against him. This was the Xiao Yan she knew.

"Since you've put it that way, I won't try too hard to stop you." Xiao Yu spread one hand and spoke slowly. "But could you wait a few more days?"

"Why?" Xiao Yan Raised an Eyebrow. "There shouldn't be anything else going on in the Xiao Family, right?"

Xiao Yan had wanted to leave and gain experience ever since recovering his strength. It was only because the Coming-of-Age Ceremony and the New Year had gotten in the way that he had waited until now, after everything that needed doing had been done.

If there was anything left, it was only cultivation techniques.

But that did not matter. Because of Xiao Yan's earlier insistence, the Dou Qi Pavilion had long since been fully opened. Any member of the Xiao Family could take whatever they wanted to learn whenever they wished, including cultivation techniques. Xiao Yan had originally planned to pick out a technique that evening, learn it, and then leave.

Just as Xiao Yan was feeling puzzled, Xiao Yu explained.

"There's nothing going on in the Xiao Family, but Jia Nan Academy will be coming here to recruit students soon. Why not leave after the recruitment?"

"That's right! Jia Nan Academy!" At Xiao Yu's words, Xiao Mei instantly perked up. "Cousin Xiao Yan, come take part in the recruitment with us! Maybe you won't leave after all!"

At Xiao Mei's words, a trace of hope appeared in Xiao Xun'er's eyes.

But it lingered for only an instant before vanishing, replaced by a faint bitter smile at the corners of her lips.

Xiao Yan's decision would not change because of Jia Nan Academy's reputation.

And just as Xiao Xun'er expected, Xiao Yan's first reaction upon hearing Xiao Yu was to refuse.

Between attending an academy and traveling abroad to perfect his Righteous Path, which was more important to Xiao Yan was obvious, even if it was the renowned Jia Nan Academy.

However, just as Xiao Yan was about to reject Xiao Yu's suggestion, Yao Chen's voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

(Jia Nan Academy has a Heavenly Flame. You really should make a trip there.)

Hearing Yao Chen's words, Xiao Yan frowned slightly.

To be honest, he did not particularly crave Heavenly Flames, nor did he believe they would play any decisive role in his path of Righteousness.

But no matter what, Yao Chen, his teacher, had spoken. Xiao Yan naturally would not stubbornly insist on his own way. He looked at Xiao Yu and nodded lightly.

"Alright. I'll leave after the recruitment."

"That's wonderful!!!"

Hearing Xiao Yan's answer, Xiao Mei immediately jumped up in delight. Yet Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun'er could only sigh helplessly in their hearts.

Not that he would reconsider after the recruitment, but that he would leave after it...

Xiao Yan's words made the Two People understand that no matter what the outcome of the recruitment was, Xiao Yan was determined to leave.

Still, this was not too bad.

Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun'er thought in unison.

At least they could make him stay a few more days.

"I'll go back to my room and pack."

Saying this, Xiao Yan waved goodbye to the three of them, returned to his room, and closed the door. Turning sideways, he softly called out toward mid-air.

"Elder Yao."

At Xiao Yan's call, Yao Chen's phantom appeared in mid-air. Xiao Yan looked at her, cupped his fists in salute, and asked solemnly.

"This disciple boldly asks: why do you value that Heavenly Flame so highly?"

Over the past few days, Xiao Yan had occasionally heard Yao Chen speak about Heavenly Flames, and there was one point he remembered especially clearly.

A single person's body could not contain two Heavenly Flames.

Of course, this was not absolute. But Yao Chen had personally said that even at the height of her strength during her lifetime, containing one Heavenly Flame was already her limit.

If that was the case, there was no need for Yao Chen to seek Jia Nan Academy's Fallen Heart Flame.

Gazing At the Disciple before her, Yao Chen fell silent for a moment.

Because it could greatly increase your strength.

If this had happened before, that was surely how Yao Chen would have answered.

Those words were indeed true, but they would have completely concealed her real intentions.

That would have been no different from deception.

But after yesterday's fireworks, Yao Chen had already decided in her heart that she would no longer hide anything from Xiao Yan, much less deceive him.

Yao Chen knew well that Heavenly Flames would not be of much help to Xiao Yan's Righteous Path. Moreover, absorbing a Heavenly Flame was an undertaking with nine chances of death and only one of survival.

Simply put, Xiao Yan had no reason to risk his life to obtain a Heavenly Flame.

But she, Yao Chen, needed it! She needed Xiao Yan to risk his life to obtain a Heavenly Flame!

Yao Chen, floating in mid-air, waved her Jade Hand lightly. A red scroll and a black scroll appeared separately before Xiao Yan.

Then, the rarely serious Yao Chen looked at Xiao Yan with a stern expression on her exquisite face.

"The red scroll is a Fire Attribute Earth-tier low-grade cultivation technique, called the Fire-Expelling Palm."

"The black scroll is a Fire Attribute Yellow-tier low-grade cultivation technique, called Fen Jue."

Listening to Yao Chen's introduction, Xiao Yan frowned slightly but did not interrupt.

There was no reason for Yao Chen to place two cultivation techniques with such a vast difference in rank before him at the same time.

If so, then the Yellow-tier low-grade cultivation technique called Fen Jue must have some hidden mystery.

Then Yao Chen spoke again.

"Although there is a huge difference in rank between these two cultivation techniques, according to its description, Fen Jue can evolve into a Heaven-tier cultivation technique."

!!!!!

Hearing Yao Chen's words, Xiao Yan's Pupils suddenly contracted.

A cultivation technique that could evolve?! He had never heard of such a thing!!!

Though he was incredibly shocked, Xiao Yan did not doubt Yao Chen's words in the slightest.

Since Yao Chen said so, then this cultivation technique was exactly as she described.

At that moment, Xiao Yan suddenly understood something. He Raised an Eyebrow and asked Yao Chen.

"Elder Yao, could the condition for this technique's evolution be related to Heavenly Flames?"

"That's right."

Yao Chen nodded, then spoke Words that were utterly horrifying.

"Fen Jue evolves by devouring Heavenly Flames!"