"Have you heard? In this year's Fire Energy Hunting Competition, a newcomer defeated a team of seniors all by himself and even stole their fire energy."
"Hmph! So what if he pulled it off once? You think one person can turn the heavens upside down in the Inner Academy? Those trash seniors must've been useless to let such a thing happen. Calling him the so-called 'Demon Lord'? He doesn't deserve it!"
"True. No matter how much of a genius he is, once he enters the Inner Academy, he has to follow the rules here. By the way… don't you feel a chill?"
"Not right—the air really is getting colder. Stay alert."
"'Demon Lord,' is it? Not a bad title. I'll take it." A calm, amused voice came from the depths of the dense forest. Liu Xi stepped forward, wrapped in a faintly chilling aura, his expression indifferent.
"You… so you're that arrogant freshman they're talking about. Truly reckless, walking into us alone." Seeing only Liu Xi emerge, the five-man senior squad that had been tense relaxed at once. The burly youth in the lead sneered.
"So you're upset because the so-called prey of the seniors dared to turn the tables and steal your fire energy?" Liu Xi arched a brow.
"Hahaha! Every year there are a few new brats who think they're geniuses, strutting around like they own the place. Today I'll teach you what it means to always have a higher sky above you. Remember this well—the one who defeats you is me, Luo Ke."
Luo Ke signaled his teammates to hold back, stepping forward alone.
"You didn't need to report your name," Liu Xi said coolly, flames flickering in his palm. "After all, I don't bother remembering the names of the defeated."
Scarlet flame surged into being, ringed with a faint blue halo. The temperature around them plummeted.
Luo Ke also practiced fire attribute Dou Qi. His body blazed with fierce energy, his cultivation at 6-Star Da Dou Shi—normally an opponent Liu Xi would have to take seriously.
But this time, he was utterly restrained. Before his fiery strength could even land, the chilling crimson-blue flame stripped it away, swallowing all heat.
The clash ended in a heartbeat. Luo Ke's fire-wreathed punch was casually caught by Liu Xi's bare hand. The scarlet flame devoured his strength.
His face twisted with shock as he wrenched free, stumbling back two steps. But Liu Xi was already upon him—his fist crashed into Luo Ke's abdomen. Scarlet flame erupted, blasting him through the air. He coughed blood before collapsing into the arms of his companions, unable to rise again.
"Not simple… all of us together!" snarled another senior, setting Luo Ke down before leaping at Liu Xi with the other three.
Four figures attacked in unison, fierce wind screaming through the trees. Liu Xi stood motionless. At the moment their strikes landed, his body dissolved into a stream of blue light.
The four froze in disbelief—then two were struck down from behind before they could react.
The last pair huddled back-to-back, panic twisting their faces.
"Show yourself! What kind of skill is hiding like a rat?" one shouted.
"When did I ever hide? I'm standing right in front of you." Liu Xi's cold voice drifted from every direction.
Then one senior gasped in horror as Liu Xi appeared before him, slashing out a blade of searing flame. The sword-qi slammed into his chest, hurling him away.
The last man stiffened as Liu Xi's flame-forged longsword touched his throat.
"Well?" Liu Xi asked calmly. "Hand over your fire crystal cards."
"I—I'll give them!" the tall, skinny senior stammered, face pale.
"That's better." Liu Xi's demeanor shifted into a warm smile, as if he hadn't just crushed them moments ago.
He collected the blue fire crystal cards and drained their energy into his own black card. The glowing number leapt upward—398. Satisfied, Liu Xi flicked their depleted cards back onto the ground.
"Thank you for your fire energy. I look forward to next time." He waved cheerfully before turning and striding away.
"Damn him! Who wants to see him again?" Luo Ke growled, clutching his abdomen. Then his lips curled in a strange smile. "But we will meet him again."
The skinny youth checked his card and nearly wept. "Only ten days of fire energy left… what a disaster. Why did such a freak appear among this year's freshmen?"
"What now? Even if we rob more newcomers, we can't make up this loss," the skinny one asked bitterly.
