Setting Out for the Jia Ma Empire

Setting Out for the Jia Ma Empire

Lowering his head slightly to inspect himself, Xiao Ling found that his body seemed to have been tempered once over. His physical strength had improved somewhat, and his skin was fairer and smoother than before.

A breeze suddenly swept over him, causing a slight reaction from his body. Only then did Xiao Ling remember that his clothes had been burned away while absorbing the Heavenly Flame. He hurriedly took out a set of moon-white clothes from his Storage Ring and put them on.

After checking the state of his body, Xiao Ling was quite satisfied. He muttered to himself, "Although this sub-flame did not contain much energy, its quality was excellent. Fen Jue has now risen from Profound Grade Low-Level to Xuan Tier Intermediate, while my cultivation has gone from Dou King Three-star to Dou King Four-star. It saved me at least three months of cultivation time. After all, it was only a sub-flame, so this is already very good. Moreover, the benefits brought by refining Heavenly Flames are lasting and subtle. In the years to come, as I become more proficient in controlling them, the benefits will only grow greater..."

Shaking his head, Xiao Ling stopped dwelling on such things. He first needed to summon his Heavenly Flame and take a look at it.

He slowly extended his left hand, then gradually closed his eyes. His mind swept rapidly through his body, sending out a command.

As the command was issued, his body immediately reacted. At the center of the Dou Qi vortex, the tiny gray speck of light trembled slightly. After falling silent for a brief moment, a wisp of golden flame violently surged forth.

The golden flame passed through the Dou Crystal, then flowed swiftly along the meridians in his body. In the blink of an eye, it entered the meridians in his arm.

Inside the cultivation room, Xiao Ling, whose eyes had been half-closed, suddenly snapped them open. Brilliant golden flames flashed through his eyes once more. He spread his fist open, palm facing upward, excitement rising across his face as he shouted, "Golden Emperor Blazing Heaven Flame, appear!"

As Xiao Ling's shout fell, his right palm trembled slightly. Then, raging golden flames burst forth in an instant, swiftly enveloping his hand.

Feeling the scorching heat it radiated and seeing the space around the flames twist slightly, Xiao Ling was greatly satisfied. He could not help but praise it. "The Golden Emperor Blazing Heaven Flame truly is terrifying. Unlike other Heavenly Flames that have various effects, it purely excels in destructive power, yet it ranks fourth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. With my current Dou Wang cultivation driving this flame, even a Dou Zong powerhouse would suffer severe damage if they were caught off guard by a hit. It is just that I am still unfamiliar with controlling this flame, so it may be somewhat awkward to use for alchemy. Fortunately, I obtained the Mind Splitting Control Method. I can practice the Mind Splitting Control Method while familiarizing myself with this flame."

After withdrawing the Golden Emperor Blazing Heaven Flame into his body, Xiao Ling looked around the cultivation room. Everything in sight was pitted and battered; even the stone platform made from special materials had suffered some damage. Xiao Ling scratched his head and muttered inwardly, Before leaving the academy, I need to tell Lin Xiuyai and have him arrange for someone to repair this.

After leaving the cultivation room, Xiao Ling checked the time. Absorbing the sub-flame had taken roughly two hours. Lin Xiuyai, who had risen early, was already in the courtyard practicing Dou Skills.

Seeing Xiao Ling emerge, Lin Xiuyai stopped what he was doing, greeted him, and asked, "Xiao Ling, are you leaving the academy later?"

Xiao Ling nodded slightly. "Once Zi Yan gets here, we'll set off right away."

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to everyone? What about Han Yue and your cousin?" Lin Xiuyai asked doubtfully.

Xiao Ling waved a hand and smiled. "I already spoke to them yesterday. Besides, I do not like that feeling of parting. Do not go missing me while I'm away."

"Why would a grown man like me miss you? So narcissistic. Still, you need to be more careful while training outside," Lin Xiuyai said irritably.

"Don't worry, I'll be careful. I value my life far too much. Oh, there was a little accident in my cultivation room. Help me find someone to repair it." Sensing Zi Yan's aura approaching, Xiao Ling waved to Lin Xiuyai. After leaving those words behind, he spread his Dou Qi Wings and flew out of the courtyard.

Watching Xiao Ling's figure fly into the sky, Lin Xiuyai murmured to himself, "I wonder whether any of us will be able to catch up with you in the future. When we meet again, what level of cultivation will you have reached?"

Not long after flying into the sky, Xiao Ling spotted a petite figure in the distance, flapping a pair of purple Dou Qi Wings. It was Zi Yan, who was traveling with him.

