Rumble—
After a few minutes, Mang Tian Chi reappeared before Xiao Li and the others.
Aside from his clothes being somewhat blackened, he seemed perfectly fine. In his hand, Mang Tian Chi held a transparent flame.
"Whew, that took some effort, but fortunately, it went smoothly. Hahaha! It still comes down to this old man's profound cultivation! Xiao Li, this Dou Emperor-level Fallen Heart Flame child flame is yours."
Mang Tian Chi handed the Fallen Heart Flame child flame to Xiao Li. As Xiao Li held it, he found himself touching something invisible. It separated his hand from the Fallen Heart Flame, preventing the flame from burning him.
"This is a simple Space Barrier made by this old man. Be careful, kid. Even if it's only a child flame, it is still a child flame of the Heavenly Flames. One careless mistake, and you could be burned to ashes."
Mang Tian Chi warned Xiao Li again. Absorbing a Heavenly Flame was no trivial matter.
"Mm. Headmaster, hold it for me first. I need to make some preparations." Xiao Li returned the Fallen Heart Flame child flame to Mang Tian Chi, then sat down on the ground.
He took out all sorts of bottles and jars.
The Ice Spirit Cold Spring, Heavenly Cold Qi, Blood Lotus Pill, Earth Spirit Pill, Ice Heart Pill, Concentration Pill, and Spirit Absorption were all laid out.
"Heh, you really came prepared, kid?" Mang Tian Chi said with a smile.
"After all, I'm absorbing a Heavenly Flame. I can't afford to be careless. Caution is a good thing," Xiao Li said calmly.
"Mm, that's right! In all things, the word 'steady' comes first. As long as you're alive, anything is possible. If your life is gone, then nothing else has anything to do with you."
Mang Tian Chi had lived for several centuries, so he naturally saw things clearly. He had witnessed too much. There were countless people whose greed exceeded their grasp, only to be crushed by it in the end.
"Headmaster, I have some Heavenly Cold Qi here. Please sprinkle it over the Fallen Heart Flame for me." Xiao Li handed the Jade Bottle containing the most concentrated cold qi to Mang Tian Chi.
"Easy. Take your pills first. Once you're ready, this old man will give you the Fallen Heart Flame child flame." Mang Tian Chi waved his hand.
"Mm."
Xiao Li first poured out the Blood Lotus Pill. A Grade 5 Pill, the Blood Lotus Pill would cause a layer of blood scabs to emerge over the surface of one's body after being consumed, allowing one to approach a Heavenly Flame.
The instant the Blood Lotus Pill entered his mouth, it transformed into a slightly chilling energy that swiftly burrowed into the meridians throughout Xiao Li's body. Finally, like layers of blood membranes, it slowly seeped into his meridians and bones.
As the blood membranes penetrated deeper, threads of blood continuously surged from Xiao Li's pores. In the blink of an eye, his body was covered in a layer of dark red blood, making for a terrifying sight.
Not long after appearing, the blood rapidly solidified, eventually forming a crimson keratin layer. That crimson layer was like an airtight suit of Crimson Armor, protecting Xiao Li completely within it.
"Headmaster, let's begin!" Xiao Li was ready.
"Mm." Receiving the signal, Mang Tian Chi injected the Heavenly Cold Qi into the Fallen Heart Flame. The child flame instantly wilted, turning into a thin, transparent Fire Serpent.
"Open your mouth!"
The moment Xiao Li heard him, he opened his mouth. Mang Tian Chi sent the Fallen Heart Flame child flame in his hand into Xiao Li's body. As soon as it entered his mouth, Xiao Li immediately swallowed the Earth Spirit Pill and Ice Spirit Cold Spring together.
The instant the Fallen Heart Flame entered Xiao Li's body, it erupted with an extremely terrifying temperature. Under such heat, even though Xiao Li had made ample preparations and taken the Blood Lotus Pill and Earth Spirit Pill, he still felt intense pain.
However, the effects of the Earth Spirit Pill and Ice Spirit Cold Spring soon began to emerge.
The Earth Spirit Pill was an essential medicinal pill for devouring the Fallen Heart Flame. The Ice Spirit Cold Spring was used to resist Heavenly Flames.
Everything that needed to be prepared had already been prepared. Now, it depended entirely on whether Xiao Li could withstand the scorching of the Heavenly Flame.
After entering his body, the Ice Spirit Cold Spring offset part of the pain caused by the Heavenly Flame's burning. That icy chill gave Xiao Li a trace of comfort, but this was not the time to be comfortable.