Luo Ke's eyes glinted coldly. "If he dares steal it, then he'll cough it back up. His tricks are strange, but he's still just a Da Dou Shi. With the amount of fire energy he's carrying, once word gets out, plenty of people will hunt him down for us."
---
Liu Xi, meanwhile, found a safe clearing. He swallowed a pill to restore his Dou Qi and sank cross-legged into meditation. Though he had outmaneuvered them with illusions and bursts of the scarlet flame, his reserves were far from limitless.
'I still can't endure too many prolonged fights. Without higher cultivation, every battle like this is draining. I'll have to be cautious until I grow stronger.'
After recovering, he set off again toward the Inner Academy.
A rustling ahead caught his attention. A lone senior spotted him, panicked, and bolted. Liu Xi narrowed his eyes, then pursued, his Spiritual Power sweeping outward.
Sure enough, three powerful auras lay waiting further ahead.
'So that's it. He's running to fetch reinforcements.'
Liu Xi followed without hesitation, soon arriving before a massive boulder where three figures sat cross-legged. Their eyes opened as he approached, cold and sharp.
The panting scout fell before them like a dog returning to its masters.
"I am Zhou Fan," said the man on the left, his tone icy. "I've heard them call you Demon Lord. I don't think you deserve such a title. But you do deserve for me to remember your name."
The man in the center sneered. "Hand over your fire energy. Save yourself the pain."
The third remained silent, gaze sharp as a blade.
"So this is a planned ambush," Liu Xi replied evenly. "But the fire energy I've taken is mine. Isn't that the very rule of this Hunting Competition?"
"You think you'll escape us?" Zhou Fan's cold voice cut the air.
At his words, eleven more strong presences emerged from the forest, sealing every path.
"My name is Liu Xi," he said, lips curving faintly. "And as for leaving… who here could stop me?"
"Kill him."
Blazing attacks roared toward him. Yet before they landed, Liu Xi's form shimmered into a stream of light and vanished.
"You want to trap me? Try again in your next life. I'm leaving." His mocking voice faded into the distance.
"Damn it! He escaped!" Zhou Fan cursed.
---
Two days later.
Liu Xi's mood was light as he studied the black card in his hand: 538 fire energy. But seniors were harder prey now—most traveled in groups of two or three squads.
'No matter. My name is already notorious. Among the seniors, I'm branded a villain. Among the freshmen, I carry their curses. It can't be helped.'
He sighed. "So be it. The strong always walk alone."
At the edge of the forest, he emerged into an open space. A tall platform awaited, and atop it sat Elder Su and Elder Qing, conversing lightly.
Below stood another squad of seniors. Liu Xi approached with a smile.
"So, you're the final checkpoint."
The leader, a cold-eyed youth, stepped forward. "My name is Yang Xiao, 1-Star Dou Ling. Defeat me, and you may pass."
Liu Xi frowned. 'So this is what the Hunting Competition truly is—nothing more than the Academy's way of forcing us to bow our heads.'
"Very well," he said softly. "Let's fight."
A spear lunged like a dragon, wrapped in icy Dou Qi. Liu Xi's body blurred—the weapon pierced only a phantom illusion.
Yang Xiao growled and unleashed his technique.
"Icebound Thousand Miles!"
Freezing air spread outward, sealing the land in frost. Liu Xi's flame struggled—his heat was being forced back.
'I can't let this drag on.'
He stepped forward, appearing before Yang Xiao. "Then one strike will decide it."
Yang Xiao's eyes sharpened as he charged. But just before impact, Liu Xi's lips curved in a strange smile.
"Pill Flame Technique—Scarlet Flame Lion!"
His figure blurred, transforming into a roaring beast of living fire.
"Boom!"
Flame exploded like a cataclysm. The shockwave hurled Yang Xiao across the platform. When the firestorm faded, he staggered into view—clothes tattered, skin bruised and blackened—before collapsing unconscious.
Elder Su immediately appeared at his side, checking his injuries. Finding him stable, he turned to Liu Xi—whose face was pale with exhaustion—and nodded with a complicated expression.
"You win."
(End of Chapter)
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