"Children?"
Elder Su and Elder Qing were both stunned, their brows furrowing slightly as they looked toward Hu Gan with clear disapproval.
"Old Gan! We've always trusted your judgment in the past, but what's going on with this year's batch of new students? We could let it slide if it was just a bunch of girls, but now you've brought children into the Inner Academy? Are you getting senile in your old age?"
"Grandpas! Don't underestimate us!" Karin was clearly unhappy with the elders' dismissive tone. She lifted her chin and declared, "We all got in here with real strength!"
"Strength, huh? Then tell us," Elder Qing said with a smile, his tone kindly despite the skepticism in his eyes. After all, no matter how bold she was, an adorable little girl like her was hard to be angry at.
"Hmph! Watch carefully!" Karin huffed. Her Dou Qi flared up, forming a vivid green glow that surged around her. In the blink of an eye, it coalesced into a Battle Aura Armor that shimmered over her small body.
"Battle Aura Armor?! A… A Great Battle Master?!"
The two elders were utterly stunned. They rubbed their eyes in disbelief. An eight- or nine-year-old Great battle master? This was far beyond extraordinary!
The twenty-some Inner Academy students nearby were also left speechless by Karin's display. She was so young… and already this powerful? They had walked in here feeling superior to the newcomers, but now they felt like complete fools.
"Do you have to be this ridiculous? Don't scare me like that—my heart's not that strong…" muttered one Inner Academy student, clutching his chest dramatically. The others looked just as stunned and uneasy.
Seeing their dumbfounded reactions, Hu Gan was clearly pleased. With a hint of excitement in his voice, he added, "This year's new batch is unlike anything the Academy has ever seen. The number of geniuses is simply beyond imagination. I'm certain this will be the most glorious class in the history of Jia Nan Academy. I doubt it will ever be surpassed."
Elder Su and Elder Qing finally came to their senses. They turned to look at the two other little girls standing next to Karin. With trembling voices, they asked, "These two… they're not also—?"
Hu Gan nodded, face full of pride. "Yes. They're at the same level. Both are two-star Great battle masters, and all of them are only eight or nine years old."
"Two-star Great battle masters… at that age…"
The two elders were left speechless. Their gazes toward the three little girls shifted—now filled with awe, excitement, and maybe even… reverence.
The Inner Academy students had fallen into a strange, heavy silence. They were still struggling to accept what they'd just seen and heard.
Seeing that the two elders were still in shock, Hu Gan decided not to give them any time to recover. "Why don't you try sensing the strength of the rest of the students behind me?" he said calmly.
Elder Su and Elder Qing took a deep breath and swept their spiritual perception over the assembled students. Immediately, their expressions changed.
Among a group of students standing together, they could easily sense the strength of most—eight- or nine-star Battle Master, and even one Great Battle Master.
But when they turned their attention to the group of girls surrounding Goku, what they sensed was… nothing special. Their auras were faint, unremarkable.
And yet… something felt off.
There was a subtle pressure buried deep beneath that surface-level normalcy. Clearly, they were concealing their strength with some kind of special technique—so well hidden that even they, as high-ranking elders, couldn't fully discern their true level.
Their hearts trembled. Just this one detail alone was enough to tell them: these girls were anything but ordinary.
Unbeknownst to them, Goku had already taught the girls techniques to conceal their aura, making it nearly impossible for outsiders to gauge their power accurately.
"But they all look like they're from the same place…" Elder Qing frowned slightly as he looked over the group of girls. His suspicion wasn't without merit—bringing in too many unknowns to the Inner Academy could lead to trouble.
Hu Gan waved his hand confidently. "Yes, they come from the same background. But don't worry—I can guarantee there's no problem whatsoever. I've already sent a letter explaining the situation."
Hu Gan wasn't just talking big. He'd heard some whispers from Hu Jia about Goku's true identity. On the surface, Goku looked like just another youth. But in reality, he was the very same legendary powerhouse whose name had been spreading like wildfire across the continent.
Someone like that? Even if Hu Gan had a hundred lives, he wouldn't dare cross him—let alone try to pry into his affairs.
Elder Qing took another look at the Inner Academy students behind him, then turned his gaze toward the new students standing beside Hu Gan. A mysterious smile crept onto his face.
"This new generation is… terrifying," he said quietly. "With them here, I wonder if our long-standing rules and structures are about to be broken."
__
Elder Su stood before the newly arrived students, his tone surprisingly gentle—after all, beautiful girls could soften even the sternest teacher.
