Growing Stronger

Although he had always been prepared for the Fallen Heart Flame to be snatched away by someone!

However, now that this matter had truly come to pass, he felt extremely uncomfortable in his heart.

It was as if...

The wife he had painstakingly cared for had turned around and run off with someone else!

It left him with an indescribable sense of loss!

Mang Tianchi's aged face crinkled into the shape of a chrysanthemum: "When did this happen, who was the other party, and what was their strength?"

"I don't know. Regardless, the Fallen Heart Flame didn't even last a single exchange in their hands!"

Recalling that scene from that day, Su Qian still felt deeply shocked even now!

"Moreover, Elder Qian and Elder Bai said that the person's strength was enough to make even them feel fear."

Mang Tianchi crossed his arms, his palm rubbing against his chin.

When he had left all those years ago, this Fallen Heart Flame had already begun to show its vicious nature.

And if that person's strength could make even Old Qian and Old Bai feel fear, their strength must be that of a Dou Venerable!

"Right, when he took the Heavenly Flame, did he follow the method I mentioned and leave behind a seed flame?"

"No, Dean. Their strength was terrifying, and I didn't dare to bring it up, fearing that in a fit of rage, they might vent their anger on the students."

"Then did they leave anything behind as compensation?"

Su Qian shook his head.

Not only did they not leave anything.

They even brought a little girl along to eat their entire warehouse clean!

Mang Tianchi's nose was crooked with rage!

"Hmph! To take such a massive benefit on my turf and not even know how to show some courtesy—do they really think I, Mang Tianchi, am a soft persimmon?!"

Mang Tianchi paused and asked: "Do you remember what they looked like? Draw it out. One day when I encounter them, I will certainly teach them a lesson and let them know the principles of being a person!"

He was now a Half-Saint powerhouse; a mere Dou Venerable was nothing!

He could suppress them with a single hand!

Su Qian immediately handed the portrait he had prepared long ago to Mang Tianchi.

Looking at the portrait, Mang Tianchi felt as if he had seen this person somewhere before!

He just couldn't recall where!

Forget it!

He figured it was likely someone wanted by some family.

He must have seen them somewhere else.

That was why they looked familiar!

Just as Mang Tianchi was about to leave.

Su Qian suddenly remembered one thing.

"Right, Dean, at the time... that person also went to the Underground Magma World of the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower, saying they were going to cultivate. I don't know if they were looking for treasure."

"I've checked down there; it's all magma, what kind of treasure is there to find? They must be a fire-attribute cultivator!"

With this, he could narrow the scope even further!

Mang Tianchi clenched his fists.

"I will let the world know that my, Mang Tianchi's, advantages are not so easily taken!"

"Dean..."

"Kid Su Qian, can't you finish saying everything at once?!"

"Dean, since you've already returned, why not... meet with everyone?"

"Meet for what? We can't have a fight."

"..."

"Alright, alright, I know what you mean by saying all this. This storage ring contains quite a few cultivation methods and Dou Techniques. I leave the future of Jia Nan Academy to you. We shall meet again if fate allows."

Having said that, Mang Tianchi dove into a spatial rift and vanished!

Su Qian: ...

He always felt that Mang Tianchi's words sounded ominous, as if he were giving his final instructions!

Northwest Continent.

Jia Ma Empire, Misty Cloud Mountain.

Venerable Wind stood suspended in the air.

"To think that in this Northwest Continent, where resources are scarce and energy is thin, there would actually be a barrier array of such scale! Just what kind of terrifying status does that lord possess!"

Venerable Wind was lost in thought.

From below, a shout rang out.

"Hey! You up there, why are you standing so high? Come down and talk! Otherwise, we're going to loose our arrows!"

Venerable Wind followed the voice, only to discover that the one pointing and cursing at him was merely a Dou King!

Shaking his head helplessly, he knew that even if the other party were just an ordinary person, he dared not show the slightest disrespect.

