The morning mist over Jia Nan Academy had yet to fully disperse, but rhythmic shouts already rang across the training plaza surrounding the Heavenly Flames Tower.
Xiao Chen led the Xiao Clan members in practicing their newly learned Dou Techniques. Golden Dou Qi flowed beneath the morning sun, and although the youths' movements were still somewhat unpolished, they brimmed with vitality. Xiao Yan stood on the viewing platform beneath the tower, watching his clansmen grow stronger day by day, a pleased smile touching his lips.
"Brother Xiao Yan, the headmaster asks that you come to the Library Pavilion." An academy disciple hurried over, his expression anxious. A faint unease stirred in Xiao Yan's heart. As he followed the disciple through the corridors, he noticed the grave expressions on the instructors' faces. Many patrolling disciples had weapons strapped to their waists, and tension hung in the air.
"What happened?" Xiao Yan asked. The disciple lowered his voice. "I'm not sure, but I just saw the headmaster and several elders gathering in the Library Pavilion. It seems they discovered an important lead." They had barely reached the entrance when heated arguing came from inside. One sinister voice was particularly grating. "Why insist on being so stubborn, Headmaster? Keeping the fallen heart flame at the academy is a waste. Hand it over to me, Han Feng, and I can bring out its true worth!"
Xiao Yan pushed open the door. A middle-aged man in gray robes stood in the center of the Library Pavilion, his face sinister, several rings exclusive to alchemists adorning his fingers. The aura of a Five-Star Dou Emperor radiated from him. Two old men stood behind him, one in golden robes and the other in a silver tunic. Both possessed the aura of a Peak Dou Emperor. They were none other than the Black-Corner Region's infamous Gold and Silver Elders!
The headmaster stood protectively before the display of ancient texts, his hair and beard bristling. "Han Feng! As a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, you actually colluded with evil cultivators to force your way into the academy! Aren't you afraid the Mainland Alchemist Association will put a bounty on your head?" Han Feng sneered. "A bounty? Once I obtain the fallen heart flame and break through to Dou Zong, who would dare hunt me? You'd better obediently hand over the key to the underground seal, Headmaster, before we spoil our friendly relations."
Xiao Yan stepped forward, releasing his Eight-Star Dou Wang aura. "Han Feng? The alchemist from the Black-Corner Region who cultivates by plundering medicinal ingredients? To think you'd dare set your sights on Jia Nan Academy." Han Feng's gaze settled on Xiao Yan, greed flashing in his eyes. "Oh? Aren't you that little fellow from the Jia Ma Empire? I hear you have two heavenly flames. Hand those over as well and save me the trouble."
"Keep dreaming!" The mysterious yellow flame ignited in Xiao Yan's palm. "The fallen heart flame is the academy's greatest treasure. How could we let a petty villain like you lay your filthy hands on it?" The gold-robed elder stepped forward, and the pressure of a Peak Dou Emperor crashed toward him. "A brat with milk still on his breath dares speak out of turn? Today, you'll learn the might of the Gold and Silver Elders!"
The headmaster hurriedly said, "Young friend Xiao Yan, get back! They're the most vicious Dou Emperors in the Black-Corner Region. They kill without blinking!" Han Feng clapped his hands, and earth-shaking battle cries suddenly erupted outside the Library Pavilion. Countless black-clad figures broke through the academy's defensive barrier and charged toward the Heavenly Flames Tower. "My people have already begun. There's still time to surrender, Headmaster." Han Feng's smile grew increasingly savage.
"Never!" The headmaster drew an ancient staff, his Dou Qi surging. "Notify every instructor to activate the highest-level Defensive Formation! Protect the underground seal!" At his command, countless runes suddenly lit up throughout Jia Nan Academy, and pale golden screens of light enveloped its main buildings. But Han Feng had brought far too many black-clad attackers, including more than ten Dou Huang experts. Cracks soon spread across the light screens.
"Young friend Xiao Yan, take your clansmen through the secret passage and go to Ten Thousand Beasts Valley for reinforcements!" the headmaster shouted to Xiao Yan while fending off the Gold and Silver Elders. "There's a map leading to the underground seal in a hidden compartment in the Library Pavilion. You must protect the fallen heart flame! It cannot fall into the hands of the Otherworldly Demons!"
