Jiang Yun continued to move forward. The sheer size of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower was somewhat beyond imagination. From a distance, only a spire was visible, but upon closer approach, he realized that this single spire alone was as tall as a three-story building.
Jiang Yun's gaze wandered. Many people around him had come in pairs, and some of them wore unique insignias, likely belonging to certain factions. This indicated that there were numerous forces within the Inner Court.
At this time, the students of Xiao Yan's generation, as Jiang Yun remembered, had not yet entered the Inner Court. The current Inner Court forces and the students on the Strong Ranking were different people, but they were by no means weak.
Jiang Yun found a spot with an excellent view and quietly watched the crowd below. He wasn't in a hurry anyway; he had an Azure Fire Crystal Card, which allowed him to cultivate on the fifth or sixth floor, so there was no need to rush.
A large group of people occupied the open space closest to the black tower, neatly divided into several areas. In each area, a large group of people sat cross-legged, all bearing distinctive insignias, presumably representing some of the powerful forces within the Inner Court.
"Dong…"
An ancient bell chime resounded throughout the area. With the sound of the bell, all the old students present ceased their clamor and eagerly looked at the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower.
"Open the tower!"
As the bell chime faded, an aged voice seemed to emerge from within the tower. The previously tightly shut, dark black door at the top of the black tower creaked open, and a faint, scorching aura permeated out, causing the temperature of this area to rise slightly.
"Those who wish to enter the tower may now enter!"
The aged voice sounded again, and this seemed to ignite the entire plaza. A rush of wind rose as figures who had been sitting cross-legged shot towards the tower door, and a vast tide of people surged towards the black tower.
Jiang Yun followed the crowd into the black tower. As he approached the black tower's entrance, he felt his heart beating abnormally, and the Holy Heavenly Demon Flame, contained within his Dantian, violently pulsed.
A slight flush appeared on Jiang Yun's face, and a faint white mist emanated from his body.
Some old students, seeing Jiang Yun's condition, were surprised by his age and remarked in astonishment, "Who is this kid? Could he be a genius brought in by some Elder? How dare he enter the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower for the first time without any precautions?"
"I don't know, maybe he's an Elder's grandson, brought to experience Inner Court life in advance?"
"Don't talk nonsense, all of you. He is the famous Jiang Yun among this year's new students, the ruthless one who defeated the Black Demon and White Demon teams in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition."
"..."
Someone in the crowd who recognized Jiang Yun spread the word, and everyone learned his identity: he was that rising star, the monstrous talent. Their gazes towards Jiang Yun immediately filled with surprise and apprehension.
Of course, there was also a hint of something else. Having plundered all the way, just how rich was Jiang Yun now?
Jiang Yun was still unaware that someone was plotting against him. He was currently observing the invisible flame within his body. It was formless and intangible, only causing the surrounding space to slightly warp with its high temperature, showing no resemblance to a flame at all.
However, the burning sensation in his meridians and organs, bringing waves of sharp pain, was telling him of the Fallen Heart Flame's terror.
"The Fallen Heart Flame is known as a cultivation cheat. It can refine Dou Qi, making it purer, thereby saving the time spent refining external Dou Qi and greatly increasing cultivation speed. I wonder if my Dou Qi can still be refined?"
He cultivated the Crimson Fire Treasure Mirror, a cultivation method equivalent to an Earth Rank low-grade cultivation method on the Dou Qi Continent. Coupled with his absorption of the Holy Heavenly Demon Flame since childhood, his internal Dou Qi had long been refined to an incomparable purity. Jiang Yun couldn't guarantee that this mere projection of the Fallen Heart Flame would be effective for him.
As Jiang Yun pondered, he guided a few strands of black and white Dou Qi through the Heart Flame. His Dou Qi was already incredibly condensed, and after passing through this Heart Flame, it seemed to condense even further, though the change was too subtle to be clearly discerned.
"There is still some effect. Before reaching the Dou King stage, the Fallen Heart Flame projected by the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower should still be somewhat useful to me. After reaching the Dou King stage, I'm afraid only the true body of the Fallen Heart Flame will be of use to me."
Having understood this, Jiang Yun's mind stirred, and the Holy Heavenly Demon Flame immediately transformed into a hungry wolf, fiercely pouncing towards the invisible flame within his body.
Opening his eyes, Jiang Yun immediately saw a group of people staring at him with astonished expressions.
"You broke free from the Heart Flame's scorching on your own?" The leading old man's eyes widened, his tone carrying a hint of disbelief. How many years had it been? This was the first time he had encountered someone who could voluntarily break free from the Heart Flame's scorching.
