Mang Tian Ruler: Old Man Disagrees!

"Hahahaha, it really has been a long time since I last saw you all. By the way, how did you know I was coming back today?"

Mang Tian Ruler voiced his doubts. He had not said in advance that he was returning, so why were so many people here to welcome him?

"Um... Headmaster, this is what happened." Su Qian awkwardly explained the whole situation to Mang Tian Ruler.

"Oh~ So that was it!" Mang Tian Ruler suddenly understood. That made sense—how else could those Dou Ancestors have known his whereabouts in advance?

Mang Tian Ruler walked over to Xiao Li, then circled him several times.

"You're Xiao Li, right?" Mang Tian Ruler asked, his voice like rolling thunder.

"Yes."

"Hmm~" Mang Tian Ruler placed one hand on Xiao Li's shoulder, then burst into laughter. "Wahahahaha! At last, there's a decent seedling! Ahahahahaha!

Who says a genius can't be born without that bloodline? Kid, you're not bad. Make good use of your talent. You've got far more potential than those old geezers."

That was simply Mang Tian Ruler's personality—carefree and uninhibited.

Most importantly, Mang Tian Ruler was fiercely protective of his own. Back then, a Graduate of Jia Nan Academy had been traveling through Central Continent and offended a Dou Ancestor force. That force had intended to publicly execute him.

At the time, Jia Nan Academy's Great Elder had still been Bai Lie. The moment Bai Lie heard about it, he immediately contacted Mang Tian Ruler.

On the day of the execution, Mang Tian Ruler arrived in a blaze of endless lightning. With one slap, he wiped out that Dou Ancestor force and declared,

"What kind of worthless trash dares bully Jia Nan Academy!"

From then on, Jia Nan Academy, which had been tucked away in the Northwest Continent, became renowned throughout Central Continent. Many Central Continent clans sent their children to Jia Nan Academy to study.

Mang Tian Ruler was very pleased with Xiao Li's talent. At only eighteen, he had already reached the level of a Five Star Dou King and was also a Rank 6 Alchemist. What a fine young man.

"Su Qian told me you want to absorb the Fallen Heart Flame, is that right?" Mang Tian Ruler asked.

"Yes, Headmaster."

Mang Tian Ruler turned to look at the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower. His previously cheerful expression immediately darkened.

"No! Old Man does not agree to let you absorb the Fallen Heart Flame." Mang Tian Ruler frowned and flatly refused Xiao Li.

"Why, Headmaster?" Xiao Li had not expected the Headmaster to oppose his absorption of the Heavenly Flame.

"Yes, Headmaster. The Fallen Heart Flame is like a Time Bomb. Sooner or later, it'll explode if it remains in the Inner Academy. Wouldn't it be better to let Little Friend Xiao Li absorb it?" Qian Mu said with a frown.

"That's right, Headmaster. Little Friend Xiao Li has refined quite a few pills for Jia Nan Academy. Why shouldn't such a contribution earn him one attempt at absorbing the Heavenly Flame?" Bai Lie also spoke up.

"Yes, yes." The other Elders joined in as well. Most of them had taken pills refined by Xiao Li. The Dou King Elders had taken Dou Spirit Pills, while the Dou Emperor Elders had taken Qing Yuan Pills. All of their strengths had improved significantly.

"Hey! You lot! Old Man has only been gone for a dozen years, and you're already taking outsiders' side! It's not that Old Man doesn't want Xiao Li to absorb the Fallen Heart Flame.

It's just that if he absorbs the Fallen Heart Flame now, he'll definitely suffer a backlash! This Fallen Heart Flame has already developed intelligence, and its energy has reached the strength of the Dou Ancestor Level.

If Xiao Li takes the risk and tries to absorb it, the Fallen Heart Flame will burn him to death!" Mang Tian Ruler said solemnly.

Mang Tian Ruler had just probed the Fallen Heart Flame with his Soul Force and discovered that it was gathering energy. Its energy had already reached the level of a Two or Three Star Dou Ancestor, and it had developed a degree of intelligence.

