Agreeing to Enter the Inner Courtyard

Along the way, the Dou Wang elder kept asking questions about Xiao Yan.

Mainly, a sixteen-year-old Dou Shi was something he hadn't just never heard of in his lifetime; he hadn't heard of it in ten lifetimes.

"Xiao Yan, with your talent and strength, I can apply directly to the Vice Dean for you to enter the Inner Academy right now."

Xiao Yan looked at the elder's excited expression and shook his head.

Because Xiao Yan wanted to go to the Inner Academy with Xun Er, he was willing to wait a year for her.

In the original story, Xun Er had given up so much to wait for Xiao Yan; Xiao Yan could do the same now.

The elder was slightly disappointed, but he continued to chat with Xiao Yan, occasionally spacing out and muttering, "A sixteen-year-old Dou Shi... did he start cultivating from his mother's womb?"

Xiao Yan ignored the elder's rambling and simply watched the scenery along the way with Xun Er.

The flying magical beast had just reached the skies above the Black-Corner Region, not yet having arrived at Canaan Academy, when a dozen people with Dou Qi wings approached them.

Leading them was naturally the Outer Academy Vice Dean, Hu Gan, who was searching the flying beast with an anxious expression.

Finally spotting Xiao Yan, he burst into excited laughter upon confirming that Xiao Yan was truly only sixteen and had already reached the strength of a Dou Shi.

"That old fellow Su Qian will have to thank me to death for this! I've recruited a student for the academy that is unprecedented!"

Hu Gan landed on the flying beast, followed by the dozen or so Dou Wang-level elders.

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "You must be the Vice Dean, right?"

"Of course! I never imagined there would be a genius with your talent in this world. Even the word 'genius' isn't enough to describe you."

Hu Gan was clearly very agitated, gripping Xiao Yan's hand and not daring to let go for even a second.

"Vice Dean, you are too kind. Why trouble yourself to come and pick me up personally?" Xiao Yan responded politely.

"Oh, don't talk about me coming to pick you up. Even those guys in the Inner Academy would have to come here personally! Otherwise, you might not go!" Hu Gan laughed heartily.

Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment, then quickly waved his hands to explain, "Um, Vice Dean, I think I'd rather stay in the Outer Academy for a year and then pass the exam to get in myself."

Hu Gan said angrily, "With your talent, staying in the Outer Academy is useless. Who here could possibly teach you? It's simply a waste! It will hinder your potential!"

Xun Er quickly said, "Brother Xiao Yan, if that's the case, you should just go to the Inner Academy first. I will definitely pass the exam to the Inner Academy in a year."

Xiao Yan shook his head, his expression firm as he said, "No! Absolutely not. I must go with you!"

Hu Gan looked at Xun Er and said, "This must be the sixteen-year-old nine-star Dou Zhe girl. She is also a heaven-sent talent. How about this: you both go to the Inner Academy together. I don't think that old fellow Su Qian would refuse."

Only then did Xiao Yan agree, adding, "I've really troubled you, Vice Dean."

Hu Gan smiled and said, "What trouble is this? Your arrival is a blessing for our Canaan Academy."

As they spoke, the flying magical beast arrived in the skies above Canaan Academy.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for arriving at Canaan Academy and activating another dungeon. Reward: one Intermediate Summoning Talisman, 1500 Summoning Points, and one Star-Adding Card. Since the host has reached the Dou Shi level, the system will no longer directly reward cultivation, but will instead issue it via Star-Adding Cards."

