Snatching Fire Energy

Hu Qian slowly walked forward some ten paces, then waved his hand. A streak of energy shot from his palm and flew toward the space before him.

Then, a strange scene appeared. When the energy passed through a certain patch of empty space, it stirred ripples like those on water. The ripples rapidly fluctuated, eventually forming a pale silver gate seven or eight zhang tall before everyone's eyes.

Only after everyone, including the ten Griffins, had entered the silver gate did it slowly close.

As rings of silver energy rippled outward, the silver gate gradually faded away until it vanished completely.

The area once again returned to what appeared to be an utterly ordinary forest entrance.

After passing through the silver spatial gate, Xiao Yang saw two old men, several middle-aged men, and a number of young people standing behind them.

"Old Hu, you're always so punctual. Having you escort the New Students is reassuring. How are this year's New Students?"

One of the two old men smiled at Hu Qian, who was leading the large group of students inside.

Hu Qian smiled. "Not bad. After all, that little fellow is among them. But that kid is a little ancestor—he has no sense of restraint. During the selection tournament, he split the Martial Arts Arena in half with a single slash and nearly caused a death. As for the other four, they're quite a bit inferior to the previous batch."

Ever since Xiao Yang had consumed the Nine Apertures Golden Pill, his five senses had far surpassed those of ordinary people. Naturally, he heard every word exchanged between Hu Qian and the two old men, and began calculating inwardly.

In the original story, his older brother had entered the Inner Courtyard at eighteen. Now, though, his brother was only a little over thirteen—nearly five years ahead of schedule.

The Inner Courtyard's Strong Ranking Tournament was held once every five years. By that calculation, Liu Qing and Lin Xiuya should have only entered the Inner Courtyard about a year ago.

That meant the two of them happened to be Xiao Yang's immediate predecessors.

In that case, the assessment was indeed fair. The four guys behind Xiao Yang were truly much weaker than Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing.

"...Although you have passed the selection tournament and earned the qualifications to enter the Inner Courtyard, it is not over yet..."

Elder Su smiled and raised his hand. A large handful of black crystal cards appeared in his palm. With a casual toss, the cards shot outward, then hovered before everyone as though they had eyes.

Xiao Yang grasped the crystal card in his hand and rubbed it twice, immediately sensing a strange warmth seeping out from it.

"So this is a Fire Crystal Card? It really is rather marvelous." Xiao Yang lowered his head and inspected it carefully. On the card was a transparent mirror-like surface, upon which a large red number was printed: "Five!"

With a flick of his wrist, Xiao Yang tossed the Fire Crystal Card into his Ring of Acceptance.

"Next, you must enter this primeval forest and successfully reach the Inner Courtyard at the other end of it."

Elder Su's finger remained pointed at the group of young people as he said calmly, "And while passing through this forest, you must be wary of them... According to the Inner Courtyard's rules, they may act freely within this forest. In other words, they can attack you."

"Remember, the number on your crystal cards holds tremendous temptation for them. Therefore, they will use every method short of killing to obtain the 'Fire Energy' on your cards... You will become very familiar with—and very fond of—this term in the future... But for now, you must avoid them or defeat them. As long as you are not captured and successfully reach the Inner Courtyard, you will receive the final reward. And the sooner you arrive, the greater the reward."

Elder Su abruptly pointed toward the dark forest behind him. "The Inner Courtyard calls this contest of plunder within the forest the 'Fire Energy Hunting Competition'..."

"Now, I announce that this year's Fire Energy Hunting Competition has officially begun! Students, begin your escape!"

Within the dense forest, scattered sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves. Specks of light shone upon the ground carpeted with dead leaves, creating a scene of lazy tranquility.

With his hands in his pockets, Xiao Yang looked at the five Seniors closing in from all directions, a faint scarlet gleam flashing through his eyes. "You've set your sights on me?"

"Kid, if you don't want to suffer, hand over your Fire Energy..."

Boom! Before the words had even faded, lightning flashed and thunder roared in midair. The five Seniors who had surrounded Xiao Yang were all sent flying backward in an instant, crashing into the surrounding trees. Their faces turned deathly pale as they spat out mouthfuls of blood.

Every one of their chests had caved in by a large portion.

The first form of the Sky Splitting Tyrant Leg, Thunderclap Sky-Rending, truly possessed the might of flashing lightning and sudden thunder.

Xiao Yang's pair of demonic blood-red eyes were both bewitching and indifferent. "Hand over your Fire Energy obediently. Although the academy rules forbid taking lives, I..."

With a cold smile, Xiao Yang pulled a small knife from his pocket. "...can castrate you."

Having said that, Xiao Yang walked over to the leader of the five Seniors, crouched down with the knife in hand, and gestured it toward the man's vulnerable spot.

The Senior's face turned green. "Junior, calm down, calm down! We can talk this out! It's only a little Fire Energy—it's not worth it, really not worth it!"

This Senior had a younger brother, so he knew exactly what kind of insane things eight- or nine-year-old brats could do when they got mischievous. He nearly screamed as he handed over his Fire Crystal Card, terrified that if he delayed even a second, Xiao Yang would truly cut him—or that Xiao Yang's hand might tremble and accidentally injure his vital area.

The coldness of that blade had made his hair stand on end.

Xiao Yang smilingly accepted the Senior's light-blue Fire Crystal Card. When he saw the red number "Thirty-Two" on it, the smile on his face grew even wider.

Xiao Yang pressed the black and blue cards together, then rubbed them together hard. The number on the black card immediately changed from five to thirty, while the blue card shrank down to seven...

Xiao Yang tossed the blue crystal card onto the ground like trash and curled his lips. "Tch, I still have to leave you Seniors seven days' worth of Fire Energy. What kind of stupid rule is that? It's completely unfair. Why do you Seniors only have to leave New Students with two days' worth after robbing them?"

While grumbling, Xiao Yang walked toward the other Seniors. "Alright, hand over your Fire Energy obediently. Otherwise..."

Before Xiao Yang could finish speaking, the other four Seniors obediently handed over their Fire Energy as well.

However, those four did not have as much Fire Energy as their leader. Combined, they only brought Xiao Yang's Fire Energy up to one hundred days.