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  Seeing that they were still discussing among themselves, Xiao Yan directly said, "How about this. If you lose, you give me ten thousand Fire Energy."

  "Ten thousand?!"

  Ten thousand Fire Energy was an astronomical figure within the Inner Academy. With the "gold-dev beast" that was the Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower, most people couldn't save up much Fire Energy at all.

  Take the ret Fire Energy Hunting petition for example. The top fifty from the previous year had been in the Inner Academy for a whole year, yet their Fire Crystal Cards only held a pitiful ten or twenty days' worth of Fire Energy. Only Luo Hou and Bai Feng, the two Dou Spirits, had fire energy amounts exceeding three digits.

  Even if all the members of their dozen or so fas pooled their resources, gatherihousand Fire Energy would be a daunting task.

  "What's wrong? If you don't have the means, don't try to imitate others by initiating fa wars and makis," Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke.

  "Big Brother Fu, don't agree to his terms. That guy has some trump cards, and I always feel his strength isn't just what it appears to be. I'm afraid even Cousin Bai g might not be able to defeat him. If things go south, our White Gang could be in big trouble without Fire Energy, and g Fire Energy will affect this year's Strong Ranking Grand petition," Bai Shan hurriedly pulled Fu Ao aside. He was truly terrified of this freak, Xiao Yan.

  Fu Ao exged gnces with members of other fas, then coldly snorted, "Hmph, why should we bet with you? All of us together outnumber you freshmen; you definitely won't be able to withstand us!"

  Fu Ao was clever; he knew Xiao Yan wasn't easy to deal with. He pet the weaker freshmen, f them to leave the Xiao Hall and isote Xiao Yan.

  Xiao Yan smiled faintly, and a hint of madness and ferocity flickered in his eyes as he ughed, "Is that so? Then I, Xiao Yan, will do nothing else but wait for the Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower to open each day and follow you all. Whichever cultivation rooms you enter, I'll bst them one by one."

  "I'm still a freshman with five years ahead of me, but some of you will be graduating this year, won't you?"

  Even Fu Ao frowned deeply when he heard Xiao Yan's mutually destructive approach. If they couldn't get rid of Xiao Yan, they wouldn't have an easy time either.

  Just as both sides were at an impasse, a voice suddenly came from behind.

  "peting with him? Our Splitting Mountain is very ied as well."

  Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed; from the voice, he k was Yao Sheng, with whom he'd just had a flict.

  There were several other members of the Splitting Mountain besides Yao Sheng. They all followed behind a young woman, seemingly taking her as their leader.

  The young dy at the forefront wore a snow fox fur dress. Her appearance was quite beautiful. An oval face, cherry-like lips, willow-leaf eyebrows as if drawn, and bright, limpid eyes. All these features bio give people a pleasihetic experieno wonder she was so adored.

  "It's Lei Na! And Yao Sheng! They're the sed and third-in-and of the Splitting Mountain!"

  "And in the middle—isn't that Miss Liu Fei? Could it be that even Liu Qing, rahird orong Ranking, is going to take a?!"

  Seeing the effeminate Yao Sheng, the t Lei Na, and the sweetly smiling Liu Fei, Fu Ao acted as if he had seen his master. He quickly stepped forward respectfully, "Brother Lei Na, Brother Yao Sheng, and Miss Liu Fei, long time no see. How has Brother Liu Qiely?"

  A gentle, sweet smile graced Liu Fei's face as she softly replied, "Cousin Liu Qing is doing well. He's currently cultivating for this year's Strong Ranking Grand petition and doesn't have time to e out."

  Fu Ao was momentarily stunned before exg in surprise, "There's still over half a year until the Strong Ranking Grand petition, and Brother Liu Qing is already preparing!"

  Yao Sheng approached Xiao Yan with a cold smile and said, "I told you, I, Yao Sheng, won't let you off easy."

  "Oh? Your nose has healed, and now you're aiming for your mouth this time?" Xiao Yan lightly flicked his sleeves and said indifferently.

  Yao Sheng's fastantly darkened. Pointing at Xiao Yan, he said with a furious ugh, "Good! You really have some skills. My hands have been itg for days. Let's see if you still be so mouthy without the advantage of terrain."

  As Yao Sheng's words fell, a formidable aura of a 7-star Dou Spirit burst forth from his body. The intense oppressive force made some of the nearby students involuntarily take several steps back.

  "What a powerful aura!"

  "Yao Sheng has actually reached the 7-star Dou Spirit stage! No wonder he's ranked seveh orong Ranking!"

  Just then, a delicate hand as soft as boneless jade gently grasped Xiao Yan's tightly ched fist. He turo look at Xun Er beside him, who nodded slightly.

  Xiao Yan smiled faintly. The two had long since developed a tacit uanding. He then looked at Yao Sheng and said, "I, Xiao Yan, on behalf of the Xiao Hall, formally decre war on you bunch of nobodies. Seven days from now, at the Inner Academy's Fighting Arena. Bring as many people as you like; I'll take you all on!"

  ...

  Meanwhile, in a spacious and brightly lit grand hall, over a dozen elderly figures sat scattered around. Uhe soft glow of the mps, one could clearly see the special badges on their chests, badges that only elders had the right to wear.

  Though the hall was rge, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy. After a long silence, an elder with graying hair seated at the head lightly coughed, breaking the quiet. His aged voice slowly echoed in the hall: "I believe all of you have noticed that the Falle Fme has begun to show signs of instability i days."

