Word Count: 3,337 Words
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"You need to pay Fire Energy in exchange to upgrade your Fire Crystal Cards within the Inner Academy. Generally speaking, upgrading from a black Fire Crystal Card to a blue one requires paying one hundred days' worth of Fire Energy. Upgrading from a blue Fire Crystal Card to a green one requires two hundred days of Fire Energy, and to upgrade to a red Fire Crystal Card, you need to pay three hundred."
"Now that you've received green Fire Crystal Cards as a reward, that's equivalent to saving three hundred days of Fire Energy. That's not a small amount. Among the senior students present, aside from Luo Hou, who just upgraded his blue Crystal Card to a green one a week ago, most of the others are still using blue Crystal Cards," Elder Su explained with a smile when he saw the confusion on Xiao Yan and the others' faces.
"Three hundred days' worth of Fire Energy?!" Only after hearing this number did Xiao Yan and the others understand why the surrounding gazes were filled with envy. Xiao Yan had thoroughly robbed the senior students and the Black White Evil Stopper in the forest, and even with the addition of this reward, it only amounted to about three thousand. From this, it was evident that obtaining 'Fire Energy' within the Inner Academy wasn't easy.
Moreover, Xiao Yan had to share some with Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and the others for their cultivation, so he actually didn't have much left for himself.
Xiao Yan frowned. According to Elder Su, if he wanted to get close to the Fallen Heart Flame, he would need to descend to the lowest level, which meant he would need a purple Fire Crystal Card.
After Elder Su finished his explanation, he waved his hand, and six green crystal cards appeared. With a flick of his fingers, the crystal cards shot toward Xiao Yan and the others, and eventually hovered steadily in front of them.
"The rewards are already inside. Transfer the Fire Energy from your black Fire Crystal Cards into these, and then return the black cards to me."
Wu Hao and the others quickly complied. Moments later, they handed the now-empty black Fire Crystal Cards back to Elder Su.
Xiao Yan walked up to Elder Su, wrapped an arm around his shoulder, and said, "Elder Su, isn't this reward a bit too little?"
Elder Su glanced at him, "You know how precious green Fire Crystal Cards are, and you're still saying it's not enough?"
"Besides, didn't you just rob nearly three thousand Fire Energy? And you're still not satisfied? Do you know what a huge sum of three thousand Fire Energy is in the Inner Academy?!"
Elder Su's beard bristled in anger. I advise you kid not to be too greedy.
Xiao Yan immediately put on a pitiful face and said, "Elder Su, you see, this student has already reached the Dou Spirit realm. Since Luo Hou needed to exchange for a green Fire Crystal Card, doesn't that mean Dou Spirits need to enter the fifth and sixth floors for it to be effective?"
"I'm not boasting, but I estimate that the floors accessible with the green card might not be my limit," Xiao Yan said earnestly.
Things were indeed exactly as Xiao Yan said. The first floor of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower was basically for Inner Academy students below the Dou Grandmaster realm. The second floor was for low-star Dou Grandmasters, the third and fourth floors were for intermediate to 9-star Dou Grandmasters, and the fifth and sixth floors were for 1-star to 6-star Dou Spirits.
Only 7-star to peak Dou Spirits needed to cultivate on the seventh and eighth floors.
Even the monstrous geniuses in the top ten of the Strong Ranking didn't need purple Fire Crystal Cards; they only needed red Fire Crystal Cards to enter the eighth floor, which was the student limit.
Purple Fire Crystal Cards were generally reserved for the elders.
However, people's constitutions couldn't be generalized. Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Flame. With its protection, he could get even closer to the Fallen Heart Flame, meaning he could descend further to accelerate his cultivation.
An ordinary 2-star Dou Spirit would find the green Fire Crystal Card sufficient, but he estimated he could go even lower.
Elder Su furrowed his brows. He knew that Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Flame. As an elder, he was aware that the Fallen Heart Flame was beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, and the cultivation acceleration within the tower was due to the emergence of a wisp of Heart Flame within one's body, which helped accelerate the refinement of Dou Qi.
Ordinary people couldn't withstand the intense burning of the Heart Flame to accelerate cultivation, which was why the academy divided the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower into levels. But Xiao Yan, possessing a Heavenly Flame, definitely couldn't be considered ordinary.
