Participate in the Flame Energy Hunting Competition, as a Hunter

Inner Academy.

"Qin Han!!"

"What trouble are you trying to stir up again?!!"

"You've returned to the Inner Academy twice in one year. Have you ever seen an Inner Academy student asking for leave every day?! Who did you pick up this bad habit from?!"

An elder in hemp clothes was so enraged that his beard trembled and his eyes bulged. Naturally, this was because Qin Han, on the very second day after returning, was asking for leave again to head to the forest outside the academy and take part in the hunting competition.

And as the gatekeeper for the final stage, no less.

"Great Elder's reprimand is deserved..."

Qin Han gave an awkward grin and nodded repeatedly, not daring to argue.

Then he turned his head, pulling a miserable face as he secretly shot Han Yue a pleading look.

Han Yue gently pressed her lips together before finally speaking. "Great Elder, actually... this time, it was this student who needed Qin Han's help with something."

Su Qian turned his gaze toward Han Yue, and his tone eased slightly. "Oh? Yue Girl? Go on."

After all, Han Yue was from the Central Plains. Even a dying camel was bigger than a horse.

Whether her family background was illustrious or not, the mere words "Central Plains" were enough for Jia Nan Academy to regard her more highly than ordinary students.

"I heard there are a few promising talents among this batch of new students. We wanted to make contact with them in advance..."

Han Yue did not finish the sentence, but as the administrator of the Inner Academy, Su Qian naturally understood the implication.

As she spoke, she secretly gave Qin Han a meaningful look.

Qin Han immediately continued, "Great Elder, this student truly wishes to do his part for the Inner Academy. I've traveled extensively over the years and accumulated some combat experience. Perhaps I can offer the new students some useful guidance during the Flame Energy Hunting Competition."

"Rest assured, Great Elder. I will go with him and keep Captain Qin from causing trouble. I guarantee that this trial will proceed normally. Once the competition is over, I'll bring him straight back."

As she spoke, Han Yue made a show of tugging at Qin Han's sleeve.

Su Qian looked at Han Yue, then at Qin Han. How could he fail to see that the two were putting on an act together?

But since Han Yue had already spoken up, and it was not a matter of principle, he could hardly refuse.

Setting Han Yue aside, Qin Han was not a student Su Qian could afford to overlook either.

The realm of a Half-Step Dou King was nothing remarkable. Su Qian had seen plenty of geniuses; every class produced one or two freaks who could touch the Dou Wang Barrier before graduation.

But he had never seen anyone who, after cultivating in the Burning Heaven Qi Refining Tower for a time, could automatically condense an Origin Fire Seed within their body—and then slowly cultivate it further.

Of course, Qin Han's claim of automatically condensing the fire seed was a lie.

Not long after he arrived at the Inner Academy three years ago and replicated a Fallen Heart Flame seed, Su Qian discovered that Qin Han possessed the Fallen Heart Flame.

At first, he thought the brat had used some wicked technique to descend underground and refine the Fallen Heart Flame.

But when he went down to check, the Fallen Heart Flame was perfectly fine.

Qin Han was then brought before the Elder Council. He casually made up the excuse that the fire seed had condensed automatically, while stubbornly insisting he knew nothing else.

The elders had never heard of such a precedent, but they could find no flaw in Qin Han. In the end, they could only attribute it to his unusual physique and extraordinary talent for cultivating Heavenly Flames.

Yet that did not stop the Inner Academy from paying closer attention to Qin Han afterward.

A student capable of refining and taming the Fallen Heart Flame might prove useful in dealing with any future riots in the Burning Heaven Qi Refining Tower.

The reason Su Qian had been in such a hurry to summon Qin Han back this time was also because the seal on the Burning Heaven Qi Refining Tower had begun to loosen.

With the brat staying in the Inner Academy, Su Qian felt more at ease.

After a moment of silence, Su Qian finally sighed.

"Fine."

