Chapter 44: Time to Reap, Zi Yan Goes Berserk!
"You are… Yun'er, right?"
Seeing Jiang Yun awaken, the clouds of worry on Qing Ming's face completely dispersed. Excitement and joy appeared on his face. He stepped forward and asked nervously, his eyes fixed intently on Jiang Yun. A look of anxiety appeared on his face, as if he feared hearing an answer contrary to what he was hoping for.
Jiang Yun turned his head and looked at Qing Ming, whose eyes were filled with deep concern. Feeling warmth in his heart, the tense nerves that had been stretched taut during the year of struggle finally relaxed. He showed Qing Ming a genuine, heartfelt smile.
"Senior Qing Ming, it's me. I succeeded." Jiang Yun spoke slowly. At the same time, he raised his hand and beckoned. The black-and-white Saint Demon Flame and the invisible, colorless Fallen Heart Flame appeared in his hands respectively, dancing in his palms.
"Good, good, wonderful!" Receiving an affirmative answer and seeing the dancing flames, Qing Ming was so excited that he repeatedly praised him. Even his body trembled slightly.
"Child, you have suffered." Looking at Jiang Yun's exhausted eyes, Qing Ming's heart tightened and ached.
Jiang Yun was still a child!
He found it hard to imagine just how deep the conviction was that supported Jiang Yun and allowed him to achieve final victory.
"Senior Qing Ming, please stand guard for me. It is time to reap the harvest."
Jiang Yun did not indulge in the rare moment of peace for long. He spoke up again.
Having resolved the hidden danger within his body and learned the origin of the heavenly flames on the Dou Qi Continent, Jiang Yun had new plans in mind. There were still many things waiting for him.
Time waited for no one.
For Hun Tiandi to become an emperor, the Hun clan had schemed for over a thousand years. They had already reached their final moment. If, by the time of the final battle, Jiang Yun could not grow strong enough to oppose them with his own power…
Then, even if he had hidden trump cards that would keep him safe, that would still be unacceptable to him. He had even greater goals waiting for him.
"So urgent? Rest for a few days before absorbing it. It will not be too late." Hearing Jiang Yun's request, Qing Ming was startled and tried to persuade him.
Jiang Yun gently shook his head. Although his spirit was exhausted right now, this was also the best opportunity for a breakthrough.
Besides, Zi Yan had already woken up. He could not delay any longer.
"Very well. Be careful in everything." Seeing Jiang Yun's resolute attitude, Qing Ming did not say anything more. He knew Jiang Yun was a stubborn child. Few people could change a decision he had made. Qing Ming silently walked to the side, strengthened the barrier, and stood guard for Jiang Yun.
Seeing this, Jiang Yun sat in meditation for a moment. Then, looking at the little flame snake in his hand, his pupils turned deep black. He opened his mouth and swallowed the ball of flame snake into his stomach.
The moment the source flame entered his body, a wave of heat quietly spread from within. Jiang Yun quickly sat cross-legged. Milky-white flames continuously sprayed out from the pores all over his body.
Jiang Yun already had a plan for dealing with the Fallen Heart Flame. Unlike Xiao Yan, he did not possess the Burning Art, which allowed one to devour heavenly flames to evolve.
There was a predatory relationship among heavenly flames. Often, when a powerful heavenly flame encountered a weaker one, it would not hesitate to devour the other's origin to strengthen itself.
This was a relatively crude method, far less safe and thorough than the Burning Art. However, Jiang Yun also had his own advantages.
The Saint Demon Flame possessed a devouring attribute. It could perfectly utilize the energy accumulated by other heavenly flames over the years to strengthen itself. This was the method Jiang Yun had devised.
In this way, he would obtain the vast energy of the Fallen Heart Flame, and the Jia Nan Academy would acquire a newborn heavenly flame bud, as if reborn. It was a win-win situation.
He believed the Grand Elder would be happy to see this outcome.
Feeling the intense heat erupting within his body, Jiang Yun felt his insides gradually become scorching hot and even painfully burning. Even though he had consumed a large amount of its power earlier, the Fallen Heart Flame contained the accumulations of countless years. The temperature within it was naturally extraordinary.
"Your turn to perform."
Feeling the Fallen Heart Flame rampaging chaotically within him, frantically causing destruction, Jiang Yun spoke softly. Instantly, the Saint Demon Flame coiled in his dantian trembled.
The black flame transformed into a fierce black roaming dragon, charging with a howl toward the little snake that the Fallen Heart Flame had become.
Inside Jiang Yun's body, the Fallen Heart Flame was like a turtle in a jar. With Jiang Yun blatantly taking sides, the little flame snake was quickly swallowed in one gulp by the giant dragon.
