Entering Jia Nan

"Mm, Old Man Su, how about my disciple enrolling in your Jia Nan Academy?" Old Wang asked Su Qian.

"Good! That would be wonderful! I haven't been particularly satisfied with the quality of students in recent years. They're better than the worst but fall short of the best; only a scattered few are decent. It would be good to have the little fellow knock some sense into them!"

Naturally, Su Qian was delighted to receive such a talented student.

"Then handle his enrollment procedures. Old Man Su, I remember that those who enter the Inner Academy through the Outer Academy have one chance to enter the Library Pavilion. You'd better reserve that opportunity for Li'er," Old Wang said with a grin.

Jia Nan Academy's Library Pavilion contained countless treasures, all collected by Headmaster Mang Tian Ruler, a Dou Zun Expert.

For example, Earth Rank Cultivation Methods and Earth Rank Battle Skills that people outside fought desperately over were anything but scarce at Jia Nan Academy. The Library Pavilion had cultivation methods, battle skills, medicinal herbs, pill recipes—everything one could need.

"Hehe, Old Wang, if he wants to enter the Library Pavilion, he must first complete the Outer Academy Selection Tournament. Only those who place in the top five qualify. Of course, with the little fellow's strength, that shouldn't be a problem."

Su Qian said as he stroked his beard.

"Li'er, go register at the Outer Academy first. This old man will wait for you in the Inner Academy." Old Wang patted Xiao Li's head with a smile.

"No problem. Let me see what Jia Nan Academy's geniuses are made of." Xiao Li clenched his fists, already eager to get started.

"Then, Great Elder, I'll take this little genius to report to the Outer Academy." Wu Tianlang smiled. It was naturally a good thing for Jia Nan Academy to gain such a genius.

"Mm, Tianlang, take our newly recruited little genius and get him enrolled," Su Qian said with a smile, stroking his beard.

Wu Tianlang took Xiao Li to the Outer Academy, while Su Qian led Old Wang directly toward the Inner Academy.

"Old Wang, is that little fellow your newly accepted disciple? I assume he's also an Alchemist?" Su Qian asked.

"Of course. Old Man Su, take a guess—what rank Alchemist do you think my disciple is now?" Old Wang had always been very satisfied with Xiao Li.

"Oh? Let this old man guess. He must already be a Rank 4 Alchemist, right? With his Dou Ling cultivation, refining Fourth Grade Pills shouldn't be a problem."

Great Elder Su Qian said with a smile.

"Hehe, you guessed wrong! My disciple is already a Rank 5 Alchemist! He can even refine Grade 5 Pills like the Spirit Ascending Pill." Old Wang said proudly.

"Rank 5? And he can refine Spirit Ascending Pills? Even Old Huo from our academy doesn't have a high success rate refining Spirit Ascending Pills. That kid is really that formidable?" Su Qian exclaimed in shock.

"Who do you think taught him? Enough, old fellow. Arrange an Honorary Elder position for this old man. I want to research a few things and refine a couple of pills while I'm at it." Old Wang waved a hand.

Meanwhile,

"Sir, where are we going now?" Xiao Li asked the fierce-looking middle-aged man.

"I'm not a teacher. I'm the deputy commander of Jia Nan Academy's Enforcement Team. My surname is Wu; just call me Commander Wu." Wu Tianlang smiled. "We're going to see the Outer Academy Dean and complete your enrollment procedures."

"Got it!"

Half a day later,

"Phew, finally finished. The Inner Academy Selection Tournament will be held in about a month. It probably won't be possible to raise another star in a month. Emmm, I'll refine pills instead.

"Ever since breaking through to Dou Ling, I haven't properly immersed myself in alchemy. I can't slack off on refining pills—this is how I make my living."

Xiao Li went straight to his dormitory and began a month-long life of pill refinement.

A month later,

Knock, knock—

Knock, knock, knock—

"Who is it?!"

"Xiao Li! Today is the Inner Academy Selection Tournament! Did you forget?"

