As Xiao Bai clashed with Liu Qing, over twenty figures emerged from the forest at the valley's entrance—Xun Er, Xiao Yi Xian, and the other freshmen.
The new students gasped in awe at the intense energy fluctuations rippling from each move in the valley's battle.
"Xiao Bai, watch out!" Xiao Yi Xian's face paled. A sword-browed man wielding a massive axe, blazing with fire-attribute Dou Qi, swung fiercely at Xiao Bai's back. Her small mouth let out a worried cry.
Clenching her fists, she stared at the scene, her eyes filled with anxiety as the axe's glow neared. Just then, Xiao Bai turned, as if hearing her call, and looked toward her.
"Dodge, you idiot!" Xiao Yi Xian stomped her foot in frustration, glaring at the infuriating man who stood motionless, staring back instead of evading.
The axe's gust ruffled Xiao Bai's white hair. Unflinching, he extended a hand, fingers spread, catching the fiery red axe glow in his palm. As Lin Yan gaped in shock, Xiao Bai crushed it with a single grip!
The valley fell silent. After a stunned moment, Lin Yan shook off his astonishment, nearly jumping up to curse.
"Damn it! Strong Dou Qi's one thing, but a body this freakish? Is he even human?"
His carefully prepared strike, shattered so casually—without even using Dou Qi! Who could stomach that?
Ignoring Lin Yan's stormy expression, Xiao Bai's gaze settled on the two graceful figures at the valley's entrance. He blinked, a trace of amusement flickering in his eyes.
Xiao Yi Xian shot him a fierce glare, her cheeks flushing. Even with her gentle nature, she ground her teeth, tempted to bite the scoundrel. Could've dealt with it sooner, but no, you made me worry for nothing! Wasting my emotions!
Xun Er covered her mouth, giggling, and discreetly gave Xiao Bai a thumbs-up. Nice one, Xiao Bai gege!
The four members of the Black Fiend Team, witnessing this, inwardly cringed. Their gazes toward their captain were tinged with pity. We had high hopes for him, but this? The White Fiend Team at least traded a few blows. With us, it's like he's flirting with girls while swatting a mosquito!
"Tch, young folks sure know how to play!" Elder Su stroked his beard, chuckling at the scene below.
"Such a formidable body!" Elder Han shook his head. "This kid's a monster in every way—soul, physique, Dou Qi cultivation, all top-tier. That talent… it's enviable! How far will he go?"
The elderly figure also watched the black-robed youth, thoughtful. Could he be what Qian and Bai suspected?
Whoosh! Bang!
A deafening explosion rocked the valley, kicking up dust and scattering stones. A strange burnt smell wafted through the air.
As the dust settled, a charred pit, several meters wide, appeared in the stone-strewn valley. A long, narrow crack ran through it, as if splitting it in two. At the crack's end stood a tall, burly figure, his blackened face pale, leaning on his spear and panting heavily.
"If that's all you've got, hand over your Fire Energy," Xiao Bai said, standing with hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over Liu Qing and Lin Yan.
The two exchanged a glance, nodding slightly.
"Mountain-Splitting Spear: Shatter Peak!"
"Eight Axe Forms: River Sever!"
Liu Qing leaped into the air, gripping his heavy spear with both hands and thrusting downward. The spearhead pulsed with intense energy, slicing through the air with a faint howl, aimed straight at Xiao Bai.
Meanwhile, Lin Yan moved with an eerie technique, closing in. Flames on his axe blade surged, forming a massive fiery edge. The scorching heat warped the air as he swung vertically at Xiao Bai.
These attacks, far stronger than before, whipped Xiao Bai's robes in the gust. He nodded inwardly. Not bad. Worthy of Jia Nan Academy's elite.
With a thought, crimson light flared around him, intensifying until he seemed ablaze. Thunderbolts crackled across his form, the sizzling sound of electricity filling the air.
Facing the nearing attacks, Xiao Bai stood firm. A glowing orb of fire and thunder rose from him, guided by his soul force, and shot skyward.
"Third Fire… Yang Thunder!"
His soft words echoed through the valley. The crimson orb in the air rumbled like muffled thunder, then unleashed two bolts of bucket-thick red lightning, crashing down like heavenly wrath.
Liu Qing and Lin Yan's faces changed. Their instincts screamed danger—if they ignored the lightning to press their attack, they'd be gravely injured, if not worse.
Their eyes flickered. They hadn't expected Xiao Bai to disregard their assault, countering with his own relentless strike.
"Lunatic!" Lin Yan cursed inwardly. They call me crazy, but this guy's the real madman!
With no choice, they redirected their attacks toward the lightning. Continuing toward Xiao Bai might hurt him, but they'd be out of commission for months—a costly delay in the inner academy.
Bang! Bang!
The clash of spear and axe against the lightning was deafening, nearly robbing the onlookers of their hearing. They covered their ears, eyes fixed on the blinding clash, eager for the outcome.
"What kind of thunder is this?" the elders above the valley gasped, staring at the searing thunder-fire orb in the air.
"Thunder laced with fire, fire infused with thunder—both volatile forces. Its attack power is incredible!" The elderly figure studied the orb's destructive aura, a glint of surprise in his eyes. Hu Qian mentioned he obtained the Crimson Fire Thunder Jiao's beast flame. Did he fuse it with his thunder-attribute Dou Qi to create this?
But no… this flame's power rivals some heavenly flames!
This kid's hiding plenty of secrets. Good. He might just solve that hidden threat for the academy!
As the light faded, two blackened figures emerged. One stood tall, unshaken; the other left the Black Fiend Team wincing.
"Argh! It hurts! I'm done, I surrender!" Lin Yan wailed, sprawled on the ground, his axe discarded.
