The Selection Tournament Begins: Xiao Yan, You Really Deserve to Die!
Time flies, and a month has passed quietly amidst cultivation, alchemy, and subtle daily interactions.
For the past month, Xiao Yan has been meditating and cultivating every night, absorbing the energy of heaven and earth, and circulating the <Flame Mantra> to cultivate his Dou Qi. Every morning, without fail, he practices Taiji Fist.
The weighted training with the Heavy Profound Ruler has permeated his every movement, from walking to sitting and lying down, and has never stopped.
He would often go to the secluded spot in the Back Mountain that Xun'er had taken him to before, where he would practice various basic Dou Technique with great effort, sweating profusely. He would integrate strength, speed, explosiveness, and the heavy and fierce power of the ruler technique into one, including the Dou Technique of the Misty Cloud Sect, which he would also diligently cultivate.
Yun Yun gave him was not only a Dou Technique scroll, but also all her experience and insights from more than twenty years of cultivation, which greatly benefited Xiao Yan.
With the guidance of Old Yao and the martial arts philosophy from his previous life, Xiao Yan's combat thinking and fighting concepts gradually began to form his own style.
After a month of training, he has successfully broken through to the level of Four-Star Da Dou Shi.
In addition, he successfully refined several batches of high-quality pills using medicinal materials purchased from the Alchemy Department as "Fire Energy." Furthermore, he also attempted to refine several higher-grade Fourth-Grade Pill to assist in cultivation and restore his Dou Qi.
His Alchemy, Fire Energy control, and precise manipulation of soul power have also improved steadily over the past month under the guidance of the old Old Yao.
Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian get along quite well. The two girls seem to have really become good sisters, putting the "Anti-Hun Li Li Alliance" into practice in their daily lives.
This made Xiao Yan's life increasingly comfortable.
His breakfasts were mostly delicious and exquisite dishes carefully prepared by Xun'er, while his lunches were served by Xiao Yi Xian would bring him some tasty medicinal meals that were also helpful for his cultivation. In a way, this was also a result of learning from the Old Yao.
Although she couldn't refine medicine due to her limited talent, she found it quite enjoyable to prepare medicinal meals for her good friends.
They often appeared together near Xiao Yan's training grounds, either quietly reading and cultivating in a nearby pavilion, or discussing cultivation experiences and sharing interesting anecdotes from the courtyard, forming a stable and warm little family.
Xiao Yan was happy to spend time with them, sharing the results of their pills and discussing Dou Technique. The atmosphere was quite harmonious, leaving Han Yue, who often "passed by," completely dumbfounded.
At only twelve years old, this senior student has already easily managed to win over two female confidantes. If he continues this year, how many people will be surrounding him?
Then there's Hun Li Li, this "thorny black rose" who also didn't let Xiao Yan off the hook at all. Appearing and disappearing like a ghost is her usual tactic. She always manages to appear precisely when Xiao Yan is alone or Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian are slightly off guard.
When Xiao Yan was consulting the pharmacopoeia in the library, she would "coincidentally" sit opposite him with an ancient book in her hand, blinking her innocent big eyes and asking him some ridiculously basic questions, and taking the opportunity to make bold remarks such as "Senior looks so charming when he's reading seriously" and "I really want to have his baby."
Besides that, she would block Xiao Yan almost every few days, using various excuses such as "relapse of injuries," such as chest pain, wrist soreness, or even lovesickness, to request a private "follow-up visit" or "sparring session."
His words were still full of ambiguous hints and direct confessions, such as, "Senior, please consider it, I really like you," "Senior, your ruler is so hard," and "Senior, even when you roll your eyes, you're handsome."
Many passing students were stunned by what they saw.
Why should I?
How come this goddess, who completely disregards them, is clinging to Xiao Yan like a simp?
Thus, a "List of Scoundrels to be Executed" suddenly appeared in the Outer Academy of the Jia Nan Academy.
There's only one person on the list, and they're at the top.
Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan sometimes couldn't resist Hun Li Li's passionate advances, and whenever he had the chance, he would either make excuses or directly use Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian as shields.
Hun Li Li didn't insist on the rejection, but when she was rejected, she gave him a pitiful, aggrieved look, which, combined with her alluring face, made it hard for anyone not to feel a ripple in their heart.
Although Han Yue, the silver-haired beauty, has always maintained a cool and aloof persona, she couldn't stay out of it in order to watch the drama unfold and to befriend Xiao Yan and the others.
She used the excuse of seeking advice on advanced Dou Technique to increase the frequency of her contact with Xiao Yan and Xun'er.
Aside from formally asking Xiao Yan for advice on Dou Technique and requesting leave from him for practical combat skills, she would also privately share information about the demoness's movements with Xun'er, such as "witnessing Hun Li Li gazing longingly at Xiao Yan's training figure in the distance" and "Hun Li Li and Xiao Yan bumped into each other again in a certain place," thus becoming a part of Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian's intelligence network.
Of course, she was well aware of her own shortcomings, so she cultivated with extra diligence and finally made a breakthrough just before the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.
As the moonlight once again bathed the ancient buildings of the Jia Nan Academy, there was less than a day left until the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.
Xiao Yan sat cross-legged in the room, his Dou Qi surging and overflowing within him, his condition now at its peak.
A few whispers drifted in from outside the window; it was Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian, and Han Yue quietly discussing tomorrow's competition.
