238: ran to the inner courtyard

The remaining day and more quietly slipped away while the AFK Panel operated steadily and efficiently.

When the appointed time arrived, all fifty students who ranked highest in this year's Outer Academy Grand Competition had gathered on the academy square.

Excitement and anticipation radiated from these young faces, mixed with a hint of nervousness and unease.

They all knew that the next step would be the crucial gateway leading to the core Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy.

Dean Lei Tian of the Outer Academy stood before the crowd, his gaze sweeping over this group of elites carefully cultivated by the academy, pausing slightly on Jiang Donghua, who was particularly conspicuous among the masses, a smug smile involuntarily appearing on his face.

The quality of the Outer Academy Students this year, especially with the emergence of such a monstrous talent, made him, the Dean of the Outer Academy, feel immensely proud.

He cleared his throat and spoke loudly, his voice carrying both encouragement and warning.

“Alright, little guys! Quiet down!”

“Now, I will lead you to the Inner Academy! That is the true core of Jia Nan Academy, possessing cultivation resources and a competitive environment you cannot imagine!”

“However, the final step to the Inner Academy is not so simple! Pull yourselves together; I hope that when you get there, you don’t disgrace our Outer Academy!”

Hearing this, most of the students below showed curiosity and eagerness, but only a few—either those with extraordinary backgrounds or those who had received advance information from Senior Students in the Inner Academy—wore solemn and knowing expressions, clearly aware of what was about to happen.

It was a traditional welcoming ceremony for New Students, and also a show of force, where the Inner Academy would dispatch elite Senior Students to intercept and hunt them down along the mandatory route to the Inner Academy!

However, the eyes of these few insiders unanimously glanced toward the person standing at the front.

The originally worried hearts of those who looked at Jiang Donghua, whose aura was as serene as an abyss, strangely transformed into a mixture of expectation and schadenfreude.

“Hmph, those fellows in the Inner Academy, in previous years, would at most send experts at the Seven-Star Dou Ling level to intercept us. After all, in past years, the top ranker of the Outer Academy was lucky to even be a Three-Star Dou Ling.”

“But they definitely won’t expect that our Outer Academy this time has an existence at the Peak of Nine-Star Dou Ling!”

This thought circled in their minds, causing the corners of their mouths to curl up slightly.

“Heh heh, it looks like it’s the Inner Academy’s turn to suffer a little this year!”

“Indeed, counting it up, hasn’t it been over a decade since an Outer Academy Student was able to break through the Inner Academy’s search so forcefully?”

Even Dean Lei Tian, standing at the front, looked at Jiang Donghua’s back and couldn’t help but think secretly, a flicker of slyness and anticipation crossing his aged face.

“Hmph, those arrogant old fellows and Senior Students in the Inner Academy always complain that the students we send from the Outer Academy aren’t up to standard.”

“This year, it’s time to let them see that our Outer Academy can also produce true prodigies! Kid Jiang, don’t disappoint this old man!”

He seemed to already see the wonderful expressions of those in the Inner Academy being caught off guard and stunned speechless.

“Everyone, follow me! Let’s go!”

Dean Lei Tian waved his hand, his figure soaring into the air first, flying toward the continuous range of mountains behind the academy.

The fifty Outer Academy elites immediately surged with Dou Qi, either executing movement techniques or skimming low across the ground, following closely behind.

Led by Dean Lei Tian, the fifty Outer Academy elites passed through the barrier behind the academy, and a vast, boundless primeval forest, permeated with an ancient aura, came into view.

This was the mandatory, vast, and perilous forest region leading to the Inner Academy.

On the clearing at the edge of the forest, several figures with majestic auras were already waiting.

They wore robes slightly different from those of the Outer Academy Elders, their auras more restrained and profound, and they wore leisurely, amused smiles—they were the Inner Academy Elders sent to receive them.

The Inner Academy Elders chuckled as they assessed the young, vibrant faces before them, their gazes like those of experienced farmers examining a thriving new crop, showing a hint of scrutiny but mostly anticipation for fresh blood.

Their eyes casually swept over the crowd.

However, when their sight landed on the black-haired youth at the very front of the group—whose aura was serene, yet who subtly seemed to be the energy core of the entire team—the smiles on the faces of the Elders simultaneously froze slightly, and they were stunned for a few seconds.

With their eyesight, they naturally saw through Jiang Donghua’s cultivation level, which he had not intentionally fully concealed.

“Hmm?”

“Peak Dou Ling?!”

A thin-faced Inner Academy Elder couldn’t help but click his tongue, his tone filled with disbelief and surprise, as he whispered to his colleague beside him.

“When did the Outer Academy produce such a monstrous talent? The quality of this batch of New Students is a little outrageous!”

The other Inner Academy Elders also snapped back to attention, their astonished gazes sweeping back and forth between Jiang Donghua and the smug Dean Lei Tian standing nearby.

“You sly old devil, Lei!”

A loud-voiced Elder couldn't help but complain to Lei Tian.

“No wonder you’re smiling like you found money this time—you were hiding such an ace! You were deliberately holding back, planning to give our Inner Academy’s Senior Students a tough lesson, weren't you?”

“Exactly! A Peak Dou Ling coming to participate in the Inner Academy selection is practically cheating!”

Another Elder also shook his head and chuckled in agreement.

Dean Lei Tian was naturally beaming, stroking his chin with a smug, ‘Oh, you just figured that out?’ expression, and deliberately played coy.

“Oh, just luck, just luck. The young man worked hard himself; our Outer Academy merely provided a platform. How about that? Doesn’t this year look truly interesting?”

His appearance left the Inner Academy Elders both exasperated and amused.

After the jokes were over, the handover process officially began.

A more serious-looking Inner Academy Elder stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over all the students, and he spoke in a deep voice.

“Alright, silence! Starting from here, this is your final trial leading to the Inner Academy. Whether you can successfully arrive depends entirely on your own abilities.”

After speaking, he and the other Elders simultaneously waved their hands, and fifty streaks of black light accurately shot toward every student.

Jiang Donghua reached out and caught one; what landed in his hand was a black card, neither large nor small.

The card was made of unknown material, cool and smooth to the touch, like a piece of fine black jade. The surface of the card had subtle energy patterns, and a small crystal-like structure was embedded in the center.

The Inner Academy Elders watched the students curiously examine the black cards in their hands, their faces once again showing that look of enjoying the spectacle, and they explained.

“Little guys, hold onto your Fire Energy Cards.”

“This is not only your proof of entry into the Inner Academy, but also the crucial storage item for Fire Energy, which is vital for your survival in the Inner Academy in the future. Don’t ask what Fire Energy is; you won’t be able to live without this treasure in the Inner Academy.”

“And your current mission is very simple: protect this item and successfully make it to the Inner Academy!”

As soon as the words fell, the Inner Academy Elders and Dean Lei Tian exchanged glances.

Immediately afterward, they moved, vanishing from the spot like ghosts, leaving this forest, full of opportunity and danger, entirely to the fifty nervous yet excited young people.