Fire Energy Hunt

Jia Nan Academy.

Jia Nan Academy was divided into the Inner Academy and the Outer Academy. The two were not connected, and one had to ride flying magical beasts to cross the distance between them. At this moment, figures stood throughout the dense forest outside the Inner Academy's entrance. Judging by the Dou Qi radiating from them, every one of them was an expert. None had an aura below that of a Da Dou Shi, and a tower-shaped badge hung at the side of their clothes, proving their identities as Inner Academy students of Jia Nan Academy. The leader even possessed the aura of a Dou Ling. Hidden among the trees, they looked exceptionally excited as they watched the dense forest before them.

A man in tight black clothes said unhappily, "These new students are really slow."

The white-robed man beside him replied coldly, "Sha Tie, you're still as impatient as ever."

Sha Tie said with dissatisfaction, "We only get this chance once a year. How can I not be anxious? What about Fire Energy? I'm still waiting to advance to Dou Ling."

Before long, faint rustling came from the forest.

"They're here." Sha Tie chuckled, and the dozens behind him also smiled. They began moving in groups of five. The Inner Academy's welcoming gift for newcomers—the Fire Energy Hunting Competition—had officially begun.

With the prepared side catching the unprepared side, and such an obvious disparity in strength, the new students' misfortune was easy to foresee.

Fights continually broke out throughout the vast forest. Of course, some people did not move at all.

They were Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er in the forest. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the ground with his eyes closed, while Xiao Xun'er stood guard over him.

Ten days earlier, Xiao Yan had arrived at Jianan and then participated in the competition to advance into the Inner Academy. Without drawing attention to himself, he passed smoothly. Xiao Yan had no intention of revealing his cultivation, so aside from the academy's higher-ups, no one knew that he had advanced to Dou Emperor. When Hu Gan, the dean of the Outer Academy, questioned him, Xiao Yan could only honestly explain that he wanted to temper his cultivation at the academy. After all, he had advanced through a fortuitous encounter. In the end, Hu Gan had no objections.

The real reason was somewhat more complicated. After Xiao Yan took out the Gu Yu, Xun Er immediately said that it was connected to Dou Di and insisted that Xiao Yan keep it safe. After seriously discussing it with Xun Er, Xiao Yan decided to give the Gu Yu to the force behind Xiao Xun'er in exchange for the safety of everyone in the Xiao Clan. After thinking it over again and again, Xiao Yan knew that he did not yet have the ability to confront the Soul Hall head-on. He could travel wherever he wished, but his father, brothers, and clansmen could not. He understood better than anyone the principle that an ordinary man became guilty by possessing a treasure. Xiao Xun'er immediately told Ling Ying to contact the Ancient Clan. What Xiao Yan did not know was that the bargaining chip he had offered in exchange for protection had been described by Xiao Xun'er as an advance bride price.

After resolving his concerns for his clansmen, Xiao Yan set his sights on the Heavenly Flames in the Inner Academy. Jia Nan Academy was filled with experts, so Yao Lao decided to first investigate the situation outside the academy. Thus, Xiao Yan pretended to be at a critical stage of cultivation when he was actually covering for Yao Lao.

Xiao Yan did not take the Fire Energy Hunting Competition seriously, and Xun Er cared even less. However, just because they were not interested in Fire Energy did not mean others would not be interested in them.

"Captain, there are two lone students here!" a green-robed youth said as he looked at Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er.

A thin youth looked at the two before him with some hesitation. Before entering the dense forest, the elders would explain the rules to the Outer Academy students. Since these two dared to be so arrogant, they surely had companions hidden nearby.

The thin youth said, "These two are probably among the top five of the Outer Academy. Their other three companions are likely lying in ambush. Be careful. Move quickly when we attack."

The four behind him nodded in unison, their gazes burning as they watched Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er. They were practically naked Fire Energy.

The thin youth unleashed his Dou Qi, sending a powerful palm strike straight at Xiao Yan. The other four also used their own methods.

Xiao Yan's cross-legged, eyes-closed posture did not change because Xiao Xun'er made her move.

Golden light burst from her palms. One strike sent the leading youth retreating, and her figure drifted like light smoke as she neutralized the attacks of the other four one by one. The five stared at Xiao Xun'er's stunningly beautiful face in admiration, but they could only inwardly curse their bad luck. Xiao Xun'er's strength had exceeded their imagination.

Her green robes fluttered as Xiao Xun'er moved among the five. Sharp Dou Techniques flew from her hands, and the members of the five-man team fell one after another. Finally, the thin youth took a palm strike to the chest from Xiao Xun'er and completely lost his ability to fight.

Of course, this was only a tiny corner of the Fire Energy Hunting Competition. Elsewhere, the pursuit of new students by old students continued.

"Thanks, junior. You can come find me for revenge after reaching the Inner Academy. Of course, that's assuming you have enough Fire Energy!"

"Take this as a lesson. The Inner Academy isn't as wonderful as you imagined."

