After two months of arduous training deep within the mountains, Xiao Yan had reaped considerable rewards.
Not only had he trained the Three Thousand Lightning Movement to the first stage of Lightning Flash, but the Dou Qi within his body had also become more concentrated, refined, and harmonized—tempered by the harsh environment where he braved the elements and slept beneath the open sky.
Just as he was preparing to return to the Inner Academy, a familiar figure entered his line of sight—a slender, pale, yet strikingly beautiful face that stirred a faint sense of recognition. With her graceful posture and long, sleek legs, it could only be one person.
"Cousin Xiao Yu?" Xiao Yan blinked in surprise at the unexpected sight of Xiao Yu. However, a moment later, his expression sharpened as if he had suddenly realized something. His voice deepened.
"Did something happen to Pan's Gate?"
Pan's Gate—his faction, formed after the Fire Energy Hunting Competition between the incoming freshmen and the previous year's seniors—had quickly gained attention within the Inner Academy.
Urged by the newly arrived students to the Inner Academy, Xiao Yan had agreed to create this group to unite the freshmen and offer them strength in numbers. Naturally, forming such a faction under his leadership had drawn the eyes of others—both friendly and hostile. And now, seeing Xiao Yu here, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of unease for the faction he had built.
"I'll explain on the way to the Fighting Arena," Xiao Yu said curtly before turning around and shooting toward the Inner Academy.
Xiao Yan nodded silently, his expression growing serious as he followed closely behind. His heart was filled with concern for the members of Pan's Gate.
"Bai Shan led a group to attack Pan's Gate members while they were selling the medicinal pills you refined in the trading area," Xiao Yu said, her voice calm as she lightly shook her head.
"Bai Shan? That mutt still dares to make a move without hiding behind his elder cousin?" Xiao Yan's expression turned cold the moment he heard the name.
Bai Shan was once considered among the top five of the freshman group that entered the Inner Academy. Yet, none of the freshmen held him in high regard. During the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, he had shamelessly abandoned his peers, too afraid to face the senior students—choosing instead to rely on his elder cousin's connections to avoid confrontation.
What made him even more detestable was his shamelessness in repaying goodwill with betrayal. Time after time, Bai Shan and the group under his cousin's faction—White Gang—had harassed and attack the members of Pan's Gate.
Yet every time they tried, they failed.
Each attempt ended with Bai Shan and his men being thoroughly beaten and driven off by Xiao Yan. Things had reached the point where Bai Shan didn't even dare lift his head whenever Xiao Yan was nearby.
Unlike in the novel, where Xiao Yan was still a mere Da Dou Shi at this stage, the current Xiao Yan stood firmly as a true Dou Ling—thanks to the support and numerous medicinal pills left behind by Xiao Hua.
"What do you expect from him? He's cut from the same cloth as Bai Cheng… truly a pair of infuriating cousins," Xiao Yu said with a cold snort, clear disdain in her voice as she mentioned Bai Shan's elder cousin.
Xiao Yan widened his eyes slightly in surprise before shaking his head with a helpless smile. He had heard bits and pieces from Atai—one of the core members of Pan's Gate—regarding the history between Xiao Yu and Bai Cheng.
Apparently, Bai Cheng had entered the Inner Academy the same year as Xiao Yu, but he was quickly and thoroughly surpassed by her. This planted a seed of jealousy and resentment in his heart. At first, he harassed her from the shadows, unwilling to confront her openly. But once she joined and eventually became the head of Chaos Gate, he vanished completely from her sight—never daring to provoke her again.
Clearly, he feared those with greater strength and higher status…
'Only arrogant before the weak and spineless before the strong. These two really are cousins...' Xiao Yan thought to himself with faint exasperation, shaking his head at the shamelessness of Bai Shan and Bai Cheng.
In truth, Xiao Yan had received his fair share of trouble from Bai Cheng and his White Gang in the past. Yet each time they acted, either Han Yue—the leader of Moon Spirit—or Xiao Yu would step in to intervene, preventing the situation from escalating.
"Even so, why is he suddenly stirring up trouble again? Didn't Bai Cheng become quiet after I defeated Han Xian?" Xiao Yan muttered, his brows furrowed in thought.
Just two months ago, he had publicly defeated Han Xian in an alchemy competition. Han Xian, the leader of the Medicine Gang, had attempted to suppress Pan's Gate's medicinal pill sales and even tried to snatch three of Xiao Yan's pill formulas—formulas that produced higher quality pills than those of his own faction.
