Chapter 30: Inner Court and Fentian Lianqi Tower

Xiao Yan watched as Ruolin, the mentor, stood frozen, forgetting to pick up the pen that had fallen to the ground; he could only shrug helplessly—he didn't want to stand out this much, but his strength simply wouldn't allow it.

Slowly rolling up the parchment in his hand, Mentor Ruolin smiled gently and said, "That concludes today's registration. We will remain here for seven more days. Congratulations to all of you who registered today—you are now members of Jia Nan Academy. I hope each of you can prepare everything within these seven days; after that, a flight fleet from Jia Nan Academy will arrive in Wutan City, and we will fly directly to the academy."

Upon hearing this, everyone inside the tent broke into joyful smiles.

As Mentor Jian Ruolin rose to leave, Xiao Yan stepped forward, rubbing the back of his nose with a slightly embarrassed chuckle: "Mentor Ruolin, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you."

"Oh? Our little genius Xiao Yan already has questions for his mentor? What is it?" Mentor Ruolin asked curiously.

"It's like this—I heard from Xiao Yu that Jia Nan Academy has a Fentian Lianqi Tower, and rumors say it contains a Heavenly Flame, correct?" Xiao Yan lowered his voice to ask.

Mentor Ruolin paused slightly, her delicate brows knitting faintly as she replied softly, "Jia Nan Academy does indeed have a Fentian Lianqi Tower, but the rumor about a Heavenly Flame is merely legend—I don't know whether it's true or false."

"Perhaps the rumor arose because the tower's effects are related to fire."

Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened, then he smiled warmly and said, "If you don't mind, Mentor, I'd be honored if you stayed with the Xiao Clan during these seven days—I have many questions about Jia Nan Academy."

Mentor Ruolin's eyes crinkled in amusement as she tapped Xiao Yan's head and laughed, "You're a clever little rascal. Fine, since you have questions about the academy, as your mentor, I'll gladly tell you about it."

As a renowned academy on the Dou Qi Continent, Jia Nan Academy wielded immense influence within the Jia Ma Empire—its power far surpassed even the Mitel Auction House.

If Jia Nan Academy's recruitment team could stay at the Xiao Clan's residence, even after Xiao Yan and the others left Wutan City for their studies, no other faction would dare target the Xiao Clan.

Upon hearing that Jia Nan Academy's recruitment mentors had arrived at the Xiao residence, every clan member was overjoyed and treated the academy's delegation with the highest honors.

In the grand hall, Xiao Yan and several other Xiao Clan elites preparing to enter Jia Nan Academy sat together.

Mentor Ruolin began explaining the situation at Jia Nan Academy.

"Xiao Yan, the Fentian Lianqi Tower you mentioned is the very foundation of Jia Nan Academy—it's one of the reasons the academy can cultivate so many powerful students."

"Inside the Fentian Lianqi Tower, one can summon a Heart Fire that purifies and refines one's Dou Qi, accelerating cultivation."

"However, the Fentian Lianqi Tower lies within the Inner Court; only Inner Court students may enter to cultivate by spending a resource called Fire Energy."

Newly admitted students of Jia Nan Academy are called Outer Court students, with a three-year term; each year there is an Inner Court examination—those who pass become true Inner Court students of Jia Nan Academy.

Those who fail to pass the Inner Court exam after three years graduate and leave the academy, which is why new students are recruited every year.

Xiao Yan frowned in confusion and asked, "Mentor, I remember Xiao Yu is an Outer Court student—how did she ever enter the Fentian Lianqi Tower?"

Xiao Yu shot Xiao Yan a furious glare—Am I an Outer Court student and that's a problem for you?!

Seeing Xiao Yu's expression, Mentor Ruolin chuckled softly, "Heh, that's because Xiao Yu once helped the academy with a favor, so they made an exception and allowed her to enter the Inner Court once to experience the Fentian Lianqi Tower's effects. That's how she advanced from a Two-Star Dou Warrior to a Three-Star Dou Warrior."

"As for the Heavenly Flame you're concerned about, Xiao Yan—that's likely baseless. The Fentian Lianqi Tower's effect is simply summoning a wisp of Heart Fire; by burning one's Dou Qi with this Heart Fire, rapid refinement occurs. Perhaps that's why some people mistakenly claim the Heart Fire is a Heavenly Flame—but everyone who enters gets Heart Fire, so how could it possibly be a Heavenly Flame?"

As he listened, Xiao Yan's eyes flickered with a hint of surprise—because one Heavenly Flame truly matched Mentor Ruolin's description.

The first was the Fallen Heart Flame, ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking—it arises from the heart, refining Qi and forging bones. The Fallen Heart Flame continuously generates Heart Fire that burns the body's Dou Qi, accelerating cultivation.

The second was the Pure Lotus Demon Fire, ranked third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking—a flame so rare even its entry in the ranking was scant, mentioned only in a few lines. Legend says it possesses the power to purify all things in the world—and thus, it could naturally purify impurities from Dou Qi.

Of course, this would only hold true if the Fentian Lianqi Tower's effects were truly caused by a Heavenly Flame—if not, then other explanations would apply.

"By the way, little genius, why are you so interested in Heavenly Flames?" Mentor Ruolin asked, watching Xiao Yan, who seemed lost in thought.

Beside him, Xun Er smiled and answered for him, "Because Brother Xiao Yan is an Alchemist."

"Huh?!" Mentor Ruolin leapt to her feet, pinching Xiao Yan's cheek as if he were some monstrous creature. "What kind of construct are you? You're not human—you must be a beast transformed into a person, and you're probably hundreds of years old!"

Everyone in the hall chuckled quietly—they all felt the same way; Xiao Yan was far too mature for a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy.

-_-||

What could Xiao Yan say? If you're happy, then fine.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye; during this time, Xiao Yan relaxed his cultivation, spending his days with his father, Xiao Zhan, and producing large quantities of One Grade Pills. Since the two great families went bankrupt, low-grade medicinal materials had become even cheaper and no one dared raise prices.

Xiao Yan handed Xiao Zhan a collection of over a dozen Mysterious Rings filled with pills and said, "Father, I'm unworthy—I won't be able to stay by your side."

Xiao Zhan's aged hand gently stroked Xiao Yan's cheek, tears glistening in his eyes as he said warmly, "I'm fine, son. You've grown up—it's time you ventured out into the world. You can't stay cooped up at home forever."

Xun Er stepped forward and comforted him, "Uncle Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan and I will come back to visit you during holidays."

"Good girl, Xun Er—your heart is enough. Don't let your cultivation suffer."

After a heartfelt farewell, Xiao Yan and the others boarded Jia Nan Academy's flight fleet—the so-called flight fleet consisted of tamed Flying Beasts.

"Jia Nan Academy truly is the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent! That's a Four-Tier Magical Beast—an Iron Giant Eagle!" Xiao Ning exclaimed in awe at the massive creature before him.

"Students, we will now board these Flying Beasts and depart from Daling City, then enter the Black Horn Region. Jia Nan Academy lies at the center of the Black Horn Region—we'll arrive in about half a day," Mentor Ruolin explained the route to all the new students.

"The Black Horn Region!"

"That's the Lawless Zone!"

Upon hearing the name "Black Horn Region," many were filled with worry—even fear. Xiao Yan had read about the Black Horn Region in the books stored within his Mysterious Ring.

In brief, it was similar to the Golden Triangle—riddled with sects and factions, lawless and chaotic, where arson, murder, and robbery were commonplace—a world governed by the jungle law of human society.