Chapter 1231: Heavenly Flame Qi Tower_1

"My father?"

"My father is really trapped in this place?" Zi Yan's little face flushed with excitement.

She had originally thought Xu Ran was just bluffing her. Her own father trapped at Canaan Academy? How could there be such an odd coincidence in this world.

Wasn't she familiar with Canaan Academy? She had been to every place here and had never found any place that was unreasonable. If her father was trapped in Canaan Academy, how could she not know about it?

"Do you really think I'm deceiving you? On the surface, there seems to be no problem with Canaan Academy, but think about it, what is the core of Canaan Academy?"

"The core? The Heavenly Flame Qi Refinement Tower?" Zi Yan paused, then responded. It was precisely because of the Heavenly Flame Qi Refinement Tower that a constant stream of geniuses flooded into Canaan Academy.

If Canaan Academy lost the Heavenly Flame Qi Refinement Tower, its influence would at least be halved.

"Indeed, you are not wrong. The core of Canaan Academy is the Heavenly Flame Qi Refinement Tower. But have you ever thought about where the energy for the Heavenly Flame Qi Refinement Tower comes from?" Xu Ran's lips curled up.

"The Fallen Heart Flame, it's the energy of that Strange Fire."

"But how did the Fallen Heart Flame appear? You should know that the Fallen Heart Flame can only be born in magma. So, beneath Canaan Academy lies a vast ocean of magma. And that magma..." Xu Ran slowly explained, Zi Yan's eyes getting brighter and brighter.

Indeed. She had been to almost every place in Canaan Academy. However, when it came to the Heavenly Flame Qi Refinement Tower, aside from cultivating inside it, she knew nothing else.

"You should realize how terrifying the thing that can trap your father is. So, don't act rashly and run around everywhere. Otherwise, you'd just be heading to your doom." Seeing Zi Yan's intentions, Xu Ran quickly said.

Zi Yan's swift nature really might lead her to search for it.

"That's true. Then take me there now." Zi Yan clung to Xu Ran's hand, pleading earnestly.

She was very curious about that marvelous place beneath Canaan Academy. Moreover, with her own father down there, how could she not be anxious?

"Hehe. Since the two of us can travel through space, why don't we just sneak in and see what it's like? Woo-woo, if you arouse my curiosity and then don't take me, I might just die of anguish," Zi Yan clung to Xu Ran, refusing to let go. She couldn't miss out on such an exciting place.

"Aren't you afraid of death? That place can even suppress your father. Going there is seeking death." Xu Ran ruffled Zi Yan's hair.

"I have you, don't I? Didn't you say you were very strong? You even claimed to be the ancestor of our Ancient Dragon Tribe, but I think you're just deceiving me," Zi Yan murmured softly, deliberately provoking Xu Ran.

"Such a low-level provocation doesn't work on me. However, I have no intention of rescuing your father. I just want to steal some energy to assist Xun Er and the others with their future cultivation. As for your father, he has nothing to do with me. The place is very dangerous, and I won't go without some benefit," Xu Ran said with a slight smile.

Although he had already decided to release Long Huang Zhukun, he wouldn't pass up the chance to tease Zi Yan.

"So what do you want? Like this?"

Zi Yan pouted, suddenly jumped onto Xu Ran, and then kissed him directly on the cheek.

Zi Yan was still in her juvenile form, quite short; she had to hug Xu Ran in order to reach a level height with him.

So soft... and a faint scent of milk.

The tenderness made even Xu Ran's old face turn red.

Why does it always feel somewhat sinful?

"Forget it. You can come along, but you have to stay by my side at all times," Xu Ran said helplessly.

Xu Ran took Zi Yan's hand and headed straight for the Heavenly Flame Qi Refinement Tower.

The guards at the Heavenly Flame Qi Refinement Tower didn't notice Xu Ran and Zi Yan, allowing them to slip in unnoticed.

"Hehe, being able to control spatial abilities is amazing," Zi Yan said with some smugness. Relying on her innate talent in spatial manipulation, she'd made quite a few earth-shattering moves at Canaan Academy.

"I heard you used to use this power to sneak into various forbidden places in the academy, nearly emptying the herbal warehouse." Xu Ran teased her.

In the past, without Xu Ran's elixirs, Zi Yan had no choice but to "beg" for some Heavenly and Earthly Treasures for herself.

"Hmph. Don't listen to that old man's nonsense; I didn't," Zi Yan pouted, immediately denying it. She certainly did not want to admit her dark past.

How could she, now a princess of the Ancient Dragon Tribe, lacking such dignity over some petty resources?

Ptui, ptui, ptui

Once she went to Zhongzhou, wouldn't she have whatever treasures she wanted?

Besides, if her father were to be rescued, she would have her father again. Zi Yan imagined this, her heart filled with excitement and nervousness.

She couldn't even remember what her father looked like. If he were freed, would he start controlling everything about her? But she certainly wouldn't be that obedient.

"Missing your dad, aren't you?" Xu Ran held Zi Yan's hand tightly, a faint layer of energy enveloping them both.

"No, I'm not. He never looked after me since I was little, and I don't miss him at all. Besides, I don't even know what he looks like," Zi Yan said, her words belying her true feelings, but the resentment in her heart was real.

As a princess of the Taixu Ancient Dragon bloodline, Zi Yan had the most noble Magical Beast bloodline, yet she had suffered greatly outside.

"Hey, Xu Ran, is it really that dangerous to go in? If it is, let's not go and rescue him yet," Zi Yan suddenly said, looking very serious at Xu Ran.

Before entering the Heavenly Flame Qi Refinement Tower, upon learning of her father's whereabouts, she undeniably wanted to rescue him.

Despite her complaints, she understood that none of it was his fault. Had he not been trapped, he wouldn't have allowed her to wander outside alone. And her father being in danger, she, as his daughter, couldn't just ignore it, no matter what.

But Xu Ran...

Xu Ran was also someone very important to her. Although she was a Magical Beast, she wasn't thoughtless. She knew that a girl's first kiss shouldn't be given lightly. So...

What if Xu Ran also faced danger inside?

Her father, as the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Emperor, surely was a mighty Magical Beast of earthshaking power. Yet even he had been trapped there. Would Xu Ran really be okay? Moreover, Xu Ran was looking after her as well.

"You've got some conscience, you little rascal," Xu Ran felt a warmth in his heart. Zi Yan, this girl, seemed carefree but was actually brave and meticulous, with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

"I'm not concerned about you, don't get the wrong idea. I'm just afraid that without you, I won't have my elixirs," Zi Yan said with a blushed face, her tsundere nature showing through.

"Relax. I'm not as weak as your old man. I'm awesome, and I'll be fine going in with you. However, before we do that, let's first capture the Strange Fire. Helping Elder Su with such a big favor, I can't be expected to work for free," Xu Ran said as he led Zi Yan through the iron gate on the lower level.

Beyond the iron gate was an endless abyss, and at the end of that abyss was the Fallen Heart Flame.