"Is this an extraordinary aspect of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower? How interesting!" Jiang Yun asked knowingly.
The old man nodded, his eyes shining as he looked at Jiang Yun, "Good kid, you must be that monstrous new student from this generation! You indeed have some skills. I am the Elder guarding the first floor of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower. You can just call me Elder Liu."
Elder Liu looked at Jiang Yun kindly, having a very good impression of this young man.
Jiang Yun did not act presumptuously. In Jia Nan Academy, the status of an Elder was extremely high; only Dou King powerhouses or above could hold such a position.
Within the Inner Court, only a select few exceptionally talented individuals could earn an Elder's special regard, as these individuals had the potential to reach or even surpass them before graduation. Even Inner Court Elders would try to win over such people.
Wherever there are people, there are struggles, perhaps for power, perhaps for profit. Jia Nan Academy, after all, was a major force, and neither the Inner Court nor the Outer Court was a completely unified faction.
"Jiang Yun greets Elder!" Jiang Yun bowed neither humbly nor arrogantly, then asked, "Elder, I have an Azure Fire Crystal Card, so I should be able to go down, right?"
Elder Liu looked at the Azure Fire Crystal Card in Jiang Yun's hand, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He then cautioned, "The Azure Fire Crystal Card theoretically allows you to cultivate on the fifth and sixth floors, but you are only an eight-star Dou Grandmaster, which is still a bit too early."
"Elder Liu, please rest assured, I am confident!" Jiang Yun smiled faintly. Ordinary people cultivating in the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower inevitably encountered fire poison, which was why they couldn't stay there for long.
However, he possessed the Holy Heavenly Demon Flame, such a powerful flame, and was also the owner of the Nine Divine Meridians. The fire poison of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower posed no problem for him.
"Alright! The thoughts of your monstrous talents are always so extraordinary!"
After some consideration, Elder Liu nodded. He didn't doubt Jiang Yun's strength much. Although the Fire Energy Hunting Competition had only happened less than a day ago, Jiang Yun's strength was already well-known among them, the Elders.
An eight-star Dou Grandmaster defeating two five-star Dou Ling (Battle Spirit), suspected of cultivating an Earth-rank Dou Technique (or cultivation method?), which even few of them, Dou Kings, had successfully cultivated. Jiang Yun's success clearly indicated his extraordinary qualities.
Jiang Yun followed Elder Liu all the way to the sixth floor. The fiery aura permeating the air was almost solidified, and circles of nearly colorless scorching air seemed to give the formless Heart Flame a tangible shape.
There were significantly fewer people on the sixth floor. Those who could come down to the fifth floor and below were basically students at the Dou Ling (Battle Spirit) level.
There weren't many students of this level in the Inner Court, so it was rare to see students walking around casually here. They were all diligently cultivating, striving to improve their cultivation.
Jiang Yun took out his fire crystal card and swiped it in front of the cultivation room door, which immediately opened completely.
Although there were no traces of artifact refiners on the Dou Qi Continent, these extraordinary small objects clearly indicated that artifact refining on the Dou Qi Continent had once been glorious. Perhaps they were products left over from that time, or perhaps they were destroyed in that war.
Jiang Yun smoothly entered the advanced cultivation room. After inserting the Azure Fire Crystal Card into the slot of the advanced cultivation room, he sat down on a black obsidian cushion.
The moment he sat down, an invisible flame suddenly appeared within him. The intensity of this flame was considerably stronger than the Heart Flame he had encountered earlier.
With a thought, Jiang Yun's internal Dou Qi rapidly circulated, drilling towards the invisible flame. Hissing sounds emanated as Jiang Yun began his journey of Dou Qi refinement.
As Jiang Yun circulated his cultivation method, the cultivation room suddenly fluctuated. Waves of Heart Flame energy were drawn in from all directions, eventually even condensing into slightly tangible, pale red energy.
These almost solid, pale red energies swirled and roared around Jiang Yun's body, and then, as if drawn by some gravitational force, they fiercely crashed into Jiang Yun's body, completely merging into him.
Jiang Yun's body was like a black hole, accepting all comers. Countless energies were absorbed by him, and even more energies were drawn in.
At this moment, Jiang Yun was like a bottomless pit emitting infinite suction, devouring all the extremely rich Heart Flame energy in the cultivation room.
Such terrifying devouring, if known, would surely leave those who usually cultivated with extreme caution dumbfounded.
And just as Jiang Yun was cultivating with all his might, an unusual fluctuation suddenly emanated from a dark, deep well in the center of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower.
The pitch-black gloom stretched to the very end of sight, a bizarre darkness almost devoid of light, causing one's head to feel slightly dizzy.
