Entering the Inner Academy

Over the next few days, Xiao Ling and the others ambushed teams of older students around the forest exit, taking the Fire Crystal Cards from them. They took turns keeping watch over their surroundings while the rest cultivated on the spot.

No one knew who had leaked the news, but the older students learned of Xiao Ling's group's actions. Furious, they began banding together to come looking for trouble.

Xiao Ling was more than happy to see that happen. After dealing with the White Fiend Squad, the Black Fiend Squad had promptly come to deliver Fire Energy as well. The other older students were nothing more than chickens and dogs in his eyes. Even if they came in groups, they would make no difference. Though the enemy was numerous, all would fall in a single strike.

Under such circumstances, Xiao Ling's group reaped a tremendous harvest, stockpiling a large amount of Fire Energy for their early cultivation in the Inner Academy.

If the number of older students in the Fire Energy Hunt Competition had not been limited, Xiao Ling would have wanted to fleece a few more before leaving. Sigh, there really weren't enough for this Xiao to rob.

After leaving the forest, the group arrived at an open expanse strewn with jagged rocks. The forest's spread came to an end upon reaching this rocky region, allowing the sunlight pouring down from the sky to fall unobstructed upon the ground, warming their entire bodies.

Not far beyond the rocky area stood a raised hill. Atop it was a platform built from massive boulders, where two old men sat. They were Elder Su and Elder Qing, whom Xiao Ling and the others had seen when entering the forest. Several middle-aged men with steady auras sat around them as well. Clearly, they were all managers of the Inner Academy.

Upon seeing them, Elder Su smiled and said, "Sending out both the Black Fiend Squad and the White Fiend Squad against you achieved nothing. It seems you truly are exceptional."

Elder Qing stroked his beard beside him and smiled kindly. "However, this competition was meant to train you new students in teamwork, to make you understand that companions are indispensable. Your performance has been very good."

"Since you have already left the competition grounds, the winners of this competition have been decided. It is time to end this Fire Energy Hunt Competition." After saying that, Elder Su flew toward the sky above the forest.

Under everyone's gaze, Elder Su spoke in a powerful voice that seemed to ring directly beside their ears. "This year's Fire Energy Hunt Competition shall count as a victory for the new students. All students hiding in the forest, come out at once."

Elder Su's somewhat aged voice slowly echoed through the air. Soon, the trees in the forest opposite him shook, and figures emerged one after another.

Most of these new students bore injuries. Some even limped as they walked, looking exceedingly miserable.

Sweeping his gaze over them, Xiao Ling spotted Han Xian. His face was now bruised and swollen, clearly showing that he had been beaten badly.

Compared to ordinary Dou Zhe, the combat ability of most alchemists was somewhat lacking. Alchemists with formidable combat strength like Xiao Ling were indeed quite rare.

After everyone had emerged from the forest, Elder Su spoke again. "As the victors of this Fire Energy Hunt Competition, every new student present may receive five days of Fire Energy. Xiao Ling, Xiao Xun'er, Lin Xiuyai, Liu Qing, Han Yue, and Lin Yan will additionally receive Azure Fire Crystal Cards, along with sixty days of Fire Energy."

"Azure Fire Crystal Cards?"

At Elder Su's words, a commotion arose on the hill. Envious gazes turned toward Xiao Ling and the other five.

"Azure Fire Crystal Cards? What are those?" Lin Xiuyai and the others were baffled by these so-called Azure Fire Crystal Cards. They exchanged glances, all looking puzzled.

"Hehe, within the Inner Academy, Fire Crystal Cards are divided into five colors from lowest to highest: black, blue, azure, red, and purple. The black crystal cards in your hands are the lowest-grade cards. They only grant qualification to cultivate on the first and second levels of the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower. Blue crystal cards grant access to the third and fourth levels, and so on."