Han Feng laughed at that. "Trying to run? Too late! Gold and Silver Elders, stop him!" The gold-robed elder flashed forward, his Peak Dou Emperor Dou Qi forming a vast net that descended over Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yi Xian, how are things on Nalan Yanran's side?" Xiao Yan asked through his communication Jade Slip. Frantic sounds of fighting came from the other end. "Three Dou Emperors have us pinned down at the Heavenly Flames Tower! Xiao Chen and the others have fallen back to the second floor!"
"Hold on! I'm coming!" Xiao Yan put away the Jade Slip and swept his Heavy Sword across. Golden and azure flames formed a wall of fire, temporarily blocking the gold-robed elder's attack. He told the headmaster, "I'll reinforce the Heavenly Flames Tower. I'm leaving this place to you!" His Azure Luan Wings unfurled, carrying him through a window of the Library Pavilion and toward the tower.
The academy plazas along his route had descended into chaotic battle. Black-clad attackers slaughtered students with their weapons, and many young disciples lay in pools of blood, staining the white flagstones crimson. Xiao Yan's eyes nearly split with fury. His mysterious yellow flame became a sky-filling rain of fire, burning the attackers at the front to charcoal. "Han Feng! You slaughter the innocent! Aren't you afraid of heaven's retribution?!"
The silver-clad elder pursued close behind, lashing his silver whip toward Xiao Yan like a living serpent. "A mere Dou Wang dares interfere with us? Today, you'll die without even a place to bury your bones!" The whip whistled through the air, its Peak Dou Emperor Dou Qi making the air crack explosively. Xiao Yan dared not meet it head-on. He accelerated with his Azure Luan Wings, performing several perilous evasive maneuvers in midair.
"Flame Wave: Windbreaker!" Xiao Yan turned and slashed, condensing his golden and azure flames into a streak of sword energy that collided with the silver whip. Clang! The sword energy shattered. The impact sent Xiao Yan's blood churning, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. The silver-clad elder laughed viciously. "An Eight-Star Dou Wang cannot withstand a single blow from a Peak Dou Emperor!"
Just then, a purple figure struck from the side like lightning. Dark green poison Dou Qi formed several venomous arrows that shot toward the silver-clad elder. "Who?!" The elder hurriedly pulled his whip back to defend himself. The poison arrows hissed against the silver whip, corroding several small holes into it.
"Xiao Yi Xian!" Xiao Yan was both startled and delighted. Xiao Yi Xian's purple skirt fluttered around her. Although her Dou Zong-level aura was still unstable, it was enough to hold a Peak Dou Emperor in check. "Go to the Heavenly Flames Tower! Leave this to me!" Green mist curled around her fingertips. "My poison Dou Qi can suppress their movements for a while!"
Nalan Yanran also arrived with several academy instructors to provide support. Her wind Dou Qi became a sky full of wind blades, cutting down every black-clad pursuer. "Xiao Yan, get inside the tower! The entrance to the underground seal is behind the flame totem on the third floor!" Xiao Yan nodded. Without further hesitation, he spread his Azure Luan Wings to their fullest and broke through layer after layer of resistance, finally reaching the base of the Heavenly Flames Tower.
The fighting inside the tower was just as fierce. Xiao Chen led the Xiao Clan members in guarding the stairwell. Using the Defensive Array Disk obtained from the Misty Cloud Sect's treasury, they had erected a wall of fire that temporarily held off the attackers. "Brother Xiao Yan! You're finally here!" Tears of excitement filled Xiao Chen's eyes when he saw him. "They're trying to get underground and seize the fallen heart flame!"
Xiao Yan landed on the third floor. Sure enough, the flame totem on the wall was flickering, with a groove beneath it clearly meant for a key. Just as he was about to approach, Han Feng suddenly appeared at the stairwell. His Five-Star Dou Emperor Dou Qi enveloped the entire floor. "You run quite fast, little fellow. Unfortunately, you still can't escape the palm of my hand."
