Early Morning.
In front of Hu Gan's study, the spacious open area was already crowded with people. Small groups gathered, whispering in low voices. It wasn't just the students who had passed the selection; many others had come to watch or bid farewell, making the atmosphere rather lively.
Suddenly, the bustling noise quieted down slightly. Noticing the change in atmosphere, some students looked up in surprise, only to see that, at some unknown moment, a young man and two young women had appeared in the middle of the open space. Within a three-meter radius around them, it was as if an invisible barrier had been set—no one dared to approach.
"Xun'er, Xian'er, am I really that terrifying?" Xiao Bai asked, glancing at the small empty space around him and the countless gazes of reverence directed at him. He was speechless. He didn't recall ever doing anything tyrannical at Jia Nan Academy.
"Giggle." Xun'er covered her small mouth and chuckled. "Brother Xiao Bai, don't you know? You're quite famous in the Outer Academy now. I don't know how these rumors started, but they say you're incredibly powerful, ruthless, and—"
"And what?" Seeing Xun'er's flushed face, Xiao Bai grew even more curious.
"And that you are insatiable when it comes to women!" Xiao Yi Xian's eyes held a hint of shyness, her delicate face tinged with a faint red hue, as captivating as the morning glow.
"Nonsense! Which bastard is spreading such rumors about me?" Xiao Bai was furious. Insatiable when it comes to women? If only! Yet, his spear remained untouched, collecting dust—where did this ridiculous rumor even come from? Wasn't this just stabbing him in the heart?
"Well, It's probably because you live at Instructor Ruo Lin's place, and the ones coming and going are all stunning beauties. It's no surprise that people started gossiping." Xiao Yi Xian gently tugged at his hand and said softly.
"I see…" Xiao Bai nodded in realization. It seemed that, whether in this life or the last, school life was never without gossip.
"Wait, Xian'er, aren't you praising yourself with that?" Xiao Bai teased, looking playfully at Xiao Yi Xian.
"Am I not beautiful?" Xiao Yi Xian's gaze dimmed slightly, her voice carrying a hint of grievance.
"Of course, you are!" Xiao Bai hurriedly nodded in affirmation. He knew she was pretending, but seeing that delicate and sorrowful expression still tugged at his heart. "My Xian'er shines like the spring blossoms, her jade-like face is as delicate as a flower, as radiant as the autumn moon, her graceful charm beyond compare—mere words like 'beautiful' or 'stunning' cannot do her justice!"
Upon hearing this, the grievance on Xiao Yi Xian's pretty face instantly disappeared, replaced by a bright and delighted expression. Her clear eyes shimmered with a smile, intoxicating and charming.
Just as Xiao Bai breathed a sigh of relief, he suddenly felt a burning gaze on him, making his heart skip a beat.
"Of course, my dear Xun'er as well—elegant and dazzling, unmatched among all, poised and supreme, a true beauty of celestial grace!"
Xun'er's expression immediately softened, her rosy lips curving into a slight smile. Her bright eyes narrowed into a crescent shape as she playfully glanced at him, as if to say, That's more like it!
Only then did Xiao Bai wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, secretly relieved. That was close—if his brain had short-circuited just now and he had run out of words, he would have been in trouble! Luckily, there were only two of them—if there had been one more, he might not have made it through. Honestly, coming up with all these flowery praises was already a divine blessing!
Nearby, a group of male students who had been secretly watching Xiao Bai stared at him as if he were some celestial being, suddenly feeling the urge to take him as their mentor. When they usually complimented female classmates, all they managed was a simple You look nice. And behind their backs, it was just Fair skin, long legs.
So crude. So unimaginably crude!
They hurriedly noted down his words, savoring them as they did, occasionally nodding in admiration. Look at the way he praises them! No wonder such stunning beauties revolve around him!
At that moment, the tightly shut study doors finally opened. Hu Gan stepped out with several elders, and the open space instantly fell into silence, not a single sound to be heard.
Hu Gan's gaze swept over the fifty students in the open space. Seeing that no one was missing, he nodded in satisfaction. Taking a step forward, he spoke loudly, "Students, today marks the day you enter the Inner Academy. On behalf of the Outer Academy, I congratulate you! Your long and arduous efforts have finally paid off!"
"Once you enter the Inner Academy, you may find its training methods unfamiliar. However, I assure you that there, you will push your potential to its very limits. This is not an empty promise. Some of you have already encountered Inner Academy students, so you should understand the stark difference between those who enter and those who emerge from it!"