Within that darkness, a massive, invisible fire python, at least ten meters thick but of unknown length, was suspended.
This was precisely the transformation of the Fallen Heart Flame. Its strength had clearly reached a level where it could condense a fire spirit with emotions and wisdom.
At this moment, even a Dou Zong (Battle Ancestor) wouldn't be able to gain an advantage against it.
The fire python's entire body was enveloped by somewhat distorted flames, and from its pair of huge triangular eyes, invisible fire continuously spewed forth. At this moment, the fire python seemed to sense something, and it suddenly lifted its head. Its eyes, larger than Jiang Yun's, seemed to pierce through layers of seals, seeing the cultivation room where Jiang Yun was located.
The Fallen Heart Flame, with an angry roar, shot out from the darkness. However, just as it was about to reach five meters above the dark deep hole, the surrounding space suddenly fluctuated. The space around the hole twisted in a peculiar way, forming a spatial cage.
And the fire python, formed by the Fallen Heart Flame, although its attack was grand and powerful, when it collided with the spatial cage, it only caused the cage to fluctuate for a moment, with no other effect.
Realizing that a breakthrough was impossible, the Fallen Heart Flame couldn't help but go somewhat mad. Invisible flames spewed out from its huge mouth, covering the sky and constantly incinerating the spatial cage. Alas, no matter how it burned, the spatial cage remained firmly in place!
After struggling madly for a long while, the Fallen Heart Flame finally grew somewhat exhausted. It let out a furious hiss towards the sky, and then, as space continuously twisted, the fire python once again transformed into invisible flames and drilled back into the dark deep hole.
As the Fallen Heart Flame disappeared, the spatial cage gradually faded until it finally vanished.
Just as the Fallen Heart Flame disappeared and fell silent again, a faint whisper echoed within the tower, but strangely, no one seemed to notice anything unusual.
"Strange, this is… the aura of the Myriad Flames Undying Body?"
As the sound faded, Jiang Yun, who was cultivating peacefully, subtly furrowed his brows for a fleeting moment.
"Not bad, I'm already at the peak of a nine-star Dou Grandmaster. After a bit more settling, I can break through to Dou Ling (Battle Spirit)."
Inside the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower, Jiang Yun slowly opened his eyes. The surrounding flame vortex gradually dissipated as he awoke. Although his cultivation hadn't changed drastically, he had already stepped halfway into the realm of a Dou Ling (Battle Spirit).
This was more than twenty percent faster than cultivating on his own, so it was a worthwhile trip.
Moreover, he had other gains.
As if thinking of something, a strange glint flashed in Jiang Yun's dark eyes, quickly returning to their calm, unruffled state.
Jiang Yun felt the surge of power within his body, a smile gracing his lips. He slowly got up, packed his belongings, and then stepped out of the advanced cultivation room, which had been closed for a long time.
"You cultivated for a full half a month on your first try, kid. I thought something had happened to you, but you're still alive and kicking. It looks like your cultivation has also broken through. It seems the universally acknowledged monstrous talent does have some abilities!"
Inside the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower, Elder Liu spoke to Jiang Yun with a beaming smile, his eyes revealing unconcealed curiosity.
Everyone knew that the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower offered excellent cultivation effects, but no student could stay inside for long.
Because below the Dou King (Battle King) stage, almost no one could endure more than ten consecutive days of cultivation. Although the Heart Flame was good, it also carried fire poison. Prolonged cultivation could lead to fire poison invading the body, so basically no one would stay inside continuously.
However, Jiang Yun was different. As a new student, and on his first encounter with the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower, he managed to stay for half a month. This was a record that even older students couldn't achieve, yet it appeared on a new student, making it legendary in itself.
However, thinking of the opponent's impressive battle record, Elder Liu felt it was only natural. Otherwise, if he were as 'ordinary' as other students, he wouldn't deserve the title of a monstrous talent.
"It's just some small tricks!"
Jiang Yun chuckled as he spoke to Elder Liu, his eyes filled with indifference, as if this matter, which was enough to cause a stir in the Inner Court, was nothing more than that to him.
Elder Liu looked at Jiang Yun with a hint of envy, marveling at his talent, and sighed, "Young people should have the vigor of youth. Don't be so mature. You should know that time flies easily; don't regret it when you're old."
Hearing this, a strange glint flashed in Jiang Yun's eyes, and he chuckled, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Liu."
"You can go out now. A young girl has been coming to look for you every day these past few days. You're a lucky boy!" Elder Liu nodded in satisfaction, then lowered his voice and whispered to Jiang Yun, his tone full of teasing.