Name: Xiao Yan Age: 16 Strength: One-star Dou Shi Alchemist Level: Tier 2 Alchemist Cultivation Method: Burning Decision (Xuan-tier High-grade) Dou Skills: Eight Extremities Collapse (Xuan-tier High-grade), Mystic Divination Palm (Xuan-tier Low-grade), Heaven Collapsing Technique (Xuan-tier High-grade), Flame Splitting Wave-Devouring Ruler (Di-tier Low-grade) Summoned Experts: Hai Bodong (Seven-star Dou Huang), Eight-Winged Black Emperor Snake (Peak Dou Huang), Yun Potian (Three-star Dou Wang) Summoned Count: 3/4 Exotic Fire: Myriad Beast Spirit Fire, Green Lotus Core Flame Items: Mysterious Heavy Ruler, one Star-Adding Card Summoning Talisman: one Intermediate Summoning Talisman Summoning Points: 7000 (can be used to exchange for various items in the system shop)

Xiao Yan looked at the Intermediate Summoning Talisman on the panel and decided to save it for later. He was no longer lacking in Dou Huang or Dou Wang combat power.

However, Xiao Yan still didn't quite understand how to use the Star-Adding Card.

"System, how do I use this Star-Adding Card?"

"Ding! When the host improves their cultivation through their own efforts, you can use the Star-Adding Card to break through one additional star."

Xiao Yan was so happy he could jump; this would make cultivation twice as effective with half the effort!

Hu Gan said, "Alright, we have arrived at Canaan Academy. The Inner Academy Tournament is in two months, but you two naturally don't need to participate. You will enjoy the treatment reserved for the top five."

Xiao Yan felt relieved; it seemed he would be able to go to the Scripture Library to get what he needed.

Next, they arrived at Canaan Academy.

Xiao Yan and Xun Er were assigned a private courtyard, while Xiao Yu led the rest of the Xiao Clan members to the outer academy's student housing.

Having lived for so many years, both before and after his transmigration, this was the first time Xiao Yan truly felt the charm of being a top student.

Xiao Yan smiled at Xun Er and said, "Xun Er, we have two months left. We need to further refine our strength."

Xun Er nodded. Without any worries to hold her back, the speed at which she improved her strength was like riding a rocket. For the youths of the Ancient Clan, reaching the Dou Wang level was essentially effortless.

Xiao Yan also felt that his alchemist rank was no longer keeping pace with his actual strength.

Therefore, he spent one thousand Summoning Points to upgrade himself to a third-grade alchemist, though this rank would still require some subsequent consolidation.

However, Xiao Yan's soul power had genuinely and substantially increased.

And so, under Elder Yao's arrangement, Xiao Yan began a two-month special training regimen, while Xun Er followed her own method of cultivation.

Less than a week after arriving at Canaan Academy, Xun Er's strength had already reached the Dou Shi level.

This left even Xiao Yan feeling astonished. Afterward, Xiao Yan spent his nights tirelessly refining third-grade medicinal pills, which proved quite useful for both him and Xun Er.

Xiao Yan finally understood why the students in the academy improved their strength so rapidly; they had nothing to worry about and could focus entirely on cultivation.

Students who came to Canaan Academy poured their heart and soul into their training, so naturally, their cultivation speed was much faster than it would have been outside.

As the two months of training drew to a close, Xiao Yan felt his Dantian brimming with Dou Qi on the final day.

He began attempting to break through his cultivation level, successfully reaching a two-star Da Dou Shi. Upon his successful advancement, he used a Star-Adding Card, leaping straight to a three-star Da Dou Shi.

His current three-star Da Dou Shi strength was many times more powerful than his previous four-star level.

However, when he saw Xun Er, Xiao Yan was shocked once again.

Xun Er covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "Brother Xiao Yan actually broke through two stars in just two months; that is truly impressive."

Xiao Yan gave a wry smile and said, "You little girl, your improvement is even more terrifying. You've actually reached a five-star Dou Shi. If this continues, you'll soon surpass me."

Xun Er stood on her tiptoes and whispered into Xiao Yan's ear, "Brother Xiao Yan, the bloodline of my clan is quite special. Before reaching the Dou Wang level, there are no bottlenecks at all."

Xiao Yan nodded. He had known this, but seeing it with his own eyes was still quite shocking.