Chapter 33: Entering the Inner Courtyard.
Over the next few days, Xiao Ling and his group ambushed the veteran teams near the forest exit, seizing their Fire Crystal Cards. A few took turns monitoring the surroundings while the others continued their training.
Someone had somehow leaked the news, and the veterans, infuriated by their actions, began banding together to cause trouble.
Xiao Ling was delighted to see this happen. After defeating the White Evil Team, the Black Evil Team immediately arrived to deliver their Fire Energy. The other veterans were nothing more than small fry in his eyes. Even if they joined forces, they wouldn't have made any difference. Despite their numerous numbers, they were all slain in a single blow.
Under these circumstances, Xiao Ling and his group reaped a rich harvest, accumulating a significant amount of Fire Energy for their early training in the Inner Courtyard.
If the number of veterans participating in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition hadn't been limited, Xiao Ling would have wanted to plunder more before leaving. Alas, there simply wasn't enough for me, Xiao.
After leaving the forest, they arrived at an open, rocky area. The forest's expansion halted where it encountered the rocks, allowing the sunlight to stream down unimpeded onto the ground, bathing them in warmth.
Not far from the rocky area rose a hillside. Atop it, a platform made of massive rocks. Two elderly men sat on this platform. They were Elders Su and Qing, whom Xiao Ling and the others had seen upon entering the forest. Surrounding them sat several calm, middle-aged men, evidently stewards of the inner courtyard.
Seeing the few people, Elder Su smiled and said, "Sending the Black and White Evil Teams to deal with you didn't work. It seems you're truly exceptional."
Elder Qing stroked his beard and smiled kindly, "This competition is simply to strengthen your unity as freshmen, to teach you that companions are indispensable. You've performed very well."
"Now that you've left the competition venue, the winner has been declared, and it's time to conclude this Fire Energy Hunting Competition." Elder Su spoke, then soared towards the forest.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Elder Su spoke with a powerful voice, almost echoing in their ears, "This year's Fire Energy Hunting Competition is considered the victory for the freshmen. Students hiding in the forest, come out quickly."
Elder Su's slightly aged voice echoed slowly, and soon, the trees across from him shook, and figures emerged one after another.
Most of the freshmen bore scars, and some even limped, appearing extremely distressed.
Glancing around, Xiao Ling spotted Han Xian, his face bruised and battered, clearly having been severely beaten.
Compared to ordinary fighters and most alchemists, his combat abilities were somewhat weaker, and alchemists with Xiao Ling's formidable combat prowess were truly rare.
After everyone emerged from the forest, Elder Su spoke again, "As the winners of this 'Fire Energy Hunting Competition,' each freshman present will receive five days of 'Fire Energy.' Xiao Ling, Xiao Xun'er, Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, Han Yue, and Lin Yan will receive an additional 'Blue Fire Crystal Card,' along with sixty days of 'Fire Energy.'"
"Blue Fire Crystal Card?"
Elder Su's words rang out, and the hillside erupted in a commotion. Envious glances swept over Xiao Ling and the other six.
"Blue Fire Crystal Card? What is that?" Lin Xiuya and the others were perplexed by the so-called Blue Fire Crystal Card, glancing at each other in confusion.
"Hehe, in the inner courtyard, Fire Crystal Cards are divided into five colors from low to high: black, blue, cyan, red, and purple. The black crystal cards in your hands are the lowest level crystal cards. This type of crystal card only qualifies you to cultivate on the first and second floors of the 'Heavenly Burning Refining Qi Tower'. The blue crystal cards are for the third and fourth floors, and so on."
"To upgrade your crystal card, you need to pay "fire energy" in the Inner Court. Generally speaking, upgrading from a black crystal card to a blue one requires one hundred days of "fire energy," while upgrading from a blue to a cyan one requires two hundred days of "fire energy." Now that you've been rewarded with a "cyan fire crystal card," that's equivalent to saving three hundred days of "fire energy." That's quite a sum. Of the senior students present, with the exception of Lu Jin, who upgraded his blue crystal card to a cyan fire crystal card a week ago, most of the others are still using blue crystal cards." Seeing the confusion of Lin Xiuya and the others, Elder Su explained with a smile.
"Three hundred days of "fire energy?" Hearing this figure, Lin Xiuya and the others finally understood why the surrounding eyes were filled with envy. They had robbed all the senior students in the forest, and with this reward, each person only had a little over three hundred days of "fire energy" on their crystal cards. This also showed that obtaining "fire energy" in the Inner Court was quite difficult.
After Elder Su finished his explanation, he flicked his hand, and six cyan crystal cards appeared. With a flick of his finger, the cards shot toward Xiao Ling and the others, finally hovering in front of them.
"The reward is already inside. Transfer the 'Fire Energy' from the black crystal card, then return it to me."
Xiao Ling and the others hurriedly obeyed, and a moment later, they handed the now empty black crystal card to Elder Su.
Taking the black fire crystal card, Elder Su nodded slightly, smiling broadly. "Alright, since you've all passed the 'Fire Energy Hunting Competition,' follow me into the inner courtyard." He turned and slowly ascended a set of gravel stairs up the hillside.
Waving to Xiao Xun'er and the others, Xiao Ling took the lead, following Elder Su as he climbed the stairs, under the gaze of everyone on the hillside.
The gravel steps weren't particularly high. In just a minute or two, Xiao Ling and the others reached the final level. Then, with a single leap, they stood on the hillside. Glancing ahead, the sight that appeared made them slowly breathe in the slightly cool air.
Beyond the hillside lay a vast, sunken basin. Its shape resembled a massive meteorite, smashed from the sky...
Within the basin, towering buildings stood in a row. From their vantage point, they could see dark shadows like fleas constantly flitting and leaping above the buildings. Looking forward, they discovered the basin's unusually large size. Even at the end, all they could see were tall buildings and lush greenery.
It was hard to believe that within the endless mountains behind Canaan Academy, such a remarkable place could be hidden!
"Haha, little ones, welcome to the heart of Canaan Academy: the Inner Courtyard!" Elder Su said, clapping his hands and smiling at the stunned expressions on the freshmen's faces.
Xiao Ling also saw the inner courtyard for the first time, and couldn't help but marvel at the unique environment. He muttered to himself,
"Mang Tianchi really knows how to choose a spot. He found a Fallen Heart Flame in the magma, set up a formation, and built the Heavenly Burning Qi Training Tower on it. If he knew the Ancient Emperor Cave and the peak-level Nine-Star Dou Sheng, Dragon Emperor Zhu Kun, were residing below, would he still dare to build an academy here?"
Xiao Ling shook his head, no longer dwelling on these things that didn't match his own strength. The second richest woman in the Dou Qi Continent was still waiting inside for him to seduce.
"Alright, now that the hunting competition is over, all freshmen, follow me back to the inner courtyard. I'll get you settled in first, and then you'll truly become members of the 'Inner Court.' Believe me, as long as you can persevere here, once you get out, you'll feel your progress was worth it." Elder Su's gaze lingered on Xiao Ling and the others, and he spoke slowly.
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All the freshmen nodded slightly. From the seniors, they had already seen the immense benefits of practicing in this inner courtyard!
"Go! Everyone, follow!" With a wave of his hand, Elder Su transformed into a blurry shadow, darting towards the vast basin. Following him, all the freshmen immediately sprang into action, swooping down from the hillside like a swarm of locusts. Suddenly, a series of excited howls lingered in the sky, lingering for a long time.
(End of Chapter)