Walking and talking along the way, the pace of time seemed to slow, but after about four hours, Xiao Lin and Huo Dian finally stepped into the territory of Heping (Peace) Town.
The contrast was immediate. In the Black-Corner Region, every person Xiao Lin saw treated those around them with scrutiny and suspicion. Here, true to its name, the town presented a scene of tranquility.
Well, almost.
At the outermost edge of the town stood a massive tree that broke the peaceful scenery. Hanging from its branches were several desiccated corpses—and every single one of them had been a Dou Wang in life. It was a chilling sight. This was the "Dead Soul Tree."
If anyone from the Black-Corner Region dared to bring their lawless habits into Heping Town, they would find themselves hanging there by the next morning. Rumor had it that even Dou Huangs had once graced those branches. While the tree seemed at odds with the town's vibe, the locals barely gave it a second glance. To them, it wasn't a grisly decoration; it was Jia Nan Academy's ultimate deterrent. Without such a terrifying warning, the thugs of the Black-Corner Region would have torn Heping Town apart long ago.
"It really is a different world in here," Xiao Lin remarked.
"Of course," Huo Dian said, his chest swelling with pride. "Heping Town is under our Academy's protection. As long as those scumbags in the Black-Corner Region want to keep living there, they don't dare cause trouble here."
As they walked, they were quickly spotted by members of the law enforcement team. Having been briefed by the four returning students, the team initially looked as if they were facing a great enemy when they saw Xiao Lin. However, seeing Elder Huo Dian chatting and laughing with the stranger, they subtly lowered their guards. Truthfully, they had feared that when they finally saw Elder Huo, he would be a corpse.
"Greetings, Elder Huo!"
The guards bowed respectfully as they passed. Xiao Lin noted that the lowest-ranking members were Da Dou Shis, with many reaching the Dou Ling level. Such a force could easily suppress a Dou Wang clan in the Jia Ma Empire, yet here, they were merely the Academy's baseline security. The sheer scale of Jia Nan Academy's power in the Northwest was staggering.
After another hour of walking and stopping—with Huo Dian acting as a tour guide—they finally reached the main gates of Jia Nan Academy.
A small group was already waiting. At the front stood a robust old man in black robes with a snowy white beard and hair. Despite his age, he was broad-shouldered and tiger-waisted, possessing a physical presence that defied the word "elderly."
This was the man currently holding the reins of the Academy—Great Elder Su Qian. He was a Dou Zong, and the Academy's primary pillar of strength. Behind him stood several figures whose auras unmistakably radiated the power of Dou Huangs.
This was just the visible tip of the iceberg. If the Academy ever unleashed its hidden reserves, it could likely flatten the entire Black-Corner Region.
"Great Elder! I didn't expect you to come out personally!" Huo Dian ran forward, his face lit with excitement.
"Elder Huo, it has been a long journey. You've worked hard," Su Qian replied. While he smiled, his eyes were locked on Xiao Lin, subtly prepared for any sudden move. He had heard good things from the students about this "Lin Xiao," but in his position, seeing was believing.
Xiao Lin remained perfectly still, offering no reason for a misunderstanding. He watched as Huo Dian leaned in and whispered urgently into Su Qian's ear. As the report continued, the tension in Su Qian's shoulders visibly began to melt away.
Students might be easily fooled, but Huo Dian was a veteran Dou Wang. Su Qian trusted his judgment. If a Dou Zong truly wanted to join the Academy as an Elder, he would welcome them with open arms!
With Principal Mang Tianchi perpetually absent, the "Guardian Elders" appearing only in life-or-death crises, and the Outer Academy principal wandering the continent, the pressure on Su Qian was immense. A new Dou Zong ally was a dream come true—provided their intentions were pure.
Su Qian stepped forward, his sharp eyes meeting Xiao Lin's. It was time for the "Great Elder" to personally test the depths of this mysterious traveler.
"Are you the one named Lin Xiao? I thank you for your intervention in saving our Jia Nan Academy's people. We will certainly prepare a generous gift to express our gratitude."
Stepping forward, Su Qian spoke first. His opening was a deliberate signal of goodwill. Since Xiao Lin had come as a guest and had saved Academy members, Su Qian, as the Great Elder, wouldn't be so impolite as to ignore such a debt.
"Great Elder Su Qian is too kind. I was merely passing by, and since I have a request for the Academy, I simply acted as the situation demanded," Xiao Lin replied smoothly.
If someone respects me a foot, I respect them ten feet. This was Xiao Lin's guiding principle. Hearing Xiao Lin's blunt honesty about having a request actually made Su Qian breathe a sigh of relief. Dealing with a direct, honest person was far better than facing a hypocritical villain. Had Xiao Lin acted like a selfless saint, Su Qian would have been suspicious.
This simple exchange earned Xiao Lin a flicker of genuine favor in Su Qian's heart. Combined with the rescue of Huo Dian's group, Su Qian's guard dropped to its lowest point.
"One thing is one thing; a gift is mandatory!" Su Qian said, shifting to business. "As for your request, I heard from Elder Huo that you wish to serve as an Elder. Is that true?"
As he spoke, Su Qian nodded to the Dou Huang experts behind him. This was a pre-arranged signal. The Dou Huangs exchanged glances and departed. They had come as insurance in case a fight broke out between two Dou Zongs; since there was no hostility, they were needed elsewhere in the Academy.
"Correct," Xiao Lin said. "I believe Elder Huo and the students have already conveyed my intent. I wish to cultivate within the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. However, given my current cultivation, it's inappropriate for me to be a student, so I've come to apply for an Elder's position."
Xiao Lin spoke with righteous confidence. While he had lied about his identity, his goal of joining the Academy was entirely real.
Su Qian's expression turned solemn. "I have heard. However, I must warn you: while the Tower does increase cultivation speed, at the Dou Zong level, the boost it provides is quite limited. Even for Dou Huangs, the effect is starting to wane. I swear this on my name as Great Elder; I am not deceiving you. If the Tower worked equally for all realms, Jia Nan Academy would be overflowing with Dou Zongs by now."
Su Qian ended with a self-deprecating chuckle. He was worried that Xiao Lin would join, find the Tower underwhelming, and then turn his frustration against the Academy.
The Fallen Heart Flame currently possessed the intelligence and strength of a high-level Dou Huang. Expecting a Dou Huang-level flame to significantly boost a Dou Zong's speed was a tall order.
"Hahaha! Great Elder Su Qian, you worry too much. I was already aware of that fact."
Xiao Lin's laughter echoed, leaving Su Qian confused. But Xiao Lin's next words would transform that confusion into shock—and then into pure ecstasy.
"Great Elder, there is one thing I forgot to mention," Xiao Lin said, his face glowing with "Lao Liu" confidence. "I am not just a Dou Zong. I am also an Array Master!"
"Recently, I deconstructed an ancient formation known as the Gathering Qi Array (Ju Ling Zhen). Surely, just by hearing the name, the Great Elder understands what this implies?"
Array Masters were often considered a niche or "useless" profession on the Dou Qi Continent because they required time to set up. However, an Array Master could achieve things even an Alchemist couldn't.
Su Qian's voice actually began to tremble. "Lin Xiao... are you saying..."
"Indeed!" Xiao Lin confirmed.
Su Qian's face flushed a deep red—the physical manifestation of extreme excitement. He understood perfectly what the combination of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower (Fallen Heart Flame) and a Gathering Qi Array meant.
Under such a dual-layered cultivation environment, even a dog's cultivation speed would take flight! More importantly, it meant the Tower could finally provide a meaningful boost to high-level experts like Dou Huangs and even Su Qian himself.