The instant Zi Yan saw Xiao Ling, she accelerated. Her Dou Qi Wings beat forcefully, and she shot toward him like a streak of purple light. The surrounding space rippled as though it were clearing a path for her.

In the blink of an eye, Zi Yan threw herself into Xiao Ling's arms, knocking him back enough that he had to flap his Dou Qi Wings to steady himself. Fortunately, Zi Yan had slowed down as she approached, and Xiao Ling's physical strength was formidable. Otherwise, an ordinary Dou Wang struck by an Ancient Void Dragon headbutt like that might have had his bones shattered.

Zi Yan rubbed her cheeks against Xiao Ling's chest and inhaled the intoxicating medicinal fragrance on him, making her stomach feel a little hungry. She asked expectantly, "Xiao Ling, Xiao Ling, when are we leaving? When we get there, we have to gather lots and lots of medicinal ingredients."

Somewhat helplessly, Xiao Ling stroked Zi Yan's smooth purple hair and smiled. "Since we are ready, let's set off directly. We'll borrow a Flying Magical Beast from the academy first. Rayquaza has a long, slender body. It is fast to ride, but not as comfortable as the little house on a Flying Magical Beast. I am not in a rush to fly back to the Jia Ma Empire anyway. Rayquaza still has not digested all the energy from the medicinal ingredients it ate before, so let it sleep for a while first."

Hearing this, Zi Yan nodded in his arms. "Then let's hurry to the elder guarding the barrier and get a Flying Magical Beast."

The two said no more. They both flapped their Dou Qi Wings and flew toward the spatial gate of the Inner Academy.

After borrowing a Griffin Beast from the elder at the barrier, Xiao Ling and Zi Yan rode the Flying Magical Beast for over an hour before reaching the Outer Academy.

Jia Nan Academy Outer Academy.

After parking the Flying Magical Beast at the Outer Academy's Flight Station, Xiao Ling led Zi Yan toward the office of the Outer Academy's Vice Dean, Hu Gan.

After all, Vice Dean Hu Gan had taken good care of him when he was in the Outer Academy. Now that he was leaving Jia Nan Academy to train elsewhere, he should bid him farewell.

As they passed through the quiet bluestone paths and looked upon the familiar scenery, Xiao Ling could not help but sigh. "It has been nearly five years since I left. The Outer Academy students from my class either entered the Inner Academy to cultivate or failed the Selection Tournament and left the academy. There is not a single student in the Outer Academy who still recognizes me."

Holding Xiao Ling's hand, Zi Yan asked curiously, "Old Man Su brought me straight to the Inner Academy, so I never stayed in the Outer Academy. Xiao Ling, what do you think is the difference between the Outer Academy and the Inner Academy?"

Xiao Ling stroked his chin and considered it briefly before saying, "Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy and Outer Academy differ clearly in terms of student strength, resources, selection criteria, educational environment, teachers and leaders, as well as student backgrounds. As the core of Jia Nan Academy, the Inner Academy provides top students with a superior environment for learning and growth. They can enjoy high-level resources, such as the Fallen Heart Flame in the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower. This Heavenly Flame helps students refine their Dou Qi and greatly improves cultivation efficiency. However, the difference in cultivation between the Inner Academy students and Outer Academy students is not the main point. The key is that the atmosphere of the two academies is completely different. Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy is more like a miniature society than the Outer Academy. Letting those students experience society's cruelty early on is not a bad thing. After all, this world ultimately speaks through strength. Schemes and deception are everywhere. If they leave to train without suffering a few hard lessons first, they could easily be cheated until not even their bones remain."

Xiao Ling reached out and rubbed Zi Yan's head, then continued with a smile, "None of that matters, though. As long as you are strong enough, nothing is worth worrying about. Just crush everything with strength."

Zi Yan seemed to ponder this. Her eyes rolled as she hugged Xiao Ling's arm and said, "Then I need to eat more medicinal ingredients so my strength can improve faster. After that, whenever I dislike someone, I'll beat them up."

Xiao Ling laughed in agreement. "You're not wrong, but you need to have that many medicinal ingredients to eat."

Shaking Xiao Ling's arm, Zi Yan pleaded pitifully, "Xiao Ling, can I have a bigger daily portion of pills?"

Xiao Ling nodded. "Your strength has improved considerably now. As long as you listen to me properly during this training trip, I'll refine more pills for you to eat."

Hearing that she could get more pills as long as she behaved, Zi Yan patted her small chest and declared solemnly, "Don't worry, I'll listen well. Whoever you tell me to beat up, I'll beat up."

"Haha, then you'd better keep your word."