With a swift motion, Elder Su flipped his hand, and a red Fire Crystal Card appeared. "Although there's no such rule in Jia Nan Academy, since you defeated the captains of the Black White Evil Stopper with overwhelming strength, a green Fire Crystal Card is indeed insufficient. I've decided to award you an even higher-grade red Fire Crystal Card."
Xiao Yan was truly unprecedented. In the past, there had been freshmen who broke through the Black White Evil Stopper and walked out of the forest, but they all relied on schemes. Some had freshmen deliberately create a disturbance to lure the tiger away from the mountain, some bribed with medicinal pills, and some even relied on connections.
But for someone like Xiao Yan to crush them purely with strength was a first.
Grinning, Xiao Yan accepted the red Fire Crystal Card. After transferring his points, he smiled and said, "Thank you, elder."
He was secretly glad he hadn't tried to rob the elders; otherwise, this card might have been out of reach.
"Don't try to divert attention. That green Fire Crystal Card needs to be returned," Elder Su extended his hand.
Xiao Yan pursed his lips; his attempt to shift the focus had failed.
He reluctantly returned the green Fire Crystal Card to Elder Su. The elder nodded slightly and said with a smile, "Alright, since you've all passed the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, follow me into the Inner Academy."
With that, the two elders turned and headed toward a set of stone steps leading up the hillside.
'I can finally enter the Inner Academy. I must obtain the Fallen Heart Flame.' Staring at Elder Su's back, Xiao Yan silently vowed.
He was ready to enter the Inner Academy and find an opportunity to refine the Fallen Heart Flame. This flame was extremely important to him; whether the Flame Mantra could reach the Tian Class depended on it.
"Let's go."
Waving to Xun Er and the others, Xiao Yan took the lead. They followed Elder Su and began ascending the steps outside the forest.
The stone staircase wasn't particularly high. After just a minute or two, Xiao Yan and the others reached the top. With a small leap, they stood atop the hillside. As their gaze swept forward, the scene that appeared in their field of vision caused them to draw in a breath of cold air.
"So this is the Inner Academy?" Soft murmurs escaped from the mouths of the freshmen on the hillside.
Beyond the hill was an incredibly vast sunken basin. Judging from its shape, it looked as if a gigantic meteorite had fallen from the sky and carved it out.
Within the basin, towering buildings stood densely packed. From their elevated position, they could see black figures darting and leaping atop the structures like fleas. As they extended their sight further, they discovered that the basin's area was astonishingly vast. Even at the limits of their vision, they could still only see towering buildings and lush greenery.
It was hard to imagine that such an extraordinary place was hidden within the endless mountains behind Jia Nan Academy!
"Hehe, little ones, welcome to the core area of Jia Nan Academy: the Inner Academy!" Elder Su clapped his hands and laughed as he observed the awe on the freshmen's faces.
"There are so many strong individuals here," Wu Hao said softly, a hint of fervor flashing across his face. He longed to battle formidable opponents.
Of course, excluding overwhelmingly powerful ones like Xiao Yan.
"Alright, now that the Hunting Competition is over, all freshmen follow me back to the Inner Academy. We'll get you settled in, and then you'll truly become members of the Inner Academy. Believe me, as long as you can persevere here, you'll feel that all your progress was worthwhile when you leave." Elder Su's gaze lingered on Xiao Yan and the others as he spoke slowly.
All the freshmen nodded slightly. From those senior students, they could already tell how immense the benefits of cultivating in the Inner Academy would be!
Only Bai Shan, that poor fellow, had long since lost his former arrogance. His Bai Clan was similar to Xiao Yan's Xiao Clan, where quite a few of their members had entered Jia Nan Academy.
Besides Bai Feng, he had another older cousin named Bai Cheng whose strength was even greater. The latter was currently a 6-star Dou Spirit. But Bai Shan no longer dared to oppose Xiao Yan, having developed a psychological shadow from being beaten.
He was already terrified of Xiao Yan's strength. If even Bai Cheng couldn't defeat him, they'd truly be finished.
"Let's go! Everyone, keep up!"
With a wave of his hand, Elder Su's figure transformed into a blurry shadow and swiftly moved toward the massive basin. Behind him, all the freshmen immediately set into motion, descending from the hillside like a swarm of locusts. Excited shouts that lingered for a long time echoed through the sky.
