A Simple Plan

They've known each other for so long, there's really no need to be too polite, especially since Hu Gan doesn't pay much attention to such things.

The conversation between the two did not affect Elder Huo, who turned his gaze to Xiao Ming, who followed Hu Gan into the study.

Xiao Ming stepped forward and respectfully bowed.

"Teacher, Great Elder Su."

Behind him, Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin also bowed to Su Qian and Elder Huo.

Only Zi Yan swaggered up to Su Qian, casually greeted him, and then found a chair to sit down.

Su Qian simply smiled kindly at Zi Yan's behavior, and the others, knowing Zi Yan's true identity, didn't pay any attention to it either.

"You're back. Have you finished taking care of things at home?" Elder Huo looked at the extraordinary Xiao Ming standing in front of him, and even his previously stiff face broke into a smile.

Elder Huo's original name was Huo Li. He was rather aloof and rarely smiled. He only smiled when he was with his only disciple, Xiao Ming.

"Yes, it's almost all taken care of," Xiao Ming said with a light laugh.

"Old Man Huo, you don't even smile this much when you're with us old buddies, but you're all smiles when your precious apprentice comes back."

Looking at Elder Huo's smile, Hu Gan chuckled speechlessly.

"Hehe, if you had a disciple like mine, you'd be laughing every day too," Elder Huo said.

These words earned a nod of agreement from Su Qian, who was standing to the side. Xiao Ming had spent six years in the Inner Academy, so one could say that Su Qian had watched him grow up.

Xiao Ming was diligent and studious in his cultivation, and he never became arrogant or domineering because of his strength.

That's the kind of performance someone else's child should have. If he had an apprentice like that, he'd be all smiles every day.

As Su Qian was thinking this, she suddenly noticed Xiao Ming's improved strength.

"Huh! In less than a year, your strength has actually broken through to the Dou Emperor?" Su Qian asked in surprise.

"It was just a chance encounter," Xiao Ming said with a calm smile.

"Hehe, it seems that Old Man Huo, your apprentice will surpass you, his teacher, before long." Xiao Ming's nonchalant attitude made Su Qian nod in satisfaction, and then he smiled.

"What's the big deal? In alchemy, he has long surpassed me, his teacher. He's only catching up in cultivation now." Elder Huo didn't seem to care, but was actually pleased with Xiao Ming's achievements.

"I said, shouldn't you be in seclusion trying to break through to the Dou Zong? Why are you here? Did you fail to break through?"

Hu Gan asked, sensing that Elder Huo's Aura wasn't much stronger than before.

"Sigh, I failed. Breaking through to the Dou Zong is indeed not easy. Luckily, I had the Breaking Sect Pill, otherwise my strength might have decreased a bit this time."

At this point, Elder Huo was also somewhat frustrated. He had felt that he was about to succeed, but at the last moment, he failed at the last hurdle.

"Breakthroughs are inherently uncertain, so take it easy," Hu Gan offered a word of comfort. Then he added, "Speaking of which, just based on its ability to preserve strength, the Breaking Sect Pill truly lives up to its reputation as a Peak Grade Six pill, making it highly sought after."

"No wonder this Grade Six Alchemist has such a strong influence; even Han Feng, a Dou Emperor, dares to set his sights on our Jia Nan Academy."

The group's expressions turned serious when this was mentioned.

Xiao Ming first had Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin find a place to sit, and then he sat down next to his teacher.

"Xiao Ming, how confident are you about the intelligence that Han Feng will attack?" Su Qian asked.

"About 80 or 90%," Xiao Ming said thoughtfully.

"Hmph! That arrogant fellow Han Feng acts lawlessly just because he has some strength. He tried to take advantage of my disciple. Did he even ask me first?" Elder Huo sneered upon hearing this.

Although Elder Huo's Alchemy Technique Alchemist only at the Fifth Rank, many Alchemy Department have emerged from his ranks over the years.

With the connections he built up in his early years, if given enough time to prepare, he could mobilize just as many powerful individuals as Han Feng.

"That Han Feng is truly courting death. He actually dares to disregard us and wants to seize the Heavenly Flames from the Jia Nan Academy. It's utterly wishful thinking."

Su Qian agreed, saying that putting everything else aside, his target, Xiao Ming, was Grade Six Alchemist like himself, and was even within the Jia Nan Academy, which was full of powerful individuals. He also knew who gave him the courage to invade the Jia Nan Academy.

If it were his teacher Venerable Yao, who came, they would think it would be about the same.

Is Han Feng really courting death? Of course not.

All of this was simply because the allure of the Heavenly Flames was too great for him.

The Heavenly Flames was his hope for advancing his strength. Han Feng, who had outstanding talent, was trapped at the Dou Huang Peak for many years because of the Flame Mantra.

The two Heavenly Flames were indeed enough for him to take the risk.

In particular, Jia Nan Academy only has one Dou Zong on the surface.

This is also why Su Qian and his team found the situation somewhat troublesome.

"If those old guys hadn't been hiding away to cultivate every day, never showing their faces, we wouldn't have had so much trouble." Su Qian thought of the Qianbai Two Elders, who were hiding away to cultivate, and couldn't help but complain.

Especially that elusive dean who had been a hands-off Dean for decades, Su Qian felt particularly speechless. Sometimes he would wonder if the Dean was dead or alive, otherwise he wouldn't have been gone for so long. It was really too much of a rip-off.

After a brief rant, Su Qian discussed countermeasures with Xiao Ming and the others.

"Why don't we send the Gold and Silver Elders, down here first? We know where they're living in seclusion anyway," Hu Gan suggested.

"That's not advisable. We've never had any conflicts with him before, and this could easily alert him. If Han Feng abandons his plan for a direct attack and instead keeps an eye on my disciple, that would be troublesome," Elder Huo said directly.

After much discussion, the final decision was to stick with the ambush plan.

This plan is simple and straightforward. Jia Nan Academy has two Outer Academy elders, the head of the Alchemy Department, Elder Huo, the Enforcement Team leader Wu Tianlang, Hu Gan, a total of five Dou Huang Peak.

In addition to Xiao Ming, and the Amethyst Winged Lion King he brought back, there were a total of seven Dou Emperors, dozens of Dou Wang elders, and one Three-star Dou Zong, Su Qian.

These people should not go out recently, and they should secretly spread the word that Xiao Ming has been refining pills for the elders in the Inner Academy.

Han Feng will definitely find out Xiao Ming's location if he tries to steal the Heavenly Flames; they just need to wait and see.

When Han Feng and the others appeared, Su Qian blocked any potential Dou Zong, while Xiao Ming held off the Gold and Silver Elders and Yin.

The rest of the men were left to Hu Gan and his men.

Given Hu Gan's strength, no matter how hard Han Feng searched, he couldn't possibly find so many Dou Huang Peak experts and dozens of Dou Wang in the Black Corner Region.

Once those people from the Black Corner Region are dealt with, the Gold and Silver Elders and Yin, and those Dou Zong will either have to retreat or stay.

As for Han Feng, he was the instigator.

Neither Xiao Ming nor Su Qian had any intention of letting him go.