Meeting Hu Gan, Straight Into the Inner Academy

Half a month later, In the sky above Heping Town, several dozen miles outside Jia Nan Academy, a dozen or so Griffin Beasts circled down. These Third-tier Magical Beasts spread silver-gray wings fully ten zhang wide, casting enormous shadows beneath the setting sun.

"Everyone, attention!"

Instructor Ruo Lin's cool voice, amplified by Dou Qi, carried through the entire group.

"Ahead is Heping Town, Jia Nan Academy's final outer barrier. We will rest here for the night and officially enter the academy grounds tomorrow!"

Lu Yu stood on the saddle of the lead Griffin Beast, his gaze passing over the small town, when he suddenly glimpsed more than a dozen black shadows rushing toward the town gate with the agility of apes. In only a few breaths, those figures had flashed to the entrance of the town.

The one leading them was a middle-aged man in gray robes. His sharp gaze swept over the crowd, and when he saw Ruo Lin, he cupped his fists and said, "Instructor Ruo Lin, routine inspection. Please cooperate."

Ruo Lin nodded slightly and took a blue jade tablet from within her robes. After the gray-robed man checked it, he stepped aside to clear the path. "Please."

Early the next morning, the morning mist had yet to disperse.

When the first ray of sunlight pierced the clouds and fell upon Jia Nan Academy's grounds, Lu Yu's group finally arrived at this most renowned holy land of cultivation in the Northwest Continent.

Instructor Ruo Lin straightened her robes, then turned to the three of them and said, "Qing Lin will come with me to handle the Outer Academy enrollment registration. As for you two..."

She glanced at Lu Yu and Little Fairy Doctor with slight hesitation, then said somewhat uncertainly, "With your strength, logically speaking, you should go to the Inner Academy to cultivate. I need to ask Vice Principal Hu Gan for instructions first."

"Thank you for the trouble, Instructor."

Lu Yu nodded slightly. His goal on this trip was very clear—he had come precisely for the Inner Academy's Falling Heart Flame. If he could skip the Outer Academy's cumbersome procedures, that would naturally be best.

Little Fairy Doctor stood quietly to the side, the eyes beneath her purple veil thoughtful.

Qing Lin nervously clenched the corner of her clothes, her eyes holding both anticipation and unease.

Not long after, On the Outer Academy's martial arts square, Lu Yu and Little Fairy Doctor were sparring atop a bluestone fighting platform. As their figures crossed back and forth, Dou Qi surged, drawing quite a few students to stop and watch.

Just then, a member of Jia Nan Academy's Enforcement Team hurried over. He stopped at the edge of the fighting platform and said respectfully, "You two, Vice Principal Hu Gan wishes to see you."

After passing through the winding academy paths, Lu Yu and Little Fairy Doctor arrived before an ancient-looking sandalwood pavilion. Pushing the door open and entering, a rich scent of books rushed toward them.

Inside the pavilion, dozens of rows of Sandalwood Bookshelves crisscrossed the space, neatly displaying all manner of ancient texts and Jade Slips. Some even emitted faint energy fluctuations.

In the center of the room, an elderly man with white hair and beard was focused on reading the ancient book in his hands. Hearing footsteps, the old man slowly raised his head. In his seemingly cloudy eyes, a startling sharp light flickered.

"You're here?"

Vice Principal Hu Gan closed the scroll in his hands, his voice gentle yet carrying unquestionable authority. "You two little fellows, have a seat."

"Greetings, Vice Principal Hu Gan."

Lu Yu and Little Fairy Doctor cupped their fists in salute, then sat down in the guest seats.

Hu Gan wore a warm smile as he slowly began, "Jia Nan Academy has always been known for nurturing geniuses. Ruo Lin has already told me your circumstances in detail."

"A Seven-star Great Dou Master and a Two-star Dou Spirit. Your cultivation has indeed exceeded the usual scope of the Outer Academy. You should know that quite a few instructors in the Outer Academy are even inferior to you in cultivation, so it would indeed be difficult for them to give you suitable guidance."

"The Inner Academy is different. Not only does it have a cultivation holy land like the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower, but there are also Dou Wang and even Dou Huang-level elders personally giving instruction. For the two of you, it is indeed more suitable."

"I have already discussed this matter with several Inner Academy elders. As for letting you directly join the Inner Academy, the academy has no real issue with it."

"However..."

The smile on Vice Principal Hu Gan's face did not change, but his tone shifted as he continued, "The number of places in the Inner Academy each year is limited, and this year's slots for entering the Inner Academy had originally already been decided."

"If you are to join, you will take up someone else's slots."

"This has left some students rather dissatisfied."

"They all fought their way up step by step through the Inner Academy Selection Tournament. Every one of them is quite strong, and they also have considerable prestige in the Outer Academy."

Hu Gan picked up his teacup and took a sip before speaking unhurriedly. "If they are to be convinced, it will still require..."

Before he could finish, the pavilion doors were suddenly pushed open. Five figures filed in one after another, led by a burly young man carrying a heavy sword on his back.

