"You're no match for me."
Xiao Jietian glanced at the blood-robed youth, recognizing his battle-hungry nature, then turned back to tease Xun'er, pretending not to care about the youth at all.
"You—"
"This is a competition arena, not a place for private fights," the referee interrupted Wu Hao just as he was about to speak.
"I expected a fierce battle… what a pity," murmured some spectators, and discussions broke out in the arena.
After seven or eight more matches, Xun'er and Xiao Yu faced their opponents.
Xun'er quickly defeated hers, while Xiao Yu, unlike in the original story, unleashed her full power, entering the top fifty and earning a spot in the Inner Academy.
"Instructor Ruo Lin, I made it!" Xiao Yu ran over, hugging her teacher excitedly.
"I didn't expect this either, Yu'er. You truly surprised me," Ruo Lin said, her face full of joy. Watching Xiao Yu advance felt like seeing her own daughter rise like a phoenix.
The day's matches ended with the top fifty qualifiers celebrating their success. Achieving this rank meant entering the Academy's core circle, where growth would accelerate—even if the Inner Academy would prove far more brutal than the Outer.
Returning to Ruo Lin's pavilion, Xiao Jietian and the others met Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning, both noticeably more mature. Xiao Ning's sharp arrogance had softened, replaced by a reserved demeanor from experience.
They also learned the Xiao Family had moved to the Black-Corner Region, exciting them. Rules prevented an immediate visit, but the thought thrilled them.
That night, all was quiet.
In Xiao Yan's room, Yao Lao discussed matters with him but could not locate the different fire, suspecting it lay within the Inner Academy.
Xiao Jietian and Xun'er ended their daily time together and returned to their rooms.
Noticing a fluctuation from Xiao Yan's room, Xiao Jietian knocked. Xiao Yan opened the door, and he stepped in.
"You two are after the Jia Nan Academy's different fire, aren't you?" Xiao Jietian asked, eyeing the bone flame ring.
"Yes! Is there really a different fire in the Academy? Where is it?" Xiao Yan asked, eyes bright with anticipation.
Hearing "different fire," Yao Lao's voice echoed in their minds. He stayed hidden to avoid attention.
"I know some inside information," Xiao Jietian said. "Jia Nan Academy does have a different fire, the Fallen Heart Flame, but it has developed sentience."
"The Fallen Heart Flame? Fourteenth on the strange fire ranking list, a cultivation cheat?" Xiao Yan's heart raced. Its power accelerated cultivation even while sleeping, and it could even kill invisibly.
"Yes, but its importance is immense. It belongs to the Academy, and they wouldn't give it freely. You'd need to offer something of equal value."
Xiao Jietian sipped the tea Xiao Yan poured. "I know a secret, but…" He smiled at Xiao Yan.
"We're brothers, even wore the same pants as kids—don't let our emotions get in the way of business."
Xiao Yan massaged his shoulders, fawning.
"I'll tell you, but you must join my faction. You'll be a guest Alchemist in the Alchemy Hall. Yao Lao is excused due to his special identity."
Xiao Jietian handed him a paper listing a dozen ingredients for the Marrow Cleansing Pill. "Collect these, and your cultivation will improve."
Xiao Yan thought of past struggles and nodded. "Alright, I agree."
Xiao Jietian smiled. His exclusive high-grade Alchemist for the Boundless Heaven Hall was secured.
Observing the bone flame ring, Xiao Jietian mused. Yao Lao warned from within: "Little brat, you're not scheming against me, are you?"
"Not at all. You're my brother's teacher, so you're family."
Xiao Jietian became serious, but inwardly sighed at Yao Lao's sharpness.
"Alright, the Fallen Heart Flame is currently suppressed inside the Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda in the Inner Academy. Its sentience is high, and the Qi Refining Tower can barely contain it. This is your only chance, but one wrong move, and it'll incinerate you."
After giving this information, Xiao Jietian left.
"Teacher, what does Tian Ge mean?" Xiao Yan asked Yao Lao.
"It's about to break out. You must prepare carefully. I suspect others know too," Yao Lao said.
Using Xiao Jietian's intel, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao planned contingencies, learning from past mistakes.
Xiao Jietian returned to his room, only to find an unexpected figure sitting on his bed.
"Why are you here?"