Elder's Confusion, Xiao Mei's Trouble

Deep within Jia Nan Academy.

At the center of a sunken patch of ground stood a bizarre structure, with only its spire and a single level of its body exposed. From its appearance, it was not difficult to guess that most of the tower was buried deep underground.

This was the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower.

At that moment, countless students were evacuating outside. Some of the faster ones at the front turned back to look at the figures suspended in midair.

Those people stood directly in the void, without relying on any Dou Qi wings or similar means.

"Old Lin, what did you do just now?" An elderly man glared furiously at the middle-aged man. He looked somewhat disheveled, with scorch marks on his hair, beard, and clothes.

All this time, the Falling Heart Flame had remained stable, only showing some unrest at fixed intervals. However, the formation laid down by the former headmaster was enough to suppress it.

Yet today, while he was on watch, the Falling Heart Flame erupted without any warning.

This eruption was different from before. It was incredibly frenzied and vicious, as though prey had encountered its natural predator and could not wait to turn tail and flee.

Fortunately, there were not many students inside the tower today, and the elders happened to be present as well. Otherwise, the Falling Heart Flame might truly have broken free.

If that happened, the entire Jia Nan Academy would likely suffer.

Elder Lin stood awkwardly in midair. Facing everyone's stares, he recalled, "I didn't do much. I just took that stone outside."

After pausing, he hurriedly added, "But I put it back right away."

The elder who had spoken earlier pondered, "It seemed that the Falling Heart Flame only changed after that stone returned to its original position."

"Then it might be related to a student..." Elder Lin was not entirely certain.

Seeing everyone cast questioning looks at him, he explained, "That student possesses a Heavenly Flame. Could the Falling Heart Flame have sensed one of its own kind?"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out," someone replied.

The man whose beard and hair had been scorched sighed. "Come to think of it, the Falling Heart Flame has grown stronger and stronger these past years. Who knows when the old headmaster will return from his travels across the continent? When the Falling Heart Flame erupts again, I don't know whether we'll still be able to stop it."

Elder Lin and the others lowered their gazes slightly, staring at the structure with only its spire exposed as they fell silent.

Afterward, they went about their separate tasks. One elder moved close to Elder Lin and curiously asked why he had not brought that student over.

Anyone able to join Jia Nan Academy was naturally young, and possessing a Heavenly Flame meant that their background was anything but ordinary.

A disciple with both talent and backing would be highly sought after anywhere.

Elder Lin smiled and gave a simple explanation. "Huo De has always wanted to advance to Black-tier Mentor, but he's never had a suitable disciple in his hands. He finally found one this time. If I stole him, wouldn't Huo De go crazy?"

The other man nodded in understanding, only to hear Elder Lin add, "That child will enter the Inner Academy sooner or later. I'll have another chance then."

"Mm, that makes sense. By the way, what's that child's name?" the other person asked as though casually.

"What are you trying to do? Break the rules?" Elder Lin shot him a glance. "We agreed that whoever oversees the assessment gets first pick when they find a promising seedling. Don't make me beat you up!"

Elsewhere.

Huo De led the seventy students who had passed today's test as they slowly descended aboard the Flying Magical Beast.

"Old Huo, you've worked hard. It's rare for you to come back. Let's have a drink together tonight."

"Brother Huo, how did it go this time? Did you find any good prospects?"

"..."

Standing atop the Flying Magical Beast, Hun Cang saw several people who looked like mentors gather around Huo De and chat with him familiarly.

Behind them stood an academy that appeared somewhat ancient. Its walls were covered in mottled traces and crawling green plants, while the road leading into the academy was paved with slabs of bluestone.

"Junior brother, come down quickly." While distracted, Hun Cang heard a voice and noticed someone below waving at him.

He smiled faintly and lightly leaped down from the magical beast to the ground.

"Hun Cang." Huo De waved him over, then smiled at the students who had come to help. "I'll arrange things for this one myself, so I won't trouble you."

Several mentors looked at Huo De in surprise. One thin mentor punched him in the chest and said, "Stealing from under your own watch, huh?"

Huo De grinned. "I'm sick to death of staying in Heping Town all the time. This is a rare chance for me to advance to Black-tier Mentor, so of course I won't miss it."

As soon as he said that, the mentors' eyes widened. When they looked at Hun Cang again, their gazes carried a touch more seriousness.

Just what kind of student was this, for Huo De to say such things?

Moreover, judging from Huo De's tone, he was not aiming for next year. He wanted to move back as soon as possible.

That meant this newly enrolled student was confident in taking the assessment held within the next two months?

As though afraid the mentors would compete with him, Huo De blocked their line of sight and led Hun Cang into the academy.

"I've prepared a separate courtyard for you. I'll arrange for disciples to deliver your three meals every day. If there's anything you want to eat, you can tell them as well." Huo De was extremely enthusiastic.

Hun Cang smiled and nodded, accepting frankly. They were in a transactional relationship anyway, so there was no reason to feel embarrassed.

The courtyard Huo De arranged this time was actually the one he had lived in before. It was in the mentors' area, with a pleasant and quiet environment. It was on the same road as the student residences, though along a different branch.

As Huo De and Hun Cang walked down one path, a group of students happened to emerge from another.

Among them was a pretty young girl with a faintly seductive air about her. She walked with a worried gaze fixed on the road, but suddenly seemed to sense something and looked up, catching sight of a figure.

Lord King Cang? The girl froze on the spot.

"Xiao Mei, why did you stop?" Another girl beside her stopped as well and asked.

Xiao Mei murmured, "I think I saw someone I know."

"You know someone who teaches at Jia Nan Academy?" the girl asked in surprise.

"Tang Yan, what did you say?" Xiao Mei turned her head.

Tang Yan pointed in the direction Xiao Mei had been staring. "Don't tell me you don't know that way leads to the teachers' dormitories?"

Lord King Cang came back to the academy to become a teacher? Probably not... Xiao Mei nodded. "Mm, then I must have seen wrong."

Tang Yan examined her. "Really? The way you looked just now, you were like a cat in heat. Don't tell me you've taken a fancy to some teacher? No wonder no matter how Luo Ling pursued you, you refused to agree. So you've got such high ambitions, you little minx."

"What nonsense are you talking about?!" Xiao Mei glared at her angrily. "Tang Yan, I'll say this one more time. I have someone I like. Stop bringing up Luo Ling in front of me."

"Yes, I know." Tang Yan revealed a helpless expression. "But I heard Luo Ling has recently been planning to make a move against members of your Xiao Family."

After entering Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er had immediately drawn the attention of many male students. Luo Ling was one of them, and he had pursued Xiao Mei madly.

After failing time and again, he declared that he would teach the Xiao Family a lesson.

As a result, Xiao Ning had been beaten up several times for no reason at all.

If only Lord King Cang or Brother Xiao Yan were here. Xiao Mei sighed inwardly.