34: Heart flame riot, secret plan

The moment the crimson pillar of light pierced the heavens and earth, the entire Jia Nan Academy fell into chaos. Lin Chen and Xiao Yan moved rapidly through the dense forest, the surrounding temperature climbing at an alarming rate. Leaves began to curl and wither, and wisps of white smoke rose from the ground.

"Something's wrong..." Xiao Yan suddenly stopped, his xuan heavy ruler plunging into the ground. "The temperature is rising too fast! This is definitely not a normal Heavenly Flame riot!"

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes, Shadow Erosion Dou Qi circulating on his body, resisting the oncoming heatwaves. He knew better than Xiao Yan what was happening—the Hall of Souls's people must have tampered with the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower, accelerating the Fallen Heart Flame's rampage.

"Watch out!" Lin Chen suddenly grabbed Xiao Yan and retreated rapidly. The ground where they had just stood exploded, and a scorching white pillar of fire shot into the sky, instantly vaporizing the surrounding trees.

Cold sweat seeped from Xiao Yan's forehead: "The Heart Flame has already spread to the forest?"

Lin Chen didn't answer; his gaze was fixed on the strange runes emerging in the pillar of fire—those were the unique Seal Formations of the Hall of Souls. As expected, while everyone's attention was focused on the Academy, the Hall of Souls had secretly laid out a net.

"We must split up." Lin Chen said in a deep voice, "You go to the Inner Academy to help stabilize the situation, I'll go investigate the source of these pillars of fire."

Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment, but the explosions in the distance made him determined: "Alright! Take this." He tossed Lin Chen a cyan jade slip. "Show it to the Academy's people, and you won't be attacked."

Lin Chen took the jade slip and felt a trace of Green Lotus Core Flame aura within it. This was an unexpected gain; with this token, his movements within the Academy would be much more convenient.

The two parted ways at the edge of the forest. Xiao Yan headed straight for the Inner Academy, while Lin Chen pretended to investigate the source of the fire pillars, but actually took a large detour and returned to the hidden cave from before.

Deep inside the cave, Lin Chen took out three items from his storage ring: a crystal as black as ink, a bottle of dark red liquid, and the container specially made from a source core fragment. He carefully combined them to form a peculiar device.

"I hope Yao Chen isn't paying attention here..." Lin Chen muttered to himself, his hands quickly forming Seals. As he moved, dense dark-gold patterns appeared on the device's surface, resonating with the Hall of Souls's brand on his left wrist.

This was a simplified version of the secret technique he had deciphered from the brand—the "Shadow Binding Soul Formation," specifically used to steal the Origin of Heavenly Flames. Although its power was less than one-tenth of the original, it was discreet and not easily detected.

After completing the device, Lin Chen buried it deep in the cave and then quickly left. Next, he needed to find a suitable vantage point to observe the battle.

......

Above the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower, crimson fire clouds rolled like waves. More than a dozen Academy Elders floated in the air, jointly constructing a Seal Formation. Several hideous cracks had already appeared on the tower, and scorching white tongues of fire occasionally spewed out from them.

Lin Chen hid at the top of a bell tower, from where he could clearly see the entire battlefield. His gaze quickly locked onto several key figures:

Xiao Yan, possessed by Yao Chen, was talking to several Elders at the base of the tower;

Gu Xun'er stood on a nearby rooftop, golden flames swirling around her body;

Further away, the Silver Masked Man led a Hall of Souls squad, disguised as Academy guards, quietly approaching the Refining Qi Tower.

"The show is beginning..." Lin Chen's lips curved slightly.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion! The Seal at the top of the Refining Qi Tower shattered, and a scorching white fire python shot into the sky, letting out a silent roar. That was the spiritual body condensed from pure Heart Flame—the Origin form of the Fallen Heart Flame!

"Form the Formation!" Grand Elder Su Qian roared, and more than a dozen Elders simultaneously acted, their various Dou Qi transforming into chains that wrapped around the fire python.

The fire python struggled madly, its scorching flames distorting the air. Just as the Seal was about to be completed, an unexpected change occurred! The Hall of Souls members, disguised as guards, suddenly attacked, dozens of pitch-black chains shooting towards the fire python from different directions.

"Hall of Souls villains!" Su Qian roared, but it was too late. The pitch-black chains intertwined with the Elders' Seal, and the entire Formation instantly became chaotic.

