"The Heart Flame within the Sky-Burn Qi Tower is indeed gradually weakening," one elder reported in a spacious hall. Upon hearing this, Su Qian's expression instantly brightened, then turned to Xiao Yan, who stood beside him with a somewhat embarrassed smile. After a moment of intense contemplation, Su Qian sighed with growing resignation, a wave of苦笑 washing over him. He hadn't expected that the unique flame, instead of being claimed by others, would be so directly absorbed by this very person. And with the Celestial Burn Qi Tower lost, the inner courtyard's proud cultivation system for nurturing strong disciples might well be shattered—consequences of that magnitude would indeed be severe. The atmosphere in the hall was somewhat subdued. Observing the Grand Elder's weary expression, the other elders found themselves at a loss. Now that the Spirit-Heart Flame had been fully absorbed by Xiao Yan, it would be impossible to extract it again. If Xiao Yan were an adversary, capturing and retrieving the Spirit-Heart Flame would still be feasible. But the real challenge lay in the fact that Xiao Yan held considerable goodwill toward the inner courtyard—during the great battle two years ago, had it not been for Xiao Yan's victory over two Sovereign-level cultivators, the inner courtyard would have suffered significant losses. Feeling the atmosphere in the hall, Xiao Yan also felt a bit awkward. To be honest, he still harbored some regret toward Su Qian. After all, since the moment he entered the Gan Nan Academy, he had been quietly eyeing Yunluo Xin Yan—though during the great battle, he may have appeared to have done a significant favor for the inner academy, his real intention had always been to increase his own chances of securing Yunluo Xin Yan. Xiao Yan was taken aback—could this rare fire be artificially created? "Producing it isn't particularly difficult," Su Qian said, glancing at Xiao Yan. "When the headmaster departed, he left behind a backup container for the Fallen Heart Flame. As long as you pour some of the Fallen Heart Flame into it, the Tian Fen Qi Tower will still maintain its ability to accelerate cultivation, though not as effectively as before." Su Qian continued, "This requires your assistance—specifically, to separate a portion of the Fallen Heart Flame you've already refined and deliver it to us. Shouldn't be a problem, should it?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan quietly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded immediately. The Fallen Heart Flame had already been fully refined into a fundamental flame essence by him. As long as his qi remained strong, he could continuously generate and utilize it. While separating a portion would entail some expenditure of qi, this dual-benefit solution was more than satisfactory. "However, the summoned fallen heart flame comes with several limitations—once the qi I've infused dissipates, the flame will automatically fade..." Suddenly recalling something, Xiao Yan hesitated slightly. "The vessel was personally crafted by the Headmaster. You needn't worry about these issues. Nevertheless, the vessel can only provide a delaying effect. Therefore, perhaps in the future, you'll need to visit the inner academy periodically to replenish the flame in the Heavenly Burn Qi Tower..." Su Qian mused. "Periodically visit the inner academy?" Xiao Yan was slightly taken aback, offering a wry smile. "Is there a specific timeframe for these periodic visits? If I leave the inner academy, shall I have to return every half-month or month?" "We haven't quite settled on a definite schedule yet. But as long as you leave behind sufficient flame for us to preserve, I believe we can sustain it for a couple of years." Su Qian thought for a moment, then added. "That's good..." Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. "Alright, then, I'll follow the Senior Elder's advice." "Ah, well, it's all for you, young man. I never thought that something so difficult for Han Feng—something he struggled so hard to obtain—would fall so easily into your hands. For all these years, I've diligently protected it within the Inner Courtyard, only to see it become your wedding dress." Su Qian rolled his eyes, his voice tinged with a hint of bitterness. He was most aware of the effects of the Fallen Heart Flame; with Xiao Yan having fully absorbed it, the already formidable pace of his cultivation was likely to surge even further. Such a reward was truly irresistible to anyone. Xiao Yan offered a slightly embarrassed smile, then furrowed his brows slightly, speaking slowly. "So, Han Feng—is he still in Black Angular Domain?" "Yes." Su Qian's eyes slightly narrowed, a faint cold glint passing through them. He still remembered vividly the incident when Han Feng had gathered a large number of powerful figures to launch an attack on the Inner Courtyard. "Heh, that would be good. Some matters do need to be settled with him." Xiao