After receiving the Dou Technique from Hu Gan, Xiao Li returned to the temporary dormitory. The Inner Academy Selection Tournament was only a few days away, so Hu Gan had specially excused him from classes, letting him focus on practicing his Dou Technique.
While Xiao Li was in seclusion, Jia Nan Academy was abuzz. Most people were enthusiastically talking about what a genius he was.
Only those hovering around the top five and the top fifty were truly worried.
The top five could obtain Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills from the academy's Library Pavilion before entering the Inner Academy, while only the top fifty students could join the Inner Academy.
Only the students caught at these two thresholds were genuinely concerned by Xiao Li's presence.
Xiao Yan's cohort had been exceptionally strong, with several Da Dou Shis, all boasting considerable cultivation. Xiao Li's cohort could only be called mediocre, with just two Da Dou Shis.
One was Li Hao, the Outer Academy's top-ranked student, and the other was Chu Junliang, ranked second.
Leaning against the railing, Li Hao gazed out at the scenery of the Outer Academy.
"What, feeling nostalgic? It's not like you're graduating. You're just going to the Inner Academy." Chu Junliang shrugged.
Li Hao gave a slight shake of his head. "Nothing like that. I was just thinking about how strong that Xiao Li is."
"What's there to think about? He's just a Da Dou Shi. When I see him in the arena, I'll show him how formidable a veteran student can be." Chu Junliang clenched his fist and threw a punch. The air gave a faint whistle.
"Heh." Li Hao shook his head with a wry smile. "The moment you started treating him as your opponent, you'd already lost."
"What do you mean?" Chu Junliang turned his head and asked irritably.
"He's still a new student, while we're old hands who'll graduate this year if we don't make it into the Inner Academy." Li Hao's figure receded into the distance, but his words lingered in Chu Junliang's ears.
Chu Junliang froze. His clenched fist unconsciously relaxed. That was right. From the very beginning, old students like them couldn't be compared to Xiao Li.
Inner Academy Selection Tournament
Since the selection results affected the teachers' performance ratings, Su Fei brought a group of students to cheer Xiao Li on first thing in the morning. She'd come to terms with it over the past few days. She might as well treat it as a free chance for a promotion—what was there to be unhappy about? She should take the opportunity to show off a little.
Xiao Li received his match number and waited for the fighting to begin. The Inner Academy Selection Tournament determined whether he could advance further. Nobody wanted to waste away where they stood, making no progress. After looking around, he saw that several hundred people had entered the tournament.
He walked through a long, pitch-black passage. When he emerged from the cave at the far end, a thunderous cacophony suddenly crashed into his ears. Xiao Li had just been in an utterly silent place, and the noise made his head spin.
It took him a good while to collect himself. Looking up at the nearly packed crowds surrounding the square, he felt his heart stir.
Once he entered the Inner Academy, the boost from the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower would surely make his cultivation speed up even more. He'd also have greater confidence when it came time to take care of certain things.
Hu Gan sat upright on the judges' platform, his attention settling on Xiao Li below. He quietly said to the elder beside him who was in charge of drawing lots, "Elder Geng, remember to give Xiao Li a weaker opponent. It'd be a shame if a genius like him couldn't get into the Inner Academy."
Elder Geng rolled his eyes at Hu Gan. "He's such a genius that he can get in without you rigging the draw. Besides, it's the academy's old students who don't want to see him around, isn't it?"
Hu Gan gave an awkward laugh. He'd been worrying for nothing, afraid something might go wrong. "Well, in that case, I'll announce the start."
Hu Gan stood up. His booming voice drowned out the shouts of the crowd.
"The Inner Academy Selection Tournament preliminaries begin now!"
Elder Geng also spread his Dou Qi wings and flew down to the stands. He set the lottery box before everyone, then casually drew two slips.
"Xue Yi of Yellow Class Three versus Li Kun of Profound Class Two."
The two contestants took the stage. Everyone else waited for Elder Geng to call out the next match.
The preliminaries would last three days, with hundreds of battles taking place. To enter the Inner Academy, a contestant had to win at least three matches to place among the top fifty out of four or five hundred people.
The matches proceeded one after another, and soon it was Xiao Li's turn.
"Xiao Li of Yellow Class One versus Zhang Chunbin of Earth Class Three."
Elder Geng's announcement rang throughout the square. The crowd fell silent for an instant, then watched Xiao Li rise with curiosity and awe.
Zhang Chunbin's face darkened. There were only three Da Dou Shis among the several hundred contestants, and he'd been unlucky enough to run into one. Wu Jinchang, an eight-star Dou Master, had been defeated in an instant. How could a five-star Dou Master like him, who'd only come to try his luck, possibly win?
"Elder, I forfeit."
Elder Geng nodded. A wise choice. Anyone who knew they couldn't win but still went up to take a beating was either the protagonist or a fool. Zhang Chunbin was clearly a normal person.
Word of Zhang Chunbin's forfeit spread through the crowd. Quite a few people muttered curses, venting their frustration. Xiao Li's match had been the one the students were most looking forward to, and it had ended with a whimper.
The students were dissatisfied, but the matches had to continue. Unfortunately, Xiao Li's next opponent also forfeited. When most people were Dou Masters, how could they fight against a Da Dou Shi with a solid foundation?
Fortunately, Xiao Li's third opponent wasn't willing to be eliminated just like that. He chose to face the challenge head-on, hoping for a miracle.
"Xiao Li of Yellow Class One versus Lv Ronglu of Profound Class One."
As Xiao Li appeared in the square, the atmosphere in the stands instantly heated up. When he appeared in black, Thunder Scale Spear in hand, the crowd's excitement reached its peak. Their synchronized cheers rang out, deafening.
The blade in Lv Ronglu's hand gleamed coldly. "You're strong, but I'm no mediocrity either. Take a good look at the blade in my hand!"
"Enough talk. Come on." Lightning sparks burst from the long spear in Xiao Li's hand. His murderous aura was so fierce that Lv Ronglu could barely circulate his Dou Qi.
"What a powerful killing intent. This guy must have killed plenty of people or magical beasts." Lv Ronglu sensed trouble, but his long blade never stopped. He immediately unleashed his strongest killing move.
"Golden Tiger Gate-Breaking Blade!"
He poured all his strength into the high-tier Yellow Tier Dou Technique. The phantom head of a golden tiger clung to the blade. If Lv Ronglu hadn't run into Xiao Li, he would absolutely have been strong enough to enter the top fifty.
Unfortunately, luck was part of strength too. Running into Xiao Li meant Lv Ronglu had drawn the short straw, his earlier efforts coming to nothing on the final match.
Lightning erupted from the Thunder Scale Spear as layer upon layer of thunder roared. Lightning Flash Strike burst forth. A Dou Master wasn't worth using the newly learned Dou Technique on.
The earth-shaking thunderbolt collided with the ferocious golden tiger. In an instant, lightning split the tiger's head in two. The Thunder Scale Spear kept surging forward, stopping just short of Lv Ronglu's throat.
Feeling the sharp edge of lightning at his throat, Lv Ronglu swallowed, but it did nothing to ease the bitterness in his heart.
"I surrender."
Xiao Li lowered his spear and stood there, expressionless, then silently left the arena.
The bitterness in Lv Ronglu's heart deepened. So his opponent had never considered him a match at all. "Forget it. I'll try again next year."