Chapter 118: Keeping a Low Profile? (Subscribe and vote, please)

All the new students nodded slightly. From the battle with those senior students just now, they had already realized how great the benefits of cultivating in this Inner Academy would be!

“Let’s go! Everyone, follow me!” With a wave of his hand, Elder Su’s figure blurred into a shadow, shooting toward the vast basin ahead.

Immediately after, all the new students swiftly moved as well, swooping down the hillside like a swarm of locusts. Instantly, excited shouts and cheers spiraled through the sky, lingering for a long while.

…

The wooden door creaked open slowly. A sliver of sunlight slipped in through the gap, stretching into a thin beam across the floor.

As the door was fully opened, the light rapidly expanded, and several elongated shadows stepped inside, their figures stretched by the sunlight. The leading elder glanced around the spacious small tower, smiling as he said, “Xiao Xie, from now on, this will be your residence, together with the other two.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Elder Su,” Xiao Xie replied gratefully.

“It’s no trouble. Oh, there’s something you should be reminded of. In the Inner Academy, the senior students have divided the territory among themselves. You’ll likely come across these matters soon enough,” Elder Su said thoughtfully, then looked at Xiao Xie and smiled, “Of course, I doubt you’ll be concerned about such things.”

With a prodigy like Xiao Xie here, those senior students’ days would no longer be easy.

Little Doctor Fairy and Qing Lin exchanged glances, looking at Xiao Xie with a faint smile. With his power, Xiao Xie could likely sweep through the entire Inner Academy on his own.

Elder Su chuckled, “Alright, it’s getting late. Settle into your rooms and rest for the night. Starting tomorrow, you’re free to explore the Inner Academy as you wish. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.”

“Aren’t there any cultivation classes?” asked Little Doctor Fairy.

“There’s no need for such things here. As long as you have enough ‘Fire Energy,’ you can enter the ‘Heavenly Flame Training Tower.’ Cultivating there is more effective than any class. Oh, I almost forgot—the academy organizes a group entry into the ‘Heavenly Flame Training Tower’ once a week. If you insist, that could be considered a class.

“Additionally, the Inner Academy has the ‘Technique Pavilion’ and the ‘Skill Hall’ and so on. If you want to acquire techniques or combat skills, you can visit those places, provided you have enough ‘Fire Energy’ to exchange for them. Compared to the Outer Academy, the Inner Academy is far more free. If you find your ‘Fire Energy’ insufficient and you’re itching for a fight, you can earn more at the Arena. With Xiao Xie’s and Little Doctor Fairy’s abilities, earning ‘Fire Energy’ should be a breeze,” Elder Su said with a gentle laugh.

“Qing Lin and Little Flame are both strong too!” Qing Lin protested, raising her arm.

Elder Su laughed, “Yes, yes, Qing Lin is also very strong.”

At this, Qing Lin finally nodded happily.

“If there’s nothing else, rest for now. If you need anything, come find me.” Elder Su waved at the three, then turned and left, disappearing from their sight.

“Young Master, I’ll go tidy up your room.” With that, Qing Lin left to prepare Xiao Xie’s quarters.

“I’ll go too.” Little Doctor Fairy nodded to Xiao Xie and chose a room to settle in as well.

…

Night fell, and the bright moon hung high in the sky. Xiao Xie sat cross-legged on his bed, the ancient sword resting across his thighs, his hands forming seals. Streams of energy in the air, drawn by his breathing, flowed endlessly into his body, causing the total amount of Dou Qi within him to slowly increase.

The next morning, as soon as Xiao Xie stepped out of his room, he immediately saw Qing Lin and Little Doctor Fairy.

“Young Master, good morning.”

“Good morning. Today, let’s go check out the ‘Heavenly Flame Training Tower!’” Xiao Xie said with a smile.

“Mm!”

“Alright!”

…

With Qing Lin and Little Doctor Fairy in tow, Xiao Xie asked around for the direction of the Heavenly Flame Training Tower, then set off with the two of them.

Heading north for over ten minutes, they came upon a sunken terrain. Within the depression, a colossal black tower was deeply embedded in the earth; only the sharp tip and a single pitch-black tier protruded above ground.

“So this is the Heavenly Flame Training Tower?” Little Doctor Fairy asked curiously, gazing at the buried giant.

“Let’s go inside and take a look.” Xiao Xie smiled.

The three of them walked to the entrance, where a large crowd had already gathered. Xiao Xie led the way, squeezing through the throng with his two companions. Within the crowd was a wide open space, at the far end of which, dozens of meters away, stood the mysterious black tower, half-buried in the ground.

At present, the clearing was neatly divided into several zones, each occupied by a group of people sitting cross-legged with eyes closed.

“These must be the different factions within the Inner Academy,” Xiao Xie mused to himself. “Quite domineering—no lines, just taking the best spots. But I like it.”

Ignoring the stares around them, Xiao Xie led Qing Lin and Little Doctor Fairy straight into the open area.

“Who are those three?”

“No idea. Probably this year’s new students. Otherwise, with beauties like those two, they wouldn’t be so unknown.”

“So they’re just reckless newbies. They’re in for a rough time.”

As Xiao Xie and his companions entered the clearing, the surrounding crowd erupted into discussion.

“You three, leave now!” As soon as they stepped in, a burly, dark-skinned man from the nearest group strode over and barked at Xiao Xie.

“If you make a move, you’ll probably put him out of commission for a month. Since we’re new here, let’s not draw too much attention,” Xiao Xie said quickly, grabbing Little Doctor Fairy’s hand as she raised it.

“Didn’t you hear me? Get lost!” The burly man, seeing his authority ignored and noticing the two beauties, turned his anger toward Xiao Xie.

“Out!” Xiao Xie had tried not to make a scene, but the man’s insolence left him no choice. A terrifying aura belonging to a Dou Sovereign suddenly erupted from Xiao Xie, blasting the burly man off his feet and knocking him unconscious on the ground.

“Anyone else?” Xiao Xie surveyed the crowd, his forceful presence pressing outward. Everyone who met his gaze instinctively stepped back.

Little Doctor Fairy shook her head helplessly. He’d just said not to stand out, and now there was no hope of keeping a low profile.

“Young Master always stands out, no matter where we go!” Qing Lin looked up at Xiao Xie, admiration shining in her eyes.

“Good, it seems no one has any objections.” Xiao Xie glanced around. Seeing no further resistance, he withdrew his aura.

He nodded to Little Doctor Fairy, and the three of them approached the entrance of the Heavenly Flame Training Tower. Wherever they went, the crowd parted for them.

“That aura… he must be a Dou Sovereign. Is he really a new student?”

“How should I know? What kind of monster joined the new class this year?”

“Keep your voice down. If he hears you, you’re dead.”

“The rankings are about to change dramatically.”

By the time Xiao Xie and his companions neared the tower, the crowd was already whispering among themselves.

“Looks like, after today, everyone in the Inner Academy will know your name,” Little Doctor Fairy said with a soft laugh.

“Can’t help it—when you’re this handsome, you get noticed everywhere,” Xiao Xie replied with a touch of vanity.

Little Doctor Fairy was speechless.

“Young Master is the most handsome!” Qing Lin nodded earnestly at Xiao Xie’s words.

“You have good taste, Qing Lin,” Xiao Xie laughed, ruffling her hair.

Watching Qing Lin’s serious expression, Little Doctor Fairy could only press her hand to her forehead and shake her head in resignation.

Just then, an ancient bell’s deep, sonorous chime echoed across the area. The lively chatter ceased in an instant.