"I'm suddenly feeling a bit sorry for that girl, Zi Yan. I have a premonition that if she's with you, it might be very dangerous." Su Qian looked at Xu Ran with an expression of confidence and couldn't shake an ominous feeling.
Zi Yan holds a special status in Canaan Academy, and she's also the top expert on the power ranking, even though her 'Cultivation Level' is Douwang currently, her actual combat ability far exceeds that of cultivators at the same level.
However, Su Qian still wanted to send Zi Yan to Xu Ran's side as soon as possible. If Zi Yan were not taken away soon, Canaan Academy would be eaten out of house and home by her. Xu Ran was richer than Canaan Academy, he had inquired thoroughly; Xun Er and the girls even ate elixirs like candy—yep, this suited Zi Yan perfectly.
"I'm actually looking forward to the changes that will happen when Zi Yan meets Elder Xu Ran," Hu Qian said, stoking the fire on the side. In Canaan Academy, there's the lawless Zi Yan, and then there's Xu Ran, who has such extraordinary strength that he doesn't even take on the position of vice dean... each more eccentric than the other.
"Then Elder Xu Ran, I'll entrust Zi Yan to you. I will have Zi Yan come train with you tomorrow. Don't go easy on her, that girl needs to be suppressed a bit."
"Elder Xu Ran, I would like to leave as well. We'll meet again when there's time. It just so happens that those guys are also eager to meet Elder Xu Ran and get to know you."
Their objective accomplished, Su Qian and Hu Qian left contentedly.
"Isn't that the Grandfather and the Great Elders? The Great Elder is actually so friendly to Xu Ran, even my grandfather doesn't get such treatment." Hu Jia was surprised as she watched while training.
It seemed that Xu Ran's status within Canaan Academy had far surpassed that of her grandfather, the vice dean of the Outer Court.
After training for two hours, the women were all exhausted, lying on the ground panting heavily for fresh air and only felt a bit better after eating a restorative elixir.
After training for a period of time, they all felt their 'Dou Qi' had become much more condensed than before.
That kind of pressure wasn't only suppressing their bodies but also refining the 'Dou Qi' flowing in their meridians to be richer and purer.
In just a short period of time, the results of their cultivation were remarkable.
One could say that even half a month of their own cultivation would not have yielded such results.
The quantity of 'Dou Qi' could be increased through daily meditation and cultivation, but its quality was very hard to improve.
Only with a solid foundation can they aim for higher realms.
"Continuing to train like this, even without elixirs, we might be able to break through a level in a month," Hu Jia estimated in her mind. She was now a Dou Spirit. Normally, reaching Dou Spirit, if one could increase two or three levels in a year, that would already be impressive. To imagine advancing one level in a month was unthinkable even for the top fighters in the Inner Court.
"By the way, Xu Ran, what did the Grandfather and the Great Elder come to find you for? That's the Great Elder of Canaan Academy, in charge of the entire academy. I've only seen him once or twice when following Grandfather."
Hu Jia informed the girls about Su Qian's identity.
"Of course, they came to ask for my help. Elder Su Qian also wanted to ask me to become the vice dean, but I didn't agree. What for? Being a vice dean? Too troublesome. How could I possibly take on such a hot potato?"
"Pfft. I don't believe it. Canaan Academy has never had the position of vice dean. The founding dean went to wander the world, and since then the Great Elder has been in charge of the academy," Hu Jia giggled.
She was quite familiar with the situation at Canaan Academy and found Xu Ran's claim unbelievable—it sounded like boasting.
Vice Dean of Canaan Academy...
How could someone who has just arrived at Canaan Academy hold such a high position?
Even if Xu Ran was powerful and uniquely talented, shouldn't there be a time for evaluation? Could Xu Ran's value really be so great that it made people irrational, dispensing with even the most basic vetting?
Hu Jia furrowed her brow, knowing that Xu Ran was an outstanding Alchemist whose strength seemed no less than her grandfather's. But she wasn't too clear on other aspects.
Had Xu Ran truly become so powerful that even the Great Elder had to treat him with such regard?
"Believe it or not, that's up to you. You can ask your grandfather to see if I've lied to you." Xu Ran shrugged his shoulders.
"By the way, you should know about Zi Yan," Xu Ran asked.
"Zi Yan? Why do you ask about her? You couldn't possibly be interested in her, could you?" Hu Jia looked at Xu Ran with a face full of suspicion. In Canaan Academy, Zi Yan was a Heaven's Proud Daughter, suppressing countless talents on her own, a taboo-like existence.
Although she was called the Little Demoness, in reality, those in Canaan Academy who had a bit of talent and a foundation were not afraid of her.
But Zi Yan was different; even in the Inner Court, she was an existence that instilled fear in countless people.
In the Inner Court, numerous talents were easily suppressed by Zi Yan.
The mystery and eeriness of Zi Yan virtually turned her into a legend within the Inner Court.
"Hmph, she's the number one on the Inner Court Strong Ranking! Do you know what that means? Moreover, Zi Yan's background is very mysterious, and she has many unfathomable things about her. Who knows, she might be the young miss of some great clan that we're unaware of," Hu Jia clearly admired Zi Yan immensely.
In Canaan Academy, Zi Yan was the person she admired the most in the past.
Now, well, Xu Ran counts as one.
For some reason, when she heard Xu Ran mention Zi Yan, Hu Jia felt a bit sour in her heart.
"The number one on the Inner Court Strong Ranking? It's nothing much. In a couple of days, she will join you for training, as per the Great Elder's intentions," Xu Ran said with a smile.
"What? How could Zi Yan possibly agree?" Hu Jia's mouth fell open in shock, unable to utter a word.
But on second thought, if it was training with Xu Ran, probably even Zi Yan would agree.
Zi Yan was no ordinary person; could it be that Xu Ran was just an ordinary person then?
It was just that because the time she knew Xu Ran was too short, she hadn't fully come to terms with it yet.
"Xu Ran, I have high hopes for you. It'd be best if you could also train Zi Yan to be obedient. I heard that Zi Yan is a bit odd, even though she's a Douwang, there are times when even a Douhuang can't do anything to her," Hu Jia suddenly said with a mischievous smile, revealing two small dimples.
"Hmph. Brother Xu Ran is the most formidable, and even that Zi Yan will have to be obedient when she arrives," Xiao Mei said, not to be outdone.
...
Inner Court.
Zi Yan's long purple hair fell to her waist and hips, dressed in white, her face tender and delicate, appearing to be just a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, capable of arousing some people's evil thoughts.
Lolicon or anything like that, the most despised.
However, although Zi Yan looked young, in reality, her age could probably trace back a millennium. Zi Yan was a Magical Beast, and Magical Beasts had a long lifespan, nothing like the brief lives of humans.
Zi Yan had accidentally swallowed Human-shaping Grass and transformed into a human, then was brought back by Su Qian, who acknowledged her as his adopted daughter.
At the moment, Zi Yan was holding precious materials stolen from the medicine store, gobbling them down, enjoying the unparalleled taste.
As a Taixu Ancient Dragon, Zi Yan naturally had a great demand for these Heavenly and Earthly Treasures.
But even if Canaan Academy were to bring out all its good stuff, it would definitely not satisfy Zi Yan's appetite.
Wanting to raise a dragon… And especially a Taixu Ancient Dragon, naturally came at a very high cost.