Entering the Inner Academy

Entering the Inner Academy

Over the next few days, Xiao Ling and the others lay in ambush around the forest exit, intercepting the senior student teams and taking their Fire Crystal Cards. They took turns keeping watch while the others cultivated on the spot.

No one knew who had leaked the news, but the senior students learned of Xiao Ling's actions and were immediately furious. They began banding together to cause trouble.

Xiao Ling was more than happy to see it. Once they had dealt with the White Fiend Squad, the Black Fiend Squad promptly came to deliver Fire Energy as well. In his eyes, the other senior students were nothing but rabble. Even if they came in groups, it would make no difference. Though the enemies were many, all would fall to a single strike.

Under such circumstances, Xiao Ling's group gained a great deal, saving up a massive amount of Fire Energy for their early cultivation in the Inner Academy.

If not for the limited number of senior students in the Fire Energy Hunt Competition, Xiao Ling would have liked to fleece a few more before leaving. Sigh, there really aren't enough for me, Xiao, to rob.

After leaving the forest, the group arrived at an open area strewn with jagged rocks. The forest's spread came to an end upon reaching this rocky expanse, allowing sunlight from above to pour down unobstructed onto the ground, warming everyone to the core.

Not far beyond the rocky area was a raised hill. Atop it stood a platform built from huge stones, where two elderly men were seated. They were Elder Su and Elder Qing, whom Xiao Ling and the others had seen upon entering the forest. Several middle-aged men with steady auras sat nearby as well; clearly, they were all administrators of the Inner Academy.

Seeing the group, Elder Su smiled and said, "Even sending the Black Fiend Squad and White Fiend Squad after you proved useless. It seems you truly are outstanding."

Elder Qing stroked his beard at the side and smiled kindly. "Still, this competition was meant to temper the unity of you new students and make you understand that companions are indispensable. You performed very well."

"Since you have already left the competition grounds, the winners have been decided. It is time to end this Fire Energy Hunt Competition." After saying this, Elder Su flew above the forest.

Under everyone's gaze, Elder Su spoke in a powerful voice that seemed to ring directly beside their ears. "This year's Fire Energy Hunt Competition goes to the new students. All students still hiding in the forest, come out at once."

Elder Su's slightly aged voice slowly echoed through the air. Soon, the trees in the forest opposite him shook, and figures emerged one after another.

Most of these new students bore injuries, and some even limped as they walked, looking utterly bedraggled.

Sweeping his gaze over them, Xiao Ling spotted Han Xian. His face was black and blue, and it was obvious he had been beaten badly.

Compared to ordinary Dou Zhes, most Alchemists were somewhat weaker in combat. Alchemists with formidable fighting strength like Xiao Ling were truly rare.

After everyone had emerged from the forest, Elder Su spoke again. "As the winners of this Fire Energy Hunt Competition, every new student present will receive five days of Fire Energy. Xiao Ling, Xiao Xun'er, Lin Xiuyai, Liu Qing, Han Yue, and Lin Yan will additionally receive a Green Fire Crystal Card, along with sixty days of Fire Energy."

"Green Fire Crystal Card?"

At Elder Su's words, a commotion broke out on the hill. Envious gazes turned toward Xiao Ling and the other five.

"Green Fire Crystal Card? What is that?" Lin Xiuyai and the others were rather confused by this so-called Green Fire Crystal Card. They exchanged looks, all equally puzzled.

"Hehe, in the Inner Academy, Fire Crystal Cards are divided into five colors from lowest to highest: black, blue, green, red, and purple. The black crystal cards in your hands are the lowest-grade cards. They only grant the qualification to cultivate on the first and second floors of the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower. Blue crystal cards grant access to the third and fourth floors, and so on."

"To upgrade a crystal card, you must pay Fire Energy in the Inner Academy. Generally speaking, exchanging a black crystal card for a blue one requires one hundred days of Fire Energy, while exchanging a blue crystal card for a green one requires two hundred days of Fire Energy... Now that you have received Green Fire Crystal Cards as rewards, it is equivalent to saving three hundred days of Fire Energy. That is no small sum. Among these senior students of the Inner Academy, aside from Lu Jin, who happened to upgrade his blue crystal card to a Green Fire Crystal Card a week ago, most are still using blue crystal cards." Seeing Lin Xiuyai and the others' confusion, Elder Su explained with a smile.

"Three hundred days of Fire Energy?" Only upon hearing that figure did Lin Xiuyai and the others understand why the surrounding gazes were filled with envy. They had robbed the senior students clean in the forest, and with this reward added, each of their crystal cards had only just exceeded three hundred days. This showed that acquiring Fire Energy in the Inner Academy was likely quite difficult.

After finishing his explanation, Elder Su flicked his hand, and six green crystal cards appeared in it. With a flick of his finger, the cards shot toward Xiao Ling and the others, stopping in midair before them.

"The rewards are already inside. Transfer the Fire Energy from your black crystal cards into them, then return the black crystal cards to me."

Hearing this, Xiao Ling and the others hurriedly complied. A moment later, they handed the now-empty black crystal cards to Elder Su.

Taking the black Fire Crystal Cards, Elder Su nodded slightly and said with a smile, "All right. Since you have all passed the Fire Energy Hunt Competition, follow me into the Inner Academy." With that, he turned first and slowly headed up the hill by way of a stone staircase.

Xiao Ling beckoned to Xiao Xun'er and the others, then took the lead. Under the watchful eyes of everyone on the hill, they followed Elder Su up the stairs.

The stone staircase was not very high. In only a minute or two, Xiao Ling and the others reached the final step. With a leap, they landed atop the hill. As they swept their eyes ahead, the sight before them made them slowly draw in a breath of slightly cool air.

Beyond the hill lay an enormous sunken basin. Judging from its shape, it looked as though a giant meteorite had fallen from the sky and smashed it into existence...

Towering buildings stood throughout the basin. Looking down from above, they could see dark figures like fleas constantly darting and leaping across the rooftops. As their gazes stretched farther ahead, they discovered that the basin was astonishingly vast. Even at the limit of their vision, they could still see only towering structures and lush greenery.

It was hard to imagine that such a wondrous place was hidden within the endless mountains behind Jia Nan Academy!

"Hehe, little ones, welcome to the core of Jia Nan Academy: the Inner Academy!" Elder Su clapped his hands and smiled at the shock on the new students' faces.

It was Xiao Ling's first time seeing the Inner Academy as well, and he could not help marveling at how unique this place was. He muttered inwardly, Mang Tianchi really knew how to pick a place. He found the Fallen Heart Flame in the magma, set up an array around it, and built the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower above it. If he knew that the Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion and Dragon Emperor Zhu Kun at the Nine Star Dou Sheng Peak were right beneath him, would he still dare to build an academy here?

Xiao Ling shook his head and stopped thinking about matters beyond his current strength. The Dou Qi Continent's second-richest woman was still inside, waiting for him to whisk her away.

"All right, now that the Hunt Competition is over, every new student should follow me back to the Inner Academy. Once we have settled you in, you will truly become members of the Inner Academy. Believe me, as long as you can persevere here, when you leave, you will find that every bit of your progress was worth it." Elder Su's gaze lingered on Xiao Ling and the others as he spoke slowly.

All the new students nodded slightly. From the senior students, they had already seen just how enormous the benefits of cultivating in this Inner Academy would be.

"Let's go! Everyone, follow me!" With a wave of his hand, Elder Su transformed into a blurred shadow and shot toward the enormous basin. Behind him, all the new students immediately moved as well, diving down from the hill like a swarm of locusts. Excited howls rang through the sky and lingered for a long time.