"Why does this look so much like the Hidden Book Pavilion?"
"That's right, this tower is similar in principle to the Hidden Book Pavilion. It not only protects against external invasions but also serves as one of the steps to trap the Fallen Heart Flame."
"So that's how it is. It seems the Inner Academy places great importance on this Fallen Heart Flame."
Xiao Yan suddenly felt the situation was even more troublesome. Obtaining this Fallen Heart Flame was truly like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A series of rushing sounds rang out continuously, as figures wearing badges resembling a leaf on their chests appeared.
They arrived directly at an open space a dozen meters in front of the black tower. The area was divided into several sections, with many people wearing their respective faction badges seated within. Behind the open space, the crowd was packed tightly.
"Is this what Brother Tian meant earlier about powerful factions being able to occupy the best cultivation spots? It's truly overbearing."
"That's right. In the Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda, there are even factions whose members treat public cultivation rooms as their exclusive private rooms. Only a few strong individuals have fixed cultivation rooms arranged by the academy."
Xiao Yan frowned when he heard Xiao Tian's words. "That's allowed?"
"This world, as Elder Su said, is one where the strong are respected. So there's nothing they can't do — only things you can't imagine."
Xiao Tian spoke with a faint smile, his arms crossed over his chest.
Dong!
A dull bell sound reverberated throughout the space around the black tower.
Hearing this sound, the people from those factions who had been sitting cross-legged in the open space stood up, their eyes fixed on the black tower.
"Open the tower!"
An aged voice rang out. As his voice fell, the tightly shut black gate creaked open.
Once the gate was fully open, a scorching hot wave surged out from within. The people in the open space immediately entered the black tower, followed by the others who were queuing.
"Let's get ready to go in too. The Fallen Heart Flame will produce a type of Heart Fire. I assume Old Yao must have told you about it, right?"
Xiao Tian turned to look at Xiao Yan, who nodded, indicating he understood.
Seeing this, Xiao Tian directly leaped into the Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda.
As soon as the two stepped in, they stood rooted to the spot. Faint white mist rose from their bodies, and their skin emitted sizzling sounds like roasting meat.
Those who entered behind them saw their condition. "These two, judging by their age, must be this year's new students. They actually entered the Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda without any preparation…"
A few older students even ran off to find Elder Liu, who guarded the tower, to save them.
Xiao Tian felt a strange, invisible flame appear within his body. This flame continuously emitted high temperatures, searing his meridians, flesh, and organs.
He drew a few wisps of Dou Qi and passed them through the flame projected by the Fallen Heart Flame. These wisps of Dou Qi shrank by a third in volume but became incredibly solid.
Xiao Yan's condition beside him was much worse than Xiao Tian's. His handsome face was roasted red. After Old Yao confirmed it was indeed the Fallen Heart Flame, Xiao Yan began to condense his Dou Qi according to the method Xiao Tian had instructed earlier.
"Quick, move aside. Elder Liu is coming."
Shouts rang out from the surrounding crowd, which gradually parted, and an old man walked out.
"Truly two reckless youngsters. They didn't report or study beforehand and just came directly."
Elder Liu came to the front of the crowd, looking at the two being scorched by the Heart Flame.
"Every year, a few new students impatiently rush here. They deserve the needless suffering."
Some older students' faces were filled with schadenfreude, as if they had once suffered the same hardship and couldn't help but mock those who experienced similar circumstances.
"It's perfectly normal for new students to not understand the rules here when they first join the Inner Academy. What's so funny about it?"
A clear, cold voice rang out from behind the crowd. A young woman in a silver gown, surrounded by several other girls, walked out from the crowd.
The woman was tall, with a beautiful face featuring exquisite features and skin as fair as snow. What was most captivating was her rare, waist-length silver hair.
Xiao Tian naturally heard the discussions from outside, vaguely catching a woman's rebuke of the other older students and their conversations.
