Two and a half years later.
Soft light filtered through the window, illuminating the handsome face of the young man. With sword-like brows, starry eyes, and rosy lips, Jiang Yun opened his eyes, exhaled a turbid breath, and awoke from his cultivation.
"An Eight-star Dou Grandmaster," Jiang Yun felt the vortex in his dantian completely solidify into a crystal, and a smile appeared on his face, followed by deep thought.
"I've been in the Outer Court for three years, and I've finished reading all the books here. There's no need to stay any longer. It's time to set off for the Inner Court."
A year ago, Jiang Yun was a Nine-star Dou Master. With his methods, it wouldn't have been difficult to secure a spot in the Inner Court. However, a Nine-star Dou Master wasn't considered strong in the Inner Court.
Although Zi Yan was powerful, Jiang Yun couldn't always hide behind her, could he? Plus, there were still some books in the Outer Court's library he hadn't finished reading, so Jiang Yun had postponed his entry into the Inner Court by a year.
Having made up his mind, Jiang Yun stepped out of his room. Looking at Zi Yan's tightly closed door, he knew she had run off somewhere to play again.
Over the past two and a half years, under Zi Yan's 'massive' supply of medicinal ingredients, Jiang Yun had refined Five-grade pills, becoming a Five-grade Alchemist. As for where the pill recipes came from?
He had to thank the selfless teachers of the Alchemy Department. Over these two and a half years, many elders had opened their furnaces to refine pills and answer questions for everyone, and Jiang Yun had seized the opportunity to collect many pill recipes.
However, most of them were for pills below Four-grade. But that changed after one particular incident, which was also when he gained the most.
Jiang Yun still remembered that day when Elder Huo of the Inner Court suddenly visited the Outer Court's Alchemy Department. He answered questions for the students and even refined a King Breaking Pill, a Five-grade pill, which, as its name suggested, was used to break through to the Dou King realm.
Jiang Yun had some questions about Elder Huo's arrival, but after seeing him that day and sensing his surging soul power, Jiang Yun understood the reason.
It was because of the soul cultivation method he had left behind.
That iron block was eventually discovered by the Academy. After the people in the Outer Court failed to decipher its mysteries, it was sent to the Inner Court by Hu Gan and eventually fell into Elder Huo's hands.
The rest was simple. Elder Huo obtained the soul cultivation method within it, and six months later, he officially broke through to the Six-grade Alchemist realm. To thank for this opportunity, he specifically taught classes in the Outer Court for three days.
One could only say that karma was at play. If Jiang Yun hadn't left behind that soul cultivation method, Elder Huo wouldn't have broken through to Six-grade so quickly, wouldn't have come to the Outer Court to teach, and Jiang Yun wouldn't have obtained that Five-grade pill recipe.
And under Jiang Yun's feeding, Zi Yan could be said to have lived a very comfortable life, with her cultivation soaring. She had now reached the late stage of a Fifth-tier Magical Beast, equivalent to a Seven-star Dou King among humans. With the Ancient Void Dragon's physique, she was strong enough to contend with human Dou Emperors.
Now that Zi Yan was off frolicking in the Magical Beast Forest, Jiang Yun was extremely confident in her safety!
"Bang bang bang—"
"Come in—"
A low voice came, and Jiang Yun pushed the door open, seeing a middle-aged man writing at his desk. Hearing the movement, the man looked up, and seeing Jiang Yun, a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes.
"Student, you are?"
Hearing the question, Jiang Yun calmly replied, "Teacher, I am a student from Class 3 of the Yellow Rank, Jiang Yun!"
"Class 3 of the Yellow Rank? Isn't that my class? I don't seem to have you in my class, do I?" Hearing Jiang Yun's words, Wu En became even more confused, carefully scrutinizing Jiang Yun.
Jiang Yun was almost ten years old and had grown to 1.5 meters tall, already taller than Zi Yan, which had made Zi Yan sulk for a long time, and then she became even more determined to grow taller.
Though ten-year-old Jiang Yun still had some youthful innocence, his refined face, coupled with his gentle and elegant demeanor, didn't make him seem like someone easily forgotten. Yet, Wu En simply couldn't recall having such a student in his class.
"Three years ago, Vice Dean Hu Gan..." Seeing this situation, Jiang Yun was not surprised. He and Zi Yan hadn't attended any classes in the past three years, making them textbook examples of bad students.
"Oh, it's you!" Hearing Jiang Yun mention Hu Gan, Wu En suddenly realized. He finally remembered this little fellow he had met once before.
At the time of enrollment, Jiang Yun was personally arranged by Hu Gan, and Wu En naturally knew about this little genius. However, for three years, he and Zi Yan had never attended a single class. He hadn't expected the boy to appear before him three years later.
"Yes, Teacher Wu, Zi Yan and I are signing up for the Inner Court selection competition in three days!" Seeing that the other party finally remembered, Jiang Yun nodded, apparently unaware of how bad his behavior had been all these years.
"You?" Wu En was stunned for a moment upon hearing Jiang Yun's request. Although he couldn't discern the boy's cultivation, he had met the admission requirements three years ago, at least Dou Qi Stage Eight. At that age, he was indeed an unheard-of genius.
Presumably, in three years, he should have reached the Dou Master realm? He certainly had the qualifications to contend for a spot in the Inner Court.
However, Jiang Yun was still too young. Wu En himself was still stuck at Dou Qi at that age, which caused him a momentary daze.
"Is it not possible?" Seeing the other party's reaction, Jiang Yun frowned and asked, somewhat strangely.
"It's possible!" Wu En nodded hesitantly, looking at Jiang Yun curiously and asking, "Jiang Yun, can you tell this teacher what your current cultivation is?"
"Teacher will know then!" Jiang Yun smiled mysteriously. With the matter settled, it was time for him to leave.
Watching Jiang Yun's departing back, Wu En's heart suddenly pounded. He had a premonition that this time, two more spots for the Inner Court would be added to his class. These were all achievements!
Earning achievements by just lying down, was there anything happier in the world than this?
Coming back to his senses, Wu En quickly took out the completed registration form and personally wrote down Jiang Yun's and Zi Yan's names. Afterwards, looking at the last two names, he couldn't help but grin foolishly.
He saw the Xuan-rank instructor waving at him!
Three days passed in a flash.
In the morning, Jiang Yun, having finished washing up, took Zi Yan from their residence and headed towards the location of the Inner Court selection competition.
Along the way, Jiang Yun saw many young men and women wearing Jia Nan Academy uniforms walking the same path as him. Each of them had excited and joyful expressions on their faces.
The Inner Court!
That was the true core of Jia Nan Academy. The people who came here were all geniuses from various places. Who wouldn't want to enter the Inner Court and become a prominent figure there?
And those first-year students who had just entered Jia Nan Academy were clearly very interested in this annual Inner Court selection competition. After all, these matters were closely related to them; who knew if they would be one of them a few years later?
It was their first time watching the Inner Court selection competition. Although they weren't strong enough to participate, they could still broaden their horizons and witness the demeanor of geniuses from all over. Therefore, their faces were practically overflowing with anticipation for the upcoming competition.