Acting alone
Hu Gan smiled faintly, "Don't worry, we've produced some good prospects this year, and their skills are quite impressive!"
"You four, come here!" Hu Gan turned around and beckoned to Xiao Yan and the other three. After they came to his side, he pointed to the two elders and said, "These two are the elders of the Inner Academy. This is Elder Su, and this is Elder Qing. If you encounter any difficulties in the Inner Academy in the future, you can seek their help."
The two elders glanced at the four of them with slight surprise, then nodded slightly and said, "To achieve a top-five finish in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament at such a young age, they certainly seem much better than the previous year."
However, Elder Qing then let out a faint "Eh?" and asked, "Old Man Hu, where's your troublesome granddaughter? Even with her strength, she didn't make it into the top five?"
Hu Jia, who had been blocked at the back, immediately stepped out of the line. "Elder Qing, I'm here!"
Elder Qing, upon seeing that it really was that little devil, immediately laughed and said, "Why didn't you make it into the top five? Is it because Old Man Hu Hu's teaching of you has been inadequate?"
At this point, Hu Jia immediately glanced at the composed Xiao Yu standing to the side. Hu Gan, sensing something was amiss, quickly said, "Aren't you supposed to have Fire Energy Hunt Competition? Well then, let's get started!"
Elder Su and Elder Qing glanced at Hu Gan with some surprise, while Hu Jia pouted but didn't say anything more. In front of so many people, she still had to give her grandfather some face!
Elder Su didn't think too much about it. He stepped forward and looked at everyone, saying, "Young friends, first of all, congratulations on passing the Inner Academy Selection Tournament. Although you are all new to the Inner Academy, I hope you can adapt to this place as soon as possible. Only in this way can you gain great benefits here. Do you see them?"
Elder Su pointed to the group of somewhat lazy-looking young men behind him and continued, "These bastards all passed the Inner Academy Selection Tournament in previous years, but their strength was always ranked at the bottom. But now, in just one year, I dare say their strength can rank in the top ten among you!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the newcomers' eyes lit up with excitement. The allure of increased strength was immense, and it seemed that the Inner Academy was indeed very helpful for their cultivation.
"Alright, enough with the chit-chat. Although you've passed the selection rounds, you still have to participate in another competition." With that, Elder Su smiled and flicked his hand, scattering a handful of jet-black chips precisely into everyone's hands. Xiao Yu also took one and examined it; a large red number was printed on the chip: Five!
"Is this Fire Energy?" Xiao Yu wondered to himself as a faint, strange heat seeped out from the chip.
Elder Su continued, "These chips are a bit complicated to explain, but you'll understand once you enter the Inner Academy. These numbers represent one Fire Energy; each person has five days' worth of basic Fire Energy. For now, just remember one thing: this is very important to you, as you can tell from the looks in those guys' eyes!"
Elder Su pointed at the group of young people. Everyone looked up and saw that the senior students were staring at the chips in their hands with undisguised drooling, like hungry wolves eyeing meat.
Xiao Yu and Xun'er exchanged a glance, then put the chip into their Storage Ring. The others quickly put their chips away as well.
After everyone put away the chips, Elder Su pointed to the dark forest behind them and said, "Next, you need to cross this forest to reach the Inner Academy at the end. However, during this process, that group of people will find you and try to steal the chips from you. Students, if you don't want to be caught by them, you must reach the Inner Academy as quickly as possible while avoiding them."
Upon hearing Elder Su's words, the senior students from the Inner Academy burst into laughter, as if they Fire Energy rushing towards them. Meanwhile, the freshmen from the Outer Academy looked rather grim. The senior students opposite them were too strong; encountering them would essentially mean handing over their crystal chips.
But Elder Su didn't care about any of that; everything was based on strength. The cruelty of the Inner Academy was on full display at this moment!
"Students, I now declare the ' Fire Energy Hunt Competition ' officially open! Students, let's begin our escape!" Elder Su said with a smile.
As soon as the words were spoken, the freshmen from the Outer Academy formed their own teams and headed into the forest, while Xiao Yu and his group of five, along with Hu Jia following behind, slowly entered the forest.
Watching Xiao Yu and the others disappear into the forest, Hu Gan Qian sighed softly, "I hope you will continue to write your legend in the Inner Academy!"
In the dense forest, a thick layer of withered yellow leaves lay beneath their feet, making a soft crunching sound as they stepped on them. Six figures gradually emerged from the forest, and Xiao Yu stopped in front of a tall tree.
The crowd behind him also stopped and looked at Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu smiled faintly and said, "This Fire Energy Hunt Competition is between senior students and freshmen. Before I left, Dean Hu told me that we need to teach the senior students of the Inner Academy a lesson and also save face for the Outer Academy. So I plan to act alone in a while!"
"Acting alone? What do you mean?" Hu Jia looked at Xiao Yu with some suspicion.
Xiao Yu smiled faintly, "This competition is actually all about the Fire Energy we possess. Since the Inner Academy Inner Academy this Fire Energy Fire Energy so much, then it must be extremely important to them!"
Everyone nodded in agreement; it was indeed the case.
"Since it's so important, then these senior students must also have Fire Energy. Elder Su said that the senior students would try to snatch this Fire Energy during the competition, but he didn't say that we can't snatch the Fire Energy from those senior students, did he?" Xiao Yu chuckled, like a fox eyeing meat.
Wu Hao, standing to the side, licked his lips and said, "You mean we should rob them back?"
"That's right. Each of us only has five Fire Energy, but the seniors must have a lot. If we Fire Energy to grab some, it will be beneficial to us. After all, strength is paramount. If we can't beat them, we Fire Energy!" Xiao Yu nodded and said.
Xiao Yan's eyes lit up as well. This method suited his taste perfectly, somewhat reminiscent of the Black Corner Region, except that it didn't involve killing anyone.
Xiao Yu glanced at everyone and asked, "How is it?"
Xun'er, standing to the side, asked, "Brother Xiao Yu, did you just say you meant you'd be traveling alone?"
Xiao Yu nodded and said, "That's right. I'm the strongest, so I don't have to worry about anything when I act alone, and I'm also very fast. If the five of you form a team, I believe that with your combined strength, even if someone wanted to steal your Fire Energy, they would have to think twice!"
They had witnessed Xiao Yu's strength in the Scripture Pavilion a couple of days ago; Nine Star Dou Ling was better able to act alone than the rest of them together. So, without much thought, the four of them agreed. Only Hu Jia frowned and said, "You really look down on us that much?"
"Why would I look down on you? Xun'er's strength is about the same as yours. Looking down on you is the same as looking down on Xun'er. I would never look down on Xun'er!" Xiao Yu said, pursing his lips.
Xun'er blushed. Seeing that Hu Jia was about to say something, Xun'er pulled Hu Jia Hu Jia aside and whispered a few words in his ear.
Hu Jia's eyes widened as if she were looking at a monster when she saw Xiao Yu, and she muttered, "Pervert!"