Xiao Bai could sense it clearly: the moment his soul force enveloped Hu Qian, a resonance with the surrounding world pulsed from the vice-dean. It wasn't the mystical sensation of merging with the heavens, but rather a communion between his internal Dou Qi and the external energies of the world. With a single thought, Hu Qian could manipulate the surrounding natural energy, wielding it to counter the intangible soul force. This energy was vast and formidable, instantly repelling Xiao Bai's soul force.
The same phenomenon occurred with the two elders, but their influence was far weaker, barely able to affect a sliver of external energy. Compared to Hu Qian's mastery, it was like comparing mud to clouds—easily suppressed by Xiao Bai's soul force.
The higher the cultivation, the greater the gap, Xiao Bai mused. The ability to influence natural energy grows starkly from Dou Wang to Dou Huang. At higher realms, this disparity only widens. The more energy one can command, the greater the boost to their strength!
It's like a sphere with a one-meter radius growing by one meter versus a hundred-meter sphere doing the same. The volume increase isn't linear—it's exponential! No wonder the gap between each star in the Dou Sheng realm is so vast!
Reflecting on the original story, Xiao Bai marveled at Xiao Yan's Buddha's Fury Flame Lotus. A peak Dou Wang crossing that chasm to take down Yun Shan, a Dou Zong? That's something else!
"Alright, Xiao Bai, let them go!" Elder Su's urgent voice broke his thoughts, noting some of the inner academy students were on the verge of passing out.
Xiao Bai retracted his soul force, and the older students gasped for air, their pale faces regaining a hint of color.
"Ahem… you lost. Per the rules, hand your Fire Energy to Xiao Bai," Elder Han said, clearing his throat with a relieved sigh.
"Elders, we didn't lose! He must've cheated somehow. How could a Dou Ling be that strong?" one student protested loudly, indignant.
"Yeah! We've seen Dou Lings before—none like this!"
"Exactly! If it's a fair fight and we lose, fine. But using external tricks? We're not convinced!"
Elder Han scanned the group, his expression calm. "Is that what you all think?"
"Yes!" they chorused.
"Shut up!" Elder Su's face darkened, his voice a cold snap. "You disgraceful fools! That was soul force—soul force, got it? You've grown too comfortable in the inner academy. If it was an external trick, that's still his skill. What, you think your enemies after graduation will fight you 'fairly'?"
"Losing isn't shameful. Learn from it, train harder. But this level of ignorance? Don't you dare claim to be from Jia Nan Academy when you leave. We can't afford the embarrassment!"
Chastised, the students fell silent, heads bowed.
Xiao Bai shot Tu Shan a look. The burly student grinned, catching on instantly. "Seniors, please cooperate and hand over your Fire Energy cards!" he said, sauntering over with a playful smirk.
Tu Shan felt a surge of gratitude for siding with Xiao Bai. The Fire Energy Hunt's always been seniors robbing freshmen. A freshman turning the tables? Unheard of!
Under the reluctant gazes of the defeated students, Tu Shan collected their cards and presented them to Xiao Bai. "Boss, it's all here!"
Xiao Bai raised an eyebrow at the new title. This guy's quick to adapt. A real opportunist.
Transferring the Fire Energy from the fifteen cards, Xiao Bai watched the number on his own card skyrocket.
When Hu Qian and the two elders saw the figure—789—they were floored. No freshman in the history of the inner academy had amassed nearly a thousand Fire Energy points before even stepping foot inside! Earning Fire Energy there was no small feat.
Why did these seniors vie to join the Hunt? For Fire Energy, of course. But inner academy rules mandated leaving two points on each freshman's card, meaning only three points could be taken per person. With fifty freshmen, that was just 150 points total—split among dozens of seniors. The lucky ones might grab a bit more; the unlucky might leave empty-handed.
Yet Xiao Bai, right at the start, had amassed the equivalent of five Hunts' worth of Fire Energy!
