An Open Scheme, Seven Star Grand Dou Shi

Outside the pavilion.

Only after Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei disappeared from sight did Luo Ling finally withdraw his gaze. Rubbing his chin, he smiled.

"Boss, that bitch hit me. Are we just letting her leave like that?" a young man clutching his waist asked.

"You had it coming." Luo Ling shot him a disdainful glance. "No rush. If I've counted the days right, the trouble her little brother caused back then is almost due. She'll be begging us soon enough. Just wait."

Without saying a word, Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei hurried to a two-story cottage, pushed open the door, and entered.

"Sis, you're back." By the window, a young man had been cultivating. Hearing the movement, he opened his eyes, and an expectant smile immediately appeared on his face.

The young man was Xiao Ning. However, his complexion did not look good at the moment, and bruises that had yet to fully fade remained on his face.

Xiao Yu gave a slight nod without speaking. From the inside out, she gave off an air of deep dejection.

Seeing this, Xiao Ning closed his slightly parted lips and brought over tea and food.

Xiao Yu picked them up and began eating, wolfing everything down without the slightest concern for maintaining a ladylike image—though she had never intended to cultivate one in the first place.

But Xiao Ning vaguely understood what had happened, and his gaze gradually dimmed.

More than a month ago, he had been training as usual when Luo Ling and his men cornered him. Xiao Ning naturally had no intention of standing there to be beaten, so he ran.

During the escape, he accidentally knocked over and shattered an item.

He had assumed it was nothing valuable, only to find out that it was a gift an Inner Academy senior had given to his teacher.

After learning of the matter, the senior demanded compensation from Xiao Ning, threatening to find a way to have him expelled from Jia Nan Academy otherwise.

Afterward, Xiao Ning told his sister about it.

That day, several members of the Xiao Family heard the story and concluded with certainty that it was an open scheme aimed at the Xiao Family.

After thinking through the entire incident himself, Xiao Ning agreed. He immediately said that, at worst, he would just withdraw from the academy.

The item's most valuable component was a Third-Tier Magical Beast's Magical Core. The beast was called a Shadow Leopard and roamed the Primeval Forest outside Jia Nan Academy.

Shadow Leopards excelled at concealment. Their movements were elusive and difficult to track, making them extremely hard to kill. The academy had almost none of their Magical Cores in stock.

To obtain one, they had to enter the forest and hunt for it. Unwilling to let her brother lose his chance to study at Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yu found a team that hunted Shadow Leopards.

Over the past month or so, she had spent more than a month outside, chasing the beast with the others. They had finally found its trail, but the Shadow Leopard still managed to escape in the end.

That was why Xiao Yu was especially despondent now, unsure what to do...

"Sis, you don't need to worry about me. I caused this trouble, so I'll take responsibility for it myself." Xiao Ning slapped the table. "That Luo Ling has targeted our Xiao Family again and again. Since I'm getting expelled anyway, I'll find a chance to kill him before I leave."

Xiao Yu's beautiful eyes widened. "Have you lost your mind? You're my little brother. How could I possibly ignore you? Things haven't reached that point yet. Put those thoughts away. And take a look at your own ability—do you think you can handle Luo Ling?"

Luo Ling had just acted so recklessly because he relied on his own strength as a Nine Star Dou Shi, as well as an older brother in the Inner Academy who was both powerful and well-connected.

Xiao Ning stiffened his neck. "Even a dog will jump over a wall when it's desperate, let alone a person. If I'm leaving anyway, I'll bite him even if it kills me. I'll let everyone see that our Xiao Family isn't someone they can bully at will."

"I think you're asking for a beating." Xiao Yu raised her hand as if to strike him, but Xiao Ning dodged.

"Cousin, this is all my fault." Xiao Mei lowered her head, her voice full of self-reproach.

"It has nothing to do with you, Cousin," Xiao Yu said. "Everyone has long heard about Luo Ling's behavior at Jia Nan Academy. If anyone is to blame, it's only that our Xiao Family has had bad luck."

It's because I'm not good enough... I arrived at Jia Nan Academy before my younger brother and cousin, yet I still haven't become an Inner Academy student.

Otherwise, Luo Ling would at least have held back a little.

With a sigh in her heart, Xiao Yu stood up. "I just got back, and I'm exhausted. I'm going to rest first."

When she reached the stairs, she stopped and turned back. "Xiao Ning, listen to me. Before the deadline arrives, if you dare lose your mind and do anything reckless, don't blame me for putting righteousness before family!"

"Got it, Sis. Go get some rest." Xiao Ning nodded obediently. Once Xiao Yu went upstairs, a shadowy look appeared in his eyes.

The sun sank, and the moon rose.

In the dim room, an orange-red glow flickered. A black lotus-shaped platform floated in the air, and a figure sat cross-legged atop it, cultivating.

Suddenly, the surrounding Dou Qi began spinning faster, converging directly toward that figure.

Before long, a faint sound like a cork being pulled free echoed through the air.

"Huff..." Hun Cang opened his eyes and exhaled, stepping down from the lotus platform. "My strength has recovered to Seven Star Grand Dou Shi."

In less than two months, he had soared from a Dou Shi to a Seven Star Grand Dou Shi. If word spread, countless people would likely be shocked, because such a cultivation speed was simply unheard of on the Dou Qi Continent.

Yet Hun Cang was not particularly satisfied. After all, once one came into contact with bloodlines and ancient tombs in the later stages, even Dou Venerables and Dou Saints could rapidly increase their strength.

He was still at the most basic stage, yet his progress was already this slow.

Shaking his head, Hun Cang turned his gaze in a certain direction. He sensed a powerful Heavenly Flame aura there, and that was precisely where the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower stood.

"If I cultivate there for half a year, my strength should recover to its original level." He understood the Falling Heart Flame, known as a cultivation accelerator, very well.

Knock, knock!

"Just a moment." Hearing the sound, Hun Cang waved a hand, putting away the Ink Jade Lotus Platform and the other items. He put on a robe, then walked over and opened the door.

Huo De stood outside. Feeling a wave of heat rush at him from within, he unconsciously took two steps back. His gaze passed Hun Cang and fell upon the room as he sighed. "Heavenly Flames truly are terrifying. Even cultivation can produce such high temperatures."

"Is the Inner Academy assessment about to begin?" Hun Cang asked. Huo De had not come by for nearly a month.

"More or less." Noticing the look on Hun Cang's face, Huo De explained, "There are three days left. The academy is conducting a simple test today to confirm that those who signed up have a chance of passing the assessment, so you need to make a trip there."

Jia Nan Academy's rules were not set in stone. Otherwise, some people who clearly qualified would have to keep waiting another year, wasting precious time they could have spent improving.

Thus, aside from the annual assessment, there was also a separate opportunity every two months, though the requirements for those taking it were higher.

Therefore, a simple test was required before the official assessment.

Hun Cang had heard the people delivering his meals mention it over the past few days, so he had some understanding of the matter. He asked Huo De to wait, then returned to his room. After a while, Hun Cang emerged fully dressed.

"Let's go." Hun Cang shut the door.

"Mm." Huo De walked ahead to lead the way, briefly explaining that it was merely a basic strength test—he only needed to place his hand on a stone tablet.