Xiao Yan felt speechless when he saw the residential buildings in the freshmen accommodation area. He said to Elder Su, who had brought them here, "Elder Su, isn't this a bit too small? It can only accommodate a few people."
Each accommodation area had small villa-like dormitories, but these dwellings weren't even comparable to the luxurious buildings left for the Xiao Clan at the Misty Cloud Sect; they were even smaller than his own room back in Wu Tan City.
Elder Su replied irritably, "The Inner Academy arranges five people per building, with another five in the one opposite."
Xiao Yan frowned and asked, "Elder Su, aren't there any larger ones? We have nine people here."
Including Hu Jia and Wu Hao, Xiao Yan's group totaled nine.
Elder Su spread his hands and said, "There's nothing I can do about that. The free accommodations arranged by the academy are already the best available; others have even worse conditions. If you want a larger courtyard, you can use Fire Energy to rent land from the academy and build it yourself."
"Some first-rate factions in the Inner Academy with many members rent land and construct their own bases."
Xiao Yan asked upon hearing this, "Factions can be established in the Inner Academy? The academy allows it?"
"Of course it's allowed. Many tasks from the Inner Academy's Mission Hall require teams to complete. The academy naturally encourages students to organize closely together."
Hu Jia saw Xiao Yan stroking his chin in thought and asked, "Are you thinking of establishing a faction?"
At this moment, Xiao Yan recalled the Hun Clan and the promotion system of the Hall of Souls. In the Hall of Souls, if one could be promoted to the rank of Honorable Elder, they would receive a Soul Command Token and join the Hun Clan.
This allowed the continuous influx of fresh blood and potential elite experts into the Hun Clan.
"Mm, the talents of the Inner Academy students at Jia Nan Academy can't be considered weak. As the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, it's normal for me to desire such talents." Xiao Yan did not conceal his thoughts and spoke directly.
Elder Su laughed, "Hahaha, countless forces outside the academy think the same way you do. Take that Bai Shan who offended you—his clan has a faction within the Inner Academy called the 'White Gang.'"
"The graduation period in the Inner Academy is five years. After graduation, many Inner Academy students join the clan factions they've established here. Those who form their own factions are ultimately the minority."
"This kind of competitiveness is exactly what our Inner Academy needs. If you don't want to be bullied, you must strive to improve your own strength; otherwise, there's nothing to discuss. The strong are revered. That has always been the main theme of this world. We don't want the Inner Academy to become a carefree ivory tower, because such an environment cannot produce true elite experts," Elder Su said calmly.
He was not surprised; after all, this was the role of the academy—to cultivate talent, and talent was often highly sought after.
Xiao Yu asked, "Xiao Yan, do you want to establish a faction here and then bring talents back to Wu Tan City?"
Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then suddenly realized and said, "Oh, I almost forgot. I haven't told you guys yet, have I?"
Xiao Yu blinked her beautiful eyes and asked with a face full of confusion, "Told us what?"
"Our clan has moved to the Misty Cloud Sect and now resides there," Xiao Yan smiled and said casually.
The eyes of Xiao Yu and the other members of the Xiao Clan widened dramatically as soon as he said this! They had entered Jia Nan Academy early on, so naturally, they wouldn't know about recent events.
"Ah? Why would our Xiao Clan join the Misty Cloud Sect? Is it because of Nalan Yanran?" Xiao Yu suddenly recalled that Xiao Yan had a fiancée who was the Little Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect!
Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "Some things happened. But now, our Xiao Clan, the Misty Cloud Sect, the Jia Ma Imperial Family, and the Snake-People Tribe have jointly formed an alliance called the 'Yan Alliance,' so Father and the others have moved to live on Misty Cloud Mountain."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not only Xiao Yu, but even Wu Hao, Hu Jia, and Elder Su were stunned. Because even in Jia Nan Academy they had heard of the latter three. It was reasonable for those three to form an alliance, but how did the Xiao Clan suddenly get involved? What kind of existence was this Xiao Clan?
"Could it be that your clan is very powerful?" Wu Hao asked.
"Just a small clan from a remote city, nothing special," Xiao Yan shrugged and explained.
As members of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yu and the others knew even better the strength of their own clan. What Xiao Yan said sounded like a fairy tale. What on earth had happened to cause their small clan from a remote city to form an alliance with those behemoths?!
