Strength Anxiety

Xiao Yan looked at the large crowd before him. Most of them were still Da Dou Shi, probably hoping to pick up an easy win.

They thought Xiao Yan was a newcomer and couldn't possibly be stronger than them.

And when Xiao Yan had defeated Lin Yan, everyone had assumed he had merely gotten lucky after taking some pills.

So no one believed Xiao Yan was truly that strong. Before this, plenty of people had already been lying in wait for him.

Xiao Yan looked over the crowd. There were only three or four Dou Ling experts, and they were basically all one-star Dou Ling. Smiling, he said, "In that case, let the Dou Ling-level people go first."

Several peak Da Dou Shi said disdainfully, "Who are you trying to impress? Picking them first? You'll only embarrass yourself later."

But no matter what others said, this was Xiao Yan's stage, so his words still carried weight.

Just as a commotion broke out around Xiao Yan, many people turned their attention over. Yao Sheng, who happened to be nearby, also looked over.

A tall, burly man stood beside him. It was Liu Qing, the Tyrant Spear.

"Big Brother, that kid is Xiao Yan. He's pretty strong. I probably can't take him down."

Yao Sheng spoke angrily. Even now, he couldn't understand how Xiao Yan, who had only been a three-star Da Dou Shi at the Scripture Library, had improved so much after just a few days.

Liu Qing looked at Xiao Yan and said, "Beating Lin Yan proves the kid has some ability. But I still don't take him seriously. If you don't like him, settle it yourself."

Yao Sheng nodded and said nothing more.

Liu Qing changed the subject. "Qin Zhen belongs to the same faction as the fourth-ranked person on the Strong Ranking, so it's not convenient for me to make a move against him right now. But in another year or two, I'll definitely break into the top three of the Strong Ranking!"

Yao Sheng looked at Liu Qing excitedly and said, "I believe in you, Big Brother. And I'll make it into the top twenty of the Strong Ranking too!"

Amid the crowd's heated discussions, Xiao Yan and the four Dou Ling-level challengers arranged their order.

Looking at the four of them, Xiao Yan muttered, "All four are one-star Dou Ling. There really are quite a few Dou Ling in the Inner Academy. To have the strength to enter the Inner Academy's Strong Ranking, one needs to be at least a three-star Dou Ling."

The first Dou Ling stepped forward. Xiao Yan drew out the Mysterious Heavy Ruler, wanting to test the results of his recent cultivation.

Liu Qing and Yao Sheng watched from the side. Lin Xiuya and Yan Hao, who had just emerged from seclusion in the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower and heard about what was happening here, also rushed over.

Xiao Yan was already rather famous within the Inner Academy.

Lin Yan was also watching from below the stage. His injuries had only recently healed.

"Xiao Yan, don't you dare hand over my place on the Strong Ranking so easily!" Lin Yan muttered inwardly.

In the first match, the Dou Ling opponent did not specialize in powerful offense. His greatest strength was defense, yet Xiao Yan's Eight Extremities Collapse forcibly tore through it.

The victory earned a wave of praise from the crowd. They had not expected Xiao Yan's offensive power to be so formidable.

Lin Xiuya said, "The cultivation method Xiao Yan practices seems to be a high-grade Xuan-class method. No wonder his Dou Techniques are so powerful."

Yan Hao replied, "Looks like he has a background too. The Inner Academy will become lively from now on."

Lin Yan found it hard to believe. Two months ago, Xiao Yan had only been a seven-star Da Dou Shi. How long had it been, and he was already a nine-star Da Dou Shi? That speed was truly frightening.

Yao Sheng clenched his fists as he watched Xiao Yan and muttered softly, "What a monster. Was this Dou Qi Continent designed for him? He's too suited to this world. His cultivation speed is like he's cheating."

Liu Qing's expression also turned solemn. If Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Ling, Liu Qing truly wasn't confident he could defeat him.

Xiao Yan said a few polite words, then the remaining three stepped up one after another.

An hour later, Xiao Yan was drenched in sweat. The Dou Qi within his body was nearly exhausted, but he had not suffered a single injury.

Xiao Yan won all four matches, using his nine-star Da Dou Shi cultivation to defeat four genuine Dou Ling experts in succession.

The remaining Da Dou Shi all began making excuses to one another, and in the end, none of them dared to challenge him.

Xiao Yan smiled at them, then cupped his hands toward everyone and said, "If anyone else wishes to challenge me, Xiao Yan, I will accompany you at any time."

No one in the crowd made a sound. Just like that, Xiao Yan firmly secured the forty-fifth position on the Strong Ranking.

After watching every match, Lin Xiuya finally patted Yan Hao on the shoulder and said, "It seems that little monster at the top of the Strong Ranking is about to have his position challenged."

After saying that, Lin Xiuya sensed someone's gaze fixed on him.

Liu Qing stared at Lin Xiuya and said, "I didn't expect you to break through to four-star Dou Ling after just one period of seclusion."

"You're not bad yourself. You've already reached the peak of three-star Dou Ling. You should break through soon, right?" Lin Xiuya said indifferently.

"Soon. When I emerge from seclusion, I'll come find you again."

Lin Xiuya waved as he walked away, leaving behind only one sentence. "I'll be waiting anytime."

Liu Qing gritted his teeth in anger and left with Yao Sheng.

Lin Yan felt that Xiao Yan suited his temperament quite well. No matter what situation he faced, Xiao Yan never backed down.

Even when facing many opponents whose cultivation exceeded his own, Xiao Yan remained neither humble nor arrogant, handling everything calmly.

"It's been a long time since I've seen such an interesting person," Lin Yan said with a smile.

After Xiao Yan settled everything, he went back to find Xun Er.

Xun Er waited at home for Xiao Yan to return.

"Xun Er, I've already settled everything." Xiao Yan smiled and rubbed Xun Er's head, while she leaned against his chest.

"Brother Xiao Yan, you weren't hurt, were you?" Xun Er asked worriedly.

Xiao Yan smiled and said he was fine, then brought up another matter. "Xun Er, I still haven't cultivated the Dou Technique we obtained from the Scripture Library. I plan to train in the back mountains outside the Inner Academy, cultivate that Dou Technique, and temper myself while I'm there. I'll strive to break through to Dou Ling."

Xun Er said sadly, "Brother Xiao Yan, you've only just come out of seclusion, and you're going into seclusion again? This kind of cultivation method won't give very good results, will it?"

Xiao Yan sighed and explained, "My current strength is still insufficient. If I faced a true Strong Ranking expert, I definitely wouldn't be able to defeat them. The people who challenged me today were merely testing the waters for them. The real experts will come after some time."

Xun Er nodded, then finally asked, "Then when will you be able to return, Brother Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Yan gave his Fire Energy Card to Xun Er and said, "I won't need fire energy for a while, but you can't neglect your cultivation either. I won't return this time unless I break through to Dou Ling. At the earliest, it will take three months; at most, half a year."

A cool sensation touched Xiao Yan's face. Xun Er lightly kissed him, then quickly turned her face away.

Xiao Yan laughed loudly. "With that from Xun Er, I'll definitely break through to Dou Ling even faster."

Xun Er shyly punched Xiao Yan, and the two embraced beneath the setting sun.