Naturally, Shen Luo did not hear the Fire Fairy's murmuring.
Since childhood, he had lived in the Shennong Mountain Range, following his master as he cultivated, learned alchemy, grasped Dou Qi, identified herbs, and tempered his muscles and bones. He had almost never ventured beyond those vast, untamed mountains.
The Central Plains were prosperous and brimming with opportunities, yet Shen Luo felt no attachment to them. He traveled through Space Wormholes with barely a pause, hurrying toward the Black-Corner Region without stopping to catch his breath.
The reason was simple: once certain opportunities slipped past, obtaining them later would be difficult.
Gu Xun'er had just returned to the Gu Clan, which meant she must have come back from Jia Nan Academy.
Judging by that timeline, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao were most likely still at Jia Nan Academy.
Shen Luo had little interest in Xiao Yan or Yao Lao. That child of destiny had his own path to walk, and his relationship with Gu Xun'er had already taken shape. Unless necessary, Shen Luo did not want to become entangled with them.
But Jia Nan Academy was different. Shen Luo had to lay his plans in advance. Even if that meant clashing with the child of destiny, he still had to do it.
The Ancient Void Dragon, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map, the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, the Fallen Heart Flame, the Earth Core Magma World, and even that legendary Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion that would determine the Dou Qi Continent's ultimate course... these were the real reasons he had rushed straight to Jia Nan Academy, travel-worn and dust-covered.
Several days later, Shen Luo arrived in the Black-Corner Region.
The Black-Corner Region remained as chaotic as ever. Slaughter raged between its cities, the strong reigned supreme, and the weak were no more than ants.
Yet Shen Luo made no attempt to conceal his aura. As an eighth-tier alchemist, he paid a direct visit to Jia Nan Academy.
Inside a secluded bamboo building in Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy, two gaunt-faced old men sat opposite each other.
Their auras were as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea, like two dormant volcanoes. Though not a trace leaked out, a heart-chilling pressure permeated their surroundings.
Beside them stood Su Qian, the Inner Academy's First Elder, and Hu Gan, the Outer Academy's Deputy Dean, both looking thoroughly restrained.
Shen Luo sipped the tea on the table. Its fragrance was delicate, but it could not dispel the heavy atmosphere in the room.
He set down his cup and said with a smile, "I have long heard of Jia Nan Academy's worldwide renown. Today, I finally have the opportunity to visit. Please forgive any trouble my arrival may cause."
"Not at all, not at all. Young friend, you have already become a Dou Zong at such a young age, and your alchemy has even reached the legendary eighth tier. It is our honor to welcome you as a guest at Jia Nan Academy," The Qianbai Elders said courteously.
The two had remained in secluded cultivation, striving to break through to the legendary Dou Zun realm.
Unless a matter of life and death arose, they would never leave seclusion lightly.
But not long ago, a surge of Late Spirit Realm spiritual strength had swept through the Inner Academy like a mighty tide, instantly rousing them.
An existence of this caliber was already beyond the likes of Hu Gan and Su Qian to handle.
Shen Luo nodded slightly, studying the men before him.
As far as he knew, Jia Nan Academy had been casually founded by Mang Tianchi, an elder of the Lei Clan, during his travels across the continent in his younger years.
After breaking through to Dou Zun, Mang Tianchi had returned to the Thunder Realm and never set foot in the Black-Corner Region again.
The Qianbai Elders and the others were actually ordinary Lei Clan descendants, with not a trace of Dou Di bloodline left in their bodies.
Years ago, they had followed Mang Tianchi out of the Thunder Realm and helped establish Jia Nan Academy. They had never returned.
However, Mang Tianchi had left behind some cultivation resources when he departed. Those resources were also the reason the Qianbai Elders had managed to reach Peak Dou Zong over the years.
"Haha, you are too kind! Jia Nan Academy's students can be found throughout the Dou Qi Continent, and I have long admired its reputation. Might I have the honor of becoming part of the academy?" Shen Luo asked with a smile.