As part of their agreement before the competition, Han Xian was forced to hand over five high-traffic trading spots within the Inner Academy after his defeat. Since then, Bai Cheng, wary of Xiao Yan's rising strength and influence, had withdrawn and ceased his harassment of Pan's Gate.
That was why Xiao Yan found this sudden, bold resurgence of aggression from Bai Cheng both unexpected and puzzling.
"…He must've found a new backer," Xiao Yan muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing slightly as his mind began to race. "The only question is… which faction is supporting him?"
Whoever it was, one thing was certain—their strength and influence were not ordinary to make Bai Cheng confidently causing problem.
Xiao Yu heard Xiao Yan's murmured suspicion and responded with a faint smile, "The one backing Bai Cheng's recent behavior… is Liu Qing."
"Liu Qing?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "I don't recall ever offending him…"
He was genuinely puzzled—until a certain bothersome memory surfaced. His brows furrowed tightly, and a trace of irritation flickered in his eyes. "Don't tell me… Liu Fei? Did that woman really stir up all this simply because I refused to tell her about Cousin Xiao Hua?"
"Liu Fei is infatuated with Xiao Hua to a ridiculous degree," Xiao Yu replied, her lips curling slightly in amusement and sympathy. "You rejected her harshly and even scolded her in public. Her petty nature is well-known throughout the Inner Academy—she wouldn't take that lightly."
"I only told the truth. It's her reaction that was unreasonable…" Xiao Yan sighed, gritting his teeth as the memory resurfaced—Liu Fei showing up uninvited at Pan's Gate, pressing for details about Xiao Hua's preferences.
He had answered bluntly, "If Cousin Xiao Hua is interested in you, he'd give you the heavens themselves. But if he isn't, then even if the stars fall, he'll build a wall and never let any woman enter—unless it's a purely platonic bond. And even then… his heart will remain untouched."
Yet, after hearing Xiao Yan's words, Liu Fei unexpectedly erupted into a barrage of insults. Perhaps she believed he was simply refusing to help her, or worse, that he was implying she wasn't worthy of Xiao Hua. Though Xiao Yan had never intended such a slight, Liu Fei, feeling humiliated, lashed out with venomous words.
Faced with her relentless verbal assault, Xiao Yan lost his patience. He struck her with a sharp slap across the face and rebuked her harshly, openly criticizing her for failing to gain Xiao Hua's attention due to her spoiled, willful nature.
"That's right. If it weren't for that, Liu Qing wouldn't have minded building a friendship with you at all," Xiao Yu said with a dry chuckle.
"Because of Cousin Xiao Hua?" Xiao Yan furrowed his brows, confused as to why Liu Qing would go out of his way to avoid offending him—until realization dawned.
"Xiao Hua once gifted him a Di Class, Mid-Grade Dou Technique," Xiao Yu said, shrugging slightly. "With a favor like that, Liu Qing naturally holds deep respect for him. That's why he's caught in such an awkward position now."
"I see…" Xiao Yan shook his head lightly, a faint sigh escaping his lips. He no longer felt any hostility toward Liu Qing. On the contrary, he only felt pity—clearly, Liu Qing was being forced into this mess because of someone else's selfishness.
With their speed, Xiao Hua and Xiao Yu returned to the Inner Academy within moments. Without pausing for rest, the two of them made their way straight toward the Fighting Arena.
…
The Fighting Arena was one of the most popular places within the Inner Academy. Normally, such a brutal and bloody place would seem at odds with the educational environment of an academy. However, the Inner Academy did not shy away from such conflict.
One had to admit—the academy's decision was a wise one.
The presence of the Fighting Arena shaped the students here into something far different from those of other academies. While others might only understand combat in theory, Inner Academy students were forged through real battles, where strength and survival were tested constantly.
If those pampered students from other institutions were thrown into a genuine life-and-death struggle, their legs would tremble before a single blow was exchanged.
The Inner Academy lay dangerously close to the infamous Black-Corner Region, a place steeped in chaos and bloodshed. Students without firsthand experience in battle would be nothing more than prey in such a place.
This reality was something Jia Nan Academy understood deeply—especially after countless bloody clashes with forces from the Black-Corner Region year after year.
