Unexpected Help, Probing

The dust settled.

The figure in green stood with his hands behind his back, not particularly tall beneath his loose black robes.

Yet merely standing there, he suppressed the violent ripples of energy around him into complete submission.

With a single move—

The only ones still barely standing were Yun Sha, his eyes filled with horror, and the two strongest Six-Star Dou Wangs from Black Skull Tomb and the Raging Lion Gang.

Everyone else lay on the ground, groaning.

"A... a Dou Emperor?!"

The leader of Black Skull Tomb spoke in a dry voice.

None of them had expected that there would still be a Dou Emperor who had not gone to the core of the Fallen Fire Sect.

Yun Sha forcefully suppressed his churning Qi and Blood and fear, then stepped forward with an exceedingly humble posture. "S-Senior, please calm your anger. May I ask Senior's honored name?

Why... why have you intervened in this matter?"

There were only so many Dou Emperors in the Black Corner Region, and every one of them was a prominent figure.

Yet this man's aura did not belong to any of them.

Could he be some reclusive old monster hidden within the Black Corner Region? Or perhaps a Strong Expert from beyond the region?

Yun Sha and the others exchanged glances, each seeing the same doubts in the others' eyes.

Only Qin Han, standing behind the black-robed man, had his pupils contract slightly.

The aura of the Green Lotus Core Flame was far too familiar.

An aged voice came from beneath the black robe. "Who I am is not something you need to know. As for why I intervened..."

His gaze seemed to sweep over Wu Tianlang and the other two. "I simply dislike seeing the many bully the few."

The moment those words came out, everyone's expressions stiffened.

Mystery solved—he had to be from outside the Black Corner Region.

Bullying the few with numbers?

That phrase had never existed in this chaotic land since the Black Corner Region's birth.

Here, people would stop at nothing.

"Get lost."

That single word made Yun Sha and the others shudder all over.

Faced with an unfamiliar Dou Emperor who was clearly far stronger than them, they had no choice but to endure it, no matter how humiliated they felt.

"...Yes, yes. This junior will leave at once."

Yun Sha lowered his head, concealing the venom in his eyes, not daring to show the slightest defiance.

The others dared not linger either, slinking away into the depths of the ruins.

In the blink of an eye, the Fire Pavilion's Back Mountain, which had just been filled with earth-shaking cries of battle, was left with only the three from Jia Nan Academy and this mysterious Dou Emperor.

Wu Tianlang took a deep breath, stepped forward, and solemnly clasped his fists. "Thank you, Senior, for your aid. I am Wu Tianlang, an elder of Jia Nan Academy's Enforcement Team. May I ask Senior's esteemed name?

Do you have... any connection to Jia Nan Academy?"

He asked directly, though there was also a probing intent behind his words. Such a Strong Expert would not lend a hand for no reason.

Disliking the strong bullying the weak? Wu Tianlang did not believe such nonsense.

"Yao Yan."

"I am merely a wandering cultivator and have no connection with Jia Nan Academy. I simply acted when I saw injustice. There is no need for you to dwell on it."

An old fox like Wu Tianlang naturally heard that the other party was deliberately concealing something, so he did not press further.

With a flick of his wrist, the dozen or so radiant scrolls, jade boxes, and other items they had seized earlier floated before him.

"Senior's great kindness cannot be repaid. These are the items obtained just now. Though they may not be worthy of Senior's notice, please accept them as a small token of gratitude."

Wu Tianlang kept his posture very low. This was the respect due to a Dou Emperor, and he also did not wish to owe too great a debt of karma.

The black-robed man swept his gaze over the treasures without the slightest fluctuation in his eyes. He even shook his head faintly.

"Since I chose to save you, how could I ask for repayment?"

"Take them back."

"Besides..."

Yao Yan's gaze seemed to fall casually upon Qin Han.

"Young brother, you said earlier that you intended to give them a grand gift. I assume that even if this old man had not intervened, you would have been able to break this deadlock?"

A test!

Having already learned the other party's identity, Qin Han naturally understood Xiao Yan's intentions. He was trying to indirectly probe Qin Han's ability to fuse Heavenly Flames.

Before leaving Jia Nan Academy, Han Yue had reminded him that Xiao Yan had casually mentioned Qin Han's name several times, saying he wanted to exchange pointers.

"Replying to Senior."

