Chapter 278: The Curtain Falls, The Necromancer Plan
In the sky, two figures—one surrounded by blue flames, the other by green—stood facing each other from a distance. The icy killing intent radiating from both of them caused the expressions of many onlookers to shift.
Although most didn't know what had caused this standoff, Han Feng's attitude made it clear that he was intent on killing Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan, though silent, also had a murderous look in his dark eyes.
While the others were confused, Mo Yu understood perfectly. Xiao Yan's desire to kill Han Feng stemmed from his intense hatred toward the man who had betrayed Yao Lao (Old Yao), Xiao Yan's most important mentor.
As for Han Feng, he had likely realized Xiao Yan's true identity and understood that Yao Lao was still alive, a fact that must have struck him like a bolt of lightning. Yao Lao had good relationships with many powerful figures, including Venerable Feng, who owed Yao Lao a great debt. Even though Yao Lao had been missing for years, many still searched for him relentlessly.
If word got out that Han Feng had betrayed Yao Lao, the consequences would be dire for him. The fear of this revelation made Han Feng even more desperate to silence Xiao Yan.
As Mo Yu considered these things, the tension between Xiao Yan and Han Feng finally reached its peak.
Xiao Yan's face remained expressionless as he raised his hand. A fierce, green flame surged out from his body, swirling like a tornado above him. At the same time, his left hand slowly opened, and to the shock of the onlookers, a pale white flame appeared in his palm.
The two Heavenly Flames intertwined, sending out a strange, overwhelming heat that filled the sky. Sparks of fire crackled between them, and the space around them trembled from the clash of these two powerful forces.
Suspended in mid-air, the black-robed youth stood with a two-foot-wide green-and-white fire lotus spinning in his palm. Sensing the terrifying energy within the fire lotus, Su Qian, the Gold and Silver Elders, and others all turned their gazes toward it, unable to hide their fear.
Even they, seasoned experts, felt a deep sense of dread in the face of this immense power.
As the green-and-white fire lotus slowly rotated, Han Feng's face grew even more serious. He could feel the devastating energy contained within the fire lotus.
"This maniac!"
Cursing under his breath, Han Feng clenched his fist, and the deep blue flames around him quickly solidified into a large, dark blue trident. Gripping the massive, flame-formed trident tightly, Han Feng's confidence grew slightly as he stared coldly at Xiao Yan, who was struggling to control the two Heavenly Flames.
Suddenly, an immense wave of blue fire burst from Han Feng's body, crashing down like a massive tidal wave. The flames poured into the trident, causing it to grow several meters longer. The blazing blue fire on the trident crackled and roared like the sound of crashing waves.
Feeling the power in his hands, Han Feng's confidence surged. He raised the trident, and Xiao Yan, standing at a distance, flashed a cold smile, showing his gleaming white teeth.
"Senior Brother, today, allow me, your Junior Brother, to clean house," Xiao Yan said with a grin.
Han Feng, gripping the enormous trident tightly, sneered. "Kid, you've got quite the mouth on you. I've faced far worse than you in all my years."
Xiao Yan smiled coldly, a dark gleam flashing in his eyes. He flicked his finger, and with a hiss, the green-and-white fire lotus in his palm shot out like a bullet.
As the fire lotus flew through the air, the entire space trembled as if a stone had been thrown into a still lake.
"Elders of the inner courtyard, get back!" Su Qian's face changed the moment the fire lotus was released. He turned and shouted toward the chaotic battlefield not far from Xiao Yan and Han Feng.
Although the elders were puzzled, they quickly obeyed. Abandoning their fights, they shot down to the ground like lightning.
The Black-Corner Region experts, seeing the sudden retreat of the inner courtyard elders, were confused. But before they could ask what was happening, the fire lotus collided with the massive trident in the sky, like two meteors smashing together.
At the moment of impact, all the energy in the sky seemed to freeze, and the once-clear sky darkened slightly.
