"Rest assured, Vice President. Since we're from the same batch, once we reach the Inner Academy, we'll naturally look out for and help one another."
Hu Gan rose to his feet. "You are the top five of this selection competition. By the rules, you are qualified to try your luck in the Library Pavilion."
He seemingly patted the wall behind him a few times. A low rumbling sounded, and a pitch-black passageway appeared before them.
Hu Gan led the way, and Li Wan'er's group followed him inside. After walking through the passage for nearly half an hour, a point of light finally appeared at its end.
At the end of the passage lay a valley basin. Steep mountain walls stretched upward until they vanished beyond sight, and between the three cliffs was an exceptionally broad open space.
A massive, ancient pavilion so imposing it left one speechless stood before them. On its aged plaque were the three words: Library Pavilion.
Hu Gan led the five of them to a stop when they were twenty meters from the Library Pavilion. He clasped his fists toward it and said, "The top five of this Inner Academy selection competition have been decided. According to the rules, I have brought them here. I ask the elders to open the door."
As Hu Gan spoke, everyone except Li Wan'er stared fixedly at the Library Pavilion's entrance. Three breaths later, their pupils contracted as two figures appeared out of thin air, as though they had been seated there all along.
Li Wan'er naturally knew that these two were Jia Nan Academy's protectors: Qian Mu and Bai Lie, peak Dou Zongs. For years, they had sought enlightenment in the path of the Dou Zun. Unless the academy faced a crisis of life or death, they would not