Earth-Rank Dou Technique!

"Now I'll give those words right back to you. I've already seen through you, but you've never seen through me."

"White Tiger Seal!"

Feeling the abundant Dou Qi filling his body, Jiang Yun calmly watched Xue Zhen charge toward him. His expression turned solemn, and his arms trembled slightly. White flames surged along his meridians and out of his body. Bringing his hands lightly together, he rapidly formed an ancient, peculiar seal.

His hand seals shifted one after another. With each change, an ancient, boundless aura lingered, stirring the surrounding spiritual energy until it began to seethe.

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Yun had changed his hand seals sixteen times, a clear testament to his proficiency.

When he formed the final seal, a wave of weakness washed over him. A great deal of the Dou Qi within his body had been consumed.

Buzzz-

The moment his ninety-ninth change was completed, the spiritual energy in the room erupted violently. Between his palms, a radiance like the blazing sun rose, with the faint rumble of a tiger's roar lurking within it.

A terrifying fluctuation rippled outward.

"An earth-rank Dou Technique-"

A horrified voice rang out, but no one had the attention to spare for it now. He even had an Earth Tier Cultivation Method, so what was a mere earth-rank Dou Technique???

"Hm?" Su Qian, who had been leisurely reading an unnamed ancient book, sensed the upheaval of energy and raised his eyes in confusion. When he saw that the disturbance came from the freshmen's dormitories, he spat out a mouthful of tea.

"An earth-rank Dou Technique??? And not an ordinary one, either! Since when did earth-rank Dou Techniques become so common? That familiar fire attribute Dou Qi... which blind little bastard provoked Jiang Yun this time? That brat has deeper pockets than I do! He's a hedgehog, so why do you keep poking him? What a bunch of troublemakers."

Even with his many years of composure, Su Qian felt like cursing. His tongue showed no mercy, but his body was honest: putting away the ancient book, he hurried toward the "crime scene" without stopping.

At the same time, quite a few other elders set aside their work and rushed toward the Freshman District.

Jiang Yun gazed at the sunlight-like radiance condensed from flames in his palms.

Roar-

An earth-shaking tiger's roar resounded as the surrounding spiritual energy surged madly toward Jiang Yun's palms.

The dazzling flaming radiance in Jiang Yun's palms swelled further and further. Finally, the blazing sun burst forth, transforming into a luminous White Tiger some hundred zhang long, emerging bathed in flames.

The instant the White Tiger appeared, the crowd felt the suffocating grip of death descend upon them. They instinctively retreated, and before they knew it, they were already more than a hundred zhang from the battle.

"Roar-"

As soon as the White Tiger appeared, it unleashed a heaven-shaking roar at the descending Thunder Flood Dragon. Sound waves of white flame swept outward.

The entire freshmen's dormitory shook. Massive sound waves surged up and slammed savagely into the surroundings, with thunderous crashes ringing out without end.

"Aaargh-"

Xue Zhen let out a pained howl as the Thunder Flood Dragon around him shattered beneath a single tiger's roar, unable to withstand even one blow. He dropped to his knees, his face blank, staring ahead with lifeless eyes. His hands braced against the ground trembled uncontrollably, and thin streams of blood ran slowly down his arms, staining the earth red.

Jiang Yun surveyed the ground, which looked as though it had been plowed. Within a hundred meters of Xue Zhen below him, not a single patch remained intact.

Lowering his head to look at his hands, Jiang Yun knitted his brows tightly. The move's power was certainly considerable, but...

"Looks like I need more practice. I still can't release and retract this Divine Art at will. It actually affected the surroundings. The Great Elder isn't going to make me pay for this later, is he?"

Jiang Yun murmured under his breath. He had only intended to shatter his opponent's Dou Technique, yet he had ended up damaging public property. It seemed this Dou Technique was not so easy to master.

Looking down at Xue Zhen, who lay limp on the ground, Jiang Yun rapidly changed his hand seals. A moment later, he leaped up and landed atop the White Tiger's head.

Boom-

The tremendous sound jolted the equally stunned spectators awake. They looked at the youth riding atop the White Tiger's head, bathed in flames. A shaft of sunlight fell upon him, making him look like an eternal deity.

Then they looked again at the defeated Xue Zhen. Over the spacious clearing, the atmosphere froze into silence. Gaze after gaze settled on Xue Zhen kneeling on the ground, filled with shock that could not be concealed.

This was a Seven-Star Dou Ling! With Xue Zhen's strength, he could rank among the top twenty-five on the Inner Academy's Strong Ranking, perhaps even the top twenty. Yet someone like him had actually been defeated by Jiang Yun, a freshman who had only just entered the Inner Academy.