Upon hearing the vice dean's words, some students nodded in agreement. However, the majority were filled with excitement and anticipation. After all, their relentless efforts were all in pursuit of greater strength. No matter how tough the challenges ahead, they were determined to press on!
"Before entering the Inner Academy, I'll be sending you to a certain place!" Hu Gan smiled mysteriously, glancing at the dozen or so dark shadows descending from the blue sky before waving his hand and announcing "Board the Gryphons!"
"We need Gryphons? Is the Inner Academy really that far away?" Some students muttered in confusion.
Only a few people showed a slightly serious expression. They knew that what was coming next was the Inner Academy's "welcome" ceremony!
"Alright, five per group. Remember to sit on the chairs. If you don't have the strength of a Da Dou Shi, don't try to stand on the Gryphons by yourself!" Hu Qian warned as he noticed some students attempting to stand on the Gryphons but losing their footing and slipping off. Laughing heartily, he then turned to Xiao Bai and the others. "The top five, you're in the same group. Get on!"
"Let's go!" Xiao Bai called out to the two girls. With a light tap of his foot, his figure flickered like a bolt of lightning and instantly appeared atop a Gryphon, standing firmly without the slightest sway. Xiao Yi Xian and Xun'er exchanged glances before quickly following. Their graceful figures landed lightly beside Xiao Bai.
This scene made the students who had previously attempted the same feel envious. Only they knew how difficult it was to stand on these cursed feathers!
Once everyone had boarded, the Gryphons flapped their wings. As their shadows on the ground grew smaller, they slowly ascended into the sky.
"Xiao Bai, Xun'er, Xian'er, do your best! Make sure to come back and visit sometime!" A gentle voice suddenly called out from below as the Gryphons rose. Looking down, the trio saw Instructor Ruo Lin standing there with Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Mei beside her. Seeing their gazes, the group smiled and waved.
"Xiao Bai-gege, what did you give Instructor Ruo Lin yesterday?" Xun'er asked while waving her small hand in response.
"Just some pills to aid in cultivation. I gave some to Xiao Yu and the others too." Xiao Bai replied softly as he watched the figures below grow smaller.
"No wonder you disappeared yesterday. You went to refine pills!" Xun'er nodded in realization.
"Mm! While you two were cultivating, I took a walk around the Alchemy Department and made some pills for them. I gave Instructor Ruo Lin and Xiao Yu pills to assist in cultivation, and I also gave Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei each a Qi Gathering Powder. Instructor Ruo Lin has always been kind to us, so I wanted to show some appreciation before leaving. As for Xiao Yu and the others, they are still members of the Xiao Clan. If I can help, I will."
Xun'er gazed at him, a gentle look appearing in her eyes. Holding onto his arm, she said sweetly, "Xiao Bai-gege is always so thoughtful. Why didn't I think of this?"
"You little trickster, weren't you also planning to give Instructor Ruo Lin something this morning?" Xiao Bai teased, pinching her delicate face lightly.
"Hehe… Instructor Ruolin refused. She said you had already given them something very valuable yesterday, and if she accepted more, she would feel ashamed as a teacher." Xun'er giggled, rubbing her small face against Xiao Bai's hand affectionately.
"Um… Senior Xiao Bai—no, I mean, Classmate Xiao Bai… excuse me, but… is it true that you're planning to establish a faction in the Inner Academy?" A slightly nervous female voice sounded from behind.
Turning around, Xiao Bai saw the girl who had entered the Book Collection Hall with them previously. It seemed like she had mustered her courage to approach. Xiao Bai didn't have much impression of her, only remembering that her name was Xu Su. Now, taking a closer look, she wore a yellow dress, her figure was graceful, and she looked more like a sheltered young lady from a noble family rather than a cultivator.
"I do have that plan." Seeing the anticipation in her eyes, Xiao Bai nodded.
"That's great! Can I join?" Xu Su's face lit up with joy. Noticing Xiao Bai frown slightly, she quickly added in a soft voice, "Don't worry, I can be useful. I know quite a bit about the Inner Academy. If you're establishing a faction, you'll need someone who understands all aspects of it, right?"
"You just entered the Inner Academy this year too, didn't you?" Xiao Bai looked at her with doubt. Even if she had entered, unless she had specifically studied the Inner Academy's workings, it was unlikely she could claim to know much about it.
