Growing Stronger

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

But now that it had really happened, he still felt terrible.

It was as if...

His beloved wife, whom he had cherished and cared for, had turned around and run off with someone else!

A loss he couldn't put into words!

Mang Tianchi's old face crumpled into a chrysanthemum. "When did this happen? Who was the other party? How strong was he?"

"I don't know. All I know is that the Fallen Heart Flame didn't last even a single exchange in his hands!"

Recalling that scene from the day, Su Qian still found it deeply shocking, even now!

"Besides, Elder Qian and Elder Bai said that the man's strength was enough to frighten even them."

Mang Tianchi folded his arms, rubbing his chin.

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

And if even Elder Qian and Elder Bai feared that man, then he had to be a Dou Venerable!

"By the way, when he took the Heavenly Flame, did he leave behind a wisp of Child Flame using the method I told you about?"

"No, Dean. His strength was terrifying. I didn't dare ask. I was afraid he'd get angry and take it out on the students."

"Did he at least leave anything as compensation?"

Su Qian shook his head.

Not only had he left nothing behind.

He'd even brought a little girl along to eat her way through their entire storeroom!

Mang Tianchi was so angry his nose nearly twisted sideways!

"Hmph! He came to my territory, took such a huge benefit, and didn't even think to show his appreciation. Does he really think Mang Tianchi is a pushover?!"

Mang Tianchi paused, then asked, "Do you remember what he looked like? Draw me a portrait. If I ever run into him, I'll teach him a proper lesson and show him how to behave!"

He was already a Half-Saint!

A mere Dou Venerable was nothing!

He could suppress him with one hand!

Su Qian immediately handed Mang Tianchi the portrait he'd prepared long ago.

Looking at it, Mang Tianchi felt as if he'd seen that face somewhere before!

He just couldn't remember where!

Never mind!

He figured it was probably someone wanted by some clan.

He must have seen the portrait somewhere.

That was why the face seemed familiar!

Just as Mang Tianchi was about to leave,

Su Qian suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right, Dean. At the time... that man also went to the Underground Magma World beneath the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower. He said he was going to cultivate, but I don't know if he was searching for treasure."

"I went down there afterward. It was all magma. What treasure could there be? He must be a fire-attribute cultivator!"

That would let him narrow down the search even further!

Mang Tianchi clenched his fist.

"I'll show the world that taking advantage of me, Mang Tianchi, doesn't come cheap!"

"Dean..."

"Su Qian, couldn't you have told me everything all at once?!"

"Dean, since you've come back, why not... meet everyone?"

"What's the point of meeting them? It's not as if we can have a fight."

"..."

"Enough, enough. I know what you mean. This Storage Ring is full of Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills. I'll leave Jia Nan Academy in your hands. Perhaps we'll meet again."

With that, Mang Tianchi slipped into a spatial rift and vanished!

Su Qian: ...

He couldn't help feeling that Mang Tianchi's words sounded ominous, like he was making arrangements for his own funeral!

Northwest Continent.

Jia Ma Empire, Misty Cloud Mountain.

Venerable Wind hovered in midair.

"I never imagined that on this resource-poor, energy-scarce Northwest Continent, there would be a formation barrier on such a scale! Just what kind of terrifying status does that lord have?"

Venerable Wind was lost in thought.

A shout came from below.

"Hey! You up there! Why are you standing so high up? Get down here and talk! Otherwise, we'll shoot!"

Venerable Wind followed the voice and saw that the one pointing at him and yelling was only a Dou Wang!

He shook his head helplessly. At that moment, he wouldn't dare slight the other man even if he were an ordinary person.

With a flash, he landed right in front of him.

"I'm Feng Xian. A lord sent me here."

Venerable Wind showed the Jade Tablet Xiao Xuan had given him.

"Oh, well, that's a case of the Dragon King's temple being flooded! We're all family here. Please, come on in!"

After Mu Chen examined the tablet, his face broke into a broad smile. He used the token Xiao Xuan had given him to open a gap in the barrier.

He was all smiles and eager to please, the very picture of a lackey.

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

But...

He was still completely baffled!

Suddenly!

The space right in front of him rippled, and an elderly figure stepped out.

Venerable Wind recognized him at a glance!

"You're Saint Hun Qing of the Soul Hall!!"

Venerable Wind gave a bitter laugh!

Back then, his friend Yao Chen had been betrayed by his disciple, who joined forces with a Soul Hall Venerable to kill him.

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

How ridiculous. How tragic!

But he wouldn't just surrender!

Venerable Wind raised a hand, about to slap himself, determined to die with his honor intact!

But 'Saint Hun Qing' stopped him.

"Feng Xian, after all these years, is this how you greet me? By trying to kill yourself?!"

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

"...What Saint Hun Qing? What Soul Hall? Feng Xian, it's me, Yao Chen!!"

"Stop trying to trick me!"

"The Yin Yang Profound Dragon Pill! Gu Ling! Have you forgotten?!"

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

Only after the other man took out that ring, summoned the Ancient Spirit Cold Fire, and told him secrets known only to the two of them,

did Venerable Wind finally believe him.

He threw his arms around Yao Chen, reborn, and burst into tears!

He looked nothing like the once-mighty Venerable Wind!

Yao Chen's eyes also brimmed with tears.

Mu Chen and the others quickly turned to look elsewhere.

Suddenly!

Mu Chen saw another large group of people appear in the sky!

And one of them had an absolutely terrifying aura!

Only a little weaker than Venerable Yao...

Uh, he should say Saint Yao.

"Saint Yao, look! More people are here!"

Yao Chen recognized the newcomers.

"Burning Flame Ancestor of Burning Flame Valley! Tang Zhen, what brings you here too?"

A vast crowd stretched out behind them.

Had they brought their entire sect over?

Yao Chen flashed out through the barrier.

"I'm Yao Chen. May I ask why Burning Flame Ancestor has come?"

Burning Flame Ancestor looked incredulous.

"You've come back to life?"

Yao Chen nodded.

"Yes. Thanks to a certain lord, I was lucky enough to survive."

Burning Flame Ancestor slapped his forehead.

"Look at me! How could I forget about that? Congratulations!"

After exchanging a few words of mutual praise, Yao Chen learned that Xiao Xuan had also sent them here to take shelter, so he invited them through the barrier.

With another Dou Sheng joining them, the Xiao Family on Misty Cloud Mountain grew stronger still!

Xiao Zhan's grin stretched from ear to ear!

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

During this time,

with the Alchemy Hall's help, led by Yao Chen,

the Xiao Family's strength had risen dramatically.

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

The Xiao Family's cultivation resources now surpassed even those of Jia Nan Academy!