With a flash of his figure, he landed directly in front of the man.

"This Humble One, Feng Xian, was sent here by a certain lord."

Venerable Wind held up the Jade Tablet given to him by Xiao Xuan.

"Oh my, it's really a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King's temple; we're all our own people. Please, come in quickly."

After checking the Jade Tablet, Mu Chen's face immediately broke into a beaming smile, and he used the token provided by Xiao Xuan to open a gap in the barrier.

His fawning demeanor was the spitting image of a lackey.

Venerable Wind only remembered that the lord had told him to come here, saying that everything would be made clear.

But...

He was still completely bewildered!

Suddenly!

The space directly in front of him rippled, and then, an aged figure stepped out from within.

Venerable Wind recognized the person at a glance!

"You are Saint Hun Qing of the Soul Hall!!"

Venerable Wind let out a bitter laugh!

Back then, his close friend, Yao Chen, had been betrayed by his own disciple, who conspired with the Venerables of the Soul Hall to murder him.

And now, he had actually been saved by someone from the Soul Hall!

How laughable, how pathetic!

However, he would not surrender just like that.

Venerable Wind raised his hand, intending to strike himself down, swearing to keep his integrity intact in this world!

But he was stopped by 'Saint Hun Qing'.

"Feng Xian, it has been many years; is this how you greet me, by trying to commit suicide?!"

"A scholar can be killed but not humiliated! My friend Yao Chen died at the hands of your Soul Hall! I would rather die than submit to you!"

"...What Saint Hun Qing, what Soul Hall? Feng Xian, it is I, Yao Chen!!"

"Still trying to deceive me!"

"The Yin Yang Profound Dragon Pill, the Ancient Spirit, have you forgotten?!"

Hearing these words, Feng Xian stared blankly at 'Saint Hun Qing'.

It was not until the other party produced that ring, summoned the Ancient Spirit Cold Fire, and recounted several secrets known only to the two of them that Venerable Wind finally believed.

He actually embraced the reborn Yao Chen and began to wail loudly!

Gone was the image of the once imposing and majestic Venerable Wind!

Yao Chen's eyes also brimmed with hot tears.

Mu Chen and the others hurriedly turned their heads to look elsewhere.

Suddenly!

Mu Chen saw a large group of people appearing in the sky!

Moreover, the aura of one of them was incredibly terrifying!

It was only slightly weaker than Venerable Yao...

Uh, it should be Saint Yao.

"Lord Saint Yao, look quickly, more people have arrived!"

Yao Chen recognized the newcomers.

"The Burning Flame Ancestor of the Burning Flame Valley! Tang Zhen, why have they come as well?"

Behind them, the sky was densely packed with people.

Had they moved their entire sect here?

Yao Chen flashed out of the barrier.

"This Humble One is Yao Chen. I wonder, for what purpose has the Burning Flame Ancestor come?"

Burning Flame Ancestor looked somewhat incredulous.

"You have been resurrected?"

Yao Chen nodded.

"Indeed. Thanks to a certain lord, I was fortunate enough to return to life."

Burning Flame Ancestor slapped his own forehead.

"Look at my brain, how could I have forgotten about that? Congratulations!"

After the two parties exchanged some pleasantries, Yao Chen learned that they, too, had been sent by Xiao Xuan to seek refuge, so he invited them to enter the barrier.

With another Dou Saint joining their ranks, the strength of the Xiao Family on Misty Cloud Mountain was further elevated!

Xiao Zhan's face was practically splitting from his grin!

"Thanks to our ancestor, otherwise, my Xiao Family would still be struggling back in Wutan City."

During this period of time!

With the help of the Alchemy Hall led by Yao Chen!

The strength of the Xiao Family members had improved significantly.

And with the arrival of Fire Cloud Ancestor, Tang Zhen, and Feng Xian, they now had several more experts to teach them how to cultivate Dou Techniques!

The current cultivation resources of the Xiao Family were something even Jia Nan Academy could not compare to!