The battle between Xiao Yan and Liu Qing was nothing short of spectacular.
Gasps. Cheers. The crowd was utterly captivated.
The two clashed back and forth, neither willing to yield. And because Xiao Yan's cultivation base had grown far beyond what it was in the original timeline, the moment he unleashed the Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler, the sheer power of that low-ranked Dou Technique left the vast majority of onlookers dumbstruck.
One strike.
Liu Qing was defeated.
Unlike his original fate, Xiao Yan did not collapse into a coma. But the injuries he sustained were severe, and his Dou Qi reserves were nearly scraped clean.
The regular competition slowly drew to a close amidst a cascade of battles and thunderous cheers.
The final Strong Ranking—first through tenth—was thus decided:
1st: Xiao Jietian
2nd: Zi Yan
3rd: Lin Xiuya
4th: Xiao Yan
5th: Liu Qing
6th: Han Yue
7th: Yan Hao
8th: Lin Yan
9th: Qian Mo
10th: Qin Zhen
"I hereby declare the Strong Ranking Tournament officially concluded," Su Qian announced. "All participating contestants may now withdraw from the arena. Your rewards will be distributed by designated personnel in due course."
Xiao Jietian and the others left the stage, returning to their previous high platform.
According to tradition, there would still be several challenge matches to follow. Some sought to prove their strength. Others nursed lingering grievances and wished to contest for a higher rank.
One by one, these challenges played out.
Xun'er did not participate.
Xiao Jietian already knew her cultivation level. There was no need to reveal herself here—and besides, Xun'er had never enjoyed such spectacles.
"Xun'er, take the Pan Gate members back first." Xiao Jietian's gaze shifted to Han Yue. "Senior Han Yue, I still have matters to attend to. If you have time, you are welcome to visit Pan Gate's headquarters."
Xun'er nodded. She already knew what he was about to do—he had told her in advance.
Han Yue nodded obediently and walked off alongside Xun'er.
Xiao Jietian watched them leave, then turned and made his way directly to the Great Elder's pavilion.
He did not waste words on pleasantries.
"Great Elder," he said, "can this Heart Flame Body Tempering opportunity be transferred to another person?"
Su Qian paused mid-thought.
He had expected Xiao Jietian to discuss the Fallen Heart Flame seal. Not this.
"…There is no explicit rule forbidding it," he said slowly. "But such a notion rarely occurs to anyone. This reward is highly coveted, after all."
He studied Xiao Jietian with keen, aged eyes.
"You intend to give it away? Very well—but know this: it can only be transferred to someone already within the Inner Academy."
Curiosity flickered beneath his composed exterior. Who is worth this much to him?
"Xiao Yu."
The answer came without hesitation.
Su Qian's eyebrows rose slightly. Of the names he had considered, this was not among them.
Xiao Yu… a member of the Xiao family, then.
But more than that—the choice told him something. Xiao Jietian had not chosen Xiao Xun'er, whose identity and background Su Qian had long since discerned. He had chosen another.
Which meant Xiao Jietian almost certainly knew Xiao Xun'er's true origins as well.
And if he knows… then Boundless Heavenly Hall, the force standing behind him, is far from ordinary.
"That is acceptable," Su Qian said. His tone betrayed nothing of his thoughts.
But Xiao Jietian saw the flicker in those old eyes.
This old fox is already connecting dots.
To preempt any probing questions, he pressed forward.
"Great Elder." His voice grew serious. "According to the latest intelligence from my Boundless Heavenly Hall—"
He paused.
"Han Feng has been leveraging past favors and material benefits extensively. He is currently rallying numerous faction leaders renowned on the Black Ranking."
Su Qian's brow furrowed deeply.
"It seems your conjecture was correct, young friend Xiao." His voice was grim. "The academy has already begun implementing countermeasures. However…" His gaze settled on Xiao Jietian. "Much still depends on your side. I wonder if your people are—?"
Xiao Jietian laughed heartily.
