120: Negotiation

Near the edge of the forest, there was a rocky area.

Four figures in white robes sat cross-legged together, whispering while looking at a giant rock not far behind them.

On that rock, a young man sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, still and silent, as if in a deep sleep.

At this moment, a white figure flashed through the forest ahead, quickly catching the attention of the four.

The white figure made a few leaps and arrived at the rocky area.

"Boss, the Black Fiends Team and the remaining old students have teamed up."

After stopping, this person looked at the young man in the center and spoke.

As soon as his words came out, they exploded like thunder, leaving the four somewhat dumbfounded.

"Sha Tie, that good-for-nothing! It's a disgrace that he's an old student of the Inner Academy, constantly frequenting the Arena, yet he fears new students!"

The fair-skinned young man in the center snorted coldly.

His words were filled with disdain for Sha Tie's actions.

"Boss, given this situation, won't we have no chance to make a move?"

Someone asked anxiously.

The fair-skinned young man shook his head slightly, "It's fine. The Black and White Guardians's purpose is to prevent new students from smoothly entering the Inner Academy. As long as the Black Fiends Team teaches the new students a lesson, we will still get rewards."

Speaking of this, he paused, then tilted his head to glance at the silent young man behind him, "However, he probably won't gain anything from this Fire Energy Hunting Competition."

"He's clearly not a Black and White Guardians, so what's he doing hiding behind us? This behavior is completely inconsistent with the Aura he displayed last year."

"Do you think it's possible that he's convinced that we Black and White Guardians will lose to this year's new students?"

"You mean he wants to replicate last year, taking all the Fire Energy from both new and old students by himself?"

The voices of several members of the White Fiends Team diminished, and their gazes subconsciously converged on the fair-skinned young man.

"First, I am not Han Yue! Second, not every year will there be a Lin Xiu; last year was just an exception!"

Luo Hou spoke with conviction, revealing his confidence in his own strength and his disdain for this year's new students.

The few people discussed in low voices, but they had no idea that Lin Xiu's five senses far surpassed those of ordinary people.

Those whispers, to Lin Xiu's ears, were no different from talking right next to him.

"The Black Fiends Team actively teamed up? Is this a butterfly effect? It shouldn't be a big problem. Xiao Yan has many tricks up his sleeve, and his behavior far exceeds his peers. His charisma is extremely strong, so he should still be able to pass the Black Fiends' challenge.

As for the White Fiends... this Luo Hou does have some strength, but encountering the unreasonable Furious Buddha Lotus Flame, he might still be a bit outmatched."

Lin Xiu's mind was calm, neither rushed nor impatient.

He not only believed that Xiao Yan had the strength to stand before him, but he also believed in Xiao Xun'er's strength.

After all, this was not the rabbit next to someone.

Instead, she was the Young Miss of an absolutely top-tier Family on the Dou Qi Continent, whose own background, if truly assessed, was even more terrifying than Canaan Academy's.

"If I suppress the new and old students again this time, my crimson flame crystal card should be able to upgrade to the highest violet flame crystal card, and I'll be able to go to the eighth floor."

With his wandering thoughts reined in, Lin Xiu somewhat anticipated Xiao Yan's arrival.

He really wanted to know what expression Xiao Yan would have when he saw him and recognized him as the person who snatched Fan Ling's treasure... "They're here!"

In a clearing in the forest, dozens of figures gathered.

When movement came from the distant forest, dozens of figures emerged one after another.

All their gazes turned towards them.

Xiao Yan walked at the very front, with Xun'er and Hu Jia beside him, and a dense crowd of figures behind him.

His gaze first swept over five figures dressed in black robes.

"Black Fiends Team!"

Before they even got close, Xiao Yan's powerful Soul Power sensed that the opponents' Aura was very strong.

Especially the burly young man who resembled a gorilla, who gave him a false impression of unfathomable depth.

"Even if he's not a Dou Ling, he's probably not far from the true Dou Ling Realm."

Muttering to himself, Xiao Yan instructed Xun'er, Hu Jia, and the others to stay alert, as the opponents' strength should not be underestimated.

"Xiao Yan?"

Sha Tie asked.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, "Senior, isn't it a bit too outrageous for you to use this kind of formation to deal with us new students?"

Wu Hao frowned and said, "If the Fire Energy Hunting Competition has this rule, is there still a need to keep it in the future?"

"You Cultivated in the Inner Academy for a year, your strength wasn't much worse than ours to begin with, and now you're even stronger than us, yet you still have the nerve to team up?"

Hu Jia's face showed an indignant expression.

The other new students also chattered, expressing their opinions. When their own interests were involved, no one would choose to remain uninvolved.

"Everyone, quiet down."

Seeing that Sha Tie had something to say, Xiao Yan raised both hands to signal, and the new student team immediately quieted down.

Su Xiao and Leng Bai looked on, somewhat surprised.

Last year, they had also suggested that Lin Xiu organize, but he unfortunately refused.

Unexpectedly, this year's new students really produced an anomaly, with very strong charisma!

"To be honest, your ability to gather so many new students is quite unexpected.

However, my teaming up with them is not to bully anyone, but to ask for a promise!"

Sha Tie had a burly physique, and his personality was clearly not that of a petty or narrow-minded person.

"What do you mean?"

Xiao Yan was taken aback.

"The Black and White Guardians's task is to defeat all the troublesome new students who appear. Currently, you few are clearly the core among the new students.

How about we have a best-of-five match? It saves time and doesn't bully you. Our Black Fiends Team will send three people, and the old student team will send two. As for you, it's up to you to arrange it."

After Sha Tie finished speaking, both the new student and old student teams fell into contemplation.

On the old student side, the discussion was clearly louder than among the new students, with everyone expressing their opinions.

Because it concerned their own Fire Energy.

However, as Sha Tie turned around and reprimanded them a few times, the voices quieted down.

Mainly, the old students didn't have much of an advantage in numbers. If the Black Fiends Team retreated at this moment, they would fall into a disadvantage.

Secondly, the old students still had confidence in the Black Fiends Team's strength. Three Black Fiends Team members, with good luck, could win all three rounds. At worst, they could win two rounds.

What's more, there weren't entirely without strong individuals among their old students.

For example, Su Xiao, Leng Bai, and Xiu Yan were all very strong. Choosing any two of them would be a good fight.

Everyone clarified their thoughts and agreed to Sha Tie's proposal.

On the new student side, everyone looked at Xiao Yan. They were all waiting for his opinion.

Xiao Yan was a bit conflicted. The Black Fiends Team's strength was undoubtedly very strong, and the three people next to them were also not weak.

If they teamed up for a free-for-all, even though his new student side had a numerical advantage, they might not last too long, and there would also be casualties.

There was also a White Fiends Team behind them, whose strength was even greater than the Black Fiends Team's. Preserving usable combat power was crucial.

"Brother Xiao Yan, I can definitely win!"

Xun'er saw Xiao Yan's hesitation and proactively took his hand, her eyes full of confidence.

"Mm."

Xiao Yan gently squeezed her hand, then turned to look at Hu Jia and Wu Hao, "I am confident I can win against Sha Tie."

Hu Jia and Wu Hao exchanged glances.

The situation was now very clear: Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er could guarantee two victories.

Then, the last victory had to be decided between them and Bai Shan!

"As long as it's not Sha Tie, I can win one, but then I might not be able to participate further."

Hu Jia's expression was serious.

After all, her maternal grandfather was the Vice Dean of the Outer Academy, so she also had some trump cards.

"Then agree to them!"

Xiao Yan chose to trust his teammates, and the new students also trusted Xiao Yan.

Soon, a best-of-five competition was settled.