"You're all new here. I hope you'll do your best to adapt, because doing so will bring great rewards. Just look at these rascals—last year, most of them barely passed the Outer Academy selection and ranked at the bottom. But after just one year… I dare say their strength has completely transformed compared to what it was before…"
Halfway through his usual lecture, Elder Su paused awkwardly. He suddenly realized that his standard speech didn't quite apply to this year's newcomers. With a sheepish cough, he added, "Ahem… well, your batch is… a bit special. In any case, they've all undergone a complete transformation in just one year."
Seeing that his usual speech wasn't getting through, Elder Su waved his hand. A handful of black crystal tokens appeared in his palm. With a casual flick, the tokens shot out like guided missiles, stopping mid-air before each student. The girls blinked in surprise and reached out to grab them.
Goku caught his own token and immediately felt a strange warmth seeping into his palm. Examining it closely, he saw a transparent, mirrored surface on one side—on which was etched a bright red number: "5." Around him, the others were also frowning in confusion at their own tokens.
"Huh? Why is there one missing?" Elder Su's voice rang out in mild surprise.
Everyone looked up to see him scratching his head. "That's odd… I'm sure I had exactly fifty tokens." Beside him stood a rather shy young man, another newly selected student—yet his hands were empty.
Just as Elder Su was about to recount the students, Elder Hu Gan glanced at Goku's token and chuckled.
"Oh, right—Elder Su, I forgot to mention. This year's intake is a little different. We accepted fifty-one students. There were just too many outstanding candidates, and I couldn't bring myself to leave anyone out… so I took the liberty of adding one more."
This had been Goku's idea from the start—he preferred to enter the Inner Academy as a student to avoid unnecessary attention.
Elder Su nodded without argument. After all, just those three little girls alone were already enough to break the mold. Without fuss, he pulled another black token from his storage ring and handed it to the student who hadn't received one.
"Alright, now that everyone has their token, let me say this: what these tokens are and what they do is a bit complicated. You'll understand over time. For now, just treat them as if your life depends on them—because in the Inner Academy, they do."
He grinned and pointed toward the older students standing behind the other instructor.
"If you look at their eyes, maybe you'll start to get it."
Everyone instinctively turned to look. Sure enough, the older students were staring at the new students' crystal tokens with undisguised greed and hungry eyes, practically drooling.
"Tch. Quit trying to act mysterious," came a voice from the crowd.
Zi Yan stepped forward, giving Elder Su a sidelong glance. She turned to Saeko and the other girls and explained, "Those numbers on your tokens? They represent Fire Energy—the primary currency in the Inner Academy. It's incredibly valuable for cultivation. But honestly, for you guys, it's not that important. Take it or leave it."
After training inside the Nest, with the help of an
Imperial rank pill no less, Zi Yan's cultivation had long since surpassed anything the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower could offer. To her, Fire Energy no longer held much appeal.
"Zi Yan? What are you doing here? The Grand Elder has been missing you!" Elder Su and the others were visibly surprised to see her. The Inner Academy students, however, reacted like mice seeing a cat. Their eyes darted nervously, filled with fear and hesitation. If they could run, they probably would've bolted already.
The Little Demon Princess of the Inner Academy—Zi Yan's name rang like thunder. She wasn't just infamous—she was ranked #1 on the Heaven Rankings!
"Hmph. Let that old man miss me all he wants. Who cares?" Zi Yan pouted. Still, if you looked closely, a faint softness flickered in her eyes. After all, the Grand Elder had raised her like a grandfather.
"In any case, the freshman trial is about to begin," Elder Su said sternly. "Don't go stirring up trouble."
"Yeah, yeah, got it. So naggy," Zi Yan waved her hand dismissively, then skipped over to Goku. "Goku, I don't really have anything to do here anymore. I'll head back to the Inner Academy and wait for you."
"Alright, go on. We'll be there soon." Goku smiled gently and ruffled her hair.
This little interaction left the Inner Academy students absolutely dumbfounded. That was Zi Yan—the terror of the Inner Academy! Who dared to treat her like some spoiled little sister? And what's more, she looked… happy?
"Who is that guy? He's so close to the Little Demon Princess…"
The older students stared at Goku with wide eyes, equal parts curiosity and… fear. Though, truthfully, most of that fear was directed toward the little girls standing beside him.
Zi Yan, sensing their gaze, turned to the group of veterans and smirked. "Don't worry. I won't interfere. If you've got the guts, go ahead and snatch their Fire Energy tokens. I promise I won't hold it against you. Heehee~"
She waved goodbye, then with a flicker of space energy, vanished without a trace. As a Ancient Void Dragon, even without reaching the Dou Ancestor level, she could already manipulate space to a terrifying degree.