Thanks to the generous rewards of Fire Energy offered by the Fighting Arena, an endless stream of students flocked to this place. While many came to temper themselves in battle and seek breakthroughs through real combat, the chance to earn additional rewards only made the challenge more enticing. Victory in the arena meant not only improvement in skill—but tangible gain as well.
It was no exaggeration to say that the Fighting Arena was packed like a sea of people. Even from a hundred meters away, one could clearly hear the deafening roars and chaotic clamor echoing from within.
The arena teemed with countless figures, shoulder to shoulder without exception. A mere glance revealed a writhing mass of black-haired heads. The cacophony of shouts, cheers, and violent impacts rumbled like a thousand drills, causing many of the less seasoned onlookers to wince from the sheer intensity.
This massive Fighting Arena housed numerous large dueling platforms, yet today, more than half the crowd had gathered around a single one. Violent waves of Dou Qi rippled outward with each clash, and the thunderous booms of collision were met with excited cries and furious roars, shaking the air with ferocity.
"This is unexpected… Why is Liu Qing involving himself in a conflict between the White Gang and Pan's Gate?"
Several students stood along a high railing that offered a clear view of the battlefield below. One of them, visibly surprised, spoke up as the fierce battle unfolded before them.
"It's because of Liu Fei," Han Yue said calmly. "She misunderstood and believed that Xiao Yan implied she wasn't qualified to win Xiao Hua's heart…"
Long, silver-colored hair drifted gently with the wind, its radiant sheen almost sharp enough to sting the eyes. Han Yue's calm gaze swept across the somewhat surprised Lin Xiuya and the others before she spoke.
"That woman again… Can't she just give up?" Yan Hao, standing to the side, shook his head and let out a long sigh. His tone carried both disdain and helplessness, clearly exasperated by Liu Fei's persistence.
"It's true," Lin Xiuya added with a wry chuckle. "Winning Xiao Hua's heart isn't something just anyone can hope for, especially when you look at the feats he left before graduating. Besides… the women around him are far too exceptional for an outsider to simply force their way in."
Even Han Yue, usually composed, rubbed at her temples with a sigh. Her brows furrowed slightly, yet her elegance beauty remained undiminished. If anything, the trace of weariness only stirred a sense of concern in the hearts of those young men who secretly admired her.
"Ke ke. Even so, it seems we'll have a good show today." Lin Xiuya chuckled softly, his tone tinged with intrigue. "I've been in closed-door seclusion and couldn't help but grow curious about Xiao Yan—the one who has managed to catch the eye of Xiao Hua."
"Then, why haven't you broken through to Dou Wang, Lin Xiuya?" Yan Hao asked in surprise, a trace of confusion flashing across his face. He had clearly remembered that Lin Xiuya entered seclusion right after Xiao Hua's departure. And yet… he remained at the Dou Ling class.
'Is the Dou Wang class truly so difficult to break through?' Yan Hao thought silently, a faint heaviness weighing on his chest.
Lin Xiuya smiled faintly and replied, "I've been training the Di Class Dou Technique gifted to me by Elder Xiao Hua. Its power is astonishing. Even without stepping into Dou Wang, I doubt most Dou Wang experts could defeat me easily."
After a short pause, Lin Xiuya gripped the railing lightly, his gaze drifting across the vast Fighting Arena. His eyes came to rest on a shadowy figure partially concealed in the distance. Though the figure did not move, the sharp and domineering aura faintly radiating from him made his identity clear to Lin Xiuya and the others.
A playful smile tugged at Lin Xiuya's lips. "Looks like Liu Qing made the same choice. Rather than advance to a new realm, he focused on mastering the Dou Technique Elder Xiao Hua granted him. Judging by his expression… his comprehension must have reached an extraordinary level. After all, he hasn't stepped into Dou Wang either."
"Besides, don't you want to witness Xiao Yan's strength for yourself?" Lin Xiuya turned toward Yan Hao, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Haha, that's true," Yan Hao chuckled, a flicker of anticipation flashing across his eyes. "I'd wager even Liu Qing is curious—why else would he personally get involved in this conflict?"
At the side, Han Yue lightly furrowed her elegant brows. A soft sigh escaped her lips not long after. Despite her desire to remain indifferent, she couldn't suppress her growing curiosity either.
'Just what is it about Xiao Yan that managed to capture Xiao Hua's attention?'
With that question lingering in her mind, her gaze returned to the fiery clash on the arena stage.
