Chapter 102: True Flame Scatters, Karma Fire Burns the Heavens

Suddenly.

A third-year student turned his head toward the door.

“Young Master Zhang has arrived.”

As soon as those words fell.

The students laughing in the room fell silent.

Under the gaze of more than a dozen eyes.

Gu Qi stepped forward with a smile: “Senior.”

The young man, clad in the faction’s black robe, entered the room.

The students immediately made way, letting him take the seat of honor.

“Our Divine Invocation faction truly has no shortage of talent.”

Young Master Zhang sat down, glanced around, and smiled: “Gu Qi, junior, you’ve worked hard.”

Gu Qi sat beside him and shook his head with a smile: “Not at all.”

Young Master Zhang lightly pressed his palm downward: “Juniors and junior sisters, please be seated.”

The students took their seats in turn.

“No need for idle talk.”

Young Master Zhang cleared his throat and said directly: “I’ve called you all here for Gu Qi, junior.”

He turned his head toward Gu Qi: “Lingjiang Academy has only one Student slot.”

“As last year’s Student, I hope you will all support Gu Qi, junior.”

“Once Gu Qi, junior, secures the Student position, his cultivation chamber will be open for all of you to use.”

Upon hearing this.

Everyone immediately voiced their agreement.

Young Master Zhang waved his hand: “As last year’s Student, I still have some trial cards on hand.”

“Each of you here will receive one ten-hour trial card.”

Beside him.

Someone immediately stepped forward, pulled out a stack of black-gold cards, and began distributing them one by one.

Trial cards recognize only the card number.

Whether physical or virtual, once opened, each card can be used only once.

Holding the cultivation chamber trial cards, the students’ smiles grew more genuine.

“The Student slot competition is decided by Student points.”

Young Master Zhang’s voice turned solemn: “In a few days, the Two Academies Debate begins.”

“You’ve all joined the faction—please actively participate in the Debate, secure a strong ranking, and boost Gu Qi, junior’s Student points.”

He looked at Gu Qi: “First- and second-year students, though their weight is small, still earn Student points.”

“Gu Qi, junior, introduce the two prodigies you mentioned.”

Upon hearing this.

Gu Qi stood up and first turned to a second-year student: “Second-year First Hall, Xu Fengming.”

Xu Fengming stood and extended his hand to Young Master Zhang: “Senior, hello.”

Young Master Zhang shook his hand lightly and smiled: “I entrust the second-year faction Student points to you.”

Xu Fengming replied: “I’ll do my best.”

Young Master Zhang nodded and gestured behind him: “It’s my family’s business—go ahead and spend it.”

Someone behind him handed over a card.

It had no denomination; on its dark black surface were engraved five golden characters: “Jiangcheng Auction House.”

Xu Fengming’s pupils contracted, his fingers trembling slightly as he took the gold card: “Thank you, Senior.”

“No need for thanks.”

Young Master Zhang waved his hand.

Seeing this.

Many third-year students nearby stared with red eyes, brimming with envy.

Young Master Zhang is the young master of the Jiangcheng Auction House.

Across all five tiers of Tianzhu Mountain’s Jiangcheng, his family ranks among the top.

This gold card grants access to anything under ten million Alliance Coins at the Jiangcheng Auction House.

All auction fees are fully covered by the Auction House.

Seeing the gold card.

Even Gu Qi raised an eyebrow.

He clearly hadn’t expected Young Master Zhang to care so deeply about securing his Student slot.

Yet upon reflection, Gu Qi found it perfectly reasonable.

After all.

The cultivation chamber exists only within Lingjiang Academy.

Even if Young Master Zhang were fabulously wealthy after graduation, he could never buy the arrays inside the cultivation chamber.

Because the cultivation chamber’s array technology is a state secret.

The “Divine Power” technique within it is the core of the core, known only to the Divine Invocation Temple.

Young Master Zhang has only two paths to continue training in the cultivation chamber.

One: build strong ties with this year’s Student.

Two: elevate a Student of his own.

The Student holds extremely high status.

Each Divine Gift university has only one.

