Chapter 229: Xiao the Great Demon

Today my head feels dizzy; I'm not sure if it's because the season is changing and it's getting cooler, maybe I caught a cold—my typing wasn't smooth, so the update is late.

At this moment, everyone present turned to stone: Xiao Yan's ghostlike speed instantly defeated one of last year's Outer Court top fifty!

You should know that they had all cultivated in the Inner Court for a full year, and every one of them had experienced the acceleration from the Falling Heart Flame within the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower. The weakest among them was already above a Great Dou Shi, and some were even on par with Bai Shan and Wu Hao.

【3】 They had all trained in the Inner Court for a year, everyone having experienced the accelerated cultivation of the Falling Heart Flame within the Tian Fen Lian Qi Ta; even the weakest among them had reached at least Essence Refining, and some matched Bai Shan and Wu Hao in strength.

Turning the tables—this was absolutely impossible before!

Such an absurd scene left the two Inner Court Elders unable to believe their eyes; they stared, dumbfounded, exchanging glances.

Xun Er covered her mouth and laughed softly; she wasn't the least surprised by Xiao Yan's actions, for not long ago they had done exactly this kind of "bad thing" together.

Xun Er walked with graceful steps to Xiao Yan's side; though she said nothing, her presence alone showed her support for him.

Seeing Xun Er walk beside Xiao Yan, the two Inner Court Elders finally snapped out of their shock, their beards bristling with rage: "You brat, you're too arrogant! I'm an Elder—do you plan to rob me?"

Never before has such a thing happened! This is rebellion! The Outer Court students are rising up!

Never before has anyone been this audacious! All Elders were once Inner Court students; once a student reached Dou Wang level, the Jia Nan Academy had nothing more to teach them—they either left to seek fame and fortune beyond its walls, or stayed on to become an Elder.

Just like the two guardians of the Library Pavilion, who after serving students for a certain time earned the right to enter and choose Cultivation Methods or Dou Techniques, Elders and Outer Court Mentors received Fire Energy.

Xiao Yan slung the Xuan Heavy Ruler over his shoulder, sneered, glanced at Bai Shan, and said: "Sigh, Elder, you've got to understand the students—this Bai Shan's no good. I thought he'd bring some Inner Court students at Dou Ling level, so I could grab more Fire Energy—but this is all you got?"

Xiao Yan was puzzled—he had deliberately provoked Bai Shan hoping he'd summon some stronger Inner Court students to join this Fire Energy scramble.

These twenty-odd students before him were mostly low-ranked from last year's top fifty; Xiao Yan didn't even need to ask—he knew these guys were bottom-feeders in the Inner Court, probably barely enough Fire Energy for themselves.

Even if he wanted to rob them, he'd get next to nothing.

He'd hoped Bai Shan would bring him some big fish.

But what frustrated Xiao Yan was that not a single Dou Ling was here—and the strongest among them was only Seven-Star Essence Refining. How much did they despise his Two-Star Dou Ling status?

These senior students were insane to dare show up for this!

So Xiao Yan had no choice—he turned his attention to the two Elders. They must have plenty of Fire Energy.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Bai Shan froze—he suddenly realized he'd been tricked by Xiao Yan!

"Xiao Yan! Don't get too cocky! My cousin is captain of the Black Ash Squad! They guard the exit—these last year's seniors aren't even in the same league as the Black Ash Squad!" Bai Shan sneered, utterly unafraid of Xiao Yan stealing his Fire Energy.

Whatever Xiao Yan steals now, my cousin Bai Feng will settle the score for me at the exit!

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, a smile forming—he thought: "Finally, a real fish to catch."

As an Alchemist himself, gathering Inner Court intel was absurdly easy—one Elixir was enough to extract all the information from an Inner Court student.

Besides these twenty-odd students—who were last year's top fifty and eligible to seize the New Students' Fire Energy—there were ten others known as the Black and White Ash Squads, stationed at the forest's exit specifically to punish rebellious students, especially the top five.

Xiao Ning, the obedient good kid, crouched on the ground and thoroughly looted the Inner Court student Xiao Yan had defeated, pulling a blue Fire Energy Card from his pocket.

"Young Clan Leader, here you go."

Xiao Yan took the blue crystal Fire Energy Card from Xiao Ning; the number 27 glowed on it, and his face twisted in disgust.

