As they flew along, all kinds of ferocious magical beasts surged toward them one after another, yet not a single beast managed to break through the blockade formed by Hu Gan and the others.
After nearly an hour of this almost brutal charge, the griffin formation finally began to slow. Feeling their speed decrease, Xiao Li glanced ahead and found himself puzzled. Aside from a bottomless ravine beneath them, the rest of the landscape was still an endless stretch of greenery. There was no sign of the Inner Academy, or even a single person.
Hu Gan smiled faintly. With everyone watching, he slowly walked a dozen or so steps forward, then stopped and swept his hand through the air. A burst of energy shot from his palm and flew straight toward the space ahead.
Then a strange sight unfolded. As the energy passed through an empty patch of air, it stirred ripples like waves on water. They rippled rapidly, and at last a pale silver gate, seven or eight zhang tall, materialized out of thin air!
What a curious technique. Xiao Li shook his head in amazement. Thinking of the folds in space before the Library Pavilion, he began to understand. The abilities of these experts were indeed beyond what he could comprehend at his current level. Reading about something and seeing it with his own eyes were two entirely different experiences.
After a moment of wonder, Xiao Li stepped forward to join the group. He passed through the silver gate and vanished along with the others.
Only after everyone—including all ten griffins—had entered the silver gate did it slowly close. A ring of silver energy rippled outward, and the gate gradually faded until it disappeared completely. In that moment, the area had once again become an utterly ordinary forest entrance.
As Xiao Li stepped through the silver gate, his mind reeled for a moment. Then his feet touched solid ground. He looked ahead and was startled to find that the scenery was still the same forest as before. But at the entrance, two elderly men and several middle-aged men had appeared at some point. Behind them stood nearly twenty young people.
Xiao Li's gaze swept over them. Each wore a badge on their chest, stamped with a pattern that looked like a tower.
"Heh, Old Hu, you're always right on time. I can count on you whenever you escort the new students." One of the two old men smiled at Hu Gan, who was leading the group. "How are this year's newcomers?"
Hu Gan glanced at Xiao Li, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Overall, this year's newcomers are better than last year's. But do you remember Xiao Li from the previous batch?"
The old man and the others exchanged glances. "That monster who was a Two-Star Great Dou Master at fifteen? Wasn't he away on business for a year?"
Hu Gan laughed heartily. "He came along this time too. This year's going to be interesting."
The old man understood and hurriedly searched the crowd.
Xiao Li was easy to pick out. The one with the most obscure yet weighty aura was obviously him.
The old man looked at the person beside him, his grave expression making his meaning plain.
He couldn't see through him. He, a dignified Dou Wang, couldn't discern Xiao Li's strength. Whatever the reason, it meant Xiao Li already possessed something beyond the level of a Dou Wang.
"All right, Elder Su, let's get started. I can't wait any longer." Hu Gan was eager to see Xiao Li's current strength. This was the perfect chance to find out whether his investment back then had been worthwhile.
"Fine, I'll get straight to the point. Although you've passed the selection and earned the right to enter the Inner Academy, that's not the end of it..." Elder Su smiled and raised a hand. A large handful of black crystal chips appeared in his palm. He tossed them out, and they shot through the air before hovering in front of everyone, as if guided by eyes.
Xiao Li reached out and caught one. The moment it touched his hand, a strange warmth seeped from it. He lowered his head to examine it and saw a transparent screen embedded in its surface, displaying a large red number five.
"There are a few things that would be troublesome to explain now. You'll understand them naturally later. For the moment, you only need to remember one thing: guard the chips in your hands as carefully as you would your own lives. Once you enter the Inner Academy, you'll understand how important they are to you! Of course, just look at these fellows' expressions and you might get some idea." As he spoke, Elder Su pointed at the group of young people and smiled.
Xiao Li crossed his arms and put the Fire Crystal Card into his Storage Ring. It was the Inner Academy's greatest asset, so the more he had, the better.
Lin Xiuya instinctively looked at Xiao Li. Seeing the greed in his eyes, he shuddered uneasily. Xiao Li hadn't exactly been friendly during the journey, but he'd never shown such a fierce expression before.
So he really does know something. Looks like I should take this thing even more seriously. Lin Xiuya tightened his grip on the Fire Crystal Card, thinking to himself.
"Next, you'll need to enter the forest and make it to the Inner Academy at the other end." Elder Su's finger remained pointed at the young people. "As you make your way through the forest, be careful of them. According to the Inner Academy's rules, they're free to act as they please in this forest. In other words, they can attack you."
"Remember, the number on your chips is a tremendous temptation to them. So, aside from killing you, they'll use every means at their disposal to take the Fire Energy on your chips. You'll find that term very familiar—and very dear—later on. For now, you must avoid them or defeat them. As long as they don't catch you and you reach the Inner Academy, you'll receive a final reward. The sooner you arrive, the richer the reward."
Elder Su's finger suddenly swung toward the pitch-black forest behind him. "The Inner Academy calls this scramble through the forest the Fire Energy Hunting Competition!"
"Now, I declare this year's Fire Energy Hunting Competition officially underway. Students, start running for your lives!"
The new students tensed and were about to scatter when Xiao Li spoke in a calm voice. A look of astonishment appeared on every face.
"Elder, let's not waste time. I'd like to challenge every senior here right now. Is that allowed?"
The students behind Elder Su were stunned. Then anger appeared on their faces.
"Xiao Li, I've heard of you. Even if you're a genius, aren't you being a little too arrogant?"
"You're just a new student, and you dare run your mouth like that? You'd better pray you don't run into me during the Hunting Competition!"
This was the first time Elder Su had heard such a request. Somewhat at a loss, he looked toward Hu Gan.
Hu Gan smiled faintly. "Elder Su, hasn't the Fire Energy Hunting Competition already begun?"