The fire python took the opportunity to break free from its restraints. After circling in the air, its massive body suddenly lunged towards Xiao Yan's direction!

"Xiao Yan, be careful!" Yao Chen's shout rang out.

Xiao Yan was prepared. His Green Lotus Core Flame erupted with full force, forming a wall of fire in front of him. The two Heavenly Flames collided, unleashing terrifying energy fluctuations that instantly leveled buildings within a hundred-zhang radius.

The bell tower where Lin Chen was located also shook violently, but he paid no attention to it, his eyes fixed on the battlefield. The moment the two Heavenly Flames clashed, he keenly sensed something abnormal—the Fallen Heart Flame's attack seemed to be holding back, more like... a test?

"It really has intelligence..." Lin Chen understood in his heart. In the original work, the Fallen Heart Flame had shown considerable intelligence, and now it seemed even smarter than described.

In the center of the battlefield, Xiao Yan and the fire python were in a stalemate. Yao Chen's Soul Power was fully unleashed, helping Xiao Yan resist the Heart Flame's erosion. Gu Xun'er wanted to step forward to help, but was stopped by the suddenly appearing Silver Masked Man.

"Little girl from the Gu clan, your opponent is me." The Silver Masked Man sneered, his Dou Ancestor-level pressure released without reservation.

Gu Xun'er's expression was solemn, golden flames condensing in her palm: "A running dog of the Hall of Souls, dares to stop me?"

The two instantly engaged in battle, golden and black energy colliding fiercely in the air. The other Elders were also entangled by the Hall of Souls's people, and no one could support Xiao Yan.

This was the moment Lin Chen had been waiting for! He silently activated the pre-arranged device. Deep in the cave, the peculiar device suddenly glowed faintly, and a nearly imperceptible energy fluctuation penetrated the ground, reaching beneath the battlefield.

"Buzz—"

In a faint tremor, the Fallen Heart Flame, which was confronting Xiao Yan, suddenly paused. An extremely subtle white thread of fire separated from its body, silently flowing along the earth veins towards Lin Chen's location.

"It worked!" Lin Chen suppressed the joy in his heart. This method was an inspiration he had while studying the Hall of Souls's secret techniques—since the Hall of Souls could extract the Origin of Heavenly Flames using special means, why couldn't he do the same?

Of course, the amount he extracted was extremely tiny and would not affect the overall situation, but it was enough for him to research a method to counter Heavenly Flames. This was his true goal—not to snatch the Heavenly Flame, but to master the means to restrain Heavenly Flames!

The white thread of fire quickly flowed into the cave and was absorbed by the source core fragment container. Through a special sensation, Lin Chen could clearly see the tiny white flame flickering inside the container.

"Perfect..." He was about to retreat when suddenly, his hair stood on end! A sense of deadly crisis struck. Lin Chen activated Limitless Steps without hesitation, instantly moving several zhang sideways.

"Boom!"

The spot where he had originally stood was struck by a silver lightning bolt, and the entire top of the bell tower was reduced to dust.

"I found you, little mouse." The Silver Masked Man's voice sounded not far away. He had actually broken free from Gu Xun'er's entanglement and came directly for him!

Lin Chen's heart pounded, but his expression remained calm: "A dignified Dou Ancestor, playing sneak attack tricks?"

"Hand over what you stole, and I can let you die a quick death." The Silver Masked Man slowly raised his hand, terrifying silver energy condensing in his palm.

Lin Chen knew there was no escaping; a Dou Ancestor's speed was far beyond his. But he was prepared, quietly crushing a jade slip in his left hand.

"Want it? Come get it yourself!" Lin Chen suddenly erupted, three Shadow Clones simultaneously rushing in different directions.

The Silver Masked Man sneered: "Petty tricks." He waved his hand casually, and the three Clones instantly disintegrated, while the real Lin Chen had already rushed close, his Shadow Calamity Finger aiming for the throat!

"Bang!"

The Silver Masked Man merely used two fingers to clamp Lin Chen's wrist, twisting gently. The sound of bone breaking was clearly audible.

"Ah!" Lin Chen groaned, cold sweat seeping from his forehead, but a glint of successful trickery flashed in his eyes.

