Chapter 141: Six-Star Dou Ling
After chatting briefly, Elder Huo turned to the trio nearby, his face darkening. Jia Nan Academy doesn't oppose competition or hostility among students—such dynamics foster excellence. But this applies only to the inner courtyard, where prodigies with exceptional talent clash due to pride, necessitating such rules.
In the outer courtyard, rules protect freshmen, differing from the inner courtyard's intensity. Elder Huo's gaze chilled the trio, who paled and bowed hastily as he said, "You three, report to the academy's law enforcement team for punishment. Tell the truth, or Jia Nan Academy may no longer have a place for you!"
Elder Huo's reputation in the outer courtyard stemmed not just from his strength but his role as head of the alchemy department—a fifth-grade Alchemist. The trio, trembling, complied.
"You asked me to judge. Satisfied?" Elder Huo smiled at Xiao Bai.
Glancing at the trio's dejected retreat, Xiao Bai shrugged, "It's fine." He mused that the law enforcement team's punishment wouldn't be light, but if they weren't academy students, and this wasn't Jia Nan Academy, their earlier bullying of Xiao Yixian would've earned them a one-way trip to reincarnation.
"Haha, not bad, kid!" Elder Huo's eyes held approval. With Xiao Bai's thunder-attribute strength, he could've easily attacked the trio, but instead, he summoned Elder Huo, adhering to academy rules—a commendable restraint.
"You're Xiao Yixian, right?" Elder Huo turned to her, smiling. "Don't mind their words. Poison masters face rejection in the outer courtyard, but not in the inner courtyard. There, strength is all that matters. Be strong enough, and no one will dare speak against you."
"Thank you, Elder Huo," Xiao Yixian replied gently, warming to the elder.
"Alright, I have matters to attend. Carry on!" Elder Huo waved, transforming into a streak of light and vanishing.
"Oh, one more thing—there's an earth-tier poison-attribute technique in the library. Whether you get it depends on you!" His voice echoed from afar, sparking excitement in Xiao Bai's eyes.
Poison-attribute techniques are rare. Xiao Yixian's current cultivation relied on her physique and the low-tier Seven-Colored Poison Sutra. She needed a high-tier poison technique to replace it. Xiao Bai had been searching for one, even asking Hai Bodong to keep an eye out before leaving Wutan City. Coming to Jia Nan Academy partly aimed at this, but he'd been uncertain until now. Relief washed over him; otherwise, he'd have considered taking Xiao Yixian to the Izumo Empire's Poison Sect later.
Though the calamity poison body doesn't strictly require techniques, they enhance Dou Qi control and allow subjective management of poison body outbreaks. Xiao Bai's study of her physique revealed its layered seals—each unlocking triggered an outbreak, releasing toxins that boosted cultivation, explaining her rapid Dou Zong ascent in the original novel.
Taking poison accumulates toxins, triggering minor outbreaks for quick cultivation gains. Techniques allow controlled preemptive outbreaks but can't delay them if poison intake continues. This control acts as a trump card, vital for Xiao Yixian's safety when Xiao Bai isn't around, as seen today when her depleted Dou Qi left her vulnerable.
In the original, poison body outbreaks saved her from peril, though painful and hastening the poison body's dominance. Still, survival trumped the worst outcomes.
"Let's go, Xian'er, back to the academy!" Xiao Bai took her hand, speaking softly.
"Back? No more training?" Xiao Yixian asked, puzzled.
"Today was your training assessment, and you passed. With a month until the selection, focus on cultivation now—no more combat practice," Xiao Bai said, waving two magic cores into his hand, one poisonous, perfect for Xiao Yixian.
"Really?" Her face lit up with a smile, thrilled to escape the grueling routine. She'd feared Xiao Bai would keep her in the forest until the selection.
"Hey, seems my fairy's unsatisfied, craving more training?" Xiao Bai teased, noting her disbelief. "Shall we continue?"