As expected of a Heavenly Flame. Even a child flame could not be underestimated.
Xiao Li began forcibly controlling the Fire Serpent rampaging through his body. With the power of the Earth Spirit Pill and the support of the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, he suppressed it firmly. The Fire Serpent could only obediently follow Xiao Li's will and travel along its prescribed route.
Xiao Li's meridians were covered in ice crystals formed by the Ice Spirit Cold Spring. The ice crystals offset the searing heat of the Heavenly Flame, indirectly protecting his meridians.
Everything had been going smoothly so far, but just as Xiao Li relaxed slightly, the Fallen Heart Flame rioted and began rampaging through his body again.
Although this Fallen Heart Flame was merely a child flame, Mang Tian Chi had separated quite a bit of its spirituality when he split it off. The Fallen Heart Flame seemed to possess intelligence, erupting the moment Xiao Li let down his guard.
Fortunately, this child flame had not developed consciousness. Otherwise, it would have been even more troublesome. Xiao Li was now glad that Mang Tian Chi had suddenly returned and stopped him from absorbing the Fallen Heart Flame.
Even this child flame had Xiao Li scrambling. As for the Dou Ancestor Level Fallen Heart Flame, Xiao Li knew he could not handle it. If he had risked absorbing it, he probably would not even have ashes left behind.
Xiao Li and the Fallen Heart Flame child flame began a tug-of-war, but the scales of victory remained on Xiao Li's side. Supported by the Blood Lotus Pill and Earth Spirit Pill, the Fallen Heart Flame's resistance grew weaker and weaker until it could only passively submit to Xiao Li's will.
While Xiao Li fought his tug-of-war against the Fallen Heart Flame, three days had already passed outside.
The Elders of Jia Nan Academy were seated cross-legged on the ground, observing Xiao Li's process of absorbing the Heavenly Flame. The Elders of the Alchemy Department, led by Fire Elder, watched with particular care.
Mang Tian Chi stood before Xiao Li, constantly monitoring his condition. From the beginning of the refinement until now, aside from that brief initial incident, everything had been moving in a positive direction.
"Fortunately, this old man returned. Otherwise, a genius like this would have been ruined by you lot!" Mang Tian Chi turned and snapped at Qian Bai Er Lao and Su Qian.
Qian Bai Er Lao and Great Elder Su Qian were too embarrassed to say anything, because they had not known that the Fallen Heart Flame had secretly grown to such a level.
"Headmaster, is it really that serious? Xiao Li seems to be refining it quite smoothly," Su Qian said cautiously.
"Hehe, of course it's serious. Xiao Li has prepared so thoroughly, yet he can only barely suppress this Dou Emperor-level child flame. If it were the main body, hehe, even if you, Qian Mu, tried to absorb it, you would die."
As a Dou Zun, Mang Tian Chi naturally had a far sharper eye than the others. These three old fools had nearly caused a disaster.
"Hmm? This kid has endured the Heavenly Flame's body tempering. Next comes the harvest. After being nourished by the Heavenly Flame, his body, Dou Qi, and soul have all gained considerable benefits." Mang Tian Chi turned back to look at Xiao Li, a smile appearing on his face.
Jia Nan Academy had been operating for so long, and it had finally produced a promising seedling. This was a good start. In the future, Jia Nan Academy needed more seedlings like him—preferably one even more formidable than him.
Mang Tian Chi had already begun fantasizing about Jia Nan Academy producing a Dou Sheng in the future, one who would still have to call him Headmaster upon meeting him. Just thinking about it made Mang Tian Chi feel delighted. Who knew how many old fools obsessed with bloodlines that would slap in the face!
Mang Tian Chi pointed a finger at the Spirit Absorption on the ground, and it transformed into a gray streak that shot directly into Xiao Li's body.
As the Spirit Absorption entered Xiao Li's body, Xiao Li pushed all the transparent flame within him into it.
Having been completely refined by Xiao Li, the Fallen Heart Flame was now exceptionally docile. Xiao Li could manipulate it according to his will, guiding the obedient Fallen Heart Flame through his meridians once more.
The meridians that had just been scorched were passed through by the Fallen Heart Flame again, yet they unexpectedly regained vitality and began repairing themselves at a rapid pace.
Wounded by the Heavenly Flame, healed by the Heavenly Flame, and made stronger by the Heavenly Flame.
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