Academy Library Pavilion

Today was destined to be extraordinarily lively. After two days of competition, the fifty outstanding Outer Court talents who had emerged victorious would hold their final matches today.

The plaza was far livelier than usual. When Liu Xi arrived at the entrance, he saw a surging sea of people that had packed the entrance so tightly that not even water could pass through.

Liu Xi looked at the scene before him in speechless frustration. I came here to compete in the finals. What kind of nonsense would it be if I couldn't even squeeze in when it was time for my match?

In the end, only under Instructor Zhang Yan's lead did he take the heavily guarded instructors' passage on the other side and successfully enter the venue.

As he emerged from the somewhat dim passage, the glaring sunlight shone into Liu Xi's eyes, making him squint involuntarily. He also felt somewhat unaccustomed to the noisy clamor reaching his ears.

"Instructor, I've been at the academy for a year now, yet I've never seen it this lively!" Liu Xi remarked to Zhang Yan as he turned his head.

"Today is the annual final of the Inner Court Selection Tournament. The fifty of you are the cream of the crop, chosen from thousands of Outer Court students. Naturally, everyone wants to come and see for themselves!" Zhang Yan was already used to such scenes. Smiling, he spoke with pride.

At that moment, Wang Shan, whom Liu Xi had fought yesterday, also walked over. Looking at Liu Xi with a complicated expression, he said, "In a head-on battle, I definitely wouldn't be inferior to you. I lost yesterday only because your methods were too strange, leaving me unable to guard against them."

If he had not obtained the soul skill, the Illusory Heart Technique, during his training, Liu Xi believed that he truly would not have been Wang Shan's match. Seeing Wang Shan's aggrieved expression now, Liu Xi could only smile and say, "Brother Wang Shan possesses immense natural strength. In a direct confrontation, I truly would not be your opponent."

Hearing Liu Xi admit that he was inferior in a head-on fight, Wang Shan's mood improved somewhat. Yet when he heard Liu Xi's next words, his expression became even more aggrieved.

"But that is also part of my strength. Could it be that after leaving the academy, Brother Wang Shan expects everyone to fight you head-on every time?" Liu Xi continued unhurriedly.

"Even though I lost, I still refuse to accept it. Once I figure out how to break your Illusion Technique, I'll definitely come challenge you again." Wang Shan forced out those words with a resentful look.

Seeing Wang Shan acting like a simple-minded oaf, Liu Xi found himself rather fond of his straightforward personality. He replied sincerely, "In that case, I'll be ready anytime!"

Before long, once the conversation here had more or less ended, Vice Principal Hu Gan on the viewing platform announced the start of the finals.

The final fifty students would engage in round-based battles determined by drawing lots.

To Liu Xi, aside from Wang Shan, several others also seemed extremely troublesome. They were Liu Lingfeng, who wielded the Thunderclap Spear, his spear techniques combined with lightning-attribute Dou Qi being incomparably domineering; Lin Chen, who wielded the Wind Chasing Sword, his sword techniques paired with wind-attribute Dou Qi sharp and ruthless; and Shui Rou'er, who wielded the Spirit Water Whip, her whip techniques combined with water-attribute Dou Qi allowing her to wear down her opponents' Dou Qi without letting them touch even the corner of her clothes.

Yet in the end, they all fell before Liu Xi's unpredictable Illusion Technique, making him the champion of this Inner Court Selection Tournament.

At that moment, everyone beneath the stage cheered for Liu Xi. Instructor Zhang Yan in particular was so excited that tears nearly flowed from his eyes. Even he had never expected Liu Xi to win the championship. This had truly brought great honor to him!

On the viewing platform, Elder Huo, who stood beside Vice Principal Hu Gan, stroked his beard with a gratified expression and bragged to the vice principal and the other elders beside him, "This Liu Xi has grown up under my watch ever since he entered the academy!"

Liu Xi was also surrounded like the moon among stars, with people expressing their admiration and respect for him from every direction.

Although the expenditure of Spiritual Power left him somewhat dizzy, Liu Xi still responded to his enthusiastic fellow students with a smile.

After Vice Principal Hu Gan concluded this year's Inner Court Selection Tournament with an inspiring speech, he informed Liu Xi and the others to visit his office tomorrow.

Only then was Liu Xi finally able to get away. After a night of rest, he finally recovered his energy.

The next day

Inside the spacious, brightly lit room, rows of bookshelves crisscrossed one another, filled with all sorts of ancient books and giving the place an especially scholarly air.

Five figures stood before a broad desk. They were the top five from this Inner Court Selection Tournament: Liu Xi, Wang Shan, Liu Lingfeng, Lin Chen, and Shui Rou'er.

"Not bad. All of you are the most gifted students in our Outer Court. But remember, the Inner Court is not like the Outer Court. Those who can enter the Inner Court are all geniuses just like yourselves. Furthermore, strength is supreme in the Inner Court. Whoever has the harder fist can obtain the best cultivation conditions. Therefore, Inner Court students generally form groups. If you do not join one, your fate will not be very pleasant!" Hu Gan said solemnly as he looked at the five before him.

