The Inner Courtyard Selection Tournament concluded perfectly. According to the rules, students who obtained a spot to enter the Inner Courtyard would have about ten days of free time to prepare for their entry.
The top five, however, needed to wait patiently for notification from the higher-ups and enter the academy's Library Pavilion within seven days.
As a reward for being in the top five, they could, based on their strength and luck, obtain something from the Library Pavilion to take with them.
When Chen Xiao received the message delivered by Xi Wen Instructor, he was filled with anticipation.
No one knew exactly how vast Jia Nan Academy's collection was, but from what Chen Xiao knew, there were countless good things.
Earth Rank Dou Skills, Earth Rank cultivation techniques, and even medicinal herbs that could directly increase strength – none were absent.
And what Chen Xiao wanted was a cultivation technique!
Although the Ice Emperor Scripture was more than sufficient to use up to the Dou Huang realm, only a fool wouldn't switch if there was an opportunity to exchange for a higher-grade one.
"Your strength is greater than mine, your instructor. I won't say much about what you should choose when you enter the Library Pavilion; you definitely have your own ideas."
"Let's talk about something else. I have a paternal uncle who holds an Elder position in the Inner Courtyard. I will send him a message informing him about you. After you arrive at the Inner Courtyard, if you need anything, you can go find him. As long as it's not too difficult, I believe he won't refuse. This is the only thing I, your instructor, can help you with."
As she spoke, Xi Wen Instructor took out a slip of paper from her Storage Ring and handed it over. Written on it were the name and specific position of that Elder.
Being able to serve as an Elder in the Inner Courtyard meant a high probability of being a Dou Huang, or at the very least, a Dou Wang!
After entering a broader stage, expanding one's network was surprisingly simple.
Chen Xiao did not refuse, taking it and putting it away.
More friends meant more paths. Getting to know an Elder who was very likely a Dou Huang expert was beneficial and harmless.
The most direct benefit was that with this connection, Chen Xiao could even ask this Elder for help as soon as he entered the Inner Courtyard to suppress that Snow Demon Sky Ape, easily completing the follow-up for the pre-paid Earth Core Body Tempering Milk.
"Thank you, Xi Wen Instructor."
"It's nothing. Let me tell you a secret, don't tell anyone. Because I recruited you, the academy gave me a generous reward, enough to support my cultivation until I break through to Dou Ling. I don't know how many instructors are envying me right now."
Xi Wen Instructor's mouth curved upwards, and it was clear she was genuinely happy.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly and smiled, "Congratulations. Then I wish Instructor an early breakthrough to Dou Ling."
"Hehe, congratulations to us both. After I break through to Dou Ling, I will resign from my instructor position. Perhaps we can still meet in the Inner Courtyard."
...
Although the Inner Courtyard Selection Tournament had ended, the residual heat had not dissipated.
In the following days, walking along the various small paths in the Outer Courtyard, one could still hear many students discussing the matter heatedly.
As the top performer, Chen Xiao was naturally mentioned frequently.
As a result, wherever Chen Xiao went these past few days, as long as there were people, he was the center of attention.
Regarding this, the person involved expressed great helplessness.
On the fifth day after the selection tournament ended, Chen Xiao was cultivating diligently in his dormitory when he suddenly heard someone calling out from outside.
"Chen Xiao, are you in there? The Vice Principal wants you to come over."
Chen Xiao, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, opened his eyes, got up, and opened the door, only to see a young woman with a delicate appearance standing there.
It's her...
Chen Xiao recognized the person. It was none other than Fu Tong, the only female student among the top five in the selection tournament, with a strength of a two-star Da Dou Shi.
She was also the only remaining two-star Da Dou Shi; the other two had become stepping stones under the feet of the young man who used a long staff.
"Got it, thank you."
The long-awaited day had finally arrived.
Chen Xiao thanked her, immediately stopped hesitating, closed the door, and followed her.
"My name is Fu Tong, from the Heavenly Snake Empire in the Northwest. Thank you for showing mercy that day."