Liu Qing exhaled a smoky breath, wincing at the numbing pain coursing through him. Glancing at the groaning Lin Yan, then at the still-composed Xiao Bai, his eyes held a complex mix of emotions. In a hoarse voice, he said, "I yield."
Xiao Bai waved a hand, and the crimson orb in the air dissolved into a streak of light, vanishing into his body.
The valley's onlookers snapped out of their daze, staring at the calm figure with awe. Liu Qing and Lin Yan, despite their battered state, were inner academy luminaries—top twenty on the Strong List, each brimming with pride. Yet this freshman had taken them both on, unscathed, with an air of effortless dominance. Even the Strong List's top ten might struggle to match this!
"Boss is mighty!" the freshmen behind erupted in cheers, their eyes blazing with excitement as they gazed at the figure in the valley.
In this world, strength was truth. The purpose of cultivation? To grow stronger. Xiao Bai's display proved it. Those arrogant seniors who'd looked down on them? Even the elite Black-White Fiend Teams now gazed at their boss with respect!
A few freshmen who'd fled early, avoiding being bait, exchanged bitter looks. Weren't we just relieved to escape being his bait? Now they're calling him boss?
Is it too late to join them?
"Cousin, are you alright?" Liu Fei rushed to Liu Qing's side, her heart aching at his lightning-scorched figure. Growing up, her cousin had always been her pride—when had she ever seen him so defeated?
Liu Qing shook his head, regaining his composure. He beckoned to the White Fiend Team. "Hand over your Fire Energy cards. I've let you down this time, but don't worry—I'll make it up to you back at the academy."
"Leader, no need to say that! It's just some Fire Energy. We'll earn it back with a few missions!"
"Yeah, a couple of arena fights, and we're good. No big deal!"
The team members handed over their cards without hesitation. Liu Qing's tiger-like eyes met theirs, nodding silently in gratitude. Taking the cards, he approached Xiao Bai, studying him intently. "You're strong. I don't boast, but even the Strong List's top ten couldn't handle us two so easily. I look forward to seeing what you do in the inner academy. Those guys are in for a shock!"
Xiao Bai nodded with a smile, accepting the cards. His grin widened at the numbers. Didn't expect this! Those fifty seniors' haul doesn't even match these five.
One thousand two hundred eighty points, with nearly eight hundred from Liu Qing alone. His card's total now soared past two thousand.
"Haha, I'm looking forward to meeting them too!" Xiao Bai's attitude warmed instantly. Robbing the bottom rung's a waste—fifty freshmen, myself included, yield just 150 points, not even a fraction of these five. Target the top, and one haul makes you rich!
Liu Qing chuckled at Xiao Bai's swift change in demeanor. This so-called demon king's got a genuine side. Worth befriending.
Xiao Bai's gaze shifted to Lin Yan, who flinched, immediately resuming his wails.
"Ow… it hurts… hurts!"
Xiao Bai's face darkened. This guy's trying to dodge payment?
"Fire Energy… card!" he growled, squatting beside Lin Yan.
"What? You beat me to a pulp and still want to rob me?!" Lin Yan shouted, feigning disbelief.
Xiao Bai hadn't expected this stern-looking guy to pull such a stunt. He turned a cold gaze to the Black Fiend Team. "You lot planning to skip out on me too?"
"No, no!" The four shivered under his icy stare, sensing he'd act if provoked. They hurriedly handed over their cards, wincing at the loss.
"Pathetic," Xiao Bai muttered, dissatisfied after transferring their two hundred-odd points.
The four felt the sting of the seniors before them—robbed and ridiculed! They call him a demon king for a reason. Staring at their zeroed-out cards, they inwardly wailed, If you're so picky, don't take it!
"Your turn!" Xiao Bai nudged Lin Yan with his foot, his voice cold.
"I'm broke! You're robbing a poor man? Have you no compassion?" Lin Yan pouted.
"Compassion? They call me a demon king. If I don't do something ruthless, I'm not living up to the name. Who needs compassion?" Xiao Bai grinned sinisterly. "Don't want to pay? Fine. Ever heard of Peace Town's Death Spirit Tree? I'm thinking of planting one in the inner academy."
"Y-you're not planning to hang me on it, are you?" Lin Yan's heart raced, swallowing hard. This guy wouldn't dare, would he?
"Bingo! But don't worry—the Death Spirit Tree's for corpses. Mine's for the living! Picture this: a tree in front of the Heaven-Burning Qi Refining Tower, with you dangling there for all to admire. Sound good?" Xiao Bai said with a kindly smile.
The onlookers shuddered. This demon king's twisted! If that happened, you'd be done for in the inner academy!
"Demon king, you win!" Lin Yan paled at the thought, hastily tossing over his Fire Energy card.
Xiao Bai caught it, his laughter stopping abruptly as he stared at the card in disbelief. If these weren't one-per-person, I'd think he's pranking me!
"This is your Fire Energy card?" he asked, incredulous.
"Yup! Told you, I'm broke!" Lin Yan said, his expression smug and teasing.
"Then why the hell were you stalling and refusing to hand it over?" Xiao Bai felt the urge to throttle him. With all that dodging, I thought he had a fortune!
Twelve points! Less than those seniors! If this weren't the wrong setting, I'd be tempted to transfer some points to him out of pity.
"No choice! I'm a lone wolf, spending as I earn. That's all I've got. Do what you want!" Lin Yan shrugged, unfazed.
Xiao Bai eyed the shameless man, his expression flickering. This is the Hunt's number-two figure, and only twelve points? Unacceptable. After a moment, he pulled out paper and a brush from his storage ring, scribbling furiously. Handing it to Lin Yan, he grinned darkly. "Come on, sign it!"
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