The chamber had changed.
Ten had entered. Now, three were missing.
Xiao Yu. Qin Zhen. Qian Mo.
They sat apart from the others, cross-legged, eyes closed, quietly recovering.
Xiao Jietian approached Xiao Yu.
A pill materialized in his palm—sixth-grade, specifically formulated for burns inflicted by fire-attributed energy.
"Cousin Xiao Yu. Take this."
Her eyes opened.
When she saw him standing before her, her expression crumpled.
"Cousin Xiao Jietian…" Her voice was small, ashamed. "I've embarrassed you."
She lowered her head, grievance etched into every line of her face.
"It's fine." His voice was gentle. "Even without success, you've gained much. Your path to Dou Wang will be smoother now. Not nearly as difficult as before."
And once the Xiao Clan's Dou Di bloodline awakens, he added silently, you won't even need to cultivate. You'll simply ascend.
But he kept that to himself.
"First, take the pill."
He silenced her protest before it could form.
She parted her lips.
The pill dissolved on her tongue—pure energy flowing through her meridians, soothing, healing.
Xiao Jietian glanced at the two beside her.
After a moment's consideration, he produced two fourth-grade healing pills and floated them before Qin Zhen and Qian Mo.
They had already opened their eyes, drawn from their recovery by the sound of his voice.
"These are also for burns," he said. "They will help."
They did not hesitate.
It wasn't trust, precisely. It was simple logic: if Xiao Jietian wished them dead, a single hand would suffice. He had no need to waste pills.
The two attending elders observed Xiao Jietian's actions and nodded in quiet approval.
High talent. Kind heart. Respectful to others.
A truly promising youth.
No wonder the Great Elder favoured him. No wonder he had been granted privileges.
His presence is a great fortune for this academy.
Xiao Jietian ignored their scrutiny. His focus was entirely on Han Yue.
Her face was no longer the deep crimson of before. The flush was fading, returning to its usual cool, pale beauty.
The others were similar.
Their auras had solidified. Each of them had gained considerably from this body tempering.
Lin Xiuya's aura was now infinitely close to Dou Wang. A breakthrough within the week was almost certain.
Xiao Jietian's gaze drifted toward the deep pit.
The Fallen Heart Flame.
It should have erupted by now. Should have tested the seal, tested their resolve.
Yet it remained silent.
Is my evolved Heavenly Flame suppressing it?
Or is it waiting for something?
Ten minutes passed.
The remaining seven completed their body tempering.
Eyes opened, one after another. Hands flexed, sensing transformed meridians, strengthened foundations.
Satisfied smiles spread across their faces.
Han Yue assessed the changes within herself.
Then she looked up.
Xiao Jietian stood not far away, watching her with that gentle, familiar smile.
Her heart softened.
Three days. He stayed here for three days, guarding me.
She rose.
Her toes barely touched the ground before she was airborne—light as a butterfly, graceful as drifting snow.
He caught her.
Her arms wound around his neck. Her gaze met his—full of emotions she no longer wished to suppress.
She kissed him.
"MURDER! MURDER!"
Lin Yan's howl shattered the moment.
"What crime have I committed?! I wake up from body tempering and the first thing I see is dog food! From the 'Cold Moon Fairy' herself, no less!"
He draped himself over Xiao Yan's shoulders, wailing dramatically.
Han Yue buried her face in Xiao Jietian's chest, her ears burning.
Xiao Jietian's expression was serene.
"If you're envious," he said smoothly, "I can permit you to kiss Xiao Yan."
Xiao Yan froze.
His gaze met his brother's.
And he saw it.
Rotten eyes.
The eyes of a man seeing things that do not exist.
He immediately distanced himself from Lin Yan.
Three steps. Minimum.
"I'm not. I didn't. Don't speak nonsense."
Lin Yan clutched his chest, wounded.
"Xiao Yan…" His voice trembled. "You used to call me 'Little Sweetie.' Now you pretend to despise me."
Xiao Yan's face turned the colour of ash.
"I DID NOT. I NEVER. SHUT YOUR MOUTH."
The chamber erupted.
Laughter—genuine, unrestrained, long-suppressed—filled the space. Even the two elders allowed themselves small smiles.
The oppressive atmosphere that had lingered since the body tempering shattered completely.
"Xiao Jietian. Xiao Yan."
Su Qian's voice cut through the laughter like a blade.
"You two will remain. Everyone else—exit the tower immediately."
His tone was grave. Absolute.
"Elders Lin and Wang. One of you will notify all academy elders to convene at the tower. The other will organize the evacuation of all students within a hundred-metre radius."
A pause.
"Now. "
The two elders nodded and departed swiftly.
The others exchanged uneasy glances. The Great Elder's severity was unprecedented.
Han Yue looked up at Xiao Jietian, her eyes questioning, fearful.
He lowered his head, his lips brushing her ear.
"Yue'er. Go out with Cousin Xiao Yu and the others." His voice was soft, but carried undeniable weight. "No matter what happens, do not approach the Qi Refining Tower."
A pause.
"No matter what. Do you understand?"
She searched his face. Found no room for negotiation.
She nodded—heavy, reluctant.
He patted her backside gently.
"Go."
Her cheeks flushed. She rose on her tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
"I'll wait for you."
Then she departed with Xiao Yu and the others.
Only three remained.
Xiao Jietian. Xiao Yan. Su Qian.
"When will your people arrive?" Su Qian asked.
"They are already here." Xiao Jietian's voice was calm. "They will appear when their turn comes. Do not worry."
Su Qian studied him.
He had sensed no other auras. None.
Yet he believed.
The Inner Academy elders arrived, one by one.
Su Qian began the preparations to lift the seal.
And then—
The Fallen Heart Flame erupted.
It had waited.
Endless cycles of this ritual—the seals, the repairs, the endless reinforcement of its prison. Each time, it had struck, and each time, it had been pushed back.
It was done waiting.
It thought Su Qian and the others were reinforcing the seal again.
It would not allow it.
An invisible Fire Python surged upward, carrying countless blood-coloured magma pillars in its wake. It crashed against the seal with all its accumulated fury.
"Great Elder." Xiao Jietian's voice was unhurried. "Do not unseal it yet."
Su Qian's hands paused.
"Let it break through on its own. Let it exhaust its energy."
The Fire Python struck again.
And again.
Each impact was met by the thin black film atop the barrier—resisting, repelling, consuming.
The Fallen Heart Flame burned through its hoarded strength, battering against the cage that held it.
It did not realize.
It was doing their work for them.