Heavenly Snake Empire?
Chen Xiao's heart stirred, and he thought of the Heavenly Snake Mansion.
"You're welcome. Heavy blows weren't allowed in the selection tournament anyway. I'm from the Jia Ma Empire, a very ordinary country, its reputation is far from as great as the Heavenly Snake Empire's. The Heavenly Snake Mansion of the Heavenly Snake Empire is renowned throughout the Northwest Continent. Why would you leave the near for the far and think of coming to Jia Nan Academy?"
"The Heavenly Snake Mansion is indeed powerful, but you may not know that the Heavenly Snake Mansion doesn't accept ordinary people like us, and... honestly, I have a very poor impression of the Heavenly Snake Mansion." Fu Tong shook her head.
Chen Xiao naturally knew the situation of the Heavenly Snake Mansion; he was just looking for an excuse.
Since this Fu Tong had no connection with the Heavenly Snake Mansion, they could interact normally.
In Chen Xiao's heart, there was a slight possibility of being on opposing sides with the Heavenly Snake Mansion in the future.
Chatting casually, before they knew it, they had arrived at Vice Principal Hu Qian's study.
The two immediately stopped talking and entered one after the other.
In the spacious and bright room, bookshelves crisscrossed, filled with various ancient books, giving it a particularly scholarly atmosphere.
At this moment, in the center of the room, the other three members of the top five were standing quietly. Behind the table in front of them, an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a red robe, was slowly flipping through the documents in his hand. The entire room was in a silent atmosphere.
It wasn't until Chen Xiao and Fu Tong arrived that this atmosphere was broken.
Glancing sideways at the two, the three young geniuses all smiled and nodded, a silent greeting.
Chen Xiao and Fu Tong also nodded in response.
Among these three, the strongest and most robust young man was named Mu Boshan, a four-star Da Dou Shi of the Earth attribute.
The young man who left the deepest impression on Chen Xiao, the one wielding the long staff, was named Cao Hui, a one-star Da Dou Shi of the Fire attribute.
The last young man, with an ordinary appearance that made him easy to overlook, was named Ji Ruiyang, a three-star Da Dou Shi of the Metal attribute.
It was thanks to their outstanding strength and the fact that they had been frequently mentioned these past few days that Chen Xiao was able to remember them.
"Vice Principal."
The five stood in a line and greeted him in unison, their faces filled with unconcealed anticipation.
Hu Qian put down the documents in his hand and chuckled softly,
"Everyone's here. Then I won't waste any more time. You should have all guessed the purpose of calling you here. Just follow me."
Saying this, Hu Qian walked to the wall behind him and casually patted the wall a few times with his palm. A low rumbling sound echoed.
The next moment, a dim passage appeared before the five of them.
"Let's go."
Nodding slightly at the five, Hu Qian took the lead and stepped into the passage.
Chen Xiao and the other four exchanged glances and followed closely behind.
This passage was very long. Every ten meters or so along the top, a large luminous pearl was embedded. The soft light emitted was not bright, but it was enough to see the path ahead.
The five silently followed Hu Qian for nearly half an hour before a ball of light finally appeared at the end of the passage.
Quickening their steps and stepping out from the end, dazzling sunlight instantly poured down from the sky, causing the five who had been in the dimness for a long time to squint slightly. After a brief adjustment, they began to examine their surroundings.
Before Chen Xiao and the others was clearly a valley depression. The steep mountain walls extended upwards all the way to the horizon. Within the three sheer cliffs, there was a very spacious open area.
And on that open area, a massive, somewhat astonishingly ancient building stood majestically.
Their gaze slowly swept over the massive ancient building, finally resting on an extremely ancient-looking plaque outside the building.
Three large characters, somewhat blurred by the erosion of time, were faintly visible.
Library Pavilion!
It's the end of the month, folks. Please clear out your monthly votes. There are only five days left on the new book list, and I still want to climb higher. Please!
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