Chapter 225

Xiao Yan flashed a smug, cunning smile and glanced at the several Jia Nan Academy officials who had jumped up in shock.

Xiao Yan's gaze seemed to say: Didn't see that coming, did you?

In an instant, an unusual, violent surge of energy rippled across Guang Chang; those who first sensed it were the Elders on the judging dais, their expressions instantly shifting, their gazes snapping in unison toward the black-robed youth standing tall in the center, heavy ruler in hand—the source of that violent energy was right there!

The Elders on the stage exchanged uneasy glances, then swallowed hard—this surge of energy filled them all with dread.

"Earth-Rank Dou Technique!!"

Elders like Huo were stunned; they all knew that only Earth-Rank or higher Dou Techniques could stir Heavenly Energy.

Even in the Black Horn Region, only established Dou Huang factions could possibly possess Earth-Rank Dou Techniques—otherwise, the auction wouldn't have drawn so many Dou Huang factions in the first place.

And among the Outer Court's countless prodigies, even those like Bai Shan and Wu Hao—who could've entered the Inner Court last year—deliberately delayed a year just to secure a top-five finish, because the Library Pavilion offered Earth-Rank Dou Techniques, and rumors even spoke of Earth-Rank Cultivation Methods!

On the heavy ruler, a dark red ruler-momentum, several zhang in length, shot out with terrifying, unstoppable force!

The moment the ruler-momentum launched, the air rippled like a lake struck by a boulder; already a ruin, the arena's ground split open along its trajectory—a half-meter-wide crack rapidly spread under horrified stares.

"Quick! Save them!" Vice Dean Hu Qian shouted, instantly appearing on Guang Chang; several Elders hastily joined forces to erect a defensive Barrier, preventing the residual waves of Xiao Yan's Earth-Rank Dou Technique from harming other combatants on the field.

Without doubt, the moment Xiao Yan unleashed Flame-Splitting, Wave-Devouring Ruler, even Bai Shan, Wu Hao, and Hu Jia—all pushing themselves to their absolute limits, even summoning their last ounce of strength—still shattered like glass upon contact.

"How… is this possible?" Hu Jia stared, paralyzed, as her strongest Dou Technique evaporated like a droplet falling into a volcano's mouth; she stood frozen, utterly devoid of will to resist.

Wu Hao still tried to fight back, unleashing his ultimate technique and even consuming Life Force via a Secret Technique to boost his Cultivation Realm—but it was like a drop of water falling into the ocean, stirring not the slightest ripple.

They had defeated Dou Ling before—even Bai Shan and Wu Hao had killed Dou Ling—but those they killed never possessed even an Arcane-Rank High-Level Dou Technique, let alone an Earth-Rank one.

When had they ever seen an Earth-Rank Dou Technique aimed at them? If they ever did, that would be the day they died.

Boom!! Vice Dean Hu Qian instantly appeared at the front, flipped his palms, and thrust forward—a massive wall of Dou Qi materialized before him.

The terrifying Flame Wave of Flame-Splitting, Wave-Devouring Ruler crashed down like a mountain, and though blocked by the Vice Dean, the wave didn't vanish—it surged outward in all directions.

Fortunately, several other Elders had reached Dou Wang-level Cultivation Realms and arrived in time to intercept the residual shockwaves of Xiao Yan's attack.

Xiao Yan smiled faintly and sheathed his Xuan Heavy Ruler. He knew his attack would be stopped, so he hadn't fused his Strange Fire into the ruler.

"Teachers, this isn't fair," Xiao Yan feigned exhaustion, staggering as if about to faint. "My student just poured every last bit of Dou Qi into that move—ah, I'm gonna pass out!"

Vice Dean Hu Qian, who had just blocked Xiao Yan's Flame-Splitting, Wave-Devouring Ruler, glared at him. "Even if she were my granddaughter, I wouldn't favor her—I'm obligated to protect students' lives as Vice Dean."

Hu Qian glanced at his granddaughter, shook his head, and said: "Hu Jia, the sky is vast beyond the sky—you still have much cultivation to do."

