"Xiao Bai?" Xiao Yi Xian called out softly, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"The sixth-tier poison is a bit too much for you right now. This eruption of the Calamity Poison Body is progressing faster than expected. I've sealed it temporarily. Without the seal, your strength would surge, but the poison body's growth would accelerate too," Xiao Bai explained gently, withdrawing his fingers.
He didn't mention that, while probing with his soul force, he'd noticed something alarming: when the poison mist reached a certain density, a faint, almost imperceptible trace seeped into her sea of consciousness. This was the main reason he'd acted.
He now understood why past bearers of the Calamity Poison Body were said to lose their sanity as toxins invaded their minds. It wasn't a sudden onset at the body's full maturation but a gradual accumulation of poison eroding the consciousness. Over time, as cultivation grew and toxins built up, the person would become increasingly detached, lose emotions, and eventually, at a critical threshold, suffer memory loss or complete madness, recognizing no one.
This was something Xiao Bai would never allow. For now, the seal would hold, and he'd find a solution later.
In the original story, Xiao Yi Xian had likely been affected but was saved by the poison pill method before reaching that point. Xiao Bai, however, wasn't content to follow the original path blindly. This was reality, and Xian'er's safety was at stake. He needed to oversee everything personally to be at ease.
"But the top five in the Inner Academy Selection…" Xiao Yi Xian bit her lip, hesitating. It was a promise the three of them had made.
"No buts. No competition is more important than you," Xiao Bai cut her off firmly. He sat beside her, his hand gently tracing the purple patterns on her delicate face. "Trust me, Xian'er. Whatever it is, your Xiao Bai will handle it. Top five? I'll carry you there if I have to."
Feeling the warmth of his palm, Xiao Yi Xian's mesmerizing gray-purple eyes locked onto his, a soft, touching smile spreading across her face. She placed her hand over his, her cheek nuzzling against it. "But I want to earn my spot in the top five myself."
The feeling of being cared for, something she'd rarely experienced since her grandfather's passing, was palpable with Xiao Bai. His protectiveness was something she could feel in her very bones.
"No means no," Xiao Bai said, playfully tapping her head before pulling his hand back. "Absorb the poison mist into your body. It should be enough to push you to Da Dou Shi."
"Ugh, I was hoping to break through and go brag to Xun'er!" Xiao Yi Xian's enchanting eyes flashed with disappointment as he refused. She pursed her lips, muttering under her breath, "Without the seal, I could've hit mid-tier Da Dou Shi this time."
Her voice was soft, but Xiao Bai's sharp senses caught every word. He couldn't help but chuckle. These two girls are starting to compete with each other now!
___
Time slipped by like sand through fingers.
As one of the grandest events in Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy, the Inner Academy Selection Tournament naturally drew the attention of every student. To the Outer Academy students, the mysterious Inner Academy, though part of the same institution, felt like an entirely different world.
Each year, Jia Nan Academy admitted thousands of students, yet only fifty could enter the Inner Academy. Many graduated without ever setting foot there, left only with rumors of its wonders.
The tournament also showcased the academy's prominent figures, drawing crowds of students who idolized or admired them, adding to the event's allure.
The academy was well-prepared. In the largest plaza, tiered stone steps rose around a central arena, resembling a coliseum. The steps were packed with students, a sea of heads stretching as far as the eye could see, their excited chatter rising to the heavens.
"Xun'er, where are Xiao Bai and Xian'er? The tournament's about to start!" In a small section reserved for Yellow Class Two, Mentor Ruo Lin scanned the crowd anxiously, unable to spot the familiar figures. She turned to Xiao Xun'er beside her.
"Mentor Ruo Lin, why are you so worried about Xiao Bai not being here? He's not competing, so it's fine if he's a bit late," Xiao Yu teased, noticing Ruo Lin's odd expression. She hugged her mentor's arm, her voice playful.
The other Yellow Class Two students perked up their ears. At the start of the term, Ruo Lin had briefly mentioned three absent classmates but said little else, sparking curiosity about them.
Today, seeing Xiao Xun'er—a stunning beauty like a blooming lotus—had floored them. Her arrival drew countless admiring glances from male students, heightening their anticipation for the other two.
"Because he is competing today! That's why I brought you all to cheer for your classmates," Ruo Lin said, patting Xiao Yu's hand gently.
She'd only informed the academy leadership about Xiao Bai's cultivation and participation, keeping it from others.
"Who?" Xiao Yu's mouth fell open, her voice rising in disbelief. "Xiao Bai… he's joining the Inner Academy Selection Tournament?"
Behind her, the Yellow Class Two students fell silent for a moment before erupting into murmurs.
"Did I hear that right? Someone from our class is in the tournament?"
"No mistake. It's that Xiao Bai, who enrolled two months ago and never attended a single class. He's competing today. What a bold guy!"
"Bold, indeed. The selection tournament is dominated by students with two or more years here. Freshmen don't stand a chance!"
"Hmph, bold? More like overconfident. He'll just embarrass himself up there!"
The last comment drew a chilling glare. The speaker looked up to find Xiao Xun'er's icy eyes fixed on him.
"Bai Shan, watch your words!" Ruo Lin scolded quickly, pulling Xiao Xun'er to face her. "Xun'er, don't stoop to his level."
As the coldness in Xiao Xun'er's eyes softened slightly, Ruo Lin exhaled in relief. Even without Xiao Bai, the monstrous talent behind her, Xiao Xun'er's current cultivation could single-handedly take on all of Yellow Class Two. Had Ruo Lin not intervened, this fiercely protective girl might've started a fight on the spot.
"Hm?" Ruo Lin's eyes widened, catching something surprising.
"What's wrong, Mentor?" Xiao Yu, snapping out of her shock, followed Ruo Lin's gaze to the central platform, where a group of elders sat, conversing animatedly.
"Nothing, just… this year's selection tournament has drawn all the academy's elders. That's unusual," Ruo Lin said thoughtfully.
"Heh, what's strange about that? They must all happen to be at the academy this year," Xiao Yu said with a carefree laugh.
Ruo Lin's eyes flicked with exasperation at her oblivious student. In all her years at Jia Nan Academy, the selection tournament had never seen more than two or three elders attend. A sudden thought struck her: Are these elders here for that guy?
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