"Who's speaking?"
The young senior student's expression darkened instantly as he scanned the crowd of new students.
"Don't think that just because you won the competition, you can act arrogantly in the Inner Academy. As a senior, I can teach you a lesson."
"Oh really? Then I'm very curious to see how a good-for-nothing like you plans to teach me a lesson."
Laughter rang out, parting the crowd to reveal Xiao Jietian and four others stepping forward.
"It's Senior Xiao Jietian and Senior Xiao Yan!"
The new students erupted with cheers. Xiao Jietian's strength and Xiao Yan's leadership in opposing the senior students had already earned them considerable respect.
"Are you Xiao Jietian? You're standing up for them?"
The young man's face turned serious and wary at the sight of Xiao Jietian. Rumour had it that he had defeated Luo Hou, and his strength could not be underestimated.
"I am Xiao Jietian. Didn't you say you wanted to teach us new students a lesson? They and I are all new students this year, so naturally, I'll help them. Or do you want me to help you instead?"
Xiao Jietian crossed his arms, a playful disdain in his eyes.
"Don't think that defeating Luo Hou gives you licence to be arrogant here. There are many in the Inner Academy stronger than him. Our Green Mountain Mountain Lord is stronger than Luo Hou," the senior student sneered, invoking his backer.
Xiao Jietian's figure blurred, and he appeared before the senior student, raising his right hand deliberately in front of him.
The young man tried to resist, but his body froze. In his eyes, fear and shock surged as Xiao Jietian's hand swung down.
"Slap!"
A crisp sound echoed. The senior student was sent flying, landing heavily on the ground, clutching his face in terror and pain. A mouthful of blood escaped his lips, accompanied by two large teeth.
"Not very hard bones, but quite a thick face… made my hand numb," Xiao Jietian said mockingly, shaking his hand as though it had merely gone numb.
The senior student's face turned pale, then green, as he struggled to his feet with the help of others.
"You… our Green Mountain… won't let this pass!"
He was carried away, his threat cut short by missing teeth, vanishing in a flash.
"Welcome to return—remember to bring more healing medicine. Don't forget your teeth!" Xiao Jietian called after him, smiling.
Xun'er and the others laughed at his playful words.
"Thank you, Senior Xiao Jietian, for helping us," the new students said sincerely, bowing before him.
Xiao Jietian nodded and turned to the young student who had stood up to the senior. "You and I are both new students. Helping each other is natural. What's your name?"
"Me? Senior Xiao Jietian, I'm Wang Tai—call me A Tai," the young man said, straightening instantly, speaking respectfully.
"I remember him. He led the first small team that came to meet me when we resisted the Black Fiends Team," Xiao Yan recalled.
"I didn't expect Senior Xiao Yan to remember me. Truly an honour," A Tai said shyly, scratching his head.
Xiao Jietian nodded, recognising A Tai as a key figure for Pan Gate's foundation and its development.
"We're forming a force in the Inner Academy. Interested in joining us?" Xiao Jietian extended the invitation.
The new students exchanged glances before responding.
"Senior Xiao Jietian, with your courage, we'll all join. Better to follow you than endure bullying from the senior students," they said.
Xiao Jietian raised a hand. "Good. Join Pan Gate, and we'll make sure you're protected. You won't be bullied again."
"Pan Gate! Pan Gate!" he called loudly.
The new students cheered, faces flushed with excitement.
"Cough, cough… my beautiful and charming Xun'er…" Xiao Jietian coughed, rubbing his hands, his smile bright.
"Stop, don't say another word!" Xun'er's cheeks flushed faintly. She reached out, interrupting him, eyes full of helpless indulgence. "I know what you want to say. Leave it to us."
She understood he intended to take a hands-off approach. Xun'er then turned to chat with Hu Jia and Xiao Yu, who nodded in agreement without hesitation.
"Xun'er, this A Tai is talented. You can entrust some matters to him," Xiao Jietian whispered, and Xun'er glanced at A Tai with a light nod.
Afterward, Xun'er and the two others led the new students to the pavilion to formalise their joining of Pan Gate.
…
"Tian Ge, are we really leaving everything to them? Isn't that…" Xiao Yan asked as he walked beside Xiao Jietian through the Inner Academy.
"They can handle it. Or do you want to go back and help?"
Xiao Jietian tilted his head. "I'd rather not. I'd probably just make a mess, and they might kick me out."
"I already regret being persuaded into this Vice Gate Master role by you. I'll be stuck refining medicine endlessly." Xiao Yan rubbed his head, imagining endless days of alchemy.
"Don't worry. I, as Gate Master, am in the same boat. These days will pass quickly."
In a nearby pavilion, a young man refining medicine shivered suddenly, and his pills instantly burned to ashes.
Looking around, he muttered, "Strange… why this bad feeling? Did I refine too much?"
He shook it off and began again.
…
"Let's go. I'll take you to the place you most want to see." Xiao Jietian patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder.
"The place I most want to go? Could it be…"
Xiao Yan's eyes lit up as he recalled Xiao Jietian's earlier words and hurried to follow.
Despite Xiao Jietian seeming to move slowly, he would instantly appear further ahead, forcing Xiao Yan to activate his movement Dou Technique to keep up.
"I need Teacher to help me refine my movement Dou Technique soon," Xiao Yan thought, eager to match Xiao Jietian's speed.
After twenty minutes, they arrived at a large tree. Xiao Jietian stopped, and three breaths later, Xiao Yan reached him.
"Here, it's right here," Xiao Jietian said.
Following his gaze, Xiao Yan saw a large crowd gathered below, waiting. At the very front, his eyes widened.
"What is this?"
A black tower-shaped building, mostly underground, with only part of the spire and a dark entrance exposed.
"This is the Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda," Xiao Jietian said, transmitting a soul message directly to Xiao Yan: "This is where the Fallen Heart Flame is located."
Xiao Yan's heart jolted, a fiery gleam igniting in his eyes. He fixed his gaze on the dark entrance, eager to glimpse the Heavenly Flame inside. A flash passed over the black ring on his hand.
"Xiao Yan Zi, calm down. It's not easy to get it now. Wait for the right moment," Xiao Jietian said, patting his shoulder with soul power, sobering him instantly.
"I got too excited… you must be laughing at me, Tian Ge," Xiao Yan said, regaining composure.
Xiao Jietian smiled quietly, understanding his excitement.
"Hmm?" Xiao Yan murmured, slightly surprised.