"Vice Principal, we're here."

The young man cupped his fists in salute, but his gaze burned as it fixed on Lu Yu and Little Fairy Doctor.

Hu Gan smiled and nodded. "Perfect timing. Lin Qingtian, Liu Yu, let me introduce you..."

"No need."

The purple-haired woman cut him off coldly, lightning flashing in her eyes. "If you want the slots, then show some real ability!"

Purple arcs of lightning danced at her fingertips as she pointed straight at Little Fairy Doctor and said, "Liu Yu, Seven-star Great Dou Master. Please enlighten me!"

On the other side, Lin Qingtian drew his heavy sword, its edge scraping a trail of sparks across the ground. "Lin Qingtian, One-star Dou Ling. Please instruct me!"

The atmosphere inside the pavilion instantly became tense and drawn tight.

The corners of Little Fairy Doctor's lips beneath her purple veil lifted slightly. As she lightly raised her fair hand, a wisp of pale purple Dou Qi quietly flowed. "Little Fairy Doctor, Seven-star Great Dou Master. Please."

Lu Yu stood with his hands behind his back and looked calmly toward Lin Qingtian. "Two-star Dou Spirit, Lu Yu."

Vice Principal Hu Gan stroked his beard and smiled. "In that case, let us go to the martial arts arena. Remember, stop when the point is made."

Outer Academy, sparring arena.

Lin Qingtian gripped the Profound Iron Heavy Sword in both hands, its blade carving a deep trench through the ground. His brows were tightly furrowed as he said in a low voice, "Don't say I'm bullying you. Draw your weapon!"

Lu Yu stood with his hands behind his back, his blue robes swaying slightly in the wind. He shook his head lightly, his tone calm. "Two-star against one-star. There's no need for a weapon."

An uproar instantly broke out around the arena. The spectating students leaned close and whispered among themselves:

"Isn't he being way too arrogant?"

"Senior Lin is from the Central Plains, and the Earth Splitting Sword Technique is..."

"Now this is going to be good!"

Lin Qingtian's expression darkened. He suddenly raised his heavy sword, stirring up a howling gale. "Then don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

With that, he took a fierce step forward, and the heavy sword came crashing down with the force to split mountains and shatter stone.

Earth Splitting Sword Technique—Earth Splitting Slash!

A nearly solid earth-yellow sword aura tore through the air. Wherever it passed, the ground cracked inch by inch and shattered stones shot outward! This was unmistakably the might of an Earth-tier low-grade Dou Technique!

A trace of surprise flashed through Lu Yu's eyes, and he said with interest, "Interesting. Earth Attribute Dou Qi has always been known for defense. I didn't expect you to focus on offensive Dou Techniques..."

Before he finished speaking, the tip of his foot tapped lightly against the bluestone ground, and his figure drifted backward like a blazing Wandering Dragon.

That vicious sword aura just barely brushed past the hem of his robes with a shriek, leaving a terrifying trench more than a foot deep in the ground behind him.

"It'd be rude not to return the favor."

Lu Yu gave a light laugh, bringing the index and middle fingers of his right hand together. Scarlet Dou Qi rapidly gathered at his fingertips, and an extremely condensed thread of fire suddenly shot out!

"Here's one back!"

Ever since breaking through to Dou Ling, with the dense Dou Qi he had cultivated through the Great Pagoda Art, Earth-tier low-grade Dou Techniques were already something he could use frequently, no longer a trump card he had to save.

Of course, Earth-tier high-grade Dou Techniques still had to be used with caution. With his current cultivation, forcing them out would not only consume an enormous amount of energy, but might also injure him.

That scarlet Fire Thread whistled through the air like a Crimson Flame Mad Dragon choosing someone to devour, distorting even the air wherever it passed!

Earth-tier low-grade Dou Technique, Heavenly Dragon Flame Finger!

"Earth Element Body Protection!"

Seeing that things were going badly, Lin Qingtian immediately changed moves. His heavy sword traced a perfect earth-yellow arc around his body, and dense Earth Attribute Dou Qi instantly condensed into a solid shield, wrapping around him completely.

Boom!

The scarlet Fire Thread and the earth-yellow shield crashed into each other. Two completely different streams of Dou Qi clashed violently, erupting with astonishing energy fluctuations.

A savage shockwave swept across the entire sparring arena, blowing the watching students' robes until they snapped and fluttered.

When the smoke and dust dispersed, Lin Qingtian, clad in Earth Yellow Dou Qi Armor, gripped his heavy sword tightly and swept his wary gaze around him. The sparring arena was completely empty. Where was there any sign of Lu Yu?

"Where is he?"

Just as he was puzzled, a clear voice suddenly came from above his head:

"Are you looking for me?"

Lin Qingtian's expression changed sharply, and he jerked his head up. High in the sky, a figure was plummeting down with heaven-burning force, charging straight toward him like a scarlet meteor!

Guardian Trigram Palm!