He continuously controlled wisps of Dou Qi to pass through the Heart Flame. Finally, after the fifth wisp passed through, the Heart Flame greatly diminished and disappeared.
After only about four minutes, Xiao Tian directly opened his tightly shut eyes, and silver lightning flashed across them.
Boom.
A powerful gust of wind emanated from Xiao Tian's body, pushing back everyone around him except Xiao Yan — including Elder Liu.
The silver-haired woman was also pushed back more than ten steps. She looked incredulously at Xiao Tian, who was at the center of the aura explosion. Although it was just a flash, she couldn't sense what realm he was in. But such an unconsciously unleashed aura could push her back, and even Elder Liu was pushed back a few steps.
"Can new students really be this powerful? No wonder this batch of new students was able to snatch things back from the older students."
The silver-haired woman continuously scrutinized Xiao Tian's immortal-like face, and a hint of curiosity quietly arose in her heart.
"You… you dispelled the scorching of the Heart Flame?"
Elder Liu looked at Xiao Tian with a hint of surprise.
"Yes. What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
Xiao Tian nodded slightly, asking in confusion.
"No… no problem. You are the first in so many years to awaken from the first Heart Flame scorching through your own power. The previous one was… well, the previous one. May I know your name?"
Elder Liu's body stiffened slightly when he heard Xiao Tian's question. He looked at Xiao Tian with a kind smile.
"I am the Elder Liu guarding the first floor of the Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda. You can call me Elder Liu. The fact that you could break free from the Heart Fire in such a short time shows your great potential."
Elder Liu had originally wanted to ask about Xiao Tian's cultivation level, but asking about someone's cultivation was a sensitive matter, so he refrained.
"This junior is Xiao Tian. Thank you for the praise, Elder Liu."
Xiao Tian felt Elder Liu's goodwill and smiled as he nodded.
"You are Xiao Tian? The young man who defeated Sha Tie and Luo Hou? You truly live up to what those old fellows have been frequently mentioning recently."
Elder Liu looked at Xiao Tian with a beaming smile.
At that moment, Han Yue, who had been pushed back earlier, also returned to her original standing position.
Elder Liu glanced at Xiao Yan. Seeing that he was still persevering and seemed normal for now, with no major issues, he pulled Xiao Tian toward the silver-haired woman.
"Come, Xiao Tian, let me introduce someone to you. This is Senior Han Yue. She is on the strong ranking, and she also established a faction called Moon Spirit, which is not weak."
Xiao Tian curiously scrutinized Han Yue for a moment. Her beauty was no less than Xiao Yi Xian's, and her silver hair added a great deal of mysterious charm and allure to her.
Upon hearing the name Han Yue, Xiao Tian remembered that she was the first to discover the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid, but she had lacked the strength to obtain it. Xiao Tian also sensed the aura of a Six-Star Dou Ling from her — truly worthy of being the benchmark for female students in the academy.
"Junior Xiao Tian, hello."
Han Yue showed a faint smile and extended her hand toward Xiao Tian.
Seeing Han Yue's action, Elder Liu looked utterly astonished, as if he had seen a ghost. This girl, Han Yue, had always kept her distance from men. No man had ever been able to stand beside her, let alone shake her hand. Moreover, according to rumors, she was somewhat of a germaphobe, even wrapping herself in Dou Qi during fights. This kind of gesture was truly a first.
"Senior Han Yue, hello."
Xiao Tian also extended his hand and lightly touched hers. Upon contact, Xiao Tian felt the softness and coolness of Han Yue's hand, then quickly separated. His etiquette was impeccable.
Elder Liu gave Han Yue a strange look, then glanced at Xiao Tian's perfectly refined and handsome face, and a hint of understanding dawned on him. As the saying goes, a hero finds it hard to resist a beauty — and it was equally true for women. Regardless of Xiao Tian's talent, his mere appearance was unmatched in the Inner Academy. Even Lin Xiuya was a step behind.