BTTH : Emperor Yang

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**

Inside the Inner Academy.

Above the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower.

A massive, invisible fire python coiled in the void, repeatedly slamming against the energy net overhead.

This deadlock had lasted nearly three full hours.

After such a prolonged tug-of-war and energy drain, ten of the eighteen Inner Academy Elders had already withdrawn, leaving only eight elders and Su Qian still holding on with great difficulty.

Although the losses among the Inner Academy elders were severe, the condition of the invisible fire python wasn't any better. Its frenzied assaults and constant energy depletion had dimmed the translucent flames covering its body. The force behind its charges into the energy net was also gradually weakening.

Su Qian and the eight remaining elders persevered bitterly, only managing to hold on because they could sense the fire python's strength slowly ebbing. That sliver of hope was the only reason they hadn't collapsed.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to keep going.

In the distance, Xiao Yan looked up at the intense battle raging in the sky and the elders coughing up blood and retreating one after another. He couldn't help but wipe a cold sweat from his forehead.

So many elders working together, even with a Dou Zong-level Su Qian leading them, were still pushed to this miserable state by the Fallen Heart Flame. Clearly, successfully refining it would be far more difficult than when he had devoured the Green Lotus Core Flame.

On top of that, he still held the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame in his hand—a Heavenly Flame only slightly weaker than the Fallen Heart Flame.

Just thinking about it made his heart clench.

To devour two Heavenly Flames at the Dou Zong level—even someone as daring and fearless as Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.

Refining these two flames successfully would require far more than just luck.

"It seems I'll definitely need Brother Wei's help to weaken them when the time comes," Xiao Yan murmured.

This, perhaps, was what people meant by "painful and joyful at the same time."

…

Xiao Yan looked down at the jade pendant clutched in his hand. At that moment, the pendant glowed faintly and began to warm up.

Inside it, the spiritual imprint left by Wei Yang had been activated.

Delighted, he spoke inwardly, "Master, the jade pendant reacted—Brother Wei is signaling us. He should be nearby."

"Mhm, that Brat Wei finally arrived," Yao Lao replied with a clear sigh of relief in his voice.

If Wei Yang hadn't come, facing the Fallen Heart Flame in its berserk state would've left even Yao Lao feeling uncertain.

After all, the Fallen Heart Flame, in a sense, was particularly effective against soul forms.

Even though Yao Lao was protected by the Bone Chilling Flame, he had no desire to directly confront the Fallen Heart Flame as a main force.

His hard-earned soul power—once used—would be difficult to recover.

Moreover, Yao Lao knew very well that the biggest threat in this competition for the Fallen Heart Flame might not be the flame itself, nor the obstruction from the Inner Academy.

"Judging from the current situation, the Inner Academy elders seem about to collapse. Master, when should we act?" Xiao Yan asked anxiously, watching the battle in the sky.

Enough time had passed. He wanted to get the Fallen Heart Flame as soon as possible to avoid unforeseen complications.

"Don't rush," Yao Lao said calmly. "There's a large group of auras approaching from the east—likely strong individuals from the Outer Academy. Let them wear down the Fallen Heart Flame a bit more."

Startled, Xiao Yan quickly turned his gaze toward the eastern sky. Sure enough, a group of strong cultivators was swiftly approaching.

…

"Hahaha, Elder Su, apologies—it took some time to rally our forces. I hope we're not too late!" A loud, elderly laugh suddenly echoed through the skies.

The newcomers were none other than Hu Gan—the Vice Dean of the Outer Academy—and a group of Outer Academy elders.

"Hu Gan…" Seeing this timely reinforcement, Su Qian finally let out a deep breath of relief. It seemed today wouldn't be as disastrous as he had feared.

Hu Gan and the others were like a fresh wave of reinforcements, revitalizing the exhausted Inner Academy elders.

Wasting no time, Hu Gan quickly led his team to replace the eight elders whose strength had been almost completely depleted.

Though the Outer Academy experts were generally a tier weaker than the Inner Academy elders in terms of strength, they had numbers on their side. So, even though the colorful energy net dimmed slightly, they could still barely resist the invisible fire python's frenzied attacks.

Hu Gan himself wasn't as powerful as Su Qian, but he was still a peak Dou Huang. With Su Qian aiding him, they managed to hold the line.

Seeing this, Su Qian finally felt completely at ease.