"I really don't understand why new students are left with two points of Fire Energy when they only have five in total. It's not like the Inner Academy doesn't provide meals."

Such voices rang out continuously.

Of course, Xiao Yan was still sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, so Xun Er's protection had not ended either.

One team after another met defeat at Xiao Xun'er's hands, including the Black Sha Team of the Black and White Fiends.

When Captain Sha Tie was kicked into the woods by Xiao Xun'er, this place completely became the center of attention in the forest.

"Have you heard? There's a new student who's incredibly strong."

"How strong could she be? We've already beaten two teams of new students. Their strength is nothing special."

"You don't know yet? Even Sha Tie was defeated by her."

"Her? By herself?"

"That's right. One against five. There's another new student beside her, probably at an important stage of cultivating a technique or Dou Skill. But that junior sister... tsk, tsk. Forget how strong she is—her looks are flawless too. The Inner Academy will probably gain another remarkable figure in the future!"

By the third day, the Fire Energy Hunting Competition was nearing its end. However, the new students did not expect that fifty old students, ten teams in total, would gather together.

The white-robed youth at the lead was Luo Hou, who had already advanced to Dou Ling. Once everyone had arrived, Luo Hou said, "Everyone, I'll be direct. That junior sister from the Outer Academy, Xiao Xun'er, is truly formidable."

"What, even Senior Luo Hou isn't her match?"

Luo Hou gritted his teeth. "Yesterday, the five of us fought Xiao Xun'er. Even five against one, we lost."

Everyone present could not help drawing in a sharp breath. Sha Tie's defeat had already shocked them. They had never expected that Luo Hou, an absolute expert who had once ranked on the Strong Ranking, had also lost.

Luo Hou swept his gaze around and said, "To be honest, word has already reached the Inner Academy. If we really let that junior sister enter the Inner Academy like this, none of us will be able to hold our heads up here in the future."

"What does Senior Luo Hou mean?" someone asked in confusion.

Luo Hou said each word distinctly, "Join forces and attack her!"

The forest was vast enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people with room to spare, giving both new and old students plenty of space. But at this moment, one hundred people gradually began gathering. The Inner Academy students naturally came because of Luo Hou's proposal. They had the pride of the Inner Academy. They could be defeated, but they would never easily admit defeat, especially not to a girl who had just entered the Inner Academy.

The new students had naturally suffered constant setbacks over the past few days. They noticed that Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er were still holding on, and their resentment toward the Inner Academy students made everyone want to see the Inner Academy students make fools of themselves here.

"Xiao Xun'er, you have to win!"

"You must take down Xiao Xun'er!"

Completely different thoughts filled the two groups, and the tense feeling of an approaching storm spread through everyone's hearts.

Luo Hou stepped out from the group of old students and said, "Junior Sister Xun Er, how about this? Hand over your Fire Energy and lower your head in defeat, and we'll leave immediately."

Luo Hou still hoped to persuade her. After all, ganging up on a new student was not exactly honorable.

Xiao Xun'er was about to speak when she turned and saw that Xiao Yan, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, had opened them.

Xiao Xun'er smiled sweetly and asked, "Brother Xiao Yan, are you done?"

Xiao Yan nodded and looked at the people surrounding them. "Xun Er, you've caused quite a bit of trouble."

Xiao Xun'er stuck out her tongue. "Then Brother Xiao Yan can clean up the mess. Hee hee!" With that, she retreated behind Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan helplessly rubbed his nose. How could he not know how powerful Xiao Xun'er was? Even he did not dare claim that he could defeat her with certainty now. It was simply that she had always been accustomed to leaving the opportunities to shine to him.

Looking at the fifty people around him, Xiao Yan said, "Why don't all the seniors come at me together?"

"Damn, what an arrogant brat!"

"Get him! Let this kid learn the difference between heaven and earth!"

"Does he think he's Xiao Xun'er? What a joke..."

Xiao Yan looked at the fifty ill-intentioned people around him and fully released the aura of a Dou Emperor. Terrifying pressure blanketed the entire forest. To all the old students, the person before them was no longer Xiao Yan—it was the might of heaven itself! The immense pressure made it difficult for the old students even to breathe. Those with lower cultivation had already collapsed to the ground. The encirclement by fifty people became a joke in an instant. Before losing consciousness, the only thought of those too weak to resist was, Was this monster really a new student?

Luo Hou was the only one still standing, but his face was bright red and sweat poured down him like rain.

Luo Hou swallowed with difficulty, terror in his eyes. "You... are a Dou Emperor?"

Xiao Yan smiled at the fifty people who had lost all ability to fight. "That's right. It seems I won."

After the stunned silence, thunderous cheers erupted.

"Xiao Yan, well done!"

"A Dou Emperor is terrifying indeed! Let's see what the Inner Academy people have to say now."

"Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er are too terrifying! Are they really students?"

The most spectacular Fire Energy Hunting Competition in the history of Jia Nan Academy came to an end.