"Her brother was last year's second rank on the Strongest Ranking." Before Xu Su could answer, a deep voice sounded from behind her.
"Second on the Strongest Ranking? From last year?" Xiao Bai looked at Tu Shan, who had spoken, before shifting his gaze back to the girl in the yellow dress.
"The Strongest Ranking is a list in the Inner Academy that—" Xu Su began explaining, assuming that Xiao Bai was unfamiliar with it.
"You don't need to explain, I know about the Strongest Ranking. But what do you mean by 'last year's second'?" Xiao Bai waved his hand, interrupting the girl's explanation.
"Uh..." The girl forced a somewhat embarrassed smile, her face slightly flushed. She spoke softly, "He graduated last year. Originally, he wanted to stay at the academy, but… he could never defeat the first-ranked before graduation. And that first-ranked was just a little girl. He couldn't handle the blow to his pride, so he went home."
Xiao Bai nodded, sighing inwardly. Two years early, and that little dragon girl was already so dominant, holding the top spot effortlessly!
"Then your brother must have established a faction, right? Why didn't you join it?"
Through some elders, Xiao Bai had learned a few things about the Inner Academy. He knew that the top ten on the Strongest Ranking were like golden tickets—many people would naturally want to follow them. Since they spent much of their time in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, they needed subordinates to handle miscellaneous affairs—hence, most would establish factions. After all, as long as their name was attached, others would take care of the rest. Why not?
"Uh..." The girl's expression became slightly awkward as if unsure how to explain.
"Sigh! Let me say it." Tu Shan stepped in. "Rumor has it that the last time Senior Xu Qingshan—her brother—challenged the first-ranked, he annoyed her so much that after beating him up, she called him… well, she called him…"
"Told him what? Spit it out! Why are you hesitating?" Xiao Bai frowned. What could that little dragon girl have said that made him so hesitant?
"She said he was 'born to be second' and forbade him from bothering her again. She also mocked his 'Qingshan Faction,' saying he might as well rename it the 'Second-Place Faction!" Tu Shan gritted his teeth before finishing, "Because of this, Senior Xu Qing Shan couldn't bear the ridicule and strange looks from others. So, he angrily graduated, and his faction disbanded as well!"
"..."
Xiao Bai had thought it would be something major. But it turned out to be a simple misunderstanding. *That little dragon girl was just being blunt—she meant 'second place,' but others twisted her words. And just like that, he quit and left.*
"So, are you coming to me because you want me to challenge the first-ranked for you?" Xiao Bai studied Xu Su with a slightly scrutinizing gaze.
Hearing this, Xu Su hurriedly shook her head, waving her hands in denial. "No, no! My brother admitted he lost fair and square. He said she was straightforward and had no ill intentions. He was simply not strong enough, so he had no complaints. He just couldn't stand the petty people who couldn't beat him but kept gossiping behind his back. He said seeing them disgusted him, so he left. I don't hold any grudges against the Strongest Ranking's first place. I just… wanted to see what kind of person could make my proud older brother admit defeat. As for joining you, I just don't want to be bullied in the Inner Academy!"
"Alright! If I go through with this, you'll be the first founding member." Seeing that she wasn't lying, Xiao Bai nodded and agreed.
"Uh... Classmate Xiao Bai, do you think I could join too?" A rough voice suddenly spoke up.
"Before that, what's your relationship with her?" Xiao Bai glanced between them. If Xu Su knew about the Inner Academy because of her brother, how did Tu Shan know so much?
"We're not connected at all!" Xu Su quickly waved her hands in denial when she noticed Xiao Bai looking at them as if they were a couple.
"Indeed, we have no relationship. I only learned about this last year during a training mission in the Black-Corner Region. Senior Xu Qing Shan was leading the team, and Xu Su and I happened to be in the same squad. That's how I learned about these things." Tu Shan also quickly denied, even glancing nervously behind him, as if afraid someone might overhear.
Seeing their expressions, Xiao Bai immediately understood. These two just had a minor connection. Tu Shan probably has someone he likes, and she's likely among the new students in this batch.
"I can agree to this, but I'll need to evaluate you first. And that evaluation will take place during the Inner Academy's 'welcome' ceremony. Let's see how you perform." Xiao Bai smirked. Both of them clearly knew how tough the Inner Academy could be without a strong backer.
"Thank you, Classmate Xiao Bai!" The two were overjoyed—this was as good as a guarantee!
As their conversation continued, a vast mountain valley gradually came into view.
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