Elder Su said, "If you want to establish a faction, it will cost quite a bit of Fire Energy. I advise you to use your Fire Energy sparingly. Although you did acquire quite a lot of Fire Energy, the Inner Academy doesn't have teaching courses. As long as you have enough Fire Energy, you can enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to cultivate, which is more effective than any course."
"Furthermore, the Inner Academy also has places like the 'Dou Technique Hall,' 'Qi Method Pavilion,' 'Mission Hall,' 'Alchemy Room,' and so on. If you want to obtain Qi Methods or Dou Techniques, seek alchemy assistance, etc., you can check them out. Of course, this is on the premise of having enough 'Fire Energy' to exchange for them. Compared to the Outer Academy, the Inner Academy is actually more free."
"If you feel that your 'Fire Energy' is insufficient but your hands are itching, you can go to the arena to earn more 'Fire Energy.' Of course, the prerequisite is that you must have sufficient strength. Otherwise, you can only lose until you have nothing left."
"So in the Inner Academy, Fire Energy is never enough."
After pondering for a while, Xiao Yan transferred two thousand Fire Energy from his Fire Crystal Card to Xun Er, then said, "Xun Er, distribute this Fire Energy. In a while, you and Xiao Yu can go with Elder Su to purchase a plot of land for our base. I want to establish a faction in the Inner Academy. This amount of Fire Energy should be enough for now."
Xun Er nodded and asked, "Then what should we name our faction in the Inner Academy?"
Xiao Yan thought for a moment, then, as if recalling something, said, "Let's call it 'Xiao Hall.'"
"'Xiao Hall'??"
…
Early the next morning, Xiao Yan woke up in the dormitory room arranged by the academy. Yesterday, Xun Er had already rented a large plot of land from the academy. It was estimated that they could move in after a few more days.
After washing up, Xiao Yan came downstairs, only to see, in the open space outside the door, two figures flickering and intertwining. Mighty Dou Qi surged from within both of them, rippling through the hall.
Seated on a chair in the hall, Xun Er was smiling as she watched the two figures. When she heard footsteps, she turned around to see Xiao Yan walking down the stairs, and quickly stood up to greet him with a soft smile, "Xiao Yan ge-ge slept well?"
"Mm." Xiao Yan smiled and nodded, then glanced at the two battling figures and laughed, "What are those two up to again?"
"Perhaps because of the recent 'Hunting Competition,' both Wu Hao and Sister Hu Jia advanced to 6-star Dou Grandmasters during last night's cultivation. When they got up this morning, they wanted to spar, so they started fighting," Xun Er covered her mouth and chuckled.
"Oh? They've advanced?"
Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows, then shook his head in amazement. These two were indeed outstanding among the Outer Academy students of Jia Nan Academy; such talent far surpasses ordinary people.
"Xiao Yan ge-ge, are you going to the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower today?" Xun Er asked.
"Mm, I'm going to take a look."
Hearing that Xiao Yan was going to the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, Wu Hao stopped sparring and said, "Let's go together. I also want to see what's so extraordinary about that legendary tower."
Xiao Yan nodded. The two had just set off together when they suddenly noticed more than a dozen people approaching from afar.
Xiao Yan had a good memory and remembered that these people were all among the top fifty freshmen this year.
Those dozen or so freshmen saw Xiao Yan come out. They looked as if they had seen their savior. They surrounded Xiao Yan with tears in their eyes, and someone even knelt down and hugged his leg.
"Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing? I'm straight!" Xiao Yan kicked away the man hugging his leg.
"Senior Xiao Yan, Big Brother! I'm Ah Tai, a freshman. You must help us freshmen this time!" The one named Ah Tai, who had hugged Xiao Yan's leg, cried out.
"Tell me what's going on first," Xiao Yan said.
"The senior students in this Inner Academy are going too far. Yesterday, they made us pay protection fees, two days' worth of Fire Energy per person. We knew that as newcomers, we shouldn't be too confrontational, so we endured it and didn't say anything, handing over the 'Fire Energy' to them. But today they came again, saying that since we passed the competition and received twenty days' worth of Fire Energy, we should pay even more," the young man named Ah Tai gritted his teeth and said indignantly.
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, then smiled and said, "I can help you, but why should I?"