After leaving the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower, Xiao Se returned to his residence with the Little Doctor Fairy. He also summoned the little cat over, bringing everyone together in the room.
"The Fallen Heart Flame will start violently attacking the seal much more frequently from now on," Xiao Se said calmly, his tone steady but serious. "If nothing unexpected happens, the Inner Academy will temporarily shut down the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower. Once all the students have been evacuated, I'll fully guide the Fallen Heart Flame to strike the seal."
He turned his gaze toward Zhu Zhuqing and smiled gently.
"Zhuqing, I'll send you to the Outer Academy later. You can stay with Xiao Yu for a while. Once everything settles down, Xian'er will come pick you up."
"What about you?" Zhu Zhuqing asked immediately. Her voice trembled slightly, and her words came out with barely concealed urgency. "Will you be in danger?"
As her understanding of the Dou Qi Continent deepened, she had gradually learned just how terrifying an existence an Exotic Flame truly was.
A power capable of incinerating not only flesh, but even the soul itself.
And now Xiao Se was about to face such an existence head-on.
How could she not be worried?
"Don't worry," Xiao Se replied softly. He reached out and gently rubbed the little cat's head, his expression relaxed and reassuring. "I'll be fine."
"I'll wait for you," Zhu Zhuqing said, her eyes instantly reddening. She leaned forward and pressed herself into Xiao Se's embrace. "If you die… I won't live on either."
This was the first time in her life that Zhu Zhuqing had hated her own weakness so deeply.
If she possessed the strength of a Dou Huang right now, she wouldn't need to hide behind Xiao Se at every critical moment. She wouldn't need to watch helplessly from the sidelines, her heart clenched with fear and helplessness.
The Little Doctor Fairy also hesitated for only a moment before lowering her head slightly and stepping forward, pressing herself into Xiao Se's arms as well.
It was rare for her to abandon her usual reserve so completely.
Her heart was heavy.
Although the fire spirit of the Fallen Heart Flame was already under Xiao Se's control, and although her current strength was more than enough to protect him throughout the Black Corner Region, what Xiao Se was about to attempt this time was far more dangerous than anything before.
He wasn't just planning to devour the Fallen Heart Flame.
He was also going to absorb Han Feng's Sea Heart Flame.
Simultaneously devouring two Exotic Flames ranked fourteenth and fifteenth on the Exotic Flame Chart—
The danger involved was self-evident.
Deep within the Inner Academy, inside a quiet pavilion beside a window overlooking the distant tower spire, an elderly man in white robes stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
His gaze rested on the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower, only its tip visible above the terrain.
His aged face was calm, composed, and utterly still—like an old monk deep in meditation, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
If Xiao Se were present, he would immediately recognize this white-robed elder as Su Qian, the Inner Academy's Great Elder, whom he had once met before.
After a long silence, Su Qian finally spoke.
"How are things progressing?"
Behind him stood a hunched elderly man in yellow robes. His posture was respectful as he answered, "Great Elder, with the combined efforts of the Inner Academy elders maintaining the barrier seal, the situation has stabilized for now."
He paused briefly, his expression troubled.
"But this is only a temporary measure. The Fallen Heart Flame's disturbances have become increasingly frequent over the past few days, and each eruption is stronger than the last. I'm afraid that if this continues…"
Hearing this, Su Qian let out a weary sigh.
"I already know," he said slowly. "Have all the students been evacuated?"
"Yes," the yellow-robed elder nodded. "All students have withdrawn, including those whose residences were close to the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower. Everyone has been relocated."
"That's good," Su Qian said, nodding faintly. "Until the Fallen Heart Flame fully stabilizes, seal the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower. Aside from the elders assigned to guard it, no one is allowed to approach."
"Yes, Great Elder."
The yellow-robed elder hesitated for a moment before speaking again, his voice lowering instinctively.
"Great Elder… I can't shake the feeling that this eruption is abnormal. If that thing truly breaks free, I'm afraid the entire Inner Academy will—"
"I know what you want to say," Su Qian interrupted gently, waving his hand. "But there's nothing more we can do. All we can do is try our best."
