Deep within the academy's Library Hall, Xiao Yao finished reading a scroll containing a Profound Tier Cultivation Method. He let out a long breath, feeling that he had gained a great deal.
Within the human body, besides the major meridians, there were countless hidden branch meridians.
Any high-tier cultivation method was bound to involve hidden branch meridians.
And the countless ways those hidden branch meridians could be combined formed a nearly countless number of circulation routes.
Xiao Yao was absorbing these ways of using branch meridians and making them his own.
Xiao Yao rose and bowed slightly to the three instructors supervising him nearby.
"Sorry for the trouble, instructors."
Although Xiao Yao had said he would only read the cultivation methods, the academy could not trust him completely and naturally had to supervise him.
The elderly instructor who normally guarded the library had been assigned to supervise Xiao Yao along with two other instructors.
Since Ruo Lin was Xiao Yao's instructor, she was not among those supervising him this time.
The gaunt old man waved his hand, indicating that Xiao Yao could leave.
The other two instructors also nodded to Xiao Yao, treating him courteously.
After all, Xiao Yao's record in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament was truly no empty boast, and he had earned himself quite a good reputation.
Xiao Yao stepped out of the Library Hall, feeling as though a lifetime had passed.
After the Inner Academy Selection Tournament ended, he had plunged straight into the Library Hall and had only just left.
If today had not been the day to go to the Library Pavilion, Xiao Yao would have wanted to continue reading cultivation methods in the Library Hall.
Xiao Yao had originally reached a very advanced stage in deducing his cultivation method.
But after a flash of inspiration gave him a new line of thought, his progress in deducing the cultivation method fell instead of rising. Xiao Yao did not mind, however.
He knew this was not simply tearing everything down and starting over, but taking a step further.
As long as he followed this inspiration through to a successful deduction, his cultivation method would be at least Profound Tier, rather than merely rising from Yellow Tier Middle Grade to Yellow Tier High Grade.
The academy's Earth Tier Cultivation Methods are in the Library Pavilion. I hope I'm lucky enough to come across one.
Xiao Yao thought to himself.
As for a Heaven Tier Cultivation Method, Xiao Yao thought the chances were slim; most likely, there were none.
Even those at the Dou Zun and Dou Sheng levels would turn green with envy over a Heaven Tier Cultivation Method.
That was because Heaven Tier Cultivation Methods were also of tremendous use to cultivators at those levels.
If there really were a Heaven Tier Cultivation Method, Elder Qian and Elder Bai would certainly have cultivated it, and they would not have been stuck short of Dou Zun for so long.
Xiao Yao shook his head. A Heaven Tier Cultivation Method was still too far beyond his reach.
Even if there really were a Heaven Tier Cultivation Method, given his strength, he would probably be sent flying by the power of its seal before he could even get close.
Suppressing his thoughts, Xiao Yao arrived at the meeting place and saw the other four students in the top five.
When the other four saw Xiao Yao, all of them greeted him first.
Respect was earned through fighting. Xiao Yao's performance in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament had won their wholehearted respect.
Xiao Yao smiled and nodded in response, then took his rightful place at the front and led everyone into Vice Dean Hu Gan's study.
Han Yue watched Xiao Yao's upright figure from behind, her gaze shifting slightly. Remembering how Xiao Yao had defeated her in an instant a few days ago, she could not help gazing intently at him.
Clearly, Xiao Yao's easy victory over Han Yue in the final match had left a deep impression on her.
Walking at the front, Xiao Yao could naturally sense the gazes behind him, one of which was especially intense.
When he realized it was Han Yue, Xiao Yao could not help feeling puzzled. Had his attack a few days ago left a shadow over her?
Although Xiao Yao had said he had gone all out a few days ago, he still had a means he had not used: the Purple Cloud Wings.
With the Flying Dou Technique, his speed could rise another level.
But it had only been an Inner Academy Selection Tournament, and Xiao Yao had not thought it necessary to reveal all his trump cards.
Given Xiao Yao's current strength, the Flying Dou Technique certainly counted as one of his trump cards.
After all, if he truly encountered an opponent he could not defeat, the Flying Dou Technique's speed would give Xiao Yao a better chance of escaping.
While Xiao Yao's thoughts wandered, the group finally met Hu Gan.
Hu Gan smiled and offered them a few words of encouragement, then activated a mechanism, revealing a black opening.
"Come on. This passage leads to the Library Pavilion," Hu Gan said, stepping into the passage first. Xiao Yao followed close behind, and the others hurried after them.
Sensing what Xiao Yao had done, Hu Gan was momentarily taken aback. Xiao Yao was a new student who had been at the academy for less than a month. By rights, he should not have felt much sense of belonging to the academy, yet he trusted it so much.
After all, anyone would hesitate before entering such a pitch-black opening.
Xiao Yao's action made Hu Gan nod inwardly. He felt that Xiao Yao was worth nurturing.
But nurturing Xiao Yao could be left to the Inner Academy.
After a long while, they finally passed through the deep cavern and came to a valley surrounded by cliffs on three sides. At the far end of the valley stood a magnificent, enormous ancient building.
Outside the pavilion hung a mottled plaque marked by the passage of time. Three somewhat indistinct characters were written on it—Library Pavilion!
Hu Gan stepped forward and called out, "The top five contestants of this Inner Academy Selection Tournament have arrived. According to academy rules, may I ask the elders to open the door?"
Not long after his voice fell, Xiao Yao suddenly noticed that two gray-robed figures had appeared silently before the Library Pavilion.
Xiao Yao narrowed his eyes slightly. Even knowing what to expect beforehand, he had not sensed how the two had appeared; or rather, had they already been there all along?
Xiao Yao sighed inwardly. The gap between him and true high-tier cultivators was indeed still vast.
The two gray-robed figures slowly opened their eyes, their gazes as deep as ancient wells as they swept over the five people present.
When their gazes landed on Xiao Yao, the two gray-robed elders both stopped and stared intently at him.
One of the gray-robed figures could not help saying, "What peculiar Dou Qi. I've never heard of anything like it!"
The other gray-robed figure nodded in agreement. "It's simply inconceivable. How could such peculiar Dou Qi exist in this world, possessing the properties of both destruction and vitality..."
Xiao Yao was startled. This was the first time anyone had been able to discern the properties of his Dou Qi.
Even so, he did not panic.
The two pavilion guardians could be trusted.
Although they had only stepped in to save the situation at the very last moment when the academy suffered a great upheaval, they should have felt a sense of belonging to the academy.
"May I ask your name, young friend?"
Xiao Yao cupped his hands and bowed, showing his respect for the powerful elders. "This junior is Xiao Yao. Greetings, seniors."
"Young friend, might you clear up a question for the two of us? Was your peculiar Dou Qi always like this, or was it caused by some strange object you encountered later?"
The gray-robed elder could not keep a note of inquiry out of his voice.
Xiao Yao nodded and hid nothing.
"My Dou Qi was peculiar from birth. Because its attribute is unique and has an affinity for the sun, I named it the Yang Attribute."