The next day, Xiao Ze followed the person sent by the Vice Dean to the Library Pavilion.
After dismissing the others, the Vice Dean said to Xiao Ze with a beaming smile,
"Your proposal has been approved. You'll have two chances to enter the Library Pavilion, but some of your other cultivation benefits will be reduced or even canceled."
Xiao Ze calmly nodded and accepted the documents the Vice Dean handed him.
This was far better than he had imagined.
At the very least, the second most valuable benefit—the quota for medicinal pills—hadn't been canceled.
"Do you want to enter the Library Pavilion now?"
"Yes. I need a more advanced cultivation method."
The Vice Dean nodded in understanding, rose, and went to the wall behind him, casually striking it several times with his palm.
Amid the deep rumble of shifting stone, a pitch-black opening appeared before Xiao Ze.
"Come with me."
The Vice Dean glanced at Xiao Ze's composed expression, feeling even more pleased.
Keeping calm in the face of change was a rare quality.
The two proceeded through a passage lined with several enormous luminous pearls that provided light.
As they walked, the Vice Dean also reminded Xiao Ze of some things to watch out for and the rules of the Library Pavilion.
A light gradually appeared ahead, and Xiao Ze stepped out.
The dazzling brightness made him narrow his eyes slightly.
Before him lay a sealed valley. When he looked up, he couldn't see its peak; it was as though the mountain soared endlessly into the sky.
Between three sheer cliffs stood a massive, timeworn pavilion. A weighty, ancient aura washed over them.
A plaque, weathered by countless years of wind and frost, hung above the pavilion. Three bold characters had been inscribed upon it: Library Pavilion.
The Vice Dean led Xiao Ze to the entrance of the Library Pavilion and cupped his fists toward empty space in greeting.
"The person selected for Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy cultivation program has arrived. Elders, please open the door!"
Carried by Dou Qi, Hu Gan's voice echoed through the valley, lingering without end.
Xiao Ze looked toward the entrance of the Library Pavilion, where two gray-robed elders were already seated.
They had been nowhere to be seen before, as though they had appeared out of thin air.
Xiao Ze lowered his eyes slightly and stood silently where he was.
After waiting for more than ten minutes, the two gray-robed elders' eyelids finally twitched. Their somewhat cloudy eyes opened.
Both elders looked at Xiao Ze, their scrutiny plain to see.
Soon, a trace of surprise flashed through their eyes. One of them even asked outright,
"Young friend, how old are you?"
"This student is Xiao Ze. Greetings, seniors. I'm twelve."
Xiao Ze bowed as he answered.
A trace of surprise flashed through both gray-robed elders' eyes.
No wonder the academy had activated a cultivation program that hadn't been used in years.
A twelve-year-old four-star Da Dou Shi was undoubtedly destined to become a top powerhouse. His talent was extraordinary!
That was right. After accumulating strength during the journey, Xiao Ze had broken through as soon as he arrived at Jia Nan Academy.
He was now a four-star Da Dou Shi.
"Extraordinary talent!"
"The young are truly formidable!"
Each gray-robed elder offered a word of praise.
They were both amazed by Xiao Ze's talent.
Even they, old fossils who had lived for ages, had never seen anyone so gifted.
The two elders stretched out their withered hands and formed a series of strange hand seals.
As they did, an unusual and powerful fluctuation spread out, meeting the space before Xiao Ze.
Space rippled like water, sending out circles of waves!
The Vice Dean explained to Xiao Ze,
"This is a Space Lock set by a Dou Zun expert. It has immense protective power. Even a Dou Zong couldn't break through it."
Xiao Ze bowed slightly. "Thank you for explaining, Vice Dean."
A spatial doorway slowly took shape before them.
The Vice Dean led the way, and Xiao Ze followed close behind as they stepped through.
"Thank you, Elders!"
Hu Gan clasped his hands in salute.
"It's simply our duty."
One gray-robed elder spoke in a hoarse voice, then sank once more into silence.
Hu Gan reminded Xiao Ze, "You have one hour inside this time, and you can only bring out one item."
"I've already told you about all the things you mustn't do. Don't force anything, or you may end up going home empty-handed."
Xiao Ze nodded, thought for a moment, then asked, "Could I combine my two chances into one visit? I don't want to trouble the two seniors more than once."
Hu Gan said nothing. Once they were here, it was no longer his decision to make.
"Certainly. Your time will be extended to two hours, and you may bring out two items."
One gray-robed elder spoke up.
Xiao Ze bowed in thanks, then stepped forward.
His eyes lowered, he didn't look at the plaque above.
The plaque held a mysterious power that could draw in a person's mind.
Xiao Ze held firm to his principles, a desolate feeling lingering in his heart.
But it had no effect on him.
Only after Xiao Ze had entered the Library Pavilion did the three people left outside exchange bewildered looks.
They had planned to wait until Xiao Ze lost himself in a daze before calling out to him.
They hadn't expected him to be completely unaffected by the plaque.
This raised their opinion of him even further.
"Elders, how long do you think Xiao Ze will take to come out, and what do you think he'll get?"
After waiting a while and growing bored, Hu Gan asked the two gray-robed elders.
The two elders exchanged a glance.
If the five top contestants from the Inner Academy Selection Tournament had gone in, they probably wouldn't even have bothered responding to Hu Gan.
But Xiao Ze was the first genius in years to receive a cultivation plan.
At such a young age, he had already reached four-star Da Dou Shi.
And, on top of that, he had shown all sorts of remarkable abilities earlier.
It was only natural that the two elders were curious.
"Xiao Ze is indeed exceptionally talented. But in the Library Pavilion, luck and character are just as important. What he ultimately gains is entirely up to him,"
one gray-robed elder said slowly.
Hu Gan was just about to reply when he suddenly turned toward the Library Pavilion.
A trace of surprise also rose in the two elders' hearts.
Xiao Ze was coming out?!
He hadn't even been inside for ten minutes!
The Vice Dean furrowed his brows slightly and looked toward the entrance of the Library Pavilion.
Sure enough, Xiao Ze emerged, his expression calm.
"Xiao Ze, why are you out so soon? You should know how precious this chance to enter the Library Pavilion is. Why—"
Hu Gan said anxiously, "If something's happened, we can cancel your previous request!"
"I'll give you another chance, but this time you can only bring out one item!"
"No need, Vice Dean."
Xiao Ze smiled and shook his head, showing them the two scrolls in his hands.
One was a sea-blue scroll, as vast as the ocean.
The other was a seven-colored scroll that shimmered with an unusual radiance.
"I'm very satisfied with what I found this time, so I came out early. I didn't want to disturb the two seniors' peaceful cultivation any longer."
"Earth Tier Cultivation Methods!"
"Both of them!"
The two gray-robed elders had keen eyes. Recognizing the rank of the scrolls in Xiao Ze's hands, they couldn't help exclaiming in surprise.
Hu Gan finally took it in as well. Looking at the two Earth Tier Cultivation Methods in Xiao Ze's hands,
it seemed Xiao Ze had indeed returned with a full haul!
"You found two Earth Tier scrolls that quickly?"
Hu Gan couldn't help but marvel.
"As soon as I entered the room, several streaks of light flew out of the energy barriers and stopped in front of me."
"When I examined them, I found they were all Earth Tier Cultivation Methods, and two were just what I needed. So I didn't waste any more time picking through the rest."
Xiao Ze explained, leaving the three of them speechless.
If the top five from previous years' Inner Academy Selection Tournaments heard this, they'd probably be shattered!
Before you continue