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**
Today was quite a lively day in the Inner Academy.
As per tradition, the Inner Academy held a monthly event in which all students would enter the Blazing Sky Qi Training Tower to cultivate together.
And for this activity, the students were always very supportive—because on this day, entering the tower to train did not cost any Fire Energy.
And today just happened to be this month's group cultivation day.
Of course, after the Blazing Sky Qi Training Tower lost the Fallen Heart Flame, its effectiveness had greatly diminished.
But because the tower still sat above the underground magma world and could draw heat energy through formation arrays, it still retained some benefits—like body tempering and Dou Qi refining.
It just… wasn't as effective as it had been before.
Still, for these students—most of whom were still at the Da Dou Shi or Dou Ling level—the Qi Training Tower was still an excellent place to train.
What's more, over the past two years, due to certain policy changes in the Inner Academy that loosened entrance restrictions, the number of enrolled students had steadily increased.
As a result, the Inner Academy was now even more vibrant and bustling than it had been two years ago.
——
After the morning bell rang out, teams of students began to stream toward the Blazing Sky Qi Training Tower.
And by the time the sun rose high into the sky, the large plaza outside the tower was already teeming with people.
Even the surroundings of the tower had undergone major renovations, with a massive plaza built around it.
At the center of the plaza, one could still see the very tip of the tower's spire, just barely protruding from the ground.
——
Dong~
A crisp bell chime rang out across the plaza, and instantly, the noisy crowd fell silent.
Just then, a sound of rushing wind broke the quiet.
A few figures flashed through the air and landed on a raised platform at the edge of the square.
Leading them was none other than the white-haired Grand Elder Su Qian.
Behind him followed several other elders, all of whom were also elderly.
However, what drew the most attention were the three young men standing behind Su Qian.
They weren't old, but each exuded an impressive aura, and the emblems on their chests marked them clearly as elders as well.
In the Inner Academy, most elders were promoted from within the student body and required at least Dou Wang strength.
Students could choose to leave the academy upon graduation—or, if they qualified, they could stay and become Inner Academy elders.
These three were exactly that—newly promoted elders of the Inner Academy. All three had stepped into the Dou Wang realm while still very young.
They were Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, and Lin Yan—once the elite students who had fought alongside Xiao Yan against Fan Lao.
They held deep affection for the Inner Academy. After reaching the Dou Wang level, they chose not to leave and explore the continent like most graduates. Instead, they remained.
——
On the platform, Su Qian slowly swept his gaze across the vast crowd below.
Among them, he saw many fresh young faces, recently selected from the Outer Academy, as well as many missing familiar ones—graduates who had already left.
His thoughts drifted a little.
This was the rhythm of academy life—new students arrived each year, while old ones moved on.
One generation after another. Always the same.
And as the Grand Elder of the Inner Academy, Su Qian had watched countless students graduate. Seeing them leave, full of ambition, to venture into the broader world… it filled his heart with satisfaction.
Of course, in the end, only a few among them—the rare geniuses—would make a name for themselves across the continent.
Most would eventually fade into mediocrity.
Still, no matter what, Jia Nan Academy gave countless commoners a chance to change their fates.
Every year, tutors from the Outer Academy would personally lead expeditions across the continent to scout and recruit promising talents—and among those, the best would be chosen to enter the Inner Academy.
Su Qian couldn't help but recall that battle two years ago.
That black-robed youth—with just Dou Ling strength, he had fought against Fan Lao, a Four-Star Dou Huang, and defeated him.
Such a youth was truly astonishing.
If he had not fallen, he surely would have gone on to shine brightly across the continent.
Su Qian's gaze turned toward the Blazing Sky Qi Training Tower, his heart tangled with emotions.
What a pity…
——
"Grand Elder," one of the elders beside him spoke quietly, "according to reports, ever since the Gold and Silver Elders took over Feng City, they've spent the last two years fully absorbing and taking control of Han Feng's former assets and power base."
"Recently, they've even formed a new alliance—the Black Alliance."
"The members of this so-called alliance are the very same forces who once took part in the invasion of our Inner Academy. Recently, they've been aggressively recruiting other powers to join them.
