Goodbye, Xun Er!

"One-star Dou Emperor!" Xiao Yu's head spun.

She never imagined her promotion would be so unique, forging a legend in a single night.

"Now you know, following me won't leave you at a disadvantage," Xiao Ze laughed.

"Your tongue is as sharp as ever."

"However, before heading to the Inner Academy, I must request permission from my instructor," Xiao Yu said after getting dressed.

"That's fine, I'll wait for you here."

Xiao Yu was quick, and she did not keep him waiting long.

Informing Instructor Ruo Lin was to ensure she wouldn't worry, and also to avoid trouble; otherwise, if someone were to vanish from the Outer Academy without reason, it would attract the attention of the Enforcement Team.

Afterward, the two wasted no time and flew directly toward the location of the Inner Academy.

Although the location was well-hidden and difficult to find without a specialized Griffin, as a late-stage Dou Zong, Xiao Ze could still pinpoint it with his exceptional soul perception.

Soon, the two streaked over a primeval forest and arrived before a silver gate.

Directly in front of the silver gate, a gray figure stood in mid-air, appearing to have been waiting for quite some time.

"Great Elder, sorry to keep you waiting," Xiao Ze stepped forward to greet him.

The person who had arrived was none other than Su Qian, the Great Elder of Jia Nan Academy, who had been keeping a nightly watch over Maple City.

"Young friend, you arrived quite quickly," Su Qian looked at Xiao Ze's youthful face, his heart filled with emotion.

A Dou Zong powerhouse this young was truly a rare sight in this world.

"And this is?"

When his gaze landed on Xiao Yu, his heart gave a jolt. A Dou Emperor powerhouse?

She didn't look much older than Xiao Ze.

"This is my cousin, Xiao Yu, a student of your Outer Academy. I thought that since she now possesses the cultivation of a Dou Emperor, she should be eligible to enter the Inner Academy for further study, so I brought her along," Xiao Ze explained.

"Greetings, Great Elder," Xiao Yu quickly offered her respects.

"Not bad, my Jia Nan Academy truly has worthy successors!" The Great Elder's gaze swept over Xiao Yu, a flash of brilliance in his eyes.

"To be a Dou Emperor at such an age, it would be a waste of talent to keep you as a mere student... How about becoming a Heaven-Tier Instructor of this academy?" He stroked his beard and smiled, his tone carrying both praise for a junior and a hint of warm solicitation.

Su Qian had presented her with a grand gift right from the start.

"Instructor? A Heaven-Tier Instructor?" Xiao Yu's small mouth parted slightly, her heart shocked.

"Great Elder, this... is this really appropriate?"

She had only just arrived, after all. If she were to become a Heaven-Tier Instructor, she feared it would make everyone envious.

Moreover, at her age, having the senior students of the Inner Academy call her 'Instructor' felt rather strange.

"The capable come first. With your Dou Emperor cultivation, you would normally qualify to be a Pavilion Elder of the Inner Academy, but considering your youth, it is better to start at the grassroots level to gain experience," the Great Elder explained.

"Very well," Xiao Yu could only accept graciously.

Xiao Ze took it all in; becoming an instructor was a good choice for her.

"Cousin, you go ahead into the Inner Academy. I still have matters to discuss with the Great Elder."

"Alright." Xiao Yu naturally understood that the Great Elder and her cousin had important things to discuss, so she simply entered the Inner Academy first.

"Great Elder, I have come with a request. I wonder if you would be willing to grant it?" Xiao Ze said.

"Speak your mind."

"I need the Fallen Heart Flame beneath our Inner Academy's Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower!" Xiao Ze went straight to the point.

The Fallen Heart Flame was the goal of his trip; with it, he could easily step into the ranks of the Dou Zun.

Only then would he be prepared to march into the Central Plains.

In the Central Plains, where Dou Zongs walk everywhere and Dou Zuns are as common as dogs, one would be embarrassed to speak without the strength of a Dou Zun.

