Heading to the Inner Courtyard (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Follow-ups)

Having raised his cultivation technique to the Earth Rank Middle Level and his realm to the Dou Ling level, Xu Haoyu finally returned to Jia Nan Academy in high spirits.

He then discovered that quite a few academy instructors had been looking for him. The moment they saw him, their faces lit up, and they hurriedly told him to go see the Vice-Dean.

It turned out that Vice-Dean Hu Qian was about to send the top fifty students from this Inner Courtyard Selection Competition to the Inner Courtyard. Everyone else had arrived, but Xu Haoyu was nowhere to be found.

As the champion of this Inner Courtyard Selection Competition, Xu Haoyu certainly could not be left behind.

Academic Affairs Office!

When Hu Qian saw that Xu Haoyu had finally appeared, he immediately let out a sigh of relief. He was just about to put on a stern face and scold him a little when he sensed the powerful aura around Xu Haoyu, still not fully under control after his breakthrough.

Gasp!

Hu Qian drew in a sharp breath. Just a few days apart, and Xu Haoyu had broken through again. Most likely, he had advanced from a Nine Star Da Dou Shi to a One Star Dou Ling. This was no minor breakthrough—it was a major realm advancement.

What monstrous talent. Still finding it hard to believe, Hu Qian asked, "Haoyu, judging from your aura, have you broken through again?"

Xu Haoyu calmly admitted, "That's right, Vice-Dean. Didn't you say we should make the most of this time to improve our strength? I kept training, and somehow, I broke through again."

Hearing that, Hu Qian felt somewhat numb and stopped asking questions. Perhaps this was simply how geniuses were—they trained, and then they broke through.

He then turned to the main matter. "Since you're back, we should prepare to leave for the Inner Courtyard. Go back and pack your things first. Report here on time tomorrow morning. I'll make the arrangements. Once all fifty students are present, we can depart."

Xu Haoyu looked composed, but a flicker of excitement still rose in his heart. He had been at Jia Nan Academy for half a year, and he was finally about to enter the Inner Courtyard. He nodded and said, "All right, Vice-Dean. I'll head back and pack up."

After settling the matter, Xu Haoyu left with a gleam in his eyes, thinking to himself, The Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower, the Fallen Heart Flame... I wonder just how much they can improve my cultivation...

The next day!

As the sun peeked over the eastern horizon, rays of sunlight streamed through the window into Xu Haoyu's room.

Xu Haoyu was already up and busy. He packed his books, the notes he had made, and some clothes into his Storage Ring. After taking one final look at the room he had lived in for half a year, he strode out.

After breakfast, Xu Haoyu arrived at Canaan Square on time. By then, quite a few people had gathered there. They were all the most outstanding students of Jia Nan Academy's Outer Courtyard—the top fifty of the Inner Courtyard Selection Competition.

The instant Xu Haoyu appeared, the entire Canaan Square quickly fell silent. Everyone automatically stepped aside, yielding the best spot in the center to him.

At the same time, the gazes of these favored youths toward Xu Haoyu were filled with either reverence or admiration.

After all, strength spoke for itself. Xu Haoyu was far stronger than any of them.

When he reached the center of the square, Zhang Kaidi, Yu Huo, Jiang Miaomiao, and Lie Feng all reined in their previously proud expressions upon seeing him.

However, they soon noticed something unusual. The pressure Xu Haoyu gave off was even more terrifying than before.

Zhang Kaidi suddenly asked in disbelief, "Xu Haoyu, your strength... don't tell me you've broken through to Dou Ling?"

Xu Haoyu glanced at him, then saw that Yu Huo, Jiang Miaomiao, and Lie Feng all wore similarly hesitant expressions. He did not conceal it, merely nodding calmly as he said indifferently, "Your guess is correct. After several days of closed-door cultivation, I have indeed broken through to the Dou Ling level."

Gasp!

Another round of sharp inhalations rang out. Xu Haoyu had not spoken loudly, but everyone present had keen eyes and ears, and they had all more or less heard what he said.

Dou Ling!

The others were either Da Dou Shi or Dou Shi, while Xu Haoyu was already a Dou Ling. He was on a completely different level from them. No wonder he was the champion of the Inner Courtyard Selection Competition.

Now, everyone looking at Xu Haoyu was thoroughly convinced. With his talent and strength, there was simply no way they could refuse to accept it.

Before long, Vice-Dean Hu Qian arrived at Canaan Square with a group of Outer Courtyard elders, leading a formation of griffin beasts down from the sky.

Vice-Dean Hu Qian did not waste words. Because of Xu Haoyu, he had already delayed sending this batch of students to the Inner Courtyard by several days. He could not afford to delay any longer, so he immediately called out, "All students, board the griffin beasts in groups. I will personally escort you to the Inner Courtyard. Hehe, since the Inner Courtyard is the true core of Jia Nan Academy, getting there will take some effort."

"Due to certain confidentiality rules, the Outer Courtyard elders and instructors rarely mention matters concerning the Inner Courtyard. But once you arrive there, in less than a year, you will undergo a complete transformation. The Inner Courtyard can develop your potential to the fullest and turn you into true powerhouses."

Hu Qian did not say much, but he had already stirred the students' curiosity. They could hardly wait to enter the Inner Courtyard and see how it would unlock their potential and bring about such tremendous transformations.

One after another, they used their own methods and quickly climbed onto the griffin beasts.

After confirming that all were present and no one had been left behind, Vice-Dean Hu Qian waved his hand and instructed the beast handlers to set off. These beast handlers were the people responsible for controlling the griffin beasts.

At the beast handlers' command, the massive griffin beasts flapped their wings, stirring up fierce winds as they soared into the air and flew toward the depths of Jia Nan Academy's Back Mountain.

Nearly every student wore an expression of curiosity and eager anticipation. They had long heard of the wonders of the Inner Courtyard, and now it was finally their turn to go there.

The journey was far from peaceful. Jia Nan Academy's Back Mountain was home to countless magical beasts, from First-Order Magical Beasts to Fifth-Order Magical Beasts, all commonly found throughout the mountain range. Some flying magical beasts, upon discovering that the griffin beast formation had entered their territory, launched savage attacks without hesitation.

However, Vice-Dean Hu Qian and the Outer Courtyard elders were no pushovers. With casual strikes of Dou Qi, they blasted the attacking flying magical beasts into clouds of blood mist. Not a single flying magical beast could come within fifty meters of them.

They continued onward until they reached the depths of the Back Mountain and landed in a relatively open area among the mountains.

As the students surveyed their surroundings, Vice-Dean Hu Qian released a burst of energy and struck a spot in the air. Ripples spread across that space, and then a silver gate opened. Beyond the gate lay another vast forest, seemingly no different from the one outside.

Yet Vice-Dean Hu Qian gave a mysterious smile and said, "Go in now. The Inner Courtyard is located beyond that gate."

Clearly, the Inner Courtyard was hidden in another space. Even if outsiders wished to force their way in, it would be difficult for them to find its exact location.