"A-Long, did anything happen while I was in seclusion?" Xiao Li asked.
"Nothing much. The Grand Elder dropped by once and said there's no point keeping you as a student; you might as well be promoted straight to Elder. Staying at the top of the Power Ranking just crushes the other students' morale," Xia Yilong replied with a smile.
"Tsk, looks like I'll be graduating early. Still, I'm already a Five-Star Dou Wang, so it's about time I got ready," Xiao Li murmured, stroking his chin.
"Light the furnace—time to refine pills!"
Naturally, Xiao Li started with Alchemy. First he had to feed that clingy little female Dragon; otherwise the Inner Academy would be turned upside-down.
Now a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, Xiao Li ranked only below the honorary Elder Wang in the entire Jia Nan Academy. Elder Wang's cultivation had risen by another star last year, reaching Seven-Star Dou Huang.
With stronger Dou Qi, Elder Wang's success rate when refining Huangji Pills had improved considerably. He had even attempted the Break-Sect Pill several times, though unfortunately all attempts failed.
As for Xiao Li, he could now refine Dou Ling Pills. Refining Huangji Pills was still a bit beyond him; he could try, but the success rate would be low.
The Dou Wang Elders of Jia Nan Academy were reaping the benefits—so long as they earned enough merit, they could receive a Dou Ling Pill that raised their cultivation by one star.
Right now the academy's Elders and Law-Enforcement teams were advancing the fastest, sharply boosting the school's core strength.
Dou Wang took Dou Ling Pills; Dou Huang took Qing Yuan Pills. Virtually every Elder in Jia Nan Academy had consumed Xiao Li's Elixirs and owed him a favor.
Yet Xiao Li had now hit a Bottleneck in Alchemy. Refining a Sixth Grade Pill was difficult; extracting ingredients of that tier with his Beast Fire was barely adequate. Each time he had to expend vast amounts of Dou Qi to strengthen the flame, leaving him short when it came time to condense the pill.
There were only two ways to solve this: raise his cultivation—higher cultivation meant no shortage of Dou Qi—or subdue a Heavenly Flame. With one, extracting ingredients would be far easier and far less taxing.
Half a day later…
"Zi Yan—dinner's ready!"
Xiao Li piled dozens of candy-like medicinal beads onto a plate.
Zi Yan had been napping on the sofa; the moment she heard "dinner" she bolted upright, spotted the colorful pills, and sprinted over, stuffing several into her mouth.
"Mmm~ sweet! I love sweet things. Xiao Li, you're the best—*munch munch*…"
Xiao Li smiled and shook his head. Raising this little Dragon girl felt oddly like raising a daughter as he watched her wolf down the pills.
"Brat, I'm heading to the Grand Elder's office," he called.
"Mm—wait, I'm coming too!"
Plate in arms, Zi Yan trotted after him.
In Su Qian's office…
"Oh? So you're planning to absorb the Fallen Heart Flame? How confident are you?" Su Qian asked, sipping tea.
"Hard to say. After tempering my body with Heart Flame, plus my pills and preparations, I'd guess sixty or seventy percent," Xiao Li answered. Absorbing a Heavenly Flame was perilous; countless cultivators had been incinerated by the very flame they sought to tame.
"Decide for yourself. A pity about the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, but removing a hidden danger is good. After you absorb the Fallen Heart Flame, remember to recharge the tower.
Also, refine a batch of Huangji Pills for the academy—Break-Sect Pills would be even better. The ingredients are ready; it's a win-win: your Alchemy advances and the academy grows stronger."
Su Qian stroked his beard and smiled. He knew of Xiao Li's plan; The Two Elders Qian Bai had informed him.
A Fallen Heart Flame that could explode at any moment was better off under the control of a student or Elder; at least the students would be safe.
As for losing the tower's quick-cultivation effect, the Old fellows would find another way—Heavenly Flames weren't the only option.
If all else failed, the Alchemy Department could simply refine more pills. Jia Nan Academy sat on excellent geomantic terrain, rich in herbs, especially behind the Inner Academy where Heaven And Earth Treasures abounded—more than enough for the students.
"Understood. Thank you for your care these years, Grand Elder. Once my Alchemy reaches Seventh-Rank, I'll refine a zong yuan pill for you," Xiao Li said, rising to bow.
Over the past two years Su Qian had looked after him well. Elder Wang, Su Qian's old friend, had declared Xiao Li ready after he advanced to Dou Wang and Sixth-Rank Alchemist.
Elder Wang had handed over his life's collection: Legacy, Pill Formulas, and notes from a Seventh-Rank Alchemist.
He had given half a lifetime's hoard to Xiao Li and returned to the Jia Ma Empire.
When Xiao Li examined the formulas he was stunned: more than ten Seventh-Rank Pill Formulas and even Eighth Grade ones.
Elder Wang said these Seventh- and Eighth-Grade formulas came from that Peak Seventh-Rank Alchemist—someone capable indeed of obtaining Eighth-Grade recipes.
Seventh-Rank Formulas: Instant Qi Pill, Xuepo Pill, zong yuan pill, Zongfeng Yuan Pill, Yin-Yang Life-Soul Pill, Tianhuang Pill, Life Restoration Pill, Suxin Pill, Transformation Pill, xuanpu foundation establishment pill, Primordial Barrier Breaking Pill…
Eighth-Grade Formulas: purple green venerable extreme pill, Fuling Qing Pill, Gangfeng Venerable Extreme Pill…
In short—wealth, incredible wealth!
"Heh, you have my thanks. When you absorb the flame, be careful—if it looks too dangerous, give it up; don't lose your life," Su Qian reminded. He was fond of Xiao Li—Disciple of an old friend and outstanding student of Jia Nan Academy.
"Junior understands!"
Half a month later, the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower closed.
Many students grumbled, but the Elders announced the tower had malfunctioned and needed repairs.
The area around the tower was cleared; no students remained. Most of the academy's Elders gathered, including the retired Two Elders Qian Bai.
That showed just how critical Xiao Li's attempt to refine the Heavenly Flame was.
"Whew… I'm nervous," Xiao Li muttered. This Heavenly Flame was the key to his rise. As he stepped forward—BOOM!
A deafening thunderclap; the bright sky turned dark, swirling with storm clouds and lightning.
BOOM!
Several bolts struck the ground, and a figure appeared.
"Hahaha, finally back! Hm? What's this—did you all know I was coming and arrange a welcome ceremony?"
The speaker was an old man in blue Jia Nan Academy robes, white hair and beard, kindly yet authoritative, eyes so deep they seemed to see through everything.
Though his face looked seventy or eighty, his back was straight and build robust—more like a youth than an Elder.
"Dean?"
"Dean?"
The Two Elders Qian Bai and Su Qian were first to react, followed by the other Elders who had met Mang Tianchi. It was the founder of Jia Nan Academy, the ever-elusive Dean—Dou Zun Expert Mang Tianchi!
"Dean, you're not dead!" Bai Lie exclaimed.
"Hey! Bai Lie, what nonsense—hoping I'd die? Hmph, looks like you need a lesson. And you're still only Nine-Star Dou Zong? Not broken through to Dou Zun yet?" Mang Tianchi glanced at Bai Lie, clearly not angry.
"Mm, Qian Mu has reached Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong but still hasn't touched the Dou Zun threshold. Understandable—even I found that step extremely difficult back then!
Oh, Su Qian has broken through to Dou Zong? Good, keep at it! Long time no see, everyone."
Mang Tianchi walked forward, greeting those he knew.