Xiao Tian looked at the bracelet in deep thought. It was the one he had given Xun'er before. He hadn't expected her to still be wearing it.
He removed the old bracelet and put the new one on her wrist.
Xun'er immediately snatched the Tranquil Jade Marrow bracelet from his hand, placed it carefully into a jade box, and tucked it into her storage ring.
"This is the first bracelet Brother Tian ever gave me. You can't take it back."
Xiao Tian couldn't help but chuckle at her serious expression. He hadn't expected Xun'er to cherish it so much, and the sight filled his heart with warmth.
"Alright, alright. I won't take it back."
He smiled and pinched Xun'er's cheek. "This bracelet is called 'Light of the Spirit Soul'. The cyan beads are made from something called Earth Soul Marrow."
Xun'er examined the Light of the Spirit Soul bracelet on her wrist. She could feel a powerful energy within it, and she knew it was Xiao Tian's care and protection made tangible.
"Brother Tian, thank you. You're so good to me."
Her eyes were full of deep affection and gratitude.
"Silly girl. As long as you like it. You are the most important person to me." Xiao Tian stroked her head with a smile.
"Stop being so mushy. The pungent smell of love has already filled the entire Hidden Book Pavilion."
Cousin Xiao Yu's resentful voice came from the side, her expression one of pure suffering—as if asking what she had done wrong to deserve witnessing this.
"Have you chosen your item?"
Upon hearing Cousin Xiao Yu's words, Xun'er immediately hid behind Xiao Tian, not daring to show her face.
"There wasn't much time left, so I could only pick this one. But it's not bad."
Cousin Xiao Yu waved the scroll in her hand, still with a hint of joy on her face. Xiao Tian saw it was a water-attribute Mysterious High-Rank Combat Skill.
"Are you satisfied with just a Mysterious High-Rank Combat Skill? If you saw this one in my hand, wouldn't you faint from happiness?"
Xiao Tian toyed with a blue scroll, then placed it in her hand. He had imbued it with a layer of power to prevent the light cluster from escaping.
Cousin Xiao Yu took the scroll as carefully as if she were receiving a sacred treasure. She curiously examined it, and her eyes went wide as bronze bells.
Several large characters were written on it: *Earth-Rank Low-Grade: Tidal Shockwave Slash*.
Her heart trembled. "Earth-Rank Dou Technique... and it's even water-attribute!"
She excitedly pounced on Xiao Tian, trembling with thrill.
"Alright, alright. Look how happy you are. There will be even better things in the future." Xiao Tian gently patted her back.
Cousin Xiao Yu suddenly noticed Xun'er behind Xiao Tian and quickly moved away.
"Xun'er, I was just too happy, that's all. Please don't misunderstand."
"It's alright, Cousin Xiao Yu. I understand." Xun'er's voice was soft, without a trace of displeasure.
"Have you all made your choices?"
Xiao Yan appeared beside them and looked at the three.
"Yes, we were just waiting for you. Did you find what you needed?" Xiao Tian glanced at the scroll in Xiao Yan's hand.
"I got it. I really needed this one."
Xiao Yan was holding the Mysterious High-Rank soundwave Dou Technique: *Lion-Tiger Shattering Gold Roar*.
After consuming the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, he now had a trace of dragon qi in his body. Cultivating a soundwave Dou Technique could greatly enhance his combat power and even turn the tide of battle. Soundwave techniques were niche and high-grade ones exceptionally rare, even if the training was a little harsh on the throat.
Xiao Tian looked at Hu Jia standing quietly not far away. It seemed she had also found her desired item, though he didn't know if it was still that purple medicinal pill.
"One hour has passed."
An old voice echoed through the hall, and the tightly closed doors slowly opened. Xiao Tian and the others stepped out.
They felt the warmth of the sun. Standing on the steps and looking at the valley before them, they found it inexplicably beautiful. Perhaps it was because the Hidden Book Pavilion had been too stifling, their minds oppressed by time.
A strange fluctuation swept over them. The scan was merely to check if anyone had taken extra items.
"Since you're all out, let's go. Everything that happened today—every single detail within the Hidden Book Pavilion—must not be told to anyone."
Xiao Tian and the others all agreed.
Hu Gan, waiting at the entrance, saw the five emerge and smiled. "How was it? None of you came back empty-handed, right?"
Seeing them all nod, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He led them out of the valley and back to his office. Looking at the five before him, he earnestly instructed, "The Inner Academy is not like the Outer Academy. It's all about strength there. I advise you to stick together. Otherwise, you'll be bullied by the older students."
They nodded silently. Whether they truly took it to heart was another matter—especially Hu Jia, who looked completely unconcerned.
"Alright, you may go now."
The five bowed and walked out.
Hu Gan gave Xiao Tian's retreating figure a deep look. He had a hunch that Xiao Tian was the biggest variable in this batch.
"It seems this time will be interesting. Perhaps very different from previous batches." A soft murmur lingered in the study.
---
Two days passed quietly.
In that time, Xiao Tian successfully broke through to an Eight-Star Dou Wang.
Xiao Tian had packaged the gift with great care. When giving presents, presentation matters. Even if you bought it from somewhere, you should wrap it as if you made it yourself, with deep sincerity and heartfelt intention.
That day, Xiao Yi Xian was so touched that she transformed into a little motor to repay him. If Xiao Tian hadn't strengthened his body beforehand, he might have found it a bit unbearable. He had a very enjoyable night, and the exhibition match was full of various tricks.
In a dense forest of Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy, Xiao Tian stood on a giant rock, watching Xun'er in the clearing.
Xun'er slowly lifted her foot and gently set it down. Her figure vanished from its original spot and reappeared twenty metres away.
"Xun'er, in just two days you've already reached twenty metres. Your talent is truly remarkable."
The Void Piercer Art was not a simple movement technique. It contained a hint of spatial manipulation. Spatial power normally required the high-rank Dou Zong level to be used offensively. Upon reaching Dou Zun, the most conventional attack method became spatial foot brake—no, spatial strangulation.
"That's because Brother Tian taught me well." Xun'er's smile was gentle. Only when she was alone with Xiao Tian did her usual aloofness melt into such warmth.
Xiao Tian appeared before her in an instant and wiped the fine sweat from her forehead. "Alright, take a break. Today's practice ends here. Today is the day we enter the Inner Academy."
Nodding, she sat cross-legged on a stone and began recovering her depleted Dou Qi.
Once Xun'er had fully recovered, Xiao Tian scooped her up in a princess carry. Her face immediately flushed crimson, and she buried her head deep in his embrace.
Xiao Tian took a single step. The next time he appeared, he was three hundred metres away—his current maximum distance.
When they reached the edge of the forest, after her protests proved ineffective and at the cost of two kisses, Xiao Tian finally agreed to put her down.
The two arrived outside Hu Gan's study. Xiao Tian looked around. Most of the top fifty had already gathered, and Xiao Yan and Cousin Xiao Yu were already standing there.
Bai Shan's face immediately darkened when he saw Xiao Tian holding Xun'er's hand. The fire of jealousy burned fiercely within him.
*You'll see what's coming in the Inner Academy. What's the use of being able to fight? In the outside world, it's all about connections.*