The Inner Academy
Ahead, there were five people dressed in black. The weakest of these five was Five-Star Dou Grandmaster, and the leader was even One-Star Dou Spirit.
"The Black Fiend Team!" Lin Ming murmured upon seeing the five people in such attire. Whether in the original story or during Lin Ming's travels these past few days, the Black Fiend Team had appeared among the senior students participating in the Fire Energy Hunt Competition, which was why Lin Ming had only just recognized them.
"Friends over there, isn't it inappropriate to peek like this?" The leader of the Black Fiend Team spoke casually without even looking up.
"Have we been exposed?" Lin Ming wondered to himself upon hearing the Black Fiend Team leader's voice. However, he did not move.
Lin Ming considered himself very careful and unlikely to expose himself. Therefore, he wouldn't reveal his location based on a simple remark from someone. What if it was just a prank, something someone would say every now and then?
"Boss, is nobody here?" one of the Black Fiend Team members asked the team leader, Dou Ling.
The leader of the Black Fiend Team picked up the roasted meat from the fire, took a bite, looked up at Lin Ming, and said with a smile, "Friends in that big tree ten feet ahead, aren't you tired of hiding? Come down and sit down to have some roasted meat with us."
After the leader of the Black Fiend Team finished speaking, he pointed the roasted meat in his hand towards Lin Ming's direction.
After realizing that his figure had indeed been exposed, Lin Ming stopped hiding and boldly jumped down from the tree, walking towards the Black Fiend Team.
When Lin Ming emerged from behind the trees and approached the Black Fiend Team, the Black Fiend Team leader exclaimed in surprise, "You're Lin Ming? I thought it was some bastard from the White Fiend Team coming to scout out our battle!"
Seeing that the Black Fiend Team leader immediately called out his name, Lin Ming was now somewhat surprised. So Lin Ming asked, "You know me?"
"Haha, who in the Inner Academy doesn't know you, Lin Ming? Alright, Lin Ming, sit down and have something to eat! As for your Fire Energy Points, I don't think any of these people participating in the Fire Energy Hunt Competition would dare to steal them from you," the leader of the Black Fiend Team said to Lin Ming.
Lin Ming was even more confused after hearing this, but since everyone had said that, he figured that even if they were going to take action, it wouldn't be a sudden attack. So Lin Ming went to the fire and sat down.
Besides, even if they suddenly wanted his Fire Crystal Card, he could simply give them the Black Crystal Card, which only contained Heavenly Fire Energy. For the wealthy and powerful Lin Ming, Heavenly Fire Energy was nothing. Undoubtedly, figuring out the current doubts was far more important to Lin Ming.
Sitting by the fire, Lin Ming asked the Black Fiend Team about what their leader had said earlier—that no one would steal Lin Ming Fire Energy —and about his fame within the Inner Academy.
After introducing himself, the leader of the Black Fiend Team explained all of Lin Ming's questions to Lin Ming.
The leader of the Black Fiend Team Sun Feng. Through Sun Feng's explanation, Lin Ming's doubts were answered.
In fact, Lin Ming's fame at the academy and the fact that no one was competing with him for Lin Ming Fire Energy are two completely related things.
Before Sun Feng and the other senior students participated in the Fire Energy Hunt Competition, they were also instructed by Elder Huo for a period of time. Xu Shilin, Lin Ming's senior brother, made a statement in the Inner Academy, saying that among the people who entered the academy this year, there was an academy student named Lin Ming, who was his junior brother, and asked those of them who participated in the Fire Energy Hunt Competition not to make things difficult for him.
The profession of Alchemist is something that almost every cultivator will seek out Alchemist to help them refine medicines. And who is Xu Shilin? He is the Leader of the Inner Academy's Medicine Gang.
If you offend him, you can basically say you'll never get any pills in the Inner Academy. So, given the status of the Medicine Gang in the academy, apart from his enemies, no one would dare to disrespect Xu Shilin.
Besides being the Leader the Medicine Gang, Xu Shilin also ranks among the top ten on the Inner Academy's Strong Ranking.
When someone like him says he'll take care of his junior brother, those of them who participated in the Fire Energy Hunt Competition are practically nobody in the Inner Academy. Anyone with a modicum of sense wouldn't choose to offend Xu Shilin, a person with top-tier strength and influence, just to get three Fire Energy.
After all, these people didn't know that Lin Ming also had a Red Crystal Card with over a thousand Fire Energy. They all assumed that Lin Ming was just like any other freshman, with only five Fire Energy on his Black Crystal Card. And those participating in the Fire Energy Hunt Competition could only take three points from those five Fire Energy, leaving two Fire Energy the freshmen.
Even if these people knew that Lin Ming possessed over a thousand Fire Energy, very few, including everyone in the Inner Academy, would dare to try and seize it.
Shortly after Xu Shilin, the Leader of the Medicine Gang, declared that Lin Ming should not be touched in the Fire Energy Hunt Competition, another person in the Inner Academy spoke up.
This person simply said in a child's voice, "Among the new students who entered the Inner Academy this year, there's a guy named Lin Ming who's under her protection. Anyone who dares to mess with his people should think about how they'll get a beating from her!"
