Inner Academy

Biodata

Background

The Inner Academy is regarded as Jia Nan Academy’s true foundation and most important division. It draws interest even from geniuses of the Central Plains; its graduates are expected to reach at least the Dou Ling realm, with some advancing as far as Dou Wang. 79

Unlike the comparatively flexible Outer Academy, the Inner Academy operates under a harsher strength-based hierarchy. Students’ cultivation conditions and rewards vary according to their performance, while Fire Energy functions as the institution’s most valuable resource. 83 93

Location and Access

• The Inner Academy is concealed behind a formation in the forest surrounding Jia Nan Academy. Activating the formation reveals a pale silver gate approximately seven to eight zhang tall. 88
• Beyond the gate, the Inner Academy is situated within a basin. 93
• New entrants must cross the forest before reaching the academy itself, facing old students during the Fire Energy Hunting Tournament. 89 93
• The Library Pavilion is reached through a hidden underground passage from Hu Gan’s office, leading to a secluded valley guarded by two gray-robed elders and protected by a spatial barrier. 86

Admission and Initiation

Fire Energy Hunting Tournament

• Each entrant receives a Fire Crystal Card containing Fire Energy; ordinary new students begin with five points. 89
• Old students treat the entrants as prey and may use force to seize their Fire Energy under the tournament rules. 89 91
• New students may legally retaliate and take Fire Energy from old students they defeat. 92
• The Black-and-White Fiends Squads, led by Lin Yan and Liu Qing, are among the tournament’s strongest old-student teams. 90

Facilities and Resources

Culture and Hierarchy

• Strength directly determines treatment, rewards, and cultivation opportunities within the Inner Academy. 83
• Students are advised to consider joining factions because numerous powerful experts and groups compete for influence. 93
• Senior students maintain a tradition of demanding that newcomers surrender their Fire Crystal Cards during the Hunting Tournament. 91
• The academy permits student conflict so long as opponents are not killed or crippled. 88 89
• Fire Energy can be exchanged for valuable resources, including high-grade pills, cultivation methods, and Dou Techniques. 83 93

Known Personnel and Groups

• Hu Gan — Vice Dean of the Outer Academy; oversees the selection tournament and escorts new Inner Academy students through the hidden entrance. 78 83 88
• Elder Wang — Inner Academy elder who distributes Fire Crystal Cards, explains the Hunting Tournament, awards new-student rewards, and assigns Xiao Yang a residence. 89 93
• Elder Chen — Inner Academy elder who monitors the Hunting Tournament and helps treat injured students. 90 92
• Fire Elder — The Alchemy Department’s strongest known alchemist; appoints Xiao Yang as a department elder after receiving guidance from him. 95 97
• Black-and-White Fiends Squads — Elite old-student teams led by Lin Yan and Liu Qing; they traditionally guard the forest exit during the Hunting Tournament. 90 91
• Medicine Gang — Student organization that recruits alchemists by offering pill formulas, ingredients, and assistance selling refined pills for Fire Energy. 95

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Xiao Yang learns that the Inner Academy can be entered through the selection tournament or an elder’s recommendation, but rejects waiting a year because he seeks faster access. 72
• After revealing his Nine-Star Da Dou Shi cultivation during recruitment, Xiao Yang receives special permission to participate in the current selection tournament. 73 74
• Xiao Yang secures an Inner Academy slot, then defeats all forty-eight opposing finalists in the special final round without injury. He is rewarded with five Library Pavilion selections and one thousand days of Fire Energy. 82 83 85
• Seven days later, Xiao Yang and the other forty-nine selected students pass through the hidden forest gate and begin the Fire Energy Hunting Tournament. 88 89
• Xiao Yang defeats both Black-and-White Fiends Squads and another old-student squad, becoming the first new student to leave the forest. He receives an Azure Fire Crystal Card, three hundred additional days of Fire Energy, and a private pavilion. 92 93
• Within the Inner Academy, Xiao Yang seeks rare medicinal ingredients, joins the Alchemy Department, and is unexpectedly appointed one of its elders. 94 95 97