"Boom!"
A massive flame storm, shaped like a mushroom cloud, erupted in the sky. The deafening explosion was so intense that it caused everyone's ears to ring, and the extreme heat spreading through the sky left a look of terror on their faces.
As the green-and-white mushroom cloud rose into the sky, a figure shot down from above, like a ball struck by a giant hammer. Blood spurted from the figure's body, trailing behind them in a crimson arc.
Seeing the figure crash toward the ground, the Black-Corner Region experts turned pale. Though the aura was weak, there was no doubt—it was Han Feng.
"He... He actually defeated Han Feng?"
The crowd murmured in disbelief, their shock evident.
Han Feng was a peak-level Dou Huang, and with the aid of his Heavenly Flame, he could even hold his own against a low-level Dou Zong (Battle Sect). In the entire Black-Corner Region, only the combined forces of the Gold and Silver Elders could rival him. Yet today, he had been utterly defeated by a youth who seemed no older than twenty.
The entire arena fell silent. Everyone understood that defeating someone as famous as Han Feng would grant Xiao Yan enormous fame and prestige.
Even Mo Yu's reputation paled in comparison to Xiao Yan's after this battle.
Mo Yu, however, remained calm, shaking his head as if unconcerned by the shift in attention.
"Xiao Yan, are you okay?" Mo Yu asked, seeing Han Feng unconscious and gravely injured. He wasn't surprised. The power of the Buddha Fury Lotus was something even Yun Shan couldn't withstand, so Han Feng didn't stand a chance.
At that moment, Su Qian rushed over, secretly relieved. With Han Feng out of the way, the remaining Black-Corner Region experts were no longer a threat.
Xiao Yan managed a weak smile, but his pale face revealed just how exhausted he was.
However, before Xiao Yan's smile could fully spread, a sudden change occurred with the Fallen Heart Flame, which had been still until now!
Unnoticed by everyone, it had silently approached the spot where the green-and-white mushroom cloud formed by the Buddha Fury Lotus hung in the sky. As it got closer, a powerful suction force burst forth from it!
The massive mushroom cloud began to surge and swirl, as if drawn into a black hole, pouring into the invisible flame at an alarming rate.
Sensing the Fallen Heart Flame's energy growing more violent, everyone's expressions changed.
The Gold and Silver Elders, realizing the danger, didn't dare to stay any longer. They grabbed the gravely injured Han Feng and, with a shout, led the Black-Corner Region experts in a frantic retreat. As they fled, their mocking voices echoed through the sky.
"Heh heh, Elder Su, looks like this problem is yours now. Let's hope the inner courtyard doesn't end up destroyed by tomorrow!"
Mo Yu raised an eyebrow at their cowardly retreat. These fools, laughing at Jia Nan Academy's misfortune, had no idea they had crossed the line this time.
After this mess was settled, Mo Yu planned to request the academy's permission to launch an all-out assault on the Black-Corner Region and capture Han Feng!
Meanwhile, Su Qian, watching the Black-Corner Region experts flee, felt a surge of anger. They had finally provoked Jia Nan Academy beyond the point of reconciliation.
However, there was no time to dwell on that now. Turning around, Su Qian barked orders to the inner courtyard students who had gathered on the rooftops.
"Everyone, leave the inner courtyard immediately and head into the mountains!"
Hearing Su Qian's shout, the students scattered across the rooftops began to panic. Though the Fallen Heart Flame wasn't massive, it radiated a terrifying destructive force. None of them doubted that if it descended, the entire inner courtyard would be burned to ashes in an instant.
"Screeeech!"
On the other side of the sky, after absorbing the leftover energy from the Buddha Fury Lotus, the Fallen Heart Flame grew even more violent. With a shriek, it shot forward, aiming straight for Xiao Yan, who was still hovering in the sky!
Locked onto once again by the Fallen Heart Flame, Xiao Yan's face changed. He wanted to flee, but his Dou Qi was nearly depleted from using the Buddha Fury Lotus.