Now, all they had to do was wait for the Inner Academy elders to recover, and they could work together to seal the Fallen Heart Flame once again.

…

Outside the Inner Academy's space barrier.

Wei Yang gazed off into the distance, a faint smile curling on his lips.

"The person I've been waiting for… has finally arrived."

In the distance, mountain ranges surged and rolled, stretching endlessly into the horizon.

Suddenly, in the southern sky—at the very limit of visibility—several small black dots appeared faintly, rapidly moving in this direction.

Moments later—

The black dots quickly expanded, transforming into a large number of human figures that appeared within Wei Yang's line of sight.

This group was heading straight toward the spatial barrier.

These figures—powerhouses who all held significant sway within the Black-Corner Region—were led by a man whose robe bore an embroidered character "Feng" on the back. Under his command, they gathered en masse and surged forward aggressively.

The large group of experts came in menacingly, Dou Qi wings flapping behind them, streaking openly across the sky without the slightest concealment.

Before long, they arrived outside the spatial barrier and came to a halt.

And in that moment, the true appearance of the leading man was also fully seen by the hidden Wei Yang.

It was a man with a rather handsome face. His slightly thin lips were tightly pursed, giving off a cold and stern aura. Yet it was precisely this trait that gave him a distinct, unusual charm.

He wore the robe of an alchemist, and on the back of that robe, an exquisitely embroidered, large "Feng" character stood out—bold and vivid like iron strokes etched in silver, brimming with imposing flair and arrogance.

He was none other than the famous Medicine Emperor of the Black-Corner Region—Han Feng!

As the number one figure in alchemy within the Black-Corner Region, Han Feng had long since reached the peak of the sixth-tier alchemist rank. In the hearts of many factions and experts, his status was quite high.

Of course, even in Central Plains, a peak Tier 6 alchemist was considered extremely rare. Even among some major powers, when meeting such a person, they would be compelled to show respect and refrain from offending him lightly.

In the distance.

"Han Feng..." Wei Yang's entire body was shrouded by an invisible soul barrier, concealed among thick branches and lush leaves. Not a hint of aura leaked out from him, as if he had fully merged with the natural world around him.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and a flicker of burning desire passed quietly through his gaze.

One of the Heavenly Cauldrons: the Myriad Beast Cauldron.

Rank 15 on the Heavenly Flame Ranking: Sea Heart Flame.

These were both treasures Wei Yang had long coveted.

A traitorous disciple who killed his master—how was someone like that qualified to possess such treasures?

Never mind that Han Feng's appearance looked fairly youthful—realistically, he was already up there in age, probably around fifty at least. And yet, he was still only at the peak of Dou Huang, with a late-stage Mortal Realm soul.

If it were someone else, they could be considered a genius.

But Han Feng? Absolutely not. In fact, he appeared thoroughly mediocre.

To have fallen to this extent, he was simply a disgrace to the title of being Yao Zun Zhe's disciple.

At least in Wei Yang's eyes, he was the very definition of a failure—no, a failure among failures.

That phrase "rotten mud that can't support a wall"—Han Feng was the perfect example.

He'd taken a winning hand and played it into the ground, yet he still had the nerve to call himself the Medicine Emperor?

What a joke.

For such divine treasures of heaven and earth to be in his hands—it was nothing short of pearls cast before swine.

And so, Wei Yang had made up his mind. He would liberate them from their suffering.

Amid the crowd.

Han Feng took a step forward, his sharp gaze fixed intently on the spatial barrier ahead, which was subtly distorted. He carefully sensed the violent energy fluctuations coming faintly from within.

A flicker of deep blue flame suddenly jumped within his pupils.

"This strange fluctuation... there's no mistake!"

Han Feng, who always maintained a calm heart and mind, finally showed some disturbance in his emotions at this moment.

His eyes narrowed as he lightly flicked his fingertip. Instantly, a thread of deep blue flame—shaped like clear lake water—emerged eerily from his finger, flickering and rising into the air before condensing into a small cluster.

This deep blue flame was extremely peculiar. At first glance, it appeared like a cluster of transparent lake water flowing slowly.

Even stranger—just by looking at it, one could faintly hear the gentle whoosh of ocean waves echoing in their heart.

However, the subtly distorted space above the flame, along with the rising temperature in the surrounding air, clearly told everyone—

This was no pool of water, but a real flame.

Heavenly Flame Rank Fifteen: Sea Heart Flame!

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