"Only 27? After a whole year in the Inner Court? How embarrassing." Xiao Yan sighed, holding the black and blue cards together, then crushed them hard—light flashed, and the black Fire Energy Card's number jumped from five to twenty-three, while the pale blue card shrank to nine.

"Only two-thirds? Sigh." Xiao Yan shook his head, knowing Fire Energy was the Inner Court's hard currency—for entering the Tian Fen Lian Qi Ta or trading with students alike.

So Xiao Yan had already planned this robbery well in advance.

Seeing Xiao Yan actually steal the seniors' Fire Energy, the remaining twenty-odd seniors lost their composure.

How come this year's Outer Court New Student is such a monster?! Dou Ling?! Are you kidding me?!

Clearly, Xiao Yan's reputation still wasn't loud enough. Outer Court students wanted Inner Court news, but those Inner Court students who considered themselves superior would never bother with Outer Court gossip.

Xiao Yan licked his lips and smiled: "Alright, you can either hand over your Fire Energy Cards peacefully, or run."

Vice Dean Hu Qian watched this scene, his eyelids twitching violently; though New Student top five had banded together to resist before, he'd never seen anyone start by single-handedly launching a robbery like Xiao Yan.

"Too arrogant," sneered a tall Inner Court student. "I've seen plenty like you—but none of them ever amounted to anything in the Inner Court."

His stance suggested he was the leader of the senior group; his skin had an eerie gray-white hue, like stone, and his arms—nearly twice the size of a normal man's—radiated overwhelming physical power. Clearly, this youth was a brute with exceptional bodily strength.

Last year, he'd seen his own top five band together to resist—only to be crushed by the seniors without a fight.

"Don't think reaching Dou Ling means you can walk all over the Inner Court. Even Two-Star Dou Lings here can't crack the Strong List."

A nearby youth, always smiling, shrugged at Xiao Yan: "I admit you're strong—but we don't intend to fight fairly."

"Leng Bai, Xiu Yan—attack together! This kid's a Two-Star Dou Ling—don't underestimate him!"

"Got it!"

Xiao Yan sighed—he found this world strange. Why did every so-called genius think that once they'd beaten someone above their level, they could keep doing it forever?

Xiao Yan didn't deny these guys could defeat weak, elderly, sickly, or pill-enhanced Dou Lings with shaky Qi and no powerful Dou Techniques or Cultivation Methods—but did he look like one of them?

"Xun Er, hold off anyone trying to run." Xiao Yan gripped the Xuan Heavy Ruler; terrifying Dou Qi erupted from him.

!!!!!!!!

The seniors' faces turned ashen; their pupils shrank—they felt an indescribable pressure descend, as if a demon had clamped its hands around their throats, rendering them speechless.

Even the two Dou Wang Elders' expressions changed.

"This kid!"

Xiao Yan gripped the Xuan Heavy Ruler in one hand, his voice rumbling from deep in his throat: "I was going to play hide-and-seek—but I've changed my mind. I'll just take your Fire Energy Cards from your corpses."

"Flame Splitting Wave-Swallowing Ruler!"

Xiao Yan wasted no more words—he swung the Xuan Heavy Ruler directly at the twenty-odd Inner Court seniors.

He wanted them to understand: not all Dou Lings are like the ones they'd fought before—some things simply cannot be compared.

"Earth-Rank Dou Technique!!"

The two Elders turned pale, gasping in shock—this kid had cultivated an Earth-Rank Dou Technique!!

The Xuan Heavy Ruler emitted a crimson glow; as Xiao Yan swept it horizontally, a crescent-shaped red blade of energy slashed toward the twenty-odd Inner Court seniors, all at Essence Refining level.

"Defend!!"

"Watch out!"

The twenty-plus Inner Court seniors had some combat experience; sensing Xiao Yan was about to unleash his ultimate technique, they raised wave after wave of Defensive Dou Techniques.

But just as during the initial selection trials, Xiao Yan's cultivation realm already suppressed them, and with the Earth-Rank High-Level Dou Technique, Flame Division Devouring Wave Ruler, those merely Profound-Class Defensive Dou Techniques were as fragile as paper before the ruler's flame blades.

Walls of earth and barriers of water offered not the slightest resistance before the Flame Division Devouring Wave Ruler.

