Fire Energy Hunt Competition

"All right, no more nonsense. Although you have passed the selection trials and earned the qualifications to enter the Inner Academy, it isn't over yet..." Elder Su smiled and raised his hand. A large handful of black crystal chips appeared in his palm. With a casual toss, the chips shot outward, then hovered before everyone as though they had eyes. Seeing this, the crowd reached out and caught them.

The moment the crystal chips landed in their hands, Xiao Ling and the others felt a strange warmth seeping from them. Looking down closely, they discovered a transparent mirror-like surface on each chip, bearing a large red number: "Five"!

It was Xiao Ling's first time holding the actual item. He examined it carefully, but unfortunately, he could not make out how it had been made.

"What does this mean?" The crowd looked at the red number in confusion. When they raised their eyes, however, they were startled to see that the young people standing behind the middle-aged man were staring fervently at the black crystal chips in their hands, their eyes filled with undisguised greed.

"Some things are rather troublesome to explain, and you will understand them naturally in the future. For now, you only need to know one thing: guard the crystal chips in your hands as carefully as your lives. Once you enter the Inner Academy, you will understand how important they are! Of course, just look at the way these fellows are staring, and you may already understand a little." As he spoke, Elder Su pointed at the group of young people and smiled.

"Next, you must enter the forest and successfully reach the Inner Academy at the other end." Elder Su's finger remained pointed at those young people as he said calmly, "And while you are crossing this forest, be careful of them. According to the Inner Academy's rules, they may attack freely within this forest. In other words, they can attack you."

"Remember, the number on your crystal chips holds an enormous temptation for them. Therefore, aside from killing you, they will use every possible means to obtain the... 'Fire Energy' on your chips. You will become very familiar with—and very fond of—that term in the future. But for now, you must avoid them or defeat them. As long as you are not caught by them and safely reach the Inner Academy, you will receive the final reward. The earlier you arrive, the richer the reward."

Elder Su's finger suddenly shifted toward the dark forest behind him. "We of the Inner Academy call this forest plundering... the 'Fire Energy Hunt Competition'..."

"Now, I announce that this year's Fire Energy Hunt Competition has officially begun! Students, begin your escape!"

Hearing that the Fire Energy Hunt Competition had officially begun, Xiao Ling and the others rose to their feet. After exchanging glances, they rushed into the forest, intending to lie in wait near the finish line.

The old students did not stop them. They assumed the group intended to stick together and quickly pass through. They had heard that several among them were High-level Great Dou Masters—wouldn't it be better to conserve their strength for bullying the weaker remaining students?

Within the dense forest, scattered sunlight filtered down through gaps in the leaves. Specks of light fell across the ground covered in dead leaves, lending the entire woodland a slightly dreamlike atmosphere.

In the silent forest, footsteps suddenly sounded, drawing nearer from afar. A moment later, six figures slowly emerged.

Once the figures came fully into view, it became clear that they were Xiao Ling, Lin Xiuyai, and the others.

After rushing forward for some distance, they spotted the end of the forest not far ahead.

Seeing this, they no longer continued forward. Instead, they began pacing along the edge of the forest, waiting for the old students to arrive.

Before long, five old students dressed in white walked toward them. Clearly, they intended to wait at the forest exit and intercept the new students' Fire Energy.

As his Soul Perception spread outward, Xiao Ling spotted the white-clad figures and muttered inwardly, So this is the strongest White Fiend Squad. Since they've delivered themselves to us, we'll just deal with them directly.

Using the skill Disguise to conceal his aura, Xiao Ling did not rashly go forward alone. Instead, he gathered everyone together. When the White Fiend Squad let down their guard, Xiao Ling shouted, "Attack together!"

Hearing movement from the shadows, the five members of the White Fiend Squad had yet to react. As they looked around, clusters of fireballs descended upon them from the sky. The scorching heat instantly ignited the surrounding trees. It was Xiao Ling's Earth Tier Low-grade Dou Technique, Blazing Fire Meteor. Though this area attack did not concentrate its power very well, it was excellent for restricting movement and clearing out minor enemies.

