Chapter 121: Dou Emperor of Two Stars

"Plop!" As his mind grew increasingly tranquil, a faint, low sound suddenly emerged. At the same time, a flame, invisible yet pulsing with a strange energy, appeared out of nowhere close to Xiao Xie's heart. Wisps of warmth slowly radiated outward, roasting the inside of his body until it was boiling hot.

Confronted by this sudden Fallen Heart Flame, Xiao Xie moved his thoughts, and the Hellfire instantly wrapped around it, devouring it whole and purifying a strand of Dou Qi within him even further.

This cluster of Fallen Heart Flame was notably more refined than the ones Xiao Xie encountered upon first entering the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower. Anyone below the level of Dou Spirit would be consumed from the inside out, reduced to ashes by this flame. Even those above Dou Spirit but below Dou King would struggle to absorb more than ten clusters, which explained why only elders cultivated on the tenth floor.

After absorbing the first cluster, another appeared a minute later. Xiao Xie used Hellfire to devour it instantly. Finding the pace of Fallen Heart Flame appearances too slow, he relaxed his mind and actively drew them in. The speed increased tenfold—within six seconds, a new cluster emerged.

If the elders knew Xiao Xie's current situation, they would be stunned speechless. Should they attempt to cultivate as he did, they'd last less than half a day on the tenth floor before needing to leave the tower for respite.

Relying on the three extraordinary flames within him, Xiao Xie was utterly unaffected by the wild power generated by these clusters. He felt his Dou Qi being repeatedly purified, his strength growing with every moment, and he became wholly immersed in cultivation.

Time lost all meaning as he trained. When he finally stopped, Xiao Xie's cultivation had successfully broken through from the peak of One Star Dou Emperor to Two Star Dou Emperor.

It wasn't that Xiao Xie wished to stop. Rather, his Fire Crystal Card had run out of energy. He twisted his neck, enjoying the crisp sound of bones knocking together, easing the stiffness in his body. These ten days, apart from meals, he had spent entirely in cultivation. The sensation of constant improvement was truly addictive.

"It's time to go earn some fire energy," Xiao Xie said with a helpless shake of his head. No matter where one is, money is always a hero's downfall.

He had checked in on Little Doctor Immortal and Qing Lin, but both were still immersed in cultivation—their fire energy not yet depleted. Qing Lin, after breaking through to Grand Dou Master, had gone to the second floor; Little Doctor Immortal had advanced straight to Seven Star Dou Spirit and headed for the seventh floor.

With no one to accompany him, Xiao Xie left the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower alone. His method for earning fire energy was, of course, pill refinement. Though he still wore the badge of a Fifth Grade Alchemist, he could easily refine sixth-grade pills, simply having not yet taken the examination at the Alchemist Association.

Given his current strength and the three extraordinary flames, he had some chance of refining seventh-grade pills, though the success rate hovered at only thirty percent.

Upon returning to his own residence, Xiao Xie spent three days refining some fifth- and sixth-grade pills. Some alchemist trainees in the Inner Academy also sold pills, but their highest achievement was fourth-grade. After all, not everyone was as monstrously talented as Xiao Xie—a fourth-grade alchemist in his twenties was already considered a genius.

Xiao Xie sold twenty fifth-grade pills that enhanced cultivation and five sixth-grade pills that could heal and save lives, earning over eleven thousand points of fire energy. These pills were not sold to trainees but to the elders of the Inner Academy, since only they could afford such treasures.

With his fire energy worries temporarily resolved, Xiao Xie did not hurry back to the tower. Even the path of cultivation requires balance between exertion and relaxation.

...

In a spacious, brightly lit room, a dozen elders sat scattered throughout. Under the gentle light, the badges on their chests were clearly visible—special insignia reserved for elders alone.

The room was large, yet the atmosphere was somewhat stifling. After a long silence, the elder at the head, whose features were indistinct, coughed lightly, breaking the stillness. His aged voice echoed slowly within the chamber: "These days, that thing has started to become unstable again..."

His words caused the other elders to furrow their brows.

"After observing it for some time, I've found that its energy fluctuations are far fiercer than before. Its emotional aura is also growing increasingly volatile..." The aged voice continued, "Judging by its current state, I fear a major backlash may occur within the next few months. If we handle it poorly, it could become a tremendous problem."

"If necessary, we should jointly reinforce the defenses. If that fails, we must inform the heads of both the Inner and Outer Academies. This thing cannot be exposed. Should it be revealed, those fellows from Black Corner Region will rush in, eyes bloodshot, to snatch it. Though we're deep in the mountains, we're not far from the northern Black Corner Region. If trouble breaks out, those old men who've been watching the Inner Academy will arrive immediately. With their insight, the seal on the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower will certainly draw their attention," one elder mused.

"Defenses must be strengthened, but the Headmaster is currently in deep seclusion, and the Outer Academy Head is fond of traveling. No one knows his whereabouts," another elder replied, shaking his head. After a moment of silence, he suddenly looked toward a corner and addressed an elder there: "Elder Su, how is the youngster with the extraordinary flame?"

"He has been cultivating on the tenth floor for ten days. If not for lacking fire energy, he would have continued. Perhaps due to possessing an extraordinary flame, he is immune to fire poison. As instructed by the Grand Elder, I've given him plenty of attention," Elder Su promptly replied.

"Mm." The black-robed elder at the head nodded slightly, his aged voice tinged with gravity. "Ah, who would have thought! A single Fallen Heart Flame raised our Inner Academy to prominence, and now a lad not yet twenty owns such a rare treasure himself. Truly enviable!"

"Grand Elder, recently Xiao Xie has been selling fifth- and sixth-grade pills in the Inner Academy. It seems he's already a sixth-grade alchemist. If he can lend his aid in the future, with his alchemist's mastery of flames and his extraordinary fire, coupled with his status as a Dou Emperor, he should be able to help us resolve this crisis," Elder Su proposed after some thought.

"A sixteen-year-old sixth-grade alchemist and a Dou Emperor—what a freakish talent! Fellow elders, if you encounter this youngster, offer him every convenience. Perhaps, when the Fallen Heart Flame erupts, we may need to rely on his strength! Ah, never underestimate the power of extraordinary flames. Treasures born of heaven and earth possess destructive force. If handled carelessly, even the Inner Academy could be obliterated," the Grand Elder, fully wrapped in robes, sighed.

"Yes!"

The elders, revered by the Inner Academy trainees, all rose and replied respectfully.

"Very well, that's all. Remember to monitor the movements of the major powers in the northern Black Corner Region—especially those few. Blood Sect has been stirring lately; none of these factions bring peace of mind!" The Grand Elder waved his hand and coughed a few times.

The elders nodded, then their figures flickered, turning into blurred shadows swept away by a gentle breeze, vanishing from the tightly sealed chamber.

"Xiao Xie, what a terrifying youth..." the Grand Elder murmured.

After everyone had left, the black-robed Grand Elder slowly rose. As he stood straighter, his body grew increasingly ethereal; once fully upright, he vanished mysteriously within the room.

...