The Qianbai Elders exchanged a glance, their brows creasing slightly.
For this young man to have achieved so much at his age, he must have an extraordinary background. Perhaps he came from some top-tier power in the Central Plains.
Why would someone like that take an interest in Jia Nan Academy?
They would not believe he had no ulterior motive. But if he did, what did Jia Nan Academy possess that could attract an eighth-tier alchemist and Dou Zong?
Could it be the heavenly flame?
Shen Luo seemed to notice the hesitation on their faces. With a flick of his finger, he sent a white jade bottle flying toward them.
"This is a Mid-Grade Seventh-Rank Pill. It is greatly beneficial to cultivation. Consider it my payment for spending some time exploring Jia Nan Academy," Shen Luo said.
The expressions of everyone present changed.
The few resources Mang Tianchi had left behind had long since been divided among them and consumed.
Even the strongest alchemist in the entire Black-Corner Region was only at the peak of the sixth tier. A Mid-Grade Seventh-Rank Pill was practically unheard of.
They had already reached Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong, so ordinary pills were of little use to them.
But a Mid-Grade Seventh-Rank Pill was different. Even if it could not push them directly into Dou Zun, it would still make the Dou Qi within them more concentrated, improving their chances of a future breakthrough.
The two immediately rose and cupped their hands. "Your coming to gain experience at Jia Nan Academy is an honor for us. How could we possibly refuse?"
Even if this man had designs on the heavenly flame, that was not out of the question.
As long as he paid the final compensation.
Everyone was selfish.
The little Fire Energy produced by the heavenly flame was almost useless to them. If they could exchange it for one or two Eighth-Tier Pills, allowing both of them to break through to Dou Zun, then someday, when they returned to the Thunder Realm...
A short while later, Shen Luo changed into a new set of robes and transformed into an elder of Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy.
"Elder Shen, let me show you around the Inner Academy so you can familiarize yourself with it," Su Qian said, his face wreathed in smiles.
This was an eighth-tier alchemist! Even in the Central Plains, he would be a towering figure.
Most of the pills the Dean had left for the academy had been eaten by those two old fossils, the Qianbai Elders. The number that had reached Su Qian's hands could be counted on his fingers.
As for Hu Gan, there was no need to mention him. He had received the least, which was why he had remained at Peak Dou Emperor for so many years.
Now that an eighth-tier alchemist stood right before him, Su Qian naturally had to seize the opportunity. Even if he could not obtain a pill, forging a friendly connection would still be worthwhile.
"Haha, sorry for the trouble, First Elder." Shen Luo naturally did not reject Su Qian's enthusiasm. He knew what Su Qian wanted from him.
And so, under the guidance of Su Qian, the Inner Academy's First Elder, Shen Luo finally arrived before the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower.
The towering structure rose majestically, its exterior ancient and plain. A scorching red glow faintly seeped through its cracks.
Sensing the dense, violent fire energy within the tower, Shen Luo's expression shifted slightly.
That energy was not merely scorching. It carried a ferocity that could burn the soul, as though a slumbering beast of flame lay suppressed beneath the tower.
At the bottom of this very tower were two heavenly flames. One had already matured, while the other seemed to still be in its infancy.
Besides those, there also seemed to be the remnant soul of an Ancient Dou Zun. Shen Luo could no longer remember his exact name.
Of course, none of that mattered.
Deep within the earth's core lay a cave mansion: Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave, belonging to the last Dou Di of the Dou Qi Continent.
At that thought, Shen Luo's expression grew even more solemn.
This was why he had rushed straight to Jia Nan Academy, travel-worn and dust-covered. This place would determine the course of the entire Dou Qi Continent.
Beside him, Su Qian smiled as he explained the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower's many wondrous uses, unaware that Shen Luo's thoughts had already pierced through the tower and descended into the endless depths of the earth's core.
Shen Luo slowly withdrew his gaze, a glimmer of unfathomable depth passing through his eyes.
First, I need to find that big-breasted dragon. I can't let that fellow Xiao Yan lure her away.
Before you continue