Jia Nan Academy

Before long, Ao Qing arrived once again on Jia Nan Academy's territory.

Speaking of Jia Nan Academy, it held an overlord-level position in the Black-Corner Region.

The academy was filled with powerful experts, and outstanding graduates could generally reach the strength of a Dou Wang.

Many of these disciples went to the grand stage of the Central Continent to begin new lives of their own.

These students were also part of Jia Nan Academy's foundation.

Moreover, Jia Nan Academy had Two Elders Qian Bai, two Dou Zongs, guarding it. Their strength was essentially around the peak Dou Zong level. In the Black-Corner Region, Dou Emperors were already considered top-tier experts, while Dou Zongs were rarely seen.

Beyond that, the academy's founder, Mang Tianchi, had once been a Half-Saint. After all these years, upon returning to the Thunder Clan, he had become a Dou Saint.

Without these factors, Jia Nan Academy might not have been able to protect the Fallen Heart Flame. Without strength, one was unworthy of being the master of a Heavenly Flame.

With such figures backing it, Jia Nan Academy had gained an extraordinary status. Every year, countless geniuses from the Northwest Continent flocked to enroll.

Furthermore, Jia Nan Academy possessed abundant cultivation resources. Compared to the Misty Cloud Sect, Jia Nan Academy understood far better how to nurture talent.

When he reached the outskirts of Jia Nan Academy, Ao Qing began using his Soul Power to investigate the entire academy, searching for the location of Zi Yan, the Little Princess of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.

Ao Qing had now found the aura of Zi Yan's Ancient Void Dragon Clan bloodline. However, he still needed to search more carefully for her exact location.

Jia Nan Academy's Herb Mountain.

At that moment, Zi Yan had sneaked over, intending to grab one or two medicinal herbs for a taste.

Speaking of Zi Yan, Ao Qing could not help but feel a trace of sympathy.

From the moment she became conscious, Zi Yan had lived alone in the Deep Mountain. Sometimes, when she was bullied by other magical beasts, she could only flee in humiliation. Later, after eating Transformation Grass, she encountered Su Qian, the Grand Elder of Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy. He brought her to the Inner Academy, and he was the one who gave her the name Zi Yan.

Because magical beasts below the sixth tier would remain in their transformed human form after consuming Transformation Grass until their strength broke through to the sixth tier, Zi Yan constantly searched for medicinal herbs containing powerful energy, hoping to grow up quickly and reach the sixth tier so she could freely shift between her beast form and human form.

Thus, instinct drove Zi Yan to continuously seek out such medicinal herbs.

Just as Zi Yan picked up a fourth-tier medicinal herb and was about to stuff it into her mouth, Grand Elder Su Qian effortlessly caught her red-handed from behind.

Zi Yan, however, was not flustered. It was not as though this had only happened once or twice. She hurriedly stuffed the herb into her mouth before turning around with puffed cheeks, staring adorably at Grand Elder Su Qian.

"Zi Yan, why have you come to the Medicine Garden to steal medicinal herbs again? Tell me, how many times has this been this month already?"

Grand Elder Su Qian was rather speechless. He was very fond of Zi Yan. Although her constitution was special and she required a great deal of medicinal herbs, Grand Elder Su Qian had always supported her.

Yet Zi Yan was not very satisfied with the small amount of medicinal herbs Grand Elder Su Qian provided, so she often visited the academy's Medicine Garden.

Of course, Zi Yan could have chosen to search in the wilderness, but that would not only take time, she would also have to fight the magical beasts guarding the herbs. Sometimes, Zi Yan was not their match, so she naturally set her sights on the academy's Medicine Garden.

"Grand Elder, Zi Yan promises that this will be Zi Yan's last time."

Zi Yan's soft, sweet voice entered Grand Elder Su Qian's ears, and his mood could not help but ease.

In truth, Grand Elder Su Qian did not intend to punish Zi Yan. But as the Grand Elder of Jia Nan Academy, he could not exactly pretend he had not seen anything, could he?

"Alright, Zi Yan. We'll let it go this time. Just don't come again next time. I'll prepare more for you."

"Thank you, Grand Elder! Zi Yan knew Grand Elder was the nicest person."

Having inexplicably received a good-person card from Zi Yan, Grand Elder Su Qian looked rather stunned. Still, he took a deep breath and told himself to stay calm.

Seeing that Grand Elder Su Qian was no longer lecturing her, Zi Yan immediately ran off. She had no desire to listen to Grand Elder Su Qian's next sermon.

The sight of this made Su Qian's complicated heart brighten.

"This child really is... adorable.

"I have no idea how she ended up alone in the Monster Mountain Range, but meeting you was this old man's good fortune. Over the years, you have brought me so much trouble, yet you have also made this once-silent heart of mine more lively. Though perhaps it is because you angered me."

