"If possible, I'd like to examine the academy's Tier 5 and Tier 6 pill formulas!"
Since Su Qian had already spoken, Jiang Yun naturally wouldn't be polite, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he went straight for the Dou Qi Continent's 'black technology'.
Pill formulas below Tier 5 in the academy could be borrowed as long as one had enough Fire Energy. However, once it reached Tier 5, Fire Energy alone was not enough.
It also required some special conditions. Tier 5 pill formulas were already a foundation of a power. It should be known that pill formulas were not easy to create; they required high-level Alchemists, consumed great effort, and were made using spiritual power. Each time they were read, there would be some wear and tear, making them truly strategic resources.
After hearing Jiang Yun's request, before Su Qian could speak, Elder Huo sternly rebuked, "Jiang Yun, in alchemy, one must never be overly ambitious. You must proceed step by step. You've just become an Alchemist; you should be down-to-earth and not swayed by external things. Only then can you live up to your talent."
The suddenly serious Elder Huo made Jiang Yun slightly stunned. Knowing that the other party was doing it for his own good, Jiang Yun felt a warmth in his heart. At this moment, he was incredibly fortunate that he had ended up near Jia Nan Academy and was brought back by Su Qian.
This was indeed a good place, and it also had a group of good elders!
"Thank you, Elder Huo, for your lesson. This student will remember it!" Jiang Yun respectfully cupped his hands to Elder Huo, admitting his mistake.
"Mm!" Jiang Yun's attitude greatly pleased Elder Huo. To know one's mistakes and be able to correct them was a great virtue. If Jiang Yun had insisted on his own way, Elder Huo would only have felt regret.
"How about this, Jiang Yun, I'll grant you the right to borrow Tier 5 and Tier 6 pill formulas, but you'll only be able to borrow and view them after receiving Elder Huo's approval!"
Su Qian spoke at this time. He was still worried about Jiang Yun, fearing that he couldn't resist temptation, so he added a condition.
"Good!"
With the conditions agreed upon, Jiang Yun took out a scroll. This was a formation diagram for Tier 1 and Tier 2 Spirit Gathering Formations that Jiang Yun had created.
Taking the formation diagram and looking at the neat scroll, Su Qian secretly complained in his heart, but he didn't expose it. He carefully observed the formation diagram in his hand, and after a long time, he sighed.
"I never thought such a formation method could exist in this world. It truly is a work of ingenious craftsmanship!"
As he spoke, his words took a turn, and he asked doubtfully, "Is the Spirit Gathering Stone truly indispensable?"
"If it is to exist for a long time, the Spirit Gathering Stone is indispensable. However, for temporary use, it is not needed, just like the one I set up for Zi Yan."
"I will do my best to find it!" Su Qian pondered, then nodded and said.
"Actually, I have another idea, but I don't know if the Grand Elder will agree!"
At this moment, Jiang Yun spoke, his eyes exceptionally bright.
Su Qian's heart skipped a beat, and he said in a deep voice, "Speak!"
"If my guess is correct, a strange flame is sealed beneath the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower, isn't it?" Jiang Yun smiled mysteriously at this moment, speaking with certainty.
"How do you know?" Su Qian subconsciously replied, then immediately reacted and understood, "Oh, right, you have a strange flame. There's a connection between strange flames, so it wouldn't be hidden from you!"
Since Su Qian misunderstood, Jiang Yun didn't correct him and continued, "I've been to the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower, and its effect made me think of the Fallen Heart Flame, ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking list!"
"The Fallen Heart Flame itself has the effect of refining Dou Qi and accelerating cultivation. If the Fallen Heart Flame were used as the core of the formation, this Spirit Gathering Formation could achieve twice the result with half the effort!"
To be honest, Su Qian was tempted. If this matter succeeded, it would not only benefit the academy but also greatly benefit them.
"I need to go back and discuss it with the other elders!"
Su Qian left this sentence and departed with Elder Huo and Elder Qing. As Elder Huo and Elder Qing left, they didn't forget to give Jiang Yun a kind smile.
Watching the three figures depart, Jiang Yun's deep gaze was fixed on the direction of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower, and a low murmur drifted with the wind.
"I hope it succeeds!"
Time flew by; a year passed in a flash!
Ever since he handed over the Spirit Gathering Formation to Su Qian, and also proposed using the Fallen Heart Flame as the core of the formation, at first, Su Qian even sent people to search for the existence of Spirit Gathering Stones.
Unfortunately, the two worlds were too different. Perhaps in this world, Spirit Gathering Stones weren't called Spirit Gathering Stones at all, so Jia Nan Academy naturally found nothing.
