Female Protagonist Assistance System

Chapter 91 : . Tower Breach

Today was a particularly lively day in the Inner Court. As per tradition, the Inner Court organized a monthly event where all students could enter the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower for cultivation without paying any fire energy. Today happened to be this month's collective cultivation day.

With some changes in Inner Court policies over the past four years, the number of people in the Inner Court had gradually increased significantly. Consequently, the current popularity of the Inner Court far surpassed that of the past.

Shortly after the morning bell chimed, groups began to make their way towards the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower. By the time the sun hung high in the sky, the spacious plaza outside the tower was already packed with a sea of people.

The area around the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower had been renovated into a massive plaza, with the tower's spire protruding from the ground at the center. Additionally, a statue stood at the tower's entrance.

The statue depicted a young woman in white robes, her face expressionless, appearing to be in her early twenties. Her features were exquisite, her gaze sharp, her entire being exuding an imposing aura.

All members of the Inner Court were familiar with this statue at the entrance, so they showed no surprise when passing by. Occasionally, some students would pause, bowing slightly to the statue. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that these students all wore badges with a silver base adorned with blood-red lightning patterns on their chests.

Suddenly, the crowd in the plaza began to stir. A large group of people, all wearing identical badges on their chests, surged in like a tide.

The noise in the plaza diminished slightly as the crowd noticed this large incoming group, especially when they saw the three people leading them.

"Look, it's Blood Sword Wu Hao, Ghost Fire Xiao Mei, and Green Wood Hu Jia."

"These are top experts ranked in the top five of the Strong Ranking. It's usually very difficult to see them. I didn't expect them to come out today."

"Dong!"

Amidst the commotion, a clear bell chime suddenly rang out across the plaza, instantly silencing the crowd.

As the bell sound faded, the sound of wind being cut through arose, and several figures flashed down from the sky.

The one in the lead was none other than the white-haired Grand Elder Su Qian, followed by several equally elderly elders.

"It's almost time. Prepare to open the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower," Su Qian said, glancing up at the sky.

An elder respectfully complied, flying down from the high platform to land outside the tower's main gate. He quickly formed hand seals and released a burst of Dou Qi onto the gate. Immediately, the heavy black gate began to open slowly with a series of creaking sounds.

"Remember, everyone enter in an orderly fashion. There must be no fighting today, otherwise you'll be banned for a week..." Su Qian said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

However, before he could finish speaking, his expression suddenly changed. His gaze abruptly turned towards the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower. There, he clearly sensed a terrifyingly hot temperature rapidly approaching. He immediately shouted sternly, "There's an anomaly in the tower. Close the gates immediately, hurry!"

Su Qian's sudden shout silenced the entire plaza. Countless bewildered gazes turned towards Su Qian, whose expression had drastically changed, all utterly confused.

Hearing Su Qian's shout, although the elder didn't understand exactly what had happened, he still closed the heavy gates with extreme speed.

Shortly after the gates closed, the temperature in the entire area suddenly began to rise.

"Damn it, it's the Fallen Heart Flame. Is that thing about to erupt again? Everyone leave the plaza immediately!"

As soon as the temperature in the area began to rise, Su Qian's expression became extremely grim. This situation... had occurred years ago as well...

"Bang!"

Just as Su Qian's shout faded, a terrifying boom resounded. Everyone could see at this moment that the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower shook violently.

"Bang!"

Another loud boom, and to everyone's horror, thumb-thick cracks appeared all over the tower's spire.

At this moment, Su Qian's expression became even more grim.

"Heh, I didn't expect the Fallen Heart Flame to erupt again. It seems Jia Nan Academy is fated to clash with this Heterogeneous Flame. Since that's the case, why doesn't Elder Su Qian hand it over to me?"

As the light laughter faded, the clear sky suddenly rippled. A large group of people slowly entered, eventually hovering in the sky. Instantly, a bloody aura enveloped the airspace above the Inner Court.

The sudden laughter silenced the commotion in the plaza. Countless students looked up at the sky in bewilderment at the suddenly appearing group, unsure of what was happening.

In the sky, Su Qian looked grimly at the group that had broken through the barrier to appear. His gaze slowly settled on the leading man dressed in an alchemist's robe. His eyes narrowed slowly as he said with a cold smile, "I wondered who it was. So it's Medicine Emperor Han Feng from Black Corner Region."

"Heh, the Grand Elder is too kind," Han Feng licked his lips and chuckled lightly.

Su Qian said coldly, "What's this? Failed to snatch the Heterogeneous Flame four years ago, so you've come again?"

Han Feng smiled and said, "Things like Heterogeneous Flames naturally belong to those with the ability to take them... Last time, I was unprepared and left empty-handed. But this time... it might not be the same."

Su Qian looked at Han Feng with a grim expression, murderous intent palpable.