Hu Jia sighed slowly, stared deeply at Xiao Yan, and snarled: "Xiao Yan, I will defeat you!"

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, embarrassed—why did that sound so familiar?

Wu Hao sheathed his heavy sword, looked at Xiao Yan, then at Xun Er, and said seriously: "You're more worthy of her. I was blind before—I admit defeat."

Without delay, the two jumped off the arena.

"No! I won't surrender! I still have a Four Grade Poison Armor! Even without your help, I won't lose!" Bai Shan panicked as he saw Wu Hao and Hu Jia leave the field.

Because if he lost, with the current number of remaining combatants, he'd be certain to miss the top five.

If he lost the Inner Court Selection Exam, he could try again next year—but he'd already secured his Inner Court placement; there was no next year!

Bai Shan had spent three years in the Outer Court solely for the top-five reward—to choose a prize from the Library Pavilion, to obtain an Earth-Rank Dou Technique inside.

He couldn't accept this outcome.

Elders like Huo frowned—Bai Shan hadn't been like this during his three years in the Outer Court; he'd been a model student, respectful to teachers, strong, and gifted—how had he become so disgraceful now?

"Sigh," Vice Dean Hu Qian stepped in to defuse the situation. "Bai Shan, as a Dou Huang, I can confidently say—you absolutely cannot withstand Xiao Yan's Dou Technique. Even with your Poison Armor, you'd be dead."

The original rules hadn't forbidden teachers from intervening to block Dou Techniques—but anyone with eyes could see Xiao Yan's technique could instantly kill any student; a Four Grade Poison Armor wouldn't stop it—it'd blast his head to pulp.

"I don't believe it! If Xiao Yan can unleash it again, and I truly can't block it, I'll accept the result!" Bai Shan was counting on Xiao Yan being unable to use such a powerful technique twice in one day.

"Fine."

Hummm!! Suddenly, an unbearable heat erupted from Xiao Yan—he gripped his Xuan Heavy Ruler, raised it overhead, and in an instant, the ruler glowed crimson; an aura identical to the previous one surged from him again.

"I've never heard such a bizarre demand."

"Teachers, you heard him—he demanded another round himself. Life and death are each bound by their own fate—next life, try not to be so cocky."

Xiao Yan figured that even if Bai Shan got incinerated by Flame-Splitting, Wave-Devouring Ruler, his body burned to ash, his mouth would still be stubbornly open.

The Elders exchanged glances and immediately stepped aside; the other students didn't wait—they'd already fled far away, terrified of being caught in the crossfire by this fool.

Below, Hu Jia sneered mercilessly: "Hmph, Bai Shan is stupid to the extreme."

Wu Hao shook his head coldly: "He's a weakling."

Bai Shan felt the overwhelming pressure and searing heat, his eyes glazed, he stumbled backward, tripped over rubble, and fell hard on his rear, trembling as he stared at Xiao Yan.

The crimson glow of the Xuan Heavy Ruler illuminated Xiao Yan's white teeth—his bared, grinning face looked like a demon.

"I surrender! Don't kill me!" Seeing Xiao Yan raise the ruler to strike, Bai Shan screamed—the pressure of life and death nearly made him soil himself.

Whoosh! Xiao Yan canceled Flame-Splitting, Wave-Devouring Ruler, planted the Xuan Heavy Ruler into the ground, and wiped sweat from his brow: "Good, good—this idiot didn't push it. I couldn't have done a second one."

Xun Er covered her mouth, giggling softly, gazing helplessly at Xiao Yan's performance. She knew perfectly well his true strength—another Earth-Rank Dou Technique? He could do ten.

Xiao Yan feigned weakness just to squeeze out extra benefits—like now: if he'd told Ruolin his true Cultivation Realm as a Two-Star Dou Ling, he might not have needed to enter the Selection Exam at all.

Then how could he have secured all five top spots for his clan?

One prize from the Library Pavilion? Not enough—he wanted them all!

The Vice Dean shook his head and escorted the stunned, humiliated Bai Shan off the arena.

