Today is a particularly lively day in the inner courtyard. By tradition, the courtyard organizes a monthly event in which all trainees enter the Tianfen Qi Tower to practice together. The trainees consistently show strong support for this event, as entering the tower for practice requires no "fire energy" cost—today, precisely, is the scheduled collective training session. Although Xiao Yan had heard of this event during his time in the inner courtyard, he had rarely participated, as, being a wealthy family member, he never worried about fire energy costs and thus had no need to compete with others for practice rooms. Over the past two years, however, changes in the courtyard's policies have led to a steady increase in its overall population, resulting in significantly greater activity and atmosphere today compared to previous years. Thus, shortly after the morning bell began to ring, streams of people started making their way toward the Tianfen Qi Tower. By the time the sun rose above the horizon, the spacious plaza outside the Tianfen Qi Tower was already crowded with people, forming a sea of humanity. Today, the area surrounding the Tianfen Qi Tower has been transformed into a vast plaza, with the tower's spire—only partially emerging from the ground—standing at its center. Additionally, a statue stands at the tower's entrance: youthful, dressed in black robes, and with a warm smile that enhances the elegance and charm of his refined features. Nearly everyone within the inner courtyard had seen this statue standing at the entrance, so when passing by, they showed no surprise—occasionally, some students would pause, slightly bowing to it. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that each of these students wore a badge on their chests: the badge had a dark base color, with a ruler-shaped design carved into it. This badge was familiar, as it was precisely the emblem of the "Panmen." At this moment, a tall woman stood gracefully before the statue, her gaze fixed on the familiar features with a touch of enigmatic wonder. She was strikingly beautiful, and what truly caught attention was her long, slender, and sensuous legs. Every passerby inevitably cast a glance toward her legs, though the gaze remained subtly reserved—since they were well aware of her status. She was, in fact, a senior official of Panmen, reportedly even a cousin of its founder, Xiao Yin—Xiao Yu. Panmen had now firmly established itself as the dominant force within the inner academy, with no other faction daring to challenge it. As a high-ranking figure within the organization, Xiao Yu naturally commanded unwavering respect; anyone who dared to express admiration for her beauty or speak disrespectingly typically found themselves with a bruised nose and a swollen face by the next day. "You fool! You always try to show off—yet in the end... what good will a statue do? Will it truly revive the Xiao family?" A wistful, slightly bitter smile played on Xiao Yu's lips as she murmured softly. As Xiao Yu spoke, the throng of people on the square suddenly stirred, then surged forward like a tide. A large wave of people poured in, each wearing the badge identical to the one on Xiao Yu's chest. The crowd on the square, upon seeing this influx, hushed slightly—especially when their eyes settled on the girl at the forefront, with her light purple ponytail, who now seemed like a demon to many within the inner courtyard. With a confident stride, the girl led her group of people straight into the square. As soon as she spotted Xiao Yu standing before the statue, she waved her hand, and her entire procession followed swiftly. "Yu'er, you're off again, staring into space." Though she looked like a child, she insisted on acting mature—such a scene was truly hard to contain one's amusement. Yet here, besides Xiao Yu's gentle chuckle and a slight shake of her head, everyone else kept their mouths tightly shut, afraid of even a hint of laughter, lest they receive that fearsome little punch. "Ziyan, do you think... he's still alive?" Xiao Yu gently stroked the statue and suddenly asked with a smile. At this, Ziyan was momentarily startled, her gem-like eyes dimming slightly before quickly brightening again. "It's quite unlikely that someone survives being completely devoured by the strange fire." As if anticipating this very answer, Xiao Yu's expression remained unchanged. With a delicate hand, she traced the statue and offered a soft smile. "I don't know why, but lately I've been feeling my heart race—like something big is about to happen." "If your heart stops beating, then that's when something truly major will take place." Laughter echoed from behind the crowd, and two figures emerged slowly, approaching Xiao Yu with a smile. "Huh! Look at that—aren't they Hu Hao, the Blood Sword, and Qingmu Female Hu Jia?" "These are truly top-tier strength contenders among the Top Five of the Strong List—rarely seen in daily life. It's surprising they've both come out today." Their appearance immediately stirred the crowd, with murmurs rising continuously, clearly filled with excitement at the opportunity to witness such true rising stars within the inner academy. "Wait a moment," Xiao Yu smiled gently, "have you two just finished your vacation?" Wu Hao and Huo Jia smiled. Over the past two years, both of them had matured significantly. Glancing at the statue beside