70: Strong charts are rising

After the riot in the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower subsided, Xiao Chen's name reached an unprecedented height in the Inner Academy. His heroic act of saving the Academy, coupled with the halo of being the champion of the selection competition, made him the focus of attention for all students. Grand Elder Su Qian personally issued an order, rewarding Xiao Chen with a massive amount of Fire Energy and specially permitting him to enter the seventh floor of the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower for cultivation at any time, while strictly sealing off the detailed events of the tower's bottom.

Xiao Chen recuperated in his private courtyard for several days. With the help of the precious elixirs given by Su Qian and his own powerful soul recovery ability, his injuries quickly healed. Not only that, but after being tempered by the heart flame origin at the bottom of the tower and the baptism of that wisp of Origin Qi, his One-star Dou Zong cultivation was completely stabilized. His Dou Qi (Fighting Skill) condensed like mercury, and his soul power became even more harmonious and transparent, subtly touching the peak of Spirit Realm Great Perfection.

On this day, just as Xiao Chen finished his cultivation, a commotion came from outside his courtyard.

"Xiao Chen! Come out!"

"The ninety-eighth on the strong ranking list, Shi Hao, has come to challenge you!"

Xiao Chen pushed the door open and saw many students gathered outside the courtyard, watching the excitement. A burly, dark-skinned strong man stood with his arms crossed, staring intently at him. This Shi Hao had a profound aura and was already at the peak of a nine-star Dou Huang, making him somewhat famous in the Inner Academy.

"It's Senior Brother Shi Hao! He specializes in physical strength; his power is comparable to a low-tier Dou Zong (Fighter Rank)!"

"Although Senior Brother Xiao Chen has a powerful soul, he just advanced to Dou Zong (Fighter Rank), so his Dou Qi (Fighting Skill) foundation might not be as deep as Shi Hao's."

Everyone discussed animatedly, eager to know the actual combat ability of this rising new champion.

Xiao Chen's expression was calm. He had long expected that in a place like the Inner Academy, one would never live peacefully just because of a single achievement; strength was the only pass. strong ranking list rankings were related to the allocation of cultivation resources, so challenges were common.

"Alright." Xiao Chen nodded faintly.

The two arrived at a nearby arena. Shi Hao wasted no words, roaring loudly. His muscles bulged, and an earthy yellow Dou Qi (Fighting Skill) erupted. He charged like a savage elephant, punching towards Xiao Chen! The force of the punch was fierce, causing the air to crackle!

Xiao Chen did not dodge or evade. He wanted to test his physical strength after advancing to Dou Zong (Fighter Rank). With a thought, a light golden Dou Qi (Fighting Skill) covered his fist, and he met the punch with his own! He did not use any Dou Technique, relying purely on the clash of Dou Qi (Fighting Skill) and physical body!

"Bang!"

The two fists collided with a dull thud! Airwaves rolled, and the flagstones beneath their feet cracked inch by inch!

Xiao Chen's figure swayed slightly but quickly stabilized. Shi Hao, however, retreated three steps, a look of disbelief on his face! He felt as if his fist had struck a golden metal mountain, and the rebound force made his arm numb!

"Such strong power! His Dou Qi (Fighting Skill) didn't feel particularly profound, but its quality is extremely high, and his physical strength is simply monstrous!" Shi Hao was inwardly horrified. He didn't know that Xiao Chen's physical strength, after the initial awakening of his Dou Di Bloodline and tempering by the heart flame, had long surpassed others at his rank.

"Take another move from me! Earth Splitting Palm!" Shi Hao was unwilling to yield and unleashed his signature Dou Technique. The palm wind pressed down like a mountain!

This time, Xiao Chen no longer met it head-on. With a movement of his Illusory Spirit Steps, his figure vanished like a ghost, reappearing beside Shi Hao in the next moment. His fingers pointed like a sword, with highly condensed soul power at the tip, silently unleashing a "Soul Breaking Finger"!

Shi Hao felt a sharp pain in his head, as if his soul had been pricked by a needle, and his condensed palm strike instantly disintegrated! In the brief moment of his distraction, Xiao Chen's palm had already gently pressed against his back, releasing a soft force that pushed him away without injuring him.

"You concede." Xiao Chen withdrew his hand and stood.

