The Journey

As the Griffon Beast took off, all fifty people who had earned Inner Academy Slot headed away from the academy towards the forest behind it.

Along the way, people were speculating about the location of the Inner Academy. The name "Inner Academy" itself suggests that it was part of the Jia Nan Academy, but now they were far from the academy, having arrived in the endless forest behind it.

This action not only made the already mysterious Inner Academy even more mysterious, but also caused those who were about to enter the Inner Academy to speculate about its plans, with some even making bets and waiting to see who would win Inner Academy.

"What do you think the Inner Academy is like? I know someone who entered the Inner Academy. I met him once a while ago. His cultivation level wasn't much higher than mine before, but this time when we met, he was far ahead of me." Xie Lei, from Lin Ming's group, asked the others at this moment, his face full of longing.

Seeing these people acting as if they were on vacation, fantasizing that the Inner Academy was a place with abundant Dou Qi, perfect for cultivation, Lin Ming's lips curled into a sneer.

While the Inner Academy is of great help to cultivation, that's only for those with abundant Fire Energy. For those without stable Fire Energy, it's not as wonderful as they might imagine.

In the Outer Academy, because of the help of Instructor, classes, and families, these students are really similar to those who went to middle school in their previous lives, without so many worries.

However, once you enter the Inner Academy, it's no longer like a school environment. The Inner Academy is just like the real world; except for the prohibition against killing or intentionally injuring others, everything else is completely the same as the social environment.

Upon entering the Inner Academy, these students, who are still full of anticipation, will soon discover its harsh reality. In this Inner Academy courtyard's currency— Fire Energy —most people will experience the hardship of earning Fire Energy and how easily Fire Energy can be used.

Of course, cultivation level and strength are universally applicable throughout the Dou Qi Continent, no matter where you are. With sufficient strength, all problems can be solved.

But when your strength is insufficient, well, you can only accept your fate. The students on the Griffon Beast's back will soon understand this deeply.

When Xie Lei asked the question, some of Lin Ming and the others shook their heads to indicate that they didn't know, while others simply ignored him.

At that moment, a beam of energy shot towards the Griffon Beast in the sky from the forest below. Just as the energy was about to reach Griffon Beast flying Griffon Beast, an old man flying beside it flicked out a burst of battle Dou Qi, dispersing the incoming energy.

Only after the energy was dispersed did the students on the Griffon Beast's back react.

If that energy had hit the Griffon Beast, it would have knocked Griffon Beast down from its flight, and the students on Griffon Beast back would have fallen into the forest below with Griffon Beast.

Falling from such a height, their chances of survival were absolutely slim. And just as some of the students were feeling relieved, a winged Magical Beasts attacked them from the forest below.

This time, it was Vice Dean Hu Gan who made the move. When the winged Magical Beasts was more than 20 feet away from the Griffon Beast, Vice Dean Hu Gan released a burst of energy from his hand. Then, the winged Magical Beasts that was attacking the Griffon Beast exploded like a bomb, leaving a blood flower in the air.

"Fortunately, we had Vice Dean Hu Gan escorting us, otherwise, with that attack from the Flying Magical Beast just now, the Griffon Beast team would probably have been completely routed," Cheng Chen said at this moment.

Judging from the aura, Cheng Chen deduced that the winged Magical Beasts that had attacked them was probably a Fourth-Order Magical Beasts.

Without the escort of Vice Dean Hu Gan, a Fourth-Order Flying Magical Beast could definitely disrupt the Griffon Beast team in the air and even cause heavy casualties to the students.

Lin Ming nodded in agreement with Cheng Chen's words. Furthermore, under Lin Ming's immense Soul Power, he sensed that there were many beings in the forest below whose auras were even stronger than the Tier 4 Magical Beast that had just attacked.

A magical beast stronger than Tier 4 Magical Beast Magical Beasts would probably have to be Fifth Order Magical Beasts, equivalent to Dou King Expert. Fortunately, these Fifth Order Magical Beasts are generally no less intelligent than humans, and after sensing the powerful human auras in the sky, they did not launch an attack like other lower-tier Magical Beasts.

Along the way, they were attacked by Magical Beasts from time to time. Under the protection of Vice Dean Hu Gan and the others, these attacking Magical Beasts were all turned into blood flowers and fell from the sky before they even got close to the Griffon Beast.

After flying for most of the hour, the Griffon Beast gradually slowed down, and then, with a shout of "Land!", Griffon Beast descended downwards.

