Under Shui Bailan’s mediation, Yan Zhen finally withstood that strike powerful enough to cripple a Mystic Ancestor. Dean Yu Qing huffed indignantly and plopped back down into her chair.
“In any case, I won’t let you harm Mentor Yu Xuan,” Yan Zhen said flatly. “No matter how serious it is. Otherwise… hmph. Besides that one just now, I have plenty of other trump cards I haven’t shown yet.”
Dean Yu Qing, who had only just sat down, slammed the table again and shot to her feet.
“You’re threatening us!?”
“I never said that,” Yan Zhen replied, arms crossed in a posture of complete ease. “I’m an outstanding student in both academics and conduct—a model pupil. Don’t believe me? Ask Mentor Yu Xuan.”
Dean Yu Qing was so furious she nearly lunged at him again, but Shui Bailan quickly held her back.
“Enough, both of you. Say one less word,” Shui Bailan said. “Yan Zhen’s got real ability, which proves Xuan’er’s judgment isn’t bad. If things go as expected, you’ll all be family soon enough. No need to clash like this—Xuan’er will be stuck in the middle and miserable for it.”
“Who’s family with this brat? Whether Second Sister accepts him is another matter entirely!” Dean Yu Qing snapped. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t approve of this marriage!”
Yan Zhen shot a glance at Her Deanship, thinking to himself that he and Mentor Yu Xuan were a match made in heaven—since when did this witch get a say?
“You’re pushing forty and still throwing tantrums like an eldest miss. I could die laughing.”
The words struck Dean Yu Qing’s sore spot dead-on, sending her jumping to her feet once more.
“Who’s pushing forty? Who’s got an eldest miss temper? You little scoundrel, if I don’t beat you to death today, I’ll take your surname!”
“—Shut your mouths, both of you!”
Shui Bailan barked the order in a deep voice amplified several times over by mystic power. The sound made Yan Zhen and Dean Yu Qing’s ears ring.
A closer look revealed Shui Bailan’s beautiful face flushed with cold anger, her lovely eyes glinting murderously. They both snapped their mouths shut at once—they knew full well that this childish squabble was not only immature and pointless but thoroughly annoying.
Shui Bailan sighed and massaged her brow.
“Yan Zhen, let Xuan’er out. She just got back, so by rights, she should head home.”
Yan Zhen thought for a moment before asking, “Can I go with her?”
“You? I’m afraid not.” Shui Bailan shook her head gently. “We don’t yet know the family head—Xuan’er’s mother—and her stance on this. If you show up rashly, you might get yourself arrested.”
“I’ll face this with Mentor Yu Xuan,” Yan Zhen declared firmly. “I absolutely won’t stand by and watch her get wronged!”
Sending her back alone would mean a hundred percent chance of punishment. All his efforts would be for nothing.
As Shui Bailan hesitated, Dean Yu Qing spoke up.
“Let him go! Once he meets Second Sister, he’ll learn his lesson!”
“No,” Shui Bailan vetoed. “We should test the waters with Sister-in-Law first, then decide. Best to loop in Elder Sister Yu Yan too.”
Yu Qing was Mentor Yu Xuan’s eldest aunt, the oldest of the three Yu sisters and Grand Elder of the Inner Academy.
In Yan Zhen’s impression, Grand Elder Yu Yan had a mild temperament, much like Mentor Yu Xuan.
“Alright then. Mentor Yu Xuan and I will head back first.”
Shui Bailan nodded.
“Go on… Don’t wander off. Stay in your dorm and focus on cultivation.”
Yan Zhen cupped his hands to her, shot one last glance at the tantrum-throwing dean, and strolled out of the office. He even politely closed the door behind him.
The moment he was gone, Dean Yu Qing whined, “Bailan, why are you taking his side?”
Shui Bailan looked helpless.
“I’m not taking his side—I’m trying to resolve this. Do you really want to test that Mystic technique he used earlier?”
At those words, Dean Yu Qing sobered up in a hurry. She recalled the terrifying aura radiating from Yan Zhen’s body moments ago and frowned in confusion.
“What was that Mystic technique? He’s just a Mystic Master, but it gave even me chills.”
“It seemed like a special move centered on extreme flames,” Shui Bailan mused. “Yu Qing, couldn’t you tell what extreme flame he had?”
“How should I know? I’ve hardly seen any,” Dean Yu Qing said with a pout. “The Han Family does keep a few extreme flames, but they’re mostly rejects ranked outside the top hundred on the Extreme Flame List. They pose no real threat.”
The top hundred and those below on the Extreme Flame List were worlds apart. Take phosphorus fire, for example—even at full power, it could only scorch a Mystic General or Mystic King. Against a Mystic Lord, it gained no edge, and against a Mystic Ancestor, it was useless.
“And I swear… it felt like more than one extreme flame aura earlier,” Dean Yu Qing recalled. “You noticed it too, right Bailan? Besides the initial gray flame, there was scarlet flame and those gold-silver flames.”
“You’re right—it did feel that way,” Shui Bailan agreed, puzzled. “But how could he possibly have three extreme flames?”
“Impossible, of course. At his age and cultivation level, successfully refining even one is sheer luck. Extreme flames don’t coexist well either—two coming close will repel or devour each other. In all of history, only that legendary female Flame Saint from the Eighth Continent ever had two.”
“Then maybe the other two aren’t extreme flames—just other fires?”
“Has to be.”
“Hmm. I still want to check the records. That gray flame… it bothers me.”
“Go ahead. The central shelves in the Underground Library have the extreme flame tomes—actually, wait. I’ll come with you.”
The two descended the stairs to the Underground Library.
Though called the Underground Library, Rain Heaven Pavilion was built in a pond, so it doubled as the Underwater Library.
The collection consisted mostly of documents, teaching manuals, and treasures gathered by generations of deans. There was no shortage of records on extreme flames—such exotic wonders as Heavenly Extreme Flames drew the interest of any powerhouse, especially Pill Refiners.
After poring over the tomes for a good while, they finally found the entry on the gray flame.
“‘Gray flame taking dragon form, eerie aura, oppressive might, bewitches the mind, cunning as a demon—this is the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame, among the hardest extreme flames to tame. Ranked thirteenth on the Extreme Flame List!'”
The two women stared at each other, their stunning faces etched with shock.
The tome continued:
The Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame has a savage temperament, its power rivaling a Half-Saint. None but a Saint can subdue it. Ordinary folk, do not risk yourselves on this taboo flame, lest you lose your life and all be for naught.
Their shock deepened. Terms like “Half-Saint” and “Saint” had no business linking to a mere new student Mystic Master—but Yan Zhen had undeniably displayed the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame before their eyes.
The gray-black hue, draconic shape, and that spine-chilling eeriness matched the description perfectly!
“What trick did that kid pull to refine the thirteenth-ranked extreme flame?”
…
Unaware that Dean Little Aunt and Great Mentor Aunt had gone out of their way to research the extreme flame in his possession after he left, Yan Zhen dove into the Fire Refining Starry Sky upon descending the stairs to retrieve Mentor Yu Xuan.
—He’d have some explaining to do to Beautiful Female Master.
She’d always harbored a faint hostility toward Mentor Yu Xuan. By now, she was probably fuming with jealousy.
