Preparation, the Headmaster Has Returned

"Ah Long, did anything happen while I was in seclusion?" Xiao Li asked.

"Nothing much. The Great Elder came by once and said there was no need for Young Master to remain a student with your cultivation. You should become an Elder directly. Holding onto Strong Ranking First is a bit of a blow to the students' confidence."

Xia Yilong said with a smile.

"Tch, looks like I'll be graduating early. But it's about time. I'm already a Five Star Dou King now, so I should start making preparations." Xiao Li stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Set up the furnace. Time to refine pills!"

Naturally, Xiao Li refined pills first. He had to fill that clingy Little Female Dragon's belly first, or she would turn the Inner Academy upside down.

Xiao Li had now reached the level of a Grade 6 Alchemist. In all of Jia Nan Academy, he was second only to Old Wang, the Honorary Elder. Old Wang's cultivation had risen another star last year, reaching the level of a Seven Star Dou Emperor.

Due to his increased Dou Qi, Old Wang's success rate in refining Imperial Origin Pills had risen considerably. He had even attempted to refine Breaking Ancestor Pills several times, but unfortunately, every attempt had failed.

Xiao Li could now refine Dou Spirit Pills. He was still a little lacking in cultivation when it came to refining Imperial Origin Pills. He could refine them if he wanted, but the success rate would not be high.

The Dou Wang Elders of Jia Nan Academy were enjoying themselves. As long as they had enough merits, they could receive a Dou Spirit Pill and increase their cultivation by one star.

The cultivation of Jia Nan Academy's Elders and Enforcement Team had improved the fastest, greatly strengthening the academy's core forces.

Dou Wangs took Dou Spirit Pills, while Dou Emperors took Qing Yuan Pills. Basically, every Elder in Jia Nan Academy had taken Xiao Li's pills and thus owed him a favor.

However, Xiao Li had also encountered a bottleneck in alchemy. Grade 6 Pills required rather difficult material refinement. His Beast Flame was not powerful enough, so every time, he had to expend a great deal of Dou Qi to strengthen the flames and refine the ingredients. By the time it came to condensing the pill, he lacked sufficient Dou Qi.

There were only two ways to solve this problem. One was to improve his cultivation. With higher cultivation, naturally, he would not suffer from insufficient Dou Qi. The other was to subdue Heavenly Flames. With the strength of a Heavenly Flame, refining ingredients would be much easier and would save Dou Qi.

Half a day later,

"Zi Yan! Time to eat!"

Xiao Li piled pills resembling candy onto a plate. There were probably several dozen of them.

Zi Yan had been sleeping on the sofa. The moment she heard it was time to eat, she immediately sat up. When she turned and saw the brightly colored pills, she dashed over at full speed, grabbing several with her little hands and stuffing them into her mouth.

"Ahm~ Mm~ Sweet! I love sweet flavors the most. Xiao Li, you're so nice! Ahm~"

Xiao Li smiled and shook his head. Raising a little dragon girl really was a strange feeling. Seeing Zi Yan's carefree manner always gave him the distinct feeling that he was raising a daughter.

"Girl, I'm going to see the Great Elder," Xiao Li called out to Zi Yan before getting to his feet.

"Mmm~ Wait, I'm coming too!"

Zi Yan hugged the plate and followed behind Xiao Li.

Su Qian's office,

"Oh? So you're going to absorb Fallen Heart Flame? How confident are you?" Su Qian asked after taking a sip of tea.

"I don't know. After being tempered by the Heart Flame, along with my pills and preparations, I should have a sixty to seventy percent chance." Xiao Li did not dare guarantee anything. Absorbing Heavenly Flames was inherently dangerous. Who knew how many people had been burned to death by the very flames they tried to absorb?

"You only need to know your limits. It's a pity about the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower, but eliminating a potential Hidden Danger is not bad either. Xiao Li, after absorbing Fallen Heart Flame, remember to recharge the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower.

"Also, refine a batch of Imperial Origin Pills for the academy. It would be even better if you can refine Breaking Ancestor Pills. The academy has prepared all the ingredients anyway.

"That way, not only can you improve your alchemy, but the academy's strength can increase as well. It's simply a win-win situation."

Su Qian stroked his beard and smiled. He knew that Xiao Li wanted to subdue Fallen Heart Flame, and Qian Bai Er Lao had also informed him of it.

As for Fallen Heart Flame, which could erupt at any time, Su Qian thought it would be quite good if it were subdued by a student or Elder of Jia Nan Academy. At the very least, the students' safety would be guaranteed.

As for the problem of students no longer being able to rapidly improve their cultivation after the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower was gone, these old fellows could think of other ways. Fallen Heart Flame was not the only solution.

