A Visit to Jia Nan Academy, a Deal

Not long after, Ao Qing arrived at Jia Nan Academy with Grand Elder Su Qian and Zi Yan.

The moment they entered the Inner Academy and returned to Grand Elder Su Qian's residence, before Su Qian could even invite Ao Qing to sit, Two Elders Qian Bai hurried over.

"Su Qian, what happened just now that made you mobilize such a force? If you need the two of us to act, just say the word!"

Without wasting any time, Two Elders Qian Bai directly questioned Grand Elder Su Qian.

"There is no need for the two elders to worry. Everything has already been resolved."

Grand Elder Su Qian then told Two Elders Qian Bai about Ao Qing and Zi Yan.

After hearing Su Qian's account, Two Elders Qian Bai could not help but look at Ao Qing with unusual expressions.

They could not sense any aura from Ao Qing at all. He seemed no different from an ordinary person sitting there. But since he was a member of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, he should not be weaker than them. He might even have reached the Dou Zun level.

"Greetings, Your Excellency Ao Qing. Welcome to Jia Nan Academy as our guest."

Two Elders Qian Bai also welcomed Ao Qing's arrival. They had guarded the academy for a very long time and had grown somewhat bored. Ao Qing's arrival gave them someone to talk to and exchange insights about the path of cultivation.

"Ao Qing greets the two elders. Over the years, I must also thank Jia Nan Academy for taking care of Zi Yan."

Ao Qing did not look down on Two Elders Qian Bai just because he was stronger. After all, having grown up under the red flag, he knew better.

As Ao Qing conversed with Two Elders Qian Bai, the subject eventually turned to Jia Nan Academy's Heavenly Flame Refining Tower.

"Two elders, I heard that your academy's Heavenly Flame Refining Tower is quite a treasure."

"Within Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy lies a Heavenly Flame Refining Tower buried deep underground. Cultivating inside it produces twice the result with half the effort. Moreover, the farther down one cultivates within the tower, the faster one's cultivation speed becomes. However, entering it requires Fire Energy."

Two Elders Qian Bai proudly introduced the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower.

"What the two elders said is only natural. Not everyone is qualified to use such things. But what exactly is Fire Energy? How is it obtained?"

"In the Inner Academy, students can obtain Fire Energy through all sorts of methods, such as sweeping the tower, copying scrolls, and so on. Of course, the Fire Energy obtained this way is rather limited. Therefore, some capable students hunt magical beasts and exchange Magic Cores for Fire Energy, or challenge others. So long as the other party agrees, they can compete in the Inner Academy's arena. The winner can obtain the Fire Energy deducted from the loser. In short, there are many ways to obtain Fire Energy, but they all have one prerequisite: sufficient strength. Otherwise, not only will you fail to earn Fire Energy, you may even lose everything you have.

"Another way to earn Fire Energy is to enter the Inner Academy's Strong Ranking List. As the name suggests, it is a ranking that measures strength, and it is also the most prestigious ranking in the Inner Academy. There are fifty spots on the list. So long as a student makes it onto it, they can receive a monthly reward issued by the Inner Academy. The reward is tied to one's rank; naturally, the higher the ranking, the greater the reward. This is the most comfortable way to obtain Fire Energy, because as long as a student's name remains on the list, they can cultivate in the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower all day without worrying about running out of Fire Energy. Thus, every student in the Inner Academy strives to enter this Strong Ranking List. Zi Yan is the number one expert in the Inner Academy on that list."

After speaking, Two Elders Qian Bai did not forget to mention Zi Yan's prestigious reputation in Jia Nan Academy.

These two elders are still wary of me, Ao Qing thought. They did not mention that Jia Nan Academy's Heavenly Flame Refining Tower exists because of the Fallen Heart Flame. But that is only normal. Who would reveal their academy's secret to someone they had only met once?

However, Ao Qing did not intend to keep circling around the matter with Two Elders Qian Bai. Instead, he chose to get straight to the point.

"Two elders, Ao Qing would like to make a deal with you. Would that be possible?"

Ao Qing spoke with a casual smile.

"Oh? Then why not speak plainly, Your Excellency Ao Qing? Let us hear what kind of deal it is."

"I heard that Jia Nan Academy possesses a Heavenly Flame known as the Fallen Heart Flame..."

Before Ao Qing could finish, the expressions of Two Elders Qian Bai immediately changed, and they became vigilant.