Without thinking further, Grand Elder Su Qian tidied up the traces Zi Yan had left in the Medicine Garden while taking the herbs, then removed an identical medicinal herb from his Na Ring and planted it in its place.

After running out of the Medicine Garden, Zi Yan headed straight for Jia Nan Academy's Dou Skills Arena. It was much like the matches between Misty Cloud Sect disciples, where people wagered their cultivation resources and fought opponents of the same or similar level.

Of course, most of the people here were Outer Academy students.

As for Inner Academy students, they could accept tasks issued by the academy and obtain cultivation resources by completing them.

Zi Yan had not come here to compete. Although her strength was not exceptionally powerful, it was roughly comparable to that of a Dou Wang. Ordinary disciples truly had no chance against Zi Yan.

The elders and instructors also turned a blind eye to Zi Yan out of consideration for Grand Elder Su Qian and Zi Yan's cuteness. Thus, Zi Yan was the little tyrant of Jia Nan Academy.

After watching the dull sparring matches of these Outer Academy disciples for a while, Zi Yan planned to head out and have some fun, snatching medicinal herbs guarded by magical beasts.

At that moment, Ao Qing also discovered Zi Yan. However, he did not immediately reveal himself and take her away. Instead, he wanted to see what Zi Yan intended to do.

Besides, Zi Yan did not know him. It would not be appropriate to approach her rashly.

He could not exactly walk up to her and say, "Little girl, we're family. Come with me," could he?

That seemed rather rude.

After leaving the academy, Zi Yan flew toward the back mountain, planning to fleece a few magical beasts.

Seeing this, Ao Qing quickly followed through the void.

Meanwhile, back at the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan suddenly sneezed for no apparent reason. He felt as though he had lost something.

The reason was quite simple.

After Ao Qing took Zi Yan away today, Xiao Yan's path would become even harder to walk.

On the day Xiao Yan fought his decisive battle with the Misty Cloud Sect, Zi Yan joined forces with several Dou Huangs to kill several Misty Cloud Sect elders, saving Xiao Yan, who had been devastated by Yao Chen's capture.

Afterward, she followed Xiao Yan to the Chu Yun Empire and helped Xiao Yi Xian deal with the Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate. She defeated the Four-Winged Sky Demon Scorpion, the sect-protecting magical beast of the Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate, and helped Xiao Yan kill its sect master, Xie Shan.

While competing for the Bodhi Transformation Saliva in Black Emperor City, Zi Yan used a Secret Method to defeat Mo Ya, the young sect master of the Black Emperor Sect, and Qi Shan, its Chief Alchemist, helping Xiao Yan find the treasure vault of Demon Flame Valley.

Before Xiao Yan entered the Star Region to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame, Zi Yan placed a Dragon Mark on him in exchange for his promise to refine medicinal pills for her every day afterward. Through it, she subdued the Three Thousand Burning Flame, which had once been raised by the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.

She accompanied Xiao Yan to the Mountain Range of Dead Souls to rescue Yao Chen, using the power of her bloodline to intimidate the Stone Eating Ant Queen and learn the location of a Soul Hall branch. In the battle that followed, Zi Yan released a swarm of Stone Eating Demon Ants to hold back much of the Soul Hall's forces, helping Xiao Yan stall Star Plucking Old Ghost, who was at the peak of the five-star Dou Zun realm.

On the day the Demonic Flame emerged, Zi Yan repeatedly helped Xiao Yan fight members of the Yao Clan and the Soul Clan. After the incident involving the Demonic Flame, Zi Yan briefly held the fort at the Heavenly Mansion Alliance, helping them resist the Soul Hall.

During the battle for the Ancient Emperor's Cave Abode, Zi Yan led the Ancient Void Dragon Clan to the Black-Corner Region, saved Xiao Yan from Zhu Kun's hands, and even made Zhu Kun support Xiao Yan.

Every one of these acts showed just how much Zi Yan had helped Xiao Yan. She had even provided more help than Gu Xun'er ever could.

At the very least, Zi Yan had given everything she had, while Gu Xun'er and the Gu Clan had held something back.

So, without the help of Zi Yan and Gu Xun'er, Xiao Yan still wanted to become a Dou Emperor? That was basically impossible. He would have died somewhere long ago.

However, Zi Yan had not yet met that fellow Xiao Yan. Right now, Zi Yan was happily skipping toward the medicinal herbs guarded by magical beasts!

Ao Qing watched everything from the shadows. Seeing Zi Yan's pure, innocent smile, his heart inexplicably ached. Perhaps Zi Yan's experiences were somewhat similar to his own.

Fortunately, Zi Yan had met Grand Elder Su Qian, while he himself had met Grand Elder Zhu Qian and the others. That was at least a blessing amid misfortune.

Writing is so tiring. Looking forward to your support.