Fire Hunting Competition

Xiao Yan sighed; three days had passed in the blink of an eye. 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-Grade Alchemist
Cultivation Method: Burning Decision (Xuan-tier High-grade)
Dou Techniques: Eight Extremities Collapse (Xuan-tier High-grade), Mystic Divination Palm (Xuan-tier Low-grade), Heaven Collapsing Technique (Xuan-tier High-grade), Flame Splitting Wave-Devouring Ruler (Di-tier Low-grade), Flame Cloud Fist (Di-tier Low-grade)
Summoned Experts: Hai Bodong (Seven-Star Dou Huang), Eight-Winged Black Emperor Snake (Peak Dou Huang), Yun Potian (Three-Star Dou Wang)
Summoned Count: 3/4
Exotic Fire: Myriad Beast Spirit Fire, Green Lotus Core Flame
Equipment: 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 survive the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, right? I just don't know who the participants from the previous batch are.

Xun Er walked out of her room at this moment. Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Little girl, it seems the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill worked wonders for you. You've actually broken through to an Eight-Star Dou Shi."

Xun Er nodded with a smile, then said shyly, "It's all thanks to the effectiveness of your pill, Brother Xiao Yan."

"Let's go, they are already waiting for us there." After saying this, Xiao Yan took Xun Er and headed toward the assembly point.

Han Yue and the others had been waiting for Xiao Yan for quite a while. Among the students of this batch, the women basically all looked to Han Yue as their leader.

The men, however, refused to submit to one another; generally, only the top ten possessed the cultivation of a Da Dou Shi. The others were mostly Eight or Nine-Star Dou Shi, making their overall strength inferior to the previous batch.

Hu Gan sighed and said, "The current students are truly getting worse and worse; they lack the strength of Lin Xiuya and his group from the previous batch."

The elders beside him offered words of comfort, and it was at this moment that Xiao Yan arrived.

"Apologies, I'm late."

Seeing Xiao Yan's warm smile, Hu Gan's mood immediately improved quite a bit.

Several massive flying magical beasts were lying on the ground. Hu Gan smiled and said, "Since everyone is here, hurry up and get on. The Inner Academy is still some distance away; we must make good time."

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

Seeing this, Han Yue followed suit, while Yao Sheng and Bai Cheng glared at each other, refusing to sit on the same beast.

Observing Xiao Yan's aura, Han Yue could clearly sense that it was different from three days ago—it was the feeling of someone whose strength had grown.

Seeing Han Yue staring at Xiao Yan, Xun Er couldn't help but tighten her grip on Xiao Yan's arm.

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

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

The black card was the most basic level.

Xiao Yan looked at his card, which bore a large number seven.

"Next, you will conduct the Fire Energy Hunting Competition down below. Cross this forest, and you will reach the Inner Academy. Whoever is the fastest will receive the greatest rewards."

After Hu Gan finished speaking, he dropped all the students off.

Once everyone had landed, Hu Gan led his people away.

Bai Cheng and Yao Sheng each gathered their own factions, while all the girls gravitated toward Han Yue.

Only a dozen or so Seven or Eight-Star Dou Shi were left behind, with no side willing to take them in.

Xiao Yan stood there, holding hands with Xun Er.

Bai Cheng led his group away first, determined to be the first to charge out of the forest.

Seeing this, Yao Sheng refused to be outdone and rushed frantically toward the forest exit.

Han Yue walked up to Xiao Yan and said with a smile, "There will surely be many dangers in this forest. You two should come with us."

All the girls were shocked, as Han Yue was known for not wanting to interact with any men. Yet, she was now actively inviting a boy to join them.

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

Han Yue nodded and left with all the other girls.

Looking at those who remained, Xun Er asked Xiao Yan in a whisper, "Brother Xiao Yan, what should we do about these people?"

Xiao Yan shook his head and said to Xun Er, "The strength of the old students in the Inner Academy is generally at the Da Dou Shi level or higher. If these dozen people encounter a single team of old students, they will be wiped out. Not to mention the White Fiend Team and the Black Fiend Team, whose strength is even more terrifying."

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

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

Xun Er nodded and gave a simple "Oh."

Xiao Yan looked at the remaining people and said to them, "You must be careful. It is best not to split up. Just keep heading straight forward and you will reach the end of the forest."

However, the remaining people looked at Xiao Yan with disdain, saying sarcastically, "Aren't you just a newcomer who just joined the academy? What are you acting like an expert for? Do we seniors need you to teach us?"

Xiao Yan shook his head with a smile; it is hard to save those who are hell-bent on their own destruction. He could only hope they would fend for themselves.

After saying this, Xiao Yan pulled Xun Er away. Xiao Yan did not want to leave the forest directly, as that would mean gaining nothing.

Therefore, Xiao Yan prepared to rob a few teams of senior students so that he could cultivate better once inside the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.

After leaving the spot for about an hour, Xiao Yan and Xun Er happened to run into a team of senior students.

At this moment, these seniors were discussing how to snatch the Fire Energy from the hands of the newcomers. Xiao Yan had Xun Er hide first.

Then, he snuck over alone. After taking a look, Xiao Yan discovered that this team only had four one-star Da Dou Shis and one three-star Da Dou Shi.

With that, Xiao Yan stopped pretending and jumped straight down from the tree.

These seniors were all startled, and all five of them drew their weapons in an instant.

"As expected of students from the Inner Academy, your reaction speed is quite good. It's just a pity your strength is a bit lacking," Xiao Yan said calmly.

The lead senior laughed out loud and said, "We were just worrying about not finding anyone, and here you are delivering yourself to our doorstep."

"Is there something wrong with the brains of this year's newcomers? I've never seen someone deliver themselves to us before. Are they afraid they won't get beaten up?"

"Exactly. I wouldn't even dare take his Fire Energy for fear of catching his stupidity."

Xiao Yan listened quietly, then said, "Whether you dare to take my Fire Energy or not, I won't be giving it to you. However, you will have to hand over yours, because that way, you'll suffer fewer beatings."

The lead senior's expression turned serious, and he said coldly, "You're quite arrogant, kid. Let me show you what an Inner Academy expert is, so you don't get beaten up again once you reach the Inner Academy."

Xiao Yan did not say much more; he simply pulled out the Mysterious Heavy Ruler and pointed it at the group in front of him.

"Hurry up and fight. I still have to go find the next group."