"To upgrade a crystal card in the Inner Academy, you must pay Fire Energy in exchange. Generally speaking, changing a black crystal card into a blue crystal card requires one hundred days of Fire Energy, while changing a blue crystal card into an azure crystal card requires two hundred days of Fire Energy... Now that you have received Azure Fire Crystal Cards as a reward, it is equivalent to saving three hundred days of Fire Energy. That is no small amount. Among the older students of the Inner Academy present, aside from Lu Jin, who upgraded his blue crystal card into an Azure Fire Crystal Card just one week ago, most are still using blue crystal cards." Seeing Lin Xiuyai and the others' confusion, Elder Su explained with a smile.

"Three hundred days of Fire Energy?" Upon hearing that number, Lin Xiuyai and the others finally understood why the surrounding gazes were filled with envy. They had stripped the older students clean in the forest, and with this reward added in, each of their crystal cards had only just exceeded three hundred days of Fire Energy. From this, they could see that obtaining Fire Energy in the Inner Academy was likely quite difficult.

After finishing his explanation, Elder Su flicked his hand, and six azure crystal cards appeared in his palm. With a flick of his finger, the cards shot toward Xiao Ling and the others, hovering before them.

"The rewards are already inside. Transfer the Fire Energy from your black crystal cards into them, then return the black crystal cards to me."

At his words, Xiao Ling and the others hurriedly complied. A moment later, they handed the now-empty black crystal cards to Elder Su.

Taking the black Fire Crystal Cards, Elder Su nodded slightly and said with a smile, "All right. Since you have all passed the Fire Energy Hunt Competition, follow me into the Inner Academy." With that, he turned first and slowly made his way up the hill along a set of broken stone steps.

Xiao Ling waved to Xiao Xun'er and the others, then took the lead. Under the gazes of everyone on the hill, they followed Elder Su up the stairs.

The broken stone steps were not very high. In just a minute or two, Xiao Ling and the others reached the final step. With a leap, they landed atop the hill. As their eyes swept forward, the sight before them made them slowly draw in a breath of slightly cool air.

Beyond the hill was an enormous sunken basin. Judging by its shape, it was as though a colossal meteor had fallen from the heavens and smashed it into existence...

Within the basin stood rows upon rows of towering buildings. Looking down from above, they could see dark figures, like fleas, constantly darting and leaping across the buildings. As their gaze stretched farther ahead, they discovered that this basin was astonishingly vast. Even at the edge of their vision, all they could see were towering structures and lush greenery.

It was difficult to imagine that such a strange place was hidden within the endless mountains behind Jia Nan Academy!

"Hehe, little ones, welcome to Jia Nan Academy's core region: the Inner Academy!" Elder Su clapped his hands and smiled at the shock on the new students' faces.

This was Xiao Ling's first time seeing the Inner Academy's scenery, and he could not help marveling at how unusual the environment was. He muttered inwardly, Mang Tianchi really knew how to pick a place. He found the Fallen Heart Flame in the magma, set up an array around it, and built a Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower above it. If he knew that the Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion and Dragon Emperor Zhu Kun, a peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng, were down there, would he still dare build an academy here?

Xiao Ling shook his head and stopped thinking about matters that did not match his current strength. The second-richest woman on the Dou Qi Continent was still inside, waiting for him to lure her away.

"All right. Since the Hunt Competition has ended, all new students should follow me back to the Inner Academy. We will settle you in first, and then you will truly become members of the Inner Academy. Believe me, as long as you can endure here, once you leave, you will feel that all your progress was well worth it." Elder Su's gaze rested on Xiao Ling and the others as he spoke slowly.

All the new students nodded slightly. From the older students, they had already seen just how great the benefits of cultivating in the Inner Academy would be.

"Let's go! Everyone, follow me!" With a wave of his hand, Elder Su turned into a blurred shadow and shot toward the enormous basin. Behind him, all the new students immediately moved as well, charging down from the hill like a swarm of locusts. At once, excited howls echoed through the sky, lingering for a long time.