Lin Yan took the letter with a puzzled expression, not knowing what kind of scheme this guy was up to.
However, after just a quick glance at its contents, his eyes widened, his face darkened, and his hands trembled as he held the paper.
Everyone watched Lin Yan's reaction, tiptoeing to get a better look at the letter in his hands. They were extremely curious—what could be written on it that made the famously unruly Inner Academy student react like this?
"Impossible! Even if I die, I, Lin Yan, will never sign this!" A grief-stricken roar echoed through the valley, moving those who heard it to tears. "You heartless demon! This is a damn slave contract!"
"Heh heh… You won't sign? Then I'll just hang you from a tree!" Xiao Bai's eyes gleamed dangerously as he smiled sinisterly. "Don't worry! Even if you're hanging from a tree, I'll still pay you wages—to pay off your debt!"
"Are you even human? Two Fire Energy points per day? That's 800 points! How long am I supposed to hang there?!" Lin Yan's eyes bulged in fury, his breath heavy with rage.
At first, the surrounding people were still curious and wanted to come closer, but after hearing this, their faces changed drastically, and they immediately stepped back a few paces—afraid that Xiao Bai might hand them a contract too. That was just too terrifying!
"If you don't want to hang, there are two other choices, aren't there? See? I'm actually quite generous!" Xiao Bai stroked his chin, his tone teasing as he smirked inwardly. How dare this guy try to trick him? Well, now he'd play along—slowly and painfully!
Lin Yan gritted his teeth, feeling an urge to drag Xiao Bai down with him!
The note indeed listed two other options: either pay off all 800 points at once or work for him.
Eight hundred points? Even if he died, he wouldn't have that much! As for working for him… that might have been acceptable, but when he saw the condition—one Fire Energy point per day—his hatred surged. Hanging from a tree almost seemed like the better option!
"So, you're choosing fame instead? Well, that does pay a little more!" Xiao Bai nodded thoughtfully, stretched lazily, and chuckled knowingly.
"Wait…" Lin Yan panicked when he saw Xiao Bai about to leave. This guy wasn't joking. If he actually got hung up on a tree… Just imagining that scene made his heart tremble. He hastily scribbled on the paper and shouted, "I choose the third option!"
"Sigh… Never mind! Now that I think about it, one point per day really is a bit harsh." Xiao Bai shook his head. Just as Lin Yan thought he had a conscience, Xiao Bai's next words left him utterly dumbfounded.
"Let's just hang you up instead!"
"Let's duel, you demon!" Lin Yan grabbed the axe beside him, ready to fight for his life.
"Hahaha!" Xiao Bai laughed as he put away the signed contract, ignoring Lin Yan's furious glare. "Get ready to work off your debt, worker!"
Lin Yan rolled his eyes. If he could beat this guy, he would've taken him down already!
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Above the Valley.
"This…" Elders Su and Han exchanged glances, unsure of what to say. After presiding over so many Fire Energy Hunting Competitions, this year's was undoubtedly the strangest. Not only were veteran students being robbed, but those without enough Fire Energy were even forced to sign IOUs. What kind of absurdity was this?
"Elder Su, you were the one who called Liu Qing and Lin Yan over, right?" Elder Han suddenly recalled something and looked at Elder Su with a complicated expression.
"Uh…" Elder Su's gaze drifted evasively. How could he have foreseen this outcome? If Lin Yan came asking for reimbursement later… Hmm, 800 points, plus Liu Qing's share, that would be 1,600 points! That was painful to think about! He couldn't help but glance toward the Grand Elder.
"Forget it!" As a Dou Zong, Su Qian had obviously been aware of everything happening below. He waved his hand dismissively. "Eight hundred Fire Energy points might seem like a lot, but getting close to a Tier 5 Alchemist is a huge gain for Lin Yan!"
"Tier 5 Alchemist? Xiao Bai?" Elders Su and Han looked at the black-clothed figure below in shock. Their expressions were filled with disbelief—this guy was actually an Alchemist? And a Tier 5 one at that?!
A Tier 5 Alchemist could easily become a guest of honor for Dou Wang experts, or even some Dou Huang powerhouses! And he was only eighteen?!
"No wonder… His soul power is so strong!" Elder Su murmured.
"Yeah! Who would've thought this kid was such a monster? No wonder Old Hu didn't praise him like he usually does. There's no need for it!" Elder Han said, his lips twitching.
The two elders exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with thought.
Eight hundred Fire Energy points… didn't seem like that much after all.
But as elders, should they at least try to maintain some dignity?
-----
Not Far from the Forest Exit
"Hurry! We're almost at the exit!"
A group of people spotted the faint outline of the exit ahead and felt immense relief. Without hesitation, they sprinted toward it.