"Won't the instructors intervene?" Shui Rou'er, the only woman among the five, first frowned as though she had thought of something, then asked.

"We martial artists should naturally advance bravely and diligently. Thus, the academy will only ensure your safety, while encouraging competition and battle among students," Hu Gan explained.

"Now that you all understand, come with me!" Hu Gan said to the five, who were deep in thought.

Hu Gan then walked to a black wall. With a wave of his hand, he released an invisible ripple. The wall opened, revealing a pitch-black passage.

Hu Gan stepped inside first, and Liu Xi and the others followed in succession.

After entering the passage, Liu Xi and the others discovered enormous Luminous Pearls embedded in the walls. Their faint glow was somewhat hazy, but it was already sufficient for Liu Xi and the others.

After walking through the passage for about half an hour, a spot of light finally appeared at its end. At the sight of it, those inside quickened their pace considerably. A moment later, they finally reached the end of the passage and stepped out.

Dazzling sunlight poured down from the sky, causing Liu Xi and the others to instinctively narrow their eyes. After a while, they slowly opened them. As they looked upon the scene before them, their faces filled with shock.

Before Liu Xi and the others lay what was clearly a valley basin. The steep mountain walls stretched upward all the way to the limits of sight. Between the three sheer cliffs was an exceedingly broad open space, and upon it stood a massive, heavy, ancient pavilion so huge that it was astonishing.

Their gazes slowly swept over the enormous ancient pavilion before finally settling on an extremely old plaque outside it. Upon the plaque, three characters, blurred by the erosion of time, faintly emerged.

Library Pavilion!

Though the ancient writing had endured the ravages of time, Liu Xi and the others were still shaken by the archaic aura contained within those characters. As expected of Jia Nan Academy's mysterious Outer Court Library Pavilion. This plaque alone made its status clear.

Hu Gan led the five slowly toward the Library Pavilion. Just as they were about twenty meters away, he suddenly stopped and clasped his hands toward the pavilion. "The top five of this year's Inner Court Selection Tournament have been decided. According to the rules, I have brought them here. I ask the elders to open the gate!"

Carried by Dou Qi, Hu Gan's voice echoed continuously through the small valley for a long time without dissipating.

Not long after Hu Gan's words fell, Liu Xi's pupils contracted as he looked at the two Gray-robed Men who had suddenly appeared sitting cross-legged before the entrance.

Those two Gray-robed Men seemed as though they had been sitting there all along. This eerie sight sent a chill through Liu Xi's heart and left him deeply shocked.

Yet amid his shock, Liu Xi thought, These must be the academy's Elder Qian Bai! They both seem to be High-level Dou Zong. Dou Zong truly is a dividing line above all else. This must be an application of Spatial Power!

His interest in the Library Pavilion grew stronger and stronger. Unlike others, he did not possess a cultivation method like the Flame Mantra that could be upgraded. Taking this opportunity, he had to obtain an Earth Tier fire-attribute cultivation method.

Cultivation methods above the Earth Tier were priceless treasures no matter where one went. If he missed this chance, who knew how long he would have to wait before obtaining one above the Earth Tier?

After appearing, the two Gray-robed Men ignored Hu Gan. Yet there was no dissatisfaction on Hu Gan's face, so Liu Xi and the others could only wait as well.

More than ten minutes passed before the robes of the two Gray-robed Men stirred. One after the other, they opened their eyes and looked expressionlessly at the group. "You're here!"

Hearing them speak, Hu Gan relaxed slightly and smiled. "These are the top five in this year's Inner Court Selection Tournament. I ask the two elders to undo the Space Lock."

Then Liu Xi and the others looked at the space half a meter in front of Hu Gan. Upon close inspection, they could detect faint, shallow wrinkles. These wrinkles were hidden within space and were extremely difficult to notice. Following the barely visible wrinkles with their eyes, they were startled to discover that the spatial distortions formed almost the shape of a wall, shielding the entire Library Pavilion behind it!

"This is the Space Lock, an immensely powerful Formation Mirror that only a Dou Zun expert is capable of setting up. This Space Lock was left behind by one of the academy's predecessors several centuries ago. Without the two elders inside using a special method to open it, even a Dou Zong expert would be unable to force their way in." Seemingly aware of Liu Xi and the others' confusion, Hu Gan explained.

At the pavilion, the two Gray-robed Men slowly extended a pair of withered palms from their sleeves. Then, finger by finger, seal by seal, they slowly formed hand seals. As their seals changed, Liu Xi and the others could clearly sense two extremely mighty, invisible ripples spreading from their palms like waves.

The invisible ripples gradually spread until they finally came into contact with the wrinkles in space. The moment the two met, the space before Liu Xi and the others became like a mirror made of water, continuously sending out rings of ripples. A moment later, the ripples ceased, and a door-shaped opening was slowly torn open by an invisible giant hand.

"Let's go." Seeing the spatial doorway, Hu Gan waved his hand and took the lead in entering. Liu Xi and the others followed close behind.

Stepping out of the invisible door, Liu Xi found that his surroundings had become much brighter than before, and the pavilion ahead was now far clearer. Clearly, they had truly entered the Space Lock.