Battle Through the Heavens: Harmony of Flame and Shadow

"Now, let me send your words back to you: I see through you, but you can never see through me."

"White Tiger Seal!"

Jiang Yun felt the abundant Dou Qi within his body and calmly watched Xue Zhen charging towards him. With a solemn expression, he gave his arm a slight shake, and white flames surged through his meridians. As he clasped his hands together, he rapidly formed an exceedingly ancient and mysterious seal.

As his hands shifted from one seal to another, they exuded an ancient and vast aura that caused the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth to stir fervently.

Jiang Yun completed the sixteen transformations of the seal in the blink of an eye, demonstrating his proficiency. With the final seal formed, a wave of weakness hit him, and a significant amount of his Dou Qi was consumed.

Buzz——

As Jiang Yun completed the ninety-ninth transformation, the spiritual energy in the room suddenly erupted. Between his palms, it seemed as if the brilliant light of the sun emerged, with faint roars of a tiger echoing.

A terrifying wave of energy rippled out. "Earth-Tier Dou Technique—"

An astonished voice echoed, but no one was paying attention anymore. With Earth-Tier techniques available, why would anyone dismiss Earth-Tier Dou Techniques???

"Hmm?" Su Qian, who was leisurely reading an ancient text of unknown origin, sensed the sudden surge of energy from the spiritual world. Looking up in confusion, he noticed the energy wave originating from the freshmen dormitories and spat out a mouthful of tea.

"Earth-Tier Dou Technique??? And it's not just any ordinary Earth-Tier Dou Technique! When did these techniques become so common? That familiar fire attribute Dou Qi... Which oblivious little rascal dared to provoke Jiang Yun? That guy's resources outmatch even mine. He's like a porcupine – why provoke him? What a bunch of troublemakers!"

Even Su Qian, who was usually composed, felt like cursing. Despite speaking harshly, his actions were sincere. Putting away his text, he hurried towards the "crime scene" without delay.

Simultaneously, many elders also dropped what they were doing and rushed towards the freshman area.

Jiang Yun looked at the radiant light in his palms. A deafening tiger's roar shook the heavens and earth as the surrounding spiritual energy madly converged towards Jiang Yun's palms.

The brilliant light in Jiang Yun's palm grew exponentially, finally forming a colossal white tiger, about a hundred feet tall, born from the flames.

As the white tiger emerged, the crowd felt an overwhelming sense of death and took a few unconscious steps back, unknowingly retreating a hundred feet from the battle circle.

"Roar—"

The white tiger roared at the descending Thunder Jiao, and the white flaming sound wave swept out. The entire freshman dormitory shook, and massive sound waves surged outwards. The booming sounds were ceaseless.

"Ah—"

With a painful wail, Xue Zhen's Thunder Jiao shattered from the tiger's roar. He knelt on the ground, eyes vacant, as blood trickled down his arms, staining the ground.

Looking at the ravaged battlefield, Jiang Yun frowned. The hundred-meter radius around Xue Zhen was ruined.

Staring at his hands, Jiang Yun sighed. Despite the move's power, "Looks like I still need more practice. This technique isn't entirely under my control yet. If I damage the environment, will the Grand Elder make me pay?"

He murmured. He had only intended to break the opponent's technique, but he ended up ruining the surroundings. The technique was proving difficult to master.

Looking at the collapsed Xue Zhen, Jiang Yun rapidly transformed his seals again. He then leaped onto the head of the white tiger.

"Boom—"

The loud sound awakened the stunned crowd. They saw Jiang Yun atop the white tiger, bathed in flames, looking like an eternal deity as the sunlight fell on him.

Contrasting with the defeated Xue Zhen, the wide-open space fell silent. The audience glanced at Xue Zhen with undisguised horror in their eyes.

This was a seven-star Dou Ling, ranked in the top twenty-five, even top twenty, in the Inner Academy's strength rankings. A newly-entered freshman, Jiang Yun, defeated such a powerful figure. 

Jiang Yun's voice echoed above them: "The victory has been decided. Will you hand over the Fire Crystals yourself, or should I do it?"

Xue Zhen, retaining a shred of clarity, saw a massive tiger claw. He did not doubt that he would be left unscathed. 

Terrified, he thought about how he fought against such a monster. Jiang Yun's single move had shattered his arrogance into pieces.

