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  "You o pay Fire Energy in exge to upgrade your Fire Crystal Cards within the Inner Academy. Generally speaking, upgrading from a bck Fire Crystal Card to a blue one requires paying one hundred days' worth of Fire Energy. Upgrading from a blue Fire Crystal Card to a green one requires two hundred days of Fire Energy, and to upgrade to a red Fire Crystal Card, you o pay three hundred."

  "Now that you've received green Fire Crystal Cards as a reward, that's equivalent to saving three hundred days of Fire Energy. That's not a small amount. Among the senior students present, aside from Luo Hou, who just upgraded his blue Crystal Card to a green one a week ago, most of the others are still using blue Crystal Cards," Elder Su expined with a smile when he saw the fusion on Xiao Yan and the others' faces.

  "Three hundred days' worth of Fire Energy?!" Only after hearing this number did Xiao Yan and the others uand why the surrounding gazes were filled with envy. Xiao Yan had thhly robbed the senior students and the Bck White Evil Stopper in the forest, and even with the addition of this reward, it only amouo about three thousand. From this, it was evident that obtaining 'Fire Energy' within the Inner Academy wasn't easy.

  Moreover, Xiao Yan had to share some with Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and the others for their cultivation, so he actually didn't have much left for himself.

  Xiao Yan frowned. Acc to Elder Su, if he wao get close to the Falle Fme, he would o desd to the lowest level, which meant he would need a purple Fire Crystal Card.

  After Elder Su finished his expnation, he waved his hand, and six green crystal cards appeared. With a flick of his fingers, the crystal cards shot toward Xiao Yan and the others, aually hovered steadily in front of them.

  "The rewards are already irahe Fire Energy from your bck Fire Crystal Cards into these, and theurn the bck cards to me."

  Wu Hao and the others quickly plied. Moments ter, they hahe y bck Fire Crystal Cards back to Elder Su.

  Xiao Yan walked up to Elder Su, ed an arm around his shoulder, and said, "Elder Su, isn't this reward a bit too little?"

  Elder Su g him, "You know how precious green Fire Crystal Cards are, and you're still saying it's not enough?"

  "Besides, didn't you just rob nearly three thousand Fire Energy? And you're still not satisfied? Do you know what a huge sum of three thousand Fire Energy is in the Inner Academy?!"

  Elder Su's beard bristled in anger. I advise you kid not to be too greedy.

  Xiao Yan immediately put on a pitiful fad said, "Elder Su, you see, this student has already reached the Dou Spirit realm. Since Luo Hou o exge freen Fire Crystal Card, doesn't that mean Dou Spirits o ehe fifth and sixth floors for it to be effective?"

  "I'm not boasting, but I estimate that the floors accessible with the green card might not be my limit," Xiao Yan said early.

  Things were indeed exactly as Xiao Yan said. The first floor of the Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower was basically for Inner Academy students below the Dou Grandmaster realm. The sed floor was for low-star Dou Grandmasters, the third and fourth floors were for intermediate to 9-star Dou Grandmasters, and the fifth and sixth floors were for 1-star to 6-star Dou Spirits.

  Only 7-star to peak Dou Spirits o cultivate on the seventh ah floors.

  Even the monstrous geniuses iop ten of the Strong Ranking didn't need purple Fire Crystal Cards; they only needed red Fire Crystal Cards to ehe eighth floor, which was the student limit.

  Purple Fire Crystal Cards were generally reserved for the elders.

  However, people's stitutions couldn't be generalized. Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Fme. With its prote, he could get even closer to the Falle Fme, meaning he could desd further to accelerate his cultivation.

  An ordinary 2-star Dou Spirit would find the green Fire Crystal Card suffit, but he estimated he could go even lower.

  Elder Su furrowed his brows. He khat Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Fme. As an elder, he was aware that the Falle Fme was beh the Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower, and the cultivation acceleration withiower was due to the emergence of a wisp of Heart Fme within one's body, which helped accelerate the refi of Dou Qi.

  Ordinary people couldn't withstand the intense burning of the Heart Fme to accelerate cultivation, which was why the academy divided the Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower into levels. But Xiao Yan, possessing a Heavenly Fme, definitely couldn't be sidered ordinary.

