"Blood Skull Elder!!"
Seeing the corpse lying on the ground that Xiao Ting had identified as the Dou King elder from the Demon Flame Valley, Huo Qing Er suddenly rushed forward as if possessed. She crouched in front of the corpse, examined it carefully, then burst into tears of joy. "It's him! That detestable bastard, the Blood Skull Elder! Even if he turned to ash, I would still recognize him. Being burned beyond recognition is nothing."
"He was really killed! Hahaha, I feel so relieved, Brother, did you see?"
"The Blood Skull Elder is dead. And he died a miserable death. Your revenge has been fulfilled."
"Your enemy was avenged by the students Ruo Ling recruited."
"Waaahhh~"
Huo Qing Er was laughing and crying at the same time, looking like a madwoman. Yet no one present laughed at her. Everyone wore solemn expressions.
Even the new students understood the truth from Huo Qing Er's words. Her brother had been killed by the Blood Skull Elder of the Demon Flame Valley, and seeing the corpse of her brother's killer had shaken her deeply.
In other words, Xiao Ting had helped Huo Qing Er avenge her brother's murder!
"Xiao Ting, thank you." Instructor Ruo Ling approached Xiao Ting with a solemn expression and expressed her gratitude.
Strictly speaking, Huo Jiu's death had nothing to do with her, yet there was still some karmic connection between them. Seeing Huo Jiu's great revenge fulfilled, she felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from her heart.
"Instructor, you're too kind. I merely killed someone who was trying to kill me." Xiao Ting smiled calmly, implying he had simply been in the right place at the right time. "He wanted to use me as his first achievement after being promoted to elder, so I'll use him as my first achievement after enrolling in Jia Nan Academy."
At this moment, no one doubted Xiao Ting's strength any longer. Not only was he a two-star Dou King, but he was also a two-star Dou King capable of defeating a one-star Dou King elder from the Demon Flame Valley head-on—extremely valuable.
"This is truly a great achievement, one worthy of being announced throughout the entire academy." Suddenly, a soft laugh sounded from the sky.
Everyone looked up and saw an elegantly dressed old man walking through the air in luxurious, neat attire. This person was none other than Su Qian, the Great Elder of Jia Nan Academy's Inner Court, a three-star Dou Ancestor expert.
"A Dou Ancestor expert can traverse the void and utilize spatial power. How terrifying." Xiao Yan's eyes burned with admiration.
"Greetings, Great Elder!" The instructors and elders of Jia Nan Academy clasped their hands in salute.
Seeing this, the students followed suit, realizing that one could never be too humble in front of a Dou Ancestor expert.
"No need for such formality." Su Qian took a step forward and, as if teleporting, moved dozens of feet to stand beside Xiao Ting. His gaze fell upon the Blood Skull Elder's corpse. "The Blood Skull Elder recently broke through to one-star Dou King and was just promoted to elder. This is indeed his corpse."
"Slaying a Dou King elder from the Demon Flame Valley is a great achievement. Although Xiao Ting has not yet formally enrolled, he will be rewarded according to academy rules after enrollment."
"Xiao Ting, you are a Dou King. You may study directly in the Inner Court under me. What do you think?"
"I've heard about the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower for a long time and would love to see it with my own eyes," Xiao Ting replied with a smile.
That was his way of saying he wished to enter the Inner Court directly.
"Understood." Su Qian nodded lightly and turned to Hu Gan. "I'll leave the rest to you. I'm taking Xiao Ting with me."
Hu Gan naturally raised no objection. Even the Inner Court could not handle a genius like Xiao Ting, let alone the Outer Court. Su Qian must share the same thought—he planned to offer Xiao Ting some resources to build a connection. As long as Xiao Ting continued to acknowledge himself as a graduate of Jia Nan Academy, when he rose to fame he would become part of Jia Nan Academy's network, and by extension, part of its flagship institution.
"Xun Er, Little Fairy Doctor, Qing Lin, Third Brother, go to the Outer Court first to secure a place, then I'll come find you." Xiao Ting bid farewell to Xun Er and the other girls.
"Come on, no need to rush out. We'll be in the Inner Court soon anyway." Xiao Yan waved with a smile.
"Brother Xiao Ting, Xun Er will wait for you to come see her. Shall we have dinner together tonight?" Xun Er's answer was completely opposite to Xiao Yan's.
"Elder, may I freely leave the Inner Court?" Xiao Ting looked at Su Qian expectantly.
"Academy regulations state that Inner Court students may not leave freely." Su Qian spoke in an official tone, then immediately changed the subject. "However, you are a Dou King. Currently, only the number-one expert on the Inner Court's Strongest Ranking can match you. Your cultivation level is sufficient to serve as an academy elder, and you have just contributed to the academy, so I will specially permit you to leave freely."
"Thank you, Elder." Xiao Ting bowed politely, then winked at Xun Er. "Looks like I can have dinner with you tonight."
"Then Qing Lin will cook a few more dishes." Qing Lin blushed and said in a flustered yet adorable manner, "I recently learned a few stir-fry recipes."
"Please enjoy them, Young Master." The Little Fairy Doctor gazed at Xiao Ting with gentle eyes.
"Then I'll have a few more bowls tonight." Xiao Ting smiled and nodded.
Xun Er watched Xiao Ting with a smile the entire time, finally asking, "Brother Xiao Ting, you weren't planning to bring your maid along?"
"Yun Er?" Xiao Ting thought to himself. "You all know exactly what you're asking. You're really giving me an easy way out." He answered, "She has some matters to attend to. She'll come see me in a few days."
"Having the maid by your side would make Xun Er feel more at ease," Xun Er said seriously.
Xiao Ting understood that when she said "at ease" she meant "safe," but he deliberately pretended not to understand and put on a hurt expression. "So in Xun Er's heart, I'm a fool who can't even protect myself?"
"Brother Xiao Ting knows that's not what Xun Er meant." Xun Er spoke in a slightly coquettish tone. "Besides, you always have people do everything for you anyway."
"After all, I am the young master of the Xiao family." Xiao Ting showed no shame whatsoever.
I am a transmigrator who has come to a fantasy world where strength reigns supreme. Since I have an enjoyable identity, why shouldn't I enjoy it?
"I don't want to talk to you anymore. Hurry up and report to the Inner Court." Xun Er turned her face slightly away from Xiao Ting.
"You little." Xiao Ting stepped forward and hugged her tightly. "Wait for me."
With that, Xiao Ting turned and walked over to Su Qian. The two flew together toward the Inner Court.
"Brother Xiao Ting, aren't you embarrassed with so many people watching?" Xun Er blushed, feeling the places where her body had been pressed.
"There were so many people around, so I did it on purpose." Seeing the dejected expressions of the boys around her, the Little Fairy Doctor covered her mouth and chuckled. "Declaring ownership in public saves a lot of unnecessary trouble."
"This saves quite a bit of effort," Xun Er snorted softly, yet the curve of her lips betrayed her true feelings.
How could someone still steal women from a fifteen-year-old Dou King expert? No sane, self-aware person would do such a thing. It was undoubtedly a good thing that ordinary people and their fervent approaches would become fewer.
…
Meanwhile, Xiao Ting followed Su Qian toward the Inner Court.
Once they were alone, he asked, "Elder, since I've completed my service, I can go to the Scripture Pavilion once and choose any benefit I like, right?"
"Not bad." Su Qian stood with his hands behind his back, took a few steps through the air, and nodded lightly upon hearing this.
Receiving an affirmative answer, Xiao Ting immediately asked, "Can you take me there right now?"
After all, an opportunity was waiting for him.
…
…
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