Chapter 432: "Favoritism by the Grand Elder? Or Are You Just Too Weak?"

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Su Qian sternly defended Xiao Yan, his voice steady and authoritative:

"The Heavenly Flame belongs to our Jia Nan Academy, and the higher-ups have already agreed to officially grant it to classmate Wuya. Yet, you dare to try and take it by force? Are you disregarding my words as the Grand Elder?"

Bai Cheng, Lin Xiuya, and the others, terrified by Su Qian's wrath, trembled as they bowed their heads in fear, pleading for forgiveness.

"Grand Elder, please calm your anger! We were wrong—we won't dare to do this again!"

However, Su Qian was unmoved. Without hesitation, he imposed a harsh punishment.

"Every single one of you here, no exceptions, is banned from entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower for a full month!"

His voice was as cold as frost, his decision absolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

"I know exactly what you're thinking," Su Qian continued, his icy tone unwavering as his sharp gaze swept over Bai Cheng, Lin Xiuya, and their group, carrying a heavy sense of authority and warning.

"You think that because you're stronger than Wuya, you deserve the Heavenly Flame more than he does."

His words cut through the air like a blade, imbued with an unrelenting edge that made everyone feel the weight of his presence.

"But let me tell you this: that's not how it works."

He paused, emphasizing his next words.

"Classmate Wuya's talent surpasses every single one of you here."

His tone deepened, each syllable ringing with undeniable truth.

"The Fallen Heart Flame is now officially the property of classmate Xiao Yan. Even if he decided to throw it into the ocean, it would still be none of your business."

Hearing Su Qian's rebuke, Bai Cheng, Lin Xiuya, and the other so-called geniuses maintained a facade of calm, but their hearts churned with jealousy and hatred.

They dared not reveal their resentment in front of Su Qian, knowing it could provoke even harsher consequences.

"We were wrong, Grand Elder," they murmured as they lowered their heads, avoiding Su Qian's piercing gaze. Yet, a flicker of malice and deceit lingered in their eyes.

Standing humbly before Su Qian, Bai Cheng spoke up, his tone laced with false humility:

"Grand Elder, please forgive our ignorance and recklessness. We admit we were in the wrong."

Lin Xiuya quickly followed, echoing Bai Cheng's sentiments.

"Yes, Grand Elder, we've realized our mistake. We promise never to act this way again."

Then, the two turned to Xiao Yan, adopting an overly polite demeanor as they addressed him.

"Classmate Wuya, we apologize. We were too impulsive and acted rudely."

Their words sounded sincere, but their tone carried an undercurrent of menace.

Bai Cheng's subtle smirk betrayed a hint of malice, his eyes cold and calculating. Lin Xiuya mirrored this expression, his gaze sharp and cunning, silently conveying a veiled warning to Xiao Yan.

"Sure, we're apologizing now, but don't get too comfortable. This isn't over."

"Very well, let's leave it at that," Xiao Yan said, accepting their apology outwardly. But he remained vigilant, fully aware of their duplicity. He knew their apology was nothing more than a charade and that he would need to stay on guard against their eventual retaliation.

Afterward, the group reluctantly accepted their punishment and left.

Before departing, Bai Cheng and Lin Xiuya couldn't resist throwing a final glare at Xiao Yan, their eyes filled with hatred and disdain, silently mocking him.

"You lucky brat. Don't think your luck will last forever."

Xiao Yan felt the hostility in their stares but chose not to react, dismissing it as beneath his concern.

As the group vanished from sight, Su Qian stepped beside Xiao Yan. Noticing the slight furrow in his brow, Su Qian gently patted his shoulder and reassured him.

"Don't let it trouble you. As long as you're in Jia Nan Academy, I'll ensure your safety."

"Thank you, Grand Elder," Xiao Yan replied with a warm smile, lifting his head in gratitude.

Once Bai Cheng and the others were gone, Su Qian turned to Xiao Yan with a smile of admiration.

"By the way, classmate Wuya, your skills in alchemy have truly left this old man impressed."

Xiao Yan modestly nodded, replying, "Grand Elder, you flatter me. I only know a little and wouldn't dare claim to have mastered the craft."

Su Qian waved dismissively, his tone casual yet sincere. "You're too modest. Wuya, I must say, in the art of alchemy, I still have much to learn from you."

With a curious glint in his eyes, Su Qian leaned forward slightly. "At your young age, you've achieved such skill. Tell me, do you have any insights to share?"

Xiao Yan smiled faintly, confident that he didn't need to consult Yao Lao for the answer. After a moment of thought, he began to share his understanding.

"In my view, alchemy requires more than just technique," he said, his voice steady and contemplative. "It demands a calm and resolute heart."

Su Qian raised an eyebrow slightly, signaling for Xiao Yan to continue.

"I once heard an elder say that alchemy is much like cultivation—it requires complete focus and undivided attention." Xiao Yan's gaze grew introspective, a thoughtful glimmer in his eyes. "Every act of refining is an exercise in mental discipline. It's about observing the subtle transformations of materials and grasping the mysteries within them."

Su Qian listened intently, admiration flickering in his eyes. There was a depth to Xiao Yan's words that hinted at profound understanding.

"Wuya, your perspective is insightful," Su Qian remarked, his tone warm with approval. "It seems this old man is fortunate to receive your guidance."

Xiao Yan shook his head with a humble smile. "Grand Elder, you overpraise me. These are merely logical observations. Whether I can consistently apply them in practice is another matter."

Their conversation flowed like a gentle stream, an exchange of ideas that deepened Su Qian's admiration for Xiao Yan. At the same time, it fueled his curiosity about Xiao Yan's origins.

The more Su Qian came to know about Xiao Yan, the more his background seemed shrouded in intrigue—so much so that Su Qian hesitated even to speculate.

Meanwhile, Bai Cheng, Lin Xiuya, and their group, though chastised and punished by the Grand Elder, felt no less indignant.

On their way back to the dormitory, their faces were dark with anger, their resentment toward Xiao Yan intensifying with every step.

Bai Cheng clenched his fists tightly, his brow furrowed as he let out a heavy sigh. "That Grand Elder is ridiculously biased! We were just trying to gain a little benefit, and he treats us like this!"

Lin Xiuya sneered coldly. "Exactly. What kind of nonsense is this? The flame should rightfully belong to us, yet he blocked us at every turn!"

Their companions behind them chimed in, their voices tinged with fury and frustration.

"Yeah, we've contributed so much to the academy, and this is how we're treated? It's completely unfair!"

Every word dripped with resentment, their tone simmering with barely suppressed rage.

Bai Cheng raised his head, his gaze fixed on the distant towers of Jia Nan Academy, a flicker of determination lighting his eyes.

"We can't just let this go. The Grand Elder might favor Xiao Wuya now, but we won't stand for it," he declared resolutely.

Lin Xiuya nodded coolly, his expression mirroring Bai Cheng's resolve. "That's right. We won't take this lying down. We'll show them that provoking us, the academy's favored elites, comes with consequences!"

Their companions voiced their agreement, their simmering anger coalescing into a shared resolve. Fueled by their grievances, they vowed to make Xiao Yan pay for the humiliation they'd suffered.

Bai Cheng led the group of White Gang students back to their gathering area, their mood as dark as storm clouds.

The students were visibly seething, their frustration and fury still burning fiercely.

They had anticipated that Bai Cheng would effortlessly seize Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flame today. To their shock, Su Qian, the Grand Elder himself, had been present in Xiao Yan's dormitory, disrupting all their plans.

This turn of events left them simmering with dissatisfaction, each of them wondering how they might recover from the sting of their failure.

(End of Chapter)