Finding Zi Yan

At daybreak the next morning, Ling Yuan had just stepped out of his room when he spotted a figure standing at the courtyard gate.

The man wore a plain elder's robe. His aura was restrained, yet it carried an intimidating pressure that could not be underestimated.

"Elder Ling Yun?"

Ling Yuan had some impression of this elder. He was a High-Tier Ban Sheng who usually ran errands at his father's side, making him something of a confidant.

When Ling Yun, who had been waiting for some time, saw Ling Yuan emerge, he immediately stepped forward half a pace and bowed. "Young Clan Leader, the Clan Leader ordered me to accompany you and ensure your safety throughout your training journey."

As soon as he finished speaking, he held out a jade-white storage ring with both hands and respectfully presented it to Ling Yuan.

"These are the supplies the Clan Leader prepared for your training: pills, medicinal ingredients, and everything else you may need. There is also a jade slip capable of directly summoning the Clan Leader. They are all inside."

Ling Yuan had not expected his father to assign him a High-Tier Ban Sheng just because he was taking a trip to the Northwest Continent!

All he could say was that this was worthy of a Dou God Clan.

Ling Yuan accepted the storage ring and swept it lightly with his soul power. It was packed full, with all kinds of high-grade pills and precious medicinal ingredients arranged neatly by category.

Everything had been arranged perfectly.

With a Ban Sheng elder protecting him at all times and a jade slip that could summon Ling Mie on him—

If he encountered danger, all he had to do was crush the jade slip, and Ling Mie, a Six-Star Dou Sheng, would soon arrive to rescue him.

His safety was completely assured.

Ling Yuan had originally wanted to say goodbye to his father, but he was told that Ling Mie had matters to attend to.

Ling Yuan did not think much of it. It was perfectly normal for a clan leader to be busy.

"In that case, Elder Yun, let's go!"

"Yes, Young Clan Leader."

After leaving the Ling Realm, Elder Ling Yun tore open space as he asked, "Young Clan Leader, the Northwest Continent is vast and filled with many complicated forces. Where do you intend to go first?"

"Jia Nan Academy first!"

He would handle the most important matter first and bring that little girl Zi Yan over.

Winning over Zi Yan, then using her to make Zhu Kun his long-term enforcer—that was his main objective.

Xiao Yan and Medusa could wait.

Then, Zhu Kun could unify Dragon Island and summon back the Ancient Void Dragons hidden within the Void.

The entire continental balance of power would be reshuffled.

At that point, the Soul Clan would certainly not dare to move against the Ling Clan lightly, giving Ling Yuan enough time to develop.

The plan was perfect, and the future was bright.

Ling Yun did not ask why they were going to Jia Nan Academy. That was not something he should ask.

He only needed to speak less and follow orders.

After answering affirmatively, Ling Yun constructed a spatial tunnel and entered it with Ling Yuan.

The night before, Ling Yun had suddenly received the Clan Leader's order assigning him to protect the Young Clan Leader.

Ling Yun had been overwhelmed with gratitude. He repeatedly swore that he would not betray the Clan Leader's trust and that even if he died, he would keep the Young Clan Leader safe.

Too excited to cultivate that night, he had spent the entire evening studying the forces and power distribution of the Northwest Continent.

All so that he could leave Ling Yuan with the impression that he was dependable.

It was not that he was so desperate to prove himself for no reason. The assignment of protecting the Young Clan Leader was simply too good.

Not only would he receive more cultivation resources, but he would also have the chance to make an impression on the future clan leader.

If he performed well, then once Ling Yuan took power, even a small reward might allow him to truly break through into the Dou Sheng realm!

After all, although the Ling Clan had declined, its foundation remained. There were still more than a hundred Ban Shengs within the clan.

There were also quite a few High-Tier Ban Shengs like him.

Ban Sheng and Dou Sheng differed by only one word, yet their strength and status were worlds apart.

A One-Star Dou Sheng could easily crush three or four High-Tier Ban Shengs.

Within the Ling Clan, only those who entered the Dou Sheng realm were qualified to participate in the clan's core decision-making.

With a High-Tier Ban Sheng leading the way at full speed, Ling Yuan soon arrived above the Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy.