"Rest assured, Great Elder. We are fully prepared and can deploy at a moment's notice. The only remaining matter is confirmation of the seal's breaking time. Has the academy reached a decision?"
Su Qian nodded slowly.
"It has been decided. The seal will be lifted after the Heart Flame Body Tempering concludes. The longer we delay, the greater the risk of complications on Han Feng's end. The Black-Corner Region is not lacking in experts."
He did not need to elaborate. Both men knew that hidden within that lawless land were several Dou Zongs—reclusive, unpredictable, and susceptible to sufficient inducement.
The academy currently possessed only one mobile Dou Zong: himself. The other two elders were perpetually in seclusion and notoriously unreliable.
"Then rest assured." Xiao Jietian's lips curved into a meaningful smile. "Boundless Heavenly Hall will ensure the Inner Academy's safety."
Su Qian stared at him for a long moment.
Then, with an impatient wave of his hand: "Don't worry. Since the academy has made you a promise, it will be kept."
"Then I shall take my leave." Xiao Jietian rose, satisfaction evident in his tone. "Haha."
He exited the pavilion, his mind already racing through calculations.
With me as a variable, butterfly effects are inevitable.
The Soul Hall must also be accounted for. Watchers will likely be dispatched—but as for those Venerable Elders…
He dismissed the thought.
The Soul Hall was arrogant. A mere Heavenly Flame was not worth mobilizing their high-ranking combat power.
He chose not to walk back to his quarters.
Instead, he flew.
He was currently the most sought-after figure in the entire Inner Academy. Rumours swirled. Admirers lurked. And there were even whispers of certain individuals who wished to… partake of him.
What if someone suddenly approaches me and says, "Brother, you smell delicious"?
…No, thank you.
Four days passed in the blink of an eye.
The Inner Academy still buzzed with fervent discussion of the Strong Ranking Tournament's most thrilling moments. Every duel, every upset, every stunning technique was dissected and debated.
Simultaneously, a surge of applicants flooded Pan Gate's registration.
And, inevitably, there were those who sought to muddy the waters—spreading slander, attempting covert suppression.
During one such secret conflict, Xun'er was left with no choice but to act.
She unleashed her power.
The aura that swept forth was suffocating. In an instant, an entire group of troublemakers was pinned to the ground by sheer pressure alone.
The rumour spread like wildfire: Xun'er is suspected to possess Dou Wang strength!
Many were stunned. They had always regarded Xun'er as a quiet, beautiful ornament—a lovely vase gracing Pan Gate's halls.
It turned out this vase was also a dark horse who simply chose not to compete.
Had she participated in the Strong Ranking Tournament, the top three would have been within easy reach.
A collective shiver ran through the student body.
That couple… just how monstrous are they?!
During these four days, aside from cultivating, Xiao Jietian devoted every spare moment to accompanying Xun'er.
He had noticed her subtle restlessness. The way her gaze would drift, the occasional silence that stretched a beat too long.
He knew.
She was preparing to return to the Ancient Clan.
And he had no intention of stopping her.
Only within the Ancient Clan could Xun'er receive the finest cultivation resources, the most suitable training. To keep her here would be selfishness disguised as affection.
As for whether she would be bullied there…
Don't make me laugh.
If Xun'er's temperament were any less gentle, with her status—the purest bloodline of the current generation, the clan leader's own daughter—she would have long been the most fearsome little demon king the Ancient Clan had ever seen.
Who in their right mind would dare make things difficult for her?
They were strolling through a quiet path in the Inner Academy, the afternoon light filtering softly through the trees.
Suddenly, Xiao Jietian halted.
His body stiffened.
A powerful aura fluctuation had erupted from within the Eternal Heaven Realm.
"Tian Ge?" Xun'er looked at him, confused. "What's wrong?"
He had no time to answer.
He seized her hand, and in the next instant, they vanished from where they stood.
They materialized within the Eternal Heaven Realm.
And the moment they did—
A violent wave of energy surged toward him.
Xiao Jietian raised his arms, channelling Dou Qi to defend.
The force struck.
He was pushed back several steps.