In the blink of an eye, the Fallen Heart Flame swallowed him whole.
Seeing this, Mo Yu's expression tightened, and he took a step forward, only to stop in his tracks.
Recalling how Xiao Yan had tamed the Fallen Heart Flame in the original story, Mo Yu decided it was best not to interfere. As the "Son of Fate" in the Dou Qi Continent, Xiao Yan wasn't going to fall so easily.
Although Xiao Yan seemed to be in a desperate situation, if things went as expected, he would reemerge in two years, stronger than ever and shocking everyone with his power.
Mo Yu figured that while he could rescue Xiao Yan now, it would likely cost him the chance to control the Fallen Heart Flame, something Xiao Yan was destined to do.
After Mo Yu decided to stand down, Xiao Yan's figure disappeared completely into the flames.
"Damn beast! I'll give my life to seal you forever!"
Su Qian's voice erupted with fury as he saw Xiao Yan get consumed by the flame. With a roar, an unusual black light shot from his body, forming a thick energy net in the sky. The net twitched, then snapped around the Fallen Heart Flame with a strange precision.
As soon as the black net ensnared the flame, thin wisps of smoke began to rise from the Fallen Heart Flame, and it let out an ear-piercing screech.
"Screeeech!"
Struggling under Su Qian's full-strength attack, the Fallen Heart Flame let out another shriek, but it couldn't hold on any longer. Wrapped in the black net, it was forcefully slammed back into the depths of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower's magma world.
"Seal it!"
With a flick of Su Qian's fingers, strange black energy shot from the tower, forming a deep, dark energy barrier at its tip. Mysterious patterns, like tiny snakes, slithered along the surface of the barrier.
As the seal formed, black light began to flood the deepest layer of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, filling the entire space with a dark sea of energy. No one would be able to enter again, and the Fallen Heart Flame, sealed in the depths, would never escape.
With the Fallen Heart Flame sealed, the inner courtyard finally began to calm down.
Looking around at the devastated courtyard, many of the elders wore expressions of grief and anger. Jia Nan Academy had stood strong for many years, only encountering a few difficulties along the way, but today's losses were immense.
This wasn't just an attack on the academy's prestige—it was a slap in the face to the elders themselves.
"Mo Yu, I'm sorry. Xiao Yan..."
Seeing Mo Yu approach, Su Qian wiped the blood from his lips and spoke with a look of shame. As the Grand Elder, it had been his responsibility to protect his students. Yet here he was, having failed to protect Xiao Yan, who had to sacrifice himself to save the academy. Even Su Qian, usually calm and composed, had tears in his eyes.
Mo Yu paused for a moment, then silently thought, If only you knew how much Xiao Yan is about to gain from this...
Of course, Mo Yu didn't voice his thoughts. Instead, he pretended to be overcome with anger, his eyes red with fury.
"Grand Elder, we must avenge Xiao Yan! Every last one of those Black-Corner Region scum must pay for what they've done! Even if the academy doesn't take action, I, Mo Yu, will seek vengeance myself!"
"That's right! Mo Yu is right! If Jia Nan Academy doesn't strike back, they'll think we're cowards!"
"Those Black-Corner Region bastards deserve to be wiped out!"
"When we go after Han Feng, I'll be the first in line!"
Mo Yu's words lit a fire among the crowd, and soon, dozens of elders were shouting in righteous anger.
It had been many years since Jia Nan Academy had suffered such a humiliating defeat.
Seeing the overwhelming fury of the elders, Su Qian turned his gaze toward the now-quiet Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower. His eyes hardened like a blade, and his icy words cut through the air.
"Don't worry. The academy will not allow those who sacrifice themselves to do so in vain. Starting today, Jia Nan Academy will carry out the 'Necromancer Plan'—to purge the Black-Corner Region!"
(End of Chapter)
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