"Young Clan Leader, Jia Nan Academy was founded by Mang Qianchi of the Lei Clan, and there is a Fallen Heart Flame within the academy. Do you wish to take that Heavenly Flame?"

"I have some ties with him. If you need it, I can retrieve it for you immediately."

Ling Yun was exceptionally attentive, practically acting like a lackey.

In Ling Yun's eyes, the Young Clan Leader's personal visit to Jia Nan Academy had to be for that Heavenly Flame.

However, Ling Yuan shook his head. For the time being, he did not particularly need a Heavenly Flame.

Even if he did need one, and could only refine a single flame, he would rather die than choose Fallen Heart Flame.

It ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking—far too low to suit the Young Clan Leader of the Ling Clan, much less a transmigrator like him.

If he became an unrivaled powerhouse in the future and revealed such a low-ranked Heavenly Flame, it would be utterly beneath his status.

If he could not obtain one of the top-ranked flames, then acquiring Three Thousand Burning Flame, ranked ninth in Danta, would still be easy enough.

Besides, Ling Yuan had not come here for a Heavenly Flame. He had come for Zi Yan.

He had to find Zi Yan first.

The air around Ling Yuan rippled faintly as a powerful wave of soul power silently surged out from his body like a tide.

Before coming here, Ling Yuan had briefly investigated information about Gu Xun'er, the young lady of the Gu Clan.

Learning that she was currently only fifteen or sixteen years old, Ling Yuan had gained a rough idea of the timeline.

He deduced that Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er were still in that beginner village known as Wutan City.

Perhaps Xiao Yan was still the useless trash with only three stages of Dou Qi.

But Zi Yan was definitely at Jia Nan Academy.

Ling Yuan released his soul power to investigate without trying to hide it at all. He was not afraid of Su Qian and the academy elders discovering him.

After all, no one at Jia Nan Academy could do anything to him.

Mang Qianchi did not count. The strongest people in Jia Nan Academy were Qian and Bai Elders, and they were only at Peak Dou Zong.

Even if Ling Yun did not act, Ling Yuan would not fear them with his powerful soul techniques.

Geniuses could fight above their level.

Ling Yuan specialized in soul cultivation, and his soul had been further strengthened after transmigrating. His current soul realm had already vaguely touched upon the Spirit Realm.

Ling Yun said, "As expected of the Young Clan Leader, a genius who has just broken through to the Dou Zong realm, yet whose soul is already stronger than that of many Dou Zuns."

That was not flattery. Ordinary people did not cultivate their souls, and their soul strength generally only rose passively along with their cultivation realm.

Many Dou Zongs possessed only mid-stage Mortal Realm souls.

Only high-star Dou Zuns and eighth-tier alchemists could reach the Spirit Realm in soul strength.

Ling Yuan's soul was already stronger than that of the overwhelming majority of alchemists.

Ling Yuan was not proud of this. He was a genius of the Ling Clan. With so many resources available to him, it would be pathetic if he could not surpass ordinary people.

Ling Yuan's soul perception rapidly swept through the academy. There were too many people, so precisely locating a single target was inevitably somewhat troublesome.

Thus, he had Ling Yun help him search instead of standing around idle.

A High-Tier Ban Sheng would definitely be faster at finding someone than him.

Why would he not use someone like that when he had one by his side?

"Young Clan Leader, what are the characteristics of the person you seek?"

"A little girl with purple hair, roughly at the Dou Wang realm." Ling Yuan recalled Zi Yan's appearance and gave a vague description.

There were not many Dou Wangs in the academy, and with that distinctive head of purple hair, the description was practically unique.

Other than Zi Yan, no one else fit it.

She would be easy to find.

Sure enough, only a few breaths after Ling Yun spread out his soul power, he locked onto the target.

"Young Clan Leader, I found her! However, she is not in the academy. She is in the forest to the east."

"Let's go take a look!"

Ling Yuan was already eager to meet this strongest little rich girl, ranked alongside Gu Xun'er as number one.

With the Ancient Void Dragons behind her and a father at the Late-Stage Nine-Star Dou Sheng realm, what else could she be but a little rich girl?