Hearing Yao Lao's voice, Xiao Yan frowned. "Teacher, what happened to Brother Tian?"
"He seems to have already reached the Dou Huang realm. Although he's hidden it well, he probably broke through within the last day or two, so he hasn't completely concealed it."
When Xiao Yan heard Yao Lao's words, he suddenly stood up. Lin Yan, who was beside him, was startled by Xiao Yan, almost choking on his water. He kept patting his chest until he caught his breath.
"Cough, cough, cough! Xiao Yan, what's wrong with you? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Lin Yan coughed frantically, almost becoming the Inner Academy's first peak Dou Ling expert to choke on water.
"Nothing, I just remembered something."
…
Leaving the pavilion, Xiao Tian flashed directly toward the Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda. With the enhancement of Void Piercer Art, Xiao Tian only took seven or eight minutes to reach the entrance. He directly stepped inside the main gate.
"Was that Demon King Xiao Tian just now?"
"Yes, it was him! I finally saw my idol. He's handsome and powerful — simply the perfect partner."
Discussions erupted after Xiao Tian left, but he had already departed the scene, heading down into the Qi Refining Tower. He went straight to the sixth floor. As for the cultivation room number thirty-four he had obtained by defeating Bai Cheng, Xiao Tian had directly given it to Xun'er.
The entire sixth floor was light red, with a very large space inside, and the temperature was much higher than on other floors.
"As expected of a cultivation spot exclusive to the strong ranking."
Xiao Tian felt the strong aura of the Fallen Heart Flame. The flames projected here were significantly denser than on the first five floors. There were very few people on the entire sixth floor. Xiao Tian came to a resting area that looked like a small square. Four or five people were standing there, chatting. When they saw Xiao Tian approach, they all stopped and looked at him.
"Who is this? Why can't I feel any aura from him?" a person in black robes asked, frowning in confusion.
"But why do I feel a bit familiar with him? It's like I've seen him somewhere before."
"Kid, this isn't a place you can just wander into. Get out of here, quickly."
A feminine voice rang out in the open space. A young man in a red robe, surrounded by several people, walked toward the resting area.
"Brother Yao, he seems to be the Demon…"
A follower beside the feminine man seemed to remember something when he saw Xiao Tian's appearance and started to speak. However, before he could finish, a terrifying aura pressed down on them. The few people following behind the feminine man were directly forced to their knees. Only the feminine man remained, gritting his teeth and struggling, his seven-star Dou Ling Dou Qi continuously emanating from his body.
Xiao Tian slowly walked toward them. As he walked, the pressure on them grew stronger and stronger. When Xiao Tian reached within five steps of them, the feminine man finally couldn't bear it and fell heavily to his knees. His followers behind him were already prostrate on the ground, unable to even lift their heads.
"You told me to get out? I really don't know how. Why don't you demonstrate?"
Xiao Tian had no good impression of Yao Sheng and didn't mind teaching him a lesson.
"I remember who he is! He's the biggest sensation in the Inner Academy recently — Demon King Xiao Tian!"
The black-robed youth who had been in the resting area felt Xiao Tian's power, and recalling the portrait he had seen earlier, cried out in surprise.
The feminine man also heard this exclamation, and his heart instantly turned to ashes. A Demon King was a Dou Wang cultivation! He had thought it was someone he could bully who had just wandered into the wrong place — he never expected it to be a big boss.
The others looked at Yao Sheng's appearance, their faces showing hidden joy. Usually, Yao Sheng, relying on Liu Qing and his own strength, would cause trouble everywhere. This time, he had kicked an iron plate — and one that was infinitely thick.
Yao Sheng's face was ashen, and cold sweat constantly seeped from his forehead. Just by relying on his aura, he was completely suppressed. Crushing him would be as simple as crushing an ant.
"Gate Master Xiao, it was my ignorance that offended you…"
Yao Sheng tried to force out a smile uglier than crying. His body was trembling with fear, causing his voice to quaver as he spoke.
"Xiao Tian, what are you doing here?"
A clear, tender voice rang out, and a little girl in a white dress came to Xiao Tian's side.
"It's Little Zi Yan. I came here this time to ask to use Cultivation Room Number One."
Xiao Tian looked at the appearing Zi Yan and said with a smile.
"Zi Yan is Zi Yan. What's the meaning of adding 'Little'?"
Zi Yan heard Xiao Tian's words, put her hands on her hips, and said indignantly.
"You are indeed very small. I'll change it when you grow up. You're a little devil, but quite cute."
Xiao Tian reached out and rubbed Zi Yan's head. The surrounding onlookers, seeing Xiao Tian's action, couldn't help but feel a tightening in their hearts. Before, let alone touching her head, even those who merely thought about making such a move would have several bones broken halfway through their attempt. Even Yao Sheng, who was kneeling on the ground, showed a hidden gleam in his eyes, constantly hoping inwardly for a fight to break out.
But the things they imagined did not happen.
Zi Yan felt the hands messing with her head, shook her little head, and gently patted Xiao Tian's hand away. "What's the use of being cute? I just want to grow up. I'm already tired of this appearance."
"What are these people doing? Did they provoke you? Do you want me to beat them up for you? But you'll have to give me a little something in return."
Zi Yan looked at Yao Sheng in front of Xiao Tian, her eyes brightening. She clasped her hands together, looking at Xiao Tian expectantly. Currently, Zi Yan only wanted to get closer to Xiao Tian so she wouldn't have to eat raw medicinal ingredients in the future.
"No need. Thank you for your kind offer."
"Alright then, but if you ever need anything, you must come find me."
Zi Yan patted her unremarkable chest, an expression of righteousness on her face, but with a hint of slyness in her eyes.
"Have you finished your pills?" Xiao Tian asked softly, looking at Zi Yan beside him.
Zi Yan shook her head. "There are still many."
After speaking, a jade bottle appeared in her hand. She poured out a pill, popped it into her mouth, and began to chew, her eyes narrowing, full of satisfaction.
Yao Sheng, watching them talk from the side, didn't even dare to breathe heavily, fearing that if his breathing was too loud, a casual punch from either of them would probably send him to the ground.
"Aren't you going to Cultivation Room Number One? I'll take you there."
Zi Yan put away her pill bottle, shaking her head as she led Xiao Tian by the hand toward the deepest part of the sixth floor. As for the people kneeling on the ground, they had long been forgotten by the two.
Watching the two figures leave, Yao Sheng let out a breath, a feeling of surviving a disaster welling up in his heart. He had already made up his mind to live honestly from now on. He tried to stand up but found that the pressure had not dissipated with Xiao Tian's departure — it was still pressing down on him. He gritted his teeth, desperately circulating his Dou Qi to resist the pressure, but it was useless. Finally, he gave up struggling. He knew this was Xiao Tian's warning to him.
Yao Sheng gave up struggling and just knelt silently in place. As for his followers behind him, they wanted to offer comfort but didn't know what to say.
"Yao Sheng, what's going on with you?"