A Great Dou Master Freshman, Terrifying Indeed!

On the plaza, the senior students surveyed the newly arrived freshmen with playful gazes; they could finally experience the same brutal beatings they had once endured themselves.

Because they had been caught in the rain, they were determined to tear apart everyone else's umbrellas.

Today, the self-confidence of these so-called "geniuses" was destined to be shattered.

Most of the seniors looked toward the person at the very front of the line, their eyes filled with a hint of envy. He was the strongest among their current group of seniors, and once this freshman hazing concluded, he would likely be heading to the Inner Academy.

At the front of the line, Wu Jinchang, the strongest of the group, could not bring himself to feel happy. As the strongest, he was generally not chosen by freshmen for a challenge.

Freshmen were allowed to choose their own opponents, and for those who knew the outcome would be the same regardless of whom they picked, choosing a second-year student allowed them to lose with more dignity. Wu Jinchang was merely there to hold down the fort; his strength as an eight-star Dou Shi was enough to make any freshman shrink back in fear.

Xiao Li mingled among the crowd of freshmen. Hu Gan, the Vice Dean of the Outer Academy, was speaking at the front of the formation. He had retracted his Dou Huang strength into his body, yet his aura remained vast and heavy; even though it wasn't directed at Xiao Li and the others, it still made them feel a wave of pressure.

"Upon entering the academy, all freshmen may choose a senior on the plaza to challenge. Those below the Dou Zhe level are not required to do so, but those at one-star Dou Zhe or higher must participate. There is no penalty for defeat, and victory will be rewarded based on the strength of the senior defeated."

After finishing his announcement, Hu Gan left the plaza and headed to the referee stand to observe the matches.

On the referee stand sat several veterans of the Outer Academy.

Although Xiao Li had arrived at Canaan Academy seven years earlier than in the original timeline and the students were unfamiliar faces, this group of senior staff remained unchanged; it was still Hu Gan, Old Man Huo, and the others.

"Where is that little fellow Su Fei mentioned? I was so busy talking earlier that I didn't spot him," Hu Gan said, feeling frustrated.

When Su Fei and the other recruitment teachers returned, they had reported on the students they had scouted. Xiao Li, with his Dou Shi-level cultivation, had captured the attention of almost every instructor in the Outer Academy, and even a few in the Inner Academy had taken note of the little guy.

Old Man Huo's stiff expression remained unchanged as he let out a cold snort. "A pity. Such a talented little fellow, yet he has a lightning attribute. He can't refine pills."

Hearing Old Man Huo's obsession with alchemy, a few black lines appeared on Hu Gan's forehead. He couldn't be bothered to argue and simply continued searching for Xiao Li among the freshmen.

The instructors had now divided the students into two groups based on whether they were Dou Zhe or merely possessed Dou Zhi Qi; the number of Dou Zhe was only one-tenth the number of those with Dou Zhi Qi.

Hu Gan stroked his chin. "Do you think we should add a specific assessment for Dou Zhi Qi next year? It's just uncomfortable seeing them unable to take a beating."

The other elders curled their lips in secret upon hearing this. "Vice Dean, their cultivation is already low. Seeing their peers are already Dou Zhe is a blow to their confidence as it is; there's no need to add more assessments."

"Indeed. We set up the challenge phase to dampen the confidence of those little geniuses, but we shouldn't go against our original intent. Fighting just for the sake of fighting isn't good."

Hearing the elders say this, Hu Gan had no choice but to reluctantly abandon the idea, but he immediately grew excited again.

"Look there, is that black-clad boy Xiao Li? His energy fluctuations are stronger than those of the dozens of people around him combined."

The aura Xiao Li was hiding could not escape these big shots; his Dou Shi energy fluctuations were like a bright lamp in the dark of night, and Hu Gan spotted him the moment he had a free second.

Old Man Huo, an expert in medicinal pills, was the first to notice the details. "His aura is very solid. His cultivation must have been earned through hard work, not by popping pills."

Hu Gan nodded. This was one of the things he admired most about Xiao Li: monstrous talent, yet he still kept his heart focused and practiced diligently. He truly was a fine seedling.

"You all watch. I'm going to see what kind of reward would be best to prepare for Xiao Li."

Hu Gan had never imagined he would need to prepare rewards for freshmen defeating third-year students, which meant he had to scramble to prepare them on the spot.