  The other elders all frowned deeply. From their expressions, it was evident that the Falle Fme had gradually bee a major .

  "From our observations over this period, I've found that the fluctuatioed by the Falle Fme have beuch more intehan before. Moreover, judging from the emotions it exudes, it's being increasingly irritable. The seal id down by the Headmaster is taking longer and loo suppress it," the aged voice tinued. "At this rate, I fear that within a year, it will unch a major backsh. If not handled properly, it could bee aremely troublesome matter, possibly even causing a catastrophic disaster for the Inner Academy."

  "Should we join forces to reinforce the defenses again? If that doesn't work, perhaps we should notify the Headmaster. If the Falle Fme truly erupts and breaks through the seal, I'm afraid those desperadoes in the Bck-er Region will charge in with bloodshot eyes to seize it. Although our Inner Academy is located deep in the mountains, it's not far from the northern Bck-er Region. That 'Medie Emperor' is always sc for news of Heavenly Fmes," an elder pondered aloud.

  "Reinf the defenses is certainly necessary, but back then, the Headmaster mentioned returning to his , and it's beeen years since he left without any news. No one knows where he is now," First Elder Su Qian slowly shook his head. If the Headmaster were still here, the Falle Fme would naturally not be a cause for .

  After a moment of silence, Su Qian suddenly raised his head and cast his gaze toward an elder in the er. "Elder Liu, was the ret disturbance of the Falle Fme reted to the Heavenly Fme possessed by Xiao Yan?"

  Elder Liu, who had o Xiao Yan, quickly stood up and respectfully replied, "It should be. We firm that there is some e between Heavenly Fmes. The appearance of the Falle Fme back then robably just to sense Xiao Yaence before quickly returning."

  Su Qian nodded slowly and said, "Not long ago, Xiao Yan cultivated on the sixth floor for a day and a half. Not only was he unafraid of the fire poison, but he could even absorb the violent Heavenly Fme energy surrounding the Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower."

  ! ! ! !

  The elders present all showed astonishment. The energy withiower tairemely fierce fire poison. Fet abs it; even staying inside for too long would result in the fire poison invading one's body.

  Yet Xiao Yan, a mere Dou Spirit, could actually absorb it without restraint!

  How truly terrifying!

  Su Qian's aged voice turned somewhat somber. "Sigh, I really didn't expect it. The Falle Fme allowed our Inner Academy to rise, and now, a little fellow not evey years old also possesses such a miraculous treasure alo truly makes one envious."

  "Fellow elders, if you enter this young man, please aodate him as much as possible. Perhaps, when the Falle Fme erupts iure, we might have to rely on his strength. We must not uimate the power of a Heavenly Fme. Such rare treasures born from the essence of the world possess destructive capabilities. If we're not careful, the Inner Academy might face the camity of destru," First Elder Su Qian sighed and shook his head.

  "Uood!" The dozen or so elders, highly revered by the Inner Academy students, all stood up at this moment and respectfully responded.

  The bck-robed First Elder slowly stood up after everyone had left the hall. As he straightened, his body became more and more illusory. By the time he fully rose from his seat, his figure had already mysteriously vanished from the hall.

  They still didn't know that this fellow Xiao Yan to no good, secretly hoping for the Falle Fme to erupt sooner.

  …

  Not long after, news of the uping fa war between Xiao Yan's Xiao Hall and the alliance of over a dozen senior student fas spread throughout the Inner Academy.

  Moreover, Xiao Yan generously covered all the Fire Energy costs for the Xiao Hall's freshmen to ehe Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower during these seven days, allowing them to rapidly enhaheir strength.

  The entire Xiao Hall formed groups to ehe Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower to improve their cultivation. Only Xiao Yan, having just advanced by oar, didn't pn to ehe tower. Instead, he began cultivating his Dou Teiques.

  "Ahhhh!!!"

  "Meow meow meow!!!"

  "What the hell, is this really possible to cultivate?!" Xiao Yan shouted until his throat was nearly hoarse, his voice tinged with raspiness. Fet sounding like a dragon's roar; it was more like a ghost's wail.

  Xiao Yan sat on the ground, panting heavily. He picked up a kettle chilled with Ice Spirit Cold Fountain from the ground and gulped it down. Instantly, a refreshing chill soothed his throat, which felt as if it were on fire.

  He had left the Inner Academy and had been cultivating his Dou Teiques in the vast forest outside for seven days now. Yet he hadn't even seen a shadow of the 'A Dragon Roar' reag the entry-level stage.

  Had he not been smart enough to prepare some throat-proteg medial liquids himself, he might have lost his voice before mastering the 'A Dragon Roar.'

  Xiao Yan picked up the scroll, his mind sinking as his Spiritual Strength delved into its tents.

  The 'A Dragon Roar' scroll not only recorded the Dou Qi circution paths and the methods to fuse dragon aura with Dou Qi but also included a vivid spiritual memory se.

  In that memory, an enormous dragon coiled atop mountain ranges. Uhe sunlight, its scales shimmered with strands of purple-golden light. A pair on wings blotted out the sky, and its body stretched like mountain ranges, with half of it hidden in the void. Only the boundless void could aodate such a massive creature.

  The A Void Dragon seemed to have been provoked by something. Suddenly, its dragon eyes snapped open, and it let out ah-shattering, soul-stirring roar into the distance.