On the surface, they claim it's to protect against retaliation from our academy, but in the shadows… who knows what schemes they're brewing. We can't afford to take them lightly," a certain elder stepped forward and said quietly.
Su Qian raised an eyebrow slightly, then slowly nodded, sneering, "I didn't expect the Gold and Silver Elders to have some real skill. In just two years, they've made enough of a mess to stand against our Jia Nan Academy?"
"But..." He chuckled coldly. "They're still not worth much. The Gold and Silver Elders are no Han Feng. An alliance without shared interests has no cohesion."
The other elders nodded slightly in agreement.
While the Gold and Silver Elders were quite strong—together, they could challenge a Dou Zong—they lacked the charisma and influence that Han Feng once possessed.
Most importantly, in a place like the Black-Corner Region, an alliance without profit-driven ties was doomed to be a disorganized mess.
The Gold and Silver Elders had always been wandering rogue cultivators, with no real foundation. Even though they had inherited many of Han Feng's operations, they hadn't inherited his wealth.
You can shout slogans all you want, but if you want the horse to run, you'd better feed it. No benefits, no loyalty—who would risk their life for you?
Thus, this so-called "Black Alliance" was really just a loose gathering of forces with mixed intentions and no unity. It wasn't anything to worry about.
Su Qian gave the matter some attention, but he wasn't truly concerned.
"Forget it. This isn't the time to dwell on such insignificant matters. We've got plenty of time—let's see who can outlast who," he said casually, waving his hand.
He was old but firm. Su Qian had patience.
"Yes, Elder," the other elders replied respectfully.
"The time's about right. Prepare to open the Blazing Sky Qi Training Tower," Su Qian ordered, glancing up at the sky.
A nearby elder bowed and flew down from the platform, landing just outside the tower's great doors.
He swiftly formed a series of hand seals, and then a blast of Dou Qi struck the door.
Immediately, the massive black doors began to open, groaning loudly as they parted.
"Remember, enter in an orderly fashion. No fighting allowed today—anyone who causes trouble will be banned for a week..." Su Qian began to speak, sweeping his gaze across the crowd.
But before he could finish, his expression suddenly changed.
His sharp senses had picked up something—his eyes snapped toward the tower.
From within, he sensed a terrifying surge of heat approaching rapidly.
"Something's wrong inside! Shut the tower doors, now—quickly!" Su Qian barked sharply.
His sudden outburst startled the entire square into silence.
Countless confused gazes turned toward him, baffled.
Though unsure of what was happening, the elder below followed orders without hesitation and slammed the tower doors shut with a boom.
But moments after the doors closed, the temperature of the entire area suddenly began to rise.
Rumble—A sound like churning magma erupted, followed by a tremor that made the ground quake.
"Damn it—it's the Fallen Heart Flame! That thing is about to erupt again! Everyone, evacuate now!" Su Qian shouted, face pale.
This kind of situation… he had seen it once before.
BOOM!Right as Su Qian's voice fell, a deafening explosion rang out.
Everyone could see it clearly—the exposed tip of the Blazing Sky Qi Training Tower began to tremble violently.
BOOM!Another loud blast echoed.
Cracks the width of a thumb began to spread across the tower's tip, glowing with a dark crimson light from within.
BOOM!Yet another explosion. The entire tower tip was now webbed with fractures.
Su Qian's face turned pale, a hint of desperation in his expression.
So many students had gathered here—if this continued…
BOOM!!With one final, earth-shaking boom—
The indestructible tower tip exploded.
A pillar of crimson magma erupted upward like a volcanic blast, piercing the sky!
Then, in front of countless horrified and despairing eyes, it collapsed downward like a fiery rainstorm.
Screams and chaos erupted in the square as students scattered in panic.
But just as the rain of lava was about to hit the ground—
It froze in midair.
As if caught by some invisible force, the lava was completely immobilized, still and unmoving.
Su Qian's pupils contracted sharply.
Controlling magma with such ease… what kind of power is this?!
Then—
A clear, ringing laugh, filled with barely-contained elation, echoed across the sky like thunder.
"Hahahaha! I, Xiao Yan, am finally out! Hahahaha!"
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