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"Lin Feng, you're finally back! Where have you been all this time?"
Just as Lin Feng was about to take a short break after spending several days with Medusa—who had returned to her Heaven Swallowing Python form—a purple figure suddenly darted toward him with a crisp, excited voice.
"I've been deep in the mountains training my Dou Techniques for the past month. What's up?"
Looking at the energetic Zi Yan in front of him, Lin Feng reached out and rubbed her small head, asking with a smile.
Zi Yan's fair little face was filled with a trace of excitement and curiosity as she replied, "Let me tell you something—just a little while ago, I saw that Xiao Yan in the Inner Academy. The same one we met back in the Jia Ma Empire!"
"We already knew he was a student at Jia Nan Academy, so him entering the Inner Academy isn't really anything that surprising, is it?"
Lin Feng had been hoping for some useful news, but after hearing that, he looked a bit disappointed again.
"That's not the point."
Zi Yan shook her head and continued, "I overheard something by accident. Apparently, right after the end of the Three-Year Agreement, Xiao Yan's Clan was completely wiped out by some mysterious powerhouse. Only a few people—those who happened to not be in the Xiao Clan residence—managed to survive."
"Oh? That really happened?"
Hearing that, Lin Feng was genuinely surprised, and his mind began racing.
The likely suspects who could've destroyed the Xiao Clan were none other than the Yun Lan Sect, the Mittel Clan, or the Hall of Souls.
He quickly ruled out the Yun Lan Sect, since during the Three-Year Agreement, things hadn't escalated like they had in the original timeline. And with Yun Yun still around, she definitely wouldn't have allowed her subordinates to massacre the Xiao Clan.
As for the Mittel Clan, well… Xiao Yan and his teacher had swindled them out of quite a bit of wealth, so there was a chance. But Hai Bodong never seemed like the kind of idiot to do something that reckless.
After all, Xiao Yan had already demonstrated impressive strength—Hai Bodong wouldn't take the risk of going after him alone.
That left only one real possibility—the Hall of Souls.
They certainly had the power to destroy the Xiao Clan without a trace, and they had every reason to do it. It was hard not to suspect them.
Realizing this, Lin Feng let out a breath of relief.
Good thing I didn't send Zi Yan to steal the Tou She Ancient Emperor Jade from the Xiao Clan earlier... If she had gone, there was a good chance she would've run into those creepy Hall of Souls bastards.
But now, the only question was—did the Hall of Souls manage to take the Emperor Jade or not?
"Oh, and I heard that Xiao Yan founded a faction in the Inner Academy. It's called 'Pan Gate' or something."
While Lin Feng was deep in thought, Zi Yan's voice came again.
Hearing her, Lin Feng returned to the moment and chuckled. "It's fine. What happened to his clan doesn't concern us. Anyway, is the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower open again? Training outside just isn't as efficient."
"It's open now. Most of the new students have gotten used to the Inner Academy, and most of the instructors are busy with their own stuff and aren't guarding the tower anymore."
As she spoke, Zi Yan tossed him a storage ring and said, "I've run out of the pills you made for me. Go refine more."
"Alright, I'll whip up a batch now. After that, we'll head to the Inner Academy."
With that, Lin Feng turned and headed toward the alchemy room.
Entering the Inner Academy again, Lin Feng was much more cautious this time.
After all, he had previously annihilated the Eight Gates. In the Black-Corner Region, he was now a well-known figure, and the chance of being recognized by students had significantly increased.
Better to be safe than sorry.
This time, he had the Treasure-Seeking Division prepare a special face-changing mask for him to disguise his appearance.
This face mask, of course, was of far higher quality than the Ice Silk Mask he had previously bought at the Mittel Auction House.
As long as he didn't run into one of the highest-ranking elders, no one would be able to tell that he was hiding his identity.
On top of that, Lin Feng also had Zi Yan fetch him a set of Inner Academy student robes.
While many students in the Inner Academy preferred not to wear uniforms, dressing in one was far less eye-catching than wearing ordinary clothes.
After changing his appearance and donning the uniform, the two finally entered the Inner Academy.
"Hey, did you hear? That newbie faction leader of Pan Gate—Xiao Yan—is about to have an alchemy duel with the leader of the Medicine Gang, Han Xian!"
Just as Lin Feng and Zi Yan were heading toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, they suddenly saw a crowd of students rushing off in the same direction. From bits and pieces of overheard conversations, they learned that Xiao Yan was about to compete against Han Xian in a pill refining contest.
"Let's go check it out too."
Hearing the news, Lin Feng was intrigued. He leaned toward Zi Yan and whispered with interest.
"Sure! Sounds like fun."
Zi Yan was also excited by the idea and happily followed Lin Feng, jogging along with the crowd.
By the time they reached a plaza, the place was already packed with students.
Everywhere they looked, it was a sea of Jia Nan Academy uniforms.
But under Zi Yan's not-so-subtle intimidation, most of the students obediently stepped aside, letting the two of them through to the front.
Once an elder on the stage finished explaining the rules of the competition, the two contestants began refining their pills.
However, at that moment, Xiao Yan was deeply puzzled.
He had just been in the middle of a conversation with his teacher, but all of a sudden, Yao Lao had fallen completely silent. No matter how many times Xiao Yan tried to call out to him, there was no response.
Down below, Lin Feng was watching the match with interest.
Of course, he wasn't interested in Xiao Yan himself—but in his pill refining technique.
"So Xiao Yan still hasn't found a Heavenly Flame. The flame he's using now must be a fusion of several beast flames. Still, this Flame Mantra is just insane... Even with a few mid-rank magic beast flames, he's managed to create a fire stronger than my own Rank 7 beast flame!"
Watching Xiao Yan's flame—which was clearly more powerful than the beast fire he had gotten from the Blazing Flame Horned Lizard—Lin Feng's desire for the Flame Mantra soared once again.
At the same time, he was puzzled.
After all, back in the Jia Ma Empire, Xiao Yan had no chance of acquiring a Rank 7 beast flame.
So this fire had to be a fusion of beast flames from around the fifth or sixth tier.
And yet, with the help of Flame Mantra, it was producing a power stronger than Lin Feng's own Rank 7 beast flame. Naturally, that made him extremely envious.
Based on his observations just now, Xiao Yan's cultivation method seemed to be at the Mid-Grade Black Class level.
However, considering how special Flame Mantra was, even if it was only Low-Grade Black Class, its true power was comparable to Mid-Grade Black Class techniques.
So in truth, Xiao Yan's technique was likely still just at Low-Grade Black Class—but enhanced by its uniqueness.
"Huh, I heard Xiao Yan once got a Rank 7 beast flame from the Outer Academy's Book Collection Hall. Looking at his flame now... it might actually be true. This fire is way stronger than the one I saw back in the Jia Ma Empire."
At that moment, Zi Yan muttered beside him as she noticed the unusual change in Xiao Yan's flame.
"Oh, so that's what happened... Looks like I misunderstood things earlier."
Hearing her words, Lin Feng suddenly realized what had been going on.
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