Upon reaching the exit, they slumped onto the ground, wiping sweat from their foreheads and sighing in exhaustion.
"Screw this! I'm never participating in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition again—it's way too terrifying!"
"Yeah! We thought we could show off in front of the new students and maybe collect some Fire Energy. Who knew we'd run into that demon? What rotten luck!"
"Let's just get out first. If that demon comes after us, all our effort will be wasted!"
"No need to panic! Stay calm! We're right at the exit! That demon can't possibly come through the passage, can he? What's there to be afraid of?"
Just as the group was noisily chatting, a teasing voice echoed from the passage.
"Heh heh… My master can't come through the passage, but this dragon can!"
"Who's there?!"
The exhausted senior students instantly jumped to their feet, warily eyeing the passage.
A flash of golden light burst from within, and to the group's utter shock, a legendary creature hovered before them—arms crossed, tail swaying lazily, appearing lively and majestic.
"A d-dragon…"
"It's really a dragon!"
"…!"
After a moment of stunned silence, someone finally reacted and murmured, "Wait… Did you hear what it just said? 'My master'?"
"It has a master? Who?"
"We were just talking about…"
"The demon—Xiao Bai!!!" The group exclaimed in unison, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Correct!" The little golden dragon extended its tiny claws, swished its tail, and grinned fiercely. "By my master's command—this is a robbery! Hand over all your Fire Energy!"
The senior students stared blankly at the small, one-foot-long golden dragon. For a moment, it all felt surreal—how had they ended up getting robbed by a legendary dragon?
"Hurry up! This dragon's patience is limited!" The little golden dragon pouted, waving its claw. "Form a line and hand over your Fire Energy cards one by one! No tricks, or else…"
As it spoke, golden lightning crackled around its body.
"Boom!"
A massive boulder nearby shattered into pieces.
The group watched the scene in horror, their eyelids twitching. If that lightning struck them instead, they'd be doomed!
Some had been considering resisting, but after witnessing that display of power, they immediately abandoned the idea. No way—they couldn't afford to provoke this thing!
At the Passage Entrance
When Xiao Bai and his group arrived, they were met with an amusing sight:
Perched atop a large boulder, the little golden dragon was idly sifting through a small pile of crystal cards. Below the boulder, a group of senior students stood in a neat, obedient line, motionless.
Seeing Xiao Bai, the little dragon instantly dashed over and proudly presented the Fire Energy cards like a treasure.
Xiao Bai took a quick glance—adding it up, the amount was about the same as the previous group of senior students, roughly 700 points. That meant each person had contributed around 20 to 30 points on average.
After scanning all the Fire Energy cards, he looked at the final total and nodded in satisfaction.
3125!
"This… This is…?" Lin Yan finally snapped out of his daze, rushing to Xiao Bai's side. He stammered as he stared at the little golden dragon.
"What? Never seen such a handsome dragon before?" The little golden dragon shot him a sideways glance, puffing out its chest proudly.
"It… It can talk?"
The moment Lin Yan said that, he noticed both Xiao Bai and the dragon giving him a look that screamed Are you stupid? Even with his thick skin, he felt a little embarrassed and cleared his throat. "Ahem… Just asking, just asking!"
The others behind him were also staring at the dragon in astonishment. It was as if a legend had come to life—they were witnessing a creature that only existed in books!
At that moment, Liu Qing stepped forward, his expression slightly serious. He spoke in a solemn tone, "I know we don't know each other well, but I still want to give you a warning—until your strength is sufficient, do not expose it to the outside world. Otherwise, you'll be in serious danger."
"Thanks for the advice, but it's fine," Xiao Bai replied with a faint smile, waving his hand dismissively.
There was no hiding the little golden dragon—it wasn't an inanimate object, but a sentient being. Besides, Xiao Bai had no intention of restricting it. As for anyone who wanted to take it away? They'd need the strength to do so!
After all, if the little golden dragon strayed too far from him, it would attract something—something that even in the Central Plains, aside from the Ancient Eight Clans, few could withstand.
If Xiao Bai didn't care about the dragon's fate, then theoretically, it was already a powerful trump card. If he wanted to deal with someone, all he had to do was throw the little golden dragon at them—it was practically a walking doomsday weapon!
Among the major forces on the surface of Central Plains, perhaps only the Pill Tower and the Hall of Souls have the foundation to avoid total annihilation. As for the others—whoever touches them, dies!
"You've made your decision, and that's enough. Now that this matter is settled, I'll take my leave." Liu Qing saw that he was unconcerned and didn't say any more.
At that moment, an elderly figure appeared before the crowd.
"The Fire Energy Hunting Competition is officially over!"
