Battle Through the Heavens: Marry Cao Ying, Reward is Devouring Ancestral Symbol

Xiao Yan’s recent situationIn the Outer Academy, there was a quiet and elegant secluded courtyard.

Bamboo shadows swayed, and the windows were bright and clean.

Xiao Xun Er, dressed in a light green robe, sat at the desk by the window, her fingertips slowly brushing over the pages of an ancient Medicine Ceremony.

Sunlight filtered through the window frame, casting a soft halo on her calm, jade-like profile.

Suddenly, the light in front of the window dimmed slightly.

A black shadow silently emerged as if merging from the darkness, quickly condensing into the figure of Ling Ying, who bowed respectfully.

“Young Miss.”

Xiao Xun Er’s fingertips did not stop, and her gaze remained on the scroll as she gave a soft “Mhm” in response.

Ling Ying knew her temperament well and did not beat around the bush, directly reporting in a low voice, “There have been several shocking events in the Inner Academy recently.”

He recounted the events one by one: Shen Wen refining an Eighth Grade Pill and attracting Eight-Colored Pill Thunder, as well as the sudden disturbance and brief lockdown of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower a few days ago. Although he strove for a steady tone, a trace of unavoidable amazement still leaked out when he mentioned the ’Eight-Colored Pill Thunder’.

“Eight-Colored Pill Thunder...”

Xiao Xun Er’s fingertips, which were stroking the page, finally paused.

She looked up, and a clear ripple passed through her eyes, which were as clear as autumn waters.

A Grade 8 Alchemist.

Even in the Central Plains, this was the status of a titan.

Within the Pill Tower, Grade 8 Alchemists held an esteemed position, enough to sit on equal footing with many Dou Zun experts. And Shen Wen... was only nineteen.

She had heard her clan elders mention that the Gu Clan had a long-standing Legacy and profound heritage, and they always treated high-level Alchemists with great respect.

A Grade 8 Alchemist’s value and influence were enough for even the Gu Clan to treat them as equals.

“How did he refine it?” Xiao Xun Er asked softly, as if talking to herself, or perhaps asking a question.

Ling Ying shook his head. “No one knows the specific process.”

“The back mountain was sealed that day, and only the top experts of the Jia Nan Academy were present. But the Pill Lightning phenomenon cannot be faked; everyone in the Inner Academy saw it with their own eyes.”

“After the pill was formed, Shen Wen’s aura seemed to have a Breakthrough. Now... he has likely firmly secured his position as a Grade 8 Alchemist.”

He paused and added, “Moreover, a few days ago, intense fluctuations came from the bottom of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower. I heard that only Shen Wen went there.”

Xiao Xun Er listened quietly, the expression in her eyes shifting.

A Grade 8 Alchemist, with the cultivation of a Dou Zong, and able to trigger such secret fluctuations at the bottom of the tower that even the academy’s upper management were wary of... this Shen Wen was even more mysterious and unfathomable than she had initially expected.

“It seems that trading with him back then was not a wrong move.” She whispered, then changed the subject. “How has Brother Xiao Yan been lately?”

At the mention of Xiao Yan, the expression on Ling Ying’s face immediately became somewhat subtle.

He bowed and replied, “Young Master Xiao Yan completed the Three-Year Agreement with Nalan Yanran three months ago and won the battle on the Cloud Mist Sect.”

“Afterward, he left the Jia Ma Empire alone. Now... he should have entered the Black-Corner Region for training.”

“Oh?” Xiao Xun Er’s brow quirked slightly. “The Cloud Mist Sect didn’t make things difficult for him?”

“They didn’t.” The strange look on Ling Ying’s face grew more pronounced. “According to reports from those left in the Jia Ma Empire, although the Cloud Mist Sect was not exactly friendly toward Young Master Xiao Yan, they didn’t deliberately make things hard for him. Instead... they were quite polite.”

He glanced at Xiao Xun Er’s expression before continuing, “It seems... to be related to the interaction Lord Shen Wen had with the Cloud Mist Sect’s Sect Master, Yun Yun, in Wutan City back then.”

“The entire Cloud Mist Sect knows that Young Master Xiao Yan has some connection with Lord Shen Wen, so they didn’t dare to act rashly.”

Hearing this, the corners of Xiao Xun Er’s lips curled into a very faint, enigmatic smile. “He actually borrowed his influence.”

She didn’t mind Xiao Yan using Shen Wen’s name to get things done. In this world where strength was respected, being able to borrow influence was also a skill. As long as Brother Xiao Yan was safe and sound, she was at peace.

Seeing Xiao Xun Er’s calm expression, Ling Ying hesitated for a moment, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something.

Xiao Xun Er keenly noticed his hesitation. “Is there anything else?”

Ling Ying opened his mouth, another piece of information he had received not long ago flashing through his mind.

It was about some ambiguous entanglement between Xiao Yan and the Cloud Mist Sect’s Sect Master, Yun Yun, before he left the Jia Ma Empire.

