Selling Intelligence to Xiao Yan

You are no match for me.

Xiao Tian glanced at the Blood-Robed Youth, recognizing him as a battle maniac, then continued teasing Xun'er, seemingly ignoring him completely.

"You"

"This is Competition Arena, not a place for your private duels."

Wu Hao was about to say something when the referee interrupted him.

"I thought we were going to have a fierce battle, what a pity."

Discussions erupted from inside the room.

After seven or eight matches, Xun'er and Xiao Yu were matched with their respective opponents.

Xun'er swiftly and decisively defeated her opponent, while Xiao Yu, unlike in the Original Work, did not stop with regret. Instead, she surprisingly unleashed her full potential and successfully broke into the top fifty, thus gaining the qualification to enter the Inner Academy.

"Instructor Ruo Lin, I did it!"

Xiao Yu ran to her Instructor Ruo Lin's side, hugged her excitedly, and jumped up.

"I didn't expect this either, Yu Er, you've really surprised me."

Instructor Ruo Lin held down the excited Xiao Yu, her face also full of joy. Xiao Yu was one of her favorite students, and seeing her successfully advance filled her with a sense of hope that her daughter would become a phoenix.

After announcing the list of those who advanced, the competition was declared over for the day. Those who successfully made it into the top 50 couldn't hide their joy.

Achieving this ranking means you've successfully entered the Academy's core circle, and your future growth will be much faster.

What they didn't know was that the Inner Academy was far more cruel than the Outer Academy.

After Xiao Tian and the others returned to Instructor Ruo Lin's pavilion, they met Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning. Both of them now seemed to have shed their former naivety.

Xiao Ning has changed the most. He no longer seems as sharp and arrogant as before, but has become more reserved, perhaps because he has experienced more.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they were informed that the Xiao Family had moved to the Black-Corner Region, which greatly excited them. If it weren't for the fact that they couldn't leave the Academy at will, they would have wanted to run back and see them right now.

Night fell, and all was quiet.

Inside Xiao Yan's room, Yao Lao also had a brief conversation with Xiao Yan. In the end, they couldn't find the location of the Heavenly Flames, but guessed that it might be in the Inner Academy.

Xiao Tian Xun'er ended their sweet days together, reluctantly parting ways and returning to their respective rooms.

Xiao Tian vaguely sensed the fluctuations in Xiao Yan's room and knocked on the door.

Xiao Yan opened the door, Xiao Tian went inside.

"I suppose you've got your eyes on the Heavenly Flames from the Jia Nan Academy."

Xiao Tian glanced at the Bone Flame Ring and said to Xiao Yan with a smile.

"Tian Ge, do you know? Is there really a Heavenly Flames in that Academy? Where is it?"

Upon hearing the words "Heavenly Flames," Xiao Yan immediately went to stand in front of Xiao Tian, his eyes filled with deep anticipation, clearly having tasted the benefits of the Heavenly Flames.

Although refining Heavenly Flames is dangerous, the rewards are truly captivating, like a certain kind of powder that you can't help but become addicted to.

"Xiao Tian, little guy, do you know some inside information?"

The voice of the Yao Lao echoed in their minds. Since it was Jia Nan Academy, the Yao Lao did not intend to appear, so as not to attract the attention of others.

"I do know quite a bit. Jia Nan Academy does indeed possess a Heavenly Flames, the Fallen Heart Flame, but this Heavenly Flames has already developed sentience."

"Is it the Fallen Heart Flame, ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking and known as a cultivation cheat code?"

Xiao Yan stared intently at Xiao Tian, his heart pounding. This was a flame that could accelerate cultivation and even kill without leaving a trace.

The unique characteristic of the Fallen Heart Flame is that it can continuously refine battle Dou Qi even without manual control, which is equivalent to cultivating at all times, even while sleeping.

"Yes, but you also know the importance of this flame. Putting aside the fact that it has developed consciousness, it is extremely important to an Academy."

"If you ask them directly, they definitely won't give it to you right away, which means you need to offer something of equal value."

Xiao Tian took a sip of the tea that Xiao Yan had poured and said with a smile.

