Chapter 73: Big Brother, Can You Take Me Home?
"Back then, I relied on my abilities, thinking I could go anywhere in the world. After I subdued that Fallen Heart Flame, I didn't leave. Instead, I was curious and ventured deeper into this magma world..." The tone of Skyfire Venerable carried a hint of regret, as if he was lamenting his past recklessness.
"After going deeper, I discovered another Fallen Heart Flame seed and greedily tried to take it as well. But merging two different types of heavenly flames within my body triggered a fierce battle between them, severely injuring me. At that moment, I was attacked..."
Skyfire Venerable sighed deeply. "Ultimately, due to the fire lizardmen's siege and the severe internal injuries, my body gradually crumbled... In those final moments, I released the mature Fallen Heart Flame and attached my soul to the infant flame seed, hoping to preserve it."
"But after so many years, my soul has gradually weakened. If no one enters this place within a few years, my soul might completely dissipate."
Skyfire Venerable paused, then looked at Gu Fei with a pleading expression, "Young friend, could you take me out of here?"
He didn't demand that Gu Fei help him reconstruct his physical body like he did with Xiao Yan in the original story because Gu Fei was much stronger and could easily kill him at any time.
"Of course, I won't let you help me for nothing. I have a combat technique, as powerful as a Heaven-tier technique!"
The next moment, a faint white scroll was handed to Gu Fei by Skyfire Venerable.
Gu Fei vaguely remembered this combat technique. If mastered, it could rival even top-tier Heaven-tier techniques.
"If I don't leave soon, I might not last a few more years. This Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique is the combat skill that made me famous. Young friend..."
Sky Fire Venerable feels anxious and restless, Emotional Value +50
"Since we've met, we could say it's fate. I'll take you out of here!"
Gu Fei put away the scroll and nodded, agreeing to the request.
"Thank you, young friend. I am deeply grateful. In the future, I will surely repay you..."
Sky Fire Venerable feels grateful, Emotional Value +50
Then, Gu Fei collected both the Fallen Heart Flame and Sky Fire Venerable's soul.
With his soul sealed within a spatial ring, Gu Fei made sure that he wouldn't be able to spy on his private matters.
Gu Fei knew that deep within this magma was the entrance to the Tou She Ancient God Mansion. However, with his current strength, entering it would either get him killed by the Half-Saint lizardmen guarding the entrance or his soul shattered by the Old Dragon Emperor Zhu Kun who watched over the place.
So, he just glanced in that direction before deciding to leave, intending to explore it only when he became stronger.
...
Several minutes later, Su Qian, who had been waiting outside the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower, suddenly stood up. In his sight, Gu Fei walked out from the tower passage with a calm expression.
Su Qian feels puzzled, Emotional Value +40
"Senior, how did it go?" Su Qian asked with a puzzled expression, seeing Gu Fei return so quickly.
"Brother Gu Fei, did you get what you wanted?"
Xiao Yi Xian feels concerned, Emotional Value +100
Qing Lin feels concerned, Emotional Value +70
Both Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin stepped forward, asking with concern.
"Everything is settled!"
Gu Fei smiled, replying to both of them before turning to Su Qian.
"The previous Fallen Heart Flame has been subdued. But when I went a bit deeper, I discovered an Fallen Heart Flame seed. I believe this will be more suitable for your Jia Nan Academy."
"If nurtured properly, it should be even more useful than the previous Fallen Heart Flame."
As he spoke, a small, budding Fallen Heart Flame floated in Gu Fei's palm.
Su Qian feels delighted, Emotional Value +40
"This... is actually a Fallen Heart Flame seed!"
"Thank you, Senior!"
Su Qian said excitedly. He understood that this seed was indeed more practical than the original Fallen Heart Flame.
The previous Fallen Heart Flame had developed sentience, resenting its captivity within the academy, and harbored hatred, constantly seeking to destroy the Inner Academy. However, this seed, under the cultivation of the Inner Academy elders, could release flames and protect the academy like its own home.
But the cunning Su Qian remembered that Gu Fei had mentioned compensation earlier, so he cautiously probed, "I wonder, Senior, what kind of compensation did you intend to give the Inner Academy?"
"Would a Zong Breaking Pill be enough?"
Hearing this, Gu Fei paused for a moment, an action that made Su Qian quite nervous.
But when Gu Fei took out a jade bottle and handed it to him, Su Qian finally breathed a sigh of relief, almost retracting his previous words as a joke.
The Zong Breaking Pill was a peak-level Tier Six pill, insignificant to Gu Fei. He had been able to refine such pills long ago and didn't consider it valuable.
However, to Jia Nan Academy, this pill was extremely precious. Among the elders in the Inner Academy, there were several at the peak of Dou Emperor. With this Zong Breaking Pill, the academy might produce a Dou Ancestor within a few years.
Su Qian feels delighted, Emotional Value +40
"It's more than enough. Thank you, Senior!"
Before Gu Fei, Su Qian acted like a junior, with none of the usual sternness he displayed towards the young students in the academy.
This behavior left the students watching in shock.
Liu Qing feels shocked, Emotional Value +1
"Big Brother, hello!"
Suddenly, a childish voice called out beside Gu Fei. He turned to see Zi Yan, her big, bright eyes gazing up at him innocently.
"What a cute little sister!"
Seeing such an adorable little girl, Xiao Yi Xian smiled warmly.
At that moment, Zi Yan looked very well-behaved, and with her cute appearance, she could easily win over many people.
However, Gu Fei knew better- this girl was actually quite fierce.
Liu Qing feels surprised, Emotional Value +1
"Is this really the Brute Strength Queen?"
"If I hadn't seen her break someone's ribs with one punch that day, I might have been fooled by her too!"
Gu Fei remained expressionless, while the reactions of the Inner Academy students, who had seen Zi Yan's usual rough demeanor, showed just how taken aback they were.
"Little sister, do you need something?"
Seeing that Gu Fei hadn't responded, Xiao Yi Xian asked on his behalf.
Zi Yan feels hesitant, Emotional Value +100
"I wanted to ask Big Brother... do you really know about my origins?"
Zi Yan hesitantly asked. It seemed that Su Qian had told her something earlier when Gu Fei went to the bottom of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower.
"I do know about your origins!"
Gu Fei nodded.
"Really?"
Zi Yan feels joyful, Emotional Value +100
"Could you please tell me?"
Zi Yan eagerly asked.
"If you want to know about your origins, you need to leave the North-Western Region and go to the Central Plains. Your kin live there!"
Gu Fei didn't hide the truth.
Listening to their conversation, the others around were somewhat puzzled.
Zi Yan feels hesitant, Emotional Value +100
"Then... can you take me home?"
After hesitating again, Zi Yan clenched her fists, her eyes filled with determination.
(TL/n: Just a quick refresher- Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique, a flame control skill, is divided into five categories based on the shape of the beast: Wolf, Leopard, Lion, Tiger, Dragon. Each kind of beast has its own fire spirit. Upon complete mastery of this fire technique, the five beasts can gather and form a Five Ring Flame Expelling Flame Formation. If four of the five beasts are agglomerated from a 'Heavenly Flame,' the strength of this technique is comparable to a low Tian class Dou Technique.)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone