Setting Out for the Jia Ma Empire

Lowering his head slightly to inspect himself, he found that his body seemed to have been tempered once more. Its physical strength had improved somewhat, and his skin had become fairer and more delicate than before.

A breeze suddenly blew over him, causing a slight reaction from his body. Only then did Xiao Ling remember that his clothes had been burned away while absorbing the Heavenly Flame. He hurriedly took out a set of moon-white clothes from his Storage Ring and put them on.

After sensing the condition within his body, Xiao Ling was thoroughly satisfied. He muttered to himself, "Although this subsidiary flame did not contain much energy, its quality is quite good. Fen Jue has now risen from Black Tier Low-grade to Intermediate Black Tier, while my cultivation has advanced from Three-star Dou King to Four-star Dou King. That has saved me at least three months of cultivation time. After all, it was only a subsidiary flame, so this is already very good. Furthermore, the benefits brought by refining a Heavenly Flame are lasting and subtle. In the years ahead, as my control over them becomes more proficient, the benefits I gain will only grow greater..."

Shaking his head, Xiao Ling stopped dwelling on such things. He first needed to summon his Heavenly Flame and take a look.

He slowly extended his left hand, then gradually closed his eyes. His mind raced through his body as he sent out a command.

The instant the command was issued, his body reacted. At the center of his Dou Qi vortex, the tiny gray speck of light trembled slightly. After a brief moment of stillness, a wisp of golden flame surged forth.

The golden flame passed through the Dou Crystal, then rapidly flowed along the Meridians within his body. In the blink of an eye, it entered the Meridians in his arm.

Inside the Training Room, Xiao Ling, whose eyes had been half-closed, suddenly snapped them open. Brilliant golden flames flashed through his eyes once again. He abruptly spread his fist, palm facing upward, excitement rising on his face as he shouted, "Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, appear!"

As Xiao Ling's shout fell, his right palm trembled slightly. Immediately afterward, surging golden flames burst forth and swiftly enveloped his hand.

Feeling the scorching heat it radiated and seeing the space around the flame distort slightly, Xiao Ling was extremely satisfied. He could not help but praise it. "The Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame truly is terrifying. Unlike other Heavenly Flames, which possess various functions, it is pure destructive power, yet it ranks fourth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. With my Dou Wang cultivation driving this flame, even a Dou Zong expert would suffer severe damage if caught off guard by it. It is just that I am not yet familiar enough with controlling this flame, so it may be somewhat inconvenient to use for Alchemy. Fortunately, I obtained the Mind Splitting Control Method. I can practice that method while familiarizing myself with this flame."

After withdrawing the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame into his body, Xiao Ling looked around the Training Room. Everything in sight was pitted and scarred; even the stone platform made from special materials had been damaged. Xiao Ling scratched his head and muttered inwardly, Before leaving the academy, I need to tell Lin Xiuyai so he can have someone come repair this place.

After leaving the Training Room and checking the time, he found that absorbing the subsidiary flame had taken roughly two hours. Lin Xiuyai, who had risen early, was already in the courtyard practicing Dou Techniques.

Seeing Xiao Ling emerge, Lin Xiuyai stopped what he was doing, greeted him, and asked, "Xiao Ling, are you leaving the academy shortly?"

Xiao Ling nodded slightly. "Once Zi Yan gets here, we'll leave immediately."

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to everyone? What about Han Yue and your cousin?" Lin Xiuyai asked in confusion.

Waving a hand, Xiao Ling smiled. "I already spoke with them yesterday. Besides, I don't like the feeling of parting. Don't miss me too much while you're at the academy."

"Why would a grown man like me miss you? You're so full of yourself. Still, be careful while you're training outside," Lin Xiuyai said irritably.

"Don't worry, I'll be careful. I care a great deal about my life. Oh, there was a bit of an accident in my Training Room. Help me find someone to repair it." Sensing Zi Yan's aura approaching, Xiao Ling waved to Lin Xiuyai, left those words behind, spread his Dou Qi Wings, and flew out of the courtyard.

Watching Xiao Ling fly into the sky, Lin Xiuyai murmured to himself, "I wonder whether any of us will be able to catch up to you in the future. When we meet again, what level of cultivation will you have reached?"

Not long after Xiao Ling flew into the sky, a petite figure with purple Dou Qi Wings appeared in his sight from afar. It was Zi Yan, who would be traveling with him.

The moment Zi Yan spotted Xiao Ling, she accelerated instantly. Her Dou Qi Wings beat hard, and she shot toward him like a streak of purple light. The surrounding space seemed to ripple, as though it were clearing a path for her.

