Su Qian lifted his head, gazing toward the top of the tower, his expression heavy with desolation.
"Is Jia Nan Academy going to end in my hands?"
The other elders shared his mood. Jia Nan Academy had been their home, the foundation of their lives. Its Inner Academy was built around the Fallen Heart Flame. Without it, the Academy would lose its luster, fade into mediocrity, and eventually vanish into the tide of the world.
No one wanted to witness that demise, but the problem was inescapable. Suppressing the Fallen Heart Flame indefinitely would only delay disaster; releasing it recklessly would mean instant destruction. The only difference was whether they preserved the students and the Academy or sacrificed everything.
Su Qian led Xiao Jietian back to his study.
"What do you think we should do once it's released?" he asked, resting in his chair after a long moment of thought.
"The method is simple," Xiao Jietian replied. "At the right time, lift its restrictions and release it. My Boundless Heaven Hall can send three Dou Zong to assist you, and in the end, my younger brother will deal with the Fallen Heart Flame."
"Three Dou Zong?" Su Qian jumped to his feet, eyes wide. "I thought you only had the one from last time. You have… three?!"
He had no idea the Hall had more Dou Zong, and the idea that all three could be sent to help was overwhelming.
Xiao Jietian simply smiled. "Elder, no need to worry. We are allies; our interests do not conflict."
Su Qian's expression became complex. After a moment, he smiled faintly, then furrowed his brow, looking straight at Xiao Jietian.
"Isn't your younger brother only a Da Dou Shi? How can he handle a Heavenly Flame? Even with his own flame, ranked nineteenth, it's no match for the Fallen Heart Flame."
Xiao Jietian's gaze was calm, confident. "Currently, the only one who can handle this flame is my younger brother. He is the most suitable person. The details, however, are inconvenient to disclose for now."
Su Qian studied him intently. "This is too important. I must discuss it with the Elder Council."
Xiao Jietian nodded.
"To demonstrate the alliance between Boundless Heaven Hall and Jia Nan Academy, I have another piece of good news concerning the Academy," he said.
Su Qian raised a brow. "What good news?"
"Through my Heavenly Flame, I also sensed another Fallen Heart Flame hidden in the magma."
Su Qian's face drained of color. "Another one? Are you certain?"
"I am 100% certain," Xiao Jietian affirmed.
Su Qian staggered back into his chair. One Fallen Heart Flame had already been difficult to contain—another would be catastrophic. His expression was bitter.
"This… this isn't good news. It's terrifying."
"What if I told you the other one is unformed?" Xiao Jietian added.
"An unformed Fallen Heart Flame?" Su Qian's eyes lit up. If it could be subdued at this stage, it would never develop sentience. The Academy could preserve it indefinitely, and the Qi Refining Tower could continue its operation safely.
"Exactly. We will help you retrieve that unformed flame. How you handle it will be up to your own abilities. I assume you have a method, correct?"
Xiao Jietian smiled. "For sentient flames, there's little we can do. But for unformed ones, we still have methods left by the previous Headmaster."
Su Qian's shoulders relaxed. The heavy weight on his heart lifted instantly.
"Thank you for the information, young friend. From now on, Jia Nan Academy and Boundless Heaven Hall will be eternal allies."
"And there's more," Xiao Jietian continued. "Your Pan Gate is now officially allowed to sell pills within the Academy. I can reduce your fees to a ten-to-one split."
Su Qian nodded. "Additionally, you may select five herbs from the Academy's herb repository and freely exchange fire energy for them at priority."
Xiao Jietian's eyes lit up. Centuries' worth of medicinal herbs awaited him—perfect for refining higher-tier pills, including Marrow Cleansing Pills.
Su Qian handed him a black token. "This allows unrestricted access to the herb repository. Use it wisely."
Xiao Jietian accepted it with a smile and chuckled before taking his leave. The rest was now Su Qian's decision. Even if the Elder Council hesitated, they had no real choice. And Xiao Jietian did not reveal the location of the unformed flame—finding it without the Fallen Heart Flame's attraction would be nearly impossible.
Back at Pan Gate, Xiao Jietian shared the news with Xun'er and the others. Cheers erupted—the fee reduction of ten-to-one was immense. For a high-profit pill industry, that margin alone surpassed most factions' annual revenue.
After celebrating briefly, Xiao Jietian prepared to find Xiao Yan. Zi Yan had already left Pan Gate, wandering or hunting magical beasts, as usual.
When Xiao Jietian found Xiao Yan, he quickly explained how he had secured the opportunity for him to subdue the Fallen Heart Flame.
Xiao Yan trembled with excitement. He had long given up on forcibly acquiring a Heavenly Flame, especially after witnessing Yao Lao and the two elders in the Hidden Book Pavilion. Now, Xiao Jietian had gifted him this chance.
"Tian Ge, thank you so much! From now on, I follow your orders," Xiao Yan said earnestly.
"Brothers don't need formalities. Our future enemies are formidable; the stronger you are, the higher our chances of survival."
"I can create the opportunity for you, but whether you can subdue the flame depends on your own abilities," Xiao Jietian continued.
Xiao Yan clenched his fists, determination blazing in his eyes. "Don't worry, Tian Ge. I will not let this opportunity go to waste."
Xiao Jietian was moved. From childhood, Xiao Yan had always been stubborn, determined, and brave. After years of cultivation, he had developed the heart of a true powerhouse.
"Mm, then prepare thoroughly. This opportunity will be life-threatening."
"I don't fear death. The chance is worth it. To abandon it would be worse than dying."
Xiao Jietian nodded in admiration. "I believe in you."
With that, he patted Xiao Yan's shoulder and left. As he walked down the corridor, his mind shifted to another matter he had long planned—something to be arranged at the appropriate time.