In the pitch-black forest, several bedraggled Outer Academy students ran ahead. They seemed to be fleeing blindly in panic, yet a trace of ruthlessness lay hidden in their eyes.
When they reached a clearing, they seemed to have exhausted their Dou Qi and collapsed to the ground in a miserable heap.
"Why don't you keep running?"
A voice laced with casual mockery came from behind them. More than ten students wearing Inner Academy badges emerged from the shadows, their eyes full of ridicule as they watched the students sprawled on the ground.
But the bedraggled Outer Academy students acted as though they had heard nothing. They simply lounged on the ground, grinning at the Inner Academy teams before them.
"Something's wrong!" Among the Inner Academy students, a young man in a green robe blanched and cried out.
Clap, clap, clap!
Applause rang out from the trees. "As expected of an Alchemy Department student. Your spiritual perception really is exceptional." Xiao Fan stepped out of the forest, with Xiao Yan and the others following behind him. As they appeared, dozens of Outer Academy students closed in from every direction. In the blink of an eye, the Inner Academy teams were surrounded.
At the sight of so many Outer Academy students, the members of the three Inner Academy teams paled. Three young men who appeared to be their captains exchanged glances. Their only chance of breaking through now was to join forces.
They had never imagined that Xiao Fan and the others could unite all the Outer Academy students. It was not as though no one had tried before, but everyone who qualified for the Inner Academy possessed exceptional strength and talent. Bringing such an arrogant bunch together was virtually impossible, because no one had ever been outstanding enough to make everyone