Elder Su's aged voice echoed in everyone's ears. In an instant, both new and senior students let out long sighs of relief.
"Due to unexpected circumstances in this year's competition, after consulting with Elder Han, we've decided that all participating new students will receive ten fire energy points. Those in Xiao Bai's group will receive twenty fire energy points! Tu Shan and Xu Su will receive thirty fire energy points! Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian, for being among the first three to reach the exit, will be rewarded with a 'Blue Fire Crystal Card' along with an additional thirty days' worth of fire energy!"
"As for Xiao Bai, due to his outstanding performance, he will receive a special reward— a Red Fire Crystal Card and one hundred days' worth of fire energy!"
As Elder Su finished speaking, an uproar erupted in the surroundings. Countless envious gazes turned toward a particular figure in the crowd.
Many senior students cursed inwardly. This guy was already swimming in wealth, yet the academy still gave him such a generous reward. This was simply unfair!
A Red Fire Crystal Card! That was the highest-ranking card a Jia Nan Academy student could obtain. The only rank above it, the Purple Card, was exclusively for elders. Many students had spent five years in the Inner Academy and never even laid eyes on a Red Fire Crystal Card before graduating!
Noticing the confused expressions of many new students, Elder Su explained, "In the Inner Academy, Fire Crystal Cards are divided into five colors: black, blue, green, red, and purple. The Black Card is the lowest rank and only allows access to the first and second floors of the Heavenly Flame Training Tower. The Blue Card grants access to the third and fourth floors, and so on."
"To upgrade a Fire Crystal Card, you must exchange fire energy. Upgrading from Black to Blue requires one hundred days' worth of fire energy. Blue to Green requires two hundred days, and from there, the cost doubles with each upgrade."
After finishing his explanation, Elder Su waved his hand, and three crystal cards appeared—one red and two blue. With a flick of his fingers, the cards floated toward the three individuals.
"The rewards are inside. Transfer the fire energy from your Black Cards, then hand them over to me."
Xiao Bai and the others nodded, following his instructions before handing back their now-empty Black Crystal Cards.
"Alright!" Elder Su collected the cards and, ignoring the resentful gazes directed at him, smiled cheerfully. "Since you've all passed the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, follow me into the Inner Academy!"
Crossing the exit, Xiao Bai and the others appeared on a hillside.
"So… this is the Inner Academy?" The new students murmured in amazement as they gazed at the scene below.
What lay before them was an enormous sunken basin, as if a massive meteor had crashed down from the sky and carved out the land itself.
Towering buildings stood proudly within the basin. Looking down from above, they could see dark figures flickering like fleas between the structures. The greenery stretched endlessly into the distance, and the basin's far edge remained unseen.
It was hard to believe that such a mystical place had been hidden within the boundless mountain range behind the Outer Academy.
"Welcome, little ones, to the heart of Jia Nan Academy—the Inner Academy!" Elder Su smiled with satisfaction at the awe-struck expressions of the new students. Though he witnessed this reaction every year, it never got old.
"Will I find what I need here?" Xiao Bai gazed at the Inner Academy with anticipation. His reasons for coming to Jia Nan Academy were threefold—Mang Tian Chi, Zi Yan, and Yao Tian Huo beneath the academy.
Zi Yan and Yao Tian Huo were confirmed to be here, but whether Mang Tian Chi had a cultivation ground in this place remained uncertain.
As for what others valued most—the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower and the Fallen Heart Flame—Xiao Bai wasn't particularly interested. Those things wouldn't provide much benefit to him.
After all, he already had four Thunder Seeds within his body. When it came to tempering Dou Qi, it was something he was doing at every moment.
The reason he had seized fire energy was simply because it was convenient. Even if he didn't take from the senior students, they would eventually come after him. Besides, establishing a faction required initial resources. Otherwise, he could have just led Xun'er and Xian'er straight to the exit—why bother with all the trouble?
"Brother Xiao Bai, let's go too!" Xun'er gently pulled his hand, her smile as dazzling as ever.
"Alright!" Xiao Bai glanced around. Only the three of them remained. Taking the two girls with him, he followed the excited, chattering crowd ahead—students who rushed forward like a swarm of locusts.
"By the way, Brother Xiao Bai, what kind of contract did you have Lin Yan sign? Do you plan to make him one of your people?" Xun'er asked curiously.
"Mm! That guy hasn't joined any faction yet, and his strength is decent within the Inner Academy. Though he's a bit lazy, his character and reputation are solid," Xiao Bai nodded. In the original story, Lin Yan was someone who fought bravely and was loyal to his friends. Otherwise, Xiao Bai wouldn't have bothered with him—let alone signed a contract. Did they really think just anyone was qualified to sign a contract with him?
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