  With a swift motion, Elder Su flipped his hand, and a red Fire Crystal Card appeared. "Although there's no such rule in Jia Nan Academy, since you defeated the captains of the Bck White Evil Stopper with overwhelming strength, a green Fire Crystal Card is indeed insuffit. I've decided to award you an even higher-grade red Fire Crystal Card."

  Xiao Yan was truly unpreted. In the past, there had been freshmen who broke through the Bck White Evil Stopper and walked out of the forest, but they all relied on schemes. Some had freshmen deliberately create a disturbao lure the tiger away from the mountain, some bribed with medial pills, and some even relied on es.

  But for someone like Xiao Yan to crush them purely with strength was a first.

  Grinning, Xiao Yan accepted the red Fire Crystal Card. After transferring his points, he smiled and said, "Thank you, elder."

  He was secretly gd he hadn't tried to rob the elders; otherwise, this card might have been out of reach.

  "Don't try to divert attention. That green Fire Crystal Card o be returned," Elder Su extended his hand.

  Xiao Yan pursed his lips; his attempt to shift the focus had failed.

  He relutly returhe green Fire Crystal Card to Elder Su. The elder nodded slightly and said with a smile, "Alright, since you've all passed the Fire Energy Hunting petition, follow me into the Inner Academy."

  With that, the two elders turned and headed toward a set of stoeps leading up the hillside.

  'I finally ehe Inner Academy. I must obtain the Falle Fme.' Staring at Elder Su's back, Xiao Yan silently vowed.

  He was ready to ehe Inner Academy and find an opportunity to refihe Falle Fme. This fme was extremely important to him; whether the Fme Mantra could reach the Tian Css depended on it.

  "Let's go."

  Waving to Xun Er and the others, Xiao Yan took the lead. They followed Elder Su and began asding the steps outside the forest.

  The stoaircase wasn't particurly high. After just a minute or two, Xiao Yan and the others reached the top. With a small leap, they stood atop the hillside. As their gaze swept forward, the se that appeared in their field of vision caused them to draw in a breath of cold air.

  "So this is the Inner Academy?" Soft murmurs escaped from the mouths of the freshmen on the hillside.

  Beyond the hill was an incredibly vast sunken basin. Judging from its shape, it looked as if a gigantic meteorite had fallen from the sky and carved it out.

  Within the basin, t buildings stood densely packed. From their elevated position, they could see bck figures darting and leaping atop the structures like fleas. As they exteheir sight further, they discovered that the basin's area was astonishingly vast. Even at the limits of their vision, they could still only see t buildings and lush greenery.

  It was hard to imagihat su extraordinary pce was hidden within the endless mountains behind Jia Nan Academy!

  "Hehe, little ones, wele to the core area of Jia Nan Academy: the Inner Academy!" Elder Su cpped his hands and ughed as he observed the awe on the freshmen's faces.

  "There are so many strong individuals here," Wu Hao said softly, a hint of fervor fshing across his face. He loo battle formidable oppos.

  Of course, excluding overwhelmingly powerful ones like Xiao Yan.

  "Alright, now that the Hunting petition is over, all freshmen follow me back to the Inner Academy. We'll get you settled in, and then you'll truly beembers of the Inner Academy. Believe me, as long as you persevere here, you'll feel that all your progress was worthwhile when you leave." Elder Su's gaze lingered on Xiao Yan and the others as he spoke slowly.

  All the freshmen nodded slightly. From those senior students, they could already tell how immehe bes of cultivating in the Inner Academy would be!

  Only Bai Shan, that poor fellow, had long since lost his former arrogance. His Bai was simir to Xiao Yan's Xiao , where quite a few of their members had entered Jia Nan Academy.

  Besides Bai Feng, he had another older cousin named Bai g whose strength was eveer. The tter was currently a 6-star Dou Spirit. But Bai Shan no longer dared to oppose Xiao Yan, having developed a psychological shadow from beien.

  He was already terrified of Xiao Yan's strength. If even Bai g couldn't defeat him, they'd truly be finished.

  "Let's go! Everyone, keep up!"

  With a wave of his hand, Elder Su's figure transformed into a blurry shadow and swiftly moved toward the massive basin. Behind him, all the freshmen immediately set into motion, desding from the hillside like a swarm of locusts. Excited shouts that lingered for a long time echoed through the sky.

