"I understand, Elder Brother Qingshan, I will take good care of Senior Sister Ziyan."
Xiao Yi Xian responded softly, her small hand flipping over and interlocking with Yan Qingshan's fingers. She leaned gently on Yan Qingshan's shoulder, appearing very well-behaved.
"Wang Mang, what are you doing here?!"
Yan Qingshan and Xiao Yi Xian were discussing arrangements for Ziyan to move into their small building when Ziyan suddenly exclaimed in surprise. Yan Qingshan looked in the direction of her voice and saw that Wang Mang, the number one on the Strong Ranking, had suddenly come their way.
"Are you here to cause trouble?"
Ziyan vigilantly looked at Wang Mang, with a hint of eagerness in her eyes.
"Sit down!"
Yan Qingshan gently tugged on Ziyan's long purple braid. After giving Wang Mang a threatening gesture with her fist, the girl obediently sat down beside Yan Qingshan.
Wang Mang said with a chuckle, "Junior Brother Yan and Ziyan's relationship is really good!"
"Get to the point!"
Yan Qingshan didn't bother with pleasantries with Wang Mang but responded directly. At this moment, there was no need for pleasantries. Of course, he knew why Wang Mang had come to him.
Wang Mang's smile didn't fade, and he whispered, "Since Junior Brother Yan is so straightforward, I won't waste your time. I also want a share of what Mu Yun wants, something concerning me."
Yan Qingshan didn't turn his head. "Mu Yun at least has Mu Shui Pavilion, but you, it seems you don't have anything that could tempt me!"
Wang Mang showed no embarrassment on his face, only continuing, "Since Junior Brother Yan is discussing this with me here, you must have some other ideas!"
"The Black Corner Region has many factions. I want to get involved to provide more training grounds for our junior brothers and sisters."
Yan Qingshan looked directly at Wang Mang and said solemnly, "If I remember correctly, Senior Brother Wang's family is not a prominent one in the TianYun Empire. You, a mere Dou King, are already the strongest in your family for centuries.
And in the TianYun Empire, two Dou Ancestor are constantly vying for power. For you, a Dou King with no background, to go and venture there, I'm afraid it would be... inviting disaster!
You help me establish a foothold in the Black Corner Region. After three years, you can choose to stay or leave. During this time, if you want to use the influence to develop your family, as long as it's within the rules, it's fine.
Backed by the academy, we have too many resources to use. This is good for everyone, isn't it?!"
"The academy would agree to such a thing?!"
Wang Mang was somewhat moved. What Yan Qingshan was saying now had also been troubling him for days. He wanted to return to his hometown to develop his family, but the empire he was in was divided by two warring factions.
As a Dou King, he wasn't among the top, but due to his age and potential, he would definitely be a target for recruitment. At that time, getting embroiled in the disputes of these factions could lead to trouble at any moment.
He didn't want to get involved in factional disputes, but if he were to venture across the continent, he didn't have many goals either. Some students from prominent families in the Central Plains had invited him to serve as a guest elder, but he wasn't particularly interested in such matters.
He was also not the type to develop a faction. After so many years in the Inner Academy, his influence as the number one on the Strong Ranking simply couldn't compare to Mu Yun's. He only had a few close friends by his side.
Yan Qingshan replied with a smile, "The academy wouldn't possibly refuse former students from returning for refuge, would it? I've already negotiated terms with the Medicine Gang of the Inner Academy to integrate all alchemist students from the Inner and Outer Academies to refine a large batch of low and mid-grade pills.
The Black Corner Region doesn't lack pills, but even Medicine Emperor Han Feng's Feng City would find it difficult to produce such a large batch of pills. However, our Jia Nan Academy has the conditions to supply them steadily. This is enough for us to establish a foothold in the Black Corner Region."
As an academy, Jia Nan Academy has a complete system for cultivating various professions. Although it's far inferior to the top powers of the continent, it's even better than most empires in the Northwest Continent in terms of basic cultivation.
Take the alchemy profession, for instance. The number of alchemists in their single academy is probably far more than in an entire empire.
Even Han Feng, the number one alchemist in the Black Corner Region, who commands the entire Feng City and also cultivates alchemists, is only superior in high-grade pills.
Han Feng's refining skills are not weak, but that doesn't mean he is a good teacher. The quality of most alchemists in Feng City certainly cannot compare to Jia Nan Academy. If it really comes down to the quantity of stable low and mid-grade pills, Feng City simply cannot compete with Jia Nan Academy.
"Your choice!"
Yan Qingshan flipped his hand and took out a scroll, which was the result of his analysis of Wang Mang's personal abilities and cultivation techniques. It was extremely useful to Wang Mang himself.
"I promise you, three years!"
Wang Mang ultimately chose to accept this scroll, which held immense significance for him, because he also wanted to fight for himself one more time. In his years at Jia Nan Academy, he had actually grown familiar with every blade of grass and tree there, and he wasn't particularly willing to just leave the Black Corner Region.
Wang Mang's agreement was within Yan Qingshan's expectations, and it brought a faint smile to his face. With the conclusion of this Strong Ranking Competition, he had also become a top figure in the Inner Academy.