If all else failed, they could simply have the Alchemy Department put in more effort and refine more pills. The region around Jia Nan Academy had excellent geomancy and abundant medicinal ingredients, especially in the Back Mountain, where Heavenly Treasures were plentiful. Supporting the Inner Academy students would be more than easy.

"Mm, understood. Thank you, Great Elder, for taking care of me these past days. Once this junior's alchemy reaches Rank 7, I will definitely refine a Zong Yuan Pill for Great Elder." Xiao Li rose and cupped his hands toward Su Qian.

Su Qian had taken great care of Xiao Li over the past two years. Old Wang and Su Qian were old friends. After Xiao Li broke through to the Dou Wang realm and his alchemy reached Grade 6, Old Wang considered Xiao Li to have completed his apprenticeship.

Old Wang gave Xiao Li all the Alchemist inheritance he had acquired, his pill formulas, and the notes of a Rank 7 Alchemist in one go.

It could be said that Old Wang had given Xiao Li his entire life's collection, while he himself had returned to the Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Li had also looked through the pill formulas Old Wang gave him. Old Wang's collection had left him so stunned that he was speechless. There were more than a dozen Rank 7 Pill formulas, and even Grade 8 Pill formulas.

Old Wang said that he had obtained these Rank 7 Pill formulas and Grade 8 Pill formulas from that Peak Rank 7 Alchemist. Given that Alchemist's skill and strength, it was indeed possible for him to acquire Grade 8 Pill formulas.

The Rank 7 Pill formulas included: Instant Qi Pill, Snow Soul Pill, Zong Yuan Pill, Zong Feng Yuan Pill, Yin Yang Life Soul Pill, Tian Huang Pill, Return Life Pill, Pure Heart Pill, Transformation Pill, Profound Bodhi Foundation Establishment Pill, Primal Chaos Barrier Breaking Pill, and more.

The Grade 8 Pill formulas included: Purple-Green Supreme Pill, Poria Green Pill, and Gangfeng Supreme Pill.

What could he say? Xiao Li only felt one thing: rich! So rich!

"Hehe, then this old man will thank you in advance. When absorbing Heavenly Flames, you must be careful. If it doesn't work, just give up. Don't lose your life over a Heavenly Flame."

Su Qian reminded him again. He was very satisfied with Xiao Li. Not only was he the disciple of an old friend, but he was also an outstanding student of Jia Nan Academy. He would help whenever he could.

"This junior understands!"

Half a month later, the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower was closed.

Many students began to complain, but the academy's Elders announced that the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower had malfunctioned and needed to be shut down.

At this time, the area around the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower had already been cleared. No students remained nearby. Most of Jia Nan Academy's Elders had gathered here, and even the retired Qian Bai Er Lao had appeared.

It was clear just how important Xiao Li's refinement of the Heavenly Flame was.

"Phew~ I'm a little nervous." Xiao Li muttered to himself. The Heavenly Flame of his life was the key to his rise. Just as Xiao Li took a step forward...

Rumble—

An incomparably loud clap of thunder rang out. In an instant, the bright, sunny sky darkened. Thick clouds gathered as lightning flashed and thunder roared.

Rumble—

Several bolts of lightning struck the ground directly, after which a figure appeared.

"Hahahaha, I've finally returned! Hm? What's going on here? Did you learn in advance that this Headmaster was coming back and arrange a welcome ceremony?"

The speaker was an old man dressed in blue robes similar to those worn by Jia Nan Academy's Elders. He had white hair and a white beard. His face was kind yet dignified, while his eyes were unfathomably deep, as though they could see through everything.

The old man looked to be around seventy or eighty years old, but if one ignored his face, he did not seem elderly at all. Instead, he looked more like a young man, with a straight back and a burly build.

"Headmaster?"

"Headmaster?"

Qian Bai Er Lao and Su Qian were the first to react. Then, the Elders who had met Mang Tian Chi also came to their senses. The newcomer was none other than the Founder of Jia Nan Academy, the elusive Headmaster!

Dou Zun Expert, Mang Tian Chi!

"Headmaster, you're not dead?" Bai Lie blurted out.

"Hey! Bai Lie, what kind of talk is that? Are you deliberately cursing this old man to die? Hmph! Looks like you need a lesson! And why are you only a Nine Star Dou Ancestor? You still haven't broken through to Dou Zun?" Mang Tian Chi glanced at Bai Lie. Clearly, he was not angry over Bai Lie's words.

"Mm, Qian Mu has reached the peak of Nine Star Dou Ancestor. Why haven't you touched the threshold of Dou Zun yet? Well, that makes sense. Even when this old man broke through back then, the threshold of Dou Zun was extremely difficult to cross!

"Mm, Su Qian has broken through to Dou Ancestor? Not bad, not bad. Keep working hard! And it's been a long time since I last saw all of you."

Mang Tian Chi walked over step by step, looking at those familiar to him.