As long as one holds the Student position, one is the master of the cultivation chamber for that day.

Even outsiders of the Divine Gift university.

Can enter the cultivation chamber to train, provided they receive the Student’s permission and approval from the Academic Affairs Office.

Young Master Zhang is last year’s Student.

His current choice is to personally cultivate this year’s Student.

That is, Gu Qi.

“This junior is Jiang Jian, first-year First Hall.”

Gu Qi walked over to Jiang Jian and smiled.

Jiang Jian stood and shook Young Master Zhang’s hand lightly.

Young Master Zhang studied Jiang Jian, his eyes brightening slightly: “First-year, already halfway to Divine Gift Realm? Impressive speed—faster than I was at your stage.”

Jiang Jian smiled: “Thank you, Senior, for the praise.”

Young Master Zhang paused, then said: “I assume you’re wealthy like me—every day you train with the Source Array. My gold card probably won’t be useful to you…”

“Senior.”

Hearing his tone, Jiang Jian interrupted softly: “I can use it.”

Young Master Zhang looked at him strangely: “A student in your position shouldn’t be chasing a Level 4 Talent Orb?”

Gu Qi’s heart sank—he immediately guessed what Young Master Zhang meant, and spoke up: “Senior, Level 4 Talent Orbs are exceedingly rare. Jiang Jian, junior, is only first-year—he doesn’t need one yet.”

Young Master Zhang nodded slightly: "I was thinking of granting you a bidding qualification for a Level 4 Talent Orb."

After a moment’s thought.

Young Master Zhang gestured to his side.

Someone immediately stepped forward, produced another “Jiangcheng Auction House” gold card, and handed it to Jiang Jian.

“Jiang Jian, junior, I entrust the first-year faction Student points to you.”

Young Master Zhang smiled: “A top-ten finish would be best—the higher your rank, the more Student points you add to the faction.”

Jiang Jian took the gold card and nodded: “Thank you, Senior. I’ll do my best.”

From start to finish, Young Master Zhang never doubted.

Whether Xu Fengming and Jiang Jian could make the top ten.

The Divine Invocation faction is naturally a gathering of prodigies.

If the prodigies Gu Qi personally recruited couldn’t even enter the top ten,

It would only prove Gu Qi’s poor judgment in selecting talent.

The banquet began, guests and host alike delighted.

Amid clinking cups and goblets, many students drifted to the floor-to-ceiling windows and began impromptu duels.

After several matches, the stakes had already reached over a hundred million Alliance Coins.

Jiang Jian stood by the window, cup in hand, gazing down at the combat arena.

Other students gathered in small groups, chatting casually, making no effort to avoid others.

“Demon source cultivation is too slow—the arrays don’t match.”

Nearby, a third-year student complained: “I switched to a spirit beast source, and my progress improved instantly.”

Another added: “The Li family’s source arrays are getting worse by the day.”

They heard them speaking.

Jiang Jian’s eyes filled with thought.

Suddenly, he recalled something he had long ignored.

Many students use demonic essence for cultivation.

And there are many supporting arrays designed to improve conversion efficiency.

Although demonic essence and spirit monster essence are both extremely expensive.

Demonic essence is just like cultivation-specialized apartments.

Both are scarce, top-tier cultivation resources.

But those aristocratic heirs have no reason to lack several million Alliance coins.

“Have those with Level 4 talents already been using essence for cultivation?”

Jiang Jian’s thoughts surged, thinking of Qi Ming, Lu Tingting, Zuo Lu, and others.

Even Shi Luohua carried traces of demonic essence energy.

“So all along, my assumptions were wrong.”

Jiang Jian’s expression grew slightly grim.

“I thought my rapid cultivation speed.”

“Was largely due to the river demon’s essence.”

“But now it’s clear—this isn’t true at all!”

“Other students are using demonic essence too, and some even have higher-efficiency supporting arrays!”

“Under these circumstances.”

“My Shenque Lingyun still far surpasses theirs.”

Jiang Jian recalled his own Lingyun, nearing half of what was required for Divine Bestowal Realm.

Then he thought again.

