Xiao Tian knocked lightly on the carved wooden doors before him, and a gentle surge of Dou Qi parted them from within.
He stepped across the threshold.
A white-haired elder sat in the center of the spacious main hall, his face beaming with a satisfaction as refreshing as a spring breeze.
"You can't hide the joy on your face," Xiao Tian said with a warm grin. "It looks like you've had quite a bountiful harvest lately."
Seeing the old man so revitalized, Xiao Tian felt genuinely glad. Hai Bodong was someone he deeply respected, and he was more than willing to shower him with resources.
"It's all thanks to the Hall Master," Hai Bodong said, rising to welcome him with a hearty laugh. "I never imagined I'd get the chance to cultivate such a high-grade technique in this life. Before this, I'd only heard rumors of such arts in legends—never even laid eyes on one, let alone practiced it! Hahaha!"
Hai Bodong had already fully converted his foundation to the Ice-attribute Earth-tier High-grade cultivation method that Xiao Tian had obtained as a system check-in reward. Following the conversion, his cultivation had broken through to Seven-Star Dou Huang in a single leap. Originally sitting at Five-Star, the Huangji Pill had pushed him up one star, and the immense purity of the new Qi Method had propelled him through the next.
By now, the core members of Heaven Suppressing Hall had all converted to cultivation methods matching their respective elements. Even Xiao Zhan had begun practicing the *Windflower Sword Dance*. After all, Xiao Tian made sure his own father received the absolute best. The upper ceiling of this art was bound only by the cultivator's talent.
And as for Xiao Zhan's talent, Xiao Tian wasn't worried in the slightest. The moment either he or his father stepped into the Dou Emperor realm, the ancient bloodline resonance would awaken, causing Xiao Zhan's innate talent to skyrocket into the heavens.
"You're one of us, Old Hai—no need for grand formalities," Xiao Tian replied casually, sitting down beside him. "The stronger you become, the stable Heaven Suppressing Hall remains. You are, after all, my specially appointed Great Elder."
The two shared a deep, age-defying friendship that went far beyond the rigid bounds of master and subordinate. They chatted back and forth, their easy banter filling the hall with frequent laughter.
As time passed, Xiao Tian bade farewell to Hai Bodong. Passing by Old Mo's quiet courtyard, he briefly checked in on the elder. Old Mo had already begun his breakthrough toward the Dou Zong realm; his aura was remarkably stable, steadily ascending without a hitch.
Returning to the Hall of Heaven—the magnificent palace complex situated on his personal mountain peak—Xiao Tian enjoyed a quiet meal served by the attentive maids before resting for the night.
---
Two days later, Instructor Ruo Lin arrived alongside a middle-aged instructor to summon Xiao Tian and the others. Today was the long-awaited day the Hidden Book Pavilion would open.
Led by the instructor, the four top students were brought to a spacious, brightly lit hall. Vice Dean Hu Gan sat behind a massive desk, methodically flipping through documents, while Hu Jia stood beside him with a thoroughly sulky expression.
When her eyes landed on Xiao Tian, recalling how effortlessly he had swept her aside during the tournament, Hu Jia's expression stiffened. That terrifying display of overwhelming force flashed through her mind once more.
Stinky man... not a gentleman at all!* Hu Jia grumbled inwardly, her heart a storm of conflicting emotions. I never expected such a gentle-looking guy to turn into an absolute tyrant the moment he steps into battle. Is this the raw ferocity of the lightning element?*
Hu Gan set his documents down, his sharp eyes sizing up Xiao Tian, who stood calmly at the head of the group.
"According to academy rules, the top five of the selection competition are granted entry into the Hidden Book Pavilion," Hu Gan announced. "Since everyone is present, follow me."
Hu Gan rose, walked to the far wall, and struck the stone in a precise sequence. A heavy, resonant rumble echoed through the room as a dark, concealed passage opened in the wall.
He stepped directly into the dark hallway. Xiao Tian, Xun'er, Xiao Yan, and the remaining two followed closely behind.
"I will definitely beat you in the future," Hu Jia whispered through gritted teeth as she brushed past Xiao Tian.
"I'll be waiting," Xiao Tian replied with a light smile, his tone smooth yet imposing. "Though I should warn you... those I leave behind rarely ever get to see my back again."
"Hmph! Just you wait and see!"
Hu Jia threw a lingering, complicated glance at Xun'er before stomping ahead into the gloom.
Xiao Tian and Xun'er exchanged an amused smile, shaking their heads in unison. For this fiery, rebellious girl with her rather peculiar romantic interests, they couldn't help but feel a touch of pity for Vice Dean Hu Gan.
---
After walking through the subterranean tunnel for nearly half an hour, the group finally emerged into the open air. Blinding sunlight poured over them, forcing them to shield their eyes for a brief second.
When their vision cleared, they found themselves standing at the bottom of a serene, secluded valley. At its center stood a massive, ancient pavilion carved from grey stone.