Without daring to look at Jiang Yun, Xue Zhen pulled out a red Fire Crystal Card, containing two thousand units of energy. Jiang Yun unceremoniously took it, leaving only a minimal amount.

Satisfied, Jiang Yun banished the white tiger, as maintaining it was exhausting. His veins ached, reminding him of his limits.

Jiang Yun turned his attention to the anxious crowd and said, "What about you?"

The crowd, not daring to resist, eventually handed over their Fire Crystal Cards, watching helplessly as Jiang Yun collected their 'hard-earned money.'

After collecting, Jiang Yun glanced at Li Lin's group but quickly looked away, causing them to break into a cold sweat.

Everyone had a single thought: Jiang Yun is unbeatable!

Jiang Yun's gaze shifted to a figure rapidly approaching. Within moments, the person stood before him.

Seeing the arrival, Jiang Yun smiled, "Grand Elder!"

Su Qian ignored Jiang Yun and addressed the dispirited students, "Jiang Yun, fighting is prohibited in the Academy, and you destroyed Academy property. Can you explain this?"

With a determined demeanor, Su Qian sternly asked.

Jiang Yun innocently replied, "Grand Elder, I was forced to defend myself. They provoked me. I'm innocent and shouldn't be held accountable."

Su Qian was bewildered. He didn't appear injured while Xue Zhen and his group did. "Gathering and causing trouble will get you a thirty-day deduction of Fire Energy and a two-week ban from entering the Heavenly Flame Training Tower."

The students gasped. Such punishment was dire.

No one dared look at the stern Su Qian, but instead cast pleading glances at Xue Zhen. 

Xue Zhen cursed inwardly but remained silent, unable to withstand the consequences of refusal.

Jiang Yun obediently handed over thirty days of Fire Energy. The two-week ban didn't bother him.

Looking at the pitiful Xue Zhen and his group, Su Qian said, "Hand over the Fire Energy within three days to Elder Lin, or the punishment will double."

"Dismissed!"

His words finished, Su Qian vanished into the air.

"Let's go!"

With no face left, Xue Zhen led his group away from the freshman dormitory.

Observers dispersed, discussing the fight, but reached a consensus: Jiang Yun was invincible. No one would dare provoke him again.

"What a show!" Li Lin sighed as the protagonists left.

"Indeed. Who would've thought Jiang Yun was so formidable?"

"Let's see how Feng Wuhen reacts. He and Xue Zhen are close."

"Regardless of Feng Wuhen, this year's ranking competition will see a formidable challenger."

"We underestimated Jiang Yun. Many prodigies exist in the world!"

Silent, the others reflected. Facing Jiang Yun's White Tiger Seal, could they have withstood it?

Exchanging glances, they sensed the urgency for strength!

The newer generations always surpass the old; the newer generation's flood pushes the old waves harder.

"No matter what, this is my last year in the Academy. I must secure a top ten spot. Let Jiang Yun come if he dares!" Li Lin, determined, burst forth with a sharp aura.

Nodding, his companions felt confident. They would not give up their opportunity without a fight!

Returning to the dorm, Jiang Yun noticed, unsurprisingly, that Zi Yan wasn't there. Otherwise, those guys would've been thrown out.

Seated cross-legged, Jiang Yun reviewed his earlier use of the White Tiger Seal. The technique wasn't fully mastered since he couldn't control it as desired.

The sun set, and night fell.

"Creaaak—"

Zi Yan entered, her cheerful mood evident.

Spotting Jiang Yun meditating, she joyfully ran over, tugging his sleeve. "Xiao Yun, you're out!"

"Yes, once I got your message, I rushed back. Ran out of pills?" Jiang Yun smiled, his mood lifted by Zi Yan's presence.

"Can't I just miss you?" Zi Yan muttered, displeased.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, Jiang Yun, help me make these into pills!" She poured a pile of herbs onto the table and wore a storage ring on her finger.

"Fire Spirit Roots, Earth Purple Ginseng, Heaven Star Grass…" Jiang Yun mourned for the Grand Elder, seeing the precious herbs.

"What kind of look is that?" Zi Yan, sensitive, retorted, "I found these in the deep mountains, fighting many magical beasts. I didn't steal from the Inner Academy!"

Despite seeing traces of seals on many herbs, Jiang Yun played along. "Alright, alright, our Zi Yan is the best!"

Thus, their story continued...