Alchemy Department and the Inner Academy

After the successive shocks, Xiao Yi Xian's formidable strength as an eight-star Dou Practitioner became somewhat easier to accept.

After reporting the information, Xiao Yan invited Ruo Lin to the Xiao Family to learn more about the academy. At the same time, it would serve another purpose.

As a renowned academy on the Dou Qi Continent, Jia Nan Academy wielded enormous influence within the Jia Ma Empire. Over the years, its recruitment teams arriving in Wutan City had rarely dealt with local factions, much less stayed in local clans.

After suffering repeated failures, Wutan City's various factions had gradually adopted an attitude of respectful distance toward Jia Nan Academy's recruitment teams. They neither dared provoke them nor tried to get close, lest their warm welcome be met with cold indifference and become a laughingstock.

The Xiao Family's strength had risen greatly, but its accumulated foundation was still not enough to make its title as Wutan City's foremost family unshakable. It urgently needed to expand its influence.

Faced with the words of a terrifying genius like Xiao Yan, Ruo Lin could neither maintain the customary aloofness of a mentor nor simply ignore him. She nodded and agreed.

When word spread that a Jia Nan Academy recruitment mentor would be visiting the Xiao Family, Xiao Zhan and the three elders happily brought out their highest standard of hospitality.

The moon hung like a silver disc, while stars filled the sky.

After dinner, Xiao Yan and Ruo Lin strolled through the back mountain and spoke of entering the Inner Academy directly.

"You know about the Inner Academy?" Ruo Lin was somewhat surprised.

The Inner Academy and Outer Academy were completely different. Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy was merely a place to test new students; its true core lay within the Inner Academy.

However, Jia Nan Academy had its own rules. Matters concerning the Inner Academy were never discussed in detail. One could only enter it and experience them firsthand.

Xiao Yan smiled. "Jia Nan Academy will be where I study for quite some time. Of course I've learned a little about it."

Ruo Lin nodded and suggested, "With your talent as an alchemist, the most suitable place for you would actually be Jia Nan Academy's Alchemy Department. The Alchemy Department stands independently of both the Outer Academy and Inner Academy, and no one interferes with its affairs."

Joining the Alchemy Department wouldn't be a bad choice. It was hard to say how much I could learn there. That man known as Old Man Huo is only a fifth-tier alchemist, but like the Jia Ma Alchemist Guild, they should possess some sixth-tier formulas such as the Soul-Melding Pill.

But for formulas of commonly known pills like the Battle Spirit Pill and Emperor's Extreme Pill, I might as well save my energy, improve my strength, and kill Han Feng as soon as possible.

Yao Lao's Bone Flame Ring and soul body never ended up in Wutan City. What state is he in now?

Unless he joined Soul Hall, if Hun Xuzi took a liking to him and Yao Lao continued refusing, there would absolutely be no good outcome.

Xiao Yan shook his head. "Let's talk about joining the Inner Academy instead."

"With your strength, joining the Inner Academy won't be difficult. But the rest will depend on your actual combat ability." Ruo Lin sighed. If he only had a high rank without the skills to match, he would be in trouble once he truly entered the Inner Academy.

She thought for a moment and said, "There are too many students around during the day, making it inconvenient to fight. Now that no one is nearby, spar with me. I'll have a rough idea after that."

"Alright." Xiao Yan retreated a short distance.

Ruo Lin did not dare be careless. With a flick of her jade-like hand, a blue whip appeared in her grasp. Its entire body was azure, emanating dense energy fluctuations. The grip had been carefully carved into the shape of a wide-open snake's mouth, with a blue Magic Core embedded within it.

Holding this carefully forged Magic Core weapon that matched her attribute, Ruo Lin was slightly weaker than Xiao Yan, yet she gained a bit more confidence.

"Take out your weapon." Ruo Lin casually swung the long whip in her hand. The watery energy contained within immediately left streaks of moisture across the ground.

Xiao Yan raised his hand and gripped the air. Red light flashed in his hand as the Crimson Flame Berserk Blade appeared. A scorching, ferocious aura spread outward, instantly drying the damp ground.

"A weapon made with a fifth-tier fire-attributed Magic Core!" Ruo Lin was greatly startled. Even in the Black-Corner Region, where Jia Nan Academy was located, such a top-grade weapon was extremely rare.

Was Xiao Yan really just the young master of a city in the Jia Ma Empire? Talent could be destined and could not be forced, but how was he even wealthier than the geniuses of Central Plains clans?

"Let's begin!" Xiao Yan reminded her. After a brief pause, he stepped forward and charged.

Ruo Lin's slender hand moved, and the blue whip in her grasp lashed out like a venomous snake leaving its den. It drew a blue streak through the air as it split down toward Xiao Yan.

Before the whip even arrived, the cool mountain air had already grown noticeably more humid.

Xiao Yan swept his blade aside, then stomped hard against the ground. He shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, swinging his blade down in a fierce slash.

"Force-Dispelling Water Mirror!" Before the blade could reach her, Ruo Lin thrust her palm forward. A great quantity of pale-blue Dou Qi surged out, forming an oval blue water mirror before her.

This was a Dou Technique practiced by nearly all water-attributed Dou Qi users. Though it was only Advanced Yellow Rank, it was highly practical and remarkably effective at dispersing the force of attacks.

Xiao Yan's blade struck the thick water mirror and easily split it apart. A water mirror capable of dispersing force still had limited effect in the face of absolute power.

At that moment, golden light burst from the blood-red blade. After cleaving apart the Force-Dispelling Water Mirror, Xiao Yan unleashed the Flame Burst Impact contained within the Crimson Flame Berserk Blade. A golden sphere of light shot from the blade.

Ruo Lin sensed that her Dou Technique could not block it and immediately realized something was wrong. With nimble footwork, she shifted to the rear left, avoiding the direction of Xiao Yan's sharp blade.

Her early vigilance allowed the Flame Burst Impact to seize the initiative and attack immediately afterward.

As she watched the golden sphere skim past her, Ruo Lin soon heard a violent explosion. Her heart jolted. If it had struck her, even using Dou Qi Armor would have made it difficult to defend against.

"Advanced Profound Rank Dou Technique: Mad Lion Roar!" Before Ruo Lin could steady herself, Xiao Yan locked onto her position. His Dou Crystal trembled violently, and a surge of energy poured out, transforming into a vast amount of pure Dou Qi that rapidly flowed into the Crimson Flame Berserk Blade.

Golden light flickered as a fairly distinct energy lion burst from the blade. As it expanded with the wind, its fur became sharply defined and lifelike.

Having reached the Da Dou Shi level, Xiao Yan had gradually begun to reveal the power of an Advanced Profound Rank Dou Technique. As it charged forward, the lion's roar shook the heavens.

He had been rapidly raising his rank and improving his Alchemy Art, yet he still had the energy to master an Advanced Profound Rank Dou Technique?! Ruo Lin had no time to be shocked. Pressing her red lips tightly together, she poured a massive amount of Dou Qi into her whip.

Enormous blue energy surged like a fountain, transforming the whip into a gigantic water serpent five or six meters long. The water serpent roared at the sky before pouncing toward the rapidly approaching golden lion.

The two beasts collided. The water serpent turned into a towering curtain of water that tightly bound the golden lion. Water and fire energy clashed with hissing sounds, and mist quickly filled the air.

Ruo Lin's beautiful eyes stared ahead. Suddenly, golden light flickered within the mist, followed by an explosive blast. Countless streams of water shot back toward her, and her heart sank.