306: Leaving Canaan College

The next day, Jiang Donghua, along with Qin Xiao, Liu Qingsi, Lei Lie, and other top ten students from the strong ranking list, arrived at the Inner Academy's Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower under the personal guidance of Great Elder Ye Tianxing.

Standing before the tower, Jiang Donghua looked up, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

The construction of this Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower was indeed peculiar, entirely opposite to ordinary tall towers.

It did not rise from the ground, soaring into the clouds, but rather resembled an inverted funnel; only its first floor was built above ground, grand in scale.

The further down one went, the more the tower narrowed, delving deep into the earth, giving a sense of unfathomable depth.

The entire tower was constructed from a dark red, special stone material, its surface inscribed with countless ancient and mysterious runes, faintly emitting a scorching aura.

Most unsettling was the faint, invisible, yet soul-searing hot 波動 that emanated from the dark, deep entrance at the bottom of the tower, leading to the earth's core!

That was the Origin Heart Flame's aura! Merely standing outside the tower, Jiang Donghua could feel the Dou Qi within his body becoming a bit more active, seemingly drawn by this flame of the same origin but different kind.

"This is the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower."

Great Elder Ye Tianxing's voice pulled everyone's thoughts back. He warned with a solemn expression,

"The further down you go in the tower, the stronger the refining effect of the Heart Flame, but also the more dangerous it becomes!"

"Especially the lowest level, where the Origin Heart Flame resides, its power is boundless! Remember, act within your capabilities, do not be greedy or reckless! If you feel you cannot bear it, retreat immediately!"

"Otherwise, minor consequences include damaged meridians, while severe ones mean being incinerated into ash by the Heart Flame from the inside out!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned grave, and they all nodded in agreement.

"Follow me."

Ye Tianxing said no more, taking the lead and walking towards the gloomy entrance that led deep underground.

Jiang Donghua and the others followed closely.

Stepping inside the tower, the light abruptly dimmed.

The air was filled with a rich fire-attribute energy, and the temperature was significantly higher than outside.

They descended a spiral stone staircase, step by step, deeper into the earth.

As they continued downwards, the surrounding air grew increasingly scorching, and their vision began to slightly distort.

The color of the stone walls also gradually changed from dark red to crimson, and some areas even glowed like molten lava, as if they could melt at any moment.

The invisible sensation of the Heart Flame burning became increasingly intense, testing everyone's willpower and Dou Qi cultivation.

Students with slightly weaker strength, like Lei Lie and Qin Xiao, already had sweat beading on their foreheads and had to circulate their Dou Qi to protect their bodies, resisting the increasingly terrifying high temperature and Heart Flame erosion.

In the lowest level of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, within the crimson space, the temperature was high enough to melt refined iron.

The top ten students on the strong ranking list, including Qin Xiao, Liu Qingsi, and Lei Lie, had all found their positions, sat cross-legged, and with solemn expressions, circulated their cultivation methods, cautiously guiding the invisible Heart Flame permeating the air, attempting to draw it into their bodies, thread by thread, for that painful yet tempting refinement.

Several Inner Academy Elders, whose auras were profound and who were clearly Dou Huang experts, were currently gazing with barely concealed astonishment at one particular figure: Jiang Donghua.

One of the Elders couldn't help but transmit a question to Great Elder Ye Tianxing, who was standing guard nearby.

"Great Elder, is that young man Jiang Donghua?"

"What's wrong with his aura? Why do I feel like he's already a Dou Huang expert?!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Tianxing revealed a helpless yet slightly proud wry smile on his face, transmitting his reply.

"You're not mistaken, that young man is indeed already a Dou Huang expert."

"What?!"

The few guarding Elders simultaneously gasped, almost losing control of their auras.

"How long has it been?! He hasn't even been enrolled for two years, has he?! From Dou Wang to Dou Huang expert?! This cultivation speed is simply a monster among monsters!"

Their gazes towards Jiang Donghua were filled with disbelief and a sense of having lived long enough to see such a wonder.

Such talent had completely surpassed their understanding.

Ye Tianxing waved his hand, signaling them not to make a fuss, and his gaze returned to the scene.

He thought to himself,

If you knew he was already a Four-Star Dou Huang, wouldn't your eyeballs pop out?

Time, in this extreme heat and everyone's focused refinement, passed by minute by minute.

Unconsciously, more than half a day had gone by.

For Qin Xiao and the others, this half-day felt like years!

The Origin Heart Flame entering their bodies brought not warmth, but an extreme burning pain from the inside out, as if to ignite their souls and meridians!

They had to remain clear-headed at all times, guiding that wisp of Heart Flame with strong willpower, cautiously refining their Dou Qi, and expanding their meridians. A slight mistake could lead to self-immolation, with unimaginable consequences!

Everyone's forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, their faces alternately flushed and pale, their bodies trembling slightly, clearly enduring immense pain.

However, just as everyone was struggling to hold on, a figure slowly stood up, gently exhaling a slightly scorching breath.

It was Jiang Donghua!

He opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them before quickly receding.

He stretched his limbs, feeling that the Dou Qi within his body seemed to have condensed a bit more, and his meridians had subtly widened slightly, but the effect was indeed limited.

"It's over already?"

One of the guarding Elders looked at Jiang Donghua, who had a steady aura and normal complexion, with some astonishment, and couldn't help but murmur.

Everyone else was gritting their teeth and enduring, but he was fine, as if nothing had happened?

Jiang Donghua naturally heard the subtle stinging sensation caused by the Heart Flame burning his meridians, but for him, who possessed Dou Huang cultivation and whose meridians had long been tempered multiple times to be incredibly tough, this slight sting was indeed nothing.

Although the Origin Heart Flame of the Fallen Heart Flame was miraculous, its refining effect on him was far less significant than on Qin Xiao and the others.

He walked over to Ye Tianxing, smiled somewhat helplessly, and transmitted,

"Great Elder, this Heart Flame body tempering doesn't seem to have much effect on me."

Ye Tianxing looked at his unsatisfied expression and couldn't help but laughingly scold him, patting the back of his head, transmitting his reply.

"You rascal! Be content! This Origin Heart Flame's effect on Dou Huang experts is already greatly reduced, let alone on a little monster like you, whose foundation is unbelievably solid!"

"To allow your Dou Qi to become even purer and your meridians to widen even a little is already a huge benefit!"

"What else do you want? To directly break through to Dou Zong? Greed knows no bounds!"

Jiang Donghua rubbed his nose and chuckled. He also knew his expectations were too high.

After all, his greatest reliance was that mysterious panel; for him, such conventional cultivation accelerators naturally had greatly diminished effects.

He waited for a while longer, and then Qin Xiao, Liu Qingsi, and the others successively completed their tempering, one by one standing up with pale faces and unstable auras, but their eyes were filled with uncontrollable excitement and fervor!

Clearly, this tempering had brought them immense benefits!

Seeing Jiang Donghua already waiting there, calm and composed, everyone was speechless once more.

Comparing oneself to others truly makes one furious!

He should also leave Jia Nan Academy after bidding a good farewell to the other students.

Outside the mountain gate of Jia Nan Academy, Jiang Donghua looked back at the familiar and gradually receding scenery, a faint sense of melancholy rising in his heart.

Lei Lie's loud voice, Liu Qingsi's cold words, Qin Xiao's fighting spirit, Great Elder's care—these people and events would all be temporarily sealed in his memory.

"Perhaps when I return next, things will truly be different."

He sighed lightly, no longer lingering, and turned into a streak of light, rushing straight towards the horizon.