In the blink of an eye, Zi Yan threw herself into Xiao Ling's arms, sending him flapping his Dou Qi Wings to stabilize himself. Fortunately, Zi Yan had slowed down as she approached, and Xiao Ling's physical body was quite strong. Otherwise, an ordinary Dou Wang expert hit by an Ancient Void Dragon headbutt like that might have had all his bones shattered.

Zi Yan rubbed her cheek against Xiao Ling's chest and inhaled the intoxicating medicinal fragrance on him, making her stomach feel a little hungry. She asked expectantly, "Xiao Ling, Xiao Ling, when are we leaving? When we get there, we have to gather lots of medicinal herbs."

Xiao Ling helplessly stroked Zi Yan's smooth purple hair and smiled. "Since we're ready, let's set off directly. First, we'll borrow a Flying Magical Beast from the academy. Rayquaza's body is rather slender. It is fast to ride, but it is not as comfortable as the house on a Flying Magical Beast. I'm not in a rush to fly back to the Jia Ma Empire anyway. Rayquaza still has not finished digesting the energy from the medicinal herbs it ate earlier, so let it sleep for now."

Hearing this, Zi Yan nodded from within his arms. "Then let's hurry to the elder guarding the barrier and get a Flying Magical Beast."

The two said no more. They both flapped their Dou Qi Wings and headed toward the Inner Academy's spatial gate.

After obtaining a Griffin from the elder at the barrier, Xiao Ling and Zi Yan rode the Flying Magical Beast for over an hour before reaching the Outer Academy.

Jia Nan Academy Outer Academy.

After leaving the Flying Magical Beast at the Outer Academy's Flight Station, Xiao Ling led Zi Yan toward the office of Hu Gan, the Outer Academy's vice dean.

Hu Gan had taken good care of him in the Outer Academy back then. Now that he was leaving Jia Nan Academy to train elsewhere, it was only proper to say goodbye.

As they passed along the quiet bluestone path and looked upon the familiar scenery, Xiao Ling could not help sighing. "It has been nearly five years since I left. Those Outer Academy students who entered the academy with me back then either went to the Inner Academy to cultivate or failed the selection trials and left the academy. There isn't a single student in the Outer Academy who recognizes me anymore."

Zi Yan, who was holding Xiao Ling's hand with one of her small hands, asked curiously, "Old Su brought me straight to the Inner Academy, so I never stayed at the Outer Academy. Xiao Ling, what do you think is the difference between the Outer Academy and the Inner Academy?"

Rubbing his chin, Xiao Ling considered it briefly before answering, "Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy and Outer Academy differ greatly in student strength, resources, selection requirements, educational environment, teachers and leaders, as well as student backgrounds. As the core of Jia Nan Academy, the Inner Academy provides its elite students with a more superior environment for learning and growth. They can enjoy high-level resources, such as the Fallen Heart Flame within the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower. That Heavenly Flame helps students refine their Dou Qi and greatly improves cultivation efficiency. The differences between the Inner and Outer Academies are immense. The fact that Inner Academy students are much stronger than Outer Academy students is not the key point. The important thing is that the atmosphere in the two academies is completely different. Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy is more like a miniature society than the Outer Academy. Letting those students experience society's cruelty early on is not a bad thing. In this world, strength ultimately speaks for itself. Schemes and deception are everywhere. If someone goes out to train without first being tempered a little, they can easily be tricked until not even their bones remain."

Xiao Ling reached out and patted Zi Yan's head, smiling as he continued, "None of that matters. As long as your strength is great enough, nothing is worth worrying about. Just break through everything with force."

Zi Yan seemed lost in thought. Her eyes rolled as she wrapped herself around Xiao Ling's arm and said, "Then I need to eat more medicinal herbs so my strength can improve faster. In the future, whenever I dislike someone, I'll beat them up."

Xiao Ling laughed in agreement. "You're not wrong, but you need to have that many medicinal herbs to eat."

Shaking Xiao Ling's arm, Zi Yan pleaded pitifully, "Xiao Ling, can you give me a bigger daily portion of pills?"

Xiao Ling nodded. "Your strength has increased considerably now. As long as you listen to me properly during this trip, I'll refine more pills for you to eat."

Hearing that she could have more pills as long as she behaved, Zi Yan patted her small chest and vowed, "Don't worry, I'll behave. Whoever you tell me to beat up, I'll beat up."

"Haha, then you'd better keep your word."

"Mhm, mhm!"

The two chatted and laughed as they slowly made their way toward the vice dean's office beneath the morning light.

Before long, the two arrived before an elegant pavilion and stopped.

