Chapter 29: Earth Class Dou Technique!
"Now, I'll return a phrase to you as well. I have already seen through you completely. Yet you have never once seen through me."
"White Tiger Seal!"
Jiang Yun felt the abundant Dou Qi surging within his body and calmly watched the incoming Xue Zhen. His expression solemn and reverent, his arm faintly shuddered. White flame surged out along his meridians. His hands lightly joined and rapidly began forming an exceptionally ancient and bizarre set of hand seals.
His hand seals shifted and changed, one after another. Amidst those shifting seals, they still carried a thread of ancient, vast, primordial energy, stirring the very spiritual energy of the surrounding heaven and earth into a faint boil.
Jiang Yun's hand seals shifted, completing sixteen transformations in the blink of an eye—sufficient proof of his practiced proficiency.
And when the very final hand seal was formed, a wave of weakness washed over him. The Dou Qi within his body had also been massively consumed.
Weng—
Just as the ninety-ninth transformation settled, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within this space abruptly rioted and raged. Between his two palms, a radiance akin to a blazing sun actually began to rise and surge. Within it, faintly and indistinctly, the low roar of a tiger could be heard.
A terrifying, dreadful fluctuation rippled outward.
"Earth Class Dou Technique—"
A horrified voice cried out, but by now, no one was paying attention to the speaker's words. An Earth Class Cultivation Art—they'd already seen it. So a mere Earth Class Dou Technique???
"Hm?" Su Qian, who had been leisurely perusing an unknown ancient tome in his hands, sensed the violent upheaval of energy between heaven and earth. Puzzled, he raised his eyes. Seeing that the disturbance originated from the new student dormitories, he immediately sprayed out a mouthful of tea.
"An Earth Class Dou Technique??? And not just any ordinary Earth Class Dou Technique! Since when have Earth Class Dou Techniques been so common?! This familiar fire-attribute Dou Qi— which clueless little bastard has gone and provoked Jiang Yun this time?! That kid's personal fortune is even thicker than this old man's! He's like a porcupine—why on earth are you all going and provoking him?! Truly a pack of troublesome, worry-inducing brats!"
Even with Su Qian's many years of composure and steady poise, at this moment, he truly wanted to curse someone's mother. Though his mouth showed no mercy, his body was quite honest. He put away the ancient tome and rushed urgently, without a moment's pause, toward the 'scene of the crime.'
At the same time, quite a few other elders also set aside the matters in their hands and hurried toward the new student residential area.
Jiang Yun gazed at the radiance in his palm, where flames had coalesced into light akin to a blazing sun.
Roar—
A tiger's roar that seemed to shake the very heavens resounded. The spiritual energy of the surrounding heaven and earth madly surged and converged toward Jiang Yun's palm.
The dazzling, flaring radiance of flame in Jiang Yun's palm expanded more and more. Finally, the blazing sun burst forth and galloped outward, actually transforming into a radiant white tiger of light, roughly a hundred zhang in size, emerging bathed in flame.
The moment the white tiger appeared, the crowd felt only a suffocating sensation of impending death crash over them. They subconsciously retreated backward, and before they knew it, they had already withdrawn over a hundred zhang away from the battle zone.
"Roar—"
The moment the white tiger appeared, it let loose a heaven-shaking roar toward the descending thunder flood dragon. Instantly, waves of white flame sound rippled outward and howled.
The entire new student dormitory shuddered violently at once. The colossal sound waves surged and churned, slamming viciously against everything in all directions. Booms and rumbles rang out in endless succession.
"Ah—"
After letting out an agonized howl of pain, Xue Zhen's thunder flood dragon was shattered into nothing by the tiger's roar with a single, wretched, pitiful blow. Xue Zhen himself, his face utterly slack and stupefied, collapsed to his knees on the ground. Both his eyes, devoid of spirit, stared blankly ahead. The hands propping him against the ground trembled uncontrollably. Threads of fresh blood slowly trickled down his arms, dyeing the earth crimson.
Jiang Yun surveyed the ground, which looked as if it had been completely plowed over. Within the hundred-meter radius where Xue Zhen had been, not a single piece of intact, undamaged ground remained.
