Chapter 194: The Queen Protects Him!
In the Inner Academy, the Strong Ranking Tournament had been underway for several days. After fierce competition, it was now time to determine the top ten spots. All the remaining participants were eager to seize the opportunity, aiming to secure a spot in the top ten, refine their bodies with the Heart Flame Source, and obtain the coveted ticket to become a Dou King.
Those who had failed to advance were dejected, but it wasn't the end for them. The Inner Academy's curriculum spanned five years, and they still had time to improve. Most of the current top contenders had been in the academy for four or five years they were the oldest and naturally the strongest.
Nalan Yanran's performance stood out. She secured the thirty seventh spot on the ranking. For someone who had only been in the Inner Academy for less than a year, her achievement could be described as remarkable, even outshining Hu Jia and Wu Hao.
Of course, her success wasn't entirely surprising. After all, she had a boyfriend who was a fifth tier alchemist. Her cultivation journey was well supported by pills, leaving her little to worry about.
Hu Jia and Wu Hao, despite their notable backgrounds, didn't have the luxury of a personal alchemist. Alchemists weren't easy to come by, and as a result, they lagged behind. Hu Jia ranked fortieth, while Wu Hao claimed the forty sixth spot.
To the northwest of the Inner Academy stood an open air arena. Its design accommodated all the academy's students, which wasn't a huge number. Including both new and senior students, the academy only had a few hundred individuals, as only 50 students were selected from the Outer Academy each year.
"Ahem… Alright, students, the finals of the Strong Ranking Tournament will now begin!" Deputy Dean Hu Qian cleared his throat and raised his voice. With Su Qian occupied elsewhere, Hu Qian was temporarily in charge.
As he made the announcement, a trace of concern flickered across his face. The Hall of Souls… It was not a force to be trifled with. He could only hope their plans would succeed; otherwise, the Jia Nan Academy would be in serious trouble.
His Dou Qi infused voice rolled through the arena, silencing the bustling students in an instant. Their excited gazes shifted to the center of the stage, eager to witness the legendary figures of the Inner Academy in action.
"The first match: Lin Xiuya versus Qin Zhen!" Deputy Dean Hu Qian announced. The students erupted with excitement. This was a match between the second and sixth ranked fighters definitely one to look forward to.
BOOM!
Before the match could begin, dark clouds suddenly engulfed the sky. Thunder rumbled, and the entire Inner Academy was plunged into an ink black darkness, illuminated only by the flickering lightning that crackled across the sky.
"What… what's happening?" Panic spread among the students. They had never seen such a terrifying phenomenon before, and many were on the verge of losing their composure.
"SILENCE!" Hu Qian's eyes glinted coldly as he bellowed, his voice reverberating like a shockwave. The students immediately froze, the fear in their hearts stilled by his command.
"Deputy Dean, what's going on?" Lin Xiuya hesitated for a moment before asking. He couldn't ignore the growing unease in his chest.
The oppressive thunderclouds that blanketed the entire academy were enough to make anyone's heart race. If a bolt of lightning were to strike, none of them would have the strength to resist.
Hearing Lin Xiuya's question, all eyes turned to Hu Qian. If the deputy dean couldn't explain, they wouldn't feel reassured.
"It's a Pill Lightning," Hu Qian said nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal. "Someone in the Inner Academy has successfully refined a seventh tier pill."
Hu Jia glanced at the old man skeptically. She knew Hu Qian too well. His hands were trembling he clearly wasn't as calm as he pretended to be.
Still, she couldn't help but wonder… Since when did the academy have a seventh tier alchemist?
"A Pill Lightning? A seventh tier pill?" The students grew even more excited, their curiosity piqued. Even Lin Xiuya, one of the strongest in the academy, couldn't hide the excitement on his face.
"Everyone, stay in your seats!" Hu Qian shouted sternly. "Do you think a Pill Lightning that could destroy a Dou Zong is something you little rookies can handle?"
His words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly dousing the students' enthusiasm. They slumped back into their seats, as deflated as wilted eggplants.
Hu Qian smirked. This was a huge deal for the Jia Nan Academy. The appearance of a seventh tier pill could significantly boost their strength, increasing the chances of producing a Dou Zun.
…
In the Inner Academy's back mountain…
"Elder Bai, you're here too?" Su Qian asked, mildly surprised.
"How could I miss something this big?" Bai Lie replied, shaking his head. His gaze was fixed on the dark thunderclouds in the sky. "A Pill Lightning… I haven't seen one in nearly a hundred years. Truly magnificent!"
"Everyone… I'll leave the Pill Lightning to you…" Yao Lao's weak voice drifted over. His spectral figure was almost transparent, as thin as paper. His current state was so fragile that one could see right through him.
Su Qian and the two elders, Qian and Bai, wore solemn expressions. They clasped their hands in respect. Regardless of Yao Lao's identity, the favor he was doing them deserved their utmost courtesy.
As his words faded, Yao Lao transformed into a stream of light and retreated into the Bone Chilling Ring. Xiao Yan, already prepared, immediately placed the ring into the Soul Nourishment Elixir.
Watching the ring slowly absorb the elixir, Xiao Yan let out a long sigh of relief. Thankfully, everything had gone smoothly.
"That guy… he's so enviable," Xiao Yan muttered, staring at Lu Bu, who sat before his cauldron. Xiao Yan struggled even with fifth tier pills, let alone something like a seventh tier advanced pill.
On the other side, Lu Bu's face was pale as a sheet, his breathing weak. It was obvious to anyone with eyes that he had pushed himself to the brink.
The Heavenly Luck Pill was on par with the Lesser Aid Pill as a seventh tier advanced pill, but the former leaned closer to the peak of its tier. While Lu Bu's soul power was strong, attempting such a pill had nearly cost him his life.
"Bai Lie, help me block the Pill Lightning. Su Qian, look after Lu Bu," Elder Qian said gravely.
But before they could act, a radiant multicolored light erupted from Lu Bu's body, stunning everyone present.
"What's happening now?" They tensed, unsure what to expect.
Two figures appeared beside Lu Bu. One was a stunning woman with a veiled face, exuding an air of unparalleled beauty. Her aura was incredibly strong an eight or nine star Dou Zong.
The other was a silver humanoid figure with hollow eyes and no expression, but its aura rivaled Su Qian's.
"This… Lu Bu has such powerful protectors?" The elders were astounded. Sensing no hostility or malice from the two figures, they chose to remain still, marveling at this revelation.
Medusa glanced at them briefly. With a flick of her jade like finger, the Earth Demon Puppet stomped forward, taking flight.
"Stay away from Lu Bu. He's in the middle of a breakthrough," Medusa said coldly. After so many dual cultivations, Lu Bu's Dou Qi had accumulated to the point where he was on the verge of becoming a Dou Huang. The exhaustion from refining pills had pushed him to the edge, granting him the perfect opportunity to advance.
"What?!" Xiao Yan was dumbfounded. Lu Bu is about to become a Dou Huang?
"I'm so jealous!"
Medusa continued, "Leave the Pill Lightning to the puppet. Lu Bu needs it for his breakthrough."
With that, she formed a series of hand seals. The space around her and Lu Bu distorted and solidified, isolating them from the others.
The remaining individuals could only stare, dumbstruck, with countless questions swirling in their minds.