Xiao Yu, their smiles slightly softened, and they sighed, "Good thing Xun left early... otherwise..." Xiao Yu remained silent, knowing well the bond between Xiao Yan and Xun. If Xun had witnessed him being consumed by the strange flames, she would surely have been devastated. For now, things were still manageable. "Ding!" As the group stood in quiet contemplation, a clear chime suddenly rang out across the plaza, instantly silencing the bustling crowd. As the chime echoed, a sharp gust of wind swept through, and then several figures swiftly descended from the sky, materializing on a raised platform at the heart of the plaza. Leading the way was Elder Su Qian, a venerable figure with snow-white hair, followed by several other elders of comparable age. The true focus of everyone's attention, however, were the three young men standing behind Su Qian. Though not particularly old, these three exuded an impressive presence, each wearing insignia on their chests that clearly marked their status—Elder rank. Inner Court Elders, at the very least, required the strength of a Battle King. Thus, these three young men had already achieved the rank of Battle King at such a young age! "Indeed quite tenacious..." Wu Hao chuckled bitterly. On the elevated platform, Su Qian slowly scanned the throng of people in the square, then his gaze settled on the statue at the entrance of the Tianfen Qi-Tower, his spirit momentarily hazy as he murmured, "If that young one is still alive, I doubt I'd even stand a chance against him." Behind Su Qian, Lin Xiu'ya and the other two exchanged glances, each giving a slight nod—by their proud standards, there was no one else who could truly bow to that name. "Grand Elder, it's said the 'Black Alliance' has recently been actively inviting other factions to join. Perhaps they have some hidden intentions—we can't afford to overlook this." One elder stepped forward and softly remarked. Su Qian slightly raised his brow, then slowly nodded, with a cold smile, "Han Feng truly has talent. In just two years, he's managed to establish the 'Black Alliance' to challenge our Gan Nan Academy directly." Several elders nodded slightly. The appeal of a Sixth-Rank Alchemist was indeed no ordinary thing; with the strength of the "Black Alliance," even the Canaan Academy would find it difficult to eliminate them. All of them knew that the "Black Alliance" had now become a thorn in the side of the Grand Elder. "Well, let's not dwell on our grievances just now. We have plenty of time. We can simply wait and wear them down," Su Qian said calmly, waving his hand. "Understood," the elders replied in unison. "Time is nearly up. Let's begin the Heavenly Burn Qi Tower," Su Qian said, glancing at the sky. One elder bowed respectfully, then soared down from the platform, landing outside the entrance of the Heavenly Burn Qi Tower. He quickly formed seals, then blasted a surge of combat qi onto the massive black doors. With a series of creaking sounds, the heavy doors began to open slowly. "Remember, everyone enter in order today. No disputes may arise—otherwise, within a week, we shall be barred... " Su Qian's gaze swept across the assembly, speaking calmly. Yet as his words were still hanging in the air, his keen senses caught a sudden shift in his expression. His eyes instantly turned toward the Tian Fen Qi Tower, where he clearly sensed a terrifying surge of intense heat rapidly approaching. He immediately shouted, "There's a disturbance within the Tower—close the tower gate immediately, now!" Su Qian's sudden, urgent command instantly silenced the entire gathering. Countless onlookers stared in astonishment at the now pale and agitated Su Qian, utterly puzzled. Though the elder had no clear understanding of what had transpired, he swiftly closed the massive gate with great force. Shortly after the gate sealed, the temperature throughout the heavens suddenly rose, producing a thunderous roar akin to churning magma, accompanied by a ground-shaking intensity, swiftly approaching. "Damn it, it's the Falling Heart Flame—is it going to erupt again? Everyone, get out of the plaza immediately!" The temperature in the arena had just begun to rise when Su Qian's face turned severely grim. This situation... it had happened before back then. "Boom!" As Su Qian's words fell, a tremendous roar echoed through the space, and everyone could see the Heavenly Incineration Tower shudder violently. "Boom!" Another massive sound followed, and beneath Su Qian's stunned gaze, cracks—each as wide as a thumb—began spreading across the tower's apex. "Boom!" The roar came once more, and within moments, the tower's tip was covered in an expanding network of cracks. Su Qian's face now turned pale, as if the scene from years ago were about to unfold once again. "Boom!" With the final thunderous roar, the once-imperishable spire finally shattered, and a column of molten red lava erupted from within the tower, surging upward like a volcanic eruption. In the midst of countless stunned gazes, it soared skyward, then poured down in a magnificent cascade. The lava poured over the plaza, instantly causing chaos. Yet, as the molten stream neared the ground by several meters, it suddenly solidified. At that moment, a clear, joyful laugh—overflowing with uncontainable exhilaration—resonated across the heavens like a thunderclap. "Ha! Finally, I've made it! Ha!"