Hu Qian and the elders silently pitied the seniors still prowling the forest, likely thrilled over a few points. What's the point of grabbing scraps? If they run into this kid, they'll lose everything—principal and interest!
"C-Classmate Xiao Bai… y-you're not going to rob us, are you?" a petite freshman girl stammered, her voice trembling as Xiao Bai approached.
The remaining freshmen who hadn't fled froze, dumbfounded. They'd just been marveling at their outer academy's "demon king," feeling a shared pride. But now the demon king's turning on us?
"Boss, can we… maybe spare Tong Yu?" Tu Shan hurried to Xiao Bai's side, glancing nervously at the delicate girl and rubbing his hands awkwardly.
Xiao Bai studied Tu Shan's bear-like bulk next to the tiny Tong Yu, his expression odd. Quite the contrast.
"Do you want to keep the Fire Energy on your cards?" Xiao Bai asked, ignoring Tu Shan and addressing the twenty-odd freshmen still present.
After a hesitant pause, scattered voices replied, "Yes!"
"Good. Then work for me," Xiao Bai said, nodding with a smile.
"Boss, just tell me what to do! I'm with you!" one quick-witted freshman chimed in, switching titles on the spot.
Others' eyes lit up. Following Xiao Bai? That's a golden opportunity! Demon king? Nah, that's our boss!
"Right, Boss! Name it, we'll do it!"
"Heh." Xiao Bai scanned the group, not bothering to correct their newfound loyalty. "Simple. You twenty-two stick together and head straight for the exit. Ignore everything else. Got it?"
"Tu Shan, Xu Su, you lead them."
"Boss, what's the plan?" Tu Shan asked, puzzled.
"Fishing," Xiao Bai replied, his gaze drifting to the distant forest with a cryptic smile.
Tu Shan got it instantly. He's too lazy to hunt them down one by one, so he's using us as bait to lure the seniors roaming the forest!
"Got it, Boss! Leave it to us!" Tu Shan and Xu Su nodded, recognizing this as their test. They promptly led the freshmen into the forest with brisk efficiency.
Once the freshmen vanished into the trees, Xiao Bai approached the defeated seniors.
"W-what do you want? We've got no Fire Energy left!" they stammered, eyeing him with wary respect and swallowing hard.
"How many of you came in total?" Xiao Bai asked casually, glancing at the speaker.
"Fifty like us, plus five each from the Black-White Fiend Teams. Sixty total," one senior replied, relieved Xiao Bai wasn't picking a fight.
"Sixty, huh?" Xiao Bai mused, then continued, "Here's your task. Pair up and scour the forest. When you find other seniors, tell them you spotted a group of over twenty freshmen moving together. Say your team can't handle it alone and invite them to join you. Pick a choke point they'd have to pass through. Clear?"
The seniors instantly understood, cursing inwardly. This guy's planning to take down every inner academy student here! Isn't he afraid of biting off more than he can chew?
"Wondering why you should help me?" Xiao Bai said, reading their expressions with a sly grin. "I'm sure you'd rather not have me paying you daily visits in the inner academy, right?"
The seniors shivered at his sinister smile, imagining being hounded by this menace every day. "No need for that, Classmate Xiao Bai! Helping a fellow student is our duty!" they hurried to say.
"Exactly! If those other guys hear about today, they'll mock us. If you treat everyone equally, that'd be perfect!"
"Rest assured, Classmate Xiao Bai, we'll handle it flawlessly!"
Xiao Bai's smile widened, satisfied. "Excellent. I'm touched by your enthusiasm, seniors. Jia Nan Academy truly lives up to its continental fame—such warm, friendly, and supportive upperclassmen. A stellar academic spirit!"
Hu Qian and the two elders nearly rolled their eyes out of their sockets. He's praising Jia Nan Academy, but why does it feel so humiliating?
Xun Er fought the urge to cover her face. Xiao Bai gege, do you have a grudge against the academy or what?
