While in Battle Through the Heavens, one can pre-appoint oneself as an emperor.

Inner courtyard.

New student accommodation area.

As soon as Chen Xiao returned, he saw Mu Boshan beating Cao Hui in front of the pavilion.

To be precise, it was actually a friendly exchange of skills.

More than half a year after entering the inner courtyard, the former top five freshmen have made different developments and progress.

Chen Xiao originally thought that the first person to move out of the small pavilion would be the only woman, Fu Tong, but he did not expect that Ji Ruiyang would take the lead. This person joined the largest gang in the inner courtyard, Xue Ming, and left the pavilion early.

However, excluding Chen Xiao, the one who has made the most progress among these four is undoubtedly Cao Hui, who has the fire attribute.

This guy was already quite talented, and with the help of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower, he has already gone from a beginner-level Great Dou Master to a peak three-star Great Dou Master. His rapid improvement is enviable.

At this rate, it's only a matter of time before he catches up with, or even surpasses, the others.

Of course, we haven't reached that point yet.

"I'm not fighting anymore, I'm not fighting anymore. Your turtle shell is impossible to break, it's pointless."

After struggling for a while without breaking through the opponent's defenses, Cao Hui decisively chose to give up immediately.

Back in the library, everyone, including Chen Xiao, chose items that greatly enhanced their strength. Only Cao Hui chose a pill formula. In addition, since his current cultivation level had not caught up with the seemingly honest Mu Boshan, he was naturally at a disadvantage in the fight.

"Hehe, you'll have to practice more if you want to break my defense."

Hearing this blunt statement, Cao Hui rolled his eyes at the other person, put away his long stick, and then noticed the boy standing to the side watching.

"Chen Xiao, that's rare! You've only been gone for less than ten days and you're back already. I heard someone say this morning when I went to the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower that the Strong Ranking Competition is in a little over a month. Brother, do you have any thoughts about participating? We'll all go and cheer you on."

Living under the same roof, if things are normal, the relationship shouldn't be too bad.

Although Chen Xiao has spent most of the past six months in the Black Corner Region, he has had quite a few interactions with these people. Apart from Zi Yan, they are the people Chen Xiao interacts with the most in the Inner Academy.

"Not only will I participate, but I'm also aiming for the top three." Chen Xiao chuckled, not hiding his plans.

If the follow-up work of the three thousand Thunderclaps is completed in advance, then the Heavenly Jade Fruit, which has a maximum cycle of only two months, can also be used in advance.

The Heavenly Jade Fruit has powerful effects; anyone below the Dou Wang level can directly consume it to enhance their strength.

Chen Xiao initially estimated that with the help of a Heavenly Jade Fruit, even with the worst luck, he could reach the eighth-star Dou Ling level, and with better luck, he might even reach the ninth-star Dou Ling level.

With such strength, he would already be among the top ten in the current inner court, not to mention the added power of the Three Thousand Thunderclaps.

If you can't even get into the top three, then you can only say you're a loser.

Hearing Chen Xiao's confident words, the people in front of the pavilion were slightly taken aback.

Chen Xiao now seems to have undergone some indescribable changes compared to half a year ago; he is more confident, flamboyant, and sharper.

"You want to be in the top three?"

Upon hearing that someone wanted to challenge her, Zi Yan suddenly appeared like a ghost, holding half a piece of leftover medicinal herb in her hand, making one wonder if this little dragon had nothing to do all day and just wandered around the academy.

"Why are you eating it directly again? Didn't the medicine guild make you any medicine today?"

"Her skill level is average. It takes a long time to extract many medicinal herbs. I have to deal with the more difficult ones myself so as not to delay her cultivation too much."

Zi Yan pouted slightly.

She's mischievous, but not a bad person at heart.

When she saw the Earth Core Tempering Milk before, although she was very tempted, she still left a little bit for the Snow Demon Sky Ape, which shows that...

Although ever since I tasted the delicious pills, it has become increasingly difficult to swallow raw medicinal herbs.

