Freshman Area, Inner Court
A crowd of elders stood near the fading light pillar, their faces alight with anticipation. Further out, a throng of students craned their necks, buzzing with excitement. Word had spread, and everyone knew what the pillar signified.
"Xiao Bai, quick—let me see it!"
As the light pillar dissipated, a figure shot forward like a whirlwind, eyes locked on the red pill in Xiao Bai's hand, gleaming with fervor.
"Old Huo, hands off my pill!" another aged voice roared. The others snapped to attention, their figures blurring as they appeared beside Xiao Bai.
Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian, about to check on him, froze, watching helplessly as he was swarmed by a horde of white-haired elders.
"Xun'er, these elders… they're out of control!" Xiao Yi Xian stood on tiptoe, peering at the chaos, her eyes wide as she clicked her tongue.
"You don't understand what a sixth-grade alchemist means to these Dou Wang and Dou Huang elders," Xun'er said, a wry smile on her lips. Her gaze settled on the figure at the center, pride shining in her eyes. "The Dou Spirit Pill boosts a Dou Wang's strength. The Emperor Extreme Pill enhances a Dou Huang's. The Sect-Breaking Pill increases a peak Dou Huang's odds of breaking through to Dou Zong."
"All are sixth-grade pills."
"Now that Xiao Bai-gege can refine the Dou Spirit Pill, given his age and talent, he might soon master the Emperor Extreme Pill, even the tougher Sect-Breaking Pill."
"The Black-Corner Region is vast, yet it has only one sixth-grade alchemist, and he's at odds with Jia Nan Academy."
"Before, even with ingredients, no one could refine these pills for them. But now, Xiao Bai-gege is one of us at Jia Nan Academy. The appeal for them is boundless."
"Now you see why they're so eager."
Xiao Yi Xian's eyes lit with understanding, watching the elders clamor over the pill. She smiled brightly. "I didn't realize the gap between fifth and sixth grade was so huge!"
"Before, these elders were so reserved with Xiao Bai. But now…"
Xun'er's eyes curved, and she covered her mouth, giggling. "That's alchemy. Below sixth grade and at or above it—it's a massive divide, two different worlds."
"Above sixth grade, each level is a chasm."
"It's like Dou Qi cultivation. To top-tier factions on the continent, Dou Zong is where true cultivation begins. Anything before is just the foundation."
"But back in our Jia Ma Empire, Dou Zong was an unreachable dream."
"Dou Zong? The start?" Xiao Yi Xian stared at the radiant Xun'er, a thousand words swirling in her mind, unsure how to voice them.
Xun'er, do you hear yourself? She'd always known Xun'er was mysterious, with hints of a grand background, but this was beyond her imagination.
"Yep, Dou Zong's just the beginning," Xun'er said, noticing Xiao Yi Xian's adorable, stunned expression. She reached out, playfully pinching her cheeks, eyes twinkling. "So, little Xian'er, you've got to work hard! Don't end up the weakest in our family, okay?"
"Xun'er!" Xiao Yi Xian's gentle eyes flashed with mock indignation at the beaming girl. "I'm older than you!"
"Oh, right, you are!" Xun'er withdrew her hands, tapping her lips, eyeing Xiao Yi Xian with a teasing smile. "But…"
"Xian'er looks so delicate and charming, it just makes people want to tease her mercilessly!"
Xiao Yi Xian gazed at the mischievous Xun'er, pausing before saying softly, "Xun'er, you seem really happy since Xiao Bai refined a sixth-grade pill."
"Mm!" Xun'er nodded. "I'm thrilled that Xiao Bai-gege reached sixth-grade alchemist."
"I always believed he could, but seeing him actually do it fills me with joy."
Noticing Xiao Yi Xian's curious look, Xun'er hesitated. "Some things… you'll understand later, Xian'er."
Xiao Yi Xian nodded thoughtfully, not pressing further.
She didn't mind Xun'er's comment about being the weakest. It wasn't mockery but a kind nudge, woven with subtle hints to broaden her perspective beyond the Jia Ma Empire. They were family, destined to live together long-term, and her vision needed to expand.
___
Meanwhile, Xiao Bai was sweating, fending off a swarm of fervent elders.
"Master Xiao, this pill's mine first! I've waited three years!"
"Xiao Bai, don't listen to him. I've waited five—five years! Do you know what I've been through?"
"Xiao Bai, can you refine the Emperor Extreme Pill?"
"What about the Sect-Breaking Pill?"
Xiao Bai's head throbbed. Beside him, Elder Huo stared at him like a rare treasure, brimming with questions.
"Elders!" Xiao Bai finally shouted, infusing his voice with Dou Qi to drown out the clamor. Silence fell.
He scanned the group, smiling faintly. "Let's find a place to discuss this one by one, shall we?"
"Exactly! All this shouting—what kind of example are you setting?" A weathered voice cut through, followed by a ripple in space. A black-robed figure appeared nearby.
White-haired and bearded, his eyes sharp as blades, he swept his gaze over the crowd.
The elders stiffened, bowing hastily. "Greetings, Grand Elder!"
"Mm." Su Qian glanced at them, then fixed on Xiao Bai, standing out like a crane among chickens, his gaze carrying an enigmatic weight. "You must be Xiao Bai."
"This is the Inner Court's chief elder, Grand Elder Su Qian, a Dou Zong powerhouse," Elder Huo whispered, tugging Xiao Bai's sleeve.
Xiao Bai nodded, feigning realization, and bowed. "Xiao Bai greets the Grand Elder."
He'd known Su Qian's identity but played the naive freshman to avoid unnecessary suspicion.