The Silver Masked Man suddenly sensed something was wrong and quickly released Lin Chen and retreated, but it was too late—a cloud of black mist burst from Lin Chen's sleeve, instantly enveloping a ten-zhang radius.

"Soul Erosion Smoke?" The Silver Masked Man recognized this special poisonous mist of the Hall of Souls, but he had already inhaled a trace. Although its effect on a Dou Ancestor was limited, it still slowed his movements for a moment.

In that brief moment, Lin Chen had activated the pre-arranged teleportation Formation. A white light flashed, and his figure gradually blurred.

"You can't escape!" The Silver Masked Man roared, a silver lightning bolt striking the teleportation Formation.

At the critical moment, a cyan wall of fire suddenly descended from the sky, blocking the attack. Xiao Yan had arrived at some point, holding his xuan heavy ruler and blocking the Silver Masked Man.

"Your opponent is me." Xiao Yan said in a deep voice, cyan and white flames entwined on his ruler—he had actually temporarily reached some kind of balance with the Fallen Heart Flame!

The Silver Masked Man's expression was grim, but before he could act, Gu Xun'er also caught up. Facing two Geniuses with Heavenly Flames, even a Dou Ancestor dared not be careless.

Taking advantage of this gap, the teleportation Formation successfully completed. The last image Lin Chen saw was Xiao Yan's complicated gaze looking back at him...

......

When his vision became clear again, Lin Chen was back in the hidden cave. He stumbled and knelt on the ground, his right wrist bent at an unnatural angle, the intense pain blurring his consciousness.

"Dou Ancestor... truly terrifying..." Lin Chen gritted his teeth, took out healing medicine from his storage ring and swallowed it, then looked at the container. The white flame still flickered within it, emitting an alluring energy fluctuation.

It was worth it! Although he almost died, the plan ultimately succeeded. Now, he needed to quickly analyze this wisp of Heart Flame Origin and find a way to counter Heavenly Flames.

Just as Lin Chen was about to begin his research, footsteps suddenly came from outside the cave. He immediately became alert, Shadow Erosion Dou Qi condensing in his left hand.

"It's me." A familiar voice sounded, and Xiao Yan's figure appeared at the cave entrance.

Lin Chen's pupils contracted: "How did you find this place?"

Xiao Yan shook the cyan jade slip in his hand: "Did you forget this? I left a trace of Soul imprint inside it." He looked at the container in Lin Chen's hand, his eyes complex, "So... this was your goal? To steal the Heavenly Flame's Origin?"

Lin Chen knew he couldn't hide it, so he frankly admitted: "Just a small part, it won't affect your subduing the Fallen Heart Flame."

"Why?" Xiao Yan asked in a deep voice, "With your ability, you could have openly..."

"Openly?" Lin Chen suddenly laughed, raising his left hand to reveal the Hall of Souls's brand. "With this? Xiao Yan, not everyone has Yao Zun as a guardian like you. Some people... can only survive in their own way."

Xiao Yan fell silent. After a moment, he put away his xuan heavy ruler: "The Hall of Souls's people have been temporarily repelled, but the Fallen Heart Flame has escaped into the deep mountains. The Academy has organized a team to pursue it, and I'm part of it."

Lin Chen understood the unspoken meaning: "You want me to go with you?"

"You understand the Hall of Souls's methods." Xiao Yan nodded, "And... I think you owe me an explanation."

Lin Chen thought for a moment, then slowly stood up: "Alright, I'll go with you. But..." He wiggled his broken right hand, "You'll have to help me set this first."

Xiao Yan stepped forward, cyan flames flickering in his palm: "Bear with it."

When the flames touched the injury, Lin Chen gasped. But soon, he felt the broken bones begin to heal under the power of the Heavenly Flame. Although this treatment was painful, it was extremely effective.

"Thanks." Lin Chen moved his wrist, which was as good as new. "But don't expect me to be grateful."

Xiao Yan smiled: "I didn't expect you to be. Let's go, the team departs in an hour."

Watching Xiao Yan's retreating back, a trace of complexity flashed in Lin Chen's eyes. He hadn't expected Xiao Yan to let him go so easily, which made him feel somewhat... uncomfortable.

"What a troublesome personality..." Lin Chen shook his head, packed his things, and followed. The upcoming pursuit was the real challenge.

The Hall of Souls would never give up easily, and that Silver Masked Man must be waiting somewhere for revenge...