But Zi Yan had no other choice but to grow up.

"Let's not talk about that. You just said you're going to participate in the Top Ranking Competition?"

Chen Xiao nodded.

"You're now a Seven-Star Spirit Fighter, so apart from me, most of the others shouldn't have much of a problem. Hehe, how about this: I won't participate, and you'll get first place. Afterwards, you can go talk to Old Man Su and ask him to let me go to the Black Corner Region. How about that?"

Zi Yan put away the medicinal herbs and secretly plotted.

Even though they lowered their voices, Cao Hui and the others who were closer could still hear them…

"The Grand Elder might not listen to me. Just participate as usual, and I'll ask him for you afterwards," Chen Xiao replied, shaking his head.

Zi Yan is quite strong; even a Dou Wang level opponent wouldn't pose much of a threat to her. Even if she encountered a powerful opponent she couldn't defeat head-on, escaping would be a piece of cake.

Within the Black Corner Region, those who could pose a threat to her were actually just a small group of people above the Dou Huang level.

If we take her along on our training, it won't feel so boring later on, and we'll have another formidable combatant.

Of course, the premise is that we must agree on three rules and make her obedient and not act on her own.

"Okay! I knew you'd be reliable!"

Having received the answer she wanted, Zi Yan beamed with joy. She stood on tiptoe and patted Chen Xiao's shoulder, a move she thought was very dashing, but which was actually quite comical.

After chatting with a few people downstairs for a while, until Zi Yan left satisfied, Chen Xiao went upstairs first to prepare to use the Heavenly Jade Fruit in advance to improve his strength.

Watching Chen Xiao's retreating figure, Fu Tong couldn't help but sigh.

"It seems that Black Corner Region has been quite helpful to him. In another year or two, he might be able to graduate early."

"It's very possible that his talent is the best I've ever seen," Mu Boshan added.

Fu Tong nodded in deep agreement.

Only Cao Hui, who was standing to the side, remained relatively calm.

"I have seen an even more monstrous person, no less than Chen Xiao. More importantly, that person has a terrifying talent for alchemy and is known as a witch."

Upon hearing this, Fu Tong and Mu Boshan clicked their tongues in astonishment.

Without witnessing it firsthand, they could hardly imagine what kind of monster it was.

But all is vanity, and all is permissible.

The Dou Qi Continent is so vast that nothing is impossible.

Therefore, they did not doubt that Cao Hui was fabricating the story.

The reason you can't imagine it is simply because you haven't seen enough.

...

Second floor room.

"Advance payment for Heavenly Jade Fruit!"

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Chen Xiao circulated his cultivation technique to bring himself to peak condition and then used up the newly refreshed advance opportunity without hesitation.

A period of up to two months is well within his acceptable range.

The thought had barely formed in his mind when a wooden box, about a foot long, appeared out of thin air in front of Chen Xiao.

"If it can't fit in your arms, does it just fall right in front of you?"

Looking at the wooden box in front of him, Chen Xiao smiled slightly.

This small detail, though insignificant, made him very satisfied.

At the very least, this proves that the advance payment system is quite intelligent and won't actually stuff just anything into your pocket.

Otherwise, if Chen Xiao were to pre-purchase dangerous items like strange fire in the future, he would have to think twice before doing so.

Putting aside his distracting thoughts, Chen Xiao opened the wooden box.

Then you see a jade-green medicinal herb lying quietly inside. At the top of this herb is a fist-sized, jade-like fruit, its green color vibrant and inviting.

After admiring it quietly for a moment, Chen Xiao took it off.

Although the Jade Fruit could be of great use to a Dou Wang level expert if used properly by an alchemist, for Chen Xiao, it was merely an aid to help him step towards the threshold of Dou Wang.

Once you reach the Battle King level, you'll naturally have access to more pills and medicinal herbs that can enhance your strength.

Therefore, there is no need to feel that it is a waste.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Xiao decisively put it into his mouth.