Shi Hao landed, his expression changing. Finally, he cupped his hands and bowed: "Senior Brother Xiao Chen's strength is formidable; Shi Hao admires you! I am thoroughly convinced!" He knew that if that finger had been used with full power, his soul would have been severely damaged.

The crowd below immediately erupted in an uproar!

"He won so quickly?"

"Senior Brother Xiao Chen doesn't seem to have used his full strength!"

"Soul attack combined with movement technique, it's too strange!"

After this battle, no one dared to underestimate Xiao Chen's Dou Qi (Fighting Skill) cultivation and close-quarters combat ability. In the following days, several more students ranked in the nineties on the strong ranking list came to challenge him, all of whom were easily defeated by Xiao Chen. His strong ranking list ranking quickly climbed to the ninetieth position!

On this day, as Xiao Chen returned from the arena, a stern figure blocked the front of his small courtyard. The newcomer was dressed in green, with a tall and straight posture, and an aura as deep as the sea. It was Liu Qing, ranked fifth on the strong ranking list!

"Xiao Chen." Liu Qing spoke, his voice calm but carrying an invisible pressure, "Your strength is good. However, the waters of the Inner Academy are very deep; relying solely on cleverness won't get you far."

Xiao Chen felt the unparalleled sharp spear intent emanating from the other party but his expression remained unchanged: "Senior Brother Liu Qing, what guidance do you have?"

"Guidance is not the word." Liu Qing's gaze was like lightning, sweeping over Xiao Chen, "I just want to remind you that some people are not to be provoked. Stay away from Han Yue." After speaking, he gave Xiao Chen a deep look, then turned and left without making a move.

Xiao Chen's brows furrowed slightly. Han Yue? He remembered her as a rather famous senior student in the Inner Academy, with outstanding talent and exquisite beauty, who seemed to have expressed some goodwill towards him. It appeared that Liu Qing had feelings for Han Yue and had come to warn him.

"Boring rivalry." Xiao Chen shook his head, not taking it to heart. His goal was a higher realm and to uncover the mystery of his origins; romantic entanglements were not within his consideration for now.

After stabilizing his strong ranking list ranking, Xiao Chen used his champion reward to enter the upper levels of the Inner Academy's library. The ancient texts collected here were far beyond what the outer pavilion offered, even including many rare and secret records about soul cultivation. Xiao Chen read ravenously, not only finding a low-tier Earth-grade soul defense Dou Technique suitable for his current realm—the "Soul Armor Art"—but also discovering a vague record on an extremely ancient beast skin scroll:

"...Above the Spirit Realm is the Heaven Realm. However, the Heaven Realm is not the end; above it, there is talk of the 'Emperor Realm', where the soul materializes, and a single thought can move the universe... Yet, since ancient times, with the depletion of Origin Qi, the path to the Emperor Realm has been severed, and the Heaven Realm has become a swan song..."

"Emperor Realm soul...depletion of Origin Qi..." Xiao Chen's heart trembled. This corroborated the information he had received from the ancestral remnant soul. It seemed that to reach the legendary Emperor Realm of the soul, and even to break through to Dou Di, Origin Qi was key! And that tiny seed of Origin Qi deep within his Qi Sea might just be his greatest hope!

Beneath the calm days, Xiao Chen could feel undercurrents. The threat of the Soul Hall hung like a sword over his head; although temporarily deterred by Jia Nan Academy's vigilance, they would never give up. In the Inner Academy, the attitudes of Liu Qing and others also indicated that his path would not be smooth.

"Strength, still not enough strength!" Xiao Chen clenched his fists. One-star Dou Zong and Spirit Realm Great Perfection soul, though top-tier among the younger generation in the Inner Academy, were still minuscule when looking at the entire continent. He had to improve quickly!

His next goal was clear: to break into the top fifty of the strong ranking list! To gain the qualification to cultivate in the Inner Academy's higher-level secret realm, the "Star Realm"! It was said that the Star Realm contained a trace of the original power of the stars, which had miraculous effects on tempering the soul and Dou Qi (Fighting Skill), and might even help in comprehending the Power of Space!

At the same time, he also needed to begin investigating clues related to the "ancestral axe token" and searching for other Xiao Clan relics that might be scattered outside.

The tides of the Inner Academy were quietly changing due to Xiao Chen's arrival. And his journey had just truly entered the fast lane. Greater challenges and opportunities lay ahead.