Chapter 36

A strange, violent surge of energy suddenly rippled across the square.

The first to sense this heat wave was Xun Er, followed immediately by Ruolin the Mentor on the judging stand—both their expressions changed sharply.

Their gazes snapped toward the same spot at once, finally settling on the black-robed youth standing tall in the center, heavy ruler in hand—the source of that violent energy surge was right there!

"This guy… how many hidden cards does he have?!"

Xiao Yan drew in a breath of slightly scorching air, then slowly stepped forward under the stares of all, raising his Mystic Heavy Ruler above his head—veins bulged along his arms like writhing little snakes.

"Ha!"

With a loud shout, Xiao Yan unleashed a two-meter-tall pale red ruler-light.

"Water Mirror of Dissipation!"

A slender figure leapt into the arena; as Ruolin the Mentor softly commanded, a vast expanse of pale blue fighting qi erupted from her palm, forming an elliptical blue water mirror that shielded Lü Xing, who stood frozen in terror behind her.

The water mirror was over a meter thick—more like a wall of water than a mirror, guarding the two of them.

Boom! Ssssszzzz!! The ruler-light of Flame-Splitting Wave-Cutter slammed into the water mirror; the intense heat instantly vaporized the water, filling the entire square with thick white mist.

The mist obscured all view of the arena.

"What just happened?"

"That's an incredibly strong fire-type Dou Technique—must be at least Mystic Rank Low-Level."

"I think it's Mystic Rank Mid-Level."

"He's amazing! So young, and he's already cultivated a Mystic Rank Dou Technique to this level!"

Some sharp-eyed students had already noticed: Ruolin the Mentor had just intervened—meaning Xiao Yan had won.

Soon after, whoosh! Ruolin the Mentor sharply waved her hand, dispersing the surrounding white mist and revealing the scene inside.

Lü Xing, protected by Ruolin the Mentor, was unharmed—but Xiao Yan's face was deathly pale, his body trembling as he gasped for breath, struggling to draw air.

Only after swallowing a Soul-Replenishing Pill did Xiao Yan finally catch his breath.

"I shouldn't use Flame-Splitting Wave-Cutter until I'm a Da Dou Shi—it drained every last bit of my fighting qi." The cost of a Earth-Rank Dou Technique was terrifying—Xiao Yan's entire fighting qi had been emptied.

Even after draining all his fighting qi, the ruler-light he unleashed was only two meters tall—less than one-tenth the power of a true Earth-Rank Dou Technique.

"Brother Xiao Yan, are you alright?" Xun Er and Xiao Yu rushed onto the arena to check on Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan exhaled, waved his hand: "I'm fine—just overextended my fighting qi. I took a Soul-Replenishing Pill, I'll recover soon."

"Let me support you, Brother Xiao Yan." Xun Er slung Xiao Yan's arm over her shoulder—the intimate gesture stirred envy and resentment in the onlookers.

Xiao Yu snorted: "You push yourself this hard, you'll kill yourself one day."

"I have no choice—if I lose, we'll shame the Xiao Family," Xiao Yan chuckled bitterly, then turned to Ruolin the Mentor: "Mentor, does this count as a successful challenge?"

Ruolin the Mentor frowned at Xiao Yan. Though the ruler-light had looked weak, like a Mystic Rank Mid- or High-Level technique, only she knew—had she not been a Five Star Da Dou Shi, her Yellow-Class Advanced Dou Technique could never have blocked that strike.

Her right palm was burned! She was a Five Star Da Dou Shi!!

"Was that an illusion? Just now, I felt his technique drew upon the power of heaven and earth… Impossible. Only Earth-Rank or higher Dou Techniques can do that." Ruolin the Mentor was beginning to doubt reality.

Where would a boy from Wutan City get an Earth-Rank Dou Technique? In the entire Jia Ma Empire, only the Imperial Family and Yun Lan Sect possessed Earth-Rank techniques—and no Dou Zhe could possibly master one.

