Chapter 255: Conquest
"This Xiao Yan's strength far surpasses Han Feng's," Su Qian thought as he watched Xiao Yan ruthlessly subdue the Fallen Heart Flame.
Initially, Su Qian believed Xiao Yan's strength was comparable to the "Thousand and Hundred Elders," but it was now clear that Xiao Yan's abilities were far superior.
"No wonder he spoke so confidently about being able to kill Han Feng easily. With his strength, unless the Headmaster himself intervenes, there truly isn't anyone in this academy who can deal with him," Su Qian admitted to himself with a bitter smile.
Han Feng, despite his status as a five star Dou Zong, would stand no chance against Xiao Yan. It also made Su Qian wonder about the identity of Xiao Yan's teacher. To have trained not one but two seventh tier alchemists, they were likely a legendary eighth tier alchemist themselves an existence that could dominate the entire northwest region.
Within the magma world, the invisible fire python screeched violently, twisting its body as it emitted waves of invisible flames in an attempt to attack Xiao Yan.
Unfortunately for the python, Xiao Yan's soul power, which approached the eighth tier level, rendered the attacks ineffective. Instead, Xiao Yan's soul force transformed into a sharp spike that pierced directly into the python's source.
The assault on its core only made the Fallen Heart Flame struggle more violently. The magma sea erupted, sending massive waves surging tens of meters high, and even Su Qian, watching from afar, felt a pang of fear.
The entire Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower trembled slightly, making Su Qian silently grateful that he had evacuated the students earlier.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan stood unshaken in the depths of the magma. If anything, the more fiercely the Fallen Heart Flame resisted, the more excited he became.
"The stronger it is, the better," Xiao Yan thought as he extended his hand again.
A giant azure flame hand materialized, gripping the fire python tightly.
"Another Heavenly Flame?" Su Qian exclaimed in shock from outside the cavern.
Then, as if it weren't enough, another flame black and white in color emerged from Xiao Yan's other hand. The black and white flames morphed into two serpents, entwining themselves around the invisible fire python.
Trapped by the flames, the fire python let out a despairing wail, its struggles weakening with each passing moment.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yan activated the power of the Yin Yang Saint Flame to devour the Fallen Heart Flame's energy.
In the blazing depths of the magma world, an extraordinary sight unfolded. A giant azure flame hand and a multicolored flame hand firmly gripped the invisible fire python, while the black and white flame serpents coiled around it, tightening their hold.
With every collision between the flames and the fire python, a wisp of purified flame essence was extracted and absorbed by Xiao Yan.
As hundreds of such wisps were refined, they coalesced into a small, invisible flame serpent that hovered near Xiao Yan. Each new serpent drained the fire python's strength further.
Seeing this, Su Qian's shock deepened, his expression tinged with awe.
"It's the Heart Flame Essence!" Su Qian gasped internally.
This purified flame essence was a treasure that Jia Nan Academy typically took immense effort to extract. In a year, the academy could only produce three or four clusters of Heart Flame Essence, and even that required significant manpower.
Yet Xiao Yan had easily refined one in a matter of moments.
The Heart Flame Essence was a critical resource for enabling students and elders of the Inner Academy to rapidly ascend to the Dou Wang level. Those who withstood its tempering would gain the key to breaking through to Dou Wang.
In the past, only the most outstanding students of the academy had the privilege of being granted this treasure.
"I wonder how much of the Fallen Heart Flame's essence Elder Yan Xiao will extract," Su Qian thought. "If he shares even a portion with Jia Nan Academy, it would greatly strengthen our core forces."
Time passed slowly, and three days later, students outside the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower were growing restless.
"Elder, when will the tower reopen?" one student asked impatiently.
"What's the rush?" an elder replied irritably. "I've told you a hundred times already the tower is currently dangerous. Entering now could cost you your life."
"But what kind of danger? Shouldn't you at least tell us that?" one particularly bold student pressed.
"How would I know? This is the First Elder's direct order. Stop making things difficult for me, okay?"
"But I still have so much unused Fire Energy!" a female student whined, covering her ears in frustration.
"If you don't listen, then be prepared to fail my class," the elder said with a cold snort, freezing the girl in her tracks.
Deep beneath the tower, the once massive fire python had been reduced to less than a meter in length. It let out a sorrowful cry, seemingly pleading for mercy.
"Begging for mercy? Not a chance," Xiao Yan sneered coldly.
To him, the Fallen Heart Flame was no different from livestock just as humans slaughter animals to grow stronger, he would do the same to this flame. Kindness was a luxury he could not afford.
Moreover, if the situation were reversed, the Fallen Heart Flame wouldn't hesitate to devour him, along with the three Heavenly Flames in his body.
With that thought, Xiao Yan intensified his extraction efforts.
The fire python launched a final desperate struggle, but it was futile. Under Xiao Yan's grip, it shattered into fiery fragments that were absorbed into the Yin Yang Saint Flame.
What remained was a single meter long cluster of purified Heart Flame Essence hovering behind Xiao Yan.
Dozens more clusters surrounded him, their numbers growing steadily as Xiao Yan continued his work.
As the external energy was fully extracted, a tiny serpent, no larger than a loach, tried to escape into the magma below.
"Trying to run?" Xiao Yan sneered.
With a wave of his hand, two flame hands blocked the serpent's path, forming a cage of fire that trapped it completely.
The serpent writhed and shrieked, but the black and white flames tightened around it, extinguishing its will entirely.
With the Fallen Heart Flame subdued, Xiao Yan turned to admire the dozens of Heart Flame Essences he had refined, a satisfied smile on his face.
(End of Chapter)
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