After entering the Inner Academy, Xiao Li's main tasks remained largely the same. He was responsible for patrols, occasional shifts, and managing areas like the Dou Qi Pavilion and the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower.
Beyond that, his free time was his own to allocate for personal cultivation.
After all, the relationship between the elders and Jia Nan Academy was more of a cooperative one than a hierarchical one.
The elders helped Jia Nan Academy manage students, and Jia Nan Academy provided cultivation resources to the elders.
Upon entering the Inner Academy, Xiao Li naturally received a private dormitory, which was even more impressive than those in the Outer Academy, featuring one living room and three bedrooms.
It must be said that Jia Nan Academy's benefits were quite good.
Little Fairy Doctor naturally lived with Xiao Li.
Xun'er, as a student, was originally supposed to live in the student dormitories.
But now that Xiao Li was also in the Inner Academy, after much thought, she decided to move in with Xiao Li.
"Xun'er, are you really going to abandon me?" Hu Jia looked at Xun'er, who had finished packing, her face full of reluctance.
"Oh, I'm not going anywhere, just moving to a different place to live. We can still cultivate together as usual," Xun'er said, her hand being held, a little helplessly amused.
Her relationship with Hu Jia was quite good.
Although everyone said Hu Jia's interests were female, and she did often 'lay hands' on Xun'er.
But this could all be considered a game between girls, and Xun'er didn't find it annoying.
However, if she had to choose between Xiao Li and Hu Jia, she would still firmly choose the former.
Seeing that she couldn't persuade Xun'er, Hu Jia could only vent her anger on Xiao Li.
"Hey, you guy, how dare you try to snatch Xun'er from me? I will definitely not give up!"
Although she had been spanked by Xiao Li and suffered a loss.
Hu Jia was clearly not the type to easily admit defeat.
Xiao Li was also quite helpless: "Alright, when you can beat me, then come and try to snatch Xun'er from me."
"Hmph, you just wait!"
Hu Jia snorted softly, stomped her foot, and turned to leave.
"Brother Xiao Li, Hu Jia is just like that, please don't blame her."
"Don't worry, I'm not that petty." He couldn't help but pinch the girl's cheek; it was soft and felt very comfortable.
"Brother Xiao Li, you're doing it again. Someone might see us soon."
The girl lightly chided, swatting away his mischievous hand, then took her things and returned to her room... Life in the Inner Academy proceeded methodically.
After familiarizing himself with the situation for two days, Xiao Li finally had the opportunity to oversee the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower.
Leading him was none other than Elder Su.
"Elder Xiao, the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower is the core of our Inner Academy. Its greatest function is to use heart flame for scorching, which accelerates cultivation speed."
"With Elder Xiao's cultivation, you naturally won't be affected by the heart flame, but Elder Xiao can also get familiar with the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower first."
"Okay, thank you, Elder Su, for the introduction."
As they spoke, the two quickly arrived in front of the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower.
At this time, many students were entering the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower to cultivate.
Xiao Li also walked towards the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower.
As soon as he walked in, he felt an inexplicable sense of irritation spreading in his heart, and a tiny cluster of heart flame silently appeared within his body.
Of course, the moment the heart flame appeared, Xiao Li felt it, and he didn't fall into a heart flame state because of its appearance.
With a casual flick, a wisp of milky-white heart flame was forcibly expelled by him and caught in his hand.
"Is this the heart flame? It's truly miraculous."
Although he knew the fallen heart flame had this effect, only by experiencing it firsthand could he feel this subtle power.
"It seems Elder Xiao's cultivation is indeed profound; he managed to grasp the heart flame so quickly," Elder Su said with slight surprise.
While the stronger one's power, the stronger one's resistance to the heart flame.
The most troublesome aspect of the heart flame was that it appeared without any warning.
And if it was one's first encounter with the heart flame, even a Dou Huang expert would be affected to some extent.
But Xiao Li didn't seem to be affected at all.
"Hahaha, not bad."
"Then Elder Xiao, you can go down and have a look. Each floor has an exclusive elder's cultivation room, located at the very back."
"Okay, thank you, Elder Su."
After parting ways, Xiao Li walked down towards the lower levels of the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower.
The further down one went, the more intense the scorching of the fallen heart flame became.
For example, the sixth floor required a six-star Dou Ling to withstand the pressure there.
Of course, there was no pressure for Xiao Li; he directly went to the sixth floor.
At the entrance of the sixth floor, he saw a silver-robed woman, with a cold and beautiful face, like a fairy on the moon, captivatingly beautiful.
Those who could reach the sixth floor were few, mostly top-ranked students of the Inner Academy.
Han Yue also noticed Xiao Li, somewhat surprised by this unfamiliar face.
Because he could actually reach the sixth floor, indicating his power was at least that of a six-star Dou Ling.
But she knew everyone in the Inner Academy who had reached six-star Dou Ling, and Xiao Li was not among them.
Could he be a new student?
Just as she was wondering, Xiao Li did not stop on the sixth floor but walked towards the entrance of the seventh floor.
"Hey!"
Seeing this, Han Yue quickly called out to him.
"Is there something?" Xiao Li turned to look at her.
"The seventh floor... requires the power of an eight-star Dou Ling to enter," Han Yue kindly reminded him.
"Oh, it's fine, I can do it." Xiao Li smiled in response to her kind reminder.
I can do it?
Could it be... he had already reached eight-star Dou Ling??
But he looked so young, possibly even younger than Han Yue.
"Are you a new student this year?" Han Yue couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.
"Oh, you misunderstood. I am a new elder, Xiao Li. You can call me Elder Xiao."
"Elder?!" Han Yue's eyes widened instantly, her small mouth slightly agape in surprise.
"What, don't I look like one?"
"No, it's just that I didn't expect Elder Xiao to be so young..."
She had indeed never seen such a young elder before; it was truly astonishing.
"Student Han Yue greets Elder Xiao." She quickly performed a bow.
"Han Yue, a very gentle name."
Suddenly being complimented made Han Yue inexplicably a little embarrassed.
"Thank you for the compliment, Elder Xiao..."
"Alright, you continue with your cultivation. I still have matters to attend to."
Subsequently, Xiao Li continued to descend... to the tenth floor.
The pressure here was already very strong; even a peak Dou Wang might not be able to withstand it.
Xiao Li arrived at the elder's exclusive cultivation room on the tenth floor, sat down to cultivate for a while, and settled the Dou Qi within his body.
At this moment, he suddenly felt something move under his sleeve.
It seemed to have sensed the scorching heat of the fallen heart flame, and the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, which had been sleeping, also woke up.
"Little fellow, did the heat wake you up?"
Xiao Li stroked the little fellow's head.
Then,
The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's body suddenly emitted a dazzling purple light...