After absorbing the Fallen Heart Flame, Xiao Ze did not leave right away. Instead, he headed deeper into the molten sea.
Unlike the magma beneath the Tagor Desert, the temperature here was higher, and the energy far more violent and dangerous.
Even ordinary Dou Zong experts would struggle to venture this deep, but he was now a Dou Zun expert and had nothing to fear.
At last, after searching for a while, something emerged from the seemingly ordinary magma: a transparent halo, glowing faintly, rising from a swirling vortex.
Within the halo lay a skeleton reduced to white bones, with a wisp of flame drifting above it.
The flame was completely transparent, almost formless. Anyone else might have found it unfamiliar.
But Xiao Ze recognized it at once. This flame was none other than the Fallen Heart Flame!
If he wasn't mistaken, this was the Fallen Heart Flame's juvenile form.
As for the skeleton, it was probably Venerable Skyfire.
Just as he was about to take the Fallen Heart Flame's juvenile form, a searing gust of wind suddenly shot toward him in a strange arc!
Xiao Ze narrowed his eyes, unmoved.
Only when it reached him did he raise a hand.
"Space Strangulation!"
His low shout struck the magma sea like a heavy hammer. The entire molten sea suddenly froze, as if caught in an invisible net.
The next moment, crisscrossing spatial rifts webbed across the sky.
The searing magma was sliced into countless tiny points of light. The so-called magma creature couldn't even touch him before the force of space strangled it to death.
Admiring his handiwork, Xiao Ze nodded with satisfaction.
He had to admit, the power of space was quite useful.
After dealing with the magma creature, Xiao Ze reached out and took the Fallen Heart Flame's juvenile form.
The instant he took it, the scene abruptly changed. A hazy, elderly figure suddenly appeared.
The figure wore a white robe, and his beard and hair were as white as snow. His face was aged, and a faint glint shone in his calm eyes.
"The Fallen Heart Flame? I never thought... it would end up being subdued after all..." The hazy figure glanced at Xiao Ze, then spoke slowly.
His voice carried an indescribable undertone.
"Old man, how about a deal?" Xiao Ze paid no heed to the other man's sighs and began weighing things up.
The man had been a Dou Zun expert in life. Bringing him onto their side would be a good thing.
"Heh heh, I'm nothing but a soul now. What could I possibly trade with you?" The old man chuckled at his words.
"But why is it that I can't quite see through you?"
By rights, he had at least been a Dou Zun expert in life, and he had always been a shrewd judge of character. Yet somehow, he couldn't make sense of the young man before him.
"If you could see through me, that would be the real miracle." Xiao Ze rolled his eyes.
Then he continued, "I can restore your body, but I'll need you to serve me for fifty years. During that time, you must follow my orders."
"The terms sound tempting, but what makes you think you can restore my body?" The old man chuckled, treating it as nothing but a joke.
He had been dead for who knew how many years. If the Fallen Heart Flame hadn't protected him, his soul might have long since vanished from this world.
"Because I'm a Dou Zun expert!"
At those words, the old man stared at him, dumbfounded. Was this kid joking with him?
Since when had the Dou Qi Continent had such a young Dou Zun expert?
"Believe it or not, that's up to you. I have limited patience. I'll give you three breaths to think it over." Xiao Ze gave him no chance to hesitate and turned to head back to the surface.
Seeing him about to leave, the old man immediately panicked. "Young friend, wait! I'm willing!"
An opportunity like this came once in a blue moon. If he missed it, his soul might not last until the next one came along.
"Then come with me." Xiao Ze reached out, grabbed the soul, and carried him away from the magma.
"I am Yao Tianhuo. Some people also call me Venerable Skyfire. May I ask your name?"
Being carried off by someone, Yao Tianhuo had never imagined he would one day see the light of day again.
"My name is Xiao Ze. I'm from the Xiao Clan."
"Don't worry. You won't regret following me."
With that, Xiao Ze brought Venerable Skyfire to the bottom level of the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.
Before leaving, however, he left behind the Fallen Heart Flame's juvenile form to serve as the vessel for the tower's Fire Energy.
With the Fire Energy restored, the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower regained its body-tempering effect.
"It's restored?"
Outside the tower, the elders exchanged bewildered looks, unsure what had happened.
By rights, without the Fallen Heart Flame, the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower should have lost its function. Unless the Fallen Heart Flame hadn't been taken away after all.
"That kid couldn't have died in there, could he?"
"Surely not. He is a Dou Zong expert, after all."
The elders murmured among themselves.
How could someone who had taken over half the Black-Corner Region in just half a month die so easily?
Great Elder Su Qian said nothing. He kept his gaze fixed on the entrance to the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.
At last, after a brief moment of silence, a young figure quietly appeared before them.
Seeing that familiar gaze, the Great Elder's heart finally settled.
If anything had happened to him, that girl Xun Er would have come after him. Fortunately, everything had gone off without a hitch.
"Little friend Xiao Ze, how did it go?" The Great Elder stepped forward to ask.
"Everything went smoothly. I've absorbed the Fallen Heart Flame, and I also found a juvenile Fallen Heart Flame inside. It shouldn't be long before it can display its full effect," Xiao Ze explained.
"There was another one?" The Great Elder's face filled with surprise.
After all, a natural treasure like the Fallen Heart Flame was already exceedingly rare in the world. To find two at once was truly unexpected.
"Great Elder, I've taken the Fallen Heart Flame. It's time to honor your promise."
Seeing that the Inner Academy's elders were all present, Xiao Ze laid out his terms.
"Great Elder, how about this? Once I take down the Black Emperor Sect and Demon Flame Valley and unify the Black-Corner Region, one-tenth of all the region's proceeds will go to Jia Nan Academy."
"Furthermore, my Xiao Sect can guarantee the safety of your students throughout their travels in the Black-Corner Region, so they can train there without worry."
"Take down the Black Emperor Sect and Demon Flame Valley..."
Hearing this, the elders' mouths twitched.
As long-established powers in the Black-Corner Region, both sects had Dou Zong experts protecting them. Only he would dare make such a bold claim.
Jia Nan Academy had stood in the Black-Corner Region for hundreds of years without ever dreaming of unifying the region. Yet this youngster from Wutan City dared to voice such grand ambitions. He truly... didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.
Faced with their scorn, Xiao Ze remained unfazed. Instead, he let a trace of his Dou Zun aura show. In an instant, the elders' faces stiffened, and their hearts were thrown into turmoil.
"A Dou... a Dou Zun expert?"
"Now, do you believe me?" Xiao Ze asked, his expression unchanged.
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