"Indeed, I didn't expect it to have developed sentience; that makes refining and subduing it even more difficult."

The Yao Lao's voice, tinged with solemnity, slowly rang out.

Xiao Yan also snapped out of his excitement. Refining a Heavenly Flames Heavenly Flames with sentience was more than ten times more difficult than refining one without sentience.

Previously, he had barely survived refining a mere Green Lotus Core Flame that lacked any sentience, let alone this one, which was even more powerful and possessed the consciousness to resist.

"However, I do know a little-known fact, but..."

Xiao Tian looked at Xiao Yan, whose expression was constantly changing, and smiled.

"Tian Ge, look at us, we're practically brothers. We even wore the same pair of pants when we were kids. Look!"

Xiao Yan approached Xiao Tian from behind with a fawning expression and gently massaged his shoulders.

"Don't let our tainted emotions tarnish the purity of money."

"I can tell you, but I want you to join my faction. Of course, it will only be as a nominal Alchemist Hall Guest Elder. As for Yao Lao, that's unnecessary given your special status."

"Also, if you see any medicinal herbs listed on this paper in the future, please buy them for me directly."

A piece of paper appeared in Xiao Tian's hand, on which were listed a dozen or so medicinal herbs, which were the ingredients for the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

"Once you've collected enough of these, they'll be very beneficial to you in the future; they'll allow you to cultivate much faster."

Thinking of Xiao Yan's dark history—being kept in suspense for three years with just one pill— Xiao Tian decisively threw out another bait.

If you want a horse to run, you have to feed it grass.

Hearing Xiao Tian's words, Xiao Yan picked up the paper, lowered his head and pondered. Thinking of the help Xiao Tian had given him in the past, he no longer hesitated.

"Okay, I can agree to that."

Xiao Tian smiled with satisfaction. This time, he was sure to become the personal high-grade Alchemist of his Free and Unfettered Hall.

As for Yao Lao, he has his own power base, so we can't mess with him. However, this old man is unaware that his power is doing quite well. Should we tie him to our pirate ship?

Xiao Tian gave the Bone Flame Ring a malicious look, Yao Lao's voice came from inside. "Xiao Tian, you wouldn't be thinking of making a move on me, would you?"

"No, I was just sorting out my thoughts. You are my younger brother Xiao Tian's teacher, that's my blood relative."

Xiao Tian's expression turned serious, but inwardly he was thinking that this old man was quite perceptive; it seemed that what happened last time had made him wary.

"Alright, let me tell you about the information regarding the Heavenly Flames. The Fallen Heart Flame is currently being suppressed by the Jia Nan Academy in the Heavenly Flame Training Qi Tower within the Inner Academy. However, because it has been there for so long, its intelligence has become extremely high, and the Qi Refining Tower is almost unable to suppress it."

After Xiao Tian finished speaking, he left Xiao Yan's room.

"Teacher, what does Tian Ge mean by that?"

Xiao Yan scratched his head and asked Yao Lao.

"He means the Fallen Heart Flame Fallen Heart Flame is about to break through the tower, and this is the only chance to obtain it. However, it's extremely dangerous; one wrong move and you could be burned to ashes by the Heavenly Flames. It seems we need to adjust our plans and make thorough preparations."

"Based on what he said, it probably won't be long before we run out of time. I even suspect that person knew this too, otherwise he wouldn't be here."

Xiao Yan nodded in understanding after hearing Yao Lao's explanation. As for the person Yao Lao mentioned, although he didn't know who it was, Xiao Yan didn't ask further, because even if he did, Yao Lao might not tell him.

Following the information provided by Xiao Tian, the two then discussed a series of plans and countermeasures.

Last time, the lack of preparation led to exceptional difficulties and almost caused a major problem. We must learn from this experience and prepare more thoroughly.

Xiao Yan also learned a lot from Xiao Tian's steady and reliable personality since childhood, and he was not as impulsive as in the Original Work.

Xiao Tian left Xiao Yan's room and returned to his own, only to find an unexpected beautiful figure sitting on his bed.

Why did you come here?