Xiao Yan opened his eyes, his sharp gaze concealed, a hint of anticipation playing on his lips, yet also carrying a sense of excitement for the new challenges ahead.
In the darkness, a slender, dark figure seemed to gaze at the light in his room from afar, then vanished in a flash.
The next day, the soft, warm sunlight poured down from the sky. As the sun slowly rose on the horizon, the academy, which had been quiet all night, finally became full of vitality again. Countless youthful men and women poured out from all parts of the academy, their destination very clear: the large square located in the center of the academy.
The Inner Academy Selection Tournament these past two days is an annual grand event at the Jia Nan Academy. Those who are qualified to participate in the Selection Tournament are all outstanding individuals in their respective classes, and the fierce competition between them is extremely exciting.
Furthermore, this year's Selection Tournament also features Xiao Xun Er, Xiao Yan, Hun Li Li, and even the Xiao Yi Xian who accidentally displayed equally formidable strength. Coupled with the complex love triangle among the four of them, it can be said that these four are the most anticipated highlight of this competition.
Although they knew it was mostly wishful thinking, many people still gritted their teeth, hoping to see a powerful student embarrass Xiao Yan.
Leaving aside the young Xun'er and the newly arrived Xiao Yi Xian, Hun Li Li alone was enough to attract countless attacks to Xiao Yan.
In addition, Han Yue, the ice queen who is highly popular among the freshmen, has also been revealed to have close ties with Xiao Yan. Although Xun'er is always present, it still makes many freshmen feel devastated.
The four most beautiful flowers in the yard are all circling around one person—it's infuriating!
After a quick wash in his dormitory, Xiao Yan went out to meet Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian, and Han Yue. The four of them left the building together and headed towards the square.
As the focus of attention in the academy, Xiao Yan felt his scalp tingle from the various gazes directed at him from the roadside. Seeing his helpless expression, Xun'er couldn't help but smile gently. Her gentle smile, as elegant as a lotus, caused some people on both sides of the road to swallow.
This girl is really pretty!
Under the intense gazes of everyone present, Xiao Yan and his group walked into the already crowded square and headed towards their assigned seats.
With three beautiful girls of different styles accompanying him, all eyes in the room naturally turned to him instantly.
As Xiao Yan sat down in his assigned seat and was talking to Xun'er, he suddenly raised an eyebrow, sensing something, and looked up at the opposite stands. There, in a prime spot, Hun Li Li, dressed in a black suit, stood up with a smile on her face.
Immediately, she raised her hands above her head, bent her arms, and touched her fingertips together above her head, making a heart shape for Xiao Yan.
Whoosh--
This scene immediately drew everyone's attention. Many male students, seeing Xiao Yan's helpless head-shaking, couldn't help but roar in their hearts with grief and indignation:
"Xiao Yan, you truly deserve to die!"
Turning his gaze away from Hun Li Li opposite him, Xiao Yan scanned the square once more. In the center of the stands, there was a seat with the best view, where only four elderly men with white hair and beards sat. One of them, Xiao Yan recognized quite well, was none other than Vice Dean Hu Gan.
As Xiao Yan sized up the four simply dressed old men, they suddenly seemed to sense something. Their previously lazy eyes lifted, and their cloudy gazes met Xiao Yan's. After a few moments of eye contact, Xiao Yan's eyes immediately stung slightly. He circulated his Dou Qi, and a wisp of Cobalt Blue Flame suddenly flashed across his dark eyes. Only then did the pain gradually fade, and he quickly withdrew his gaze.
"Huh?" As a wisp of azure flame flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes, the four elders on the seats all let out a low exclamation of surprise. Two of them exchanged a glance and said, "What strange Dou Qi, it's as hot and agile as a flame."
"This kid's alchemy skills are quite remarkable. I once observed him refine medicine, and he is truly a genius. Compared to him, I feel like I've wasted all these years of my life."
An elderly man sitting on the far left, a look of amazement flashing in his eyes, slowly spoke.
"Hehe, Elder Fire, for you to praise this little guy so highly, he must be quite extraordinary!"
An elderly man in a gray robe in the middle smiled.
"Yes, he is indeed a promising talent. However, he must have his own teacher; otherwise, with his talent alone, he could never have reached this level at such a young age."
The old man, known as Elder Fire, nodded first, then said.
"Even if he has a teacher, it doesn't conflict with you. There's not much of a conflict between the academy and private teachers. Besides, my Jia Nan Academy's Alchemy Department has been established for so many years. If he could study there, it would be very beneficial for him. After all, no matter how knowledgeable his teacher is, it's hard to compare with the long-standing tradition of your Alchemy Department, right?"
The old man in the gray robe shook his head and smiled.
"Hard to say..."
Upon hearing this, Elder Fire shook his head, too embarrassed to mention some of Xiao Yan's alchemy techniques, even he himself found them very beneficial.
"Of those four, the three on the left are the Vice Dean Hu Gan, whom you've met before, and two highly respected elders. They wield considerable influence in the Outer Academy, and their strength is at the Peak Dou Emperor level."
Noticing Xiao Yan's gaze, Instructor Xi Wei whispered an explanation.
"And the taciturn old man on the far right is the head of the Alchemy Department, who oversees a large number of alchemists. Because of the special status of alchemists on the continent, the Alchemy Department is independent of the Outer Academy and Inner Academy, and no one can interfere with their affairs, not even the Vice Dean."
"Yes, I've already met Elder Huo."
Xiao Yan nodded with a smile.