Holding Zi Yan's hand, Xiao Ling stepped forward and knocked on the door. He called inside, "Vice Dean Hu Gan, this is Xiao Ling. Do you have a moment?"

Hu Gan, who had been reviewing documents in his office, was somewhat surprised to hear Xiao Ling's voice outside. He replied, "Xiao Ling, why have you come to the Outer Academy? Come in quickly."

Hearing this, Xiao Ling pushed open the door and entered with Zi Yan.

Seeing Xiao Ling and Zi Yan walk into the room, Hu Gan stroked his beard and said kindly, "Xiao Ling, Zi Yan, why have you come to visit this old man instead of staying in the Inner Academy?"

Xiao Ling first gave a slight bow, then answered, "My cultivation has now broken through to the Dou Wang level, so the Inner Academy can no longer offer me much help. I intend to return to my clan and train throughout the Jia Ma Empire and its surrounding regions while seeking some opportunities. Since I am leaving the academy to train outside, I naturally had to bid farewell to you, Vice Dean."

Hu Gan nodded approvingly. "I knew I had not misjudged you back then. In less than five years, you have already become a Dou Wang expert. Your cultivation talent truly is monstrous. Since you have been able to leave the Inner Academy, First Elder Su Qian must have already agreed. I have nothing more to say. You must act carefully while training outside. Never be careless. Protecting yourself is more important than anything."

"Rest assured, Vice Dean. I'll pay attention to those details." After speaking, Xiao Ling took out a porcelain bottle from his Storage Ring and handed it to Hu Gan.

Hu Gan accepted the porcelain bottle and asked curiously, "Xiao Ling, what is the meaning of this?"

Xiao Ling smiled. "There are two Sect Breaking Pills inside. After becoming a Sixth-grade Alchemist, I searched the Magical Beast Mountain Range for some ingredients and exchanged for other medicinal herbs at the Medicinal Herb Repository before refining them. One is for your use, while the other is for Elder Huo. Please pass it on to him for me. Thank you both for your careful guidance in the Outer Academy."

In truth, these Sect Breaking Pills had not been refined by Xiao Ling himself. He had drawn three of them from the system earlier. After giving away two, he still had one left. Before leaving the Inner Academy, Xiao Ling had also mentioned this matter to First Elder Su Qian. If any elders needed Sect Breaking Pills refined, they could begin preparing the medicinal ingredients. Once Xiao Ling returned from his training, he would help them refine the pills. Jia Nan Academy's treasury still had several sets of ingredients for Sect Breaking Pills, but those elders were individuals and could not directly mobilize the academy's resources. They could only exchange for them through their privileges. Gathering all the ingredients would certainly require some resource exchanges. By the time Xiao Ling returned to the academy, the collection of the ingredients should be complete.

Hearing that these were actually the Sect Breaking Pills he had long dreamed of, Hu Gan was startled. He hastily opened the porcelain bottle and looked carefully inside. Two milky-white pills lay within, their surfaces shrouded in a radiant glow that flickered from time to time, making them appear quite extraordinary. They were the Sect Breaking Pills, peak sixth-grade pills capable of increasing the chance for a Dou Huang to break through into the Dou Zong realm.

Putting away the porcelain bottle, Hu Gan said with some emotion, "I never expected that not only would your cultivation advance so quickly, but your Alchemy would also improve by leaps and bounds. You can even refine peak sixth-grade pills such as Sect Breaking Pills. I cannot accept your pills for nothing. You may not have much use for these things, but take them anyway. When you return to your clan, you can give them to the younger generation." After speaking, Hu Gan took out a Storage Ring and tossed it to Xiao Ling.

Xiao Ling did not refuse. He caught the Storage Ring in his hand and extended his Soul Perception into it to inspect its contents. It contained various Cultivation Techniques and Dou Techniques. The highest-ranked item was an Earth Tier Low-grade Wood Attribute cultivation technique, while the Black Tier cultivation techniques and Dou Techniques were too numerous to count. The collection of a veteran peak Dou Huang expert truly was abundant, encompassing all kinds of attributes.

After putting away the Storage Ring, Xiao Ling took Zi Yan's small hand and bid Hu Gan farewell. "Vice Dean Hu Gan, the two of us will be leaving now. I wish you success in breaking through to the Dou Zong realm." With that, he turned and left the room, spread his Dou Qi Wings, and flew into the sky.

Watching the two depart, Hu Gan muttered to himself, "The hidden dragon has emerged from the abyss. I look forward to seeing your name spread across the Dou Qi Continent as you write a magnificent tale."