Above the Inner Academy, the sky was filled with chaos.
Su Qian's body was covered in wounds, his aura weak and flickering, but his eyes still burned with furious rage. Because of that damned Old Earth Demon Ghost blocking his way, Xiao Yan had managed to seize the Fallen Heart Flame and escape.
Seeing the murderous intent rising in Su Qian's gaze, the Old Earth Demon Ghost narrowed his eyes. A cunning man who had survived countless battles, he knew that if Su Qian wasn't killed here, the man would become endless trouble in the future.
He slowly raised a shriveled finger, dark light swirling at the tip. The surrounding air trembled—the black radiance seemed capable of devouring even light itself. Frost began forming in midair as the moisture in the sky froze layer by layer.
He let out a sinister laugh. "Su Qian, if you had handed Xiao Yan over to me earlier, none of this would've happened. The Inner Academy could've stayed safe, and for Mang Tianchi's sake, this old ancestor might have even shown mercy."
"But now... go to hell and regret your foolishness there. I still have to deal with Xiao Yan—and the Fallen Heart Flame will belong to me as well."
"Ice Demon Finger!"
A jet-black ray burst from his fingertip, slicing silently through the air. The temperature plummeted instantly as it streaked toward Su Qian's chest.
Su Qian was already at his limit, his life force nearly spent. Facing this deadly strike, he could no longer resist. A hint of resignation and regret flashed in his eyes—relief that the Inner Academy would survive after his death, and regret that he hadn't managed to reclaim the Fallen Heart Flame before the end.
"Headmaster... I have failed..."
Just as the black light was about to pierce him, a sharp roar of wind and thunder rang out. A white figure flashed across the sky, appearing before Su Qian in an instant, snatching him out of harm's way at the final moment.
"Liu Xi—you've returned!" Su Qian gasped in surprise as he recognized the figure.
"It's me," Liu Xi said quickly, pulling out a pill and handing it to him. "Take this and focus on recovering. Leave the rest to me."
Without waiting for a response, he turned toward the ongoing battle. His voice thundered across the sky: "Stop—all of you!"
The shout echoed like a storm, shaking the entire battlefield. At the same time, an overwhelming aura erupted from him—matched by another presence beside him. Xiao Yixian.
Her power radiated through the air, suppressing both sides instantly. The Inner Academy Elders, many of them wounded, and the furious experts of Demon Flame Valley all hesitated, then slowly pulled back.
"Elder Liu!" voices called out with relief and respect from among the Inner Academy ranks.
The Old Earth Demon Ghost frowned deeply. He had not expected anyone to interfere at such a critical moment. He glanced at Liu Xi, quickly assessing his strength. Just a high-level Dou Huang, fast, but not particularly threatening.
Then his gaze shifted to Xiao Yixian. The energy surging from her body was equal to that of a 3-Star Dou Zong. That made him wary—but only slightly.
At his side, Fang Yan, the First Elder of Demon Flame Valley, spoke respectfully, "Ancestor, that Dou Huang is Liu Xi, the 6th Tier Alchemist from Jia Nan Academy. As for that Dou Zong woman, we're not sure—perhaps someone he recruited."
"A 6th Tier Alchemist?" The Old Earth Demon Ghost's eyes flickered with interest. Still, he waved it off. "No matter. Fang Yan, take your men and capture Xiao Yan. I'll stay here and clean up the rest."
"Yes!" Fang Yan replied and immediately led his group of Elders and Dou Wang enforcers away in pursuit.
Liu Xi stepped forward, facing the skeletal old man in the skull-patterned robe. "Senior, how about we both take a step back today?" he said calmly. "For my sake."
The Old Earth Demon Ghost sneered. Confident that Xiao Yan wouldn't escape Fang Yan's pursuit, he replied leisurely, "I can agree—but on one condition. You, Liu Xi, will serve my Demon Flame Valley for ten years. Then I'll give you this face. I must have an explanation for today."
Outrage erupted among the Inner Academy Elders.
"Impossible!"
"Elder Liu, don't agree to such madness!"
"This Old Ghost dares to run wild in our Inner Academy and still demands an apology?!"
The furious shouts echoed through the air.
The Old Earth Demon Ghost's sunken eyes gleamed with killing intent. If he could not control Liu Xi, then he would have to destroy him—and Su Qian as well. Only a shattered Inner Academy would never dare retaliate.
But if he could capture Liu Xi, the academy would have to think twice before making any move.
Liu Xi smiled faintly. "That won't happen, Senior. But perhaps you haven't realized—if you don't leave now, you might never have the chance to leave at all."
The Old Earth Demon Ghost laughed loudly. "Who could possibly kill me? Su Qian? That little girl? Or you?" He pointed mockingly—first at Su Qian, then Xiao Yixian, and finally at Liu Xi himself.
"I can kill you," Liu Xi replied calmly. "You're a Dou Zong, yes—but will you dare take one strike from me, a Dou Huang?"
"Hah! Why wouldn't I?"
Su Qian's expression changed. "Liu Xi, don't be reckless! I've recovered some of my strength. Let me and Miss Xiao Yixian handle this!"
"Don't worry, Great Elder," Liu Xi said softly, smiling. "I'm confident."
Spreading his bone wings, he took to the air, facing the Old Earth Demon Ghost directly. His hands began to move rapidly, forming complex seals.
"Five Ring Flame Expelling Formation!"
A wave of turquoise flame erupted from his body, swirling and gathering in the air to form a massive wolf-shaped flame spirit. The surrounding temperature soared instantly, distorting the air.
Then, drawing on the miniature Fallen Heart Flame he had just subdued, he summoned invisible fire to merge into the wolf, transforming it into a massive leopard-shaped spirit.
Purple fire flared next—the flame of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, forming into a towering lion-shaped spirit.
Following that came the beast flame of the Scarlet-Plumed Mad Tiger, bursting out as blinding white fire that molded into a fierce tiger.
Finally, Liu Xi drew upon the bluish Sea Heart Flame obtained from Han Feng. Under his precise control, the flame's color deepened, turning into a vast azure light that shaped itself into a dragon-like serpent.
In mere moments, five gigantic flame spirits of different colors surrounded the Old Earth Demon Ghost, forming a perfect pentagonal array. The air shimmered with blistering heat.
"So this is a Alchemist's flame control technique?" The Old Earth Demon Ghost scoffed. "Ingenious, perhaps—but still meaningless. Let me show you the power of real darkness!"
Dark, bone-chilling energy poured from his body, spreading into the air like ink. The temperature plummeted, frost creeping through the burning space.
But Liu Xi only smiled faintly. His hands shifted into a final seal. His body trembled as he poured the last of his energy into the formation.
"Flame Burn the Heavens!"
The five flame spirits roared simultaneously, their bodies merging in a blinding explosion of light. Complex, ancient symbols spun through the air as a vast multicolored fire curtain descended, engulfing the Old Earth Demon Ghost completely.
The sky turned into a sea of flame.
Liu Xi exhaled weakly, his face pale. "How is it, Senior?" he called out coldly. "Do you still think I can't kill you?"
Within the raging inferno, a scream echoed faintly—followed by the old ghost's desperate cry.
He finally realized... he had provoked the wrong man.
(End of Chapter)
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