After another pause, Su Qian seemed to recall something.
"I heard that Elder Little Doctor Fairy has broken through to Dou Zong?"
"Yes," the yellow-robed elder replied. "She emerged from seclusion a few days ago. Her aura now is as deep and vast as the abyss. In the entire Inner Academy, perhaps only you, Great Elder, can contend with her."
His eyes flashed with unconcealed awe and envy.
When she first entered Canaan Academy, she was merely a six-star Dou Huang. And yet, in less than half a year, she had already stepped into the realm of Dou Zong.
"Such terrifying talent… the Calamity Poison Body truly lives up to its reputation," Su Qian said, inhaling deeply. "Fortunately, she isn't an enemy of our Canaan Academy."
"Indeed," the yellow-robed elder nodded heavily. "Elder Little Doctor Fairy's talent goes far beyond the word 'genius.'"
After a brief pause, he ventured carefully, "Great Elder, should we invite Elder Little Doctor Fairy to assist us? If she joins forces with you, that would give us two Dou Zong-level powerhouses. Even the Fallen Heart Flame would surely be unable to act recklessly."
"For now, no," Su Qian replied, his expression solemn.
"You suspect Elder Little Doctor Fairy…?" The yellow-robed elder's murky eyes flickered with alarm. If the Little Doctor Fairy truly turned hostile, a single Dou Zong—especially one possessing the Calamity Poison Body—could reduce the Inner Academy to a land of death in moments.
"That's not it," Su Qian shook his head. "It's not that I don't trust her."
He sighed softly before continuing, "It's her partner—Xiao Se. He's a sixth-grade alchemist. You know as well as I do how irresistible an Exotic Flame is to an alchemist. If temptation takes hold… Elder Little Doctor Fairy may find it difficult not to intervene on his behalf."
Hearing this, the yellow-robed elder froze for a moment. Then his aged face relaxed into a gentle smile.
"Great Elder, you can rest easy. Xiao Se already possesses an Exotic Flame."
"He does?" Su Qian's expression shifted slightly, surprise flashing through his eyes.
"Yes," the yellow-robed elder said with a smile. "Elder Hao Changlong from the medicinal warehouse once told me that he saw Xiao Se use an extremely terrifying pink flame. According to him, its presence felt no weaker than the Fallen Heart Flame."
"He often helps that little girl Zi Yan refine pills," the elder added with a chuckle. "Hao Changlong complains nonstop that Zi Yan is practically emptying out the medicinal warehouse."
"A pink flame…" Su Qian murmured thoughtfully. "That's unheard of. It must be a fairly high-ranked Exotic Flame."
With this information, Su Qian finally relaxed. In his understanding, one person could only possess a single Exotic Flame. Since Xiao Se already had one, he wouldn't risk offending the entire Canaan Academy to seize the Fallen Heart Flame.
"In that case," Su Qian said decisively, "wait until the elders can no longer maintain the seal. Only then should you invite Elder Little Doctor Fairy to intervene."
"Yes, Great Elder."
The yellow-robed elder bowed slightly, then turned and disappeared from the pavilion.
Inner Academy, a certain secluded pavilion.
Inside the Little Doctor Fairy's private chamber.
"Elder Qing from Canaan Academy came by earlier," the Little Doctor Fairy said with a gentle smile as she walked over and sat beside Xiao Se. "He informed me that the tower contains the Exotic Flame known as the Fallen Heart Flame, and asked me to assist when it erupts."
"It's about time," Xiao Se said softly.
He set down his teacup and walked to the window, his gaze settling on the distant Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower. His right hand formed a seal, and he murmured quietly,
"Come out… Fallen Heart Flame."
Inner Academy.
The Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.
The moment Xiao Se issued his command, the Fallen Heart Flame reacted as if it had sensed something deep within its core.
It began attacking the seal at the base of the tower with utter abandon, crashing against it relentlessly.
At the deepest level beneath the tower, the elders who had been closely monitoring the Fallen Heart Flame turned pale instantly.
"This is bad!" one of them shouted. "Quick—notify the Great Elder! The Fallen Heart Flame is about to erupt!"
(End of Chapter)
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