"How could he be this strong!"

The young man named Ling Bai stared, frozen, at his own Arcane-Rank High-Level Defensive Dou Technique, which had only held back Xiao Yan's attack for a moment—he had forgotten how to run.

He had fought not only with Dou Spirit Elders from the Black Horn Region's factions, but also with several star students of the Inner Court who had reached Two-Star Dou Spirit—none could match Xiao Yan.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!!! Flame Explosion—the fiery tongues of the Flame Division Devouring Wave Ruler reduced all surrounding trees to ash.

As the flames receded, Xiao Yan helplessly shrugged his shoulders—this was why he hadn't gone all out against Bai Shan. The flames faded, and two figures stood before all the Inner Court students.

The two Elders were now too stunned to speak.

These new students entering the Inner Court might never have seen an Earth-Rank Dou Technique, but as Dou Kings, how could they not have?

A nineteen-year-old Outer Court student reaching Dou Spirit was already absurd—but now this student had mastered an Earth-Rank Dou Technique!!

"Damn it, is this kid seriously trying to rob us both?!" Elder Su transmitted a message to Elder Qing. He had initially thought Xiao Yan was joking—after all, a Two-Star Dou Spirit robbing two Dou Kings? That was suicide.

And Xiao Yan was so young.

But now, looking at him—damn, he was serious!

Both Elders were drenched in sweat. With the current power of Xiao Yan's Earth-Rank Dou Technique, he could threaten them—but defeating two Dou Kings was impossible.

But they couldn't be sure if Xiao Yan still had hidden cards—if they were actually robbed, they'd be nailed to the shame pillar!

Elder Su and Elder Qing exchanged a fleeting, strange glance.

Elder Su cleared his throat and said, "Cough, cough—you've lost. Hand over your Fire Energy cards to Xiao Yan."

!!!!!!!?

"Elder Su, we haven't lost yet!"

Suddenly, a voice filled with resentment rang out—the crowd turned to see Xiu Yan, who had been terrified into sitting on the ground by Xiao Yan's Flame Division Devouring Wave Ruler; his face was now flushed crimson.

"That's right—we haven't lost! We can still fight!"

"We've already blocked much of the power of that Dou Technique with our combined strength—we won't be harmed!"

Hearing Xiu Yan speak, the other Inner Court veteran students chimed in unison.

If they, nearly thirty of them, came to the Fire Energy contest, failed to seize any Fire Energy, and were robbed instead—it would be laughed to death back home.

"Shut up, all of you!" Elder Su's face darkened as he coldly barked.

Seeing Elder Su furious, everyone quickly and wisely clamped their mouths shut, daring not to speak again.

"If I hadn't intervened earlier, would you even be standing here alive?" Elder Su turned to the veteran student, his face full of fury.

Elder Qing added coolly, "Elder Su is right. Hand over your Fire Energy cards. You lost—what's the point of making excuses? If you're unconvinced, after the New Student Period ends in a month, you can challenge Xiao Yan."

The two Elders had already decided: no matter what, they'd flatter Xiao Yan first!

They were genuinely terrified of this mysterious, unpredictable boy.

Xiao Yan retracted the Black Weight Ruler into his storage ring, stood with his hands behind his back, his expression proud. He gave Xiao Ning a glance.

Receiving Xiao Yan's signal, Xiao Ning strode forward with a swagger that ignored all kinship—like a spoiled Young Master's lackey—boldly collecting the Fire Energy cards from the furious Inner Court veteran students.

Adding the veteran student Xiao Yan had kicked down at the start, exactly thirty people—thirty Fire Energy cards transferred all their Fire Energy to Xiao Yan's card, which instantly surged into four digits!

It reached a staggering 1250!

Seeing the number on Xiao Yan's Fire Energy card, Vice Dean Hu Qian, who had not yet left, was startled. To acquire so much Fire Energy on the first day of school? This was unprecedented in Inner Court history!

Even the strongest students on the Inner Court's ranking list found it difficult to earn over a thousand Fire Energy.

"Only a thousand? You're really useless." Xiao Yan sneered—thirty people had only yielded a thousand-plus Fire Energy. Embarrassing.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the veteran students were so enraged they nearly launched themselves at him in a suicide attack.

He robbed them and then mocked them for being poor?!

