Fire Energy Hunting Competition

Xiao Yan sighed. Three days passed quickly. The Fire Energy Hunting Competition was about to begin.

Name: Xiao Yan

Age: 16 years and 2 months

Strength: Seven-Star Da Dou Shi

Alchemist Rank: Third-Tier Alchemist

Cultivation Method: Flame Mantra (High Xuan Rank)

Dou Techniques: Eight Extremities Collapse (High Xuan Rank), Mystic Divination Palm (Low Xuan Rank), Heaven Collapsing Technique (High Xuan Rank), Flame Splitting Wave-Devouring Ruler (Low Earth Rank), Flame Cloud Fist (Low Earth Rank)

Summoned Powerhouses: Hai Bodong (Seven-Star Dou Emperor)

Eight-Winged Black Emperor Snake (Peak Dou Emperor)

Yun Potian (Three-Star Dou Wang)

Summoning Slots: 3/4

Heavenly Flames: Myriad Beast Spirit Fire

Green Lotus Core Flame

Item: Mysterious Heavy Ruler

Summoning Talisman: One Intermediate Summoning Talisman

Summoning Points: 4500 (can be exchanged for various items in the System Mall)

"With my current strength, I should be able to get through the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, right? I just wonder who was in the previous batch?"

Xun Er also came out of her room at that moment. Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Little girl, it seems the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill worked very well for you. You actually broke through to an Eight-Star Dou Shi."

Xun Er smiled and nodded, then said shyly, "It's because Xiao Yan-ge's pill was so effective."

"Let's go. They're already waiting for us there." After saying that, Xiao Yan led Xun Er toward the gathering point.

Han Yue and the others had already been waiting there for Xiao Yan for quite some time. Among this year's students, nearly all the girls regarded Han Yue as their leader.

As for the boys, none of them accepted the others. Only the top ten had reached the Da Dou Shi level, while the rest were merely Eight- or Nine-Star Dou Shi. Overall, they were weaker than the previous batch.

Hu Gan sighed and said, "Students these days are getting worse and worse. They're nowhere near as capable as Lin Xiuya and the others from the previous batch."

The elders beside him consoled him, and Xiao Yan arrived just then.

"Sorry, I'm late."

Seeing Xiao Yan's warm smile, Hu Gan's mood immediately improved considerably.

Several enormous flying magical beasts crouched on the ground. Hu Gan smiled and said, "Since everyone is here, hurry and get on. The Inner Academy is still some distance away, so we need to make good time."

Xiao Yan nodded and took Xun Er's hand as they climbed onto the back of one of the flying magical beasts.

Han Yue followed them when she saw this. Yao Sheng and Bai Cheng, meanwhile, clearly disliked each other and did not board the same flying magical beast.

Han Yue could clearly sense that Xiao Yan's aura was different from three days ago. It was the feeling of having grown stronger.

Seeing Han Yue staring continuously at Xiao Yan, Xun Er unconsciously tightened her grip on Xiao Yan's arm.

Not long afterward, they arrived above a vast forest. Hu Gan tossed a black card to every person.

Xiao Yan knew that Fire Energy Cards were divided into five grades: black, blue, green, red, and purple.

The black cards were the lowest-grade cards.

Xiao Yan looked at the large seven on his Fire Energy Card.

"Next, you will begin the Fire Energy Hunting Competition below. Pass through this forest, and you will reach the Inner Academy ahead. The faster you are, the greater the rewards you will receive."

After Hu Gan finished speaking, he sent all the students down.

Once everyone had landed, Hu Gan left with the others.

Bai Cheng and Yao Sheng each gathered their own groups, while all the girls went over to Han Yue's side.

Only a dozen or so Seven- and Eight-Star Dou Shi remained. Neither side wanted them.

Xiao Yan simply stood there holding Xun Er's hand.

Bai Cheng was the first to lead his group away. He wanted to be the first person to rush out of the forest.

Yao Sheng was equally unwilling to fall behind and frantically headed for the forest exit.

Han Yue walked over to Xiao Yan and said with a smile, "We'll definitely encounter plenty of dangers in this forest. The two of you should come with us."

All the girls were shocked, because Han Yue was known for not wanting to interact with any men. Yet now, she had taken the initiative to invite a boy into their group.

Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "I've been used to traveling alone since I was young, so I'll just go with Xun Er."

Han Yue nodded, then led all the girls away.

Looking at the people who remained, Xun Er secretly asked Xiao Yan, "Xiao Yan-ge, what about these people?"

Xiao Yan shook his head and said to Xun Er, "The older students in the Inner Academy are generally Da Dou Shi or above. If these dozen people run into even one team of older students, they'll be wiped out. Not to mention the White Fiend Team and Black Fiend Team, whose strength is even more terrifying."

Xun Er asked in confusion, "Xiao Yan-ge, how do you know so much?"

Xiao Yan said awkwardly, "Of course Vice Headmaster Hu Gan told me."

Xun Er nodded and gave a soft "Oh."

Xiao Yan looked at the remaining people and told them, "You must be careful. It's best not to split up. Keep heading forward, and you'll reach the end of the forest."

However, the remaining students looked at Xiao Yan disdainfully and said in mocking tones, "You're just a newcomer who just joined the academy. Why are you pretending to be some seasoned veteran? Do senior students like us need you to teach us?"

Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head. Good advice could not save those determined to die. He could only hope they took care of themselves.

After saying that, Xiao Yan took Xun Er away. He did not intend to leave the forest directly, because that way, he would gain nothing.

So Xiao Yan planned to rob a few teams of older students. That would make cultivation in the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower much better.

After leaving their original location for a little over an hour, Xiao Yan and Xun Er happened to encounter a team of older students.

At that moment, those older students were discussing how to seize the new students' fire energy. Xiao Yan had Xun Er hide first.

Then he slipped over alone. After taking a look, Xiao Yan discovered that the team consisted of four One-Star Da Dou Shi and one Three-Star Da Dou Shi.

So Xiao Yan stopped hiding and jumped directly down from a tree.

All the older students were startled. The five of them immediately drew their weapons.

"Worthy of being students of the Inner Academy. Your reactions are quite good. Your strength is a little lacking, though," Xiao Yan said calmly.

The leader of the older students laughed loudly and said, "We were just worried we wouldn't find anyone. Who would have thought someone would deliver himself right to us?"

"Is something wrong with the brains of this year's new students? I've never seen anyone come right to our door. Is he afraid of not getting beaten?"

"Exactly. I wouldn't even dare take his fire energy. I'm afraid stupidity might rub off on me."

Xiao Yan listened quietly before saying, "Whether you dare take my fire energy or not, I won't give it to you. But you will hand over your fire energy, because that way, you'll take one less beating."

The leader's expression turned serious as he said coldly, "You're quite arrogant, kid. Let me show you what an Inner Academy expert is like, so you won't get beaten up again after entering the Inner Academy."

Xiao Yan said nothing more. He merely took out the Mysterious Heavy Ruler and pointed it at the people before him.

"Fight quickly. I still need to find the next group."