Treasure Pavilion

"Since you're all here, I won't waste any more words. You should already know why you were summoned." Rising from his chair, Hu Qian smiled. "You are the top five of this Selection Competition. By the rules, you are qualified to enter the Book Collection Pavilion and try your luck."

With that, Hu Qian casually slapped the wall behind him a few times. A low rumble sounded, and a pitch-black passageway appeared before Xiao Yang and the other four.

Xiao Yang did not hesitate in the slightest and rushed in first.

They walked through the passage for nearly half an hour before a glimmer of light finally appeared at its end. At the sight of it, everyone quickened their pace. A moment later, they reached the end of the passage and stepped out.

What appeared before Xiao Yang and the others was a valley hollow. Steep mountain walls stretched upward until they disappeared beyond sight. Between the three cliffs lay a vast open space, upon which stood an enormous, heavy, ancient pavilion so grand it was almost astonishing.

Xiao Yang's gaze slowly swept over the massive ancient pavilion before finally settling on its exceedingly old plaque.

Upon it, three characters eroded and blurred by the passage of time faintly emerged.

Book Collection Pavilion!

Though the ancient inscription had weathered the years, Xiao Yang could still sense an underlying artistic conception within it.

Interesting. Very interesting. In the original novel, Tudou had only mentioned the characteristics and abilities of each realm, but seemed to have said little about the realms themselves.

It had seemed that as long as one accumulated enough energy, one could break through to the next rank.

But now, it seemed it was not merely a matter of accumulating energy!

No wonder Yun Shan had been trapped at the Peak Dou Emperor realm for so long. In the end, he had no choice but to rely on the Soul Hall's power to break through to Dou Zong—and ultimately got himself killed in the process.

Hu Qian led the five toward the Book Collection Pavilion. When they were about twenty meters away, he abruptly stopped, cupped his fists toward the pavilion, and said, "The top five of this year's Inner Courtyard Selection Competition have been decided. I have brought them here according to the rules. I ask the elders to open the door!"

As soon as his words fell, two gray-robed figures seated cross-legged suddenly appeared before the entrance to the Book Collection Pavilion.

Xiao Yang's eyes narrowed slightly. Bai Lie and Qian Mu—the two Peak Dou Zong experts who had truly killed Earth Demon Old Ghost in the original story.

After the valley remained silent for nearly ten minutes, the robes of the two gray-robed figures seated before the pavilion gate finally stirred slightly. Then, beneath their gray robes, two pairs of eyes as calm and unruffled as those of ancient monks slowly opened. They swept indifferently across Hu Qian and the others before finally stopping on Xiao Yang.

"Hm?" One of the old men spoke in surprise. "A child not even ten years old possesses the cultivation of a Da Dou Shi?!"

"What extraordinary talent..." The gray-robed man on the left sighed softly, his voice carrying a hint of praise. He then shifted his gaze to Hu Qian and said hoarsely, "This year's top five are far better than the previous year's."

Hearing this, Hu Qian relaxed slightly and smiled. "In that case, I ask you two elders to undo the Spatial Lock."

As the two elders changed their hand seals, the Spatial Lock opened. The hoarse voice sounded again: "You may enter now. Remember, no matter what you seek, do not force it.

"Everything inside has been covered by an energy layer. If your hand can pass through that energy layer without obstruction, then you may take the item within.

"Of course, no matter how many items you can pick up, you may only bring one out of the Book Collection Pavilion. Do not be greedy, or you will only end up drawing water with a bamboo basket.

"...And if you cannot penetrate the energy layer, then give up!

"With your strength, you cannot break them.

"Over the years, people have entered the Book Collection Pavilion every year, yet quite a few have ultimately left empty-handed. Therefore, everything depends on fate.

"Remember: do not forcibly seek what you cannot obtain."

Pointing toward the Book Collection Pavilion, Hu Qian turned to Xiao Yang and the others.

"Go in! The door will remain open for only half an hour. Once half an hour has passed, you must come out whether or not you have found what you need."

To the left of the five, the sleeve of one gray-robed man fluttered in the breeze. Then, with a creaking sound, the tightly shut doors slowly opened, revealing the dark passage within.

As the doors opened, an ancient and desolate aura washed over them. Xiao Yang stepped inside without hesitation.

Before Xiao Yang lay an exceptionally spacious chamber. Along the walls were nearly a dozen energy barriers.

These energy barriers slowly pulsed with light, illuminating the room as brightly as day.

Suddenly, clusters of energy in all sorts of colors and shapes erupted from the energy barriers, filling the enormous chamber as they darted about at random, accompanied by sharp whistling sounds.

Though these energy clusters were incredibly fast, Xiao Yang's Heavenly Demon Blood Eyes saw through them completely.

Moreover, relying on the X-ray vision of his Heavenly Demon Blood Eyes, Xiao Yang could see exactly what lay within each glowing cluster.

While everyone else was gambling on luck, he was freely making his selection.

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, half an hour had gone by.

Yet Xiao Yang had not found anything that truly suited him.

In terms of cultivation techniques, he already possessed a matching Heaven-Tier Cultivation Technique and Fighting skills.

If Heaven-Tier Fighting skills consumed too much energy for his current cultivation to sustain for long, then he also had weaker Fighting skills such as "Avici Dao Three Blades," "Jade Shattering Metal Splitting Hand," "Sky Splitting Tyrant Leg," and the Lightning Release: Thousand Birds he had just acquired—not to mention the full deluxe package of Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, and Susanoo.

From close combat to long-range attacks, he lacked nothing.

As for weapons, aside from an Emperor Weapon carried by a legendary ancient Dou Di, there was likely no blade on the Douqi Continent that could surpass the Tensa Zangetsu in his hand.

In terms of speed, he had a mid-level Earth-Tier Flight Dou Technique crafted from Heavenly Demon Phoenix Wings.

In terms of defense, once he activated the Vajra Glazed Body, no one could break through his defenses.

As for pills, he had just obtained the collection of an Eighth-Grade Alchemist, along with that alchemist's lifelong experience in pill refining. If necessary, he could simply refine them himself.

Thus, Xiao Yang found himself in an awkward position, neither here nor there.

Just as Xiao Yang was struggling with his choice, an earthy yellow streak of light shot toward him!

The overwhelmingly powerful energy fluctuation immediately caught Xiao Yang's attention.

Xiao Yang reached out and grabbed it. The light cluster instantly landed in his hand. Activating the Jade Shattering Metal Splitting Hand, golden energy blades flared across his hands. He clenched his five fingers tightly, shattering the light cluster and revealing an ancient dark-yellow scroll in his grasp!

Written prominently on the scroll's cover were the words: Yuan Magnetic Xuan Gang Overlord Body, Earth-Tier Advanced Fighting skill!

Xiao Yang could not help grinning. Damn, the Lei Clan really had gone all out! They had actually put up an Earth-Tier Advanced Fighting skill.

Then the system sent him a message: "This Fighting skill originally belonged to the Xiao Clan."

"Fuck!"