Every word of Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er's conversation was heard by Lin Ge.
A look of astonishment crossed his face. "You aren't planning to snatch the Fire Energy again, are you? Lin Xiu is no ordinary person. If you do this, you'll only be helping him!"
"After hearing all that you've said, it seems like the strongest one is Lin Xiu, but we have so many people," Xiao Yan didn't directly respond.
However, the meaning behind his words were understood by Lin Ge, as well as by Hu Jia, Wu Hao, and others.
"Brother Xiao Yan, no matter what decision you make, Xun'er will support you."
Xun'er cast an encouraging glance at Xiao Yan; her own Xiao Yan brother was always the best.
After snatching the Fire Energy from Lin Ge and others, Xiao Yan left the place with four people.
"Xiao Yan, what do you plan to do next? I've had contact with Lin Xiu before, and I believe what that person said earlier," Wu Hao asked.
Hu Jia and Bai Shan also turned their gazes towards Xiao Yan.
"According to that person's description, Lin Xiu's individual strength is formidable. At least in crucial moments, he can unleash powerful abilities," Xiao Yan organized his thoughts, pondering slightly. "I intend to gather all the newcomers together. Together, no matter when, the strength of the team will always be the strongest!"
Wu Hao, Hu Jia, and others had witnessed the scene where the newcomers were snatched before encountering Lin Ge.
It seemed that those seniors had held a grudge from last year, so they took this opportunity to release it without reservation.
Similarly, when newcomers are snatched, it's impossible not to have any emotions.
"Just why should the newcomers listen to us?" Hu Jia asked.
"Hehe, don't forget about my other identity," Xiao Yan's face revealed a hint of pride. "As an Alchemist, I can provide Pills for their rapid injury recovery."
With that said, he shifted his gaze to the several newcomers approaching him with bruised faces. "The importance of Fire Energy goes without saying. They definitely wouldn't want to enter the inner courtyard empty-handed."
"In that case, they'll have to work hard. But as long as they can help us defeat Lin Xiu, I'm willing to share some Fire Energy as a reward," Hu Jia was already tempted. Knowing Lin Xiu's strength, she understood that she had no chance of reclaiming her status alone.
"Count me in too," Bai Shan responded immediately, even more actively than Wu Hao.
Originally, relying on his cousin's connections in the inner courtyard, he had confidence in breaking out of the senior team.
But upon learning that Lin Xiu was also present, this idea was instantly extinguished.
He knew that after last year's arrangement failed, Lin Xiu would surely not forget.
With a target in mind, the five of them were full of determination.
Their own strengths were formidable, and coupled with the influence of Xun'er and Hu Jia, many newcomers, upon hearing the proposal, actively joined the team.
The continuous elimination of senior teams and the unusual development of events quickly caught the attention of the elders and other senior teams.
"Why are there people snatching seniors this year too?"
"What's going on? If there's a freak like Lin Xiu every year, who would participate in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition in the future?"
"All seniors must unite!"
In the forest, the seniors had all transitioned from newcomers last year and understood the newcomers' intentions.
After all, it was through this method last year that they continuously eliminated senior teams and smoothly reached the Black White Evil Stoppers.
If it weren't for the lack of powerful members, it would have been possible to defeat the Black White Evil Stoppers relying on numerical advantage alone.
Upon noticing the newcomers fighting back for the Fire Energy, these seniors began to unite and stick together.
What was originally a proper Fire Energy Hunting Competition unexpectedly turned into a confrontation.
"That Xiao Yan is very clear-headed. After realizing the importance of Fire Energy, he immediately gathered the newcomers to resist together."
Above the forest, three figures were observing this event. Elder Su watched as Xiao Yan led the newcomers and successfully snatched another team of seniors' Fire Energy.
"That's indeed the case. From this perspective, even if it wasn't for Lin Xiu's initiative last year, there would still be cases of fighting back for Fire Energy this year," Elder Qing nodded.
"That Xiao Yan kid is very skilled in alchemy. According to his plan, it's likely that when facing the Black White Evil Stoppers, all the newcomers will still have combat power," Elder Su remarked.
Hu Gan watched with great interest because his granddaughter was among the leading team.
As a grandfather, seeing his granddaughter making progress brought joy to his face.
"Old Hu, I heard that you were particularly optimistic about a student named Lin Xiu last year. So, tell me, do you think Lin Xiu, as a senior, has a greater chance of winning this year, or do the newcomers have the upper hand?" Elder Su suddenly turned to ask.
Upon hearing this, Hu Gan was momentarily taken aback, feeling somewhat cornered.
If we're talking about strength alone, he felt that although Xiao Yan was strong, when matched against Lin Xiu, he would still be somewhat lacking.
After all, Lin Xiu had far more experience than his peers in practical combat abilities and techniques.
Despite Xiao Yan's outstanding performance in the Inner Court Competition, there was still a gap between them.
However, at present, Xiao Yan had almost gathered all the newcomers under his identity as an Alchemist.
With so many people, the collective strength they could muster was not to be underestimated.
Hu Gan pondered for a moment. "It's hard to say. I haven't seen Lin Xiu in a year, so I don't know how strong he is now. But judging from the apparent strength on paper, Xiao Yan has more people on his side, so I'm more optimistic about the newcomers."
Elder Su nodded slightly, seeming to share the same sentiment as Hu Gan.
On the other side,
At the edge of the forest,
"These newcomers actually united voluntarily. This signal isn't very good," Leng Bai leaned against a tree trunk, arms crossed over his chest, looking sideways in a certain direction.
"I didn't even want to participate originally. When Lin Xiu didn't accept our invitation and decided to go solo, I knew that the Fire Energy we painstakingly accumulated wouldn't be preserved," Xiu Yan sighed.
"Su Xiao, what do you think about us joining the newcomers? Maybe we can still keep some Fire Energy," Leng Bai's gaze shifted to a young man playing with a dagger.
Su Xiao, who usually wore a faint smile on his lips, couldn't muster a smile at this moment.
"Do you really think highly of Lin Xiu?" Su Xiao met Leng Bai's gaze. "You heard what those people passing by said earlier. This group of newcomers is different from us in the beginning. They have a leader, team spirit, and even Pills for recovery."
Speaking of this, Su Xiao lowered his head, gazing at the face reflected in the dagger. "Can Lin Xiu really handle fifty people alone? Unless he's almost a Dou King."
Leng Bai rolled his eyes. He had just barely reached the 9 Star Dou Grandmaster level through cultivation. If Lin Xiu could become a Dou King, then what did that make him? Useless?
As the three conversed, a large group of seniors was rapidly approaching from a distance.
"Su Xiao, are you teaming up? To protect the Fire Energy from being snatched!" one of them asked.
Su Xiao glanced at Leng Bai and Xiu Yan. Both nodded, so he nodded as well. "Okay."
"We'll join too."
A voice rang out from above, followed by five figures dressed in black descending from the trees one after another.
"The Black Evil Stopper Team?!" Everyone was taken aback upon seeing them.
Among the five individuals, one figure resembling an orangutan stood out conspicuously.
"There are too many newcomers, and we don't want to be outnumbered in a brawl," the man's voice was full of vigor, almost painful to the ears.
"If we add the Black Evil Stopper Team, although we might have a numerical disadvantage, it seems like we might not necessarily lose."
Coming to his senses, Su Xiao chuckled lightly once again.
The remaining three teams, comprising fifteen seniors, seemed to see a glimmer of hope in protecting the Fire Energy, and their expressions relaxed slightly.
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