Outer Academy Vice President Hu Gan had been overseeing the Inner Academy Selection Tournament. When he noticed that the little fellow he had met a month ago was missing from the lineup, he came over personally.

"Open the door! What are you doing in there, brat? This old man is breaking in!"

Bang—

Hu Gan kicked the door open. When he looked inside, he saw that the spirited youngster from a month ago now had messy hair and filthy clothes. Though dark circles ringed his eyes, his gaze remained fixed on the blue Medicine Cauldron before him.

"Hiss—he's refining pills! Judging by the energy fluctuations, it's a Grade 5 Pill! This kid can refine Grade 5 Pills!" Hu Gan was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped. He had never expected a sixteen-year-old youngster to be capable of refining Grade 5 Pills!

This was far too outrageous!

"Condense!"

Xiao Li controlled the flames and condensed the Medicine Liquid into a pill the size of a Dragon Eye.

Boom—

The phenomenon caused by a Grade 5 Pill filled the entire room.

Xiao Li held the pill in his hand. It was still warm, but its surface was not sufficiently smooth and round.

"Tch, I condensed it too carelessly! This pill's quality is poor! It's all your fault, old man! You actually interrupted my alchemy and ruined a perfectly good Qing Yuan Pill!"

Xiao Li shouted at Hu Gan. What Alchemists feared most was being disturbed during alchemy. Xiao Li had been at the most critical stage of condensing the pill, but Hu Gan had distracted him.

"Qing Yuan Pill! A high-grade Grade 5 Pill, the Qing Yuan Pill! It can aid a Dou Huang's cultivation. Although it can't directly raise one's cultivation by a star like the Dou Spirit Pill or Imperial Origin Pill, its effect in accelerating cultivation is extraordinarily significant!"

Hu Gan said in astonishment. It was no wonder he was so shocked—Jia Nan Academy truly did not have an Alchemist this skilled. The academy's strongest Alchemist was Fire Elder, the Department Head of the Alchemist Department, and he was only a Rank 5 Alchemist.

If Fire Elder wanted to refine a Qing Yuan Pill, he would likely need to hone his alchemy for quite some time.

"Ahem, Vice President, what did you say you needed? What day is it today?" Xiao Li said, picking at his ear.

"Today is the Inner Academy Selection Tournament. Don't you want to enter the Inner Academy? And earn a spot in the Library Pavilion while you're at it? If you miss today, you'll have to wait until next time!"

Hu Gan explained. Wisely, he did not mention having interrupted Xiao Li's alchemy just now, since what he had done violated an Alchemist's taboo.

"Got it. It's nothing more than fights against Dou Masters and Da Dou Shi. I'll take them all on." Xiao Li patted the dust from his clothes and headed outside.

At the selection tournament,

The top students from every class had been waiting for a long time. However, the tournament had yet to begin because one student had not arrived, and the Vice President had gone to fetch him personally.

"Who is it? What a big shot, making the Vice President personally go get them?"

"Who knows?"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of sonic booms rang out as a crimson streak of light shot toward them, crashing directly onto the Martial Arena and kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

"Alright, geniuses. If you've got any skills, show them. I'll take you all on at once!"

As the dust settled, a youngster stood there holding a Red-Silver greatsword, staring arrogantly at everyone remaining in the arena.

"Bold!"

"Arrogant!"

"You're courting death!"

The geniuses were initially stunned, but Xiao Li's words soon enraged them. Without another thought, they all charged forward.

"Hmph! Heavenly Fierce Slash!"

Xiao Li raised Heavenly Fierce above his head, then gathered Dou Qi. A powerful energy fluctuation converged upon Heavenly Fierce. An Earth Rank Battle Skill could draw upon World Energy to unleash devastating destructive power.

With Xiao Li's current Three-Star Dou Ling cultivation, once he unleashed an Earth Rank Battle Skill, he had few rivals among Dou Lings. If a Dou Wang took Xiao Li's attack head-on, they would be crippled even if they survived.

"Not good! Protect the students!"

Vice President Hu Gan had barely sat down before leaping back to his feet, because Xiao Li had gone too far.