Hu Gan stood up. Today's battles were a foregone conclusion. Given that Xiao Li had reached such a realm at such a young age with such a solid foundation, his temperament was undoubtedly excellent. Thus, Hu Gan hadn't arranged for the top students of the Outer Academy to crush him; once he entered the Inner Academy, Xiao Li would realize for himself that there were even stronger people out there.

"If you leave now, you'll miss the first strike in Canaan from a future Dou Zong."

Old Man Huo raised an eyebrow. No one questioned his words; with Xiao Li's talent, his future promotion to Dou Zong was practically a certainty.

Hu Gan's figure paused, and he sat back down without a word. "In that case, let's watch."

Seeing Hu Gan's pretentious display, a stiff arc formed at the corner of Old Man Huo's mouth.

Below the referee stand, Xiao Li and the others prepared themselves, lining up one by one to walk toward the senior group.

The first freshman in line looked rather grim. The seniors had signs placed in front of them; the third-year students at the front were almost all Dou Shi, while the second-year students behind them were at least five-star Dou Zhe. As a mere one-star Dou Zhe, he truly didn't know how to choose.

In the end, the freshman had no choice but to pick a senior who was a five-star Dou Zhe.

Xiao Li was near the front of the line. About ten battles would take place at once, and it would be his turn soon.

"The stronger the opponent I defeat, the better the reward..."

Xiao Li examined the seniors in front of him and immediately locked his gaze onto Wu Jinchang at the very front.

"Eight-star Dou Shi. You'll do."

Wu Jinchang, being stared at by Xiao Li, suddenly felt a sense of unease, as if he had become merchandise being appraised by someone else.

Wu Jinchang looked around and finally locked onto Xiao Li in the freshman line. Seeing Xiao Li's unabashed gaze, Wu Jinchang's eyes sharpened.

Interesting. You've marked me as your opponent? I wonder if you actually have some skill or if you're just trying to grandstand.

The freshmen fell one by one; at most two or three-star Dou Zhe, they were no match for the experienced seniors. Soon, it was Xiao Li's turn.

The seniors on the viewing platform laughed and joked. Considering themselves seniors, they loved watching the freshmen get bullied; it gave them a sense of vanity, as if they had truly grown up.

It was just like how upperclassmen in his past life looked at lowerclassmen—there was always an inexplicable sense of superiority.

Hu Gan found it amusing. "It seems the ones getting beaten this year will be the seniors."

Old Man Huo was unimpressed. "Last year it was the first-year freshmen; this year it's naturally the turn of the second-year seniors."

Looking at Old Man Huo, whose brain had been fried by alchemy, Hu Gan's mouth twitched, and he didn't bother arguing about whether they were the same group of people.

"Watch. That Xiao Li is about to step up."

The elders on the referee stand subconsciously straightened their bodies, looking toward Xiao Li as he stepped forward.

"Freshman Xiao Li, challenging Senior Wu Jinchang."

As the calm voice rang out, the entire arena erupted in an uproar.

"Is this kid joking, challenging Wu Jinchang? That's a senior who has already secured a spot in the Inner Academy this year."

"Exactly. Does he still think he's fighting those pushover fighters from the outside world that he could easily defeat despite the gap in rank? Wu Jinchang is a genuine eight-star Fighter!"

The voices from the stands did not affect Xiao Li in the slightest, whereas Wu Jinchang seemed to relish the atmosphere, brandishing his longsword with the affected air of an expert.

"Kid, don't mistake me for someone else. I am an eight-star Fighter, not an eight-star Practitioner."

Watching the arrogant Wu Jinchang, Xiao Li sighed helplessly. Why were people so rash these days? He wasn't an idiot; he wouldn't issue a challenge if he wasn't confident.

"Xiao Li, two-star Great Fighter, please enlighten me."

A deep blue Thunder Armor manifested over his body, with wisps of lightning overflowing from it; the crackling sound instantly drowned out the clamor of the crowd.

The formidable Battle Qi armor appeared, as if hitting a mute button on the entire arena. Immediately after, the noise rebounded like a compressed spring, exploding into an even greater roar.

"Good heavens, don't tell me he's a freshman. Did he escape from the Inner Academy just to torture us?"

"A freshman at the Great Fighter level—terrifying!"