With the Fire Energy Hunting Competition finally over, the freshmen emerged victorious. Each of them received a reward of twenty days of fire energy, while Xiao Se, Zhu Zhuqing, and Han Yue were additionally granted one Qing-grade Fire Crystal Card and thirty extra days of fire energy.
Within the Inner Academy, Fire Crystal Cards were divided into five levels, from low to high:
Black → Blue → Green → Red → Purple
Black Fire Crystal Cards allowed cultivation only on the first and second floors of the Heavenly Burning Qi Tower.
Blue cards granted access to the third and fourth floors, and so on.
Each card upgrade required an enormous amount of fire energy.
Previously, the cards Xiao Se's group had seized were mostly blue and black, with only a handful of green ones—making this reward exceptionally generous.
"Alright," Elder Su said with a smile after distributing the rewards.
"Since the Fire Energy Hunting Competition has ended, follow me into the Inner Academy."
With that, he turned and slowly walked toward a stone stairway embedded in the mountain slope.
The freshmen quickly followed.
Xiao Se, Little Doctor Fairy, Zhu Zhuqing, and Han Yue remained at the rear of the group.
Turning his head, Xiao Se smiled lightly at the woman beside him.
"Xian'er, how is life in the Inner Academy?"
Little Doctor Fairy smiled warmly and casually took out a crystal-clear purple Fire Crystal Card from her storage ring.
"Not bad. Great Elder Su Qian gave me a purple card and ten thousand fire energy. I tried the Heavenly Burning Qi Tower—it really does have miraculous effects on cultivation."
She paused briefly, then added with a gentle smile:
"Oh, right. Inner Academy elders all have independent residences. Later, you and Zhuqing can just come live with me."
Xiao Se nodded happily. His eyes flickered as if he suddenly remembered something.
"Xian'er, I have a gift for you later."
"A gift?" Little Doctor Fairy blinked in confusion.
"You'll know when we get back," he said with a mysterious grin.
She didn't ask further. Anything Xiao Se gave her was guaranteed to be something extraordinary.
The stone steps weren't very tall. After one or two minutes of climbing, the group reached the summit.
Standing atop the slope, their vision suddenly opened wide.
Before them lay an enormous naturally formed basin.
Buildings filled the basin as far as the eye could see. Looking down, countless tiny figures could be seen leaping across rooftops and streets.
Who would have imagined that such a vast hidden world existed deep within the endless mountains behind Canaan Academy?
"So… this is the real Inner Academy?" Zhu Zhuqing murmured.
Her lips parted slightly, her eyes filled with awe and excitement.
Before meeting Xiao Se, her life had revolved around survival—growing stronger so she wouldn't be imprisoned, discarded, or erased by her clan.
Now, looking at this immense world before her, she suddenly realized how small and laughable those so-called marriage shackles truly were.
She had seen a far broader sky.
And all of it—
Was thanks to one person.
"Xiao Se… thank you."
While everyone else stared at the basin below, Zhu Zhuqing quietly took his hand, stood on her tiptoes, and pressed her soft lips gently against his cheek.
Feeling the warm, delicate touch, Xiao Se smiled and tightened his grip on her hand, saying nothing.
"All right," Elder Su said cheerfully.
"Follow me down. Once you're settled, you'll officially be members of the Inner Academy."
With a wave of his hand, his figure blurred and shot toward the depths of the basin.
The freshmen followed eagerly, diving downward like shooting stars.
Creak—
An ancient wooden door was pushed open.
A beam of sunlight spilled inward, stretching long shadows across the floor.
As the door opened fully, four elongated figures entered.
Leading them was a girl in a gray-purple dress. She glanced around the spacious pavilion and smiled at the two girls beside her.
"Han Yue, you can stay on the second floor with Zhuqing. There are plenty of rooms up there."
"Thank you, Elder Little Doctor Fairy," Han Yue said with a polite bow.
"There's no need to call me Elder," Little Doctor Fairy replied gently.
"I only entered the Inner Academy to accompany Xiao Se. Just call me Little Doctor Fairy."
Since Han Yue hadn't joined Bai Cheng and the others in attacking Xiao Se earlier, Little Doctor Fairy's impression of her was fairly good.
"Then… what about me?" Xiao Se asked, pointing at himself when he realized all three girls were heading upstairs.
Little Doctor Fairy glanced around, then her eyes fell on the only room on the first floor.
A sly glint flashed through her beautiful eyes.
"You'll stay downstairs. There's a pretty good room there."
"…This—"
Xiao Se's lips twitched.
To be honest, he had hoped to share a room with either Little Doctor Fairy or Zhu Zhuqing. After being together for so long, their relationship had barely advanced beyond kisses and "hand-on-heart" moments.
He wanted to understand them more deeply.
Seeing straight through his thoughts, Little Doctor Fairy's cheeks reddened slightly.
She shot him an annoyed glare.
"The upstairs are all girls. It wouldn't be appropriate. And the room downstairs is the biggest—perfect for your alchemy and cultivation."
"…Alright," Xiao Se sighed in mock disappointment.
But in his heart, he wasn't giving up so easily.
After all—
no one said he couldn't visit at night.
With his plan firmly decided, he turned toward Han Yue.
"What are you planning to do next?"
"I'm going to form a guild exclusively for female students," Han Yue replied calmly.
"This year was safe because of you and Little Doctor Fairy. Otherwise, many of the new female students would've been bullied."
Xiao Se smiled.
"Go for it. We fought side by side, after all. Little Doctor Fairy may not be convenient to act due to her status, but if you ever encounter something you can't resolve—come find me."
Han Yue nodded without refusing.
She was a smart woman. Acting alone in the Inner Academy was never a good idea. With Xiao Se's backing, many unnecessary troubles could be avoided—and if he ever needed help, she would not hesitate either.
"Zhuqing," Xiao Se said softly, "go upstairs with Han Yue and choose your rooms. Xian'er and I have something to take care of."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded and led Han Yue upstairs.
"Xian'er, come in," Xiao Se said, turning toward the first-floor room.
"I have something for you."
Little Doctor Fairy followed him inside.
After closing the door, Xiao Se immediately deployed the Sea-Calming Barrier, then took the Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python from his robe and placed it gently on the table—
Along with a bottle filled with thick, crimson liquid.
The beginning of living together—
had officially begun.
(End of Chapter)
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