After the Fallen Heart Flame was swallowed by the Saint Demon Flame, it began to violently resist. Although Jiang Yun had already subdued it, this was not going according to plan.
In the previous battle, Jiang Yun had won and had almost gained control over the Fallen Heart Flame. However, this flame was ranked quite high on the Strange Fire List. Having condensed for countless years and given birth to intelligence, how could it be willing to be completely refined?
The Fallen Heart Flame thought: I accepted you as my big brother, and now you want to eat me?
And so it began to resist. Inside the black dragon's body, the invisible fire python churned violently. The energy of heaven and earth contained in the surrounding space also seemed to erupt. Colorful, mottled energy became clearly visible, forming small cyclones that tried to break through the Saint Demon Flame's interior and provide assistance to the Fallen Heart Flame.
However, the Saint Demon Flame — or rather, the barriers Jiang Yun had set up — were very thorough. Not a single strand of external energy broke through the barrier to help the Fallen Heart Flame.
Although the external energy of heaven and earth was blocked by Jiang Yun, the terrifying heat of the Fallen Heart Flame's eruption did seep out through the black flame.
Although the Saint Demon Flame was of extremely high quality, a young child flame still fell slightly short in terms of energy compared to the Fallen Heart Flame, which had grown for endless years.
When the flame seeped out, Jiang Yun was the one who suffered. His body began to be burned by the heavenly flame from within. Fine beads of sweat quietly appeared on Jiang Yun's forehead.
Ignoring the flame's rampage, Jiang Yun mobilized the white holy flame within his energy vortex to roll toward the Fallen Heart Flame.
Three layers inside, three layers outside, he wrapped the Fallen Heart Flame in layer upon layer of flame.
The complete Saint Demon Flame was remarkably effective. The Fallen Heart Flame could no longer cause any trouble. Under the effect of the devouring power, the Fallen Heart Flame's resistance began to weaken. After half of the flame seed had been devoured, the Fallen Heart Flame's resistance had completely disappeared.
Its flame seed then slowly merged into the Saint Demon Flame, like a pill containing a vast amount of fire-attributed energy.
As the first strand of pure energy entered his body, Jiang Yun's body, like parched earth after a long drought, was revitalized with vigorous life.
Jiang Yun instinctively activated the Crimson Fire Treasure Manual and began to refine the pure energy within his body.
After refining one strand of pure energy, Jiang Yun introduced another. The energy produced from refining the Fallen Heart Flame was very pure. After circulating for a few cycles, it was completely refined into his own Dou Qi.
Everything was proceeding as smoothly as water flowing into a channel.
The barrier to Dou Wang within his body also began to slowly loosen.
His seclusion had officially begun.
"Old man, where did Xiao Yun go?"
In the Inner Academy, a terrifying pressure suddenly erupted. Many students and elders only felt that their breathing was difficult and their souls were trembling.
What sin have we committed?
Why does trouble always come to our batch? We never heard that life in the Inner Academy was this exciting before.
Many students who could not stop complaining showed bitter smiles. This one thing after another was too much for anyone to handle.
The Inner Academy elders, on the other hand, were silently calling out for the Grand Elder in their hearts. They hoped he would quickly solve Zi Yan's problem. Otherwise, life would be impossible.
At this moment, the Grand Elder, whom everyone was pinning their hopes on, was looking somewhat helplessly at the girl before him.
She was dressed in a purple dress. Her purple hair fell down to her pert backside. Despite her young age, her impressive figure was already beginning to take shape. A pair of purple Dou Qi wings behind her flickered in and out of visibility.
On her face, which was both young and somewhat bewitching in its beauty, her expression was cold. Her purple eyes, filled with nobility and mystery, were fixed intently on Su Qian. Her stance clearly said: if you do not give me a satisfactory answer, I will pluck your beard bald.
This person was Zi Yan after her breakthrough. She had finally grown up. Although she had not reached her expectations, this form of a fourteen or fifteen-year-old already satisfied her greatly.
She was no longer a little girl.
Originally, she had been happily planning to find Jiang Yun and show off. But unexpectedly, she did not see Jiang Yun. Instead, she received a bolt from the blue.
Looking at Zi Yan, who was exuding a dangerous aura like a powder keg about to explode at any moment, Su Qian calmly spoke. "Jiang Yun is in seclusion at the bottom of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, breaking through to Dou Wang. Several elders are stationed there. You do not need to worry."
"No!"
"Whatever is at the bottom of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower is very dangerous. I do not trust those weaklings. I want to see for myself."
As soon as Su Qian's voice fell, Zi Yan immediately retorted. Her words were full of distrust for the elders guarding the tower.
"This…"
The Grand Elder was momentarily at a loss for words. The elders stationed at the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower all possessed Dou Wang cultivation. At the very core of the bottom level, there were even Dou Huang elders.
