Confirming that the Earth Demon Old Ghost was truly dead, Liu Xi's eyes flickered slightly. 'A 7-Star Dou Zong corpse like this could serve as a fine vessel for the Elder Yao in the future.'
With a flap of his bone wings, thunder roared and wind howled as Liu Xi shot downward like lightning, catching up to the rapidly falling corpse. He didn't touch it directly — instead, he drew it into his storage ring with a flick of his hand.
After securing the body, he returned to Xiao Yixian's side and smiled faintly. "Xian'er, this time I truly owe you. Without your help, that old ghost would've been much harder to finish off."
Xiao Yixian pressed her lips together and smiled softly, her eyes filled with quiet joy. "If not for Young Master severely injuring him first, I wouldn't have had the chance."
Before Liu Xi could respond, a flash of purple light streaked toward them. Zi Yan appeared in front of the two, cheeks puffed up in anger. "You two are unbelievable! You left me behind again — I'm mad!"
Xiao Yixian smiled gently and soothed her. "This time was too dangerous, Zi Yan. We'll take you along next time, all right?"
"Hmph! You're just saying that because you think I'm weak!" Zi Yan pouted, her bright eyes full of indignation.
Moments later, Su Qian flickered into view, landing before Liu Xi. His sharp gaze softened into relief. "If you hadn't returned when you did, the Inner Academy would have been destroyed."
Liu Xi chuckled lightly. "It's nothing. I'm an Elder of the Inner Academy — protecting it is part of my duty. By the way…"
He raised his hand. Wisps of invisible flame flowed from his palm, gathering into a small, serpentine form — the Fallen Heart Flame.
Su Qian's body trembled, his voice filled with disbelief and joy. "The Fallen Heart Flame?!"
Liu Xi smiled. "I happened to come across it on my way back, so I brought it along. Headmaster, please secure it within the Inner Academy. With such a flame, we can't risk it being taken again. Still, it was thanks to this Fallen Heart Flame that I could fully unleash the formation's power. Without it, those beast flames alone wouldn't have been enough."
Su Qian's eyes glistened with excitement as he looked at the flickering flame serpent. "You brought it back... I thought I'd never see it again in this lifetime."
"Let's not get sentimental," Liu Xi said, smiling. "You should return it to the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower as soon as possible."
"Yes, yes, of course!" Su Qian replied hurriedly. Taking the flame with both hands, he felt the warmth of its heart flame surge through his body, filling his face with renewed vigor.
He led Liu Xi, Xiao Yixian, and Zi Yan back to the Inner Academy, personally overseeing the return of the Fallen Heart Flame to theBlazing Sky Qi Refining Tower and organizing the rescue of the wounded elders and students.
As for Liu Xi, he took Xiao Yixian and Zi Yan back to his residence. The Five Ring Flame Expelling Formation had drained him severely — one recovery pill was far from enough to restore his Dou Qi.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
While Liu Xi had slain the Earth Demon Old Ghost, Xiao Yan was not as fortunate. The moment he parted ways with Liu Xi, his failed attempt to seize the Heavenly Flame forced him to retreat far beyond the Inner Academy's reach.
He and Xiao Xun'er planned to wait for her guardian's arrival — the mysterious Dou Huang known as Ling Ying — who had remained hidden in the vast mountain range, ready to respond at a moment's call.
Why had the Gu Clan sent only one Dou Huang peak expert as Xun'er's protector? Perhaps the clan's upper echelon had ascended to such heights that their Dou Qi had long clouded their sense of practicality.
By a mountain stream surrounded by grass, Xiao Yan and Xun'er finally met up with Ling Ying. Xiao Yan was preparing to leave for the Black-Corner Region to inform Xiao Li of what had happened when—
A chilling, hoarse laugh echoed through the forest.
"Yao Chen… come out. Protector knows you're here. The Honorable Mu Gu has missed you dearly!"
A wave of black mist surged from the trees.