However, many of the current top-ranked students on the Strong Ranking were about to graduate, and with their graduation, the Inner Academy stage would no longer pose much of a challenge for him.
He was familiar with only a few places: the Jia Ma Empire, Jia Nan Academy, and the Black Corner Region. The Jia Ma Empire stage was too small, just a bunch of Dou King and Dou Emperor fighting for power. The top figures of the entire empire were few, so it was uninteresting, and he didn't need to get involved.
The Black Corner Region stage was quite good, and if he remembered correctly, there were quite a few good things in the Black Corner Region. However, it wasn't time yet, but he could make arrangements in advance.
Moreover, over the years, as some of the older seniors of Jia Nan Academy wandered off and passed away, the academy had become much more low-key in the Black Corner Region, which also made many fierce evildoers eager to make a move.
It was under these circumstances that Yan Qingshan proposed his suggestions. After secretly discussing them with Elder Liu and some other elders, he received tacit approval, which is why he brought this matter up to Wang Mang.
The results of this year's Strong Ranking Competition were the same as in previous years, except for Mu Yun, who was ranked second, being defeated by Yan Qingshan.
And with the conclusion of the Strong Ranking Competition, the Qingshan Association, an originally newly emerging force, expanded rapidly within the Inner Academy, becoming the number one force in a very short time.
Subsequently, it collaborated with the Medicine Gang, virtually monopolizing the Inner Academy's medicinal ingredients and pill business.
Outside the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, countless students gathered. Today was the day for the top ten members of the Strong Ranking to enter the tower to undergo the Fallen Heart Flame Body Tempering. Everyone was extremely focused. Once the Fallen Heart Flame Body Tempering was completed, the Inner Academy would gain several more Dou King!
The sound of rushing wind echoed from the sky, and several aged figures flashed outside the tower gate. The leading person was none other than the Great Elder Su Qian.
"Hehe, it seems you've all arrived. Then I won't waste any more words."
Great Elder Su Qian's gaze swept around. Without further ado, he waved his hand, and the heavy tower door slowly opened with a creaking sound.
"The top ten of the Strong Ranking, follow me in. As for the others, you are not allowed to enter today. Otherwise, you won't be able to enter for half a year."
Great Elder Su Qian said indifferently. He then ignored the crowd, who had shrunk their necks in fear of the severe punishment, and turned to walk into the pagoda.
Yan Qingshan and the other top ten of the Strong Ranking simultaneously flew out and, under envious gazes, stepped into the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower.
Inside the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, Great Elder Su Qian led the way, while Ziyan, who had previously undergone Fallen Heart Flame Body Tempering, spoke quietly with Yan Qingshan.
Great Elder Su Qian arrived at the entrance of the first-floor passage, turned around, and said quite seriously, "Just follow me all the way. Do not walk alone. In the lower layers of the tower, do not move around freely.
Listen carefully, no matter what happens, do not look around, otherwise, I will cancel your qualifications, understand?"
Although the crowd was surprised by this, they still nodded.
After receiving their response, Great Elder Su Qian led the way. The path he took was not the usual descent route but through a specially made iron door.
In a dimly lit, winding downward passage, Yan Qingshan and Ziyan's footsteps followed the continuously turning stairs. The group was heading deeper into the bottom of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower.
This staircase passage was heavily guarded. Almost every few minutes of descent, a guard stood like a statue. Such strict defense, combined with the dim atmosphere, caused several people to secretly swallow their saliva.
If not for their excessive trust in the Inner Academy, some might have been unable to resist wondering if Great Elder Su Qian was leading them to some kind of dead end.
The group had little inclination to speak in this oppressive atmosphere. All the way, Ziyan constantly chattered around Yan Qingshan, while Yan Qingshan responded in a low voice.
This was an extremely spacious and empty space within the tower, occupying a vast area, almost wider than any floor above. At a glance, it even felt empty.
"You all sit down!"
Great Elder Su Qian led the group further. Upon reaching an open area, he pointed to a spot on the ground where there were ten specially made jade platforms, as green as jadeite.
Yan Qingshan and the ten others sat down in order, while Great Elder Su Qian and two other elders used secret methods to draw in the power of the Fallen Heart Flame. One by one, pale white light shields, the size of a human head, appeared suspended in mid-air.
Within these light shields, there was a flame that seemed formless but could be seen with the naked eye. This was the Fallen Heart Flame energy separated from the Fallen Heart Flame, a miraculous treasure that could help Dou Spirit advance to Dou King faster.
"This Fallen Heart Flame Body Tempering is extremely painful. Only half of the top ten students in each Strong Ranking Competition succeed. You must be mentally prepared."
Just as the students were preparing, Great Elder Su Qian reminded them. Then, one by one, the students eagerly absorbed this original Heart Flame according to the instructed method.
Pain, pain that penetrated deep into the bones.
This was Yan Qingshan's feeling at the moment. After the invisible flame entered his body, he felt as if he had been thrown into a furnace, and the fire was burning from within.
Blazing flames, scorching temperatures, the momentum seemed as if it wouldn't stop until it burned a person to ashes. White mist continuously rose from the top of his head. At this moment, he was wholly immersed in the transformation, his spirit detached and his mind as clear as a mirror, no longer disturbed by anything external.