…
Unfortunately, there wasn't much suspense to be found. After Xiao Yan stepped into the arena, he easily defeated Bai Sheng and claimed Bai Cheng's rank—thirty-fourth on the Strong Ranking. With this victory, he officially secured eligibility to participate in the Inner Academy Grand Competition, which was set to take place in a month.
Bang!
Just as Xiao Yan turned to leave the arena, a sharp, domineering aura suddenly erupted, sweeping across the area and forcing him to halt his steps. His expression shifted slightly as he raised his head and gazed toward a certain spot outside the battle stage.
That was where the overbearing aura originated from—and it had already faintly locked onto him.
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. He immediately recognized the source, especially after spotting Liu Fei standing nearby.
"Does Senior Liu Qing have business with this junior?" Xiao Yan asked, cupping his hands with a calm yet confident smile. "If it's a challenge you seek… then I, Xiao Yan, will gladly accept it."
"Your boldness is truly astonishing, but it is natural if you caught Elder Xiao Hua's eyes."
A tall, broad-shouldered figure slowly stepped out from the shadows, drawing the attention of every spectator present. Under countless gazes, he leaped forward and landed heavily on the battleground like a falling meteor. The force behind his descent was so immense that the stone beneath his feet fractured instantly, spreading cracks across its surface like a spider's web.
With a steady, oppressive pace, the towering figure strode toward Xiao Yan. The overbearing aura radiating from his body swept through the entire arena, pressing down on the crowd and causing many to feel short of breath.
This was Xiao Yan's first time meeting this individual. And the impression he received from the man before him could be summed up in one word—Tyrant.
The domineering sharpness in his aura made it impossible to underestimate him, no matter the situation. Whether it was his towering physique, his stern expression, or the jet-black heavy spear strapped to his back, everything about him exuded overwhelming strength and control.
There was only one person in the entire Inner Academy who carried such a presence—Liu Qing, the Tyrant Spear, ranked third on the Strong Ranking.
The entire Fighting Arena descended into silence. The moment this man appeared, even those watching from the viewing platforms held their breath. Their gazes reflected a mix of fear and respect. Within the Inner Academy, only a handful could speak to this man on equal footing.
"Defeating Bai Cheng... That's hardly something surprising—neither for me, nor for the others."
Liu Qing finally spoke. His deep and powerful voice echoed faintly as his sharp gaze briefly swept over the unconscious Bai Cheng, then returned to lock onto Xiao Yan.
"If I couldn't defeat him," Xiao Yan replied with a calm chuckle, unfazed by the oppressive aura Liu Qing radiated, "then I wouldn't be worthy of passing even a single trial that Cousin Xiao Hua set for me. That would only mean his efforts and resources were wasted."
Naturally, he was referring to the arduous trials he had to overcome in order to obtain the Heavenly Flames.
Not long after breaking through to the Dou Ling class, he had successfully acquired the Ten Thousand Beast Flame—the second lowest-ranked among the Heavenly Flames in the ranking. Even if it was second from the bottom, it remained a genuine Heavenly Flame, its terrifying power far surpassing that of ordinary flames.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yan refined the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and merged it with his Green Lotus Core Flame. Fortunately, with the support of several rare materials gifted by Xiao Hua, the refinement and fusion process progressed smoothly without any major complications.
Moreover, Xiao Yan's body had previously been tempered by the Earth Spirit Body Nourishment Pill, which greatly enhanced his physical resilience and durability. With such a solid foundation and sufficient resources, it was not impossible for him to refine and merge a second Heavenly Flame that is second lowest of the ranking.
The fusion of the two flames eventually birthed a new Heavenly Flame—Ten Thousand Lotus Beast Flame—a product of the violent savagery of the beast flame and the destructive elegance of the lotus flame.
As a result, Xiao Yan's strength had surged to the peak of Dou Ling. Under normal circumstances, he should have advanced even further. However, the Earth Spirit Body Nourishment Pill came with a drawback—the required energy for further breakthroughs had drastically increased.
Even so, this was not surprising, considering that his current strength already allowed him to contend with ordinary Dou Huang class experts without much difficulty.
It was precisely because of this that Xiao Yan held deep respect and admiration for Xiao Hua. Having helped him countless times without asking for anything in return, Xiao Hua had long since transcended the role of a mere cousin or even the Supreme Elder of the clan—in Xiao Yan's heart, he was already an elder brother in every sense of the word.
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