Several fireballs struck the White Fiend Squad members, but because they had promptly summoned their Dou Qi Armor, they were not seriously injured. Especially their captain, who directly condensed a shield before himself. Being capable of such a technique clearly meant he had reached the Dou Ling realm.

After a brief adjustment, the five White Fiend Squad members stabilized their formation. Seeing Xiao Ling's group charge at them, their Dou Ling captain, Lu Jin, spoke arrogantly, "You new students actually dare attack the strongest White Fiend Squad? You truly do not know your own limits. Who are you? State your names at once!"

Seeing that this man did not take them seriously at all, Xiao Ling and the others got fired up. What young person would fear another?

Xiao Ling declared loudly, "Big words. Come fight me one-on-one. Anyone defeated by me is unworthy of knowing my name."

Then he lowered his voice and said to the others, "Lin Xiuyai and I will quickly deal with that Dou Ling first. Xun'er, go after the one with Wood Attribute Dou Qi. Just stall him for a while."

Everyone nodded at his words. Xiao Xun'er said confidently, "Don't worry, Brother Xiao Ling. Xun'er won't let you down."

With a wave of Xiao Ling's hand, a long spear appeared in his grasp. Activating the movement technique Wind Chasing Steps, he burst forward before Lu Jin and swept his spear horizontally.

Seeing that a Great Dou Master actually dared challenge him to a one-on-one fight, Lu Jin was greatly enraged. He intended to finish Xiao Ling in a single move, immediately slapping a palm toward the spear and planning to knock him flying. Yet when his palm collided with the spear shaft, he finally realized the sheer force behind it and staggered back two steps. Before he could steady himself, Xiao Ling closed in and kicked him in the chest, sending his body directly flying. The damage was not severe, but the control had already been applied.

Seizing the opportunity, Lin Xiuyai unleashed the Earth Tier Mid-grade Dou Technique, Fierce Wind Breath Severing Slash. He appeared behind Lu Jin as though teleporting, his sword slashing horizontally several times in succession and opening a crack in Lu Jin's Dou Qi Armor. Then he brought the blade down in a vertical strike, smashing Lu Jin heavily into the ground. Cracks spread across the surrounding earth like a spiderweb, displaying the terrifying power of the technique.

Before Lu Jin could recover, Xiao Ling arrived before him and used the Mysterious-tier Advanced Dou Technique he had deliberately learned yesterday, Crimson Flame Seal. He struck Lu Jin's abdomen with his palm, sending a surge of Flame Energy into his body and blocking the paths through which his Dou Qi circulated.

When Lu Jin came back to his senses, he had yet to understand what had happened when he felt that the Dou Qi within his body could no longer be mobilized.

Only after seeing Xiao Ling and Lin Xiuyai before him did he realize that he had been ambushed. He shouted furiously, "Didn't you say we were fighting one-on-one? Why did you call others over?!"

Xiao Ling rolled his eyes at the fool and could not be bothered to respond. With a flash, he charged toward the surrounding battlefield, and Lin Xiuyai did the same.

Before long, all five members of the White Fiend Squad had been defeated. Their Dou Qi was sealed, and they were surrounded in a circle.

Seeing this, although Lu Jin was unhappy, he could only say, "We lost. You can leave this forest."

Xiao Ling gave a derisive laugh and said, "Are you an idiot? Did I come here with nothing better to do than pick fights? Hurry up and take out the Fire Crystal Cards from your Storage Rings, or I'll show you what cruelty means."

Looking at that smiling, handsome face, Lu Jin felt a chill rise in his heart. This guy was terrifying. Sensing the coldness in Xiao Ling's words, Lu Jin was exceedingly reluctant, but he did not dare delay. With a bitter expression, he took a pale green crystal card from his Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Ling.

Xiao Ling then turned his gaze to the other four members and said unpleasantly, "You too. Hurry up and take them out."

Seeing that their captain had already handed over his Fire Crystal Card, the others also took out their own cards and passed them to Xiao Ling.

Xiao Ling grabbed the cards in one hand, then began dividing the spoils before them, making the White Fiend Squad members' hearts bleed.

After deducting each card down to the guaranteed minimum of "seven days," Xiao Ling returned the Fire Crystal Cards to the White Fiend Squad members, lifted their seals, and left with his companions to seek out their next batch of prey.