"The good show is about to start."
Yun Tianming retracted his Dou Qi Wings, landed on the ground, and used Soul Power to envelop himself, staying in an inconspicuous corner.
"Yan Alliance?"
Su Qian frowned, evidently aware of this new force in the Black-Corner Region.
"I am Xiao Yan, the leader of the Yan Alliance. You must be the renowned Grand Elder Su Qian from Jia Nan Academy, right?"
Xiao Yan smiled kindly and respectfully bowed to Su Qian.
"Xiao Yan?"
"That name sounds familiar..."
"I remember now, he is the first student ever expelled from Jia Nan Academy's history!"
The surrounding students were shocked, especially the new students from a year ago who had heard of Xiao Yan's name to varying degrees. They then turned their curious eyes toward the Xiao Family's two young women from Pan's Gate.
"Xiao Yan? How did you end up here?"
Xiao Yu was astonished. In her view, Xiao Yan had disappeared without a trace after losing the three-year bet and had not contacted his family.
"Cousin Xiao Yan, your Yan Alliance... Could it be that you are enemies of Jia Nan Academy?"
Xiao Mei's eyes twinkled with rare intelligence. Her charming face clearly showed displeasure. "You, being expelled from the Academy already brought shame to the Xiao Family, and now you've brought a large group of people who clearly look like troublemakers into Jia Nan Academy."
"Sister Xiao Yu, and Xiao Mei, you're also in the inner court."
Xiao Yan's face flashed with a hint of awkwardness.
He knew there were Xiao Family members at Jia Nan Academy, but most of them were in the outer court. He never expected Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei to enter the elite inner court, which was probably thanks to Xun'er.
"Let's catch up another time!"
"Since the Yan Alliance is making such a grand entrance, what is the purpose?"
Su Qian's gaze was icy as he stared at Xiao Yan. His heart was full of caution because he found that with his Dou Ancestor strength, he couldn't see through Xiao Yan, as if a powerful Soul Power was blocking him.
"It is said that Grand Elder is straightforward, so I, Xiao Yan, will be direct as well."
"I have come this time for the Heavenly Flame. As part of the transaction, the Yan Alliance is willing to offer a Zong Breaking Pill and three Mighty Huang Pills!"
Xiao Yan spoke concisely, stating his purpose and presenting his offer.
"Hiss!"
"One Zong Breaking Pill! Three Mighty Huang Pills?!"
The people present couldn't help but gasp in astonishment at such a generous offer!
However, Su Qian's expression remained unchanged. He said coldly, "I refuse! This Heavenly Flame was personally captured by Headmaster and is the foundation of Jia Nan Academy. How could it be exchanged?"
Jia Nan Academy's fame on the continent largely relies on the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower's accelerated cultivation. This effect attracted figures like Lin Xiu Ya and Liu Qing from the Central Plains. Without the Fallen Heart Flame, Jia Nan Academy would lose its value!
The negotiation had failed.
"Sigh~ It really is impossible, isn't it?"
Xiao Yan couldn't help but sigh, but he hadn't really hoped that Jia Nan Academy would willingly hand over the Heavenly Flame through mere negotiation.
"Xiao Yan! I advise you to leave now while you can. If you don't, when Headmaster returns, none of you present will escape unscathed!"
Su Qian warned with a stern tone.
Xiao Yan's eyelids twitched. The Headmaster of Jia Nan Academy was said to be a legendary Dou Venerate. It was impossible not to be afraid. At that moment, Yao Chen's calm voice reached his ears: "Xiao Yan, don't panic! Mang Tian Chi was from my era, a wanderer who has been missing for many years."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan felt reassured. He looked firmly at Su Qian and said word by word, "In that case, I will have to seize it by force!"
"Arrogant!"
"How dare you, a mere boy, act so brazenly before me?"
Su Qian shouted coldly. His robes moved without wind, and the surging Dou Qi caused the surrounding space to distort.
"Dou Ancestor experts are indeed terrifying!"
Xiao Yan took a step back and waved his hand. "Gold and Silver Elders, please show yourselves!"
"Hehe! Alliance Leader Xiao, do you know the cost of calling us into action? I hope you can afford it, otherwise..."
Accompanied by a chilling laugh, two figures, one gold and one silver, appeared in the sky like ghosts.
"Gold and Silver Elders, peak Dou Emperors!"
Hu Gan's face changed drastically. If it were just one of them, he might be able to contend, but the combined Qi Method of the two could unleash combat power comparable to a Dou Ancestor.
"Do you also wish to intervene in this matter?"
Su Qian's gaze was cold as he stared at the Gold and Silver Elders. He had fought them before and knew well how troublesome they were.
"We don't want to, but Alliance Leader Xiao's pills are too tempting."
"Old Su, I suggest you give the Heavenly Flame to Alliance Leader Xiao. If your Headmaster were here, we wouldn't agree to this deal, but unfortunately, that old guy hasn't been heard from for years. We don't know if he's dead or what."
The Gold and Silver Elders said sarcastically.
"Bah! Delusional fools! I want to see how much progress you two brothers have made after all these years!"
Su Qian's hands clenched into fists, and his aura grew more fierce.
"Grand Elder, please reconsider!"
"Even an observant person can see the disparity in strength between the two sides. Why bother against such odds?"
Xiao Yan earnestly advised.
To seize the Fallen Heart Flame, the Yan Alliance he organized openly includes six Dou Emperors, over twenty Dou Kings, and a hundred Dou Spirits.
On Jia Nan Academy's side, besides Su Qian, a Dou Ancestor, and Hu Gan, a peak Dou Emperor, there are two other initial-stage Dou Emperors, a few high-level Dou Kings, and many students, but most are Dou Spirits and Dou Grandmasters, which are not worth mentioning.
Xiao Yan's hidden trump cards were far from just that.
"Take this!"
Su Qian's face was icy, and he was too lazy to waste more words. With a slight rotation of his palms, torrents of Dou Qi erupted from his hands. With a mere wave of his sleeve, a powerful Dou Qi beam shot out, rushing directly toward Xiao Yan!
"Old Su, let us deal with you!"
The Gold and Silver Elders struck simultaneously. The two of them tightly gripped their hands, and a fierce, light green Dou Qi burst forth.
"Boom!!!"
The battle officially began!
"Tsk tsk~ I haven't tasted the blood of these young Jia Nan Academy students before!"
Blood Sect's Sect Master Fan Lao, with a menacing gaze, scanned the anxious students below, revealing a rampant smile.
"Fan Sect Master, please refrain from harming innocents. Just hold off a few of Jia Nan Academy's Elders for me."
Xiao Yan glanced at the young people of similar age below him, his eyes showing a trace of sympathy. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart: If it weren't for the three-year bet, I would probably have entered Jia Nan Academy and become one of them.
"Huh?"
Fan Lao looked startled and then stared at Xiao Yan with a strange expression. After a moment, he smacked his lips and said, "Alliance Leader Xiao, you are truly kind-hearted!"
****
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