Chapter 30: Inner Academy, Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower

Xiao Yan looked at Instructor Ruo Ling who had dropped her pen on the ground and forgotten to pick it up. He could only spread his hands helplessly. He didn't intend to be so high-profile; it was just that his strength didn't allow him to be otherwise!

With a gentle smile, Instructor Ruo Ling rolled up the scroll in her hand as she said, "This concludes today's enrollment. We will stay here for another seven days. Congratulations to the new students who enrolled today, you will soon be a part of Jia Nan Academy. I hope you can all get everything ready within these seven days. After that, Jia Nan Academy's flying squadron will arrive in Wu Tan City, and then we can fly directly to the academy."

Joy spread across the faces of everyone in the tent after hearing this.

When Instructor Ruo Ling got up to leave, Xiao Yan stepped forward, scratched his nose in a somewhat embarrassed manner, and chuckled dryly, "Instructor Ruo Ling, I have something else I would like to ask you."

"Oh? The little genius Xiao Yan already has something to ask the instructor? What is it?" Instructor Ruo Ling asked curiously.

"It's like this. I heard from Xiao Yu that there is a Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower in Jia Nan Academy. I heard that there is a Heavenly Flame there. Is that true?" Xiao Yan asked in a low voice.

Slightly startled, Instructor Ruo Ling's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she softly replied, "Jia Nan Academy does have a Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, but the Heavenly Flame you mentioned is merely a rumor within the academy. I don't know if it's true or not."

"Maybe it's because the effects of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower are related to flames, that's why such rumors exist."

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed briefly, then he smiled gently and said, "If Instructor Ruo Ling doesn't mind, you can stay with the Xiao Clan for these seven days. There are many things I'd like to ask you about regarding Jia Nan Academy."

Instructor Ruo Ling's eyebrows curved as she lightly tapped Xiao Yan's head and chuckled, "You're quite the clever brat, aren't you? All right, since you have questions about the academy, as an instructor, it's only right that I introduce the academy to you."

Jia Nan Academy was a highly renowned academy on the Dou Qi Continent. It had immense influence in the Jia Ma Empire. In terms of strength, even the Miteer Auction House paled in comparison.

If they could have the recruiting team from Jia Nan Academy stay with the Xiao Clan, even if Xiao Yan and the others left Wu Tan City to study, they would not have to worry about other forces targeting the Xiao Clan.

Upon hearing that a Jia Nan Academy instructor would be a guest of the Xiao Clan, all the clan members were overjoyed and welcomed the Jia Nan Academy group with the highest level of hospitality.

...

In the hall, Xiao Yan and several elite members of the Xiao Clan who were about to enter the Jia Nan Academy were sitting together.

Instructor Ruo Ling began to explain the situation at Jia Nan Academy.

"The Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower you mentioned, student Xiao Yan, is fundamental to Jia Nan Academy. It's one of the reasons why our academy can cultivate so many strong students."

"Entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower allows one to draw out a kind of Heart Flame that can purify and refine one's Dou Qi, thus speeding up the cultivation process."

"However, the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower is located in the Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy. Only Inner Academy students can enter to cultivate by spending a type of point called 'Fire Energy.'"

"New students recruited by Jia Nan Academy are also called Outer Academy students, with a study period of three years. Once a year, there is an Inner Academy Qualifying Competition, and passing it allows one to enter the Inner Academy and become a true student of Jia Nan Academy."

"Those who fail to pass the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition within three years will graduate and leave Jia Nan Academy, hence the annual recruitment."

Xiao Yan furrowed his brow and asked doubtfully, "Instructor, I remember that Xiao Yu is also an Outer Academy student. How could she have entered the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower?"

Xiao Yu glared at Xiao Yan fiercely. Is this old lady being an Outer Academy student an eyesore to you?!

Instructor Ruo Ling chuckled when she saw Xiao Yu's reaction, "Hehe, that's because Xiao Yu once did the academy a favor. As an exception, the academy allowed her to enter the Inner Academy and experience the effects of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower once. Because of that, Yu Er was able to advance from a 2-star Dou Practitioner to a 3-star Dou Practitioner."

