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"You must be Lin Xiao, correct? Thank you for stepping in to save the people of our Jia Nan Academy. We will certainly prepare a generous gift to express our gratitude."
After taking a step forward, Su Qian was the first to speak.
His opening words immediately signaled a friendly intent. Since Xiao Lin had come from afar as a guest and had saved members of the Academy, Su Qian, as the Grand Elder, naturally wouldn't be so impolite as to ignore such a deed.
"Grand Elder Su Qian is too kind. I was merely passing by and happened to have a request for Jia Nan Academy, so I simply lent a hand along the way."
If someone respects me a foot, I respect them a yard; this was Xiao Lin's principle of social conduct. Upon hearing Xiao Lin so bluntly state that he had a request for the Academy, Su Qian didn't feel the slightest bit of worry.
Instead, he felt a secret sense of relief. After all, dealing with a straightforward person was always better than facing a hypocritical villain. If Xiao Lin had spoken with high-sounding, self-righteous rhetoric, Su Qian would have actually been uneasy!
On this point alone, Su Qian already felt a flicker of goodwill toward Xiao Lin.
Coupled with the fact that Xiao Lin had saved Huo Dian and the four students, Su Qian's guard dropped to its lowest point.
"One thing is one thing; a thank-you gift is mandatory! As for your request regarding our Jia Nan Academy, that is a separate matter. I heard from Elder Huo that you wish to take up a position as an Elder in our Academy. I wonder if this is true?"
After basically confirming that Xiao Lin held no hostility toward Jia Nan Academy, Su Qian didn't waste any more time and got straight to business.
Simultaneously, as Su Qian finished speaking, he gave a slight nod to the several Dou Huang experts behind him. This was a pre-arranged signal they had established, indicating that they no longer needed to remain on high alert.
Seeing this, the Dou Huang experts behind Su Qian exchanged glances and promptly departed.
They had come originally fearing that Su Qian and Xiao Lin might come to blows. Now that they had confirmed the other party meant no harm, there was naturally no need for them to stay. There were still many matters within the Academy that required their attention.
Just as those Dou Huang experts left, Xiao Lin spoke up.
"That's right. I believe both Elder Huo and those four students have already expressed my intentions to the Grand Elder, haven't they?"
"I wish to enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to cultivate! However, with my current cultivation, it's no longer appropriate for me to be a student, so I can only apply for the position of an Elder."
Since Su Qian asked, Xiao Lin didn't mind repeating what he had told Huo Dian. Even though he had lied about his identity, his goal for joining Jia Nan Academy was genuine.
Therefore, Xiao Lin spoke this reason with full confidence!
"Regarding this point, I have indeed heard from Elder Huo and the others. However, there is one thing I must remind you of first. The Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower does indeed help increase one's cultivation speed."
"But with your Dou Zong cultivation, the cultivation boost the tower can provide is actually quite limited! In fact, even the boost for Dou Huang experts is no longer very significant. On this point, I dare to swear in the name of the Grand Elder of Jia Nan Academy that I am not deceiving you!"
"As you can see, if the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower truly provided the same boost to every realm, Dou Huang and Dou Zong experts would be flying all over our Academy."
Turning to serious business, Su Qian's expression became incredibly solemn. He even couldn't help but crack a self-deprecating joke at the end.
It was exactly as Su Qian said.
While the cultivation boost from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower still existed for those above the Dou Huang realm, it was no longer pronounced.
This was actually understandable.
After all, although the Fallen Heart Flame beneath the tower had birthed some intelligence, its own strength was currently only that of a high-level Dou Huang.
To expect a Fallen Heart Flame with the strength of a high-level Dou Huang to provide a massive boost to a Dou Zong—to be honest, while not non-existent, it was negligible.
Unless the Fallen Heart Flame grew further, it would be impossible to bring a lightning-fast increase in cultivation speed to those in higher realms!
Therefore, Su Qian was somewhat worried that after joining the Academy, Xiao Lin would find the tower couldn't give him a significant boost and would end up blaming Jia Nan Academy.
That was a scenario Su Qian did not want to see.
"Hahaha, Grand Elder Su Qian worries too much. Regarding this point, I already knew what to expect."
As Su Qian finished speaking, Xiao Lin didn't give up on his idea; instead, he burst out laughing. Xiao Lin's laughter caused a look of confusion to appear on Su Qian's face.
However, the words Xiao Lin was about to say next caused the expression on his face to instantly shift from confusion to shock, and then from shock to wild joy!
After his laughter subsided, Xiao Lin organized his thoughts and spoke once more.
"Grand Elder Su Qian, there is one thing I actually forgot to tell you."
"I am not only a Dou Zong, but also a Formation Master! Coincidentally, I recently researched a formation called the Spirit Gathering Formation! Just by hearing the name of this formation, I imagine the Grand Elder should know what it signifies?"
As he spoke, a look of confidence appeared on Xiao Lin's face!
Formation Masters, although considered a niche or even "useless" profession on the Dou Qi Continent, could not be denied their potential. Given enough time, a Formation Master could set up all sorts of incredible formations!
This was something even Alchemists did not possess.
After all, no matter how heaven-defying or respected an Alchemist was, they were not a combat-oriented profession. Conversely, a Formation Master even if they weren't a Spiritual Array Master like Xiao Lin—could completely set up a terrifying grand formation if given sufficient time.
This was the charm of a Formation Master!
Although Su Qian had not yet experienced the effects of a Spirit Gathering Formation, just as Xiao Lin said, he could roughly guess its function just by the name.
"Your Excellency Lin Xiao, you... are you saying..."
At this moment, even the usually mature and steady Su Qian couldn't help but have his voice tremble.
"That's right!"
Xiao Lin's answer caused Su Qian's face to turn completely flushed at that moment.
It was a sign of over-excitement. He understood all too well what kind of effect the combination of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower—or rather, the Fallen Heart Flame—plus a Spirit Gathering Formation could produce.
That would be a double buff!
He believed that even a dog, under the influence of such double buffs, could cultivate as if it were flying!
Similarly, this meant the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower would be able to provide a boost in cultivation speed to those at even higher realms. Thinking of this, how could Su Qian not be excited?
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