"You are not my opponent."
Xiao Tian glanced at the blood-robed youth, recognizing him at once—a battle maniac. Then he continued teasing Xun'er, acting as though the youth mattered not in the slightest.
"You—"
"This is a competition arena, not a place for private duels."
Just as Wu Hao was about to speak further, the referee cut him off.
"I expected a fierce battle. What a pity."
Discussions rippled through the arena.
After seven or eight more matches, Xun'er and Xiao Yu were also matched with their respective opponents.
Xun'er dispatched her opponent with swift efficiency. Xiao Yu, unlike in the original story where she had come to a regretful halt, unexpectedly erupted with power and successfully secured her place in the top fifty, earning her qualification to enter the Inner Academy.
"Instructor Ruo Lin, I did it!"
Xiao Yu ran to Instructor Ruo Lin, her face radiant with excitement, and threw her arms around her, bouncing up and down.
"I did not expect it either. Yu'er, you have truly surprised me."
Instructor Ruo Lin held the exuberant Xiao Yu, her face likewise brimming with joy. Xiao Yu was one of her most beloved students. Watching her successfully advance gave her the feeling of seeing her own daughter transform into a phoenix.
After the roster of qualifiers was announced, the day's matches were declared concluded. Those who had successfully made the top fifty could not conceal the elation on their faces.
Securing this rank meant they had successfully entered the academy's core circle, and their future growth would accelerate dramatically.
They simply did not yet know that the Inner Academy was far more brutal than the Outer Academy.
When Xiao Tian and the others returned to Instructor Ruo Lin's pavilion, they found Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning waiting. Both now appeared to have shed their former immaturity.
Xiao Ning's transformation was the most striking. He no longer seemed as sharp and arrogant as before, but rather more restrained—perhaps a result of his experiences.
After exchanging pleasantries, they were informed that the Xiao family had already relocated to the Black Horn Region. This news thrilled them beyond measure. Were it not for the academy's rules forbidding arbitrary departures, they would have rushed back immediately to see it.
---
At night, all was silent.
In Xiao Yan's room, Yao Lao held a brief conversation with Xiao Yan but ultimately could not pinpoint the Heavenly Flame's location, speculating that it might reside within the Inner Academy.
Xiao Tian and Xun'er concluded their daily sweet companionship, reluctantly parting and returning to their respective chambers.
Xiao Tian vaguely sensed a fluctuation emanating from Xiao Yan's room and knocked on the door.
Xiao Yan opened it, and Xiao Tian stepped inside.
"I imagine you two have your eyes on Jia Nan Academy's Heavenly Flame, am I right?"
Xiao Tian glanced at the Bone Flame Ring and spoke to Xiao Yan with a smile.
"Brother Tian, you know? Is there truly a Heavenly Flame within the academy? Where is it?"
Upon hearing the words "Heavenly Flame," Xiao Yan immediately drew closer to Xiao Tian, his eyes brimming with deep anticipation. He had clearly tasted the benefits of a Heavenly Flame.
Although refining a Heavenly Flame was perilous, the rewards were utterly captivating—like a certain powder. Once addicted, one could not extricate themselves.
"Young Xiao Tian, do you possess inside information?"
Yao Lao's voice resonated within both their minds. Since they were within Jia Nan Academy, Yao Lao had no intention of manifesting, to avoid drawing undue attention.
"I know a fair amount. Jia Nan Academy indeed possesses a Heavenly Flame—the Fallen Heart Flame. However, this Heavenly Flame has already developed sentience."
"Is it the Fallen Heart Flame, ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, known as the cultivation cheat?"
Xiao Yan stared intently at Xiao Tian, his heart hammering. This was a flame capable of accelerating cultivation speed and even striking people down invisibly.
The defining trait of the Fallen Heart Flame was its ability to continuously temper Dou Qi even when not actively controlled—meaning one was cultivating at all times, even during sleep.
"Yes. But you also understand the significance of this flame. Not to mention that it has already birthed consciousness, it is also an item of immense importance to the academy."
"If you were to ask for it outright, they would certainly not hand it over directly. This means you must offer something of equal value."