Xiao Yan, Xun'er, and Ling Ying froze in shock. Both Xun'er and Ling Ying's expressions grew grave — a Dou Zong-level Protector of the Hall of Souls was a nightmare they couldn't afford to underestimate.
Xiao Yan, after the initial shock, felt rage ignite in his heart. His fists clenched beneath his sleeves, nails piercing his palms as blood dripped between his fingers.
"You're the Hall of Souls Protector, aren't you?" he snarled through gritted teeth. "Was it you who destroyed my Xiao Clan?"
The black mist rippled with a low chuckle. "Ah… what a pity. That wasn't my doing. If I'd been in the Jia Ma Empire then, the glory would've been mine. But today, the honor of capturing Yao Chen will belong to me."
Xiao Yan's killing intent flared. He drew the Heavy Xuan Ruler from his back, shouting, "You won't succeed! My teacher's power flows through me — I'll kill you!"
But Yao Chen did not lend him strength. Instead, the black ring on Xiao Yan's finger glowed faintly, and a translucent figure emerged — Yao Chen himself.
He looked calm, almost peaceful. He had foreseen this day since the moment he revealed himself at Yunlan Sect. He just hadn't expected it to come so soon. His soul origin had not yet recovered — and his disciple was still too weak.
Glancing briefly at Xiao Xun'er, Yao Chen thought, 'At least this girl's mysterious background may offer Xiao Yan a sliver of protection.'
"Yao Chen… so you finally show yourself!" the Protector hissed from within the mist, voice dripping with delight.
Yao Chen ignored him. Turning instead to Xiao Yan, his tone was soft yet heavy with regret. "Xiao Yan, I had hoped to see you stand as a true powerhouse one day… but it seems that time has run out. Take this as my final gift to you."
"Teacher—what are you doing?"
Before Xiao Yan could react, a streak of white flame burst from Yao Chen's forehead and shot straight into his own.
"This is the essence of the Bone Chilling Flame," Yao Chen explained. "Once you master it, you'll be able to wield its power. However, since I've already refined it, you cannot absorb or devour it yourself. Should I perish, this imprint will vanish — and the flame will be yours."
He continued calmly, "The ring that holds my soul is called the Bone Flame Ring. Inside are my lifetime's collections. It will guide your path as an alchemist. If you reach the Central Plains one day, find my old friend, Venerable Feng, and show him the ring — he will aid you."
"Even if the Hall of Souls captures me, as long as I remain of use, they won't destroy me immediately. Perhaps fate will grant us another meeting. But without me by your side, you must learn to grow. Do not act recklessly anymore."
Turning to Ling Ying, Yao Chen said solemnly, "I'll hold him off. Take them and leave — now."
Ling Ying nodded heavily. "Senior, take care. I'll see to their safety."
The Protector sneered, "None of you will escape. Yao Chen and the Xiao Clan… all of you will die here."
Chains clattered within the mist. A rune-engraved black chain shot out like lightning, its spear-like tip aiming straight for Yao Chen.
Yao Chen stepped forward, intercepting it with grim resolve. "Go!" he shouted.
Ling Ying didn't hesitate. Grabbing Xun'er and Xiao Yan, he spread his Dou Qi wings and soared toward the horizon.
Behind them, the sky erupted in thunderous explosions. Yao Chen's vast Spiritual Power surged, but without his Heavenly Flame, he was at a disadvantage against the Protector's Dou Zong strength.
"Let me go!" Xiao Yan roared, struggling in Ling Ying's grip. "I won't abandon my teacher!"
"Brother Xiao Yan!" Xun'er's sharp voice cut through his rage. "Your teacher told you to run. If you're captured too, both he and your father will truly be lost. Don't make it worse!"
Her words struck like thunder in his heart. The world seemed to blur. Slowly, Xiao Yan stopped struggling, his breath shuddering.
He clutched his forehead where the flame imprint still burned faintly. 'Teacher…'
Yao Chen's final words echoed endlessly in his mind.
(End of Chapter)
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