"There is no need for the two elders to be nervous. While Ao Qing does indeed want the Fallen Heart Flame, considering Zi Yan's connection to this academy, I cannot simply seize it by force, can I?"

Only then did Two Elders Qian Bai relax somewhat and continue listening.

"I heard that this Fallen Heart Flame is extremely violent, and the academy's elders need to suppress it from time to time. If I can make this violent Heavenly Flame gentler, then although its power will not be as great as it is now, it will still be more than enough to sustain the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower. What do the two elders think?

"Furthermore, I am willing to leave behind a Dou Zun expert to guard the academy. Jia Nan Academy would not be losing out from this deal, would it?"

The moment Ao Qing finished speaking, Two Elders Qian Bai and Grand Elder Su Qian beside them were all stunned. If all of this were true, Jia Nan Academy would not merely be profiting—they would be making an enormous profit!

However, the two elders did not quite believe Ao Qing's words.

"May we ask why Your Excellency Ao Qing believes you can accomplish all this?"

Two Elders Qian Bai voiced their doubts.

"Because I am a Dou Saint!"

After Ao Qing spoke, a trace of his saintly aura spread from his body. Two Elders Qian Bai and Grand Elder Su Qian instantly felt as though they were facing an ancient ferocious beast. It was even more terrifying than when Dean Mang Tianchi had possessed Half-Saint cultivation.

At that moment, whether Ao Qing was truly a Dou Saint or merely a Half-Saint, they knew he had the ability to fulfill his promise. They then said, "Since Saint Ao Qing has put it this way, Jia Nan Academy is willing to make this deal with you, Saint."

At this, the corners of Ao Qing's mouth rose. Sure enough, without strength, some things really could not be done.

And because of Zi Yan, Ao Qing had no intention of forcibly taking anything from Jia Nan Academy. Left with no other choice, he had resorted to this method.

In truth, it was all very simple. Beneath the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower, there was not just one Fallen Heart Flame. He could take away the violent one, leave behind the weaker one, and directly refine Heavenly Flame Venerable's soul into a puppet. Would that not settle everything?

Two Elders Qian Bai had no idea what Ao Qing was planning. They felt that if things truly went as Ao Qing said, Jia Nan Academy would indeed be profiting.

After the deal between Two Elders Qian Bai and Ao Qing was settled, the two elders and Grand Elder Su Qian left first. They had to call all the students out of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower before allowing Ao Qing to enter.

After Two Elders Qian Bai and Grand Elder Su Qian departed, Zi Yan beside Ao Qing began chattering away.

"Brother Ao Qing, are you really a Dou Saint? How powerful is a Dou Saint? Brother Ao Qing became a Dou Saint at such a young age—could you be some old monster?..."

"Uh..."

Ao Qing found himself speechless. If I had known Zi Yan was like this, I should not have come to take you away. Of course, it was only a passing thought.

Ao Qing did not want to pay Zi Yan any attention. He then sat cross-legged in midair and closed his eyes to rest.

Zi Yan kept pouting and babbling strange things, while Ao Qing pretended to be deaf and acted as though he had heard nothing.

After Zi Yan finished speaking, she did not forget to make a face at Ao Qing. Ao Qing no longer minded such things. By now, he truly regarded Zi Yan as his own little sister. Besides, Zi Yan still had the body of a child, so it was only natural that Ao Qing had no other thoughts.

Not everyone was like that guy Xiao Yan, who liked young... well, those who understood, understood.

Soon, under Grand Elder Su Qian's arrangements, many students cultivating inside the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower were called out.

Although these students were puzzled about what had happened, they did not voice their doubts in front of Grand Elder Su Qian. In any case, they only needed to do as they were told.

The Two Elders Qian Bai quietly watched everything unfold. The two of them rarely involved themselves in academy affairs anymore, only taking action when the academy faced a crisis, so many people did not recognize them.

At present, Grand Elder Su Qian was basically the one in charge of the academy.

After seeking everyone's opinions, the author decided to restore the cultivation realms of the Great Thousand World to Earth Supreme, Heaven Supreme, and the like. However, it will take a little time to make the changes and revisions, so please forgive me. Lastly, I hope everyone will continue to support me—please tap those little hands and vote with recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, and so on. As for rewards, the author will not expect them. Thank you.