Library Pavilion

Vice President's office.

In the selection tournament, Xiao Li had unquestionably claimed first place, sweeping aside the Outer Academy's so-called geniuses with his strength alone. Next came the Outer Academy "geniuses" competing for the remaining four spots.

"You Stinky Boy, were you deliberately trying to give Old Man a headache? Did you have to be so violent? Look at you—a Dou Ling bullying a few Dou Masters and Da Dou Shi, and you opened with an Earth Rank Battle Skill!

I know you're an Alchemist, that you have money, and that you have a powerful master, but how could you be so %&#(speech slurred, unable to speak properly), huff... huff... I'm furious!"

Hu Gan sprayed Xiao Li with saliva, yet he did not dare directly insult him.

"My mental state wasn't too good, so I didn't control my strength properly." Xiao Li awkwardly scratched his cheek, then glanced from the corner of his eye at Hu Gan's freshly bandaged right hand.

If Hu Gan had not acted in time, some students might have been killed or injured.

"You Stinky Boy! You're driving me mad! Hurry up and get lost to the Inner Academy—go wreak havoc there! My Outer Academy can't handle an expert like you!" Hu Gan said angrily.

"Alright, you five, come with Old Man. You are the top five of this selection tournament. According to the rules, you are qualified to enter the Library Pavilion and try your luck."

Hu Gan stood up and walked over to the wall behind him. He casually patted it a few times, and a low rumble sounded. Immediately afterward, a pitch-black passage appeared before Xiao Li and the other four.

"There's more to this place than meets the eye!" Xiao Li exclaimed.

Hu Gan said, "Follow me."

After entering the passage, they found large luminous pearls embedded in the walls. Their faint glow cast a hazy light over the corridor. The atmosphere within was quiet, with only the soft rustle of footsteps echoing through it.

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

Blinding sunlight poured down from the sky, making it difficult for the other four to open their eyes. After a while, they slowly opened them. The sight before them left everyone stunned.

Before Xiao Li and the others was clearly a sunken mountain valley. The steep mountain walls stretched upward until they vanished beyond sight. Between the three sheer cliffs was a vast open space, and standing upon it was an enormous, heavy, ancient pavilion that left one speechless.

Their gazes slowly swept over the massive ancient pavilion before finally settling on an exceedingly old plaque outside it. Upon it, three characters, worn blurry by the passage of time, faintly emerged.

Library Pavilion!

Hu Gan led the five of them slowly toward the Library Pavilion. When they were about twenty meters away, he suddenly stopped and cupped his fists toward it.

"The top five of this Inner Academy Selection Tournament have been decided. According to the rules, I have brought them here. I ask the two elders to open the door!"

The previously empty Library Pavilion suddenly gained two gray-robed figures. Xiao Li was certain he had not blinked; the two gray-robed men had appeared far too quickly.

These two must be Jia Nan Academy's hidden foundation—the Great Elders Qian Mu and Bai Lie. They should have reached the level of high-ranking Dou Zong long ago. Even in the Central Continent, they would be considered experts.

As Xiao Li pondered this, he suddenly felt two gazes fall upon him. Raising his head, he met the eyes of Qian Bai Er Lao.

Qian Bai Er Lao softly uttered an "Eh." One of the elders said, "May I know this young friend's name?"

The elder's slightly hoarse voice carried the weathered vicissitudes accumulated over the years.

"Junior Xiao Li greets the two elders!" Xiao Li said, cupping his fists and bowing.

"Mm... Bone Age sixteen, yet your cultivation has reached the level of a Three-Star Dou Ling, with even a tendency to advance toward Four-Star. Your soul is actually stronger than that of most Rank 5 Alchemists!

What extraordinary talent. Even in the Central Continent, where geniuses gather, very few can compare to you."

Qian Mu smiled. "Hu Gan, you've taken in a fine student this time. I'm sure the Headmaster will be very pleased. As for the other little fellows, two Da Dou Shi and two peak Dou Masters—they're merely at the usual level."

Hu Gan cupped his fists. "I ask the two elders to undo the Space Lock."

"Space Lock?"

Hu Gan explained with a smile, "This is a Space Lock, a barrier that only a Dou Zun Expert can set up. This Space Lock was left behind by the Headmaster. Without the two elders inside using a special method to open it, even a Dou Zong could not break in."

(The original stated that it was a senior from Jia Nan Academy. I directly established it as Mang Tian Ruler, since he is currently the only Dou Zun in Jia Nan Academy. It is perfectly reasonable for the Headmaster to have set this up.)

At the pavilion, Qian Bai Er Lao slowly extended two pairs of withered hands from their sleeves. Then, finger by finger and seal by seal, they slowly formed hand seals. As their hand seals moved, Xiao Li could clearly sense two extremely powerful invisible ripples spreading from their palms like waves.

The invisible ripples gradually spread until they finally came into contact with the Space Folds. The moment the two met, the space before Xiao Li and the others became like a mirror made of water, continuously rippling in circles. A moment later, the ripples ceased, and a door-shaped opening was slowly torn apart by invisible giant hands.

Is this the spatial method that only Dou Zong Experts and even Dou Zun Experts can use? I wonder when I'll be able to reach this stage.

"Go in." Hu Gan beckoned to them.

Xiao Li was the first to enter the Library Pavilion. The other four exchanged glances before following him inside.

"Now, enter the Library Pavilion on your own. Remember, no matter what you wish to obtain, 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 Library Pavilion. Do not be greedy, or you will end up drawing water with a bamboo basket.

"If you cannot penetrate the energy layer, then give up. With your strength, you cannot break them. Every year, people enter the Library Pavilion, yet quite a few leave empty-handed. Therefore, everything depends on fate. Do not force what you cannot obtain."

Bai Lao's voice rang out.

"The door will remain open for only one hour. After an hour, whether you have obtained what you need or not, you must come out."

Having learned the rules of the Library Pavilion, the five entered it together. They had long been impatient to see what treasures this mysterious Library Pavilion contained.

There had always been a rumor within the academy: an ordinary, unremarkable senior had entered the Library Pavilion and soared to greatness afterward. After cultivating in the Inner Academy for several years, he graduated as a Dou Wang and later became a powerful figure in his own right.