  Xiao Ya speechless when he saw the residential buildings in the freshmen aodation area. He said to Elder Su, who had brought them here, "Elder Su, isn't this a bit too small? It only aodate a few people."

  Each aodation area had small vil-like dormitories, but these dwellings weren't even parable to the luxurious buildings left for the Xiao at the Misty Cloud Sect; they were even smaller than his own room ba Wu Tan City.

  Elder Su replied irritably, "The Inner Academy arranges five people per building, with another five in the one opposite."

  Xiao Yan frowned and asked, "Elder Su, aren't there any rger ones? We have nine people here."

  Including Hu Jia and Wu Hao, Xiao Yan's group totaled nine.

  Elder Su spread his hands and said, "There's nothing I do about that. The free aodations arranged by the academy are already the best avaible; others have even worse ditions. If you want a rger courtyard, you use Fire Energy to rent nd from the academy and build it yourself."

  "Some first-rate fas in the Inner Academy with many members rent nd and struct their own bases."

  Xiao Yan asked upon hearing this, "Fas be established in the Inner Academy? The academy allows it?"

  "Of course it's allowed. Many tasks from the Inner Academy's Mission Hall require teams to plete. The academy naturally ences students tanize closely together."

  Hu Jia saw Xiao Yan stroking his in thought and asked, "Are you thinking of establishing a fa?"

  At this moment, Xiao Yan recalled the Hun d the promotion system of the Hall of Souls. In the Hall of Souls, if one could be promoted to the rank of Honorable Elder, they would receive a Soul and Token and join the Hun .

  This allowed the tinuous influx of fresh blood and potential elite experts into the Hun .

  "Mm, the talents of the Inner Academy students at Jia Nan Academy 't be sidered weak. As the Little Leader of the Xiao , it's normal for me to desire such talents." Xiao Yan did not ceal his thoughts and spoke directly.

  Elder Su ughed, "Hahaha, tless forces outside the academy think the same way you do. Take that Bai Shan who offended you—his has a fa within the Inner Academy called the 'White Gang.'"

  "The graduation period in the Inner Academy is five years. After graduation, many Inner Academy students join the fas they've established here. Those who form their own fas are ultimately the minority."

  "This kind of petitiveness is exactly what our Inner Academy needs. If you don't want to be bullied, you must strive to improve your own strength; otherwise, there's nothing to discuss. The strong are revered. That has always been the main theme of this world. We don't want the Inner Academy to bee a carefree ivory tower, because su enviro ot produce true elite experts," Elder Su said calmly.

  He was not surprised; after all, this was the role of the academy—to cultivate talent, and talent was often highly sought after.

  Xiao Yu asked, "Xiao Yan, do you want to establish a fa here and then bring talents back to Wu Tan City?"

  Xiao Yan was momentarily stuhen suddenly realized and said, "Oh, I almost fot. I haven't told you guys yet, have I?"

  Xiao Yu blinked her beautiful eyes and asked with a face full of fusion, "Told us what?"

  "Our has moved to the Misty Cloud Sed now resides there," Xiao Yan smiled and said casually.

  The eyes of Xiao Yu and the other members of the Xiao widened dramatically as soon as he said this! They had entered Jia Nan Academy early on, so naturally, they wouldn't know about ret events.

  "Ah? Why would our Xiao join the Misty Cloud Sect? Is it because of Nan Yanran?" Xiao Yu suddenly recalled that Xiao Yan had a fiancée who was the Little Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect!

  Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "Some things happened. But now, our Xiao , the Misty Cloud Sect, the Jia Ma Imperial Family, and the Snake-People Tribe have jointly formed an alliance called the 'Yan Alliance,' so Father and the others have moved to live on Misty ountain."

  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Not only Xiao Yu, but even Wu Hao, Hu Jia, and Elder Su were stunned. Because even in Jia Nan Academy they had heard of the tter three. It was reasonable for those three to form an alliance, but how did the Xiao suddenly get involved? What kind of existence was this Xiao ?

  "Could it be that your is very powerful?" Wu Hao asked.

  "Just a small from a remote city, nothing special," Xiao Yan shrugged and expined.

  As members of the Xiao , Xiao Yu and the others knew eveer the strength of their own . What Xiao Yan said sounded like a fairy tale. What oh had happeo cause their small from a remote city to form an alliah those behemoths?!

