Mist filled the air, and tyrannical waves of qi vibrated out from within.
Both were genius-level nine-star Dou Spirits with extraordinary combat power. If they disregarded everything, the aftermath could potentially destroy the martial arts arena.
Fortunately, the two had not escalated to a life-or-death situation.
When the commotion subsided and the mist dispersed, everyone saw Lin Yin, slightly breathless, holding her jade flute and pointing it at Duanmu Qing's throat.
Just as everyone thought the victory of this duel belonged to Lin Yin, the young girl lowered her arm and said softly, "I lost."
The figure of "Duanmu Qing" suddenly turned into a stream of water and exploded. A misty figure quietly appeared behind Lin Yin.
"You let me win."
The outcome was already clear.
Lin Yin nodded, said nothing more, turned around, jumped onto the stands, and returned to her seat.
She was one move short, but this one move was an insurmountable gap. Lin Yin had already seen the difference between herself and Duanmu Qing. There was nothing to regret.
Not strong enough was just not strong enough.
Losing today did not mean she would continue to lose in the future. The path of a cultivator was long and exciting. There were many who came from behind.
It was just a pity that her luck in this Strong Ranking Competition was not good, and she couldn't stand until the end.
Otherwise, with Lin Yin's strength, she could definitely secure a spot in the top ten.
After today's highlight ended, the rest of the matches seemed unremarkable.
Ye Qingyun seemed to have been inspired by something and was lost in thought on the way back.
Seeing the little cook so serious, Han Feng simply took the group out for a meal, saving her the trouble of cooking.
At night, Lin Xian'er sought out Han Feng.
"Master, do you have any Dou Skills that are used when playing the flute?"
She had watched Lin Yin's battle today and was also inspired. Thinking that she was also learning the flute, she might as well imitate her.
Han Feng gently tapped Lin Xian'er on the forehead.
"Don't aim too high. Learn the flute well first before talking about anything else."
Lin Xian'er covered her head and said "oh," then picked up the flute and started playing.
It sounded a bit unpleasant...
Lin Xian'er secretly glanced at the expressionless Han Feng and gave a sheepish smile.
"Master, please teach me more."
Han Feng looked at his spoiled disciple and sighed.
"I really don't know what to do with you."
———
After the preliminary rounds, the contestants went through another round of elimination matches, leaving thirteen finalists.
These thirteen contestants would participate in the final competition for the top ten.
On the martial arts arena, sunlight streamed down. Su Qian presided over the competition and began to draw lots.
He would first select six people from the thirteen to compete. After eliminating three, the remaining ones would be the top ten.
The top ten would all receive a precious reward—Body Tempering with the Source Heart Flame.
Body Tempering with the Source Heart Flame was different from the Heart Flame tempering that students usually enjoyed. Heart Flame could be continuously produced as long as the Fallen Heart Flame existed, while the Source Heart Flame, even with the entire Jia Nan Academy exhausting its manpower every year, could only condense a few flames.
This was why the Strong Ranking Competition was held once every five years. If it were held too frequently, even draining the elders' strength wouldn't be enough to gather the rewards.
The Source Heart Flame was so rare, so its effect was naturally immense.
As long as one endured the Body Tempering with the Source Heart Flame, not only could a cultivator improve their physique and refine their Dou Qi, but most importantly, it could pave the way for their future advancement to Dou King.
On this Dou Qi Continent, it was not difficult for geniuses to advance their realms; they just needed to cultivate step by step. But for most people, even a small threshold could be like a huge mountain, difficult to cross in a lifetime.
Don't be fooled by the back-and-forth battles in the Strong Ranking Competition. The number of people who could truly advance to Dou King would not exceed half.
The competition proceeded in an orderly manner.
After three matches, three students were eliminated.
The top ten list for this Strong Ranking Competition was officially finalized. Among them were some who had come from behind. The lowest cultivation level was even only at the six-star Dou Spirit realm, the kind that Lin Yin could defeat with one hand.
Luck undoubtedly played a certain factor. However, fortune and misfortune are two sides of the same coin. Body Tempering with the Source Heart Flame was not something an ordinary person could withstand. If one's strength was too weak, an opportunity could sometimes turn into a disaster.
The competition ended, and Han Feng took the women home.
The leisurely days were over. It was time to get moving.
The materials for the eighth-grade pill were all ready. Han Feng decided to choose a good time to start the cauldron and refine the pill.
However, accidents sometimes happen so suddenly.
Just as Su Qian led the group to the bottom level of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, a frightening aura suddenly erupted.
The Fallen Heart Flame seemed to have been waiting for this day. It had accumulated a huge amount of energy and fiercely impacted the defensive barrier.
The scorching energy spread rapidly, and the temperature inside the tower instantly rose to an unbearable level in the blink of an eye.
Fortunately, today was the day for Body Tempering with the Source Heart Flame, and ordinary students were forbidden from entering the tower. Therefore, most people were unharmed. Only the top ten students now felt the pressure of life and death.
Su Qian stood at the front, telling everyone to leave the tower quickly.
The ten people quickly fled upwards, escaping the refining tower at the last moment before the flames erupted.
However, the last six-star Dou Spirit was one second too slow. And in this short second, his thigh was instantly engulfed by the flames.
Fortune and misfortune, it was truly fulfilled at this moment.
The others did not stand by and watch. They quickly carried the wailing injured person away.
Su Qian was now fully focused on resisting the impact of the Fallen Heart Flame and had no spare energy to care about anything else.
"Damn it, why did the Fallen Heart Flame suddenly go berserk!"
Logically, the seal was intact, and the barrier energy was abundant. There was no reason for this thing to go crazy at this time.
The elders of the Inner Academy hurriedly arrived, formed a formation, and suppressed it together with Su Qian.
As the barrier enveloping the entire Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower rose, Su Qian's pressure was instantly reduced by a lot.
However, looking at the Fallen Heart Flame constantly ramming inside the barrier, Su Qian knew that this tug-of-war would not end so easily.
Su Qian formed a profound seal with one hand, pointed to the sky, and a special communication signal spread out.
The people from the Inner Academy alone were not enough. He still needed to summon helpers from the Outer Academy.
Su Qian looked at some of the elders at the corner of the great formation whose mouths were bleeding, his expression growing heavier.
"Everyone, hold on!"
He slammed down with his palm, pouring all his Dou Qi into the barrier desperately, trying to reduce the elders' pressure as much as possible.
At the same time, he suddenly thought, "With the Fallen Heart Flame erupting like this, its aura probably can't be hidden anymore. Elder Han, he..."
At this moment, Su Qian thought of Han Feng's possible purpose again and couldn't help but worry.
He was both worried that the other party would break his promise and rush over, and hoped that the other party could lend him a hand, without coveting the Heavenly Flame.
Time passed bit by bit, but Han Feng's figure did not appear.
However, the Fallen Heart Flame seemed to have decided to burn its bridges at this moment, crazily ramming the top of the barrier. The huge force made many elders spurt blood, their auras instantly weakening.
Su Qian's eyes were bloodshot. He alone held the most dangerous position at the top of the tower.
Boom!
Along with a fierce flame bombardment, Su Qian coughed up a mouthful of old blood.
He looked at the Fallen Heart Flame, which was about to continue its fierce attack. He could no longer care about anything else in his heart and shouted loudly, "Quickly go and invite Elder Han Feng!"