But the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back down.

The Young Miss’s feelings for Young Master Xiao Yan were deep. Since this matter was without proof, saying it rashly would likely only upset her.

Furthermore... Ling Ying sighed inwardly. In his eyes, although Xiao Yan had decent talent and a resilient Heart-Nature, he was ultimately far inferior to the Young Miss, and far inferior to the brilliantly shining Shen Wen.

The Young Miss’s talent and Bloodline were the top existence in the Gu Clan for a thousand years.

If she were willing to put all her effort into cultivation, her current achievements would certainly not be inferior to Shen Wen’s.

But as it happened... her entire heart was tied to that Xiao Yan.

A sense of powerlessness welled up in Ling Ying’s heart. Ultimately, he just shook his head and said in a low voice, “It is nothing. I just feel... if the Young Miss put more thought into cultivation, perhaps...”

He didn’t finish, but the meaning was already clear.

Xiao Xun Er looked at him quietly, her gaze clear and bright, as if she could see through one’s heart.

After a long while, she finally spoke slowly, her voice calm and rippleless. “Old Ling, I know what I’m doing.”

“Brother Xiao Yan’s path is for him to walk. My path, I also know how to take. As for cultivation...”

She withdrew her gaze, letting it fall back onto the Medicine Ceremony on the desk, her fingertip lightly tracing a line of ancient characters.

“When it is time to Breakthrough, it will naturally happen.”

Her tone was indifferent, yet it carried an unquestionable composure and confidence.

Seeing this, Ling Ying knew that further words were useless. He could only sigh inwardly and bow. “It was this old servant’s meddling. If the Young Miss has no other orders, I will continue to monitor the movements of all parties.”

“Mhm.” Xiao Xun Er nodded. “Brother Xiao Yan is in the Black-Corner Region; you still need to look after him. If there is anything urgent, report to me immediately.”

“Yes.”

Ling Ying responded, his figure merging into the shadows again and quietly dissipating as if he had never appeared.

By the window, Xiao Xun Er sat quietly alone.

The sunlight shifted, and the bamboo shadows moved slightly.

She looked at the swaying greenery outside the window, her gaze distant, wondering what she was thinking.

After a long time, she gently closed the Medicine Ceremony in front of her, her whispered words dissipating with the wind:

“A Grade 8 Alchemist... Shen Wen, just how many secrets do you have?”

...Deep in the Inner Academy, in the quiet room of the courtyard where Shen Wen lived.

The windows were bright and clean, and the fragrance of medicine wafted through the air. Shen Wen leaned against a bamboo couch covered with soft cushions. Although his face was still somewhat pale, his aura had stabilized much more, and the divine light in his eyes was gradually returning.

Su Qian sat on a sandalwood chair opposite him, holding a cup of clear tea in his hand, but he hadn’t drunk it for a long time. His gaze remained fixed on Shen Wen’s face.

After a moment of silence in the room, Su Qian finally spoke, his voice kept low. “Young Friend Shen, what exactly happened at the bottom of the tower that day?”

He paused and added, “This old man is not trying to pry into your secrets, it’s just... that trace of aura that leaked up that day was truly terrifying.”

“Qian Mu and Bai Lie still have lingering fears. This matter concerns the safety of the academy’s underground, so I must ask.”

Shen Wen looked up at Su Qian, his expression calm.

He had long expected Su Qian to come and ask.

“Since Elder Su has asked, I should speak frankly.” Shen Wen’s voice was steady, showing no much emotion. “After I refined the Fallen Heart Flame that day, I sensed unusual fluctuations further down, so I continued to explore.”

He paused slightly, as if reminiscing. “At about a thousand feet deep in the magma, I encountered a Dou Zun skeleton, and beside it was a newly born Fallen Heart Flame seedling.”

“That is the one I gave to the academy.”

Su Qian’s eyes narrowed. “A Dou Zun skeleton?”

“Correct.” Shen Wen nodded. “Beside the skeleton was a remnant soul that remained. He called himself ‘Yao Tianhuo’, known to others as Venerable Skyfire.”

“Judging from what his remnant soul said and the energy traces around the skeleton, he should have been a Five-Star Dou Zun in life, and he also once controlled the Fallen Heart Flame.”

Su Qian sucked in a breath of cold air. “A Five-Star Dou Zun... actually perished here?!”

Shen Wen continued, “After I took the seedling Heavenly Flame, I sensed that there seemed to be some even larger aura hidden deeper below, so I wanted to explore a bit more.”

At this point, his tone sank slightly. “However, just as I tried to continue diving, I was detected.”

Su Qian involuntarily leaned forward. “By whom?”

Shen Wen looked up, staring directly at Su Qian, and said word by word, “Two Half-Saint level attacks struck from the deepest part of the magma.”

“Half-Saint?!” Su Qian stood up abruptly, the tea cup in his hand shaking, splashing a few drops of tea.