The transition from the blood-scented, chaotic air of the Black-Corner Region to the serene, ancient forests surrounding the Jia Nan Academy was jarring. For Xiao Yan, it was a moment of hard-won relief—a chance to finally breathe without smelling a potential assassin in the wind.
But for Xiao Chen, the "Peaceful Zone" felt like a different kind of battlefield. His 8x Soul Perception was tuned to a frequency far higher than any of his peers. While they saw beautiful architecture and lush greenery, Chen saw the Spatial Arrays—invisible shimmering walls of force that vibrated with the power of Dou Zun-level experts.
"System," Chen commanded silently as they walked past the massive outer gates. "Map the energy signatures of the faculty."
[Infinite Doubling System]
Spatial Detection: Active.
Scanning... > * Warning: Detected three signatures at the Dou Zong (Ancestor) level in the deep inner sanctum.
Thermal Ping: An immense, rhythmic Fire-attribute signature is radiating from the earth, roughly 2,000 meters below the central campus. It is breathing.
Current Status: The Falling Heart Flame is currently in a state of "restrained fury."
"A breathing flame," Chen mused. "The 16x multiplier is waiting for me in that basement."
The Registration: The Anomaly of the Xiao Clan
The registration hall of the Outer Academy was a massive structure of white stone and blue tile. It was filled with the elite youth of the continent. There were descendants of noble families from the Central Plains, survivors from small but fierce desert sects, and rogue cultivators who had survived the lawless regions.
The man in charge of registration, Teacher Huo, was a 5-Star Da Dou Master. He had the tired eyes of a man who had seen a thousand "geniuses" fail to live up to their potential. He watched as students placed their hands on the Star-Measuring Stone—a black obsidian pillar that glowed according to the purity and strength of one's Dou Qi.
"Lin Xiu. 18 years old. 8-Star Dou Zhe. Passable. Proceed to the Yellow Class," Huo muttered, not looking up.
"Xiao Yan. 17 years old. 1-Star Dou Shi."
Huo paused, his brush hovering over the parchment. He looked up, squinting at Xiao Yan. "17-year-old Dou Shi? Not bad. You've earned a spot in the Elite Class. Next."
Xiao Chen stepped forward. He looked incredibly young, his face still holding the softness of childhood, but his eyes—vibrant emerald with those haunting golden slits—carried an ancient weight. He placed his hand on the obsidian pillar.
"System, mask output. Limit the stone's reaction to 1% of my actual density. Display: 3-Star Dou Shi."
Even at a masked 3-Star level, the room went silent. The hum of conversation died instantly. A twelve-year-old being stronger than the seventeen-year-old "elite" was a slap in the face to the natural order of the world.
Teacher Huo dropped his brush, the ink staining the table. He leaned in, his own Dou Qi probing Chen. "12 years old... 3-Star Dou Shi? Kid, is your father a magical beast or a god? The Jia Ma Empire shouldn't be able to grow something like you."
"I just eat my vegetables and practice a lot, Teacher," Chen said, his voice holding that signature touch of wit.
The Dormitory: The First Test of Will
The Academy didn't coddle its students. The "Newcomer's District" was a cluster of basic wooden cabins. As Chen and Yan moved their belongings, they were intercepted by the "Welcome Committee"—a group of Seniors led by Xue Ben, a 7-Star Dou Shi whose pride was as large as his massive build.
"Listen up, fresh meat!" Xue Ben barked, his arms crossed over his chest. "In this Academy, your clan name is trash. Your gold is paper. Only 'Fire Energy' matters. Hand over your newcomer cards for a 'Safety Fee,' or you'll find out why they call this the lawless forest."
Xiao Yan frowned, his hand instinctively moving toward the Heavy Xuan Ruler on his back. The arrogance of the Black-Corner Region hadn't stayed behind the gates.
Chen leaned against the cabin's doorframe, looking bored. "Brother Yan, don't waste your energy. You need to focus on your alchemy. I'll handle the trash collection today."
Chen stepped forward. He stood nearly two heads shorter than Xue Ben.
"Senior, I have a better deal," Chen said, his golden pupils flashing. "A sparring match. If you can make me take a single step back from this spot, we give you our cards and double the energy. If you can't... you leave your cards here and crawl back to your dorm."
The crowd of students erupted in laughter. Xue Ben's face turned a deep, angry red. "A single step? Kid, I'll send you through the roof!"
The Weight of the 8x Foundation
Xue Ben didn't hold back. He lunged with a [Yellow-High Skill: Iron Bull Charge]. His body was encased in a thick, brown layer of Earth-attribute Qi.
THUD.
The sound wasn't that of a body being struck; it was the sound of a steel ship hitting an iceberg.
Xue Ben's shoulder slammed into Chen's chest. The air compressed, and the grass for five meters around them was flattened by the shockwave. But Chen didn't move. He didn't even sway. His 8x Physical Constitution made his mass effectively eight times greater than it appeared.
Xue Ben felt a sickening crack in his own shoulder. It felt like he had run full speed into a mountain.
"Is that the best the Seniors can do?" Chen asked.
He didn't punch. He didn't kick. He simply released a micro-burst of 8x Soul Pressure.
To Xue Ben, the sky suddenly felt like it was made of lead. The gravity in the small courtyard seemed to multiply. He fell to his knees, his face turning a ghostly white, his breath coming in ragged gasps as his very Dantian shivered in fear.
"Cards. Now," Chen commanded.
Xue Ben, his pride shattered along with his collarbone, fumbled for his Fire Energy Card and placed it on the ground.
The Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower: The First Contact
That night, Chen sat on the roof of the cabin, the cool night air of the forest ruffling his hair. In the distance, the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower glowed with a faint, ominous red light.
Suddenly, a wisp of cold smoke emerged from Xiao Yan's ring. Yao Lao materialized, his ethereal form looking unusually tense.
"Little Chen... be wary," the old man whispered. "I can feel the 'Invisible Flame' in that tower. It is sentient. And because of your 8x foundation, you aren't just a student to it. You are a Pill."
"A pill?" Chen chuckled.
"To a Heavenly Flame, your soul and your Qi are the purest nutrients in existence. It has already sensed you. It won't just burn you; it will try to lure you into the deep floors to consume you."
Chen looked at the tower, his golden-slit pupils glowing in the dark with a predatory hunger of his own.
"It wants to consume me? Good." Chen stood up, the emerald glow of his Qi reflecting in the moonlight. "Because I've been doing the math... and that flame is the only thing on this continent with enough energy to push me to 16x. Let it try to eat me. I want to see who has the bigger appetite."