Then, three months ago, Su Qian came to inform him that he agreed to Jiang Yun's plan and that they could try it. However, the academy needed to make some preparations to prevent the Fallen Heart Flame from going rampant.
Jiang Yun wasn't in a hurry. In this year, ever since he gained the identity of the Alchemy Department, he had focused on studying alchemy to solidify his foundations.
In one year, Jiang Yun repeatedly refreshed the Alchemy Department's understanding. He passed the Tier 1 Alchemist assessment in one month, the Tier 2 Alchemist assessment two months later, the Tier 3 Alchemist assessment four months later, and the Tier 4 Alchemist assessment seven months later. Until half a month ago, Jiang Yun successfully broke through to become a Tier 5 Alchemist.
Such astonishing speed completely shattered everyone's worldview. He even earned the title of 'Little Medicine Saint'.
As he broke through to Tier 4 Alchemist, the students who had previously opposed him now all treated him with utmost respect, saying things like 'we became friends after a fight' and 'Grandmaster Jiang, please don't mind'.
Jiang Yun was now the most unprovokable existence among the Inner Court students, not only because of his alchemy skills but also because he had successfully reached the peak of the Dou Ling realm.
A month ago, Feng Wuhen, the second-ranked on the Inner Court's Strong Ranking, challenged Jiang Yun and was defeated by Jiang Yun in three moves. Since then, Jiang Yun firmly held the top spot on the Strong Ranking, his prestige unmatched for a time.
Looking at the purple cocoon in front of him, Jiang Yun could feel the vigorous aura within. He hadn't expected Zi Yan's advancement this time to take so long. Was it because of her previous bloodline awakening?
Leaning close to the light cocoon, Jiang Yun muttered to himself, "I didn't expect you, Zi Yan, to be in seclusion for a whole year. Next, I'll also be going into seclusion. I wonder how long it will be until we meet again. I've already refined pills for you, enough for you to eat for a long time."
As if hearing Jiang Yun's words, the large cocoon suddenly flickered.
Jiang Yun chuckled, his eyes filled with gentleness: "Don't worry, I'll be fine!"
"I'm leaving!"
The door slowly closed, and a determined figure headed towards the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower.
Heavenly Flame Refining Tower.
"Creak."
Slowly pushing open the heavy iron door, amidst the creaking sound of the door hinges, a scorching aura, as if it had been sealed for countless years, surged out like a swarm.
"Thump thump thump—"
The lowest level, usually uninhabited, welcomed a young figure today.
Jiang Yun slowly walked to a deep hole about ten zhang wide in the central area. Crimson light extended from it like a pillar of light, completely dispelling the darkness here.
As he approached the deep hole in the center, the surrounding air became hotter, and the fire-attributed energy contained within became purer.
Looking at the invisible fire python quietly coiled in the cave entrance, Jiang Yun remained silent, his eyes flickering.
A moment later, Jiang Yun averted his gaze and began to survey the surroundings. After a short while, Jiang Yun made his move, and spiritual seals began to appear, falling in an orderly fashion onto various special nodes.
Dozens of spiritual seals merged into the air, forming light spots that were difficult to see with the naked eye. With a thought from Jiang Yun, these light spots extended into lines of light, which finally converged.
In just an hour, a Spirit Gathering Formation enveloping the entire Heavenly Flame Refining Tower was completed.
"Buzz—"
The moment the formation took shape, the surrounding heaven and earth energy began to rapidly gather towards the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower. This phenomenon naturally attracted the attention of Su Qian and others outside.
"It's done!"
Su Qian and several other elders, including Elder Qing, exchanged glances, and an indescribable joy appeared on their faces.
"Alright, the Spirit Gathering Formation is complete. Inform the students that the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower will open in three days. Tell them to prepare well and not miss it!" Su Qian was the first to recover and instructed Elder Liu.
"Yes!" Elder Liu responded, then said strangely, "Grand Elder, why isn't Jiang Yun coming out?"
Elder Liu was the one who showed kindness to Jiang Yun the first time he came to the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower. Now, he greatly admired his own foresight, as he had only thought highly of Jiang Yun back then.
He hadn't expected the other party to give him such a big surprise. In just one year, he was already at the peak of Dou Ling and a Tier 5 Alchemist.
A few days ago, Jiang Yun had just helped him refine a Tier 5 Dragon Strength Pill. Now, he found Jiang Yun more and more pleasing to the eye, treating him almost like his own grandson.
Seeing that Jiang Yun had not yet appeared, he asked with some concern.
"Jiang Yun has made a great contribution to the academy this time. I have already allowed him to cultivate at the bottom of the tower for a period of time!"