  Elder Su said, "If you want to establish a fa, it will cost quite a bit of Fire Energy. I advise you to use your Fire Energy sparingly. Although you did acquire quite a lot of Fire Energy, the Inner Academy doesn't have teag courses. As long as you have enough Fire Energy, you ehe Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower to cultivate, which is more effective than any course."

  "Furthermore, the Inner Academy also has pces like the 'Dou Teique Hall,' 'Qi Method Pavilion,' 'Mission Hall,' 'Alchemy Room,' and so on. If you want to obtain Qi Methods or Dou Teiques, seek alchemy assistac., you check them out. Of course, this is on the premise of having enough 'Fire Energy' to exge for them. pared to the Outer Academy, the Inner Academy is actually more free."

  "If you feel that your 'Fire Energy' is insuffit but your hands are itg, you go to the arena to earn more 'Fire Energy.' Of course, the prerequisite is that you must have suffit strength. Otherwise, you only lose until you have nothi."

  "So in the Inner Academy, Fire Energy is never enough."

  After p for a while, Xiao Yan transferred two thousand Fire Energy from his Fire Crystal Card to Xuhen said, "Xun Er, distribute this Fire Energy. In a while, you and Xiao Yu go with Elder Su to purchase a plot of nd for our base. I want to establish a fa in the Inner Academy. This amount of Fire Energy should be enough for now."

  Xun Er nodded and asked, "Then what should we name our fa in the Inner Academy?"

  Xiao Yan thought for a moment, then, as if recalling something, said, "Let's call it 'Xiao Hall.'"

  "'Xiao Hall'??"

  …

  Early the m, Xiao Yan woke up in the dormitory roed by the academy. Yesterday, Xun Er had already rented a rge plot of nd from the academy. It was estimated that they could move in after a few more days.

  After washing up, Xiao Yan came downstairs, only to see, in the open space outside the door, two figures flickering and iwining. Mighty Dou Qi surged from within both of them, rippling through the hall.

  Seated on a chair in the hall, Xun Er was smiling as she watched the two figures. When she heard footsteps, she turned around to see Xiao Yan walking dowairs, and quickly stood up to greet him with a soft smile, "Xiao Yan ge-ge slept well?"

  "Mm." Xiao Yan smiled and hen g the two battling figures and ughed, "What are those two up to again?"

  "Perhaps because of the ret 'Hunting petition,' both Wu Hao and Sister Hu Jia advao 6-star Dou Grandmasters during st night's cultivation. When they got up this m, they wao spar, so they started fighting," Xun Er covered her mouth and chuckled.

  "Oh? They've advanced?"

  Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows, then shook his head in amazement. These two were indeed outstanding among the Outer Academy students of Jia Nan Academy; such talent far surpasses ordinary people.

  "Xiao Yan ge-ge, are you going to the Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower today?" Xun Er asked.

  "Mm, I'm going to take a look."

  Hearing that Xiao Yan was going to the Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower, Wu Hao stopped sparring and said, "Let's go together. I also want to see what's so extraordinary about that legendary tower."

  Xiao Yan he two had just set off together when they suddenly noticed more than a dozen people approag from afar.

  Xiao Yan had a good memory and remembered that these people were all among the top fifty freshmen this year.

  Those dozen or so freshmen saw Xiao Yan e out. They looked as if they had seen their savior. They surrounded Xiao Yan with tears in their eyes, and someone eve down and hugged his leg.

  "Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing? I'm straight!" Xiao Yan kicked away the man hugging his leg.

  "Senior Xiao Yan, Big Brother! I'm Ah Tai, a freshman. You must help us freshmen this time!" The one named Ah Tai, who had hugged Xiao Yan's leg, cried out.

  "Tell me what's going on first," Xiao Yan said.

  "The senior students in this Inner Academy are going too far. Yesterday, they made us pay prote fees, two days' worth of Fire Energy per person. We khat as newers, we shouldn't be too frontational, so we e and didn't say anything, handing over the 'Fire Energy' to them. But today they came again, saying that since we passed the petition and received twenty days' worth of Fire Energy, we should pay even more," the young man named Ah Tai gritted his teeth and said indignantly.

  Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, then smiled and said, "I help you, but why should I?"