He had even been defeated by someone of a lower rank, and so miserably at that. Those who had watched from beginning to end knew that Xue Zhen had not inflicted so much as a scratch on Jiang Yun. That was the most terrifying part.

Remembering how arrogantly overbearing Xue Zhen had been just ten minutes earlier, only to see him kneeling nearby now, every spectator found this dramatic turn almost beyond belief.

Not a shred of resistance could rise in their hearts. Was someone like this truly an opponent they could defeat?

How laughable that they had just been shouting for him to hand over his Fire Energy, declaring that they would teach him the Inner Academy's rules. Now, not one of them dared meet Jiang Yun's eyes.

So I was the clown all along???

"The outcome is settled. Will you take out your Fire Energy Card yourself, or do I have to do it?"

Jiang Yun's indifferent voice sounded overhead. Xue Zhen came back to his senses, and the first thing that entered his sight was a thick tiger's paw. He had no doubt that if it came down, he would have no chance of surviving.

At that thought, a chill shot straight to the crown of his head. He had actually just fought such a monstrous prodigy.

It could be said that Jiang Yun's single move had shattered all of Xue Zhen's pride, then ground the pieces beneath his heel.

Now, Xue Zhen did not dare look at Jiang Yun at all. With his head lowered, he took out a crimson Fire Crystal Card containing a full two thousand days of Fire Energy. Jiang Yun transferred it without the slightest courtesy, leaving only the five-day subsistence allowance.

Looking at the long string of digits on his card, Jiang Yun nodded in satisfaction and dispersed the White Tiger. Keeping it manifested consumed quite a lot of Dou Qi, after all. Using this Dou Technique at his current cultivation was still a little too much of a strain. The faint aching and swelling in his meridians reminded him that he had already reached his limit.

Then Jiang Yun turned his gaze toward the uneasy crowd standing nearby. His calm voice rang out. "And yours?"

For a moment, the atmosphere froze. Everyone looked at one another, but in the end, no one could muster the courage to resist. One after another, they obediently took out their Fire Crystal Cards and watched him brazenly harvest their "hard-earned money."

After collecting his dues, Jiang Yun glanced toward Li Lin and the others before quickly looking away. Even so, cold sweat streamed down their backs.

At that moment, everyone had only one thought: Jiang Yun could not be opposed by force!

Jiang Yun had no interest in knowing who was over there. His gaze was fixed on the distance, where a figure was rapidly approaching. In just a few strides, the newcomer had arrived before him.

Seeing who it was, Jiang Yun, who had just reaped a substantial harvest, smiled. "Great Elder!"

Su Qian ignored Jiang Yun. Looking at the dispirited students, then at the "miserable" state of the ground, how could he fail to realize that Jiang Yun had won?

Still, when his gaze swept over Xue Zhen, he felt a little shocked. Even an Eight-Star Dou Ling could not trouble Jiang Yun. Just how much strength was he hiding?

What a boy full of surprises!

"Jiang Yun, unauthorized fighting is forbidden in the academy, and you've openly damaged academy property! Can you give me an explanation?"

Determined not to praise him, Su Qian made his tone sterner and questioned Jiang Yun with a serious expression.

Jiang Yun blinked innocently, spread his hands, and pointed at the crowd. "Great Elder, I've been wronged! These seniors were clearly making trouble for me, and I was forced to fight back. I didn't start this, so you can't make me pay compensation."

Su Qian's eyes widened as he stared blankly at Jiang Yun. If not for the fact that Jiang Yun showed no signs of injury while Xue Zhen and the others hung their heads in dejection, anyone unaware of the situation would have thought he was the victim!

Jiang Yun: Wasn't I???

Looking at Jiang Yun's innocent eyes, Su Qian flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly. "Everyone involved in this group disturbance will be fined thirty days of Fire Energy and barred from entering the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower for half a month."

At Su Qian's words, the senior students sucked in cold breaths. This punishment was practically asking for their lives. Looking at the solitary five on their Fire Crystal Cards, another thirty-day fine would leave them eating dirt. On top of that, they could not enter the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower for half a month.

It was downright killing them.

None of them dared look at the cold-faced Su Qian now. Instead, they turned pleading eyes toward Xue Zhen.

Boss, we all came here with you! You can't abandon us!!!

Xue Zhen felt as though needles were pricking his back. A bead of cold sweat slipped down his forehead, and he could not help cursing inwardly. What a bunch of disloyal bastards.

But he did not dare say it aloud. The consequences would not be something he could easily bear.

Unlike Xue Zhen, Jiang Yun obediently handed over thirty days of Fire Energy. As for being unable to enter the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower for half a month, that was no problem for him.

