The giant lotus crashed directly into Bai Cheng's body. Bai Cheng only felt a powerful, tsunami-like impact, as if a giant hammer had struck him. He was sent flying, blood gushing from his mouth, and the long spear in his hand was also knocked away.
With a bang, Bai Cheng fell heavily to the ground, dust swirling around and obscuring him.
His long spear "coincidentally" landed right in front of the senior student who had previously threatened to make Xiao Tian's life miserable, grazing his crotch and stabbing into the ground, the shaft vibrating slightly.
"Peng Peng, are you alright, Peng Peng?"
His friend grabbed his shoulder and asked the still-shaken man.
He slumped to the ground, gasping for breath. He reached down and touched his crotch, a look of relief washing over his face. Although it was wet and the smell was rather strong, the important parts were still there. Otherwise, he'd have been left playing with embroidery needles, and there was no such thing as a nojjbook in this world.
The smoke and dust dissipated, revealing Bai Cheng at the center. He lay on the ground, gasping for breath, sounding like a leaking bellows, blood oozing with every breath. His eyes were filled with terror. He had thought Xiao Tian was just a new student, easy to manipulate, but he never expected a cheater to be mixed in with the new students. New student and Dou King — those two words couldn't possibly be connected, yet he had been "lucky" enough to encounter it.
He tried to struggle to his feet, but his body felt as if it had fallen apart. Every muscle lacked strength, so he eventually gave up and lay quietly on the ground.
"Boss!"
The core members of Bai Gang swarmed forward, stuffing healing elixirs into his mouth as if they were free.
"Cousin…"
Bang!
Bai Shan also walked onto the Arena at that moment. When Xiao Tian saw Bai Shan, he directly slapped him, sending Bai Shan flying. A mouthful of teeth were knocked out, and his face was completely distorted.
"I told you, I'd hit you every time I saw you. Yet you insist on constantly appearing before me."
The surrounding senior students were also startled by Xiao Tian's sudden move. They felt a chill, covering their faces, as if they could feel Bai Shan's pain.
"Too brutal, too terrifying."
"I hope he doesn't slap me just for watching the show. I heard that when many families are annihilated, even passing dogs get slapped a few times."
"Probably not. Hearing Xiao Tian's words, plus I have inside information — Bai Gang targeting Boundless Gate was all stirred up by that new student named Bai Shan."
A senior student who liked to spread information explained the fuse between the two gangs to the people around him. Many senior students looked at Bai Shan, who lay there like a dead dog, with undisguised disdain.
"I'll give you one day to disband Bai Gang. Otherwise, I'll continue to pay you a visit and 'discuss' your resistance to beatings."
After Xiao Tian left that message, he flew directly back to where Boundless Gate was gathered, retracting his wings and landing in front of Xun'er.
"Brother Tian, you're amazing!"
Xun'er directly linked her arm with Xiao Tian's, praising him.
"Brother Tian, awesome! I can't catch up to you, but I'll try my best."
Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Tian with eyes full of fighting spirit.
"Haha, our Boundless Gate can now be said to be the strongest force! From now on, no stray cats or dogs will dare to step on us!"
Hu Jia excitedly clenched her fists, her face full of exhilaration. The other members of Boundless Gate were also trembling with excitement.
Meanwhile, the other new students who hadn't joined Boundless Gate clutched their chests and hung their heads in dejection.
Xiao Tian, surrounded by the Boundless Gate members, slowly walked out of the Arena.
…
"Phew, the Inner Academy finally has a monster. I just wonder how he compares to the Barbarian Strength King."
The burly man exhaled deeply and said.
The others shivered slightly upon hearing that name, the young man in green even more so, and they all looked at him in unison.
"Cough, cough… Although I've sparred with Senior Sister Zi Yan quite a bit, you all know the situation. I didn't even get to feel her strength before… However, I feel that Xiao Tian is on par with Senior Sister Zi Yan. He is a high-level Dou King."
His words silenced everyone. Han Yue had thought Xiao Tian's strength would be slightly better than Bai Cheng's, but she never expected such a huge gap in cultivation realms.
After returning to Boundless Gate headquarters, Xiao Tian and the others, after arranging everything, held a victory banquet, filled with laughter and joy.
Inside a study in a certain part of the Inner Academy, an old man reported today's battle to an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in black robes, who was seated behind a desk.
"You can give him some special attention. No need to meddle in other matters."
The black-robed old man spoke indifferently, raising his head to reveal eyes as cold and sharp as a blade.
"Heaven Suppressing Hall, Xiao Tian. Why did you send such a talented person in here?"
The old man was also very concerned about the suddenly emerging powerful force, Heaven Suppressing Hall. Rumor had it that there were Dou Zong powerhouses within, but Heaven Suppressing Hall had been intentionally or unintentionally releasing friendly signals.
"I hope we're not enemies. Alas, it's truly a time of trouble."
The old man stared straight ahead, as if he could penetrate through all obstacles and see inside the Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda.
…
The next day, the sun was high in the sky.
Xiao Tian woke up from his drunken stupor. Although he could drink, he couldn't withstand a relay battle from over forty people. His last memory was being carried back to his room by Xun'er like a dead pig.
He looked around the room and indeed saw Xun'er sitting on a chair cultivating. However, Xun'er's cultivation wasn't like ordinary people's; hers involved purifying her bloodline and absorbing its power.
"Brother Tian, you're finally awake."
Xun'er heard the movement, opened her eyes, and came to Xiao Tian's side, helping him sit up.
"Have you been taking care of me this whole time?"
Xiao Tian stood up, stroked Xun'er's head, and smiled.
Xun'er nodded. "Brother Tian, wash up first. The food is all ready. You have a hangover, so it's better to eat something."
After Xiao Tian simply washed up, an array of food and snacks was laid out on the table. Xun'er also sat obediently, waiting for Xiao Tian. Xiao Tian sat down and, to Xun'er's surprise, pulled her into his embrace.
"Seeing as you worked so hard taking care of me last night, I'll serve you today, Young Miss Xun'er."
Xun'er sat in Xiao Tian's arms, her face flushed. There were only the two of them here, and it wasn't the first time they had eaten like this.
"Brother Tian, you're repaying kindness with enmity, always bullying me."
Xiao Tian chuckled, picked up a milky dessert, and put it into Xun'er's mouth. The meal was finished with the two of them feeding each other, bite by bite, and even mouth-to-mouth.
"So sweet."
Xiao Tian ate the last piece of pastry from Xun'er's hand and praised it. Xun'er's hand, which was wiping her mouth, paused. Her already rosy face turned even redder, and she quickly wiped away the lingering moisture.
"I need to go help Cousin Xiao Yu and the others handle Boundless Gate's affairs. So many people want to join us now."
After saying that, Xun'er collected all the tableware and fled the room as if escaping.
"Good. Reject anyone with poor character. We'd rather have fewer, but better quality."
"Understood."
Boundless Gate had now taken over many of Bai Gang's territories. During the banquet, under Xiao Tian's expert persuasion, Xiao Yan also started refining medicine day and night. Although he later realized what was happening, he was already trapped and could only endure it.
As for Xiao Tian, he provided the formulas: the Fury Pill, which increases strength but has a half-day weakness side effect; the Meteor Pill, which boosts movement speed; and the Clear Fire Pill, which resists fire poison and allows an extra half-day of cultivation. The last type was to be Boundless Gate's main selling pill.
Watching the Inner Academy's Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda had sparked an idea in Xiao Tian's mind. Why not build a training pagoda of his own inside the Eternal Dream Realm? It was time to put that plan into motion.
After sending a message through a sound transmission stone, he turned and headed toward the bathhouse.