Departure (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Follow-ups)

"Jia Nan Academy..."

Xu Tianlong looked puzzled as he gazed at Xu Haoyu and asked in confusion:

"Haoyu, why did you suddenly have this idea?"

It was not a sudden idea for Xu Haoyu. He had considered it long ago. Now that he had learned the Heaven Splitting Divine Palm, cultivation was the more important matter ahead. Until he broke through to the Dou Zong realm, the Heavenly Flame Training Qi Tower could greatly increase his cultivation speed.

He then said earnestly:

"Grandfather, if I am to break through to the Dou Zong realm in the future, I must see more geniuses, learn from their strengths, make up for my weaknesses, and improve myself. Besides, I do not want to cultivate within the family all the time and eventually become arrogant and blind to everyone else."

Xu Tianlong frowned and pondered for a moment before finally nodding.

"Very well. Jia Nan Academy is also a renowned institution on the continent. You will be able to learn many things there. As for your safety, with your current strength—and since you will be within the academy—there should not be any problems."

"After some time, I will arrange a team to escort you to the Black-Corner Region. Jia Nan Academy was built in such a godforsaken place, so its own forces are not weak either."

"Stay with your grandfather a while longer. You must also bid farewell to your teacher. If there is anything you need, just tell me."

As he spoke, Xu Tianlong revealed a trace of reluctance. His well-behaved grandson, whom he had watched grow up since childhood, was about to leave home to pursue his studies.

Xu Haoyu did not stand on ceremony with his grandfather and immediately said:

"Grandfather, while I am away studying, if any High-Level Storage Stone, Ice Spirit Cold Spring, or cultivation methods with rare attributes appear within the empire, please help me buy them at auction. They will all be of great use to me."

The Spirit Receptacle capable of storing Heavenly Flames was an extremely rare spiritual object that could only possibly be born within High-Level Storage Stones suitable for forging high-level Storage Rings. Even when Xiao Yan absorbed the Green Lotus Core Flame, he had relied on a Spirit Receptacle Yao Chen had collected in the past.

After hearing Xu Haoyu's request, Xu Tianlong was somewhat surprised, but he agreed to everything.

"No problem. Those items are indeed rare, but so long as they appear, I still have the means to obtain them."

Afterward, Xu Haoyu returned to his room and circulated his cultivation method to restore his Dou Qi. The consecutive battles earlier had consumed quite a large amount of it.

That evening, Xu Haoyu had dinner with Xu Tianlong, then sat in a chair in the courtyard, watching the starlight flicker in the dark sky.

The next day!

Xu Haoyu visited his teacher and told him that he would soon be heading to Jia Nan Academy to study.

Li Fufeng's eyes were bloodshot, but his spirits were extremely high. Recently, he had been tirelessly compiling his successful experiences in refining Seventh-Rank Pills, going without sleep or rest for many days. Fortunately, his own strength was considerable, so the impact on his body was not too severe.

After listening to Xu Haoyu, Li Fufeng reached out and patted his shoulder, then said earnestly:

"Haoyu, your talent in alchemy is the most terrifying I have ever seen. You are already a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, and I do not doubt that you can become a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, perhaps even a Rank 6 Alchemist."

"While studying away from home, do not neglect improving your alchemy. Once I compile my experience of successfully refining Seventh-Rank Pills into a book, you will be the first person I pass it on to."

"Go back for now. It seems I need to prepare some gifts for you. On the day you leave, I will personally come to see you off."

Xu Haoyu was quite curious. The gift Li Fufeng intended to give him was probably pills he had refined. He then cupped his hands and said:

"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher. I will never neglect improving my alchemy. Perhaps by the time I return next, I will already be a Rank 6 Alchemist."

Li Fufeng shook his head with a laugh. Becoming a Rank 6 Alchemist was not so easy, but he did not wish to undermine his disciple's confidence. He patted Xu Haoyu's shoulder again, signaling that he could leave for now.

Xu Haoyu truly was confident. He had become a Fourth-Rank Alchemist in such a short time, so becoming a Rank 6 Alchemist should only take a few years.

Soon afterward, he stopped disturbing his teacher and turned to leave, returning to familiarize himself with the newly acquired Earth-Rank Middle-Level Dou Skill, the Heaven Splitting Divine Palm.

Very quickly, seven days passed!

Outside Tiannan City, quite a few people had gathered today. They were all upper-ranking members of the Xu Family.

For today was the day Xu Haoyu would leave the family and head to Jia Nan Academy to study.

At this moment, Xu Tianlong took out a Storage Ring and pressed it into Xu Haoyu's hand, smiling as he said:

"Inside this Storage Ring are three million Gold Coins, enough for your tuition and spending money for the next few years. Do not mistreat yourself outside. If you think something will be useful to you, buy whatever you want."

Three million Gold Coins, all in cash—this was no small sum.

Xu Haoyu put away the Storage Ring and said:

"Thank you, Grandfather!"

Then Li Fufeng, who was visibly exhausted, took more than a dozen scrolls from his Storage Ring and handed them to Xu Haoyu. He spoke to him with great solemnity:

"These are all pill recipes I possess for Rank 5 Pills and even Six-Rank Pills. In terms of value alone, they are comparable to Earth-Rank Dou Techniques. I spent considerable effort preparing them over these past few days."

"At your current stage, you should not study them yet. I fear you may become overly ambitious, putting too much thought into high-level pill recipes and failing to properly consolidate your foundation."

"Therefore, I placed Soul Barriers on them. Only once your Soul Strength reaches a certain level will you be able to break the Soul Barriers and truly learn the pill recipes within."

"I do not quite believe that anyone can truly become a Fifth-Rank Alchemist—or even a Rank 6 Alchemist—at such a young age. Consider these an encouragement for you."

Xu Haoyu accepted the scrolls with utmost solemnity. If these scrolls were put up for auction, those alchemists would undoubtedly drive their prices to astronomical heights. This gift was exceedingly precious.

After putting away the scrolls, Xu Haoyu finally said sincerely:

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Next, Xu Yaozu released his aura. Before long, twenty-five enormous eagle-type magical beasts flew over from the distant sky.

Drawn by that aura, they landed before Xu Yaozu. Upon each eagle-type magical beast stood a warrior dressed in fitted black combat attire, their expressions grim and murderous, their entire bodies exuding the scent of iron and blood. They were all soldiers; the weakest among them were Dou Shi, while the strongest was a Dou Wang.

A burly middle-aged man jumped down from a magical beast and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Flying Eagle Army deputy general Xu Tao, reporting with twenty-four personal guards under my command. Greetings, Town South King, Grand Elder, and Master Li."

Only then did Xu Yaozu turn to Xu Haoyu and say, "Haoyu, following the Grand Elder's instructions, I summoned the Flying Eagle Army's deputy general. He will escort you to Jia Nan Academy. Beyond Jia Nan Academy lies the Black-Corner Region, a land of chaos. Only with the Flying Eagle Army escorting you will you be able to reach Jia Nan Academy safely."

Xu Haoyu immediately replied, "Thank you for the trouble, Patriarch!"

After saying this, Xu Haoyu mounted the fourth-tier flying eagle beneath Xu Tao's feet at his invitation.

With a single command, twenty-five flying eagles soared into the sky at once, flying into the distance and vanishing as dark silhouettes.

He was going to Jia Nan Academy. Write about collecting Heavenly Flames.