Lowering his head to look at his own hands, Jiang Yun's brows, however, furrowed tightly. Though this single strike's might was indeed not weak... still...
"It seems I still need more practice. This divine art—I still can't control it with complete mastery, unleashing and withdrawing it freely. It actually affected the surrounding environment. The First Elder isn't going to make me pay for this, is he?"
Jiang Yun murmured under his breath. His original intention had merely been to shatter the opponent's Dou Technique. He never expected to end up damaging public property. It seems this Dou Technique wasn't so easy to master.
Lowering his head to look at Xue Zhen, limp and paralyzed on the ground, Jiang Yun's hand seals rapidly shifted one after another. In the next instant, he leapt high into the air, landing atop the white tiger's head.
"Boom—"
The colossal sound jolted awake the equally dumbstruck crowd. They watched as that youth, seated atop the white tiger's head, bathed in flame, a single ray of sunlight falling upon him—his entire figure resembled an eternal, everlasting deity.
Then, they looked at the defeated Xue Zhen. In the vast, open clearing, the atmosphere was frozen and silent. Line after line of sight stared at Xue Zhen, collapsed on his knees on the ground. Their gazes carried a shock and horror utterly impossible to conceal.
This was a 7-star Dou Ling! In the Inner Academy, with Xue Zhen's strength, he was more than qualified to be ranked within the top twenty-five, even the top twenty, of the Strong Ranking. Yet such an existence had actually been defeated by Jiang Yun, a new student who had only just entered the Inner Academy.
And defeated at that—the lesser triumphing over the greater. And defeated so utterly miserably at that. Having watched from start to finish, they knew—Xue Zhen had not inflicted even the slightest, tiniest bit of harm upon Jiang Yun. That was the most terrifying part of all.
Recalling how, a mere ten-odd minutes ago, Xue Zhen had still been so arrogantly, imperiously domineering—yet now he was kneeling not far away. This dramatic, theatrical scene truly left every single person spectating around them feeling utterly flabbergasted and incredulous.
In the crowd's hearts, no trace, no shred of will to resist could arise. Was such a person truly someone they could possibly defeat?
How laughable—just moments ago, they had still been shouting and yelling at the other to hand over his Fire Energy, lecturing him about the Inner Academy's rules. Yet now, none of them dared even to meet Jiang Yun's gaze directly.
So... the clown was me all along???
"Now that a victor has been determined—will you hand over your Fire Energy cards yourself, or shall I do it personally?"
Jiang Yun's indifferent, detached voice rang out from above. Xue Zhen snapped back to his senses. The very first thing that entered his vision was a thick, powerful tiger's paw. He didn't doubt for a moment—if that paw came down, there was absolutely no chance he would survive.
At this thought, a blast of cold dread shot straight through his skull. He had just moments ago been trading blows with a monster like this!
One could say, that single strike from Jiang Yun had completely shattered every last scrap of Xue Zhen's pride and arrogance. What's more, it had been stomped and ground into utter, smithereened fragments.
At this moment, Xue Zhen didn't even dare to look at Jiang Yun. He lowered his head and produced a fiery-red Fire Crystal Card. The Fire Energy upon it amounted to a full two thousand days. Without the slightest politeness or ceremony, Jiang Yun swiped it all over—leaving behind only the five-day minimum guarantee.
Looking at the long string of numbers on his own card, Jiang Yun nodded with satisfaction. He dismissed the white tiger. After all, sustaining it continuously was quite taxing on his Dou Qi. Executing this Dou Technique at his current cultivation level was still far too strenuous. The faint, aching soreness in his meridians was a constant reminder that he had already reached his limit.
At this point, Jiang Yun shifted his gaze toward the crowd that had been standing there in restless, uneasy anxiety. A calm, even voice drifted out. "And yours?"
For a moment, the atmosphere congealed and froze. Everyone looked at each other, then looked at each other again. In the end, no one could muster the courage to resist. One by one, they obediently produced their Fire Crystal Cards and watched as the other party brazenly and without restraint harvested their 'blood, sweat, and tears.'