Xiao Yan slowly turned toward the new students watching the spectacle and said coolly, "Enough of the show. Time to pay up."

!?!

All the new students froze—do you plan to rob us too??

"Xiao Yan, we're all new students."

"Yeah, we should unite!"

Xiao Yan crossed his arms and said coolly, "You didn't side with me just now—how do I know you're not fence-sitters?"

"Enough talk. Hand over your Fire Energy. Don't force me to act—even if my Dou Qi is low, dealing with you is nothing."

Thirty veteran students couldn't beat Xiao Yan—these forty-three new students stood no chance, especially with Xun Er and the others behind him.

Xiao Yan dared to be so arrogant because he was certain he could rob everyone present.

"Cough, cough, Xiao Yan—in the Inner Court, many things can't be done alone. I suggest you form a Faction, recruit some powerful people," Vice Dean Hu Qian said coolly.

The implication was clear: give this old man some face—leave my granddaughter Hu Jia alone.

Xiao Yan glanced at Vice Dean Hu Qian, thought for a moment, then said, "Alright. Hu Jia and Wu Hao's cards are spared—you two owe me a favor."

These two were royalty—Wu Hao was from the Enforcement Team, and Hu Jia's grandfather was Vice Dean.

Hu Jia and Wu Hao exchanged a glance, silent, bitter smiles. They hadn't even entered the Inner Court yet, and Xiao Yan the Demon had already alienated every veteran and new student.

And if their guess was right, Xiao Yan's next target was the Black and White Twin Killers team—those two were the real prize; Xiao Yan had likely been eyeing them for a long time.

In the end, forty-one new students each received only three Fire Energy points—totaling a pitiful 123.

Xiao Yan looked at his Fire Energy card: 1373. He knew this wasn't much—he still had his clan to support. If he didn't seize as much Fire Energy now, how could he ever restore the Xiao Clan's glory in the Inner Court?

Seeing Xiao Yan's gaze, Elder Su forced calm into his voice: "Xiao Yan, don't waste time. If you break through the Black and White Twin Killers team and reach the exit, there will be an extra reward."

Hearing that these two Elders were the ones handing out rewards, Xiao Yan instantly switched expressions, grinning broadly: "Elders, rest assured—I won't let you down."

"Hey, Bai Shan, you've got the map, right? Lead the way. Hope your cousin Bai Feng has plenty of Fire Energy—don't disappoint me."

Bai Shan, seeing Xiao Yan's smiling gaze, swallowed hard—he finally felt regret. If his cousin Bai Feng couldn't defeat Xiao Yan, his life in the Inner Court would become unbearable.

"It's fine, it won't happen—my cousin has been in the Inner Court for years, and he's a Four-Star Spirit Cultivator; he can't possibly lose to Xiao Yan. My cousin will definitely win!" Bai Shan now placed all his hopes on his cousin.

At this moment, deep within the forest, ten veteran students of the Inner Court dressed in black and white sat on tree branches, chatting idly.

"Bai Feng, why aren't you cultivating in the Tian Fen Lian Qi Ta? Why did you come here to lead the Black and White Killers? This mission doesn't pay much Fire Energy." A pale-faced youth turned to look at a young man nearby, dressed in black, whose face bore a resemblance to Bai Feng.

He had just entered Spirit Cultivator rank and needed some Fire Energy, but Bai Feng had already reached Four-Star Spirit Cultivator and was striving to enter the Strong List.

How could he have time to take on such minor missions?

Bai Feng slowly opened his eyes, looked at Luo Hou, captain of the White Killers team, and said slowly: "Luo Hou, don't let your guard down—this year's New Students are unusually strong. I heard one is a Two-Star Spirit Cultivator."

"Two-Star Spirit Cultivator?!!!"

Not just Luo Hou—even the others in the White Killers team turned pale instantly. A Two-Star Spirit Cultivator among the New Students??

He had spent all these years in the Inner Court, relying on the Tian Fen Lian Qi Ta's acceleration, and had only just reached Spirit Cultivator rank!

"So you came here specifically because you knew? To protect the veterans' dignity?" Luo Hou's expression turned grave. Though he could defeat a Two-Star Spirit Cultivator, having Bai Feng here would make it far more secure.

"Hmph, dignity? What dignity? That guy insulted my cousin—that's all."

(End of Chapter)