Of Qi Ming, Lu Tingting, and others—all under 20% of Divine Bestowal Realm’s Lingyun.

A terrifying thought surfaced in his mind.

“My cultivation talent.”

“May be far more terrifying.”

“Than I ever imagined.”

“My rapid cultivation speed.”

“Has nothing to do with demonic essence.”

“My daily, relentless effort accounts for part of it.”

“But another part—my innate talent has reached a level beyond imagination…”

Jiang Jian recalled the data on cultivation difficulties.

Divine Bestowal Realm at 15%, 20%, 30%.

These were all thresholds.

Many students struggled painfully to climb past them.

Yet he had never encountered any stagnation.

“Moreover, my talent and comprehension.”

“Seem not yet fully awakened.”

Jiang Jian clearly sensed.

His fractured, incomplete divine soul.

And the ice-blue flame buried deep within, utterly motionless.

These were signs his talent remained incomplete.

“With my current capacity…”

Suddenly, Jiang Jian had an idea.

The next instant.

Jiang Jian focused his spirit, and a wisp of Pure Spirit True Fire emerged, surging toward the ice-blue flame.

Without a sound.

That crimson flame actually changed color!

The crimson faded, fully transforming into frost-white.

At the same time.

The cultivation method of Pure Spirit True Law collapsed entirely!

In its place.

Was frost-white flame, like snow.

And a new cultivation method: “Karma Fire.”

“This frost-white flame—is Karma Fire!?”

Jiang Jian’s heart reeled, yet his expression remained calm as he walked to Gu Qi.

“Senior Gu Qi, I need to return first.”

Gu Qi, holding his wine cup, turned and smiled: “In such a hurry? There’s more fun coming—guaranteed to delight your senses.”

Jiang Jian did not refuse outright, but offered a polite smile: “This…”

Seeing this, Gu Qi did not press.

He stepped beside Jiang Jian and lowered his voice: “You owe me.”

“Young Master Zhang initially thought you weren’t short on money, and wanted to grant you bidding rights for the Level 4 talent orb.”

“But what use is that right to you?”

“Even if you could bid, you couldn’t afford it.”

Gu Qi winked. “Would a gold card worth ten million be worth it?”

Jiang Jian sincerely thanked him: “Senior Gu Qi, thank you.”

“No need to thank me.”

Gu Qi lightly patted Jiang Jian’s shoulder. “Just aim for top ten in the Two-Fu Martial Contest—earn me some faction student points.”

Jiang Jian smiled faintly. “Senior, I’ll do my best.”

“Good. Go ahead. I’ll speak to Young Master Zhang for you.”

Gu Qi turned and walked away.

Jiang Jian left the luxurious villa and descended the steps.

He hailed an unmanned aerial pod.

Only then could he sense his new innate talent.

“Frost-white flame—Karma Fire.”

“What level is this talent?”

Inside the pod.

Jiang Jian extended his palm; thin strands of white flame drifted between his pale fingers.

He flicked his hand casually.

The pod’s seat was instantly sliced open by invisible force, splitting into a gaping tear.

The frost-white flames spread relentlessly, reducing the entire seat to nothingness.

“Detection: Unmanned aerial pod damaged!”

“Detection complete. Please pay 1,900 Alliance coins.”

Jiang Jian’s expression grew odd, but he ignored the alert.

Instead, he carefully read the cultivation manual: “Karma Fire.”

Karma Fire: wherever it passes, it burns all into nothingness.

“Level 4 talents don’t manifest like this.”

Jiang Jian recalled Shi Luohua’s and Lu Tingting’s talents.

He could now confirm.

Karma Fire’s talent level was definitely above Level 4!

“Could it be Level 5…?”

At this thought, Jiang Jian’s gaze trembled slightly.

A Level 5 talent, within the Prefecture Realm, would shock the world!

Above Level 2.

Each level difference multiplies the gap exponentially!

Level 3 talents can dominate an entire province.

They hold high status, far surpassing Level 2.

Level 4 talents are coveted by every Divine Bestowal University, personally overseen by the Academic Office.

Level 5 talents? Rare beyond measure!

(End of Chapter)