It's not us who are in a hurry.

At the end of the stone steps, the temperature was already suffocatingly high.

Shen Wen and Su Qian stood before a massive stone gate. The ancient runes on the gate flickered with a dim red light, as if engaging in a silent struggle with some existence behind the door.

The air was twisted and steaming from the intense heat, making everything within sight appear blurred.

Su Qian took a deep breath, the sound of which was exceptionally clear in the silence. He formed hand Seals, and a surge of majestic Dou Qi was injected into the stone gate.

The runes on the gate suddenly lit up, and immediately, amidst a low rumbling sound, the stone gate slowly opened inward.

A wave of heat rushed toward them.

Behind the gate lay an extremely vast and expansive space; the scorching temperature made this place feel like the core of a furnace.

Everything within sight was blurred and illusory, and every breath of air drawn into the lungs was as scalding as swallowing a ball of fire.

Fire-red light, emanating from unknown sources, illuminated the entire space. At the very center of the space was a deep pit, more spacious than any of the levels above.

Beneath the pit's opening, it was not pitch black, but a dull, dark red, like blood that had long since coagulated.

Above the deep pit, a visible cylindrical energy barrier firmly sealed the opening.

Mysterious and intricate patterns flowed across the surface of the energy barrier, like the winding trails left behind by a giant serpent.

At this moment, the energy barrier appeared extremely unstable; wisps of powerful energy ripples constantly spread outward, and faint, low sounds of Qi explosions could even be heard.

At the edge of the deep pit, six figures dressed in Elder robes sat cross-legged, each injecting Dou Qi into the nodes maintaining the Formation.

They were all Dou Huang experts, yet at this moment, beads of sweat seeped from their foreheads, and their complexions appeared somewhat pale from the prolonged consumption.

From beneath the deep pit, dull roars came from time to time. The sound did not resemble the roar of a beast, but rather, a kind of angry buzzing.

Accompanied by the roars, there surged an aura so scorching it felt as if it could melt metal and stone.

"This is the core of the Seal." Su Qian's voice was low, carrying an unshakable gravity. "In the last ten years, the disturbances have become increasingly frequent. The number of Elders maintaining the Formation has increased from four to six, yet it still feels strenuous."

Shen Wen did not immediately reply. He stepped forward, ignoring the scorching heat that made his skin sting, and walked straight to the edge of the energy barrier.

He lowered his head and looked into the deep pit.

Beneath the dark red was a surging, even more blinding crimson gold. His gaze pierced through layers of obstructions and continued downward; deep in the magma, he saw the existence coiled within—

It was a giant python formed entirely of flames.

Its body was massive, swimming slowly through the magma, and every movement caused the surrounding flames to churn.

The giant python's entire body appeared as a semi-transparent milky white, while within, terrifying crimson and dark gold flowed.

It had no eyes, or rather, its entire head was a ball of blazing flames constantly changing shape, but Shen Wen could clearly feel it.

A cold and violent "gaze" was being projected from below, locking tightly onto the Seal above, as well as the intruders outside the Seal.

Compared to the spiritual gentleness of the Green Lotus Core Flame, this fire python, manifested by the Fallen Heart Flame, was filled with a madness and resentment accumulated from being imprisoned for so long.

Shen Wen withdrew his gaze and turned toward the energy barrier, whose light was constantly flickering. He reached out his hand.

His fingertips did not make direct contact but hovered an inch above the surface of the energy barrier, carefully sensing the energy veins circulating within and the damaged areas.

A moment later.

He withdrew his hand and turned to the tense-faced Su Qian.

"The extent of the damage to the Seal is more severe than I imagined." Shen Wen's tone was calm, yet every word was clear. "At the current rate, this Formation will definitely break in four years at most."

Su Qian's expression changed abruptly. Although he had long had a premonition, hearing such a definitive deadline still caused his heart to sink. Having witnessed the power of Shen Wen devouring the Eight-Colored Pill Thunder, he could no longer harbor much doubt about Shen Wen's judgment.

"Four years..." Su Qian's voice was dry. "Young Friend Shen, is there any way... to repair this Formation?"

Shen Wen shook his head.

"This Formation is profound and deeply connected to the earth's veins and the Heavenly Flame itself. After being worn down by time and enduring the long-term impact of the Fallen Heart Flame, its Foundation is already damaged. It can no longer be solved by repairs; unless the person who originally set up the Formation arrives in person, it might be possible to attempt to reshape it at a great cost."