After speaking, the man swung his arm and fist twice in the air, creating a whooshing sound.
Upon hearing the words of this Little Girl looked only twelve or thirteen years old, the students in the Inner Academy had already added Lin Ming, whom the Little Girl mentioned, to their list of people they could not afford to provoke, and they firmly remembered Lin Ming.
The Little Girl's Dragon Might was such that no one in the Inner Academy dared to challenge her.
During the Inner Academy Grand Competition a couple of years ago, one of the top ten on the Strong Ranking insisted on provoking this Little Girl. As a result, the provocateur was knocked to the ground by just one punch from the Little Girl's tiny fist. If the academy hadn't treated him with Fifth Grade pill, the provocateur would probably have spent the rest of his life in bed.
From then on, the Little Girl earned the nickname "Brute Force King," and no one dared to provoke or anger her again.
After receiving the answer from Sun Feng, Lin Ming could only manage a wry smile. Lin Ming had never met this senior brother before, so he didn't know how to evaluate him.
However, Lin Ming Zi Yan now finally understood what Zi Lin Ming meant when she mentioned helping him refine Medicinal Pill and offering to solve some minor troubles as payment.
When Zi Yan finished speaking, Lin Ming was completely bewildered, not understanding what Zi Yan was talking about. Zi Yan then left Lin Ming's courtyard, so Lin Ming remained unaware of the "little trouble" Zi Yan had mentioned.
Seeing Lin Ming's wry smile, which clearly showed a hint of reluctance, the Black Fiend Team on the scene were inwardly roaring with anger.
"Why doesn't fate grant me this kind of treatment! Lin Ming, a freshman, hasn't even entered the Inner Academy yet, and he's already being protected by both the Brute Force King, who's ranked number one on the Inner Academy's Strong Ranking, and the Medicine Gang, which is basically the number one force in the Inner Academy."
"If either of these two parties says they'll protect someone, that person can basically do whatever they want in the Inner Academy. Now, a freshman Lin Ming is being jointly declared to be protected by both parties, which means he's practically the Inner Academy's backyard. And look at Lin Ming's expression right now—he actually looks a little unwilling."
"As expected, those who are welded shut are welded shut, and those who are drowning are complaining that the water quality isn't spring water and want to give a bad review. There's no way to reason with them."
Lin Ming had no idea what the Black Fiend Team were thinking. Now that he knew the reason why Black Fiend Team were being so polite to him, Lin Ming no longer harbored much suspicion towards them. He sat by the fire and picked up some roasted meat to eat.
The perfectly grilled meat was taken by Lin Ming, who took a bite. The crispy exterior and tender interior, combined with the special spices, almost made Lin Ming bite his tongue.
The delicious taste of the barbecue was one thing, but Lin Ming had eaten barbecues that tasted even better before, but none of them gave him the same feeling of satisfaction as he was now.
Lin Ming's feeling of satisfaction from the delicious food was inseparable from his life in the forest over the past few days. Since Lin Ming was traveling alone, he mainly relied on the dry rations stored in his Storage Ring.
After eating dry rations for so many days, encountering delicious barbecue would surely whet anyone's appetite, leading to a very satisfying meal.
After a hearty meal, Sun Feng said, "Brother Lin Ming, it's getting dark now, so we'll rest here for the night. If you're not worried about us suddenly raiding your Fire Energy Points in the middle of the night, you can also rest here for the night and continue your journey early tomorrow morning."
"With your cultivation level as Da Dou Shi, you can leave the forest and enter the Inner Academy by the afternoon if you set off in the morning."
"As for the White Fiend Team behind you, just identify yourself, and they won't harm you; they'll let you pass directly."
"Brother Sun, since it was your invitation, then Lin Ming will humbly accept the invitation to rest here for the night. As for what you said about a sudden attack in the middle of the night, if you wanted Lin Ming's Fire Energy Points, you would have already made your move, and you wouldn't be wasting so much time talking to Lin Ming here." Lin Ming said at this moment.
"Haha, Lin Ming, your temperament suits me perfectly. I like doing things openly and honestly. I despise those two-faced, underhanded tactics the most, so you can rest assured tonight," Sun Feng said to Lin Ming after laughing.
"Then, Brother Lin Ming, I'll go and rest first," Lin Ming said.
"Okay, go ahead!" After replying to Lin Ming, Sun Feng said to his companions, "We'll stick to the old rules: take turns on night watch. Those who don't need to be on duty can go and rest!"
Lin Ming arrived at an open space nearby, took out a tent from his Storage Ring, set it up, and went inside to rest. Because he had been traveling alone for the past few days, Lin Ming hadn't had a proper rest, so now that he had a peaceful place to rest, he naturally took it easy.
After a night passed, Lin Ming thanked the Black Fiend Team when he woke up in the morning and set off towards the end of the forest.
On his journey, Lin Ming encountered the White Fiend Team, but after Lin Ming revealed his identity, the White Fiend Team indeed allowed Lin Ming to pass through their group safely.
After leaving the White Fiend Team, Lin Ming experienced no further disturbances on his journey. Shortly after noon, he reached the edge of the forest, Lin Ming a cluster of buildings came into view.
Looking at the buildings before him, Lin Ming knew that this was the Inner Academy.