"You five finish the rest—I won't interfere, nor will Xun Er. Get knocked off, and your training doubles when you return," Xiao Yan sat on the ground, ignoring the remaining twenty-odd students.

With Bai Shan, Wu Hao, and Hu Jia gone, Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu—both Four-Star Great Dou Shi—were now the strongest, and their Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques were far from inferior; they didn't slaughter everyone, but they had no rivals.

"Yes, Young Clan Leader!"

Xiao Ning had lived up to the Qi-Condensing Powder Xiao Yan had once awarded him—he'd trained relentlessly for years and now possessed formidable combat strength.

Xiao Yu, possessing a Flying Dou Technique, dominated the skies; with her Thunder Bat Wings deployed, no one could even reach her.

Watching the number of combatants dwindle, Xun Er didn't move, sitting beside Xiao Yan; the two simply chatted on the arena's edge, treating the other students like nonentities.

Xiao Yan looked at the girl beside him and said: "You're mine—no matter how powerful your behinding Faction is, I will never let you go!"

His grip on her delicate hand tightened slightly, and Xiao Yan spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear, his tone calm yet unmistakably marked by a domineering, iron-willed resolve.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xun Er first froze, then her snow-white, exquisite cheeks flushed crimson like blood-drenched clouds—she never expected Xiao Yan would say something so like a lifelong vow at this moment.

Under this sudden declaration, even Xun Er's usual composure could not hold; her face turned as red as an apple, her heart rippling with uncontainable emotion.

"Mm." Xun Er, cheeks flushed with shame, nodded softly, whispering.

The senior officials, watching Xiao Yan's group all but secure victory, were utterly overwhelmed.

"What do we do? This doesn't seem to follow the rules."

"What do you mean, what do we do? The rules clearly allow alliances."

"But… this isn't at all what we expected."

Several Elders were headachy—throughout the entire competition, Xiao Yan stood out in just two words: ruthless slaughter!

A Two-Star Dou Spirit wielding a Ground-Rank Dou Technique, competing against a group of mid-level Great Dou Masters and even Dou Masters, all in their early twenties—that was merciless domination; he alone controlled the entire match.

Reviewing the entire competition—including past strength tests, selection matches, and overall ability—the top five should have been Xiao Yan, Xun Er, Wu Hao, Hu Jia, and Bai Shan.

Although Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning's strength differed by only one star, their Dou Techniques were still insufficiently refined; their talent paled far behind Wu Hao's trio.

But they couldn't resist having a terrifyingly powerful Young Clan Leader who instantly obliterated the three toughest opponents at the start, clearing a smooth, wide road for them.

Xiao Yan also sensed Wu Hao's trio's strength and knew Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu couldn't defeat them; after calculating, he realized they wouldn't make the top five, so he targeted them from the very beginning.

This forced the Elders and Vice Dean to admit they'd misjudged him—completely misjudged him!

When only the seven members of the Xiao Clan remained on the arena, Xiao Yan took Xun Er's hand, walked to the center, and performed a formal bow of gratitude, slowly bending low.

"Thank you all for watching. Today's performance is over—everyone, go home."

Xiao Yan and Xun Er performed like the male and female leads of a stage play, putting on a brilliant show for every spectator. The other top fifty were mere cannon fodder; Wu Hao, Hu Jia, and Bai Shan were cast as villains defeated by the protagonist.

"Heh, this Xiao Yan is indeed powerful—he's far more than just a simple Alchemist." Beside him, Fire Elder stared at the black-robed youth on the arena, ignoring the Vice Dean's helpless expression, nodding slowly, his rigid face showing for the first time a grim, awkward smile.

"Vice Dean, does this… count as Xiao Yan breaking the rules?" On the judging platform, a middle-aged referee wore a pained smile as he cautiously asked the officials on the podium. Had Hu Jia not been there, he wouldn't have hesitated—but unfortunately, that little enchantress was among them, and she'd been utterly crushed, with no chance to fight back, losing her top-five qualification entirely.

In all his years at Jia Nan Academy, he'd never before seen someone his own age dominate Hu Jia like this.