Seeing her disappear, Elders Su and Qing exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming.
"It looks like the Little Demon Princess has gotten even stronger during her time away…"
Then, turning back to the students, Elder Su pointed toward the black forest ahead.
"Alright, your goal is simple: travel through that forest and reach the Inner Academy on the other side."
He then pointed toward the group of Inner Academy students. "According to tradition, those students have the right to attack you freely within the forest. So don't expect an easy walk."
"Remember—those numbers on your tokens? They represent Fire Energy, and it's incredibly tempting to them. They'll do everything short of killing you to take it. Whether you run, hide, or fight back, your goal is the same—reach the Inner Academy safely. The sooner you arrive, the better your reward."
Elder Su swept his hand toward the forest and said with a grin, "This little trial is what we call the Fire Energy Hunt."
"And now—I officially declare this year's Fire Energy Hunt… begun! Students, your escape starts now!"
---
Within the dense forest, beams of sunlight filtered through the gaps between leaves, casting patches of light across the shadowy ground. The rustling of leaves, the occasional beast roar, and distant shouts echoed in the distance—but the six figures walking along the forest trail seemed entirely relaxed.
Among them were three young girls, no older than eight or nine. Despite the wilderness and its dangers, their expressions were calm, even cheerful—chatting and laughing as they walked.
The six were none other than Goku's group. The others included Alice, Karin, Haku, Xiao Mei, and Qing Lin.
Originally, Xiao Mei didn't have the qualifications to enter the Inner Academy. She had only just joined the Academy and lacked the strength. But Goku, unwilling to leave a beauty behind, had taken her into the Nest inside his World Ring. After a short period of cultivation under his guidance, she had advanced to the level of three-star Great battle master, earning her place in the Inner Academy.
Since Saeko and the other girls had formed their own squads, Xiao Mei was assigned to Goku's team—mainly to help him keep an eye on the girls. On paper, this group seemed like the weakest. In reality… it was the most terrifying.
The Fire Energy Hunt featured fifty students, split into ten teams of five. Each team entered the forest from different entry points. Goku's team, being the exception, had six members.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from above.
"Well, well. Aren't you all a relaxed bunch? Not even a little tense in a place like this?"
The group halted. They looked up to see five young men perched atop nearby tree branches, either sitting or crouching—clearly lying in wait.
"You're here to steal our Fire Energy, aren't you?" Karin's innocent voice rang out, making the five men look momentarily awkward. But when they saw her calm gaze, any sense of guilt quickly faded. One of them smirked coldly.
"A once-in-a-lifetime genius… eight, nine years old and already a Great battle master? Sounds terrifying. But while others might fear you—we don't. Personally, I think taking down 'geniuses' like you is going to be very… satisfying."
"If you're here to take our Fire Energy, then come and try it!" Karin stepped forward, showing no fear despite facing several Great battle masters. She knew this was a test Goku had arranged. Unless it was truly dangerous, he wouldn't step in. That meant she had to prove herself.
"You're a clever little thing," one of the men said with a grin, his gaze lazily sweeping over the three little girls. "Honestly, we didn't really want to use force on kids like you. But orders are orders. So, unless you want us to spank you, I suggest you hand over your tokens willingly. What do you say?"
"Hmph! Dream on!" Alice shouted angrily. "Only Goku-nee is allowed to spank me!"
"…Uh."
The five men stared at Goku with weird, uncomfortable expressions. Goku felt a little embarrassed himself.
'I mean… I do like kids, but I'm not some creepy loli chaser! Don't give me that look!'
Afraid the girls would say something even more outrageous, Xiao Mei quickly stepped in, her tone gentle but firm.
"Enough talk. If you want our Fire Energy, come and take it."
"Oh my… a seductive little vixen, aren't you?" One of the men, dressed like a scholar, gave Xiao Mei a once-over, eyes flashing with admiration. Then he sighed. "This year's hunt is seriously brutal—either stunning beauties or adorable little kids. The pressure's unreal. I'm honestly thinking about forfeiting."
"Hmph! Pretty faces don't mean a thing in the Inner Academy. If you want to stand your ground, you need real strength. Enough gawking—attack!" barked another man, a scar slashing across his face.
In an instant, he vanished from his branch, reappearing in front of Xiao Mei like a flash of lightning. With a loud whoosh, his foot swept forward in a fierce arc, aiming straight for her soft midsection—no hesitation, no mercy.
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T/N: guys this is a new fanfic, please do support by giving it a reading and see if you like it or not.
Sorry guys, had to re-upload because I forgot one chapter and had to redo everything.