"No need for formalities," Su Qian said, eyeing the Dou Spirit Pill in Xiao Bai's hand. "Full and lustrous, brimming with energy. Among the Dou Spirit Pills I've seen, it's top-tier. To achieve such alchemy at your age is remarkable."
"You flatter me, Grand Elder. This was my first sixth-grade pill. Its success was sheer luck," Xiao Bai said with a smile, retrieving a porcelain vial from his storage ring, placing the pill inside, and stowing it away.
"No need for modesty, Xiao Bai. Even if it was luck, that's a form of strength," Su Qian said, dismissing his humility with a faint smile. In all his years, he'd never heard of anyone refining a top-tier Dou Spirit Pill by chance.
"You're right, Grand Elder," Xiao Bai said, rubbing his chin, nodding in agreement.
Luck, or qi yun as they called it in my past life's novels, is a protagonist's greatest asset—slaying gods and buddhas until it runs dry. With it, you're practically immortal.
"Youngsters should be bold, not humble. Show your strength, don't hide it!" Su Qian laughed heartily, approving of his stance.
… Xiao Bai rolled his eyes inwardly. This old man's prodding me.
After a moment's thought, he retracted the soul force cloaking his body, keeping only the thunder seed shielded.
"That's more like it!" Su Qian nodded, pleased. "In all my years at the Inner Court, I've seen every kind of genius."
"Your Dou Qi is pure and robust, your meridians like a raging river, and they're tough enough to withstand such force."
He'd glimpsed Xiao Bai's power in battle before, but only vaguely. Now, examining closely, Su Qian's eyes flickered with astonishment.
Even with his experience, he couldn't pinpoint the grade of Xiao Bai's cultivation technique to produce such results. I spoke too soon—this one's unlike any I've seen!
His soul force was so strong it had blocked Su Qian's perception.
His physique rivaled that of the child he'd taken in—a human magical beast!
And his Dou Qi cultivation? Inscrutable. Su Qian was at a loss.
With such comprehensive strength, even at six-star Dou Ling, most elders wouldn't be his match.
"Xiao Bai, with your extraordinary talent, I hope you'll lend the Inner Court a hand in the future," Su Qian said suddenly, his face solemn.
Xiao Bai's mind raced. They're already fretting over the Fallen Heart Flame. Sealing it was one thing, but suppressing it risked exposure, drawing prying eyes and plunging Jia Nan Academy into turmoil.
A misstep wouldn't destroy the academy, but it would deal a heavy blow.
What puzzled Xiao Bai was their lack of wariness toward him, an alchemist. Heavenly Flames were an alchemist's obsession, a universal truth on the Dou Qi Continent, though he was an exception.
In the novel, Xiao Yan wasn't heavily guarded because he already possessed a Heavenly Flame and was an Inner Court student. His acquisition of the Fallen Heart Flame was a mix of factors, not the academy's intent.
But Xiao Bai? He had no Heavenly Flame.
Despite his doubts, he nodded. "As a member of Jia Nan Academy, if there's a need, as long as the Grand Elder doesn't mind my meager strength, I'll do my utmost to help."
"Heh, I know your strength now, or I wouldn't have asked," Su Qian said, stroking his beard, pleased with Xiao Bai's response. "Don't overthink it. Whether we need you is uncertain. I'm just preparing for the worst-case scenario."
Xiao Bai nodded with a grin, unbothered. If it came to that, the chosen one would step up, likely with more enthusiasm. This time, though, Jia Nan Academy might face a dilemma.
Because Xiao Bai had his sights on the Fallen Heart Flame.
Whether its spark would end up in the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower, as in the novel, was up to fate.
"Oh, Grand Elder, may I ask something?" Xiao Bai said, as if struck by a thought.
"Go ahead," Su Qian replied, in a good mood after Xiao Bai's agreement.
"Is there a place in the Inner Court suitable for thunder cultivators?" Xiao Bai asked, his eyes eager. This was his main reason for coming to Jia Nan Academy, and he felt a twinge of anxiety.
If there wasn't, he'd try the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower. If that failed, he couldn't linger at the academy. The Black-Corner Region offered more opportunities.
"Thunder cultivation?" Su Qian's gaze flickered with curiosity, nodding slowly. "With your current cultivation and that pure Dou Qi, the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower indeed offers little help."
"As for a place for thunder cultivation, Jia Nan Academy does have one, highly beneficial for thunder cultivators. But…"
Xiao Bai's excitement wavered at the "but," noting Su Qian's hesitation. "But what?"
"That place is only accessible to Dou Huang cultivators. Otherwise…" Su Qian trailed off, shaking his head.
Xiao Bai was speechless. Why only Dou Huang? Finish the thought! Some nearby elders looked curious, unaware of such a place at Jia Nan Academy.
"Few know of it now," Su Qian said, his eyes wistful as he addressed the elders' confusion. "It's called Thunderfall Valley, where the Dean once secluded himself. The valley's skies are perpetually shrouded in dark clouds, with lightning coiling like dragons, striking down in dense bursts with immense power."
"At the outskirts, the falling bolts rival a peak Dou Wang's strike. Deeper in, the lightning grows stronger, with the center's bolts reaching Dou Zong intensity."
"When the Dean was here, some thunder-attribute students, drawn to the valley's cultivation environment, sneaked in but were gravely injured by stray outer bolts."
"The Dean then set a barrier and a warning: no entry below Dou Huang."
"After he left, the valley was sealed. Most graduating students are Dou Wang at best, not meeting the requirement. Among the elders, we have a couple of thunder-attribute Dou Wangs, but no Dou Huangs, so it's rarely mentioned."