Zi Yan

"Who?" Liuli looked at the short, frail old man before her in confusion. His shout had drawn the attention of the people around them, and everyone turned to look in this direction.

"Hmph! As a Dou Emperor, you should know Jia Nan Academy's rules. If you follow the proper procedures and come for an official visit, we will welcome you at any time. But if you sneak around like a thief and enter a restricted area of our academy, don't blame us for being rude!" The old man's expression was stern, his eyes filled with anger and wariness, and his tone was anything but polite.

As one of the Tower Guard Elders, he had to ensure the absolute safety of this Black Tower.

"Hey, it's a misunderstanding. I really am a student!" Liuli immediately understood. Seeing how powerful she was, this old man had assumed she was some strong individual from the Black Corner Region who had secretly slipped in.

"Have you ever seen a student with the strength of a Dou Emperor?" The old man snorted coldly. His withered fingers curled into claws and reached toward her.

Liuli sighed helplessly. Why did this kind of cliché happen everywhere she went? Wasn't this incredibly brainless?

Still, it was understandable. According to the plot, the thing imprisoned in this tower had already begun acting up around this time. Everyone was on edge, so with the truth unknown, of course they would be wary of an unfamiliar Dou Emperor barging into the tower.

"Everyone, disperse! Seal the tower!" the old man shouted. Dou Qi surged from between his fingers, transforming into a massive, razor-sharp eagle claw that slammed toward Liuli.

The Young Girl did not dodge. Instead, she raised a delicate fist wrapped in intertwined black-and-white flames and met the old man's claw head-on.

Bang!

The flames exploded instantly, scattering the old man's Dou Skill. Scorching energy swept forward and engulfed him in an instant before spreading outward. Liuli raised her other hand, silver Dou Qi pouring forth and forming a protective barrier that isolated the two of them from the students retreating nearby.

When the flames dissipated, the Old Man staggered back and collapsed to the ground. His hemp robes had been burned into tatters, his hair was singed black, and his aura was weak.

One move had decided the victor.

The old man was stunned. As the Tower Protection Elder of the First Floor, he was the First Barrier within the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower. His strength had already reached the level of a Nine Star Dou King, just one step away from becoming a Dou Emperor. Yet the person before him had defeated him with a single strike...

A High-tier Dou Emperor! And at least Seven Stars!

The Old Man instantly judged just how terrifyingly strong his opponent was, but another thought soon arose. This powerful girl did not seem dangerous. Leaving aside the fact that she had diverted her attention to protect the students, even when attacking him, she had held back considerably.

That strike could easily have seriously injured him, but he had clearly sensed that once the flames had condensed halfway, the girl had swiftly dispersed them.

"Your Excellency, I was discourteous just now." The Old Man supported himself to his feet, his manner now much more solemn.

"It's nothing. I told you, I really am a new student. You can ask Great Elder Su Qian about it. With such a great figure here, if I weren't a student, he would have stopped me the moment I entered the Inner Academy." Liuli did not mind. She dispersed the protective barrier and explained.

The Old Man sent out a thread of spiritual sense, then remained silent for a long while before finally letting out a sigh of relief. His expression gradually became more amiable.

"So that's how it is. This old man was indeed discourteous. For Miss Liuli to possess such strength at such a young age, the younger generation is truly to be feared!" The Old Man chuckled.

"Liuli was a little too heavy-handed just now as well. Please accept my apology." The Young Girl began exchanging pleasantries with him.

Just then, a White Figure charged toward them with a surging aura.

"Who bullied Old Liu? I'll beat them flat!" A childish voice rang out.

The two of them looked over together, and the Old Man's face instantly turned awkward.

"Zi Yan, stop!" the Old Man shouted sternly.

The White Figure hurriedly slammed on the brakes, but the momentum from her charge was too great. Unable to steady herself, she pitched forward and plunged headfirst into Liuli's embrace.

Liuli was knocked back two or three steps before finally steadying herself. Then she felt a soft little body against her. Looking down, she saw a little girl of twelve or thirteen with light purple hair raising her tiny head and staring at her with large, glossy black eyes.

So... so cute~

Liuli's heart instantly softened, and her hand could not help reaching down to stroke that silky purple hair.

"Don't touch me!" The little girl pouted and grumbled, swatting Liuli's hand away before shoving her aside.

"Zi Yan! How can you behave so improperly?" The Old Man glared and scolded her.

"She bullied you, and you're still speaking up for her? Is something wrong with your old head?" Zi Yan turned around and loudly retorted.

The people hiding in the distance all broke into a sweat. In the academy, this was probably the only person who dared speak to an elder like that.

