An hour later
"Alright, we've seen enough and had enough fun. It's time to return to Jia Nan City. Otherwise, we won't make it back to the academy before noon tomorrow."
"Mm!"
Jia Nan City.
A majestic city ranked among the top ten throughout the Northwest Land.
It was a vast city that seemed to stretch beyond sight. Its towering walls rose straight into the clouds and extended endlessly in both directions. Even when one's gaze reached its limit, the city walls continued on without end.
Without exaggeration, anyone from the Black Corner Region who dared enter Jia Nan City without permission would be doomed to die.
What was more, those below the Dou Emperor realm could not even pass through Peace Town safely.
Much less Jia Nan City and Jia Nan Academy.
As dawn gradually broke, a ray of morning light shone from the end of the earth, driving away all darkness between heaven and earth.
Xiao Yu, seated atop the Gryphon, opened her eyes as well.
Although this was not her first time seeing Jia Nan City, its towering, majestic outline still left her deeply shaken.
"It's really huge!"
"It is rather big."
The voice was faint and calm, but it was clearly not a woman's voice.
"Ah!"
Before the words had even faded, Xiao Yu sprang up like a little wildcat whose tail had been stepped on. Her pretty face flushed blood-red with panic and worry.
"Who are you?"
"What did you do to Instructor Ruo Lin?"
"What do you want?"
In her panic, Xiao Yu nearly fell from the Gryphon's back.
"I am your ancestor."
The indifferent, matter-of-fact, and confident words actually left Xiao Yu stunned for a moment.
"Shameless."
After a short while, Xiao Yu recovered and scolded him.
Only then did she get a clear look at Xiao Chen.
After refining the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, Xiao Chen's appearance had changed drastically.
He was handsome, carrying an aura of noble dignity that seemed to stand above heaven and earth, inspiring awe at a glance.
"I really am your ancestor."
After saying that, Xiao Chen had no time to argue with Xiao Yu. He waved his hand.
At once, Xiao Yu felt the scene before her blur, and her beautiful eyes grew unfocused.
When she came back to her senses, the scenery before her had changed completely.
This was an endless, sprawling grassland. Lush green filled her vision, radiating vigorous life. In one area of the grassland stood a magnificent, towering plaza of giant stone. The stone plaza was roughly a hundred zhang above the ground, supported by countless enormous stone pillars. From afar, it resembled a giant standing between heaven and earth, an awe-inspiring sight.
Above the giant stone plaza, space itself appeared distorted, with silver light flashing from time to time. Figures darted out one after another, landing lightly upon the plaza. At this moment, the enormous plaza was already packed with people, their clamor gathering together and shooting into the sky.
"Where is this place?"
With stormy waves churning in her heart, Xiao Yu covered her small mouth and spoke in utter shock.
Jia Nan City had already been the largest city in her mind, yet it could not even compare to the plaza before her.
"The Xiao Clan's ancient city."
The indifferent voice entered her ears, and the shock in her heart instantly quieted.
At that moment, a pinkish-white demonic lotus slowly bloomed within her eyes.
The Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame could control people's emotions. To prevent Xiao Yu from being overly shocked by what came next, Xiao Chen used the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame to control her emotions.
"The Xiao Clan? The Xiao Family?"
"Come. I'll take you home."
As he spoke, the two of them vanished from where they stood.
Above the boundless azure sky, clouds drifted by. A gentle breeze occasionally swept through, stirring waves of green across the grassland below that stretched all the way to the horizon.
Screech! Violent spatial fluctuations suddenly erupted in the sky. A massive black spatial gate then bizarrely appeared out of thin air. Not long after the gate emerged, two figures slowly appeared as well, finally standing within this unfamiliar world.
"The natural energy here is so dense. It's at least ten times that of the academy."
Because of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, Xiao Yu showed no shock whatsoever. Instead, her tone was exceptionally calm.
It was as though she were merely describing something utterly ordinary.
Next, Xiao Chen took Xiao Yu through everything about the Xiao Clan that existed in his memories.
Looks did not matter. He mainly wanted to nurture talent.
"Now do you believe my identity? I really am your ancestor."
After touring the Xiao Clan, the scene before Xiao Yu changed once more.
Only then did she realize that everything just now had been an illusion. From beginning to end, she had never left the Gryphon's back.
"Xiao Yu greets Ancestor."
Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Yu immediately gave Xiao Chen a deeply respectful bow.
She no longer had the slightest doubt about his identity.
Even if it were fake, she would not mind claiming such a relative.
A legendary Dou Saint could bring her far too many benefits.
"Ancestor, is Instructor Ruo Lin alright?" After receiving Xiao Chen's permission to rise, Xiao Yu asked respectfully.
"Don't worry. She is fine. On the contrary, I bestowed an opportunity upon her, though whether she can obtain it will depend on her luck."
In truth, within the Monster Beast Mountain Range near the outer Jia Nan Academy, quite a few powerful individuals were in death-seclusion, attempting to break through the limits of their lifespans.
They possessed at least Peak Dou Wang strength, and most of them were on good terms with Jia Nan Academy.
Therefore, under normal circumstances, they would not harm people from Jia Nan Academy.
Moreover, Jia Nan Academy students could encounter them while training in those mountains.
Though in most cases, they would simply be driven away.
In extremely rare cases, however, those powerful individuals who knew their end was near and could not overcome it.
Would choose someone from Jia Nan Academy they found pleasing and leave their cultivation methods, Dou Skills, and relics to that person.
This was also one of the conditions under which Jia Nan Academy's upper ranks allowed them to cultivate in seclusion within the mountains.
Ruo Lin had been transported by Xiao Chen using Spatial Shift to the core territory of a Peak Dou Emperor water-attribute expert whose lifespan was nearing its end.
Whether she could obtain that person's inheritance, however, would still depend on Ruo Lin's luck.
"So Instructor might receive the entire inheritance of a Peak Dou Emperor expert."
Xiao Yu was overjoyed, as though she were even happier than if she had received it herself.
"That will still depend on her luck."
"Alright. I came to find you this time for two reasons. First, to tell you that the Xiao Family has now relocated to the Tagor Desert."
"Second, among the younger generation of the Xiao Family, your talent is considered the best. Inside are a Wind Attribute Earth-Tier Cultivation Method and its matching Dou Skills, a suit of armor forged from Ancient Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon Scale Armor, and a piece of Earth Core Jade Mother that can enhance cultivation."
"Oh, and this little fellow is for you."
As he spoke, a white blur shot from Xiao Chen's sleeve, leaped over, and landed upon his shoulder.
The sudden white blur startled Xiao Yu.
Then, once she saw it clearly, her beautiful eyes immediately shone brightly.
It was a small beast covered in white fur. It resembled a cat, though its body was especially plump and round, looking rather simple and honest. Yet there were no energy fluctuations within it, and it seemed to be merely an ordinary little beast.
Before you continue