'Finally took the bait, did he?'
Hearing Su Qian mention that half of the captured spies came from Feng City, Liu Xi's heart leapt with excitement, though his face remained calm.
'So Han Feng has finally moved... If that's the case, he won't wait until the Fallen Heart Flame erupts four years from now. His greed will drive him to attack Jia Nan Academy sooner — and this time, the Inner Academy will be ready for him.'
Without pausing his steps, Liu Xi said casually, "Seems like I've caused the Academy some trouble. But Han Feng is a 6th Tier Alchemist, and I'm also a 6th Tier Alchemist. There's nothing to be afraid of, is there?"
Su Qian frowned at his nonchalance and spoke earnestly, "Although you're both 6th Tier Alchemists, Han Feng has been entrenched in the Black-Corner Region for years. The network and resources he commands are beyond your imagination!"
"The Academy doesn't fear him, but we can't afford to underestimate him. Especially you — others may hesitate to cross a 6th Tier Alchemist, but Han Feng won't. Rumor has it he possesses the strength of a peak Dou Huang and even commands a Heavenly Flame. His battle power is close to that of a Dou Zong. You must not take him lightly!"
Listening to Su Qian's sincere warning, Liu Xi nodded with a respectful expression. "The Grand Elder's words of caution, I'll take them to heart. I won't underestimate Han Feng. But since he's already making moves... what does the Academy plan to do next?"
Su Qian's aged face revealed a confident smile. "You needn't worry. The Academy has already sent people deep into the Black-Corner Region to investigate the blacklisted experts connected to Han Feng. If they show any signs of alliance, we'll make sure their plans fail before they begin."
"And as long as you remain within the Inner Academy, I can guarantee your safety. This Inner Academy isn't a place where anyone can just come and go as they please."
Seeing Su Qian's composure, Liu Xi felt somewhat reassured. After all, plotting against a 6th Tier Alchemist who was also a Dou Huang required strategy. He clasped his hands respectfully. "The Grand Elder is indeed wise and mighty. In that case, I'll feel at ease remaining in the Inner Academy."
Su Qian chuckled heartily. "Haha, rest easy then! I'd like to see whether those hyenas from the Black-Corner Region truly have the guts to assault the Inner Academy!"
'Oh, they'll come,' Liu Xi thought inwardly, his lips curling slightly. 'A man like Han Feng, who practices an incomplete version of the Flame Mantra, will never suppress his hunger for Heavenly Flames. Once he moves, he'll aim straight for Jia Nan Academy.'
Out loud, he said with a calm smile, "With you overseeing things, Grand Elder, they wouldn't dare."
Su Qian laughed, clearly pleased with the flattery. Liu Xi accompanied him for a brief stroll around the Academy, chatting casually until the elder's face was full of smiles, then finally excused himself.
As Liu Xi walked toward the Inner Academy market, the corners of his mouth lifted in quiet amusement. 'Han Feng, I wonder how long you'll wait before you strike...'
When he arrived at the market, he moved through the busy stalls from one end to the other. The back mountains of the Academy were a natural treasure trove, and the students of the Inner Academy often sold rare herbs they gathered there. Liu Xi quickly collected all the supplementary ingredients he needed to prepare the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk for Xiao Yixian.
---
Back at the Courtyard
Pushing open the door, Liu Xi immediately spotted Xiao Yixian sitting quietly in a chair.
"Have you been waiting for me all this time?" he asked with a smile.
"Mm." Xiao Yixian nodded softly.
Liu Xi gestured for her to walk with him. "Perfect timing. I found all the auxiliary materials needed for your body-tempering process. Let's go to your room, and I'll explain the steps in detail."
---
The room was clean and softly fragrant. Liu Xi's nose twitched slightly at the lingering scent of medicine. He released a ripple of cyan flame from his body, burning away the faint trace of toxins that had seeped into his flesh.
Watching Xiao Yixian pour water into the wooden tub, Liu Xi teased, "Xian'er, your room even smells like poison now."
Xiao Yixian froze, hurriedly setting down the wooden basin. "Young Master, I didn't do that on purpose. I wasn't trying to guard against you!"
Seeing her flustered reaction, Liu Xi smiled gently. "I know. You spend most of your time refining poison here — a bit of residue is inevitable. I wasn't blaming you."
"Mm." She nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed as she returned to filling the tub.
Meanwhile, Liu Xi laid out the medicinal ingredients one by one on a wooden rack, speaking calmly. "Your body isn't like Zi Yan's. You can't directly consume the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk. You'll need to absorb its power through a medicinal bath instead. To prevent any complications, I'll stay here and watch over the process. Will you... allow that?"
Xiao Yixian's body trembled faintly, a rosy blush spreading from her neck to her delicate face. Her voice was barely a whisper. "Do I... need to remove everything?"
"You can leave on one or two layers," Liu Xi said thoughtfully. "It won't affect the results much."
"I... understand," she said quietly, but with surprising resolve.
When everything was ready, Liu Xi uncorked the jade bottle containing the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk. A faint emerald mist floated out, coiling gracefully at the mouth of the bottle, lingering without dispersing.
Tilting the bottle carefully, he poured three drops into the water — then, after a moment's thought, added two more. "Even with my help, five drops is the limit your body can withstand as a Dou Shi."
As the drops fell, the clear water transformed before their eyes, glowing with a luminous jade hue. Thin streams of mist rose from its surface, swirling endlessly like ethereal clouds.
Raising his hand, Liu Xi summoned a small flame. "Xian'er, pass me the Fragrant Erosion Grass."
"Here."
He tossed the herb into the cyan fire. It burned instantly to ash, leaving behind a single droplet of deep crimson liquid. With precise control, Liu Xi flicked the droplet into the tub. The water shimmered, a faint red tint spreading through the jade-green liquid.
"One by one... Azure Lotus Fruit, Serpent Molt Flower, Buddha Flame Root..."
An hour later, the tub's contents glowed with dazzling colors. Liu Xi exhaled softly. "All that's left is the final step."
He dipped a finger into the mixture and snapped. A wave of cyan fire ignited on the water's surface, flickering like living light. Satisfied, he nodded.
Xiao Yixian's eyes widened slightly. "Young Master... this is...?"
Liu Xi looked at her steadily. "Xian'er, do you trust me?"
She blinked — then nodded without hesitation. "I do."
A gentle smile spread across Liu Xi's face. "This flame won't harm you. The longer you can endure within it, the greater the benefit to your body. When you reach your limit, I'll disperse the excess energy with my Heavenly Flame. Even if it means wasting some of the Earth's energy, I'll make sure you're safe."
Turning away to give her privacy, he said softly, "Remove your clothes and step into the tub. I'll be here the entire time. Remember — endure until the very last moment."
(End of Chapter)
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