Xiao Tian took a sip of the tea Xiao Yan had poured and spoke with a smile.
"Indeed. I did not expect it to have developed sentience. That makes refining and subduing it even more difficult."
Yao Lao's solemn voice emerged slowly.
Xiao Yan, too, snapped free of his excitement. Refining a sentient Heavenly Flame was at least ten times harder than refining one without consciousness.
He had nearly perished refining the Green Lotus Core Flame, which possessed no sentience. This one was even stronger and would actively resist.
"Nevertheless, I know a little secret... however—"
Xiao Tian observed Xiao Yan's ever-shifting expression and smiled.
"Brother Tian, look—we are brothers. We even wore the same trousers when we were small. You see—"
Xiao Yan sidled up to Xiao Tian with a fawning expression, gently massaging his shoulders.
"Do not let our filthy emotions taint pure commerce."
"I can tell you, but I want you to join my faction. Of course, it would only be as a guest alchemist, a nominal title within the Alchemy Hall. As for Yao Lao, he is exempt. Your identity is unique, so there is no need."
"Additionally, whenever you encounter the medicinal ingredients listed on this paper in the future, I ask that you purchase them directly for me."
A slip of paper materialized in Xiao Tian's hand, inscribed with roughly a dozen medicinal ingredients—the components for the Marrow Cleansing Pill.
"Once these are gathered, they will be of immense benefit to you in the future. They can render your cultivation speed even faster."
Xiao Tian recalled Xiao Yan's past struggles—a single pill stalling his progress for three years—and decisively cast out another lure.
To make a horse run, one must feed it grass.
Hearing Xiao Tian's words, Xiao Yan picked up the paper and pondered. Reflecting on Xiao Tian's past assistance, he no longer hesitated.
"Very well. I can agree to that."
Xiao Tian revealed a satisfied smile. His exclusive high-grade alchemist for Heaven Suppressing Hall was now secured.
As for Yao Lao, he had his own faction. Xiao Tian could not scheme against him. Yet now, this old fellow was unaware that his own faction was faring rather well. Should he attempt to pull him onto his pirate ship?
Xiao Tian cast an appraising eye at the Bone Flame Ring. Yao Lao's voice echoed from within. "Little brat Xiao Tian, you are not scheming against this old man, are you?"
"Not in the slightest. I was merely organizing my thoughts. You are the teacher of my own brother, Xiao Tian, which makes you my flesh-and-blood kin."
Xiao Tian's expression turned serious, though inwardly he sighed. *This old fellow is remarkably sharp. It seems the last incident has left him wary.*
"Alright. I shall tell you about the Heavenly Flame. The Fallen Heart Flame is currently suppressed by Jia Nan Academy within the Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda in the Inner Academy. However, because it has been confined there for so long, its sentience is already exceedingly advanced, and the Qi Refining Tower is nearly unable to suppress it any longer."
With that, Xiao Tian departed directly from Xiao Yan's room.
"Teacher, what does Brother Tian mean by that?"
Xiao Yan scratched his head and asked Yao Lao.
"He means the Fallen Heart Flame is about to erupt from the tower. This is the sole opportunity to acquire it—but it is extraordinarily dangerous. A single misstep and you could be reduced to ashes by the Heavenly Flame. It seems we must adjust our strategy and make thorough preparations."
"From his words, it will not be long. We have little time. I even suspect that person also knows. Otherwise, he would not be here."
Xiao Yan nodded in comprehension after hearing Yao Lao's explanation. As for the "that person" Yao Lao mentioned, although he did not know who it was, Xiao Yan refrained from pressing further. Even if he asked, Yao Lao might not tell him.
Subsequently, armed with the intelligence Xiao Tian had provided, the two discussed a series of plans and numerous contingency measures.
Their previous lack of preparation had led to extreme hardship and nearly catastrophic problems. They had to learn from those lessons and prepare far more thoroughly.
Xiao Yan had also absorbed much from Xiao Tian's steady-as-an-old-dog personality since childhood and was no longer as naive as he had been in the original tale.
Xiao Tian departed Xiao Yan's quarters and returned to his own, only to find an unexpected figure seated upon his bed.
"Why are you here?"