"Xiao Bai?" Xiao Yi Xian called out softly in confusion.
"A Tier Six poison is still a bit too much for you right now. This time, the Calamity Poison Body erupted faster than expected. I sealed it temporarily; otherwise, while your strength would grow significantly, the poison body's growth would also accelerate at the same rate." Xiao Bai withdrew his fingers and explained in a gentle voice.
He didn't tell Xiao Yi Xian that during his careful soul inspection, he had sharply sensed that when the poisonous mist reached a certain concentration, a barely perceptible trace of it had seeped into her Sea of Consciousness. That was the real reason he had intervened.
At the same time, he understood why every past wielder of the Calamity Poison Body eventually suffered from poison invading their brain, leading to a loss of sanity. It wasn't an abrupt transformation upon reaching full mastery—it was a gradual accumulation of poison corroding the Sea of Consciousness over time. When it reached a critical point, the outbreak caused them to lose all rationality.
If the Calamity Poison Body wasn't controlled and was allowed to continue like this, then as her cultivation grew stronger, the poison accumulating in her mind would increase as well. She would first become indifferent, then lose her emotions entirely.
When the poison reached its peak, she might lose her memories and even her sanity, becoming unrecognizable to anyone.
This was something he would never allow to happen, so he sealed it for now and would find a way to resolve it later.
In the original story, Xiao Yi Xian had likely been affected as well, but she managed to control it with poison pills and avoided that fate. However, Xiao Bai had no intention of following the original plot exactly. This was reality, and when it came to Xiao Yi Xian's safety, he needed to handle it himself to be at ease.
"But the Inner Academy Selection Tournament… the top five…" Xiao Yi Xian bit her red lips hesitantly. That was something the three of them had agreed on.
"No buts. No tournament is more important than you!" Xiao Bai interrupted her without hesitation. He sat down beside her, gently caressing her delicate face, which was still marked with purple patterns. In a soft voice, he said, "You have to believe me. No matter what happens, your Xiao Bai will always help you. Getting into the top five? I'll take you there myself."
Feeling the warmth of his palm on her face, Xiao Yi Xian gazed at Xiao Bai with her enchanting grayish-purple eyes. A gentle, captivating smile appeared on her lips. She reached out her delicate hand, placing it over his, then rubbed her cheek against it softly. In a tender voice, she murmured, "But I wanted to earn my place in the top five on my own…"
Ever since her grandfather passed away, she hadn't had many people who truly cared for her. But after meeting Xiao Bai, his concern and protection were something she could feel, genuinely and unmistakably.
"No means no!" Xiao Bai patted her small head lightly, then withdrew his hand. "Absorb the poison mist back into your body. This should be enough for you to break through to Da Dou Shi!"
"Tch… I wanted to break through and show off to Xun'er!" Xiao Yi Xian pouted in dissatisfaction. A hint of disappointment flashed through her mesmerizing eyes as she murmured under her breath. If she hadn't sealed the Calamity Poison Body, she might have been able to advance to a mid-tier Da Dou Shi this time.
Though she spoke softly, there was no way Xiao Bai's sharp senses would miss it. He was momentarily taken aback before chuckling to himself—so these two little girls had started competing with each other now!
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Time flowed like sand, slipping away unnoticed.
As one of the grand events of Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy, the Inner Academy Selection Tournament naturally attracted the attention of all students. To the Outer Academy disciples, the mysterious Inner Academy seemed like an entirely different world, even though they were part of the same institution.
Every year, Jia Nan Academy recruited thousands of new students, yet only fifty were allowed to enter the Inner Academy for training. Many graduates of Jia Nan Academy spent their entire academic journey without ever setting foot inside, knowing it only through rumors.
In this selection tournament, all the renowned figures of the academy would make an appearance. For many students who admired or idolized these individuals, this was a huge attraction.
The academy had long prepared for this event. The largest square in the academy was chosen as the venue, surrounded by stone steps that rose in tiers, giving the entire arena a gladiatorial-like appearance. At this moment, the stone steps were packed with a sea of people. Looking around, all one could see were dense crowds of black heads and hear the deafening roar of voices rising into the sky.
"Xun'er, why aren't Xiao Bai and Xian'er here yet? The competition is about to start!" In a small designated area near the front of the square, the section belonging to the Yellow Class, Second Group, Instructor Ruo Lin anxiously scanned the surroundings. Seeing no sign of the familiar figure, she turned to Xun'er with concern.
"Instructor Ruo Lin, why are you so worried that Xiao Bai isn't here? He's not competing. It doesn't matter if he comes a little late, does it?" Sitting nearby, Xiao Yu noticed Ruo Lin's unusual reaction. She leaned in, hugging the instructor's arm, and asked teasingly.
The students of the Yellow Class, Second Group, also pricked up their ears. Instructor Ruo Lin had briefly mentioned at the start of the semester that there were three more classmates in their group, but she never elaborated further. They had always been curious about these three unseen peers.
When they saw Xiao Xun'er today, their jaws nearly hit the floor. They never expected such a stunning girl, as breathtaking as a blooming lotus. The moment she appeared, she drew the attention of countless male students.
This only heightened their anticipation for the other two!
"Because he's participating in today's selection tournament! That's why I brought you all here to cheer for your classmate." Instructor Ruo Lin patted Xiao Yu's hand and spoke softly.
She had informed the academy leaders about Xiao Bai's cultivation and his participation in the selection tournament, but she had not mentioned it to anyone else.
"Who?!" Xiao Yu's red lips parted in shock as she exclaimed, "Xiao Bai… he's entering the Inner Academy Selection Tournament?!"
Behind them, the entire Yellow Class, Second Group, fell silent for a moment before erupting into murmurs.
"Did I hear that right? Someone from our class is competing in the selection tournament?"
"You heard right. It's that Xiao Bai, the one who's been enrolled for two months but hasn't attended a single class. That guy must be something else!"
"Definitely! The Inner Academy Selection Tournament is practically reserved for students with over two years of experience. Freshmen have no place in it!"
"Hmph! Something else? He's probably just an arrogant fool who doesn't know his limits. He's going to embarrass himself!"
As soon as these words fell, the speaker felt a piercingly cold gaze lock onto him. He looked up and saw that it was none other than Xiao Xun'er, who had just arrived today. Her beautiful eyes were staring at him icily.
"Bai Shan, watch your words!" Instructor Ruo Lin quickly scolded, sensing the tension. She gently pulled Xun'er aside and soothed her, "Alright, Xun'er, don't bother with him."
Only when she saw the coldness in Xun'er's eyes fade slightly did Instructor Ruo Lin breathe a sigh of relief. Forget Xiao Bai for a moment—just Xiao Xun'er alone, with her current strength, could take on the entire Yellow Class, Second Group, by herself. If she hadn't intervened, this protective little lady might have started a fight right then and there!
"Hmm?" Suddenly, Instructor Ruo Lin made a curious sound, as if she had noticed something unusual.
"Instructor, what's wrong?" Xiao Yu, having just recovered from her shock, followed Ruo Lin's gaze. She saw that on the central high platform, a group of elders was seated, seemingly engaged in deep conversation.
"It's nothing… It just seems like this year, all the elders of the academy have gathered for the selection tournament. Every single one of them is here." Instructor Ruo Lin mused.
"Heh, what's so strange about that? It just means all the elders happened to be at the academy this year!" Xiao Yu laughed carelessly.
Instructor Ruo Lin rolled her eyes at her disciple, speechless. Ever since she joined Jia Nan Academy, the selection tournament had always been attended by only two or three elders. Never had they all shown up at once. A thought arose in her mind—could it be that these elders had come specifically because of that guy?
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