Yan crossed his fingers, smiled—his smile carrying a subtle coldness. Back then, that man had narrowly escaped death by sheer luck. Now, after surviving the molten domain once more, his first priority was to finally resolve this matter with his so-called "senior." Otherwise, how could he face the sleeping Ye Lao? "Though you've greatly strengthened your power now, I suspect you'll find it difficult alone." Su Qian shook his head, pondering. "Han Feng established the 'Black Alliance' in Black Corner Domain. Many strong factions have joined it. Now, the alliance is brimming with powerful members—so much so that even I find myself overwhelmed. During the two years you've been away, the Inner Academy has sent several missions to confront them, but most have been repelled by the Black Alliance." "The Black Alliance?" Xiao Yan frowned slightly, lightly tapping the table with his fingers. After a pause, he said softly, "Then... does the Senior Elder still wish to reclaim his standing?" A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and Su Qian growled, "How could I not want to? The reputation of the Inner Courtyard mustn't decline under my watch—otherwise, when the Chancellor returns, how will I face him?" "Very well. Then the Senior Elder shall gather his forces and head to Black Corner Domain in three days!" Xiao Yan paused, stood up, and smiled. "Agreed! Since you're so eager, then I'll join you in this venture!" Su Qian slammed his palm firmly on the table, laughing with great enthusiasm. With Xiao Yan—such a powerful fighter—now joining forces, the Inner Courtyard would surely be able to turn around the stalemate with the 'Black Alliance' over the past two years. "In three days, I'll assemble my forces. That will be the moment we finally settle our accounts with the 'Black Alliance'!" Xiao Yan nodded with a smile. "But..." As if remembering something, Su Qian's brows slightly furrowed as he looked at Xiao Yan, saying, "Before now, I thought you should first settle the disputes between that Douzong cultivator who's been causing you trouble. Otherwise, once she steps in during the battle, you must know how formidable a Douzong cultivator truly is. If she joins the 'Black Alliance,' even if we don't suffer a complete defeat, we will surely suffer heavy losses." "She definitely won't join the 'Black Alliance,'" Xiao Yan smiled, gazing at Su Qian's serious expression and sighing lightly. "Alright, I'll handle her matter first." "Would we be able to assist you?" Su Qian hesitated and asked. "Heh, don't worry—my issue with her won't be resolved just by having more people involved," Xiao Yan chuckled, bowing slightly to Su Qian. "Since everything has been arranged, I'll head back now." "Wait a moment." "Seeing Xiao Yan turn around, Su Qian paused for a moment, then slowly said, 'I think I should tell you something.' 'What?' Xiao Yan turned, puzzled. 'Your elder brother, Xiao Li, is in Black Angle Domain, isn't he?' As soon as Su Qian finished speaking, he suddenly felt Xiao Yan's aura surge violently all over his body. He raised his old eyes, filled with astonishment, gazing at the young man whose face had instantly turned cold. 'What happened to my elder brother?' Xiao Yan's voice was as cold as ice, devoid of any emotion. 'Nothing has happened yet.' Su Qian suppressed his astonishment, waved his hand, and said, "After you were dragged into the earth by the falling heart flame, I sent people to secretly protect you. For the first half year, he merely stabilized his cultivation. However, after one year, during a hunting expedition, he was pursued deep into the mountains and reappeared two months later—his strength had suddenly and strangely surged to the Battle King level. I have no knowledge of what exactly transpired during his time in the mountains." "According to the latest reports, he has now quietly established a rather mysterious organization within the Black Corner Domain. This organization has gained a solid reputation even within the domain, as they specifically target members of the Black Alliance—killing them one by one. Clearly, your second brother is seeking revenge on you." Xiao Yan's expression gradually calmed, and he nodded silently—good, his second brother was safe... Yet just as his demeanor settled, Su Qian's next words caused his face to grow completely gloomy. "And since your elder brother has been steadily targeting and eliminating members of the 'Black Alliance' over the years, he has stirred tremendous anger within the Alliance. According to my intelligence, several powerful factions have already begun launching coordinated attacks against your elder brother and his operations—his current situation, I suspect, is far from favorable." The young man in black robes now bore a cold, terrifying countenance, even hinting at a fierce, almost savage intensity. His voice, icy and composed, radiated an unmatched resolve. "Do you have your elder brother's location?"