"No!" Xiao Yixian's face fell, refusing instantly. She didn't mind training but disliked it, especially Xiao Bai's strict "demon" persona during sessions, making her question if she knew two Xiao Bais.
"Haha." Chuckling at her charm, Xiao Bai pulled her into his arms, hugging her slender waist. "You must be exhausted from this."
"Hmph," Xiao Yixian huffed, leaning into him, "You know I'm tired, yet you scowl all day, bullying me!"
"Hehe, who gasped at a second-level beast while picking herbs?" Xiao Bai recalled the incident, complaining, "That was the weakest poison beast—its venom was your tonic, yet you were scared. I had to get tough and train you!"
Blushing, Xiao Yixian buried her face in his chest, cooing, "I'd just become a Dou Shi, I wasn't used to it!"
Her rare coquettish tone stunned Xiao Bai. Xiao Yixian's independence masked inner strength, making such moments unexpected. His eyes softened, tightening his hold. Lifting her chin, he gazed at her peach-blossom face and kissed her rosy lips gently.
"Hmm…"
Xiao Yixian moaned, instinctively resisting, but his tender gaze melted her. She relaxed, hands on his chest, eyes closing as she yielded. Her flushed ears burned like flames, betraying her shyness.
After a moment, she broke free, glaring playfully. "Bad guy!" she whispered, half-complaining, half-flirting, adjusting her disheveled collar.
Xiao Bai, captivated by her charm, closed his eyes to quell his rising desire. Xiao Yixian, noticing, flushed deeper, amusement in her eyes. She sighed inwardly—despite having her and Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Bai restrained himself out of deep affection, especially given her uncontrolled poison body.
Regaining composure, Xiao Bai opened his eyes. Xiao Yixian took his hand, saying softly, "Let's go!"
Nodding, Xiao Bai scooped her up, lightning crackling underfoot as they sped out of the forest.
Time raced by, and over twenty days passed.
In his room, Xiao Bai sat cross-legged, surrounding energy thinning until it vanished into him. A strange energy ripple spread, followed by a surging aura. Suppressed briefly, it broke free, rippling outward. His eyes opened, silver lightning flashing briefly.
"Six-star Dou Ling!"
Clenching his fists, feeling his enhanced Dou Qi, Xiao Bai exhaled calmly.
"What level can I reach in a year?" he murmured, eyes flickering with concern at the thought of Yunlan Sect. Not the sect itself—Yunshan, a Dou Zong, was manageable, as Xiao Yan proved. The real threat was Soul Palace's Wu Guardian, a four-star Dou Zong, challenging even with Cai Lin and Yao Lao's aid.
"Could I enter the space beneath the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower? Rescuing Yao Tianhuo would solve much," Xiao Bai mused. But accessing it via the tower meant facing the Fallen Heart Flame. He decided to enter the inner courtyard first, possibly with the "little dragon person" to check for reactions, a lead to the old Dragon Emperor. Diving into the magma space now, with semi-saint lizardmen, was suicidal at his cultivation.
Thinking of the "little dragon person," Xiao Bai recalled another dragon. He pulled a golden dragon from his sleeve, eyeing the sleeping creature speechlessly. Since briefly waking, it had slept, growing stronger by absorbing ambient energy.
"What happens when this guy meets the little dragon person?" Xiao Bai grinned mischievously. The golden dragon's temper and Zi Yan's mischief might spark a fight—or camaraderie. He anticipated the chaos, unsure who'd win. Zi Yan's Taixu Ancient Dragon talent was formidable, but the golden dragon's mysterious origins and spatial prowess were equally potent.
His grin faded, imagining both following him a nightmare of two destructive "bear children." Shaking his head, he tucked the dragon away, vowing to suppress any troublemakers.
A violent energy fluctuation from the next room snapped his attention. His eyes lit up. "That girl's finally out of seclusion!"
(End of this chapter)