"Your opponent is me!" The headmaster arrived leaning on his staff, his body covered in wounds. He had clearly been injured in the fighting at the Library Pavilion. Han Feng sneered. "Still haven't given up, old fool? Then don't blame me for showing no mercy!" He formed seals with both hands, condensing his pale green Dou Qi into a poisonous lotus. "Sixth-rank alchemy: Bone-Corroding Lotus!"
The poisonous lotus flew toward the headmaster with a pungent stench, corroding black trails through the air in its wake. Xiao Yan sent his mysterious yellow flame flying from his hand. The golden fire enveloped the poisonous lotus with a hiss. "Headmaster, go! Notify the reinforcements from Ten Thousand Beasts Valley and the Jia Ma Empire! I'll hold this place!"
Looking into Xiao Yan's resolute eyes, the headmaster gritted his teeth. "Be careful! Han Feng's alchemy is strange. His Dou Qi is mixed with all kinds of poisons!" He turned and withdrew through the secret passage. Han Feng tried to stop him, but Xiao Yan kept him firmly engaged. "You brat who doesn't know life from death!" Han Feng roared. His Five-Star Dou Emperor Dou Qi erupted at full strength, and green poison Dou Qi surged toward Xiao Yan like a tide.
Xiao Yan pushed his Eight-Star Dou Wang Dou Qi to its limit, weaving his two heavenly flames into a spiral. "Purifying Spirit Burning Heaven Record, eighth form: Twin Flames Returning as One!" The golden and azure flames formed a massive vortex that collided with the green poison Dou Qi. The two utterly different forces clashed furiously in the confined space. The entire Heavenly Flames Tower shook violently, and the flame totem on the wall flickered erratically.
"Your heavenly flames are impressive, but the gap in our strength is far too great!" Han Feng laughed savagely and increased his Dou Qi output. The green poison Dou Qi gradually overwhelmed the fiery vortex and began eating into Xiao Yan's protective barrier. Waves of burning pain coursed through Xiao Yan's arms. Fine cracks had already appeared across the barrier; it clearly would not hold much longer.
At that critical moment, the flame totem suddenly erupted with dazzling light. A stream of pure flame energy gushed from underground and poured into Xiao Yan's body. "This is... the fallen heart flame's power?" Xiao Yan was profoundly shaken. Bolstered by this power, his Eight-Star Dou Wang Dou Qi began surging, showing faint signs of a breakthrough to Dou Emperor!
Han Feng also sensed something was wrong, and alarm flashed in his eyes. "How is that possible? You can draw upon the fallen heart flame's power?!" He increased his poison Dou Qi output, trying to kill Xiao Yan before he broke through. But the fallen heart flame's power continued pouring in without end. Xiao Yan's Dou Qi grew ever stronger, and his golden and azure flames once again suppressed the green poison Dou Qi.
"Flame Wave: Heaven-Burner!" Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Yan fused his two heavenly flames with the fallen heart flame's power and unleashed his strongest strike. Golden fire formed a colossal dragon that charged toward Han Feng with the momentum to burn the heavens and destroy the earth. Han Feng's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly brought out a defensive shield, gathering green poison Dou Qi into a lotus pattern across its surface.
Boom! The fire dragon collided with the shield in an earth-shaking explosion. The entire third floor of the Heavenly Flames Tower was razed. Han Feng flew backward like a kite with its string cut, vomiting blood. His clothes were scorched across his chest, and his defensive shield shattered into several pieces. Xiao Yan was also hurled away by the shock wave and slammed into a wall. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but the flames of victory burned in his eyes.
"Impossible... how could you possibly injure me..." Han Feng struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with disbelief. Xiao Yan tightened his grip on his Heavy Sword. Though his Eight-Star Dou Wang aura was in disarray, his fighting spirit burned fiercer than ever. "You covet the academy's heavenly flame and slaughter innocent students. Today is the day you die!"
Just then, the Gold and Silver Elders suddenly appeared beside Han Feng. The gold-robed elder helped him up. "Young master, hurry! Reinforcements from Ten Thousand Beasts Valley are almost here!" The silver-clad elder stared venomously at Xiao Yan. "Brat, we'll spare your life for today. Next time we meet, we'll take your worthless head!" The three became streaks of light and fled beyond the academy. Seeing their leaders retreat, the remaining black-clad attackers scattered in defeat.