Ruolin the Mentor shook her head. Impossible. A sixteen-year-old boy had trained for how long? He wasn't born cultivating—how could he advance so fast?

Ruolin the Mentor stepped before Xiao Yan and gently unleashed water-type fighting qi to soothe his body: "Since you've met the academy's requirements, you may as well experience firsthand what our cultivation cheat is like."

"Thank you, Mentor."

"But let me warn you—if you think defeating a student from the Xuan Jie Class guarantees entry into the Inner Court, you're gravely mistaken. To secure a place, you must reach Nine Star Dou Shi. And I don't just want you to enter the Inner Court—I want you to rank among the top five in the Inner Court examination." Ruolin the Mentor's tone turned stern, shedding her usual gentleness.

"Top five? Why top five?" Xiao Yan frowned. Could top five mean entry into the Top Class?

Ruolin the Mentor smiled warmly at his confusion: "The top five in the Inner Court examination may choose one item from the Cang Jing Ge—it's the academy's scholarship. The Cang Jing Ge holds countless treasures, including Earth-Rank Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques—all the academy's accumulated collections since its founding are stored there."

!!!!!!!!

All the treasures the Jia Nan Academy has gathered since its founding—choose one!!!!!!!

That collection was even more terrifying than the Jia Ma Empire's imperial treasury!

"Push harder, little genius. Don't waste your talent. To guarantee a top-five finish, you must reach High Star Da Dou Shi at minimum."

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and nodded firmly. He'd originally wanted to enter the Inner Court as soon as possible—but now, securing a top-five rank before entering was clearly the best path.

"Either way, first confirm whether the Strange Fire is inside the Inner Court."

Time flew—three days passed in a flash. News of Xiao Yan defeating a Xuan Jie Class student spread like wildfire; rumors ran rampant.

Xiao Yan paid no attention to the chaos in the Outer Court—he focused only on cultivation and waiting for Ruolin the Mentor's message.

"Finally."

His powerful Spiritual Soul had sensed Ruolin the Mentor's arrival. Xiao Yan exited cultivation and hurried out of his dormitory.

Ruolin the Mentor gave him a disapproving look: "You're impatient."

Xiao Yan shrugged: "I'm eager to see Mentor Ruolin."

"Where's Xun Er? Aren't you two always inseparable?"

"Xun Er is in seclusion. Mentor isn't here to check on students' cultivation progress, is she?"

Ruolin the Mentor sighed: "Fine, fine, come on—we'll ride a Lion Griffin to the Inner Court. You must return to the Outer Court today—you're still not an Inner Court student."

The Inner Court and Outer Court were nearly identical in structure; the only difference was that Credits had been replaced by Fire Energy, and every student now competed for the same goal: entry into the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower.

Xiao Yan followed Ruolin the Mentor for over ten minutes until they reached a sunken terrain—within the depression, a colossal black tower lay deeply buried underground, its tip only barely protruding above the surface.

Buried underground?!

This bizarre sight deepened Xiao Yan's shock—he muttered to himself: "So this is the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower… I never imagined it was buried beneath the earth."

Ruolin the Mentor walked up to a plain-dressed old man and bowed respectfully: "Liu Elder, this is Xiao Yan. He received Outer Court approval three days ago to experience the wonders of the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower."

Liu Elder opened his eyes, glanced at Xiao Yan, and slowly nodded: "Boy, you're impressive. Coming early to experience it—clever. Good foresight."

Xiao Yan awkwardly rubbed his nose—he hadn't meant it that way at all.

"Go in boldly. I'll watch over you."

Xiao Yan bowed and thanked: "Thank you, Liu Elder."

When Xiao Yan stepped through the dark door, Mentor Ruolin smiled and asked: "Liu Elder, how long do you think this boy can last?"

Liu Elder stroked his beard and chuckled: "An Eight Star Dou Zhe entering the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower is asking for trouble—it won't last a minute."