Debts collected, Jiang Yun's gaze drifted toward the direction where Li Lin and the others were hidden. He very quickly looked away, yet this still left the group with cold sweat streaming down their backs.
At this moment, only a single thought occupied everyone's minds: Jiang Yun—cannot be opposed by force!
Jiang Yun had no interest in knowing who was over there. His gaze now looked toward the distance. A human silhouette was rapidly racing over. In a few striding steps, the person had already arrived right before them.
Seeing the newcomer, Jiang Yun, who had just reaped quite the bountiful harvest, smiled. "First Elder!"
Su Qian ignored Jiang Yun. He swept his gaze across the dejected, crestfallen students, then looked at the 'tragically battered' ground. It was all too clear that Jiang Yun had emerged victorious.
Yet, when his gaze swept across Xue Zhen, a shock still stirred in his heart. Even an 8-star Dou Ling couldn't give Jiang Yun any trouble? Just how much strength was he hiding?
Truly a boy who brought one surprise after another!
"Jiang Yun. Wanton brawling is not permitted within the academy. And openly destroying the academy's property—could you give me an explanation?"
Holding firmly to the principle of absolutely not praising him, Su Qian put more weight into his tone. He stared at Jiang Yun and demanded sternly.
Jiang Yun, however, blinked his eyes in utter innocence. He spread his hands wide and pointed at the crowd. "First Elder, I've been wronged! It was clearly these seniors making trouble for me. I was forced to retaliate! This matter was definitely not started by me. You can't possibly hold me responsible for reparations."
Su Qian's eyes bulged. He stared blankly at Jiang Yun. If it weren't for the fact that you don't have a single trace of injury on you—while Xue Zhen and the others are utterly dejected and beaten down—anyone who didn't know the full story would think you were the victim!
Jiang Yun: Am I not???
Looking at Jiang Yun's innocent eyes, Su Qian flicked his sleeve and gave a cold snort. "Those who gather a crowd to stir up trouble—each fined thirty days of Fire Energy, and forbidden from entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower for half a month."
Hearing Su Qian's words, the many old students sharply inhaled a breath of cold air. This punishment was practically the death of them! Looking at the solitary, pitiful character 'five' on their Fire Crystal Cards, then deducting another thirty days—it was already a declaration to go eat dirt. What's more, they were barred from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower for half a month.
It was practically begging for their lives!
At this moment, no one dared to look at the cold-faced Su Qian. Instead, they all cast imploring, pitiable gazes toward Xue Zhen.
Boss! We all came along with you! You can't abandon us!!!
Xue Zhen now felt as if a thousand needles were pricking his back. A bead of cold sweat slid down his forehead. Inwardly, he couldn't help but curse furiously. A pack of disloyal bastards!
Yet he dared not say this aloud. The consequences were not something he could easily bear.
Compared to Xue Zhen's predicament, Jiang Yun honestly and obediently handed over thirty days of Fire Energy. As for being barred from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower for half a month—to him, that was no big deal at all.
Looking at the utterly awkward, wretched Xue Zhen and the others, Su Qian declared, "Within three days, deliver the Fire Energy to Elder Lin. Otherwise, the punishment is doubled."
"All of you—disperse!"
As his words fell, Su Qian's figure stepped across the void. Under the many envious gazes of the crowd, he flickered a few times and vanished completely.
"Go!"
After Su Qian departed, Xue Zhen no longer had the face to remain here. He took the lead, turning his head and striding swiftly out of the new student residential area.
Watching the departing group, the many people secretly spying from the shadows also dispersed on their own ways. Along the paths, they still whispered and murmured ceaselessly—most likely discussing the battle from earlier.
Among them, Jiang Yun's strength was the most curiosity-provoking. Yet they all reached a unanimous consensus: they knew that Jiang Yun could no longer be stopped at all. He was a fierce, mighty dragon crossing the river. From this day forth, in the Inner Academy, no one would dare to lightly provoke him again.
"What a grand show!" Only after both sides, protagonist and antagonists alike, had departed did Li Lin sigh with feeling.
"Indeed. Who could have imagined that Jiang Yun, a mere new student, would be so terrifying?"
