Battle Through The Heavens : I Am The Thunder Emperor

Chapter 334: Return to the Inner Academy, Seeking Guidance from Yao Lao

Canaan Academy.

When Mo Yu and his group entered the study where Su Qian often spent his time, they were greeted by the sight of a young man dressed in black. His face was calm and handsome, with a steady and determined demeanor, and his deep black eyes seemed like endless pools.

"Third Brother!"

Xiao Li, standing beside Mo Yu, was momentarily shaken as he stared at the faintly familiar figure. Even though Xiao Li had never shown any emotion in the face of death, his expression was now filled with an indescribable joy.

Although he had already heard from Mo Yu that Xiao Yan was safe, seeing Xiao Yan 'return from the dead' with his own eyes filled Xiao Li's heart with indescribable happiness.

Feeling the immense, hidden power radiating from Xiao Yan, a knowing expression flashed in Mo Yu's silver eyes. He smiled and said, "Congratulations, Cousin Xiao Yan. It seems you've had quite the harvest during your time away."

Lin Yan, Liu Qing, and the other students from Canaan Academy, who were standing behind Mo Yu, also had a look of surprise when they saw Xiao Yan.

Although Xiao Yan had not dominated the academy as he did in the original timeline due to Mo Yu's presence, his exceptional talent had still left a deep impression on everyone.

Especially after the battle with Han Feng and the Black-Corner Region experts, where Xiao Yan was sealed with the Fallen Heart Flame at the bottom of the tower. Many had sighed in regret at his fate.

But now, seeing Xiao Yan break free from the seal after a year and a half, with his aura even more mysterious and profound, everyone couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him during that time.

"Hehe, Second Brother, Cousin Mo Yu, it seems you weren't surprised to see me alive," Xiao Yan said with a light smile as he looked around at the familiar faces. He noticed that while they were happy, neither Mo Yu nor Xiao Li looked particularly surprised, and that made him scratch his head with a grin.

"Yes, after your incident, both I and Xiao Yu were deeply worried. We even thought something terrible had happened to you. But Cousin Mo Yu insisted that you were still alive, so we've been waiting for your return," Xiao Li said, patting Xiao Yan's head with a smile of relief.

"Oh, Cousin Mo Yu believed I was still alive?" Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment. He had faced near-death experiences at the bottom of the tower, and even he had thought he might not survive. It warmed his heart to know that Mo Yu had never doubted him.

Thinking back, Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile. Sometimes, it felt like his cousin Mo Yu understood him better than he understood himself.

Shaking his head with a smile, Xiao Yan scratched his head and said, "Cousin Mo Yu, thank you for your trust. I also owe you for taking care of the Xiao Clan."

Patting Xiao Yan's shoulder, Mo Yu chuckled and said, "No need for thanks. I'm half a member of the Xiao Clan myself, so it was my duty. I knew you wouldn't die so easily. And if I'm not mistaken, you've managed to tame the Fallen Heart Flame, right?"

Xiao Yan scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, and nodded. "Yeah."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the elder and the others, including Lin Yan, were stunned. If Xiao Yan had subdued the Fallen Heart Flame, then the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower would be nothing but an empty shell!

The tower was incredibly important to the Inner Academy because it significantly boosted cultivation speed. Without the Fallen Heart Flame, the tower's effectiveness would gradually diminish, and without it, the Inner Academy's proud system for training strong fighters might collapse. The consequences could be severe.

The atmosphere in the hall grew tense. The elder's face was full of worry, and Xiao Yan looked slightly embarrassed.

Seeing this, Mo Yu immediately suggested the solution from the original novel.

When Su Qian heard that Mo Yu could craft a container to preserve the Fallen Heart Flame for three years, he was taken aback.

Canaan Academy did have similar containers, but they only lasted one or two years, far shorter than what Mo Yu, a master craftsman, could offer.

However, Mo Yu didn't offer this solution without conditions. He proposed that the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower be made accessible to the top members of Yuanfu.

Now that Yuanfu had become a powerful force, they had established a system of rewards and penalties. If Mo Yu could offer access to the tower as a reward, it would undoubtedly inspire greater loyalty and enhance the overall strength of Yuanfu.

Hearing Mo Yu's condition, Su Qian was surprised. Canaan Academy had never allowed outsiders to use the tower for cultivation since its founding.