"This competition was never meant to be absolutely fair, so Xiao Yan didn't technically break the rules—his strength is clear to all of us," the Vice Dean waved his hand, sighing.

Crackling applause erupted across the arena as countless Outer Court students were awed by Xiao Yan's strength.

"This isn't over! Today's humiliation—I, Bai Shan, will make you pay back a hundredfold! Xiao Yan, wait and see—I'll make you kneel at my feet!" Bai Shan, watching Xiao Yan, the center of everyone's admiration, holding his heart's goddess, clenched his fists, a venomous glint flashing in his lowered eyes.

Physical pain was nothing compared to the psychological blow—this was what Bai Shan could least endure.

For the past two years, he'd been lifted to the pinnacle of Outer Court fame by countless praises; today, Xiao Yan shattered him completely. From now on, when people in Jia Nan Academy mentioned Bai Shan, they would no longer look up to him with awe and reverence.

For above his head would forever stand one person—the one truly worthy of awe and reverence—and for Bai Shan, whose pride ran deep, this was more unbearable than death.

Once a genius ascends the Celestial Altar of admiration, the fall brings crushing disparity; many cannot bear it and sink into despair or psychological distortion.

Xiao Yan, with his keen Soul Force, naturally sensed Bai Shan's venomous gaze—but he merely gave a cold smile.

Though the match had ended, Xiao Yan's overwhelming strength forced the Academy's senior officials to urgently convene another meeting, even summoning Xiao Yan to their office to consult with him.

"Increase the number of entries to the Cang Jing Ge by three and make the remaining forty-five compete again? Sure—yesterday's match ended with seven left, and Xun Er and I were the first to step down, so we're sixth and seventh. We have no objections," Xiao Yan grinned at the senior officials in the meeting room.

"You… you…" one Elder was speechless—their goal was to ensure Wu Hao, Hu Jia, and Bai Shan, the three truly worthy of top-five placement, received the Cang Jing Ge reward.

After all, the Academy isn't a Sect or Faction—it exists to cultivate students; Wu Hao and his trio truly deserved the Academy's resources.

Yet Xiao Yan, like a miser, wanted two more slots.

You're too greedy!

"What's your opinion, Xiao Yan?" Vice Dean Hu Qian said coolly.

Xiao Yan met Hu Qian's gaze—he knew this suggestion came from the old man's grief over his granddaughter.

"Since the Academy is willing to offer three slots, why not add two more? Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu's strength is no weaker than Bai Shan's trio. What do you think, Vice Dean?" Xiao Yan said.

All senior officials in the room began murmuring—clearly, Xiao Yan intended to fiercely protect his own Xiao Clan's three weaker members.

"Though those three aren't as strong as Bai Shan's group, Xiao Meng and Xiao Yueliang reached Seven Star Dou Master after only one year in the Outer Court, and Xiao Mei, though she joined two years ago, has reached Nine Star Dou Master—none of them are weak. Next year, they could easily make the top five anyway."

"True. These three have high potential—I believe they fit the Dean's original principle: 'Cultivating students is our duty.'"

Had Xiao Yan not felt his time at Jia Nan Academy would be short, he'd have let Xiao Mei's trio wait until next year to enter the Inner Court.

He believed joining the Inner Court with him would boost their strength faster, so he pushed them to pass the selection now.

In the end, the Academy agreed to Xiao Yan's proposal—in their eyes, the most worthy of cultivation was Xiao Yan himself.

One day later, the Academy's temporary increase in Library Pavilion entries spread throughout the entire Academy—even the Inner Court heard the news.

Everyone guessed it was because of Xiao Yan, and thus his name reached even the Inner Court.

The final playoff brought no surprises: the top five were Wu Hao, Hu Jia, Xiao Mei, Xiao Ning, and Bai Shan.

The annual grandest competition finally faded amid murmurs.

At this moment, in the heart of the Northwest Region, within the Tian She Empire's greatest Sect—the Tian She Mansion.

"Xiao Yan of the Yan Alliance? Hmph, who cares who he is? Daring to steal from the Tian She Mansion—he's clearly grown tired of life!"

(End of Chapter)