The last time the Fallen Heart Flame erupted, this Han Feng had tried to take advantage of the chaos to steal the Heterogeneous Flame. If not for Jia Nan Academy's deep foundations, he might have succeeded. This time, Han Feng was undoubtedly even better prepared than before, while Jia Nan Academy had to concern itself with protecting its students, leaving them at a disadvantage...

Su Qian swept his sleeve, his gaze sweeping over the oddly-dressed crowd behind Han Feng. The hand within his sleeve tightened slightly as he said calmly, "Heh, truly worthy of the title Medicine Emperor. You can even summon the leaders of forces like the Blood Sect, Earth Flame Gate, and Eight Fan Gate. This kind of influence, I'm afraid only you possess in the Black Corner Region."

"But if you intend to forcefully seize it... Jia Nan Academy hasn't stood in the Dou Qi Continent for so many years based on empty reputation."

The smile on Han Feng's face slightly receded, and the gentle look in his eyes finally gradually turned cold, "Since the Grand Elder doesn't want to hand it over, then don't blame Han Feng for taking it by force."

As his words fell, a deep blue flame like flowing water suddenly rose from his body, slowly emitting an intense heat.

"I also advise the Grand Elder to hand over the Heterogeneous Flame. You know well the nature of us people from the Black Corner Region. If a fight really breaks out later, I'm afraid this Inner Court will be completely destroyed, won't it?" Han Feng said with an ambiguous smile, his voice carrying a hint of threat.

Taking a deep breath, Su Qian's face was covered in an ashen hue. His hands slowly emerged from his sleeves, gripping slightly, causing the space around to vibrate violently. He said coldly, "It's been many years since I've fought. Today, this old man will measure whether you have the right to speak such words!"

"All elders, heed my command. Protect the Heterogeneous Flame at all costs!" Su Qian suddenly shouted in a low voice, his shout resounding like thunder across the sky.

"Protect the Heterogeneous Flame at all costs!"

All the academy's powerful figures shouted in unison. In an instant, a surge of powerful auras erupted into the sky!

"Obstinate fools. A Dou Zong is indeed formidable, but not truly invincible. In my Black Corner Region, there are still those who can match you!" Han Feng shouted sternly, then turned and said respectfully, "Mr. Gold and Silver, please reveal yourselves!"

"Haha, Han Feng, do you know the price of asking us to act? I hope you can pay it in the end, otherwise..." As Han Feng's voice fell, two loud laughs suddenly rang out. Then, with a ripple in space, two figures, one gold and one silver, appeared in the sky like ghosts.

Seeing the gold and silver figures appearing in the sky, Su Qian and the others' expressions immediately changed.

"I didn't expect... even you two were invited!"

In the sky, two figures mysteriously appeared, one in a golden robe, one in a silver robe. Looking closely, one could see that the two men's faces were almost identical, both with white hair and white beards, their features as if cast from the same mold.

"You also want to interfere in this matter?" Su Qian said slowly, his voice gloomy.

"We're entrusted by others, each holding what we need. There's no choice in the matter," the old man in the golden robe smiled at Su Qian and said.

Su Qian's face was icy cold, but he couldn't be bothered to waste more words. His palms rotated slightly, and vast Dou Qi erupted from his palms, causing the space around to tremble slightly.

"Grand Elder Su Qian, I'll ask you one last time. The Heterogeneous Flame, will you hand it over or not?" As patience wore thin in this standoff, Han Feng looked at Su Qian and the others, asking calmly.

Su Qian's face was expressionless. In response to Han Feng's inquiry, he merely waved his sleeve, and a powerful burst of Dou Qi suddenly shot out from his sleeve, heading straight for Han Feng!

"Hmph!"

Su Qian's preemptive strike caused Han Feng's expression to gradually turn cold. With a cold snort, he flicked his finger, and a ball of deep blue flame appeared in his palm. He then gently waved it, clashing violently with the stream of Dou Qi.

"Bang!"

The moment the two clashed, war broke out!

As both sides fought, the tremendous sound from the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower once again echoed across the sky, cracks instantly covering the tower's spire.

"Boom!"

With a final thunderous explosion, the incredibly hard tower spire finally burst apart. A column of red-hot magma erupted from the tower like a volcanic eruption, shooting into the sky before countless horrified gazes, then raining down!

"This is bad!" All the Inner Court's powerful figures' expressions changed drastically. Su Qian cursed under his breath, then turned to rush towards the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, but was intercepted halfway by the Gold and Silver elders.

Han Feng was exultant. A middle-aged man beside him seemed to want to be the first to obtain the Fallen Heart Flame to claim merit. His figure flickered as he darted towards the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower.

A layer of dense red light appeared on the surface of his body, protecting him. Judging from the dense energy fluctuations of this layer, this person should be at the peak of the Dou Huang realm.

Just as he was about to touch the formless flame, a burst of silver light suddenly exploded. A slender, pale hand unexpectedly extended from the silver light, accurately gripping the man's neck.

The man couldn't dodge in time and was caught squarely.

In the next second, this person turned to ashes before everyone's eyes, dissipating into the air.

In an instant, the entire scene fell into dead silence.