Harvest

Putting away his Fire Crystal Card, Xiao Yang swaggered toward the edge of the forest.

Amid the vast forest, two elderly men sat cross-legged atop a giant tree, their bodies utterly motionless. Though a light breeze blew by, their robes remained as still as iron, presenting a most peculiar sight.

At a certain moment, the two old men abruptly opened their eyes. They exchanged a glance, each seeing a trace of astonishment in the other's gaze.

"Where does this little fellow get his confidence? One against fifty? With his cultivation at only the level of a four- or five-star Da Dou Shi, fifty Senior Students could crush him to death through sheer numbers."

"That may not be so. The leg technique that little fellow used just now was quite extraordinary. Not only was it overbearing and fierce, but it was as fast as lightning. Those five Senior Students did not even see his shadow before they were kicked flying, seriously injured, and stripped of their ability to fight."

Moreover, judging by how calm and composed that little fellow was, the cultivation method he practiced had to be of a very high rank. That tiny expenditure of Dou Qi meant nothing to him.

Among Da Dou Shi fighters, I'm afraid no one can take a single kick from him now.

Besides, didn't you notice the blade at that boy's waist?

In other words, he was merely playing around with those Senior Students right now.

If this old man's guess is correct, the reason that little fellow had not drawn his blade was probably because he feared causing deaths.

Come to think of it, this competition that seemed so close to actual combat had instead restricted that little fellow.

Within the dense forest, five figures slowly walked over dead branches and fallen leaves. Their footsteps produced faint rustling sounds, and each of them wore a badge bearing the image of a tower on his chest.

"Haha, how long has it been? Twenty days' worth of Fire Energy has already fallen into our hands. We've struck it rich.

No wonder so many Senior Students participate in this Fire Energy Hunting Competition!"

"Really? Stealing our New Students' Fire Energy makes you that happy?"

A youthful yet calm voice suddenly rang out. The five Senior Students jumped in fright and turned toward the sound, only to discover Xiao Yang, who was a full head shorter than them.

"Oh? Let me see, another New Student? Looking at you all alone and pitiful like this, don't tell me the others abandoned you?

Makes sense. Who would want to team up with a little burden like you, whose feathers haven't even grown in?

Don't worry. Hand over your Fire Energy obediently, and I won't hit you."

"Argh! Pfft!" Without exception, another round of screams rang out. They spat blood, clutched their stomachs, and collapsed to the ground, rolling about miserably as they wailed.

Xiao Yang had instantly leaped into the air and delivered a flying kick, executing the move Thunderclap Sky-Rending. He then landed lightly and crouched halfway down, the bangs over his forehead concealing his blood-red eyes.

"Let me give you some advice: it's better not to judge people solely by their appearance.

Because I look young, you took me for a weakling you could bully.

You overestimated your own strength while knowing nothing about mine. You made rash judgments and misjudged my caliber, which is why you're now sprawled on the ground like dead dogs after being beaten down by me."

Xiao Yang slowly rose to his feet and walked toward them step by step. "Either hand over your crystal cards obediently, or I'll cripple you first and take the cards afterward. Either way works for me."

Faced with Xiao Yang's ruthlessness, those Senior Students did not dare say another word. They obediently handed over all their crystal cards.

Thus, another one hundred and fifty days of Fire Energy fell into his hands.

Xiao Yang had originally intended to leave at once, but just as he turned around, he heard footsteps coming from the forest ahead. He stopped.

Before long, another Senior Student team approached.

When they saw the five Senior Students lying on the ground, they were dumbfounded. "What the hell are you doing? You actually got beaten flat by a New Student?

Getting beaten by a New Student would be bad enough, but that little guy over there clearly isn't even ten years old!"

The leading man who had been lying on the ground immediately cursed upon hearing that. "Stop spouting bullshit. If you've got the guts, try him yourself. I guarantee you'll get beaten flat too."

"Don't worry. We won't be as useless as certain people, getting their Fire Energy robbed by a New Student—and one not even ten years old at that. This is the first time something this ridiculous has happened in ten years. From now on, I'm afraid you'll be famous in the Inner Courtyard."

After tossing out that taunt, the Senior Student leading that team looked at Xiao Yang. "Little fellow, don't say I, Shi Jie, am bullying you. I'm the captain of this team. One-on-one.

If you beat me, the Fire Energy of all five of us will be yours."

Shi Jie had calculated things well. The Fire Energy of those previous five men had surely already gone to Xiao Yang. If he could take Xiao Yang down, all that Fire Energy would belong to them—and as the one who made the move, he would naturally take the biggest share.

"Fine." Xiao Yang nodded.

"Profound Rank Advanced Fighting Skill, Whirlwind Kick!" With a roar, Shi Jie leaped into the air and kicked at him.

However, Xiao Yang spun and delivered a side kick with Thunderclap Sky-Rending, striking Shi Jie directly in the shin.

Along with the sound of breaking bone and a miserable howl, Shi Jie felt as though an iron rod had viciously swept into him. A wave of agony surged through him, and then he crashed to the ground with a smack.

"Ah! My leg! My leg!" Shi Jie's wails reminded him of the unreliable chief of staff from the Wolf Fang Special Forces, the one jokingly called Fan Tiankeng.

Ignoring Shi Jie, Xiao Yang turned to the other four. "He just said that as long as I beat him, the captain, all your Fire Energy would be mine. Hand over your Fire Crystal Cards."

A man in green sneered. "Little fellow, who acknowledged that idiot as our captain? It was all his own wishful thinking. I never acknowledged him."

As soon as he finished speaking, a long spear appeared in his hand. Silver-white lightning Dou Qi surged forth, and with a flash of electric light, the spear shot toward Xiao Yang.

"Uh, why do people with Lightning Attribute Dou Qi all like using spears? That Xue Cheng who got beaten to death before did, my second brother Xiao Li does too, and now this man in green does as well."

"But since you're Lightning Attribute, you're just in time to test my new move. Lightning Release: Thousand Birds Current."

Countless bolts of blue-white lightning surged forth, shrieking like a thousand birds. The powerful current instantly paralyzed all four surrounding Senior Students, rendering them unable to fight.

Thousand Birds was merely a technique for protecting the path and slaughtering foes; it was not a foundational cultivation method.

Therefore, whether it was powered by Chakra or Daoist Qi made no difference.

What Xiao Yang had used just now was the Yang Lightning of the Daoist Five Thunder Method.

Called Five Thunders, it was in truth Five Qi. The Qi of the lungs and heart—metal and fire—were the first to arise, pure and agile yet grand and righteous. The incomparably domineering lightning directly knocked down the other four Senior Students as well.

Naturally, their Fire Energy also fell into Xiao Yang's hands.

"Only three teams, and I've already gotten a year's worth of Fire Energy. What a bountiful harvest."

Looking at the number on his Fire Crystal Card, Xiao Yang grinned from ear to ear.