"Next, we'll just have to see Feng Wuhen's reaction. It's said that he and Xue Zhen have a rather good relationship—they come from the same nation, with quite deep ties."
"How Feng Wuhen reacts is none of my concern. All I know is that for this year's Strong Ranking Grand Tournament, it seems we have welcomed a terrifying challenger."
"Originally, I thought Jiang Yun wouldn't challenge us until next year at the earliest. Now, it seems we underestimated him—and we've been rather too complacent, frogs at the bottom of a well. How numerous are the monsters of this world!"
Hearing these words, everyone fell somewhat silent. Searching their hearts, facing that White Tiger Seal Jiang Yun had just unleashed—were they confident they could take it?
They exchanged glances with one another and all saw within each other's eyes a flicker of urgency—urgency for the increase of their own strength!
The rear waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves forward. With the rear waves so ferocious and fierce, they, the front waves, had to strive even harder.
"No matter what, this is my final year in the Inner Academy. I will definitely secure a place in the top ten. If Jiang Yun wishes to come—then let him come!"
Li Lin suddenly erupted with an intensely sharp, fierce edge. His entire being was like a treasured sword drawn from its sheath. He had been trapped at half-step Dou Wang for an entire year. This Heart Flame body tempering was of absolute, vital importance to him. No matter what, he would not give it up. Otherwise, if he had to break through on his own, who knew when he'd have another chance.
Watching Li Lin's sharp edge bared for all to see, the group was momentarily filled with confidence. That's right—if Jiang Yun wants to come, let him come. Who wins and who loses... will only be known after the fight.
They absolutely would not hand over their opportunities on a silver platter!
Jiang Yun returned to his dormitory. As expected, Zi Yan was not there. Otherwise, those fellows would have long since been tossed out.
He sat cross-legged in the main hall. In his mind, Jiang Yun began carefully replaying the circumstances when he had just executed the White Tiger Seal. If he could not unleash and withdraw it with perfect mastery, then this divine art could not be considered as truly cultivated. His demands upon himself were that strict.
The sun slanted westward. Very quickly, night descended.
"Creak—"
The sound of the door opening rang out. Zi Yan came bouncing and hopping in from outside. Judging by the smile curling at the corner of her mouth, it wasn't hard to tell her mood was excellent.
Once inside, Zi Yan spotted Jiang Yun meditating at a single glance. Her eyes immediately lit up. She joyfully scampered over, tugging at his sleeve and lightly flicking her pale purple ponytail. "Little Yun, you're out of seclusion!"
"I'm out. The moment I heard about the message you left with Elder Liu, I rushed back without a moment's delay. What's the matter? Did you run out of pellets?" Looking at Zi Yan, Jiang Yun's mood also lightened. He smiled and nodded.
"Could it be that I just missed you?" Seeing Jiang Yun treat her like a complete glutton, Zi Yan muttered in a small, dissatisfied grumble.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing! Quick, Jiang Yun, help me refine all these into pellets!" Having said this, a sudden clattering and clanging rang out. The table before them was now piled high with a heap of medicinal ingredients. Beside the table, Zi Yan was just slipping a storage ring onto her little finger.
"Fire Spirit Root, Earth Purple Ginseng, Heaven Star Grass..." Looking at the stalk after stalk of precious ingredients on the table, Jiang Yun once again silently mourned for the First Elder.
"What's with that look?!" With her keen spiritual senses, Zi Yan immediately read the meaning in Jiang Yun's gaze. She instantly shouted loudly in protest, "I found these ingredients myself deep in the mountains! I even fought quite a few rounds with several demonic beasts for them! I've always had a special sensitivity to these heaven-and-earth spiritual objects. I definitely didn't steal them from the Inner Academy!"
Watching Zi Yan argue and defend herself with righteous conviction—were it not for the fact that a good half of the ingredients still carried faint traces of seal energy, Jiang Yun might have actually believed her. Yet he still spoke up in agreement.
"Alright, alright! Our Zi Yan is the most amazing!"
One hundred investments, plus the support of all my readers—today I'm adding an extra chapter! I hope everyone continues to support me. Please don't let this story wither and die!!!
(End of Chapter)