Chapter 260: Reopening the Skyflame Qi Refining Tower
Xiao Yu gazed at little Zi Yan, her delicate fingers brushing against the statue as she let out a soft chuckle.
"Zi Yan, I don't know why, but my heart has been racing today… I feel like something big is about to happen!"
"Huh?"
"You too?" Zi Yan tilted her small head in surprise.
"So it's not just me?"
A feminine voice came from behind.
"Look! It's Fire Girl, Hu Jia! She's absolutely stunning!"
"Being beautiful is one thing, but don't forget she's also ranked in the top ten!"
Hu Jia's appearance ignited the crowd's enthusiasm, their murmurs of admiration growing louder.
"Hey, hey! If your hearts aren't racing, then that's when something big is really going to happen!"
A playful male voice followed from behind Hu Jia.
"It's Wu Hao, the Blood Sword, leader of the Ri Yan Alliance and ranked seventh on the Strongest Rankings!"
Wu Hao's arrival sent a wave of apprehension through the crowd.
Right now, he was one of the most influential figures in the Inner Academy without a doubt.
The title of Ri Yan Alliance Leader alone was enough to make people tremble.
Not to mention
He was now strong enough to challenge the sixth rank, standing just behind Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, Yan Hao, and Lin Yan.
Of course, Wu Tian and Zi Yan were excluded from such rankings.
Those two were legends, existing beyond the list which was completely understandable.
"Leader, you guys came too?"
Hu Jia and Xiao Yu smiled.
Wu Hao waved dismissively, grinning mischievously.
"How could I not? Lin Yan and… 'that guy' also felt their hearts racing!"
"Ugh "
"Leader, what the hell are you even saying?"
Two more figures suddenly appeared behind Wu Hao.
Of course
These were the infamous duo of the Ri Yan Alliance
Lin Yan and 'that guy'!
"Uhh…"
Wu Hao let out an awkward chuckle, then looked at them with an air of confidence.
"Am I wrong, though? If your hearts weren't racing, why are you guys even here?"
"Tch Fine, Leader has a point!"
"Look, even they're coming!"
Lin Yan pointed towards another direction
And sure enough
Lin Xiuya and his group had arrived.
At the same time
Han Yue, with her usual icy and graceful demeanor, descended from the sky.
Standing beside Hu Jia, the contrast between the frosty beauty and the fiery warrior was mesmerizing.
And yet
Only that statue could truly appreciate their radiance.
Everyone else…
Could only envy from afar.
At that moment
Every pair of eyes turned toward the entrance of the Skyflame Qi Refining Tower.
A lone graceful figure, dressed in flowing cyan robes, stood silently before the tower's sealed gates.
No one knew when she had arrived.
But no one was surprised by her presence.
Because she was mysterious beyond belief
Xun'er.
Even Zi Yan herself had once admitted
Xun'er's strength was not far below her own!
"Brother Wu Tian, you've already absorbed the Heavenly Flame… so why haven't you come out yet?"
Xun'er's golden eyes gleamed with a mysterious glow.
Golden Emperor Burning Sky Flame
Her bloodline power surged through her irises, piercing through the sealed gates of the Skyflame Qi Refining Tower.
She gazed deep into the depths below.
There, she saw an elderly man with snow white hair none other than Su Qian, the Grand Elder.
Behind him stood several other aged figures a group of elders descending toward the surface.
Xun'er was puzzled.
Were they about to announce that the Skyflame Qi Refining Tower was still "under repair"?
How pitiful.
They had worked so hard for this.
The tranquil morning silence was suddenly shattered by the crisp ringing of a bell.
And at the sound of the chime
Whoosh!
Several figures soared down from the skies, landing atop the high platform of the plaza.
Leading them
Was none other than Su Qian.
And beside him
Were several elders.
Among them
Were the Tower Guardians.
The Tower Guardians, who were supposed to safeguard the Skyflame Qi Refining Tower
Yet…
The tower was completely lifeless now.
Not even a trace of the Fallen Heart Flame remained.
What was left to guard?
If anything
Their true job now was to "guard Wu Tian" from ever escaping!
Having been forced into early retirement, these elders had spent the last year doing absolutely nothing.
But
They still had to stay put.
Because
The moment Wu Tian broke free from the seal
They needed to reinforce it immediately.
To forever trap that bastard inside!
"Grand Elder!"
The gathered students bowed respectfully toward Su Qian.
Su Qian's gaze shifted toward the towering statue in the plaza.
This monument was like a thorn in his side.
A nail driven straight into his flesh.
It was beyond irritating.
But…
He couldn't tear it down.
Because doing so would cause massive "instability".
And by instability, he wasn't talking about actual environmental damage.
He meant
The mass exodus of students.
Within the Inner Academy, the Ri Yan Alliance had become the dominant force.
Most students dreamed of joining its ranks.
Besides them
There were also "Wolf Fang" and "Split Mountain", the other two factions.
But true powerhouses knew the reality
Their leaders had already been beaten into submission by that one man.
Both had reached half step Dou King, yet deliberately held back their breakthroughs.
Because
They wanted to temper themselves further.
They were in no rush to advance.
Even though
They knew that the monsters above them weren't human.
If they could endure their bottleneck for as long as possible
Then when they finally broke through to Dou King, their growth would skyrocket.
A period of accumulation
Only breaking through when the limit was reached.
And when that day came
They would likely become Inner Academy Elders themselves.
Leave the Inner Academy?
No way.
Not until they saw how this story ended.
Only those with obligations to their families had left.
Su Qian turned to the hopeful women who eagerly awaited Wu Tian's return.
He sighed helplessly.
Glancing up at the sky
Perhaps blinking away the tears in his eyes, he spoke softly:
"The time has come… prepare to reopen the Skyflame Qi Refining Tower."
"???"
"It's… fixed?"
Even Xun'er, along with the entire Ri Yan Alliance and Lin Xiuya's group, were stunned.
Su Qian smirked mysteriously.
You wouldn't understand, kids.
An old man like me has his secrets.
"Open the tower!"
(End of Chapter)
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