Over the next two days, the Inner Academy Selection Tournament continued.
Unsurprisingly, after more than ten rounds of matches, Xiao Se ended every battle in a single move.
As for the little kitty—although the Netherworld Spirit Cat gave her powerful advantages—the gap in cultivation was not something that could be completely bridged.
When facing true Da Dou Shi, she was ultimately defeated and failed to enter the top five.
Fortunately, she still passed the selection and obtained the qualification to enter the Inner Academy.
Today was the final match of the selection tournament.
Not only had nearly all of Jia Nan Academy's students gathered, but even Vice Principal Hu Qian, who had not appeared for many days, arrived alongside numerous elders.
In addition, citizens from Jia Nan City outside the academy flocked in after hearing the news, all eager to witness this grand annual event.
Seated in the class section led by Ruo Lin, Xiao Se chatted and laughed with Little Fairy Doctor, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Yu, and Xun'er.
"Little pervert, once you enter the Inner Academy, don't you dare forget about me,"
Xiao Yu said as she sat beside him, her eyes reddened and shimmering with tears.
She had originally thought that once Xiao Se entered Jia Nan Academy, the two of them would finally have more time together.
Who would've thought—
He returned not only with two beautiful girls whose relationships with him were far from innocent, but after staying in the Outer Academy for just one month, he was already about to enter the Inner Academy again.
"Don't worry," Xiao Se said softly, gently wiping the corner of her eyes.
"I'll come visit often. And at your current cultivation speed, I'm sure you'll break through to Da Dou Shi and enter the Inner Academy very soon."
Toward this cousin who had accompanied him through five years of life, Xiao Se's feelings ran deep.
In some ways, only Long Kui could compare.
If possible, he truly wished that after reviving Long Kui, he could bring her and all the girls to live quietly in the Jia Ma Empire, enjoying a peaceful life together.
But he couldn't stop now.
The future would be dangerous.
Only a little over ten years remained before the Soul Clan's plans unfolded.
He could not afford to relax even for a moment—he had to seize every chance to grow stronger.
At this moment, Xun'er—seated beside Xiao Yu—also looked over.
Her gaze was complicated.
Reluctance. Longing. Confusion. Tenderness.
Many emotions blended together before finally turning into a single sentence:
"Brother Xiao Se… be careful."
Xiao Se nodded gently.
"Hehe, Xiao Se, it's almost time."
Ruo Lin smiled bitterly as she looked at Xiao Yu and Xun'er's reluctance, then glanced at the other four students already stepping onto the arena.
"Although your strength is overwhelming, I still need to remind you—this final match is a chaotic free-for-all among the top five."
"The other four are all Da Dou Shi far stronger than ordinary cultivators of the same level."
"They may very well join forces to attack you for first place. Be careful."
"Thank you for the reminder, Instructor Ruo Lin."
Xiao Se smiled, stood up, and walked in front of her.
From his storage ring, he took out a jade bottle and handed it to her.
"This is…?"
Ruo Lin instantly guessed it was a pill, but still asked subconsciously.
Xiao Se replied gently,
"A Three-Pattern Qingling Pill I refined myself."
"Thank you for taking care of us during this time. Once Zhuqing and I enter the Inner Academy, I'll have to trouble you to look after Xiao Yu."
After saying that, he glanced at Xun'er, hesitated briefly, then added,
"And Xun'er as well."
"Xiao Yu and Xun'er are my students—I'll naturally take care of them," Ruo Lin said.
But as she looked at the jade bottle, hesitation flashed through her eyes.
A pill capable of letting a Da Dou Shi leap three stars with high probability—
It was impossible not to be tempted.
But it was simply too valuable.
"I…"
"Just take it, Instructor Ruo Lin," Xiao Yu said quickly, snatching the bottle from Xiao Se and stuffing it into her hands.
"This guy refined a lot of them. Zhuqing and I each got two. Xun'er also has two."
"Yes, Instructor," Xun'er added with a light smile.
"This is Brother Xiao Se's goodwill."
"Please accept it," Zhu Zhuqing said as well.
Ruo Lin looked at Xiao Yu, then Xun'er, then Zhu Zhuqing, and finally at Xiao Se.
She smiled warmly.
"Then I'll accept it. Thank you, Xiao Se. I promise—I won't let Xiao Yu or Xun'er suffer even the slightest grievance."
Xiao Se nodded with a smile.
After bidding farewell to the girls, he tapped the ground lightly and soared onto the central arena over a hundred meters away.
The moment he appeared, countless gazes locked onto him.
Cheers erupted across the entire plaza.
From the start of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament until now, Xiao Se had never once truly revealed his strength.
Against female students, he simply grabbed their collars and tossed them off the stage.
Against male students, he kicked them squarely in the backside.
For this unbelievably young boy, everyone was dying to know—
just how strong he truly was.
Today, his opponents were four Da Dou Shi.
And not ordinary ones either.
Each possessed combat power far surpassing cultivators of the same level—outstanding talents of the new generation.
Against four such opponents, even a Dou Ling would struggle to avoid defeat.
Everyone waited eagerly to see what kind of clash would occur.
On a tall platform at the edge of the plaza, Vice Principal Hu Qian sat with several elders on either side.
Behind him stood a red-clothed少女.
Watching Xiao Se take the stage, Hu Qian smiled and stood.
"All five participants are present."
"I will now announce the rules."
"There are none."
"A full melee. Whoever remains on the arena the longest will rank the highest."
"I hereby declare—"
"The final round of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament… begin!"
As his voice fell, the four Da Dou Shi exchanged glances.
Eyes to noses, noses to hearts—they nodded subtly.
Then they spread out, encircling Xiao Se from all directions.
They all knew how terrifying he was.
In a one-on-one—or even two-on-one—they had almost no chance.
Only by banding together could they remove the greatest threat first before competing for first place themselves.
"Banding together for warmth, huh?"
Xiao Se glanced calmly at the four tense figures.
Among them were even a few who ranked highly on the Inner Academy's future power list in the original story.
But none of that mattered to him.
He had no interest in playing house with them.
A flash of light from his storage ring—
A long sword appeared in his hand.
It wasn't the demonic sword.
Just an ordinary blade inlaid with a second-rank beast core.
For a Dou Ling like him, it could merely withstand his Dou Qi without shattering—nothing more.
Today—
He intended to use this opportunity to test the true might of sword intent.
And four high-level Da Dou Shi—
Were perfect experimental subjects.
(End of Chapter)
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