"As for the Heavenly Flame you're interested in, student Xiao Yan, I'm afraid that's a misconception. The effect of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower is to draw out a strand of Heart Flame within the tower, which can be used to rapidly refine Dou Qi by burning it with the Heart Flame. Perhaps that's why there are rumors that the Heart Flame from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower is a Heavenly Flame. However, since every entrant obtains a Heart Flame, how could it possibly be a Heavenly Flame?"

Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with a strange light when he heard this. There really were Heavenly Flames whose abilities matched what Instructor Ruo Ling had described.

The first was the Fallen Heart Flame, which ranked 14th in the Heavenly Flame Ranking. It was born from the heart and could temper one's Qi and refine one's bones. The Fallen Heart Flame continuously generated a kind of wisp flame that could incinerate the Dou Qi within one's body, thus accelerating cultivation.

Another was the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, which ranked 3rd in the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Even in this mysterious Heavenly Flame Ranking, there was very little information about it, just a few sentences. It said that the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame had the ability to purify all things in the world, naturally including the impurities within Dou Qi.

Of course, this assumed that the effects of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower were brought about by a Heavenly Flame. If it was due to some other reason, that would be another matter.

"By the way, little genius, why are you so interested in Heavenly Flames?" Instructor Ruo Ling looked at Xiao Yan, who seemed lost in thought, and asked curiously.

Xun Er, who was at the side, saw that Xiao Yan was a little embarrassed and helped him answer with a smile, "Because Xiao Yan ge-ge is also an alchemist."

"Ah?!" Instructor Ruo Ling couldn't sit still and pinched Xiao Yan's cheek as if she were examining a rare specimen. "What exactly are you made of? You can't possibly be a hundred-year-old magical beast that turned into a human, can you?"

Everyone in the hall began to chuckle. The other girls felt the same way. Xiao Yan was too mature, not at all like a teenager of fifteen or sixteen.

"..."

What could Xiao Yan possibly say? Whatever makes you all happy.

...

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Xiao Yan relaxed his cultivation routine. In addition to accompanying his father, Xiao Zhan, he began to refine a large amount of 1st-tier medicinal pills. Since the other two major clans had gone bankrupt, no one dared to arbitrarily raise the prices of low-grade medicinal ingredients.

Xiao Yan handed several storage rings filled with medicinal pills to Xiao Zhan as he said, "Father, your son is unfilial for not being able to stay by your side."

Xiao Zhan's aged hand stroked Xiao Yan's cheek, the corners of his eyes brimming with tears as he said in a pleased manner, "It's alright, Father is fine. You've grown up. It's time for you to venture out into the outside world. You can't stay at home forever."

Xun Er came over and comforted him, "Uncle Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan ge-ge and I will come back to visit you during the vacation."

"Xun Er is a good child. It's the thought that counts the most. Don't let it hinder your cultivation."

After a few farewells, Xiao Yan and his group boarded the flying squadron of Jia Nan Academy. This so-called flying squadron consisted of tamed flying magical beasts.

"Jia Nan Academy is truly the highest-ranking academy in the Dou Qi Continent. That's a Rank 4 Magical Beast, the Steel Winged Giant Eagle!" Xiao Ning exclaimed in amazement at the sight of the massive creature in front of him.

"Students, next we will ride the flying magical beasts, leave the empire from Da Ling City, and then enter the Black-Corner region. Jia Nan Academy is located in the center of the Black-Corner Region, and it will take us about half a day to get there," Instructor Ruo Ling explained the route to all the new students.

"Black-Corner Region!"

"That lawless land!"

Many people were filled with worry and even fear when they heard the words "Black Corner Region". Xiao Yan had also seen descriptions of the Black-Corner Region in the books stored within his mysterious storage ring.

Simply put, it was akin to the Golden Triangle, filled with numerous sects and powers, and lawlessness, where burning, killing, and looting were commonplace. It was a world where the law of the jungle governed human society.