But now that Zi Yan had advanced to the sixth rank, with her mysterious racial talent, Su Qian really was not sure if the two Dou Huang elders were a match for Zi Yan.
Looking at Zi Yan's resolute expression, Su Qian found himself with a headache. He softened his tone and said gently, "Jiang Yun is in seclusion, breaking through to Dou Wang. If you disturb him now and cause his breakthrough to fail, would that not…"
Su Qian did not finish his sentence. Because he saw the increasingly active spatial power around Zi Yan. He knew that unless she saw Jiang Yun with her own eyes, she would not be at ease.
Helpless.
Su Qian had no choice but to compromise. "Alright. Keep the noise down. Try not to disturb Jiang Yun…"
Swish. Before Su Qian could finish his words, a purple flash streaked past him. Where was Zi Yan? Looking toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, he saw a purple streak of light quickly descend.
"Sigh. What sin have I committed?" The Grand Elder sighed helplessly. At that moment, he very much wanted to go back in time and slap his past self twice.
The elders standing nearby who heard Su Qian's muttering to himself were somewhat speechless. Grand Elder, when you say that, could you try to hide the corners of your mouth that you cannot keep from twitching?
He had heard before that the Grand Elder was someone who said one thing but meant another. Now it seemed…
The rumors were true.
"Alright, all elders, evacuate the students. Check if any students are injured. Any injured student can go to the Alchemy Department to receive a third-grade healing pill. Everyone, disperse."
Su Qian may have realized his expression was showing. He composed himself and began the aftermath of Zi Yan's outburst, looking very much like a worried, doting father.
"Yes."
The elders all bowed in acknowledgment, then dispersed to begin their work.
Nodding, Su Qian's figure also flashed and headed toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower.
Tap, tap, tap.
A series of crisp footsteps sounded. A purple figure hurried toward the bottom level of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower.
Thanks to the Spirit-Gathering Array Jiang Yun had set up, the energy of heaven and earth inside the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower had now thickened by about thirty percent. But at this moment, Zi Yan did not notice at all.
Or rather, her mind was not here at all.
Along the way, she passed by the tower-guarding elders on each level. They watched her leave with silent sighs.
What a terrifying little girl.
Soon, Zi Yan arrived at the bottom level of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. There, she saw the two Dou Huang elders stationed there: Elder Shi and Elder Huang.
"Where is Xiao Yun?" Looking at the two, Zi Yan could not wait to ask.
"He should be in Cultivation Room Number One." Elder Shi nodded slightly at Zi Yan, a gratified smile appearing on his face. He pointed to the room furthest inside.
Nodding, Zi Yan quickly headed toward Cultivation Room Number One. Arriving at the door, her brows immediately furrowed. Her heart tightened. Before the two astonished elders could react, she kicked the door violently.
"Don't—"
Bang.
After the loud crash, Zi Yan's face darkened as she suddenly turned to look at the two. A terrifying draconic pressure appeared on her body. Her voice icy cold, she said, "Where is Xiao Yun?"
Being stared at by Zi Yan so suddenly, the two elders' hearts tightened. They felt a chill go down their spines. Hearing Zi Yan's words, they came to Cultivation Room Number One and looked inside. Then they cried out in shock.
"Impossible. Where did he go?"
In disbelief, the two opened every cultivation room on the bottom level, one by one. But the result was the same. There was no sign of anyone.
"I am asking you one more time. Where did Xiao Yun go?" Just then, an icy voice came from nearby. Looking over, Zi Yan's purple eyes had already transformed into terrifying vertical pupils. Faint purple-gold scales appeared on her fair skin.
A terrifying pressure emerged. At this moment, she was no longer that innocent little girl. Instead, she looked like an empress ruling the world.
Facing this Zi Yan, although Elder Shi and Elder Huang were also Dou Huangs, a feeling called fear quietly appeared in their hearts at this moment.
"This…"
"Zi Yan, calm down." Just as the two elders did not know how to answer, Su Qian's figure appeared at the bottom of the tower. He hurriedly spoke.
Seeing Su Qian arrive, Zi Yan immediately calmed her emotions. However, she continued to glare coldly at the two, demanding an answer.
"Elder Shi, Elder Huang, what is going on? Where is Jiang Yun?" Seeing Zi Yan calm down, Su Qian breathed a sigh of relief in his heart and quickly asked.
"We do not know either. A year ago, we personally saw him enter this room."
The Grand Elder's arrival also gave the two a sense of stability. Having regained their composure, they were equally bewildered. They explained.
Hearing this, the Grand Elder's brow furrowed deeply. A perfectly fine living person, and you tell me he has disappeared?
He could not have been swallowed by the Fallen Heart Flame, could he?
Wait…
The Fallen Heart Flame?