Qin Han bowed slightly. "This junior merely wished to use a secret technique to forcibly raise my strength in a moment of desperation, risking my life in one final struggle.

That kind of secret technique carries an enormous backlash. Had Senior not acted in time, this junior would likely..."

He shook his head and did not continue.

Yao Yan watched him silently for two seconds, revealing a little of his face beneath the black robe.

His features were regular, yet entirely unremarkable—the sort of face that would vanish into a crowd without drawing a second glance.

"Black robes and a mask. Quite cautious..."

Qin Han steadied himself and met his gaze without flinching.

"Hm."

In the end, Yao Yan merely responded indifferently, making it impossible to tell whether he believed him or not.

"To possess such skill and decisiveness at such a young age is no easy feat. Take care of yourself."

"This place is fraught with trouble. I should not linger. This old man takes his leave."

As his voice fell, no one saw him make any movement. His green figure flickered slightly before vanishing completely from where he stood.

"What an exquisite movement technique... I wonder who he really is. Hopefully, he will not become an enemy in the future..."

Wu Tianlang muttered in a low voice, his expression grave.

He turned toward Qin Han and Zi Yan. Though both were seriously injured, their spirits remained decent. Qin Han in particular seemed to retain a trace of amusement deep within his eyes?

Meeting Wu Tianlang's suspicious gaze, Qin Han hurriedly changed the subject.

"Old man, what do we do now? Should we go find the Vice Dean and the others?"

Qin Han asked, glancing toward the Core Region.

Wu Tianlang shook his head and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "No rush. In our current condition, the three of us would only be a burden if we went.

Let's first find somewhere concealed to heal and recover. We can decide what to do once we're in better shape."

Qin Han and Zi Yan both nodded in agreement. The battle just now had drained them greatly, and their injuries needed treatment as well.

"Let's go!"

A moment later.

At the edge of the clearing, space rippled faintly, and Yao Yan's figure silently emerged once more.

"Teacher, what did you think of Qin Han's answer just now?"

Old Yao's voice rang out with a trace of amusement. "Hehe, the little fellow spoke without leaving any openings, but he was definitely concealing something.

What secret technique to forcibly increase his strength? He had already summoned Fallen Heart Flame. Judging by that stance, he was likely preparing to fuse an even stronger flame."

"What a pity. You were too hasty. If you had acted a little later, perhaps you really could have forced that boy to reveal his trump card."

"I would like to see what other methods he has besides Fallen Heart Flame and those two Seventh Rank Flames."

Xiao Yan said helplessly, "After all, we're from the same sect, and that girl Zi Yan was there too. I was worried that something might happen..."

After speaking, he rubbed his brow. "So the rumors in the academy are true? That he has a special physique, can naturally fuse different flames, and can even automatically condense flame seeds..."

Old Yao fell silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. At last, he said with a bitter smile, "The Great Thousand World is full of wonders.

The Dou Qi Continent is vast and boundless. It is not impossible for strange constitutions or fortunate opportunities beyond our understanding to appear.

This Qin Han... perhaps he truly possesses a fortune unknown to us. After all, he does not carry the unique aura of a Cultivation Method like Fen Jue."

At the mention of Fen Jue, Xiao Yan's gaze narrowed slightly.

It was his greatest secret and reliance, as well as the only method he knew that could devour and fuse Heavenly Flames.

Qin Han's appearance had, to some extent, shaken that understanding.

"Forget it." Xiao Yan shook his head. "Teacher, what should we do next?

It seems the Fire Pavilion has already been thoroughly looted. You said the true inheritance isn't here?"

"Hm." Old Yao answered with certainty. "The Fire Pavilion is merely a place for storing external objects. The Fallen Fire Sect became renowned for its control of fire back then, and its core inheritance—

Especially the mysteries of Myriad Stars Flame—must be hidden deeper within. The most likely location is the Myriad Fire Furnace in the Sect Forbidden Ground.

Earthflame Gate went to such great lengths, even using the Fire Pavilion's precious treasures as bait to buy time. What they seek is likely that place as well."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan flipped his hand, and a dark-red Storage Ring appeared in his palm. It was the one he had intercepted from the Second Elder of Earthflame Gate when he fled.

That was why Xiao Yan did not care about the few items Wu Tianlang had taken out.

"Then let's venture deeper in!"

Xiao Yan moved, transforming into a blurry green streak that shot away.