"The Fallen Heart Flame?" Upon hearing this, the Great Elder fell silent.

The Fallen Heart Flame was the treasure of their Jia Nan Academy. It was the reason Jia Nan Academy had become a famous institution on the Dou Qi Continent, attracting countless talented students and granting the academy its high status and influence in the Black-Corner Region and across the entire continent.

Although it carried the risk of a riot, if they were to lose the Fallen Heart Flame, what would Jia Nan Academy have left to attract students from across the continent?

"Young friend, I am afraid I cannot agree to this. The Fallen Heart Flame is the foundation of our Jia Nan Academy," the Great Elder shook his head.

If it were anything else, there might be room for negotiation, but the Fallen Heart Flame could absolutely not be taken away.

Otherwise, when the Dean returned and saw the Fallen Heart Flame missing, he would surely beat him to death.

"Great Elder, what if I could resolve the academy's concerns?" Xiao Ze remained unperturbed and continued, "The Great Elder is merely worried that if I take the Fallen Heart Flame, the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower will lose its function. But what if I could ensure the tower maintains its original purpose?"

"Of course, I will not take it for free; I will exchange it for items of equal value," Xiao Ze stated his conditions.

Now, it was up to the Great Elder to decide.

The reason he was so confident was that he could solve this problem perfectly.

Although taking away the Fallen Heart Flame would cause the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower to lose its function, there was still a juvenile Fallen Heart Flame beneath the tower.

It would be perfect to use as a replacement for the mature Fallen Heart Flame.

The First Elder looked at Xiao Ze's refined features, his heart caught in a tangle of hesitation.

As a Dou Zong powerhouse, he was well aware of the talent possessed by the person before him; achieving the rank of Dou Zun in the future would certainly be a matter of course.

If he could foster a good relationship with him now, it would be of nothing but benefit to Jia Nan Academy.

After pondering for a long time, the First Elder finally relented, "I can agree to your request, but..."

"However, the Fallen Heart Flame is no simple matter. Once it erupts, only a Dou Zun powerhouse can suppress it by force. The only reason it has remained peaceful all this time is thanks to the seal set by the Headmaster."

He was all too clear on the might of the Fallen Heart Flame; once it went berserk, an ordinary Dou Zong would be unable to suppress it, let alone take it away.

"First Elder, you may rest assured on that point. A mere Heavenly Flame is nothing in my eyes," Xiao Ze laughed.

With the perfected version of the Burning Art, not to mention this Fallen Heart Flame, which ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

Even if the Nihility Devouring Flame, ranked second, were to appear, he could suppress it with ease.

"That is up to you, as long as you don't collapse my Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower."

"Many thanks for your support, First Elder."

Ending the conversation, Xiao Ze passed through the silver gate and arrived in the area where the Inner Academy was located.

By this time, Xiao Yu had already sought out the Pavilion Elder of the academy, and with the First Elder's written order in hand, she had successfully become a Heaven-Tier Instructor of the Inner Academy.

Xiao Ze paid her no mind, instead following a trail of aura until he reached a quiet pavilion.

"Who is it?" Xun Er, who had been in the midst of cultivation, suddenly opened her eyes, only to see a figure quietly standing before her.

Upon seeing who it was, the calm expression on Xun Er's face immediately gave way to joy, "Brother Xiao Ze, why are you here?"

"Naturally, to see you," Xiao Ze smiled.

He stepped forward to meet her, and the two embraced tightly, feeling the warmth of one another.

"Xun Er has missed you."

Leaning against his chest, Xun Er's voice was soft and faint.

"And here I am." Xiao Ze stroked her three thousand strands of dark hair, his fingertips brushing against her reddening earlobe.

Feeling the soft sensation against his chest, Xiao Ze looked down, only to see a bottomless cleavage faintly revealed amidst a expanse of snow-white skin.

"Have you grown so plump?"