When the Fire Energy Hunting Competition Has a Max-Level Proxy

Throughout the flight, all manner of ferocious magical beasts surged forward in waves, yet not a single one could break through the blockade maintained by Hu Gan and his three companions.

After more than an hour of such brutal, head-on collisions, the flight speed of the Griffin formation finally began to slow. Sensing the deceleration, Xiao Li swept his gaze forward, only to find, with some confusion, that aside from a bottomless mountain ravine beneath their feet, the rest of the landscape remained an endless expanse of greenery. There was no sign of the Inner Academy, nor even a single soul.

Hu Gan smiled faintly. Under the watchful eyes of the group, he walked forward about ten paces, then stopped. With a wave of his hand, a burst of energy erupted from his palm and shot toward the empty space in front of him.

A bizarre scene immediately unfolded. As the energy passed through a patch of empty air, it triggered ripples like those on water. These ripples fluctuated rapidly until a pale silver gate, seven or eight zhang tall, manifested out of thin air.

What a marvelous technique. This sight made Xiao Li shake his head in wonder. Recalling the spatial folds before the Library Pavilion, he felt a sudden flash of clarity. The methods of these powerhouses were indeed beyond his current level of understanding; reading about them and witnessing them were two entirely different experiences.

After a moment of internal awe, Xiao Li stepped forward to follow the group, passing through the silver gate and vanishing from sight.

Once everyone, including the ten Griffins, had entered the silver gate, it slowly closed. A final ring of silver energy ripples expanded outward, and the gate gradually dissipated until it vanished completely. At that moment, the area transformed back into an ordinary forest entrance.

As he stepped through the silver gate, Xiao Li felt a brief moment of mental vertigo before his feet touched solid ground. Scanning his surroundings, he was startled to find the scene identical to the forest they had just left. The only difference was that at the forest entrance, two old men and several middle-aged men had appeared, along with nearly twenty young people standing behind them.

Xiao Li swept his gaze over them and noticed that each of them wore a badge engraved with a tower-like emblem on their chests.

"Heh, Old Man Hu, you're always so punctual. It's always reassuring to have you escort the newcomers. How are this year's freshmen?" One of the two old men smiled at Hu Gan, who was leading the group.

Hu Gan glanced at Xiao Li from the corner of his eye, a playful glint in his gaze. "The overall quality of this batch is better than the last, but do you all still remember Xiao Li from the previous year?"

The old men looked at each other in confusion. "That fifteen-year-old, two-star Great Dou Master monster? Didn't he leave for a year due to some business?"

Hu Gan laughed heartily. "He's come along as well. We're in for a good show this year."

The old man realized who he meant and hurriedly began searching the crowd.

Xiao Li was easy to identify; the one with the most obscure yet profound aura was naturally him.

The old man looked at his companions, the gravity in his eyes conveying a clear message.

He couldn't see through him. He, a dignified Dou Wang, actually couldn't perceive Xiao Li's strength. Regardless of the reason, it meant that Xiao Li possessed something that transcended the Dou Wang level.

"Alright, Elder Su, let's get started quickly. I can't wait." Hu Gan was eager to see Xiao Li's current strength; it was the perfect opportunity to verify if his initial investment had been correct.

"Very well, no need for further pleasantries. Although you have passed the selection trials and earned the qualification to enter the Inner Academy, it isn't over yet..." Elder Su smiled and raised his hand, revealing a handful of pitch-black chips. He tossed them out, and the chips shot forward, hovering in front of everyone as if they had eyes of their own.

Xiao Li reached out and grabbed one. As the chip touched his palm, he felt a strange heat seep from it. Looking down, he examined it closely and found a transparent mirror-like surface on the chip, with a large red number '5' imprinted upon it.

"Explaining certain things is quite troublesome, so you will understand in time. However, there is one thing you must know right now: treat the chips in your hands as if they were your own lives. Once you enter the Inner Academy, you will realize their importance! Of course, if you look at the expressions of these fellows, you might understand a little." As he finished, Elder Su gestured toward the group of young people with a smile.

Xiao Li crossed his arms and tucked his Fire Crystal Card into his Storage Ring. This was the greatest asset of the Inner Academy, so naturally, the more, the better.

Lin Xiuya subconsciously looked at Xiao Li. Seeing the greed in his eyes, he shivered slightly, feeling uncomfortable. Although Xiao Li hadn't been exactly friendly along the way, he had never shown such a ferocious expression.

So he really does know something. It seems I need to take this thing more seriously. Lin Xiuya gripped his Fire Crystal Card, pondering to himself.

"Next, you must enter the forest and successfully reach the Inner Academy at the other end." Elder Su kept his finger pointed at the group of young people and said indifferently, "While you traverse this forest, be careful of them. According to the rules of the Inner Academy, they are free to act within this forest. In other words, they can attack you."

"Remember, the number on the chips in your hands holds a great temptation for them. Therefore, aside from killing, they will use every means possible to obtain the 'Fire Energy' on your chips—a term you will find very familiar and endearing in the future. For now, you must either evade them or defeat them. As long as you aren't caught and reach the Inner Academy successfully, you will receive a final reward. The sooner you arrive, the richer the reward."

Elder Su suddenly pointed toward the pitch-black forest behind him: "We in the Inner Academy call this forest competition the Fire Energy Hunting Competition!"

"Now, I declare this year's 'Fire Energy Hunting Competition' officially begun. Students, start running!"

The freshmen tensed, preparing to scatter, but Xiao Li's calm voice rang out, leaving everyone stunned.

"Elder, let's not waste time. I wish to challenge all the seniors present right now. Is that allowed?"

The students behind Elder Su were taken aback, followed immediately by a surge of anger.

"Xiao Li, I've heard of you, but even if you are a genius, isn't this a bit too arrogant?"

"A mere freshman dares to spout such nonsense? You had better pray you don't run into me during the hunting competition!"

Elder Su was also hearing such a request for the first time and looked at Hu Gan, feeling somewhat conflicted.

Hu Gan smiled faintly. "Elder Su, hasn't the Fire Energy Hunting Competition already begun?"