Looking at the embarrassed Xue Zhen and his companions, Su Qian said, "Hand the Fire Energy over to Elder Lin within three days, or your punishment will be doubled."

"Disperse!"

As his words fell, Su Qian stepped through the air. Under everyone's envious gazes, his figure flickered a few times before vanishing.

"Let's go!"

After Su Qian left, Xue Zhen had no face left to remain there either. He took the lead in turning around and strode swiftly out of the freshmen's residential area.

Watching the group leave, the many people secretly observing also dispersed. They continued whispering to one another along the way, presumably discussing the battle they had just witnessed.

Jiang Yun's strength intrigued them most, but they had reached one consensus: Jiang Yun was now utterly unstoppable. He was a mighty dragon crossing the river. From this day onward, no one in the Inner Academy would dare provoke him lightly.

"What a spectacle!" Li Lin sighed only after both sides at the center of the drama had departed.

"Indeed. Who could have imagined that a freshman like Jiang Yun would be so terrifying?"

"Now we'll see how Feng Wuhen reacts. I hear he's close to Xue Zhen. They come from the same country and have quite a history."

"I don't care what Feng Wuhen does. All I know is that we seem to have gained a terrifying challenger for this year's Strong Ranking tournament."

"I originally thought Jiang Yun wouldn't challenge us until next year at the earliest. Now it seems we underestimated him. We were rather like frogs at the bottom of a well, too. How many monstrous prodigies must there be in this world!"

Hearing this, everyone fell somewhat silent. Searching their hearts, could they truly say they were confident of taking the White Tiger Seal Jiang Yun had just unleashed?

They exchanged glances, each seeing urgency in the others' eyes-the urgent desire to grow stronger!

The waves behind pushed those ahead along the great river. With the new wave surging so fiercely, veterans like them had to work even harder.

"No matter what, this is my final year in the Inner Academy. I will claim a place in the top ten. If Jiang Yun wants to come, then let him!"

A fierce sharpness suddenly erupted from Li Lin, making him seem like a sword drawn from its sheath. He had been stuck at Half-Step Dou King for a year. This opportunity for Heart Flame Body Tempering was crucial to him, and he would not give it up under any circumstances. Otherwise, who knew when he would have a chance to break through on his own?

Seeing Li Lin display his edge so openly, everyone filled with confidence for a moment. That was right. If Jiang Yun wanted to come, let him. Only a fight would determine who won and who lost.

They would never hand over their opportunity on a silver platter!

Jiang Yun returned to his dormitory. Sure enough, Zi Yan was not there. Otherwise, those fellows would have been thrown out long ago.

Sitting cross-legged in the main room, Jiang Yun carefully reviewed his execution of the White Tiger Seal in his mind. If he could not release and retract it at will, then he had not mastered this Divine Art. His standards for himself were that strict.

The sun sank toward the west, and night soon fell.

Creak-

The door opened, and Zi Yan skipped in from outside. The smile curling her lips made it clear that she was in an excellent mood.

As soon as the door opened, Zi Yan spotted Jiang Yun meditating, and her eyes lit up. She happily trotted over and tugged his sleeve, her pale purple ponytail swaying lightly. "Little Yun, you're out of seclusion!"

"I am. The moment I heard the message you left with Elder Liu, I hurried straight back. What is it? Have you finished your medicinal pills?" Seeing Zi Yan, Jiang Yun's mood lightened as well, and he nodded with a smile.

"Couldn't I just have missed you?" A little displeased that Jiang Yun treated her like nothing but a bottomless stomach, Zi Yan muttered under her breath.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. Hurry, Jiang Yun, help me refine these into medicinal pills!" As she finished speaking, a sudden clatter rang out. A heap of medicinal ingredients covered the table before them, while beside it, Zi Yan slipped a Storage Ring onto her little finger.

"Fire spirit root, earth purple ginseng, heavenly star grass..." Looking at the precious medicinal ingredients spread across the table, Jiang Yun once again offered a silent condolence to the Great Elder.

"What's with that look?" With her keen spiritual senses, Zi Yan immediately understood Jiang Yun's gaze and protested loudly. "I found these medicinal ingredients myself deep in the mountains! I even fought several Magical Beasts over them! I've always had a special sense for these natural treasures. I didn't steal them from the Inner Academy!"

Looking at Zi Yan arguing her case so adamantly, Jiang Yun would have believed her if half the ingredients had not still carried traces of sealing energy. Even so, he agreed aloud.

"All right, all right! Our Zi Yan is the best!"

With a hundred investments, plus all your support, I'm adding an extra chapter today. Please keep supporting the book, everyone, and don't let it die while you wait for chapters to pile up!!!