Amidst the boundless sea of clouds, a formation of griffins soared in a neat line—carrying none other than Liu Xi and the group bound for the Inner Academy.
As the griffins cut across the skies, the forests below boiled with unrest. Countless Magical Beasts, startled by the disturbance, let out furious roars that echoed through the mountains. Yet, under the crushing aura of Hu Qian and the three accompanying Elders, not a single beast dared to recklessly leap forth.
That did not mean their path was safe. Within these endless mountains, Magical Beasts were densely packed, and among them lurked terrifyingly powerful existences. It wasn't long—perhaps half an hour into their flight—before some of those stronger beasts ignored the suppression of Hu Qian's aura and hurled themselves directly at the griffins.
In that instant, the four Elders revealed the true depth of their power. With a mere wave of the hand, torrential Dou Qi energy roared out like thunder splitting the heavens.
A muffled boom shook the sky. Those massive beasts, their auras not inferior to Liu Xi's own, exploded into clouds of blood, raining scarlet mist down onto the forests below.
Again and again, frenzied beasts lunged from the wilderness, but none could break through the four Elders' blockade.
Standing atop his griffin, Liu Xi watched with undisguised envy. Every casual gesture, every flick of Hu Qian's palm ended in a beast shattering into nothing but blood mist.
'Even if I fought just one of those, I'd have to exhaust myself to bring it down. But for them? A single strike and it's over. If I ever faced this level of opponent, I wouldn't last a breath. No… if I encounter someone like that, I must leave behind an illusion and run immediately. That's the only way to survive.'
He clenched his fists slightly, steadying his breath as another beast fifty meters out was reduced to nothing but vapor.
'I'm someone who has to accomplish great things. I must stay cautious—getting arrogant now would only mean death.'
Earlier, as the griffin flock swept across the mountain range, his sharp Spiritual Power had already sensed more than one 5th Rank Magical Beast slumbering beneath the dense canopy—beasts equivalent to a human Dou Wang. Those creatures were intelligent, far more cautious than the low-level monsters rushing blindly. They knew the strength of Hu Qian and the other three Elders and chose not to act.
'Good thing too,' Liu Xi thought grimly. 'If even one of them had attacked, we'd never have reached our destination whole, not even with four Dou Huang escorting us.'
The griffin convoy carved a bloody path through the mountains for nearly an hour, the Elders smashing aside beast after beast like a wedge through stone. Finally, the pace of flight slowed, and the griffins descended into a wide valley clearing.
Liu Xi cast his gaze around. Everywhere the eye could see, forests stretched unbroken, endless and wild. Only the vast gorge beneath their feet stood out.
'So, the Inner Academy is hidden inside a sealed space. Our Dean truly has means that border on the divine. Inner Academy… here I come.'
The other students wore confusion on their faces, but Liu Xi had already pieced it together.
"The Inner Academy isn't so simple to enter," Hu Qian said with a faint smile at the curious looks.
He strode forward ten paces and stopped. With a flick of his palm, a beam of energy shot forward. The empty air rippled like disturbed water, and in the blink of an eye, a colossal silver gate—seven to eight zhang tall—manifested before their eyes.
Gasps of awe escaped the students. Liu Xi's eyes, however, shone with calm hunger. 'Spatial methods… the power of true experts is what I yearn for most.'
The great silver gate groaned open with a crisp sound.
"Follow me," Hu Qian ordered, striding straight inside.
The students, faces brimming with excitement, surged after him. One by one, griffins and riders vanished into the gate. At last, the rippling surface shimmered, closed, and disappeared, leaving only silent forest once again.
---
As Liu Xi stepped through, a sudden disorientation seized his senses. He steadied his mind, and the haze cleared. Dozens of figures stood ahead, each wearing badges carved with the fiery sigil of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower.
A chuckling voice rang out.
"Hahaha! Old Hu, you've finally brought them. How are this year's students?"
The speaker was one of two Elders at the head of the gathered group, both smiling as they regarded the newcomers.
"Better than last year's crop," Hu Qian replied, grinning. "So it's your turn on duty this year."
He beckoned Liu Xi and the other four champions of the selection tournament forward. "These are the top five of this year's Outer Academy Selection. This is Elder Su, and this is Elder Qing. In the Inner Academy, you can seek their guidance."
Elder Su's eyes swept the five. "Not bad. To reach this level of strength at your age is promising indeed."
He waved his sleeve, and a scattering of pitch-black crystal tokens appeared in his palm. With a flick, the tokens shot out like streaks of light, each one homing in and hovering before a new student.
Liu Xi caught the token before him. The moment it touched his hand, a strange heat seeped into his palm. Glancing down, he saw the number 5 glowing crimson across its polished surface.
'Just what kind of craftsmanship is this? A token that can not only display Fire Energy points but also transfer them between tokens… It feels like some relic of a lost Refining Master craft. Could such a profession once have existed on the Dou Qi Continent, only to vanish with time?'
He twirled the token in amusement, then noticed the greedy stares of the older students standing behind Elder Su and Elder Qing. Their eyes burned as though they wanted nothing more than to tear the tokens straight from the newcomers' hands.
Elder Su's smile widened. "You don't need to understand its secrets yet. Just know this: guard that token as you would your life. In time, you'll learn its true importance. For now, you can already guess from the way your seniors are looking at you."
Liu Xi tossed the token into the air, catching it with a casual grin before tucking it away. 'If someone below the Dou Ling level tries to steal it, we'll see who robs who. Between my Illusionary Heart Technique and the Scarlet Flame, I have more than enough cards to play.'
Elder Su's expression hardened. "Now, to reach the Inner Academy, you must pass through this forest. The seniors you see behind me will be your final obstacle. According to our rules, they are free to ambush and rob you of your tokens. They will do anything—short of killing you—to seize the Fire Energy contained within. Your task is simple: evade them or defeat them, and reach the Inner Academy's gates. The sooner you arrive, the richer the rewards."
He swept his hand toward the vast, shadowed forest.
"This trial is known as the Fire Energy Hunting Competition."
His voice thundered like a bell:
"I now declare this year's Fire Energy Hunting Competition… officially begun! Run, little ones—begin your escape!"
The older students erupted into cackling laughter, some sneering, others making mocking gestures at the newcomers.
"We'll be waiting for you in the forest!" one particularly domineering senior shouted before striding into the darkness. The rest quickly followed.
The new students, pale-faced yet determined, gathered in groups of twos and threes and hurried toward the trees.
Liu Xi exchanged a glance with the other top five, then stepped forward. His lips curled into a faint smile, and a cold glimmer danced in his eyes.
'Against Dou Wang, I tread carefully. But against you lot? Let's see who ends up the prey.'
(End of Chapter)
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