Confronting these tutors, Sikong Jing did not reveal his name.
Nor would he admit he was looking for Yu Yan; to find the secluding Fire Dragon Mountain Master, he had to cause a commotion, an even larger one.
At the same time, he needed to conquer Fire Dragon Mountain with his formidable combat skills and innate talent.
He had to first conquer the external tutors of Fire Dragon Mountain, only by doing so could he compel them to take him to see the Institute Master.
Of course, if he gave his name or said he was looking for Yu Yan, it might lead the tutors to associate him with certain people who had pledged allegiance to Lei Hongteng, such as the elders...
Then things would get complicated.
That’s why Sikong Jing started by defeating everyone as a Level 1 apprentice, angering them all.
Indeed, as soon as Sikong Jing spoke these words, the several tutors were visibly shaken.
With the strength of this apprentice, he was certainly qualified to become an Inner Palace student, and his inquiry seemed also within reason.
Suddenly, another voice arose: "I’ve seen the arrogant, but never anyone as arrogant as you. Do you think becoming an Inner Palace Student is as easy as picking cabbage? You think you can just join if you wish?"
"Furthermore... you even dare to ponder if Fire Dragon Mountain is worthy for you to join. Do you think you have the right to choose?"
The voice came from a male student whose body emitted the aura of the Second Realm of Xuantian.
The Fire Dragon Mountain students, hearing this, nodded in anger.
Before, it had always been the institute choosing the apprentices they wanted; since when had apprentices had the right to choose their institute?
"Whether I’m qualified isn’t for you to say, but for my spear to decide," Sikong Jing said calmly, as flames roared from the spear in his hand.
He lifted his long spear and pointed it at the angry male student opposite him, challenging him: "Second Realm of Xuantian, I wonder how many thrusts you can handle from me?"
Still... his arrogance knew no bounds.
As soon as he finished speaking, Sikong Jing directly charged at the male student of the Second Realm of Xuantian with his spear—it was the Beast Skill: Fire Bone Dragon Spear!
"You Innate Martial Sect Realm trash, I’ll show you right now what reality is," the male student of the Second Realm of Xuantian roared as he furiously charged towards Sikong Jing.
The two clashed instantaneously, and then... boom, boom, boom!
Sikong Jing blasted out three straight thrusts, and in the next moment, the Second Realm of Xuantian male student cried out in pain and was sent flying, landing heavily on the ground.
"Brother, fight on... crap!"
The other Fire Dragon Mountain students, who were about to cheer for their fellow student, suddenly stood stunned.
What the hell, how did he suddenly get sent flying?
Meanwhile, Sikong Jing gently patted his long spear and said indifferently, "Reality is, a Second Realm of Xuantian student can only handle three of my thrusts. It seems I don’t need to waste any more time on you lot."
As he spoke, his battle intent soared sky-high, and Sikong Jing bellowed once more, "And your voices are too loud; it’s bothering me."
With that, Sikong Jing, wrapped in flames, plunged into the midst of an increasing number of Fire Dragon Mountain students.
He moved like a fire dragon, diving in and out seven times. By the time he re-emerged, aside from a few tutors and Yisuo still at the entrance of the mountain path, no one else was left standing.
They had all been knocked unconscious by Sikong Jing.
Indeed, in an instant, hundreds of Fire Dragon Mountain students were knocked out, and the entire plaza in front of the institute became eerily silent.
"There, that’s better. Now that everyone’s knocked out, it’s finally quiet," Sikong Jing said casually, then tilted his head to look at the several tutors.
"Now, do I have the qualifications to see the Fire Dragon Mountain Master? Now, do I have the right to choose which institute I want?"
With his words, silence still enveloped the surroundings; the tutors were so shocked they couldn’t utter a word, and in their eyes appeared a strong desire—they absolutely had to recruit this apprentice.
Finally, a middle-aged female instructor stepped forward and replied, "Of course you are qualified; now I’ll take you to see the Vice Master!"
Sikong Jing’s eyebrows twitched slightly as he shook his head and refused, "I won’t see the Vice Master. I only want to see the Institute Master."
What a joke. Who knows if this Vice Master is one of Lei Hongteng’s people; he certainly won’t meet with him.
The reason he knocked all the Fire Dragon Mountain students unconscious was to prevent anyone from spreading the word to the inner academy.
Sikong Jing was just trying to buy time to meet the Master as soon as possible.
The second instructor came forward and said gravely, "The Institute Master is in seclusion..."
"Then forget it. I’ll go take a look at other courtyards," Sikong Jing interjected and turned to leave.
But the middle-aged female instructor hurriedly called out, "Wait, your Martial Skills are of the Fire Attribute; Fire Dragon Mountain is the best suited for you."
Damn it, if they didn’t seize this opportunity, who knew whether another courtyard would take in this exceptional little apprentice.
The Fire Bone Dragon Spear that Sikong Jing just used was of the Fire Attribute, a perfect fit for Fire Dragon Mountain.
The other instructors looked at him with gleaming eyes, some with the corners of their mouths curling lightly... With your power of the Fire Attribute, what else could you choose if not Fire Dragon Mountain?
This kid was definitely just angling for more cultivation resources.
Students were also categorized by tiers, with those of higher talent entitled to more cultivation resources.
Considering this, the middle-aged female instructor said with even greater hospitality, "I can promise you, I’ll strive to get you at least a Five-winged... no, a Five-winged Inner Palace Student’s grade, and you won’t lack cultivation resources."
As she spoke, the surrounding instructors’ eyes widened... Five Wings!
It seemed that even among the Holy Dragon students, none below the Xuantian Realm could directly become a Five-winged Inner Palace Student; this time they really were investing heavily.
Yet the instructors had to admit, this little apprentice definitely qualified.
His combat talent was too strong; with just three moves he had taken down a Second Realm of Xuantian, his combat power at least comparable to an Official Student of the Third Realm, certainly not inferior to an Inner Palace Student of the Second Realm.
Moreover, he must be a New Apprentice who was brought in during the entrance examination three months ago, with unparalleled potential.
An instructor sneered secretly, "He will definitely accept. This ’seeing the Institute Master’ is just a pretext."
However, just when the instructors thought Sikong Jing wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation, he suddenly sheathed his long spear, silently switched to a saber, and then fog began to rise slowly from his body.
A strong surge of Cloud Attribute energy rose up, and Sikong Jing’s voice came out slowly.
"I have more than just Fire Attribute Combat Skills; I also have Cloud Attribute Skills. I think Cloud Dragon Mountain would suit me quite well."
"Perhaps they’ll offer me a Six-winged Inner Palace Student’s grade?"
Having spoken, Sikong Jing suddenly vanished into the mist.
The next moment, his cloud energy rolled towards a dozen students who had just emerged from the academy buildings, unaware of what was happening outside and only hearing noise.
As the dozen students were enveloped by Sikong Jing’s cloud energy, they were completely dumbfounded and began to cry out in panic.
Why were we attacked? Has Xingluo Palace come to kill us?
Before they could fight back, they felt their minds fog and fell unconscious to the ground, out for the world.
Sikong Jing withdrew his cloud energy with detachment, gave no further glance at the fainted students, and returned to his original spot as the mist around him dissipated...
The next moment... pop!
The clothes of the dozen unconscious students suddenly burst open, exploding into tatters that scattered everywhere.
Sikong Jing chuckled, looked at the instructors and said, "What do you think of my Sword Skills just now?"