Inner Academy Selection Competition

After receiving the Dou Technique from Hu Gan, Xiao Li returned to his temporary dormitory. With the Inner Academy selection tournament only days away, Hu Gan had granted him special permission to skip classes and focus entirely on mastering the technique.

During the days Xiao Li spent in seclusion, Canaan Academy was in an uproar, with most students buzzing about what a genius he was.

Only those teetering on the edge of the top five or the top fifty were truly worried.

The top five would receive cultivation methods and Dou Techniques from the academy's Library Pavilion before entering the Inner Academy, while only the top fifty students would be admitted at all.

Only the students stuck at these two thresholds were genuinely anxious about Xiao Li's presence.

Xiao Yan's batch had been of excellent quality, boasting several Great Dou Masters with impressive cultivation levels, whereas Xiao Li's batch could only be described as mediocre, with only two Great Dou Masters.

One was the Outer Academy's number one, Li Hao; the other was the number two, Chu Junliang.

Li Hao leaned against the railing, gazing out at the scenery of the Outer Academy.

"What, feeling nostalgic? It's not like you're graduating; you're just heading to the Inner Academy," Chu Junliang said with a shrug.

Li Hao shook his head slightly. "Nothing, just reflecting on Xiao Li's strength."

"What's there to reflect on? He's just a Great Dou Master like us. If I meet him in the ring, I'll show him what a senior student is made of." Chu Junliang clenched his fist and threw a punch, the sound of wind being torn apart faintly audible in the air.

"Heh," Li Hao chuckled, shaking his head. "The moment you start viewing him as an opponent, you've already lost."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chu Junliang turned his head, asking with annoyance.

"He's still a freshman, while we are all 'old fogies' who will graduate if we don't get into the Inner Academy this year." Li Hao's figure drifted away, but his voice still lingered in Chu Junliang's ears.

Chu Junliang froze, his clenched fist unconsciously relaxing. It was true; from the very beginning, there was no comparison between them, the senior students, and Xiao Li.

...Inner Academy Selection Tournament

Since the selection tournament was tied to the teachers' performance evaluations, Su Fei had brought a group of students early in the morning to cheer for Xiao Li. She had come to terms with it over the past few days; she decided to treat it as a free chance for promotion. Why be unhappy? She should be taking this opportunity to show off as much as possible.

Xiao Li collected his match number and waited for the start. The Inner Academy selection tournament determined whether one could advance further; no one wanted to waste their time or remain stagnant. After a quick check, it turned out that several hundred people were participating.

He passed through a long, pitch-black tunnel and emerged from the opening at the end. The moment he stepped out, an overwhelming roar of noise flooded his ears, leaving Xiao Li, who had just been in a state of absolute silence, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

After a long while, Xiao Li finally regained his senses. He looked up at the dense, sea-like crowd surrounding the plaza and couldn't help but feel a jolt in his heart.

Once he entered the Inner Academy and gained the support of the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower, his cultivation speed would surely increase, giving him more confidence for the things he needed to do in the future.

Hu Gan sat on the judge's platform, his gaze landing on Xiao Li below. He whispered to the Elder in charge of the drawing, "Elder Geng, remember to swap Xiao Li's opponent for someone weaker. It would be a pity if such a genius couldn't make it into the Inner Academy."

Elder Geng rolled his eyes at Hu Gan's words. "He's such a genius, he'd get into the Inner Academy even without rigging the draw. Besides, it's the senior students who don't want to run into him, isn't it?"

Hu Gan gave an awkward smile, realizing he had been too anxious, fearing an accident. "In that case, I shall announce the start."

Hu Gan stood up, his voice booming and drowning out the cheers of the crowd.

"The Inner Academy selection tournament, preliminary round, now begins!"

Elder Geng also used Dou Qi to manifest wings and descended to the side of the stands. He placed the drawing box before everyone and casually pulled out two slips.

"Xue Yi from the Yellow Grade Class 3, versus Li Kun from the Profound Grade Class 2."

The two stepped onto the stage as called, while the others waited for Elder Geng's next announcement.

The preliminary round would last for three days, during which hundreds of battles would take place. To enter the Inner Academy, one had to win at least three matches to secure a spot in 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 from the Yellow Grade Class 1, versus Zhang Chunbin from the Earth Grade Class 3."

Elder Geng's words echoed across the plaza. The crowd fell silent for a brief moment, followed by gazes of curiosity or awe directed at Xiao Li as he stood up.

Zhang Chunbin's face darkened. Out of hundreds of people, there were only three Great Dou Masters, and he had to run into one of them. Even Wu Jinchang, a 8-star Dou Master, had been defeated in an instant; how could he, a 5-star Dou Master just hoping for a bit of luck, possibly win?

"Elder, I forfeit."

Elder Geng nodded. A wise choice. Those who knew they couldn't win but still went up to get beaten were either protagonists or fools, and Zhang Chunbin was clearly a normal person.

News of Zhang Chunbin's surrender spread throughout the arena. Many cursed under their breath, venting their dissatisfaction. Xiao Li's match was arguably the one the students were most looking forward to, yet it had ended in such an anticlimactic fashion.

Although the students were unhappy, the battles had to continue. Unfortunately, Xiao Li's next opponent also forfeited. When everyone was generally at the Dou Master level, a Great Dou Master with a solid foundation appeared—how were they supposed to fight that?

Fortunately, his third opponent was unwilling to be eliminated just like that and chose to face the difficulty head-on, longing for a miracle.

"Xiao Li from the Yellow Grade Class 1, versus Lv Ronglu from the Profound Grade Class 1."

As Xiao Li's figure appeared on the plaza, the atmosphere in the stands instantly ignited. Especially when Xiao Li appeared in black robes, holding the Thunder Scale Spear, the atmosphere reached a climax, and a synchronized, deafening cheer erupted.

The blade in Lv Ronglu's hand shimmered with cold light. "Although you are strong, I am no mediocre talent. Watch my blade!"

"Enough talk. Come." The long spear in Xiao Li's hand erupted with bursts of lightning sparks, and the fierce aura made Lv Ronglu feel as if his Dou Qi flow was becoming obstructed.

Such strong killing intent. This guy must have killed many people or magical beasts, Lv Ronglu thought, sensing danger. However, he didn't hesitate, unleashing his strongest killing move immediately.

"Golden Tiger Gate-Breaking Blade!"

The high-grade Yellow Tier Dou Technique was unleashed with full force. A golden tiger-head phantom manifested over his blade. Based on this strike alone, had he not encountered Xiao Li, Lv Ronglu would definitely have had the strength to make the top fifty.

It was a pity that luck was also a part of strength. Meeting Xiao Li was simply Lv Ronglu's misfortune, causing all his efforts to go to waste before the final battle.

Lightning surged violently on the Thunder Scale Spear, layers of electricity roaring as the Lightning Flash Strike was unleashed. To deal with a Dou Master, he didn't even need to use the new Dou Technique he had learned.

The thunder that shocked the entire arena collided with the wild golden tiger. The tiger head was instantly split in two by the lightning, and the Thunder Scale Spear surged forward, stopping only when it reached Lv Ronglu's throat.

Feeling the sharp edge of the lightning at his throat, Lv Ronglu swallowed hard, but it did nothing to ease the bitterness in his heart.

"I... concede."

Xiao Li retracted his spear and stood still, his face expressionless as he silently left the arena.

The bitterness in Lv Ronglu's heart deepened. It turned out the other party had never considered him an opponent at all. "Forget it, I'll try again next year."