[Follow-up: Win a spot in the top ten of the Strong Ranking Tournament.]
[Only after completing the follow-up can the next advance be unlocked. Current available advances: Zero.]
The sweet juice of the Heaven Jade Fruit flowed down his throat into his stomach, but before Chen Xiao could savor it, it transformed into a vast energy that erupted within his body.
Yet, strangely, despite such immense medicinal power, Chen Xiao didn't feel the slightest pain. The medicinal power was incredibly gentle. The only discomfort was perhaps a feeling of being overly full, like someone with a tiny appetite gritting their teeth and eating three times their usual amount.
Without time to carefully sense it, Chen Xiao quickly formed cultivation hand seals and began to sort and guide this vast medicinal power, making it circulate along the cultivation technique's path within his body.
Again and again, in a cycle.
As the discomfort of being overly full gradually subsided, Chen Xiao's own strength also rapidly approached the peak of an eight-star Dou Ling...
Buzz~
A small figure appeared silently in the room. Zi Yan had returned after leaving.
She glanced at Chen Xiao, who was concentrating on refining the Heaven Jade Fruit's medicinal power, and her delicate nose twitched.
Too late!
Disappointment flickered across her small face for a moment, then quickly dissipated. She went straight to the wooden window and sat down, pulled out the half-eaten medicinal herb, and bit into it with a 'crunch'. Then, she frowned and stared at the herb in her hand, which was now unrecognizable, as if questioning it, Why are you so unpalatable?
But feeling Chen Xiao's continuously rising aura, Zi Yan could only sigh silently and continue eating, while also guarding Chen Xiao. She completely forgot that this was the Inner Academy, and there was no safer place in the entire Black-Corner Region.
She guarded him from dusk until dark, and from dark until deep into the night, until Zi Yan had consumed three medicinal herbs. Only then did Chen Xiao on the bed tremble slightly and slowly open his eyes.
"I knew you, a mere seven-star Dou Ling, wouldn't have the confidence to compete for a spot in the top three of the Strong Ranking without some hidden good stuff!"
Chen Xiao had already sensed Zi Yan's arrival and wasn't surprised to hear her voice suddenly.
"Of course, I don't do things I'm not confident about. Now I'm at the peak of an eight-star Dou Ling. It shouldn't be difficult to advance to nine-star before the Strong Ranking Tournament begins."
Zi Yan nodded slightly. Chen Xiao's cultivation speed had always been something she envied.
"Now, including you, there are exactly five nine-star Dou Lings and four eight-star Dou Lings among the Inner Academy students. The top ten will probably be you guys. I wonder how many Dou Kings will emerge after this year's top ten receive their rewards."
Chen Xiao pondered slightly, recalling the rewards for the top ten of the Strong Ranking.
Seeing that he didn't reply, Zi Yan thought he didn't understand and immediately adopted a mentor-like posture, standing up with her small hands behind her back to explain.
"According to past practice, anyone who can enter the top ten in this competition is eligible to become an Elder candidate. Many Elders in the Inner Academy now came through this route. However, among the previous Strong Ranking top ten, only three chose to stay in the Inner Academy, and they were all fire-attribute Elders. The rest left."
"Besides the hidden reward of being an Elder candidate, the top ten can also get a chance to enter the ninth floor of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower to undergo Heart Flame Origin Tempering. This is what attracts Inner Academy students the most."
"Do you know what Heart Flame Tempering is?"
"No, I don't." Chen Xiao shook his head and smiled, letting the little dragon girl fully enjoy being a mentor.
"Hehe, simply put, after undergoing this Heart Flame Origin Tempering, as long as you're not someone with such terrible luck that you incur the wrath of heaven and resentment of others, it's equivalent to getting a pass to advance to the Dou Wang level!"
"Of course, it's just a pass. It means they won't encounter bottlenecks when breaking through to Dou Wang later. As for those who can break through on the spot after undergoing Heart Flame Tempering, I heard that at most only two or three out of ten can do so each time, and over ninety percent of these people are fire-attribute."
"I'm telling you this mainly so you can be mentally prepared. Don't be unable to accept it when the time comes."
Chen Xiao chuckled, You're quite kind.
"Have you tried this Heart Flame Tempering?"
Zi Yan shook her head, "Not yet. The Strong Ranking Tournament is held every five years, and this year is my first time experiencing it. However, I've been underground with Old Man Su. I don't really like it there, and Heart Flame Tempering isn't very effective for those above Dou Wang. If Old Man Su hadn't disagreed, I wouldn't even want to participate in such a boring competition."
Hearing this, Chen Xiao was speechless.
While others were fighting tooth and nail for a spot, wanting to undergo Heart Flame Tempering, this little dragon girl was actually finding it bothersome.
After finishing the serious matters, Zi Yan suddenly changed the subject.
"Are you still going to the Black-Corner Region tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'll leave at dawn."
"Then take me with you!"
"No way! I can't keep an eye on you right now. After I break through to Dou Wang, if you're interested, I can take you to a farther place to have some fun."
"You said that, you can't go back on your word!"
...
The next day.
As dawn broke, Chen Xiao came to the Grand Elder's study, neatly arranged the ancient books he had finished reading, and took some he hadn't read yet. Only then did he head straight for the Black-Corner Region.
Although he had the Purple Cloud Wings, which made traveling more convenient, ever since he gradually mastered the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, Chen Xiao rarely used this flying Dou Skill anymore.
Walking and stopping along the way to practice the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, it took him two days to finally arrive at his chosen destination this time.
Maple City!
In the Black-Corner Region, the scale of this city wasn't actually among the largest, yet, its reputation was particularly resounding.
Simply because, mountains aren't famous for their height, but for the presence of immortals.
The owner of this city was that sixth-grade Alchemist, Medicine Emperor Han Feng!
Chen Xiao temporarily had no intention of provoking Han Feng, but due to coveting the Heavenly Cold Qi, it was foreseeable that he would definitely come into contact with him in the near future.
Moreover, the probability of a confrontation was very, very high.
Therefore, Chen Xiao's purpose in coming to Maple City this time was to gain experience while also thoroughly investigating the city's details.
At the very least, he needed to know how many strong individuals were revolving around Han Feng, obeying his commands. This would provide considerable convenience for Chen Xiao's future actions.
With this goal in mind, Chen Xiao spent the next month or so training around Maple City, entering the city each time to handle the spoils of war that were of average value.
A high-level Dou Ling was already considered upper-middle tier in the Black-Corner Region. If he were active in other cities, he would inevitably attract attention.
However, within Maple City, Han Feng's subordinates paid no attention to Chen Xiao at all.
Thanks to Han Feng's identity as an Alchemist, countless strong individuals came to Maple City every year, drawn by his reputation. Even the Dou Wangs and Dou Huangs on the Black Ranking would occasionally come to ask for Han Feng's help.
It was in this kind of environment that Chen Xiao's appearance was like a butterfly landing on a withered flower branch.
Insignificant.
While Chen Xiao was quietly observing Han Feng, the Strong Ranking Tournament in the Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy finally kicked off.
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