Meteorite Anomaly (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Follow-ups)

Xu Haoyu let out a long breath, withdrew his palm, straightened up, and greeted the two elders:

"Elder Liu, Elder Wan."

Elder Liu and Elder Wan exchanged a glance, each seeing the shock in the other's eyes. Xu Haoyu's performance had far exceeded their expectations.

Then Elder Liu said solemnly:

"Haoyu, I'll call you that. Your performance has truly astonished me. In this Fire Energy Hunting Competition, there is no doubt that you performed the best."

As his words fell, Elder Liu raised a hand and brushed his Storage Ring. A green card appeared in his hand. He then took out several more cards and transferred the Fire Energy within them into the green card before finally tossing it toward Xu Haoyu.

Only then did Elder Liu continue:

"Fire Crystal Cards are divided into five grades: black, blue, green, red, and purple. Your original black Fire Crystal Card was only the lowest-grade card and could only be used to cultivate on the first and second floors of the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower."

"Because of your outstanding performance in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, I have decided to grant you a green Fire Crystal Card. It will allow you to cultivate on the fifth and sixth floors of the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower, where the Intermediate Training Rooms are located. They consume more Fire Energy, but accordingly, they provide greater assistance to cultivation."

"The 800 points of Fire Energy on this green Fire Crystal Card are a reward I am granting on behalf of the Inner Courtyard. Given your performance, anything less would be unreasonable. After transferring the Fire Energy from your black Fire Crystal Card to the green one, you may return the black card to me."

Xu Haoyu had already caught the new green Fire Crystal Card. Seeing the number 800 on it, he was overjoyed. He then took out his own black Fire Crystal Card, transferred its 521 points of Fire Energy into the green card, and tossed the black card back to Elder Liu.

That gave him 1,321 points of Fire Energy. At least for the early stages, he would not have to worry about lacking Fire Energy. Xu Haoyu then cupped his hands and said:

"Thank you, Elder Liu!"

Elder Liu nodded with a smile, then said to Elder Wan beside him:

"Old Wan, I'll remain here to oversee the Fire Energy Hunting Competition. You take Haoyu to the Inner Courtyard first, arrange a residence for him, and let him get settled."

Elder Wan agreed, then smiled at Xu Haoyu and said:

"Haoyu, come with me. I'll take you to the Inner Courtyard first."

Xu Haoyu answered, then glanced at the members of the Black Fiends Team and White Fiends Team. Though even a mosquito was still meat, Elder Liu had already given him a reward, so he would not rob these old students in front of Elder Liu and Elder Wan.

Once Elder Wan set off, Xu Haoyu quickly caught up. The two moved swiftly, and after crossing a mountain peak, the Inner Courtyard's cluster of buildings, built within an enormous basin, came into view.

Xu Haoyu swept his gaze over it. The buildings of the Inner Courtyard were arranged in orderly layers, majestic and imposing. Moreover, through his senses, he could detect many powerful auras within. With Fallen Heart Flame, the "cultivation cheat," Jia Nan Academy's Inner Courtyard could fully cultivate Dou Wang and Dou Emperor powerhouses in batches.

At this moment, Elder Wan looked at the Inner Courtyard with a smile and a proud curl to his lips as he said:

"Haoyu, what you see now is the true Inner Courtyard. Within it are the Cultivation Method Pavilion, the Dou Technique Pavilion, the arena, and most importantly, the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower. These are enough to allow a student to grow rapidly."

"Furthermore, the Inner Courtyard has its own special currency: Fire Energy. Its most important use is naturally cultivation within the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower, but it can also be used to trade for other cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, divine weapons, precious treasures, high-grade medicinal pills, and more. You'll learn about those one by one later. For now, let's head to the academy so I can arrange your residence."

Xu Haoyu's eyes shone as he said to Elder Wan:

"Elder Wan, after my residence is arranged, could you take me to see the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower? I'm extremely curious about it right now."

Upon hearing this, Elder Wan did not refuse. Instead, he agreed with a smile:

"Of course. Every new student who comes to the Inner Courtyard becomes curious about the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower. Come, then. Let's get there quickly."

A short while later, Xu Haoyu followed Elder Wan and rushed to the Inner Courtyard at top speed. After arranging a residence for Xu Haoyu in the dormitory district, Elder Wan personally led Xu Haoyu to the location of the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower. It was an ancient, imposing black tower.

As Xu Haoyu studied the black tower, Elder Wan found the Tower Guardian Elder as well. After explaining the situation, the Tower Guardian Elder looked at Xu Haoyu with shock in his eyes.

After pondering for a moment, the Tower Guardian Elder said:

"A new student with the strength of a Dou Ling is indeed remarkable. But after entering the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower, I advise you not to blindly pursue deeper floors. First cultivate on the first and second floors. Once your body has adapted, then proceed to the other floors. Also..."

Before he could finish, the Tower Guardian Elder raised his hand and circulated his Dou Qi, separating a small portion of the Heart Fire Seed he had condensed and handing it to Xu Haoyu as he said:

"This is a Heart Fire Seed, condensed from the Heart Fire within the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower. After entering the tower, use Dou Qi to activate it. For those entering the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower for the first time, without the protection of a Heart Fire aura, they will certainly be burned into severe injury by the tower's Heart Fire."

Xu Haoyu released his Dou Qi and carefully wrapped it around the cluster of Heart Fire Seed. He knew that without it, he would likely suffer shortly. After putting away the Heart Fire Seed, Xu Haoyu said:

"Thank you, Elder. I'll go into the tower and take a look first."

The Tower Guardian Elder waved a hand and said to him:

"Go on. Be careful, and do not venture too deep. Even if you are already a Dou Ling, do not become arrogant and complacent."

Xu Haoyu nodded in agreement, then turned and cupped his hands toward Elder Wan.

"Thank you, Elder Wan, for accompanying me."

Elder Wan nodded with a smile before turning and leaving. He still needed to go to the forest outside the Inner Courtyard to oversee the Fire Energy Hunting Competition with Elder Liu.

Xu Haoyu then strode into the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower. In an instant, an invisible aura converged upon his body, eventually gathering in his heart as a mass of Invisible Flame that seared his body.

Xu Haoyu reacted swiftly, hastily using his Dou Qi to activate the Heart Fire Seed. When the seed's aura merged into the Invisible Flame, the invisible flame truly dissipated into nothingness.

Only then was Xu Haoyu free from the danger of being scorched by the flames, and he carefully sensed the aura within the Black Tower.

That aura was extremely peculiar—formless and colorless, yet capable of easily penetrating another person's body. Fallen Heart Flame truly lived up to its reputation. Even he had been caught by it.

Suddenly, Xu Haoyu frowned. The Storage Ring on his hand began growing hot. He probed it with his Soul Strength and saw that the Extraterrestrial Meteorite, which had been lying quietly in the Storage Ring, was now trembling. It seemed uneasy, yet also excited...

Xu Haoyu's pupils contracted. Perhaps within this Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower, he would be able to uncover the secret of this Extraterrestrial Meteorite.