He waved a hand. "Since Yue Girl is willing to vouch for you, I'll allow it this time. But Qin Han, remember this: at the Strong Ranking Competition at the end of the year, I must see your name among the top three!"

"This student obeys!"

Qin Han hurriedly agreed.

His decisiveness left Han Yue slightly stunned.

She had originally thought Su Qian was making things difficult for Qin Han and wanted to help him bargain for more time. She had not expected Qin Han to agree without hesitation.

"Go."

The two bowed respectfully and withdrew from the study.

Only after they had walked more than a hundred meters from the pavilion did Qin Han let out a long breath and wipe away a cold sweat.

"That scared me to death... I thought I was going to be punished this time."

Han Yue walked beside him, her head tilted as she watched him. A trace of puzzled incomprehension shone in her clear eyes.

"What? Is there a flower on my face?"

Han Yue withdrew her gaze and curved her lips into a faint smile. "I was worried your cultivation had fallen behind, but it seems I was overthinking things."

A place in the top three of the Strong Ranking meant Qin Han would have to defeat either Lin Xiuyai or Liu Qing. Both were at the peak of the Dou Ling realm.

This meant that Qin Han's cultivation had at least reached the peak of the Dou Ling realm.

In half a year, he had gone from a Seven-Star Dou Ling to the peak of Dou Ling. That rate of cultivation dealt Han Yue a small blow.

"What a freak..."

Han Yue could not help muttering softly.

"Hehe, thanks for this time."

Qin Han lightly patted Han Yue's shoulder twice, earning an eye-roll from her, just as expected.

"Honestly, after staying in that hellhole known as the Black Corner Region for so long—fighting and killing every day, living with a blade at my throat—suddenly returning to an ivory tower like this... the atmosphere here really is relaxing."

Qin Han walked ahead on his own.

At this moment, Jia Nan Academy was far livelier than usual.

Every part of the academy had been freshly decorated. The older students were all in high spirits, and many who had been in seclusion for a long time had ended their cultivation and emerged from the Burning Heaven Qi Refining Tower.

Every year, when new junior brothers and sisters enrolled, was always the academy's liveliest time. Everyone wanted to see the new faces entering the academy.

And, while they were at it, see whether they might have a chance to recruit them into their own factions or gangs.

"Where are we going now?" Han Yue asked.

"Straight to the Fire Energy Forest. If I've got the timing right, the new students should be arriving soon," Qin Han said.

A trace of suspicion appeared in Han Yue's eyes. She could not shake the feeling that Qin Han would not be this enthusiastic about recruiting newcomers, yet she could not pinpoint what was wrong.

So, she could only take the leave pass personally approved by Su Qian and head straight for the Inner Academy's main gate.

Meanwhile, at the entrance to the vast forest surrounding the Inner Academy.

Dozens of young figures stood in the clearing before the forest, each wearing a different expression.

At the front stood a youth of seventeen or eighteen. Dressed in black and carrying an enormous black heavy ruler on his back, his handsome face bore a resolute air. It was none other than Xiao Yan.

Four others stood beside him.

Xiao Xun'er in green robes, Hu Jia with impatience written all over her face, Wu Hao with a cold and proud expression as he held his longsword, and Bai Shan, whose expression was somewhat gloomy.

"The rules have already been made very clear."

Hu Gan stood before the five of them, his voice loud and clear. "Cross this forest and reach the Inner Academy. Along the way, teams of older students will intercept you and try to seize the Black Cards in your hands."

"A friendly reminder: the older students are more than a level stronger than you. Your chances of making it through will be much higher if you form teams!"

"One final reminder: at the end of the forest are two of the strongest gatekeeper teams. Only by defeating them can you truly enter the Inner Academy."

"Do you all understand?"

"We understand!"

All the new students answered in unison.

"Very good."

Hu Gan nodded and stepped aside. "Then, the Flame Energy Hunting Competition begins!"

"Start running for your lives... new students of Jia Nan Academy!"