If Xiao Li went to absorb the Heavenly Flame now, he would be dead for sure.

"Huh? A Dou Ancestor Level Fallen Heart Flame?" Xiao Li was stunned as well. He had not expected the Fallen Heart Flame to have already reached the Dou Ancestor Level even though things had been moved up so far in time.

"Heh, good thing Old Man came back. Otherwise, you'd have been burned alive, and Jia Nan Academy would have ended up with the reputation of killing a genius!" Mang Tian Ruler said irritably.

"Then, Headmaster, what should we do?" Qian Mu asked.

"Let Old Man think. If this kid weren't here, Old Man could simply suppress the Fallen Heart Flame by force and reinforce the seal. But since this kid wants to absorb the Fallen Heart Flame, Old Man doesn't have any way to weaken it.

Ah! I've got it!"

Mang Tian Ruler suddenly thought of a solution and looked at Xiao Li.

"Kid, forget about the complete Fallen Heart Flame. Even ten of you would be burned to death by it. Old Man has an idea: Old Man will split off part of the Fallen Heart Flame's origin for you to absorb.

In other words, I'll separate a Child Flame from the complete Fallen Heart Flame. This Child Flame will carry part of the Fallen Heart Flame's origin. You can absorb it, then cultivate it. Perhaps you can raise it into an entirely new Fallen Heart Flame.

That would be much safer than risking your life to absorb the complete Fallen Heart Flame. And this Child Flame definitely won't have much intelligence. If you carefully nurture it, it'll become a great aid to you in the future.

The complete Fallen Heart Flame already has intelligence. Even if you somehow subdue it, what if it suddenly turns on you when you let your guard down? Wouldn't you be finished? So, kid? Old Man's suggestion isn't bad, right?"

Mang Tian Ruler laid out his method. Raising a Child Flame into a complete Heavenly Flame was not impossible; at the very least, Mang Tian Ruler knew someone who had truly done it before.

"Alright, I'll listen to you, Headmaster. But can the Heavenly Flame origin you split off be a little stronger? It'll make it easier for me to raise." Xiao Li rubbed his hands together.

He was not being greedy. At most, he would have to spend more effort nurturing the Heavenly Flame. It would be safer that way, and safety was what mattered most.

"That won't be a problem. Let Old Man see how much of a Child Flame your Physical Body and Soul Force can withstand."

Mang Tian Ruler placed his hand on Xiao Li's shoulder and used his Dou Qi and Soul Force to examine Xiao Li's condition.

"Heh, I couldn't tell, but your body has some substance to it. You haven't cultivated any body-tempering Battle Skills, yet your Physical Body is quite strong. There's also a large amount of Medicinal Power accumulated inside you.

Emmmm, Old Man thinks a Child Flame at the Dou Emperor level should be about right. Leave the rest to Old Man!"

Mang Tian Ruler vanished in an instant, leaving only a few strands of blue electricity behind.

"Old Bai, it seems the Headmaster's cultivation has improved again. His command of space has deepened further." Qian Mu had the highest cultivation, and he quickly found where Mang Tian Ruler had gone. Mang Tian Ruler had already reached the area beneath the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower and was suppressing the Fallen Heart Flame.

"Yes, the Headmaster's strength is unfathomable. Sigh, I wonder when we'll be able to break through to Dou Zun?" Bai Lie hesitated. He had no clue how to reach Dou Zun, and neither did Qian Mu.

"Hehe, I used to think we would remain stuck at the Dou Ancestor Peak for many more years. But now, I think we'll break through to Dou Zun very soon." Qian Mu suddenly smiled.

"What do you mean?"

"Hehe, it depends on this kid." Qian Mu pointed at Xiao Li.

"Oh? You mean pills?"

"That's right. The Rank 7 Peak Primal Chaos Barrier Breaking Pill can help those at the Dou Ancestor Peak break through to Dou Zun. Old Man is only missing an opportunity now. Once the Little Fellow's Alchemy reaches Rank 7, Old Man will ask him to help once." Qian Mu stroked his beard and smiled.

"Indeed, that is a good plan."