Xiao Yi Xian stifled a giggle, her eyes sparkling as she watched the crowd's reactions to Xiao Bai's words.
"Alright, Xiao Bai, whatever you're planning, get moving!" Elder Su cut in, his heart unable to take more of Xiao Bai's antics. "Break through the Black-White teams and reach the exit first, and besides the standard rewards, there's an extra prize!"
"That prize is mine. Get it ready, Elder!" Xiao Bai said with a grin, watching the seniors scatter into the forest.
___
In the Forest
A group of seniors Xiao Bai had robbed huddled together.
"Are we really doing what that demon king said, luring others to hand over their Fire Energy?"
"Do it, my foot! If we did, how could we show our faces in the inner academy?"
"But if we don't, and he comes up empty, what if he takes it out on us?"
"You're too rigid! Just say we searched the forest and found no one!"
"Eh? Mo Dun, why're you guys hiding here instead of hunting freshmen?" a voice interrupted, startling them. Seeing it was a familiar face, not the demon king, they relaxed.
"Ruo Men, you're here," Mo Dun said, wincing at the memory of his zeroed-out Fire Energy card. "Hunt freshmen? I'm dodging them as it is!"
"What's that about?" Ruo Men asked, confused. "We paid a price to join the Hunt. If we don't snag at least six points, it's a wasted trip!"
"Don't get me started. This year's freshmen include a freakish demon king—Dou Ling cultivation, with soul force so strong even the elders struggled!" Mo Dun waved a hand, glancing at Ruo Men. "You know about soul force, right?"
"That vague, ethereal stuff? Someone can actually wield it?" Ruo Men's face lit up with shock.
Seeing his friend's ignorance, Mo Dun felt a smug satisfaction. He eagerly recounted the earlier events, eliciting gasps of astonishment.
"So you're saying you got nothing, lost all your Fire Energy, and got mocked for being poor?" Ruo Men exclaimed.
"No kidding! That's why he's a demon king! Beat us, robbed us, then sneered at our poverty!" Mo Dun grumbled. "Be careful out there. This space closes when time's up. Don't linger—head to the exit and leave. If that demon king gets there first and blocks it, your Fire Energy's gone!"
"Thanks for the heads-up! We're leaving now!" Ruo Men stood, leading his four equally shocked teammates away.
"Stick to back paths and warn anyone you meet not to go delivering Fire Energy!" Mo Dun shouted after them.
"Got it!" their voices echoed back.
___
Elsewhere in the Forest
Xiao Bai trailed far behind the freshman group, flanked by Xun Er and Xiao Yi Xian.
"Xiao Bai, aren't you worried those seniors will spill the truth and no one will come?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, eyeing his relaxed demeanor.
"Worried? Nah. Even if they talk, what can they do? They've got two choices: hide in the forest, which won't work forever since they have to leave eventually, or race to the exit and slip out," Xun Er said, giggling as she looped her arm through Xiao Bai's. "But judging by Xiao Bai gege's calm confidence, he's already got a plan, right?"
"Exactly," Xiao Bai said, fondly tweaking Xun Er's pert nose before taking Xiao Yi Xian's hand. "I never counted on them luring anyone. Their job is to spread fear, driving everyone in the forest toward the exit."
Xiao Yi Xian's eyes gleamed with admiration. "You're so clever, Xiao Bai!"
"Heh, you're plenty sharp yourself, Xian Er. You just don't bother with these schemes," Xiao Bai said, squeezing her hand. I still remember how she outwitted that Yao shopkeeper.
"Xiao Bai gege, looks like your fish aren't biting," Xun Er teased, glancing around. They'd covered a fair distance, and no one had taken the bait.
"No matter. It's just a side move. If it works, great; if not, no loss," Xiao Bai said with a laugh. "If bait fails, cast the net. The trap's already set—none of these fish are escaping this forest!"
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