A weathered wooden plaque hung above the entrance, scarred by the passage of countless eras. Carved into its surface were three characters written with ancient, profound artistry:
**Hidden Book Pavilion!**
Hu Gan brought the five students to a halt roughly twenty meters from the entrance. He cupped his hands respectfully toward the quiet doorway and spoke loudly: "The top five of this year's Inner Academy selection competition have arrived. According to the ancient rules, I have brought them to seek their fortunes. Elders, please open the barrier."
His voice, infused with dense Dou Qi, echoed continuously across the valley walls, lingering for a long time.
Moments after his words faded, two grey-robed figures materialized out of thin air, sitting cross-legged like ancient statues on either side of the entrance.
Xiao Tian glanced at them, his eyes narrowing slightly. *The two peak Dou Zongs of Jia Nan Academy—Elders Qian and Bai. Together, their combined battle array can match a genuine Dou Zun. Right now, they represent the absolute ceiling of the Black-Corner Region.*
The two grey-robed figures remained motionless. Hu Gan maintained his bowed posture, and the five students behind him kept a respectful silence.
Deep within Xiao Yan's ring, Yaochen instantly severed his subtle spiritual connection with the outside world, vanishing into absolute silence.
It was the first time Xiao Yan had ever felt his teacher retreat so completely. He couldn't help but gasp inwardly: *So this is the true foundation of Jia Nan Academy... to actually force Teacher to be this cautious!*
After a few minutes of heavy silence, the grey robes of the two elders rustled softly. They opened their eyes, sweeping an indifferent glance over Hu Gan before their gazes settled directly on Xiao Yan and Xiao Tian.
"A Heavenly Flame..."
The grey-robed elder on the left spoke, his hoarse voice sounding as though it had traveled through centuries of dust. His gaze locked onto Xiao Yan. "Greenish in color, lotus-like in form, erupting with the violent nature of a volcano... That must be the Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."
Xiao Yan's heart pounded against his ribs. It was the first time anyone had laid bare his secret without him even summoning a single flicker of fire! The sheer terrifying weight of a peak Dou Zong's perception left him thoroughly shaken.
Then, the second elder shifted his gaze toward Xiao Tian. He closed his eyes slightly, trying to probe the aura surrounding the young man, only for his brows to knit together tightly.
He tried again, channeling his powerful Dou Zong perception to sweep over Xiao Tian—yet he met nothing but a boundless, terrifying void.
"Strange..." the elder murmured, a rare ripple of shock breaking through his normally deadpan expression. "Young man... you clearly bear the faint, oppressive weight of a Heavenly Flame, yet this old man's perception cannot trace a single thread of its origin or nature. It is as if your flame does not exist within the physical world at all."
The two elders exchanged a subtle, shocked look. For a peak Dou Zong to be completely incapable of tracing or identifying a flame right in front of them was an unheard-of anomaly!
Standing behind Hu Gan, Hu Jia was entirely frozen in place. *Xiao Tian also possesses a Heavenly Flame?! And it's so mysterious that even the revered Academy Elders can't trace it?!* Clenching her fists until her knuckles turned white, a profound sense of powerlessness washed over her. She realized the gap between them wasn't just wide—it was an unbridgeable chasm.
"May I know your name, young friend?" the elder asked, his tone carrying a rare trace of earnest respect.
Xiao Tian cupped his hands calmly, his expression neither humble nor arrogant. "Junior Xiao Tian greets the two Elders."
"Good, very good," the elder sighed softly, turning back to Hu Gan. "This year's top five are far superior to the previous batch."
Hu Gan breathed a quiet sigh of relief, smiling warmly. "In that case, Elders, please unlock the spatial seal."
In the air before Hu Gan, subtle spatial ripples shimmered like translucent glass, forming an invisible, impenetrable wall guarding the Hidden Book Pavilion behind it.
Noticing the curious gazes of the students, Hu Gan briefly explained the nature of the spatial lock—a defense mechanism that even an ordinary Dou Zong could not force their way through.
Under the watchful eyes of the group, the two elders began forming complex, fluid hand seals. Invisible spatial waves surged from their fingertips, merging into the shimmering ripples before them.
*Tear—!*
The spatial wall in front of them was pulled open like a curtain by an invisible titan, revealing a doorway-shaped rift.
"Follow me," Hu Gan instructed, stepping into the rift first. Xiao Tian, Xun'er, and the others followed cautiously behind him.
Passing through the spatial rift, the ancient Hidden Book Pavilion stood before them in clear, majestic detail.
"Thank you, Elders!" Hu Gan bowed respectfully.
"We are merely performing our duties," the hoarse voices drifted out from beneath the grey hoods.
Hu Gan turned to the five students and clearly outlined the rules of the Hidden Book Pavilion. In short: whatever treasures, Qi Methods, or Dou Techniques they could obtain depended entirely on their individual strength and luck, with a strict time limit of one hour.
The moment he finished his explanation, one of the grey-robed elders flicked his wrist. The heavy main doors of the Hidden Book Pavilion swung open with a deep groan, unleashing a thick, ancient aura that swept over the five youths.
Xiao Tian, Xun'er, and Xiao Yan composed their minds, taking a firm step forward into the depths of the Hidden Book Pavilion.
Behind them, the massive stone doors slowly sealed shut.