"You're Zi Yan?" Liuli was somewhat surprised. She had not expected to meet one of the most important protagonists in Jia Nan Academy besides Xiao Yan and Xun'er so quickly.

"Mm! What, do you know me?" Zi Yan planted her hands on her hips, putting on a cold expression.

"Mm-hmm. I had just arrived at the Inner Academy when I heard about your fame as the number one on the Power Ranking!" Liuli immediately began flattering her.

"Hmph hmph! So that's how it is. I didn't realize I was this famous." Zi Yan kept her hands on her hips, the coldness vanishing from her face as she gave a proud little hum.

"That's right, that's right. As soon as I entered the Inner Academy, everyone around me was saying, 'Lady Zi Yan has held first place on the Power Ranking for so many years. She's far too powerful. First place is unshakable, while the top ten keeps changing.'" Seeing that the little girl's attitude had softened considerably, Liuli continued praising her.

"Hmph hmph, you're quite good with words!" Zi Yan grew even more smug, lifting her little head high.

Liuli smiled knowingly. Zi Yan was still in the childhood stage of a Magical Beast, and her mentality was not much more mature than that of an ordinary little girl. A little flattery was quite effective for coaxing her. Otherwise, Xiao Yan would not have found it so easy to trick this little girl into doing things for him in the future—though, of course, he always paid her.

"Miss Liuli, since you have just arrived at the Qi Refining Tower and Zi Yan is here, let her show you around. This old man is the Tower Guard Elder for the first and second floors and still has duties to attend to, so I shall take my leave first." Elder Liu smiled and cupped his hands.

"Take care, Elder Liu. I offended you greatly over what happened just now. Please accept this Pill as an apology." Liuli came back to her senses, took out a small Jade Bottle from her Storage Ring, and tossed it to Elder Liu.

Elder Liu caught it, uncorked the bottle, and peered inside. The next moment, his eyes widened.

"This... this is!" Elder Liu's voice became excited.

A sixth-tier mid-grade Pill—the Six Qi Barrier Breaking Pill!

This was a divine Pill said to allow its user to break through any level barrier below Dou Zong once! It was the object of countless strong individuals' dreams, especially those stuck at the peak Dou Wang stage.

Although a Dou Wang was very powerful to ordinary Dou Qi practitioners, in the Black Corner Region, they could only be considered a relatively formidable combat force. Only after reaching the Dou Emperor realm could one become a regional overlord in this chaotic land!

"Liu Xu thanks Miss Liuli. If you ever need help in the future, I will certainly do everything in my power!" Elder Liu carefully placed the Six Qi Barrier Breaking Pill into his Storage Ring and bowed deeply.

"You needn't be so polite, Elder Liu." Liuli stepped forward to help him up, revealing her signature smile.

"Leave the task of showing Miss Liuli around the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower to this old man instead." Elder Liu chuckled, his attitude now far more warm and friendly.

"Zi Yan can show me around. Elder Liu should return as soon as possible and prepare for taking that Pill. Cultivation comes first, after all." Liuli declined. For people who were not important characters, a superficial acquaintance and a favor owed were enough.

"Why should I show you around?" Zi Yan blinked in confusion.

"Zi Yan! Won't you even listen to me now?" Elder Liu blew his beard and glared again.

"Why should I listen to you?" Zi Yan refused to yield, turning her head away and ignoring him.

"Hey!" Elder Liu became a little angry.

"Please don't get worked up, Elder Liu." Liuli patted the old man's shoulder, then walked toward Zi Yan.

"What are you doing?" Zi Yan warily retreated several steps.

"Here, little sister Zi Yan, look what this is~" Liuli smiled sweetly as she took a small medicine bottle from her Storage Ring.

Zi Yan did not cautiously step closer to look, but a hint of curiosity had already appeared in her eyes.

Liuli opened the bottle and poured two golden Pills into her palm, extending them forward. A peculiar medicinal fragrance wafted toward Zi Yan.

Zi Yan sniffed with her little nose and immediately began craving them. Her eyes locked onto the Pills without blinking, practically sparkling with stars.

"If you show me around, these Pills refined from Golden Firefly Grass will be yours!" Liuli tempted her.

Elder Liu's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Golden Firefly Grass was a rare medicinal ingredient needed to refine a Sect Breaking Pill, yet it had been made into such worthless little Pills? What a waste, what a terrible waste! Even if one had money, they should not spend it like this!

"Hmph! What do you take me for? Do you think two lousy Pills are enough to buy Zi Yan off? I don't even know whether they taste good!" Zi Yan maintained the dignity she felt she should have.

"Then... how about two bottles?" Liuli took out a second bottle from her Storage Ring.

"Deal!"