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"The academy elders have already agreed, so what are you still complaining about? Do you all really dare to oppose the higher-ups of Jia Nan Academy?" Bai Cheng demanded sternly.
He, too, coveted the Heavenly Flame. But the academy's upper echelons had explicitly assigned it to Xiao Wuya.
He didn't dare defy them either.
The crowd looked at each other in silence, though their dissatisfaction simmered internally.
At that moment, someone suggested, "Of course, we can't go against the higher-ups. But what if we simply ask Xiao Wuya to lend us the Heavenly Flame? We're not robbing him of it outright; what could the higher-ups possibly say about that?"
"Exactly! We're not wrong here! That brat is just too arrogant!"
Others quickly echoed this, reaching a consensus that, no matter what, they would force Xiao Wuya to hand over the Heavenly Flame.
"Yes! We can't just let this go!"
"That's right! Make Xiao Wuya hand over the Heavenly Flame!"
As Bai Cheng listened to the others, he frowned, feeling conflicted and unsure of what to do.
Then, someone chimed in enthusiastically, "The Heavenly Flame should be controlled by heroes and geniuses like Bai Cheng! What has Xiao Wuya done to deserve it? From what I hear, he's only at the level of a Dou Shi—a mere nobody!"
"Right! Power rules, and only those with real status should control the Heavenly Flame!"
Hearing the murmurs, Bai Cheng also felt his resolve waver, especially upon realizing Xiao Wuya's level was only Dou Shi.
A dark thought formed in his mind, but he hesitated, uncertain about attacking Xiao Wuya.
After a brief pause, Bai Cheng made up his mind to confront Xiao Wuya.
"Alright! Since that's the case, let's find an opportunity to pay him a visit and get that Heavenly Flame. We'll let everyone have some fun with it!"
Meanwhile...
In the dormitory, Xiao Yan was absorbed in his cultivation, his aura gathering steadily, when Xiao Xun'er rushed in, looking anxious.
With a tense expression, she addressed Xiao Yan urgently, "Brother Xiao Yan, I need to tell you something!"
Xiao Yan opened his eyes, momentarily surprised by her expression. "What's wrong, Xun'er?"
Xiao Xun'er, her face tinged with worry, replied, "A lot of people at the academy are badmouthing you. They harbor a lot of hatred toward you, so please be careful."
Xiao Yan gave a slight smile and replied calmly, "I know. Let them say whatever they want. Their jealousy won't cost me even a hair."
Xiao Xun'er frowned, her tone turning serious. "But, Brother Xiao Yan, what if they actually try something against you? You should be on guard."
Xiao Yan shook his head lightly, smiling as he reassured her, "Don't worry, Xun'er. I'll be careful.
If they truly dare to come after me, I'm not that easily bullied."
Hearing his words, Xiao Xun'er felt somewhat reassured, though she was still slightly worried. "Brother, you have to protect yourself. I'll do my best to look out for you, too."
Xiao Yan smiled gently, looking at her warmly. "Don't worry, Xun'er. I'll continue cultivating with peace of mind.
With you here, I feel even more at ease."
Suddenly, a knock broke the silence, followed by Su Qian's voice from outside, "Wuya, are you in? I have a few questions I'd like to discuss with you."
Before Xiao Yan could respond, Zi Yan bounded in like a playful sprite, flinging herself onto Xiao Yan and saying playfully, "Brother, I'm hungry. Give me some pills to eat!"
Her adorable, coquettish manner made Xiao Yan chuckle. He retrieved some pills from his storage ring and handed them to her. "Alright, here, but finish these before playing again."
Just then, Su Qian stepped inside, watching Zi Yan's antics with a slight smile, apologizing on her behalf. "Sorry about that—she has a bit of a greedy streak and may have disturbed you."
Xiao Yan waved it off with a smile, saying, "No problem. I quite like little Zi Yan, too."
Su Qian's impression of Xiao Yan improved further, silently admiring him. In these times, a young person with such a generous nature was truly a rarity.
Su Qian stood by, slightly reserved.
Suddenly, Xiao Yan broke the silence, "Elder Su, was there something specific you needed from me?"
Su Qian cleared his throat a bit awkwardly, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "It's regarding the matter of the Ascension Pill."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's eyes brightened slightly, and he smiled knowingly. As he had suspected, this visit indeed had to do with the pills.
It seemed his master, Shui Wuya, had been right.
"Please, have a seat."
Xiao Yan gestured for Su Qian to sit down, smiling as he said, "Elder, feel free to ask any questions."
Su Qian sat down slowly, his gaze fixed seriously on Xiao Yan as he began, "I'd like to consult you on some matters regarding the refinement of the Ascension Pill."
At this, Xiao Yan felt a twinge of tension; he was aware that his current level in alchemy was not advanced enough to fully comprehend a pill of this caliber.
However, he maintained a calm demeanor and replied with a friendly smile, "No need to hold back, Elder. Please, ask away."
Su Qian looked intently at Xiao Yan, a trace of anticipation in his eyes. His questions were complex and delved deep into the art of alchemy. He was eager to see just how skilled Xiao Yan was in this field.
He finally began, "Alright, I have several questions about alchemy that I'd like to ask you."
Xiao Yan, already receiving guidance from Yao Lao through telepathic messages, was prepared for Su Qian's inquiries.
He met Su Qian's gaze with a steady expression, "Please, go ahead."
"First," Su Qian started, his brow furrowing, "when refining high-level pills, how do you control the heat within the cauldron to maintain the integrity and potency of the medicinal ingredients?"
Xiao Yan, wearing a composed expression, replied confidently, "To control the heat, one must adjust based on the specific medicinal ingredients and techniques used for the pill.
Typically, sensitivity and experience help in gauging the correct heat. It's essential to monitor the internal temperature of the cauldron and the flame's intensity. The key is to maintain a refined control over the flame. With enough practice in controlling Dou Qi, mastery of this aspect comes naturally over time."
Su Qian listened, a flash of astonishment in his eyes. Although they had discussed alchemy before, seeing the youthful Xiao Yan articulate such intricate techniques was still shocking.
"Additionally, there's one more point," Su Qian continued, "when refining high-level pills, how do you handle the interactions between various medicinal ingredients?"
Xiao Yan pondered for a moment before answering thoughtfully, "In the refinement of advanced pills, the interactions between ingredients are crucial. Precision and close observation are necessary to manage these effects.
An appropriate ratio and careful refinement techniques can ensure the pill's efficacy and stability."
Su Qian's brows knitted further, deeply impressed. He hadn't anticipated Xiao Yan's theoretical knowledge of alchemy to be so thorough.
In fact, even Jia Nan Academy's top alchemists struggled to provide answers as promptly and insightfully as Xiao Yan had.
Naturally, this was because Yao Lao was secretly transmitting guidance to Xiao Yan from within the ring.
Thus, rather than Xiao Yan answering Su Qian's questions, it was Yao Lao—the legendary figure in the alchemy world—who was providing the insights.
(End of Chapter)