"Mhm, mhm!"

The two chatted and laughed as they slowly walked toward the Vice Dean's office beneath the morning sunlight.

Before long, the two arrived before an elegant pavilion and stopped.

Holding Zi Yan's hand, Xiao Ling stepped forward and knocked on the door. "Vice Dean Hu Gan, it's Xiao Ling. Are you free right now?"

Hu Gan, who was examining documents in his office, was somewhat surprised when he heard Xiao Ling's voice outside. He replied, "Xiao Ling, why have you come to the Outer Academy? Come in quickly."

Hearing this, Xiao Ling pushed open the door and entered with Zi Yan.

Seeing Xiao Ling and Zi Yan enter the room, Hu Gan stroked his beard and said kindly, "Xiao Ling, Zi Yan, why have you come to see this old man instead of staying in the Inner Academy?"

Xiao Ling first offered a slight bow before answering, "My cultivation has now broken through to the Dou Wang level, and the Inner Academy can no longer offer me much help. I plan to return to my clan and train throughout the Jia Ma Empire and its surrounding areas, seeking some opportunities. Since I am leaving the academy to train outside, I naturally had to bid farewell to you, Vice Dean."

Hu Gan nodded approvingly. "I knew I had not misjudged you back then. You have become a Dou Wang powerhouse in less than five years. Your cultivation talent truly is monstrous. Since you have been allowed to leave the Inner Academy, Great Elder Su Qian must have already approved. I have nothing more to say. You must act cautiously while training outside. Never be careless. Protecting yourself is more important than anything else."

"Don't worry, Vice Dean. I'll pay attention to such details." After speaking, Xiao Ling took out a porcelain bottle from his Storage Ring and handed it to Hu Gan.

Hu Gan accepted the porcelain bottle and asked curiously, "Xiao Ling, what does this mean?"

Xiao Ling smiled. "There are two Sect Breaking Pills inside. After becoming a Sixth-grade Alchemist, I gathered some materials in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and exchanged for other medicinal ingredients from the medicinal storehouse before refining them. One is for you, and please pass the other to Elder Huo on my behalf. Thank you both for your careful guidance during my time in the Outer Academy."

These Sect Breaking Pills had not actually been refined by Xiao Ling. He had drawn three of them from the system before, and after giving away two, he still had one left. Before leaving the Inner Academy, Xiao Ling had also mentioned this matter to Great Elder Su Qian. If any elder needed Sect Breaking Pills refined, they could begin preparing the medicinal ingredients. Once Xiao Ling returned from training, he would help the elders refine the pills. Jia Nan Academy's treasure vault still had enough ingredients for several batches of Sect Breaking Pills. However, those elders were individuals and could not directly mobilize the academy's resources. They could only use their privileges to exchange for them. Gathering the ingredients would certainly require an exchange of resources, but by the time Xiao Ling returned to the academy, the work of gathering the medicinal ingredients should be complete.

When he heard that they were actually the Sect Breaking Pills he had dreamed of, Hu Gan was startled. He hurriedly opened the porcelain bottle and looked inside. Two milky-white pills lay within, their surfaces wreathed in a precious glow that flickered from time to time, making them seem extraordinary. They were Sect Breaking Pills, sixth-grade peak pills capable of increasing a Dou Huang's chances of breaking through to the Dou Zong realm.

Putting away the porcelain bottle, Hu Gan said with some emotion, "I never expected that not only would your cultivation improve so rapidly, but your alchemy skills would also advance by leaps and bounds. You can even refine pills like Sect Breaking Pills. Once you return to your clan, you can give these to the younger generation as well." After speaking, Hu Gan took out a Storage Ring and tossed it to Xiao Ling.

Xiao Ling did not refuse. Holding the Storage Ring in his hand, he extended his Soul Perception into it to inspect its contents. It contained various Techniques and Dou Skills. The highest-grade item was a low-level Earth Tier Wood Attribute technique, while the Xuan Tier Techniques and Dou Skills were too numerous to count. As expected, an old Dou Huang Peak powerhouse possessed a substantial collection, encompassing every attribute.

After putting away the Storage Ring, Xiao Ling took Zi Yan's small hand and bid Hu Qian farewell. "Vice Dean Hu Gan, the two of us will be leaving now. I wish you a smooth breakthrough into the Dou Zong realm." With that, he turned and left the room, spread his Dou Qi Wings, and flew into the sky.

Watching the two leave, Hu Gan muttered to himself, "The hidden dragon has already emerged from the abyss. I look forward to your name spreading throughout the Dou Qi Continent, writing a magnificent and turbulent tale."