The students also heard the landing sound, so they all got up, eager to see what the Inner Academy they had arrived at looked like.

The endless expanse of green trees, except for a bottomless ravine below, was no different from the scenery we had seen during our flight. There was no Inner Academy here, not even a single person in sight.

The students' doubts had no effect on the Griffon Beast's landing. Soon, the Griffon Beast landed on a clearing in the ravine below, and then all the students were called off Griffon Beast back and landed on the ground.

"Have we arrived at the Inner Academy?"

"This is the Inner Academy? Why is there nothing here?"

"Yes! Besides trees, there are only rocks; there's no Inner Academy."

Some of the students then began to talk amongst themselves. Vice Dean Hu Gan smiled and said calmly to the students, "The Inner Academy isn't so easy to get into."

After speaking, Vice Dean Hu Gan slowly took a few steps forward, then waved his hand, sending a burst of energy into the space in front of him.

The students were now watching Vice Dean Hu Gan as he shot out a burst of energy into the empty space ahead, leaving many puzzled.

When the energy emitted by Vice Dean Hu Gan struck a certain spot in the space ahead, ripples appeared in that empty space, like waves on water.

These ripples gradually increased and spread from a single point, and under these ripples, a large, Pale Silver Ancient Gate, seven or eight zhang tall, appeared out of thin air in front of them.

The Giant Gate that appeared out of nowhere startled everyone present. The ripples that had just appeared were spatial fluctuations, something that only those with a cultivation level of Dou Zong could even begin to grasp.

This gate that appeared out of nowhere definitely involves space. These ordinary students, who had never seen spatial ripples before, were no longer able to remain calm after witnessing it.

With a loud "boom," the Giant Gate slowly opened amidst gasps of surprise from the crowd.

After the Giant Gate opened, the scene behind it was not the towering building one had imagined. Instead, the environment was similar to where the students were, a dense forest.

"Follow me." Vice Dean Hu Gan said, turning around, and then walked towards the Giant Gate. After Vice Dean Hu Gan stepped into the Giant Gate, his figure disappeared.

The students, seeing that Vice Dean Hu Gan had disappeared into the silver Giant Gate, dared not delay any longer. If it weren't for Vice Dean Hu Gan and the other elders escorting them, the Magical Beasts they had encountered along the way would probably be in Magical Beasts bellies by now.

Now that Vice Dean Hu Gan is missing, if any powerful Magical Beasts were to appear, no one would be able to stop them. Therefore, the students hurried towards the silver Giant Gate and then disappeared after passing through it.

Lin Ming and his companions, who had similar experiences, did not rush towards the silver Giant Gate like the other students. Instead, they waited until most of the other students had entered before slowly walking towards the silver Giant Gate and disappearing behind Giant Gate.

After swallowing everyone inside, including the Griffon Beast that had transported Lin Ming and his Giant Gate, the Giant Gate closed its doors and then disappeared again amidst a ripple.

The valley, which was just a moment ago teeming with people, is now deserted except for a few footprints. The Giant Gate has vanished without a trace. The valley has returned to silence.

After entering the Giant Gate, the students were momentarily disoriented, but quickly regained their senses and felt their feet touching the ground.

After all the trainees entered, the scene before them was not much different from what they had seen from outside the door—a dense forest.

The only difference was that a group of people were already waiting at the entrance of the forest not far away. Apart from the two elderly men and several middle-aged men in the front, the twenty or so people behind them looked to be about the same age as the trainees present.

The twenty or so people behind them, besides being all young, had one thing in common: they all wore Tower-shaped Emblem on their chests.

"Haha, Lao Hu, you're still as punctual as ever." An elderly man in front of the group said to Vice Dean Hu Gan with a smile.

"Old Liu, Old Xu, it's your turn to be on duty this year. You'll be busy from now on," Vice Dean Hu Gan said with a smile.

"No matter how busy we are, it's our turn. How are this year's students?" another elderly man in front of him asked.

"Overall, things are a little better this year than last year." After replying to the old man, Vice Dean Hu Gan turned to Lin Ming and the others and said, "Lin Ming, you five come here."

After Lin Ming and his group of five arrived at Vice Dean Hu Gan's side, Vice Dean Hu Gan introduced them to the two elderly people in front of them.

"These two are elders of the academy. The one on the left is Elder Liu, and the one on the right is Elder Xu. After you enter the Inner Academy, you can ask these two elders for guidance if you have any questions."

When Vice Dean Hu Gan introduced the two elders, Lin Ming and the other four respectfully greeted each one as an elder.