He watched the last glimmer of hope in Su Qian's eyes dim, and continued: "Moreover, even if it could be repaired or reset, it would only be a delay."

"The Fallen Heart Flame has already developed intelligence and accumulated deep resentment; breaking out of the Seal is only a matter of time."

"The stronger the Seal, the more terrifying the counterattack it accumulates; when it eventually erupts, it will only be more violent."

Su Qian was silent for a long time, his gaze sweeping over the six Elders who were struggling to maintain the Formation, and then falling back into the deep pit.

Finally, he let out a long sigh, as if laying down a heavy burden, or perhaps accepting an unavoidable reality.

"Then... in your opinion, Young Friend Shen, what should be done?"

Shen Wen looked down at the churning magma and the fire python.

"I cannot solve the Formation," he stated frankly. "I can only try to solve the Fallen Heart Flame."

Su Qian's pupils constricted slightly. Solve the Fallen Heart Flame? That would mean...

"The Foundation of this Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower..." he spoke subconsciously, his voice filled with struggle. The Fallen Heart Flame was certainly a hidden danger, but it was also the root upon which Jia Nan Academy had stood for many years. Without it, the Qi Refining Tower would exist in name only.

"Elder Su, you should know the pros and cons better than I do." Shen Wen did not persuade him, but merely stated the facts. "Is it better to guard this volcano that could blow up the entire academy at any moment, or to take the initiative to resolve the disaster while it can still be controlled?"

He paused, then added: "Moreover, the current Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, rather than providing tempering for students, is using the students' heart-fire as firewood to continuously nourish and strengthen the thing beneath."

"Every additional person who enters the tower to Cultivate causes the power of the Fallen Heart Flame to grow by a fraction, and the pressure on the Seal to increase by a fraction."

Su Qian's body trembled slightly.

He was not completely unaware of this, but in the past, he had always held onto luck and was unwilling to think too deeply about it.

Now that Shen Wen had pointed it out, combined with the intensifying disturbances in recent years and the worsening Fire Poison in the students, the last bit of luck in his heart was finally completely shattered.

The old man closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the scorching air. When he opened them again, his eyes were filled with determination.

"...I understand." Su Qian's voice was low. "I need to discuss this matter immediately with Qian Mu, Bai Lie, and other high-level officials in the academy. Regardless of the final decision, Young Friend Shen, for pointing out the crisis today, everyone in Jia Nan Academy... will keep it in mind."

He bowed solemnly toward Shen Wen.

Shen Wen nodded and said no more.

The two followed the original path out of this scorching core area. The heavy stone gate slowly closed behind them, shutting out the suffocating heat and roars.

When they walked out of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, the daylight outside appeared exceptionally clear and bright.

Su Qian hurried away, his retreating figure revealing an unprecedented urgency.

When Shen Wen returned to the courtyard, Cao Ying had just returned from teaching at the Alchemy Department. She was wearing a water-red dress today, which set off her skin as white as snow. Seeing Shen Wen, she greeted him with a smiling face.

"Husband, did you go to the bottom of the tower today?" She took Shen Wen's arm, keenly sensing the faint, unusual lingering heat on Shen Wen that was different from usual. "How is the situation?"

Shen Wen walked into the courtyard with her and sat down on a stone bench.

"The Seal will not last more than four years." He took the clear tea handed over by Cao Ying and took a sip. "Moreover, the situation is more troublesome than expected."

Cao Ying sat down beside him, her expression becoming serious. "How so?"

"That Fallen Heart Flame has already developed intelligence, and its resentment is extremely deep. More importantly—"

Shen Wen put down the teacup.

"The operation of the entire Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower is actually using the students' heart-fire as nourishment to continuously feed it. The more diligently the students enter the tower to Cultivate, the faster that thing beneath grows, and the sooner the Seal will collapse."

Cao Ying was slightly stunned, then took a light breath. "It is actually like this... What about the academy?"

"Su Qian has gone to summon the high-level officials to discuss it." Shen Wen looked outside the courtyard; the towering outline of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower stood in the distance under the sunlight. "It is time to make a decision."

Cao Ying was silent for a moment, then leaned gently against his shoulder.

"Then, Husband... when do you plan to take action?"

"Wait. That thing beneath has been locked up for so many years; I fear it has long been unable to restrain itself. If we do not move, it... will sooner or later move."

"We are not the ones in a rush."