Xiao Yan slumped to the ground. Watching the direction in which Han Feng and the others had vanished, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran hurried over, concern appearing on both their faces when they saw his injuries. "How are you? Where are you hurt?" Xiao Yi Xian took out a healing pill and carefully fed it into his mouth.
Xiao Yan shook his head and pointed underground. "Quick... check the seal. The fallen heart flame stirred just now. I'm afraid..." The headmaster arrived with reinforcements from Ten Thousand Beasts Valley, and his expression changed drastically at those words. "This is bad! Han Feng didn't obtain the key, but his poison Dou Qi may already have contaminated the seal!"
Everyone hurried underground through the secret passage behind the flame totem. Sure enough, green poisonous markings covered the crystal coffin at the center of the sealing chamber. The once-stable fallen heart flame now throbbed violently, giving off an uneasy hum. "We must remove those poisonous markings as soon as possible. If the seal breaks and the fallen heart flame runs wild, the entire Black-Corner Region will be swallowed by a sea of fire!" the headmaster said anxiously.
Enduring his injuries, Xiao Yan stepped forward and ignited his mysterious yellow flame in his palm. "Let me try!" The golden flames carefully covered the crystal coffin and began a fierce struggle against the green poisonous markings. This time, the fallen heart flame willingly cooperated. Red and golden flames intertwined, forming a fiery barrier with even stronger purification power.
Half an hour later, the final poisonous marking was removed, and the crystal coffin regained its original clarity. The fallen heart flame settled within the coffin, emitting a gentle glow that nourished the entire underground seal. The headmaster wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Thank goodness for you. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable."
Xiao Yan withdrew his mysterious yellow flame, and his body went limp. Nalan Yanran caught him. Looking at the fallen heart flame within the crystal coffin, he grew thoughtful. When he had drawn upon its power earlier, he had faintly sensed a familiar aura that seemed connected to his father, Xiao Zhan. Could Father's disappearance also be connected to this heavenly flame?
The academy's cleanup lasted an entire day. When the casualties were counted, everyone fell silent-nearly a hundred students and instructors had died in the surprise attack. The Heavenly Flames Tower's third floor had been almost completely destroyed, and some ancient texts in the Library Pavilion had also been damaged. Xiao Yan stood in the plaza, watching the young clansmen mourn their fallen companions in silence, his heart filled with anger and self-reproach.
"Don't be too upset." Xiao Yi Xian handed him a Soul-Gathering Pill. "Han Feng escaped, but he was badly injured too. He won't return anytime soon. We've reinforced the seal and asked Ten Thousand Beasts Valley to station high-ranking magical beasts here. It's much safer now." Nalan Yanran added, "The Jia Ma Empire's Spirit Gatherer Association has also sent word. They'll send two Dou Huang experts to help form a joint defensive line."
The headmaster walked over to Xiao Yan and handed him an ancient key. "This is the spare key to the underground seal. From now on, you are an Honorary Elder of Jia Nan Academy, with the authority to draw upon some of its resources. Han Feng certainly won't let this matter rest. We need greater strength to protect the fallen heart flame."
Xiao Yan accepted the key and solemnly put it away. "I'll improve my strength as quickly as possible. The next time Han Feng comes, I'll make sure he never returns!" Beneath the setting sun, the outline of the Heavenly Flames Tower looked especially solemn in the gathering dusk. Although Jia Nan Academy had suffered grievous losses in the battle, the Anti-Demon Alliance had also grown more united. Xiao Yan knew this was only the beginning. With the fallen heart flame stirring and clues to his father emerging, an even greater storm was quietly brewing.
As night fell, Xiao Yan stood before the ruins of the Heavenly Flames Tower, his mysterious yellow flame burning quietly in his palm. His Eight-Star Dou Wang Dou Qi slowly circulated through his body, absorbing the energy escaping from the fallen heart flame and growing ever purer. He gazed toward the underground seal, resolve flashing in his eyes. No matter how powerful Han Feng and the forces behind him are, no matter how many secrets lie hidden in Father's disappearance, I'll uncover them one by one. With the heavenly flames and Heavy Sword in my hands, I'll protect those around me.
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