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Su Qian briefly introduced the purpose of fire energy:
"The number on this fire crystal card is what we call fire energy. You can simply understand it as a currency used in the Inner Courtyard."
"Jia Nan Academy encourages competition. To allow you to better experience this atmosphere where the strong prey on the weak, you will next face an interesting little game…the fire energy hunt."
"You need to pass through this not-so-dangerous forest on your own to enter the Inner Courtyard."
"However, it's important to note that according to the rules of the Inner Courtyard, fighting is not prohibited in this forest. They can attack you at will."
Su Qian pointed to the group of senior students behind him, then took out a fire crystal card, showing the side with numbers to the new students:
"The fire energy on your fire crystal cards is their target to snatch. Now, you have fifteen minutes to hide, escape, or seek collaborators."
"Oh, and if you can make it through the layers of pursuit to the end, there will be a small surprise."
Looking at Su Qian's meaningful smile, Xiao Yan had a premonition that this so-called "small surprise" might have "shock" but no "joy."
"I announce that the fire energy hunt officially begins now."
As his voice faded, the new students who had passed the selection and entered the Inner Courtyard either actively called out to friends, entering the forest in twos and threes, or went in alone, quickly darting into the woods. Some students who hadn't reacted yet also began to hide, spurred on by those around them.
Xiao Yan and Xun Er exchanged glances, pushed off the ground, and leaped into the forest together. Hu Jia and Wu Hao followed their steps with almost no hesitation.
"Why are you two following us?" Xiao Yan couldn't help but ask.
He and Xun Er had originally planned to just fly over using Dou Technique…who knew how many traps Xiao Meng had dug for him in the Inner Courtyard!
Xiao Yan was worried that if he proceeded to the Inner Courtyard in a normal way, he might receive the same treatment as in the Outer Courtyard, being ganged up on by a group of people.
The Buddha Fury Fire Lotus was incredibly powerful, but Xiao Yan himself couldn't control it very well, so he certainly couldn't use it in a practice-oriented battle like this. In a normal confrontation, he also couldn't beat that many people.
"I've seen the students' fire crystal cards. All the numbers on them are 'five,' meaning that for the senior students, no matter who they hunt, the reward will be the same," Wu Hao analyzed calmly.
"So, to get more rewards, they should try to hunt weaker targets rather than choosing strong ones…Let's team up…If the four of us team up, even if we encounter a senior student team, we can fight them and have a better chance of getting through this forest." Hu Jia looked at Xun Er, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Xun Er looked at Xiao Yan, waiting for him to make a choice.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he replied, "Okay…maybe we can try to snatch the fire energy from the senior students instead."
Hu Jia and Wu Hao couldn't help but show a slight surprise, extremely astonished by Xiao Yan's idea. However, they quickly reacted.
The identities of hunter and prey could change at any time!
"Good idea…" Wu Hao nodded approvingly.
"Hehe, I also really want to try and see what kind of expressions those senior students will have after we snatch from them," Hu Jia's face showed excitement.
After reaching an agreement, they quickly finalized the plan: Wu Hao would act alone as bait, while the other three would hide in the shadows.
The senior students conducting the "hunt" all moved in teams of five. Because those who could make it into the top fifty in the Outer Courtyard were not weak, although they were generally not as strong as the senior students, there was still a possibility of being overturned if they were careless.
A team of senior students spotted Wu Hao alone and surrounded him.
"Oh, junior, why are you alone? Have you been isolated?" The leader had a snake-shaped scar on his face and showed an ill-intentioned smile:
"Hand over your fire energy, lest you suffer a beating."
Looking at the approaching people, Wu Hao smiled: "I didn't expect my bait to be quite useful; someone's already taken the hook so quickly."
Seeing Wu Hao so confident, the scarred youth shook his head: "When I first entered the Inner Courtyard, I was also as unruly as you…the senior students taught me the humility one should have. Now, I will also teach you this principle!"
He cupped his left hand over his right, clenched his fist, and made his bones and joints crackle.
A rustling sound arose as Xiao Yan, Xun Er, and Hu Jia emerged from the bushes in several different directions, subtly forming a counter-encirclement.
A senior student crossed his arms and said with a hint of disdain, "Lin Ge, they seem to be trying to make a move on us instead."
Lin Ge, with the snake-shaped scar on his face, was slightly taken aback before he sneered, "They don't know their place…Isn't this Young Master Xiao Yan…?"
He focused his gaze on Xiao Yan, his eyes filled with greed and excitement.
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow: "You know me?"
Lin Ge chuckled, "Someone has put a bounty on you…snatching a new student's fire energy must leave two days.
"Each of your new student fire energy cards only has five days of fire energy, meaning that even if you snatch from all fifty new students, you'd get a maximum of one hundred and fifty fire energy…
"But your bounty is a full five hundred days of fire energy! You're a big fish, all the teams are eyeing you!"
Hu Jia and Wu Hao exchanged glances, suddenly realizing they might have gotten on the wrong boat…Xiao Yan was strong, but he was also a big problem!
"What are the conditions of the bounty? And who issued it?" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly.
He sighed inwardly…fire energy was clearly hard to obtain and very precious, otherwise these senior students wouldn't value it so much…What did I do to deserve such grand treatment as soon as I entered the Inner Courtyard?
He knew without thinking that it must be thanks to Xiao Meng!
Lin Ge was in a good mood and replied, "The condition is to beat you up…As for who put the bounty on you, I'm not sure…But this task is already on the Inner Courtyard's task board and has been 'fairly' approved by the Elder."
"The issuer is anonymous, but someone with such a large sum and this motive wouldn't be many in the Inner Courtyard. If you inquire after entering the Inner Courtyard, it shouldn't be hard to find out."
"Alright, Junior Brother Xiao Yan, just take your beating obediently…Don't worry, I'll go easy on you, I'll only hit your face!"
"Only hit the face, huh?" Xiao Yan's lips curved into a smile:
"Since you've answered so many of my questions, I'll also go easy on you."
Brilliant Dou Qi erupted, radiating light.
After a moment of excitement, the forest quickly returned to calm.
Lin Ge, bruised and swollen, lay on the ground, staring at the sky, his eyes full of bewilderment.
In the blink of an eye, the battle was over; he hadn't even understood what had happened!
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