After some thought, however, Su Qian nodded slowly.

Su Qian's decision wasn't just based on Mo Yu's ability to craft the container or the alliance between the two forces. He also valued Mo Yu as an individual.

The appearance of the Black Demon Army in the Battle of the Northern Plains suggested that Mo Yu had significant ties with the Lei Clan, and since Canaan Academy's dean was also from the Lei Clan, Su Qian's curiosity and respect for Mo Yu grew.

Seeing Su Qian agree so easily, Mo Yu was momentarily surprised, but then he smiled. "Thank you, Elder."

With the matter settled, Su Qian's tense mood finally eased a bit, and he smiled warmly.

"In just half a year, I've heard about you again. Not only did you break through to the Dou Huang stage, but you also defeated Mo Ya, the young master of the Black Emperor Sect. He's a six-star Dou Huang, and his talent is extremely rare, even by Canaan Academy's standards."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan was stunned. Having just emerged from the bottom of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower, he was unaware of the events in the Black-Corner Region over the past year and a half. Learning that Mo Yu had defeated a six-star Dou Huang left a flicker of surprise in his deep, dark eyes.

After subduing the Fallen Heart Flame, Xiao Yan wasn't sure of his exact strength, but he was confident that most Dou Wang experts wouldn't stand a chance against him. That was something he was proud of.

However, his cousin Mo Yu had already become a Dou Huang and had defeated a six-star Dou Huang prodigy. This achievement left Xiao Yan astonished.

Cousin Mo Yu truly is extraordinary, Xiao Yan thought to himself.

Mo Yu chuckled as he walked into the study and sat in the chair across from Su Qian. "Elder, you're exaggerating. I've only just entered the Dou Huang stage. I'm nothing compared to you."

Su Qian chuckled and shook his head, smiling wryly. "You're a modest one, aren't you? While Dou Huangs don't seem like much to me, you're only twenty years old. A twenty-year-old Dou Huang is considered a genius across the continent. When I was your age, I was just a Dou Ling."

Mo Yu smiled and refrained from saying anything else that might embarrass the elder further.

With his talent, breaking through to Dou Huang at twenty was no big deal.

"So, what are your plans now that you're back?" Su Qian asked with a smile, seeing that Mo Yu had gone quiet.

"Elder, I'll likely be returning to the Jia Ma Empire in the next few days," Mo Yu said seriously, looking at Su Qian.

Su Qian was slightly taken aback. He frowned and asked, "So soon? You're heading back to the Jia Ma Empire?"

Xiao Yan's face also changed upon hearing this, his expression growing serious as something seemed to dawn on him.

Seeing this, Xiao Li leaned in close to Xiao Yan and whispered about Yuanfu's developments during Xiao Yan's time sealed in the tower, including their plan to return to the Jia Ma Empire.

Unaware of their conversation, Mo Yu sighed and said, "It's been two or three years since I left. Some things need to be resolved."

Sigh. "I can't stop you, and your strength has grown significantly, but be cautious. The Yun Lan Sect is deeply rooted in the Jia Ma Empire, and their power is vast. Yun Shan is a genuine Dou Zong. While you and Yuanfu are strong enough not to fear them, one slip-up could cost you everything. I know you came to Canaan Academy to grow stronger for your revenge, and you're no longer the impulsive young man you once were." Su Qian's voice was filled with concern.

"Thank you for your advice, Elder. I'll remember your words. Over the years, your guidance has been invaluable," Mo Yu said sincerely, standing up and bowing respectfully to Su Qian.

These past few years of growth in both strength and influence had been closely tied to Canaan Academy's support, a debt Mo Yu could never forget.

"Haha, no need to be so formal. You're a student of the Inner Academy, and helping you is part of my duty," Su Qian chuckled, waving his hand. Looking at Mo Yu's youthful and handsome face, he smiled and asked, "Is there anything else I can help with before you go?"

Mo Yu nodded. "There is something. Once I leave, I'd like you to keep an eye on Yuanfu. This is a good place for it to grow. After I deal with matters in the Jia Ma Empire, I plan to fully establish control over the Black-Corner Region. But until then, I may need your help watching over Yuanfu. While no one dares to provoke it now, we had a bit of a conflict with the Demon Flame Valley recently, and I'm worried that if the old demon comes out of seclusion early, he might attack Mo City."

