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--- Chapter 91 ---
"Hey, have you heard the news about Jia Nan Academy?" An amused voice echoed in a dark cave.
"Jia Nan Academy... What happened to them?" Another voice filled with confusion responded.
"It was a rumor, which is not far from the truth. About six days ago, Jia Nan Academy lost its most valuable resource and entered an isolation trial. No one could enter, but some cultivators witnessed several kilometers of forest burned by the fiery orangish flame stretching far back to the south."
"If you visit that place, you'll find nothing but miles upon miles of charred ground." The amused voice stated as a matter of fact.
The confused voice trembled slightly, "D-Don't tell me..."
"Yes, Jia Nan has lost the "Fallen Heart Flame." trapped in their famous Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower."
"How is that even possible? We are talking about the famous Holy Land, "Jia Nan Academy." for cultivators in the Northern Region."
"How could they lose something that is akin to the Academy's identity??"
"Actually... It happened because of one person."
"One person?"
"The student of Jia Nan Academy's inner court."
"INNER COURT STUDENT? WAS THAT PERSON DUMB OR SOMETHING?!"
"Do you know this student's identity?"
"Unfortunately, not. Jia Nan Academy doesn't want to get more shame after this incident. This student is obviously the biggest "Black Sheep." in their academy's history and might be the reason for their downfall."
"Shame..."
"What a shame..."
"The cause of Jia Nan Academy's ruin was its students."
...
...
Contrary to everyone's belief, Jia Nan Academy could survive two more decades with its connection and long-saved resources. However, such resources cannot get compared to the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower powered by Fallen Heart Flame.
Simply put, Jian Nan Academy won't be able to train its students quickly and efficiently as before. So no new powerhouse will get birthed unless they take the initiative and roam to the outside world, sharpening themselves there.
This "incident." is a complete disaster.
Baek Ain, his companions, and Lan Guan left the academy two days after the incident because there was nothing to do anymore. At least he got some harvest that could help him later on.
"Aih, it would be nice to see how Xiao Yan gets judged by the Jia Nan Academy." Baek Ain shook his head while flying in the sky.
Sadly, the problem of the Fallen Orchid Sect and Han Feng has to get settled quickly. Not to mention Lan Guan has been nagging him about this.
He did leave some parasites in the Jia Nan Academy, but those were for spying and information gathering. Their contact with him is somewhat limited because some people in the Jia Nan Academy might notice his backhand.
After all, Jia Nan Academy is isolated right now.
Meanwhile, In Jia Nan Academy, all the elders gathered in a massive courtroom alongside several students who witnessed Xiao Yan's activities before the incident and gazed at the young man on a wooden podium.
Xiao Yan's appearance is that of a pale-skinned and withered ghost as if life has left his body. There is a trace of regret and disbelief in his eyes.
The great elder, Su Qian, slammed his hammer against the table and declared, "We shall proceed with the matter of Xiao Yan's punishment today."
"He was "literally." blinded by his desire and would get judged accordingly..."
"Brother Xiao Yan..." Gu Xun'er clenched her hand helplessly. A bitter and worried feeling invaded her heart.
Lighting claps echoed in the sky as heavy rain followed shortly after, making the atmosphere gloomier than earlier.
Is this the end of the Protagonist?
A black-robed figure stood on a cliff miles away from the Jia Nan Academy.
After watching Xiao Yan's pale face, a soft voice that was androgynous came from the black-robed figure's mouth.
"Don't worry, Yan'er. I will help you from now on."
Then, the figure disappeared into nothingness.
On another part of the Dou Qi Continent, Baek Ain felt a weird sensation on his skin. It was an indescribable feeling for a second like something horrible was about to happen.
Maybe it was his Sixth Sense.
Frowning slightly, Baek Ain looked ahead and saw Lan Guan carrying his companions with her comically large sword. He followed behind them silently and asked his system, "Alicia, where is Fallen Heart Flame right now?"
Baek Ain has placed a tracker on the Fallen Heart Flame because such a powerful Heavenly Flame shouldn't be left behind astray.
[Scanning...]
[Fallen Heart Flame is hiding in this coordinate] Alicia answered his question.
Baek Ain opened the system map and frowned, thinking about something for a second. "It seems that fiery brat wasn't so dumb, after all." He commented lightly.
On the map, Baek Ain could see a bright red dot locked between three mountains. It was close to the seaside, which washed away the heat of the Heavenly Flame, allowing the Fallen Heart Flame to hide safely.
Of course, people with extraordinary senses could tell something was wrong. It would take time for them to realize a Heavenly Flame is hiding within those mountains, though.
Baek Ain skillfully created a delayed fire avatar so that Lan Guan won't notice and told it telepathically to reach Fallen Heart Flame's location, securing the area from any possible disturbance.
A golden flash disappeared into the distance, but many would mistake it as a shine of the dawn, including Lan Guan, who focuses more on pampering Lan Rou.
Yes, you heard it right.
"Ancestor Lan. When we return to the Fallen Orchid Sect, you will visit the Orchid Tomb, right?" She asked excitedly, hoping for a positive response from Lan Rou.
Lan Rou could only roll her eyes wryly at such a question.
Orchid Tomb is a sacred place where all the Yin Yang Orchid Clan's geniuses awaken their talents. To be more precise, by going there, Lan Clan's members get their bloodline awakened,
Of course, with a price.
"I don't know. We'll see about that as soon as I reach the sect." Lan Rou answered vaguely, but Lan Guan was still happy to hear it.
Yafei and Yi Xian have been listening to their bland conversation for hours, shaking their heads helplessly.
"Let's take a break." Baek Ain suddenly appeared beside them.
"I can keep going." Lan Guan returned casually. She's a Dou Ancestor expert, and her Dou Qi is abundant.
Baek Ain sighed and pointed his finger at the front. "Trust me. You want to take a break."
The four of them moved their gazes to the front and saw a massive typhoon revolving still. It wasn't just any typhoon because a solemn expression formed on Lan Guan's face when seeing it.
"Spatial Rift..." Lan Guan mumbled in surprise.
A Spatial Rift is a rare phenomenon when a tear appears in the fabric space, causing a natural disaster like a typhoon, flood, or earthquake based on the area and situation.
It covers not just the area rift appeared but also the surrounding area up to 1-2 kilometers radius. And with the size of this typhoon, the tear in fabric space should be significant.
"We can't move until the rift disappears, which would take a day if not a week. If we take another route, it will take another five days."
"Damn, why is nature making it difficult for us!" Lan Guan cursed, leaving Baek Ain and others speechless.
Baek Ain scanned the surrounding area and said, "There is a well-protected cliff on the south."
"We should go before the typhoon sucks us."
The four ladies nodded as they followed Baek Ain's lead to the cliff, making a temporary shelter.
[Host, would you like to increase your Spatial Strength?]
'Oh, do you know a method to do so?' Baek Ain questioned while leaning on a cave's wall.
[Yes]
[It's unorthodox because people of this world don't realize it yet]
[You can absorb the "Spatial Force." from the Spatial Rift and close it in process]
[It comes with risk, though...]
'What risk?' Baek Ain tilted his head.
'Pain? I'll endure it.'
[...]
[The force of Space is mightier than you thought, Host]
[You only felt the neutral "Spatial Energy." which is far inferior to a full-blown wild "Spatial Energy." in the Spatial Rift. Such force could rip any Dou Ancestor apart effortlessly]
"Let's do it." Baek Ain smiled amusingly.
"I might be able to break level 50 of Unrecorded Body Refining Technique with it."