Regarding Elder Liu's question, Su Qian stroked his clean white beard, answering with a beaming smile, and finally teased, "Elder Liu, I'm afraid by the time Jiang Yun comes out of seclusion, he'll already be a Dou King!"
"Tsk tsk—a Dou King at eleven or twelve years old. Jiang Yun's future is limitless!"
"Haha—good! Jiang Yun is a child of our Jia Nan Academy. The more outstanding he is, the happier I am!"
"Let's go, we should also prepare and try this new type of Heavenly Flame Refining Tower to see if we have a chance to advance further. Otherwise, I'm afraid Jiang Yun will catch up in the blink of an eye!"
At this moment, Jiang Yun, who was at the bottom of the tower, could clearly feel that the surrounding heaven and earth energy was becoming denser, and his cultivation was about thirty percent faster than before.
This was already a significant improvement!
After completing the setup, Jiang Yun took a deep breath and once again came to the central cave entrance.
"Hiss—"
Unlike before, a huge fire python was now coiled at the cave entrance, its massive snake head facing Jiang Yun. Its snake eyes, formed by invisible flames, stared unblinkingly at Jiang Yun.
If a timid person were here, they would probably have been scared out of their wits!
However, Jiang Yun seemed to have anticipated it. He wasn't surprised by the appearance of the Fallen Heart Flame. Instead, he calmly gazed at it and slowly said, "Now it's our turn!"
As his voice fell, Jiang Yun leaped up, and a pair of black and white wings slowly unfolded behind him, gently flapping. He directly jumped into the deep hole.
Jiang Yun had already reached the peak of Dou Ling. At this stage, he could temporarily summon Dou Qi wings, and with the purity of Jiang Yun's Dou Qi, he could certainly do so.
"Roar—" The invisible fire python, formed by the Fallen Heart Flame, roared, turned its snake head, twisted its body, and quickly chased after Jiang Yun.
The scorching gale whistled past his ears as Jiang Yun's figure continuously slid down the hole. As his figure drew closer to the underground magma world, the surrounding air became increasingly hot.
This endless descent continued for quite some time before Jiang Yun's vision suddenly widened.
What appeared before him now was an endless world of magma. Huge bubbles emerged from the magma, then burst open, and a scorching aura accompanied by specks of white smoke spread from within.
Jiang Yun's wings vibrated, stabilizing his body in mid-air above this magma world.
"Roar—"
At this moment, the fire python, which had followed closely, let out a loud roar, and a greedy look flashed in its eyes.
"Come on, success or failure depends on this one move!" Jiang Yun, as if long prepared, spread his arms, adopting an embracing posture, letting out a clear laugh, and quietly watched the Fallen Heart Flame!
"Roar—"
In his dark pupils, invisible flames rushed towards him. The sea of fire surged, and Jiang Yun's figure had disappeared above the magma. With the disappearance of the Fallen Heart Flame, this space once again returned to an ancient tranquility.
Hot, incredibly hot!
Not only was his body surface incredibly hot, but even his insides began to feel parched. The Fallen Heart Flame, as an invisible flame, could ignite human emotions, burning from within as fuel, and could even directly attack one's soul.
Around him was a crimson magma like fresh blood. About a zhang away from him, a ball of invisible flame was fiercely burning, trying to refine him. However, a faint blue light protected his body.
Ensuring he wasn't instantly incinerated!
Jiang Yun felt a bone-deep pain at this moment, so much so that he grimaced. He spoke with a somewhat dry voice, "It really hurts!!!"
"I guess this is the first time I've been in such a sorry state?"
"Xiao Yun, you were reckless this time!" Qing Ming's figure slowly appeared beside him, his ethereal face showing displeased reproach.
"Senior Qing Ming, this was a choice born of necessity!" Jiang Yun's expression returned to calm, and his delicate face showed unprecedented determination.
"But..." Qing Ming hesitated, looking around at the invisible flames, and asked with some confusion, "Can this flame really deal with 'Him'?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun grinned, spread his hands, shrugged, and said, "I don't know!"
"You, you're being absurd!" Qing Ming was so angry that his figure became illusory. If it weren't for Jiang Yun's critical condition, he probably would have already acted.
"Heh heh, since things have come to this, you can only trust me, trust that I will succeed!" Jiang Yun's face once again showed a smile, which brought Qing Ming back to calmness.
"Alas—"
"If you fail in the end, I will do my best to preserve your soul." Qing Ming's heart softened in the end, and he said with a tough facade but a soft heart.
"Thank you!" A warmth rose in Jiang Yun's heart. For your sake, I won't fail!
"Saint Heaven, won't you come out and meet an old friend?"