"It's not us. It's you lot."
Xiao Jietian shook his head calmly.
Xiao Yan and the others exchanged confused glances.
"The five of you will form a team. I won't be joining you. Xun'er and I will be a team."
He looked at them directly as he spoke.
"As long as you cooperate properly, there shouldn't be any major problems. Beating most of the older students here shouldn't be difficult."
"Xiao Jietian… do you know something?" Hu Jia asked, frowning. Her intuition told her he definitely had inside information.
"I know a fair bit," Xiao Jietian said evenly. "There are ten teams of older students here. Each team has five members, most of them at Da Dou Shi level."
"The older students also possess large amounts of Fire Energy. It's extremely important for cultivation here. Without it, you won't be able to make any real progress."
"As for the rest… you'll have to find out for yourselves."
Having said that, Xiao Jietian took Xun'er's hand and activated Void Piercer Art. In a few flashes, his figure disappeared from view.
The five stared at the empty space in shock.
After a brief but decisive discussion, they unanimously elected Xiao Yan as their captain.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan dispersed the imitation Fire Lotus that had been spinning in his palm. After taking a few Qi Recovery Pills, he smiled faintly.
"From Tian Ge's information, we can guess that there might be Dou Ling level experts among the older students."
"However, I don't think their cultivation levels are particularly high."
The others recalled Xiao Jietian's words and nodded.
"Xiao Jietian knows there are Dou Ling experts here, yet he chooses to act alone with Xun'er. Just how strong is he?" Wu Hao asked, staring at Xiao Yan intently.
"I don't know his exact cultivation," Xiao Yan admitted. "Probably only Xun'er knows. But I'm certain he's at least a Dou Ling."
"Dou Ling?!"
The four were instantly astonished. Considering how easily Xiao Jietian had defeated them before, they felt dejected.
Meanwhile, Xiao Jietian and Xun'er leapt gracefully through the forest canopy.
"Senior Xiao Zhitian, what are we going to do?" Xun'er asked, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"I'm taking you to rob the older students," he replied matter-of-factly. "Fire Energy is essential for our future cultivation. Whether it's for special training environments or exchanging resources, it's consumed very quickly."
"I need to work hard and gather it… to support you."
Xun'er was initially surprised by how much he knew about the Inner Academy. But when she heard the last part, her cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She faltered, missing a branch and beginning to fall.
Before she could descend, a pair of strong arms caught her.
"Xun'er, we're practically an old married couple already. Why are you still so shy?" Xiao Jietian teased, his eyes full of doting affection as he leapt through the trees.
"Who… who's an old married couple with you?" she stammered, ears burning bright red.
"There's a fight ahead," he said, landing lightly on a tree trunk and setting her down. "Come on. Let's go join the fun and earn something."
"Hand over your Fire Energy, or you'll suffer even more pain."
Five older students stood over several injured new students, who leaned weakly against a tree.
Using their coordination, the older students snatched the crystal cards from the new students' hands. One swipe of the cards reduced the new students' Fire Energy from five days' worth to two.
"What an annoying rule," the leading youth muttered. "We're required to leave new students at least two days' worth of Fire Energy."
He tossed the crystal cards back carelessly.
"I know you might not like it," he said, voice full of arrogance, "but this is the Inner Academy's rule. As older students, it's our duty to put arrogant newcomers in their place."
"No matter how impressive you were in the Outer Academy, here, if you're a dragon, you coil. If you're a tiger, you crouch. This isn't a place to run wild."
Another older student crouched, gently patting a new student's cheek mockingly.
"Did you hear Senior Cheng clearly? Be sensible from now on. If you don't want another beating, hand over your Fire Energy obediently."
Suddenly, a playful voice echoed behind them.
"I'm also curious… In the Inner Academy, should I coil… or crouch?"
The five older students froze. Cold sweat broke out over their backs.
Less than three metres behind them stood a young man and a young woman.
None of them had sensed their arrival.
"Who are you?" Cheng demanded, face darkening.
"Us?" Xiao Jietian said calmly, folding his arms. "We're the new students you just mentioned."
"It's Senior Xiao Zhitian!" one of the new students exclaimed.
"Xiao Jietian? You're this year's top student? Perfect. I haven't had the chance to teach the top newcomer a lesson yet. Once I beat you, I'll definitely make a name for myself in the academy."
The other four older students laughed, thinking Xiao Jietian was an easy target.
A dangerous smile curved Xiao Jietian's lips, and his eyes turned cold.
He instantly appeared before one of the older students and punched him squarely in the face. The student flew through the air, teeth scattering, and crashed heavily onto the ground, unconscious.
"How dare you launch a sneak attack!" Cheng shouted.
Before he could finish, Xiao Jietian flickered again. The remaining three older students collapsed instantly, just like the first.
Youth truly is wonderful… they didn't even fear the ground. They fell asleep immediately.
Cheng gulped, terror filling his eyes as he stared at his unconscious teammates.
He had hit a brick wall… a very solid one.
"Didn't you say you wanted to teach me a lesson?" Xiao Jietian asked softly, appearing before him. He lifted Cheng effortlessly, smiling. "Why are you trembling? Too excited?"
Though smiling, his voice was like a whisper of a demon. Cheng felt death closing in.
Xiao Jietian slammed him violently into the ground, blood spilling from his mouth, his internal organs shifting painfully.
With a casual kick, he sent him crashing against a tree, piling him together with the other four.
"Senior Xiao Zhitian is incredible!"
"These older students are like toys in front of him!"
The rescued new students cheered in awe.
Xiao Jietian ignored them. He kicked each older student awake.
Xun'er stepped forward, standing beside him. Her gentle eyes now carried a cold glint. Anyone who had spoken disrespectfully to her Senior Xiao Zhitian was now her enemy.
"Are… are you really a new student?" Cheng asked weakly, trembling.
"Absolutely genuine," Xiao Jietian said calmly. "Now then… will you hand over your Fire Energy obediently… or shall I beat you again until you do?"