After resolving all matters concerning Xiao Lie, Xiao Yan was finally able to return to the Inner Academy and prepare for the upcoming “Strong Ranking” battle. Before leaving, he also met with Xiao Yu, Xiao Mei, and Xiao Ning. The Xiao Clan had suffered greatly, with countless clan members killed by the Yun Lian Sect and the “Soul Hall.” Therefore, for these three relatives who shared blood ties with him, Xiao Yan was much more gentle than before. The petty grievances from his childhood in the clan were no longer of concern to him. After all, they were part of the same family, and this bond made it easier to trust them compared to outsiders.
The Inner Academy selection contest would begin again in six months, and with Xiao Yu’s strength, entering should not be too difficult. However, Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning faced a slightly more challenging situation. Nevertheless, this challenge was not a significant problem for Xiao Yan, who was a Fifth Rank Alchemist. Using the various strange and peculiar effects of the medicinal pills he had obtained from Elder Medicine, he provided numerous formulas. Although these pills would not guarantee victory for Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning, they would make it relatively easy for them to enter the top fifty if luck was on their side.
After handling these trivial matters, Xiao Yan was fully at ease. He bid farewell to the three and, along with Xuner and the others, rode back to the Inner Academy on the Eagle Beasts.
When Xiao Yan and his group returned to the Inner Academy, there were only about twenty-five days left until the “Strong Ranking” competition. With the approach of the competition, almost all discussions in the Inner Academy shifted to this highly explosive and exclusive event for the top-ranked experts. Those who could enter the top fifty of the “Strong Ranking” were all top-tier figures in the Inner Academy, and their battles naturally attracted great attention. Although only those listed in the Strong Ranking could participate, this did not diminish the enthusiasm and anticipation of the other students in the Inner Academy.
In the midst of the frenzied exchanges, the atmosphere in the entire Inner Academy reached its peak. After all, if one managed to enter the top ten, they could become a candidate for the position of Inner Academy Elder. With such a special status, one could act without restraint among the students. The positions of Elder and student were two entirely different identities, and countless people vied fiercely for the chance to take that step. However, the strict conditions often led to many retreating in disappointment.
Of course, the position of Inner Academy Elder was not so coveted merely because it allowed one to strut around among the students. The main reason was that only Elders were eligible to enter the lower levels of the “Flame Burning Qi Tower.” The benefits of the “Flame Burning Qi Tower” in enhancing cultivation speed were well-known, so those students who lacked the qualifications to enter the upper levels naturally yearned for the opportunity. Cultivating there could significantly reduce the time needed to reach the Battle Emperor level, although having the talent was also essential.
Therefore, anyone with even a modicum of strength harbored a burning desire for the top ten spots in the “Strong Ranking.” That position and the special treatment that came with it could transform them into true powerhouses! Additionally, due to the qualification requirements for the “Strong Ranking” competition, the Inner Academy was currently experiencing a wave of challenges. Those who usually focused on rigorous training were now emerging with explosive power, making their presence felt.
In this period, the Inner Academy was bustling with activity, and the atmosphere was unprecedentedly intense. In this almost crazy wave of challenges, a series of astonishing dark horses emerged one after another.
With the emergence of these dark horses, the rankings of the “Strong Ranking” naturally saw fierce competition. In just a few days, while the top twenty remained relatively stable, the bottom thirty saw daily changes as previously unknown individuals rose through the ranks, causing countless exclamations.
In this frenzy, Xiao Yan, ranked thirty-fourth on the “Strong Ranking,” was not immune. Due to the suspicion that he had used medicinal pills to defeat Bai Cheng, he received far more challenge letters than any other strong ranker. Clearly, these people aimed to step over Xiao Yan to seize his qualification to compete.
For these incessant challenges, Xiao Yan, who used to be somewhat lazy, would have found an excuse to hide. However, this time, perhaps due to the family upheaval, he had become colder and unexpectedly accepted every challenge. To everyone’s surprise, he set up a stage at the mouth of the Stone Gate, picking five challengers each day from the pile of challenge letters and facing them head-on!
At this critical moment, Xiao Yan’s actions naturally caused a stir throughout the Inner Academy. Almost instantly, the area around the Stone Gate was packed with onlookers. This was Xiao Yan’s first public acceptance of challenges since defeating Bai Cheng and securing the thirty-fourth spot on the “Strong Ranking.” Naturally, countless people gathered to see if he could maintain his previous formidable combat prowess!
Of course, some ill-intentioned individuals hoped and cursed for Xiao Yan to be utterly defeated in front of everyone on the stage. Unfortunately for them, the hopes of seeing Xiao Yan, the dark horse, fall were not realized. The final battles left the surrounding spectators in awe and silence.
The stage lasted for three days. On the first day, five challengers, four Two-Star Dou Spirits, and one Three-Star Dou Spirit, all lost. On the second day, five challengers, three Three-Star Dou Spirits, and two Four-Star Dou Spirits, all lost. On the third day, five challengers, one Four-Star Dou Spirit, three Five-Star Dou Spirits, and one Six-Star Dou Spirit. The battle lasted from dawn till dusk, and all five… lost! Moreover, the strongest Six-Star Dou Spirit ended the fight with severe injuries.
Over three days and fifteen challenges, Xiao Yan remained undefeated, solidifying his position as the thirty-fourth on the “Strong Ranking” in front of everyone. In fact, he even rose slightly, as the final Six-Star Dou Spirit was ranked thirty-first.
His perfect record left the onlookers in stunned silence. When the Six-Star Dou Spirit’s body crashed heavily onto the ground, only the thunderous cheers of the Stone Gate members echoed through the night sky…
Looking at the black-robed young man on the stage, whose clothes were tattered and disheveled from a day of fighting, the eyes of those who had issued challenge letters shifted nervously. For some reason, during these three days, Xiao Yan’s fighting style had become much more ruthless than when he faced Bai Cheng. Moreover, the intensity of the daily five battles had made his attack methods sharper and his aura more solid and powerful.
At this point, some perceptive individuals realized that Xiao Yan’s actions were not just to deter the endless challenges but also to hone himself through others. Now, it seemed that his efforts had been highly successful. Under the weight of his flawless fifteen victories, no one in the bottom thirty of the “Strong Ranking” dared to view him as an easy target, and his strength had improved significantly. Some discerning observers even suspected that Xiao Yan’s strength had gradually entered the Two-Star Dou Spirit level, though his actual combat power far exceeded this rank.
As for the top thirty strong rankers, while they had heard of Xiao Yan’s open challenge, they were focused on rigorous training as the competition approached. Therefore, apart from the Six-Star Dou Spirit, no other formidable opponent had come to challenge him.
Thus, with the conclusion of the fifteenth battle, Xiao Yan, having achieved fifteen consecutive victories, did not linger on the stage. His icy gaze swept the area, and no one dared to meet it. He then turned and left.
On the morning of the fourth day, the news of Xiao Yan’s fifteen consecutive victories spread like wildfire throughout the Inner Academy. Xiao Yan’s name once again became the focal point of the entire academy. The Stone Gate, thanks to Xiao Yan, also rose in power and prestige, beginning to rival the top factions led by Lin Xiu Ya and others.
However, just as Xiao Yan became the center of attention in the Inner Academy, he mysteriously disappeared once again, disappointing those who wished to see the first-ranked alchemist and the thirty-first on the “Strong Ranking.”
Of course, no secret can be completely kept, especially in the gossipy environment of the Inner Academy. Soon, news began to circulate.
“It seems Xiao Yan has gone to the sixth level of the Flame Burning Qi Tower to cultivate in seclusion…”
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