Fallen Heart Flame!

BOOM!!

Behind the mountains of Jianan Academy.

After Shen Shihuang blasted a magical beast to death with a single punch, Zi Yan excitedly rushed over, plucked a medicinal herb from the cliffside, and returned to stand before him. "Old Shen, shall we continue?"

Shen Shihuang shook his head.

"We've already gathered quite a lot; this should be enough to keep you fed for a while."

With Shen Shihuang's help, they had managed to secure every single treasure Zi Yan had previously known about—even those guarded by Dou Huang-level magical beasts.

"Hehe."

Zi Yan flashed her little fangs, clearly in a great mood.

"Alright then, let's head back."

Upon returning to Jianan Academy, Zi Yan went off to play with Heng General. For some unknown reason, the two had grown quite close lately, and whenever she had free time, she would take Heng General wandering all over the Inner Academy.

Earth Fiend, on the other hand, was very quiet. He rarely left his room, preferring to drink tea alone as if savoring a tranquil life. As for Shen Shihuang, whenever he had a spare moment, he would either pore over the various books in the Inner Academy or seek out the elders to ask them questions.

The days passed in a fulfilling manner.

Inside the pavilion.

As soon as Shen Shihuang returned, Earth Fiend spoke up: "Your Dou Qi is becoming increasingly solid. Are you not planning to break through yet?"

Shen Shihuang sat down opposite Earth Fiend.

He asked curiously: "You seem very eager for me to break through lately. What's the matter?"

Earth Fiend seemed to ask this same question every single day.

Earth Fiend poured Shen Shihuang a cup of tea and said: "Although I remained in that hellish place for a long time, many experts broke in over those long years, and through them, I obtained quite a bit of information."

"I know you need Exotic Flames. Among the information I gathered, there happens to be a location that likely harbors one."

Upon hearing this, Shen Shihuang was stunned: "A place where an Exotic Flame exists? Which one?"

Earth Fiend shook his head.

"I am not sure."

"I seem to recall that the information I obtained pointed to something like an Exotic Flame. I have checked the records of Exotic Flames on the continent these past few days, but nothing matches."

"Therefore, I cannot be certain if it truly is an Exotic Flame."

"Or perhaps, like your Taisui Flame, it is an exotic fire not listed on the Exotic Flame Ranking."

Shen Shihuang seemed to understand.

"You mean you know the general location of an Exotic Flame, but my current strength as a Dou Zong is insufficient?"

Earth Fiend nodded.

"That is correct. At the very least, I fear your current strength is not enough."

"I estimate that when you reach the eight-star Dou Zong level, it should suffice. The fellow from back then was a one-star Dou Zun; when he fell into that abyss, I learned that even with his strength, he couldn't succeed and nearly perished."

Hiss!!

A Dou Zun's strength, and he nearly perished?

What kind of Exotic Flame was this?

"How long ago was this?" Shen Shihuang asked.

Earth Fiend recalled slightly: "A long time ago. I can't remember how many years, but..."

"If it really were an Exotic Flame, or if someone had already obtained it, there should be some record of it."

"Clearly, I haven't found any records regarding it. Either it isn't an Exotic Flame, or no one has found it yet."

Earth Fiend looked at Shen Shihuang: "You must grow stronger quickly. When the time comes, I will take you there. You, me, and Heng General—the three of us should be able to handle it."

Shen Shihuang suddenly smiled.

He looked at Earth Fiend and asked: "Do you know about many ruins?"

Earth Fiend: "...!"

"Don't even think about it. I do know quite a few, but the world seems a bit different now compared to the places I knew. I will organize my thoughts and tell you when the time is right."

"The prerequisite is that your strength must be sufficiently powerful."

"Otherwise, with our current level of strength, I fear we would perish inside."

Earth Fiend's current strength, while improved, had only been at this level for a short time. A two-star Dou Zun is indeed very strong, but in certain places, even that level of strength is truly not enough to look at.

"I understand!"

Shen Shihuang said, "Rest assured, it won't take long. Also, you should improve your strength as quickly as possible. With a wisp of the Taisui Flame to assist you, I imagine your rate of improvement will be much faster than mine."

Earth Fiend was a case of accumulating strength over a long period to achieve a sudden breakthrough.

Moreover, it was unknown just how deep that accumulation had become.

As for Heng General?

Its growth depended on the weather.

As long as there was thunder, it could grow stronger. Therefore, whenever it was overcast, raining, or thundering, it was the best time for Heng General to cultivate. Although such weather was rare, each time it occurred, Heng General's strength would skyrocket as if it were taking a plane.

It was fast enough to leave one tongue-tied.

Since Heng General arrived at Jianan Academy, there had been three instances of thundery weather. The first time, Heng General's strength rose to a five-star Dou Zong; the second time, it rose to a seven-star Dou Zong; and the third time, it rose to a nine-star Dou Zong.

Shen Shihuang couldn't help but wonder.

If there were one more thunderstorm, Heng General might just jump straight to Dou Zun.

Origin Beast.

It was practically cheating!

Just as Shen Shihuang stood up.

The voice of the system, which had been silent for a long time, finally rang out in his mind.

"Sign-in System reorganization complete."

"Sign-in location: Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower."

"Please sign in at the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower, Host."

"Only after each sign-in location is completed will a new location be reorganized."

A gleam appeared in Shen Shihuang's eyes.

A new location had finally arrived.

The Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.

Although he had been at Jianan Academy for a while, he had never actually been to the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.

Standing on the second floor.

Shen Shihuang gazed at the tall tower.

Inside it, there was an Exotic Flame.

Ranked fourteenth on the Exotic Flame Ranking, the Fallen Heart Flame.

The endless heart fire could accelerate cultivation, earning it the title of a cultivation cheat. Among all Exotic Flames, it was an extremely rare ability.

"It seems this time, I will have to get a little closer to the Fallen Heart Flame."

Shen Shihuang understood.

The current Fallen Heart Flame was thinking about how to break through the seal of the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower, especially since it had already developed some intelligence and also desired to devour other Exotic Flames...

Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.

Shen Shihuang stood in front of it, not far from the tower.

At this moment.

"Brother Shen?"

Han Yue walked over from behind, accompanied by two other young women.

Seeing Shen Shihuang, Han Yue called out in pleasant surprise.

"Han Yue?"

Shen Shihuang still had some impression of Han Yue.

"Brother Shen, are you planning to enter the tower?" Han Yue asked, somewhat puzzled. She was well aware of Shen Shihuang's strength; he was stronger than the First Elder Su Qian, and even Mo Tianxing, the Sect Leader of the Black Emperor Sect, was no match for him.

A Dou Zong powerhouse!

"Yes, I've been here for quite a while but haven't gone inside yet, so I thought I'd go in and take a look," Shen Shihuang said.

Han Yue invited him, "Brother Shen, would you like to go in with us? We happen to be heading in to cultivate."

Shen Shihuang shook his head.

"You all go ahead; I'll wait a moment."

Seeing this, Han Yue nodded.

"Alright, Brother Shen. If there's anything you don't understand, just feel free to ask us."

Han Yue led the two women into the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.

Shen Shihuang waited for another quarter of an hour.

"It shouldn't riot, should it?"

Shen Shihuang currently possessed two types of Heavenly Flames; if the Fallen Heart Flame were to sense them, he feared an accident might occur.

"I'll go in and take a look!"

As Shen Shihuang walked toward the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.

Deep within the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.

An invisible fire python suddenly opened its eyes, and in an instant, the violent fire-attribute energy surrounding it began to surge...