"You rascal, asking an Inner Academy elder to help watch over a force in the Black-Corner Region!" Su Qian said, laughing in disbelief. After a moment of thought, though, he nodded.

"It's not that big of a deal. Yuanfu, combined with Canaan Academy, makes it so that few forces would dare provoke you in the Black-Corner Region. As for that old demon, he's strong, probably stronger than me. But given his character, I doubt he'd take advantage of your absence."

"Thank you, Elder!" Mo Yu said with a grateful smile, cupping his hands.

Su Qian smiled back but then grew serious again. "I also heard you've challenged the Demon Flame Valley to a sect war. While Yuanfu defeated the Black Alliance and overpowered the Black Emperor Sect, the Demon Flame Valley isn't as simple as it seems. The old demon has been in seclusion for years, and no one knows how strong he's become. If it weren't for the hidden experts of Canaan Academy, he'd probably be the strongest person in the Black-Corner Region.

"You'll have to defeat the old demon if you want to overcome the Demon Flame Valley. He's far more difficult to deal with than Ying Shan. When the time comes—"

"I'm not a reckless person, Elder. I'm confident in my plan," Mo Yu said with a light smile. He was well aware of the old demon's strength. A seven-star Dou Zong was an almost monstrous power in the Black-Corner Region.

However, with the black lightning talisman given to him by Lei Ying and the presence of 'Lei Ling' Xiao Jin, defeating the old demon wasn't impossible.

Seeing the confident smile on Mo Yu's youthful face, Su Qian nodded with a smile of his own, silently contemplating Mo Yu's ties to the Lei Clan and the cards he must be holding.

After some more casual conversation, Mo Yu left with the Yuanfu members and Xiao Yan, heading back to Mo City.

Mo City, Yuanfu.

Looking at the sprawling city and the bustling streets, even after Xiao Li's earlier explanations, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

In his eyes, Mo City was now on par with the capital of the Jia Ma Empire, and Yuanfu was an even more powerful force than the Yun Lan Sect.

Thinking about it, Mo Yu's image in Xiao Yan's mind grew even more impressive.

Once they arrived at Yuanfu's hall, Xiao Yan, taking advantage of the moment when no one else was around, approached Mo Yu with a request.

"Oh? Cousin Xiao Yan, you need these medicinal ingredients?" Mo Yu asked curiously as he glanced at the piece of paper Xiao Yan handed him.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Xiao Yan scratched his head and smiled. "Yes, Yao Lao has fallen into a deep sleep, and I need to refine a restoration elixir to wake him up. But I haven't been able to gather all the ingredients, so I'm asking for your help."

Mo Yu nodded. "No problem, leave it to me. Yuanfu can gather them all within two days."

"Thank you, Cousin Mo Yu!" Xiao Yan's face lit up with joy, and his admiration for Yuanfu's power grew even deeper.

The ingredients he needed were incredibly rare, yet Yuanfu could gather them all in just two days. It was truly a formidable force.

"By the way, once Yao Lao wakes up, would it be possible for me to meet with him privately?" Mo Yu asked as if suddenly remembering something.

Hearing Mo Yu's request, Xiao Yan was momentarily taken aback. Although he didn't know why Mo Yu wanted to meet Yao Lao, he didn't hesitate to nod.

Five days later.

In Yuanfu's secret chamber, Mo Yu stood before the floating figure of the elderly Yao Lao. He couldn't help but be impressed by how quickly Xiao Yan had worked.

After Yuanfu gathered all the ingredients in two days, Xiao Yan had immediately gotten to work, spending three days refining the restoration elixir and successfully waking Yao Lao.

After a joyful conversation with Yao Lao, Xiao Yan recalled Mo Yu's request and mentioned it before stepping out of the room.

Once Xiao Yan had left, Yao Lao turned his gaze to Mo Yu. Sensing the young man's aura, a flash of surprise appeared in his old, clouded eyes. Stroking his ethereal beard, he remarked, "I didn't expect you to reach Dou Huang in just a few short years. Your talent is truly exceptional.

"Xiao Yan mentioned you had something to discuss with me. Now that it's just the two of us, feel free to speak."

Mo Yu nodded and respectfully cupped his hands, saying, "I'm sorry to interrupt your reunion with Cousin Xiao Yan, but I have a matter I need to ask you about. Do you know anything about the Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent?"

(Chapter ends)

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