Return Journey

On the back mountain of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yun sat side by side on a large boulder, their eyes ringed with bruises as they gazed toward the distant Warcraft Mountains.

"I heard you've been running to the back mountain a lot lately. Don't tell me you've been secretly peeping at the clan girls bathing in the hot springs?" After beating up Xiao Huohuo, Xiao Yun was in an excellent mood. As he looked at the mist-shrouded mountains, he teased Xiao Yan.

"Who said that?! Cousin, don't slander me! How can you make wild accusations without evidence? Be careful, or I'll sue you for defamation! I only come to the back mountain to cultivate Dou Qi. I've never even thought about spying on girls bathing."

Hearing Xiao Yun's words, Xiao Yan went pale with fright. This was a matter of life and death. If his father found out, Xiao Zhan would probably hang him up and whip him.

"Good. Let me tell you, brat—if I find out you've done anything to disgrace the Xiao Clan's name, it won't be just a few punches. It'll be like this." Xiao Yun flicked his finger, sending a streak of fiery red Dou Qi shooting out. With a bang, a small stone on the ground exploded into powder.

Watching an egg-sized stone shatter to pieces, Xiao Yan felt a chill below his waist. He wiped away nonexistent cold sweat from his forehead and hurriedly promised, "Don't worry, Cousin. You know what kind of person I, Xiao Yan, am. I'd never do anything that disgraces the family!"

"Hahaha, it had better be that way."

Patting Xiao Yan on the shoulder, Xiao Yun stood. "In the entire Xiao Clan, aside from me, you have the best talent. You've now reached Seventh-Stage Dou Qi. By this time next year, I believe you'll meet the minimum standard for admission to Jia Nan Academy. Will you go to the academy to cultivate then?"

"Mm, I'd better not. I prefer a more challenging life. After the coming-of-age ceremony, I want to go out into the world with my eldest and second brothers and see this world for myself."

Xiao Yan shook his head and rejected Xiao Yun's suggestion. In his previous life, he had suffered enough under school rules. Now that he had transmigrated into another world, how could he possibly want to attend school again? Besides, compared to the peaceful life at an academy, he preferred the grandeur and turbulence found across the world.

"Going out into the world? You really do have an adventurous spirit. Still, as long as you're willing to work hard at cultivation, I believe you can become strong anywhere." Xiao Yun was not surprised that Xiao Yan did not wish to attend Jia Nan Academy. If Xiao Yan had been willing, he would have gone long ago in the original story. Even when he eventually entered Jia Nan Academy, it was only because of the Falling Heart Flame in the Inner Academy.

"Here, this is a gift for you. There are pills and Dou Techniques I prepared for you inside the Storage Ring. As for a cultivation method, I'll prepare one for you once you break through to Dou Zhe."

Jumping down from the boulder, Xiao Yun tossed a Storage Ring to Xiao Yan. "Cultivate well. On the path of cultivation, your talent is no worse than mine. I merely started a little earlier than you."

In the entire Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan was probably the only one who could keep up with him in the future. Offering him a little help now in exchange for a powerful future ally was an investment that could never lose money.

Giving Xiao Yan pills and Dou Techniques was also meant to help him cultivate faster. After all, Xiao Yan was the favored son of fate on the Dou Qi Continent, destined to become a Dou Di in the future. If Xiao Yun ever met with some mishap and died early, Xiao Yan could still help protect the people Xiao Yun cared about.

With his hands behind his back, Xiao Yun offered Xiao Yan a few words of encouragement, then leisurely headed down the mountain.

"Only started a little earlier? My talent is no worse than yours?" Xiao Yan shook his head with a bitter smile. Looking at Xiao Yun's departing back and recalling the gap between them, he took it as mere consolation.

A few days later, Xiao Yun brought Xiao Ding to the recruitment square under the escort of Xiao Zhan and the elders.

"Ding'er, when you're away from home, listen to your cousin more. If anything happens, remember to tell him." With reddened eyes, Xiao Zhan pulled Xiao Ding aside and spoke to him in private. He truly could not rest easy. His eldest son had not even come of age, yet he was already heading to a foreign land to study and cultivate.

The three elders also pulled Xiao Yun aside, telling him that he was now the hope of the Xiao Clan and that he had to be cautious when traveling outside, among other things.

The four spoke for a long time. Only when a mentor from the Jia Nan recruitment team came to urge them along did they reluctantly let go of Xiao Yun and Xiao Ding, watching as the two boarded a flying Magical Beast and soared straight into the sky.

On the ground, Xiao Zhan and the three elders looked up at the departing Magical Beast for a long while, unwilling to leave...

In the sky, Xiao Yun greeted the mentor leading the group. After having Xiao Ding follow the new students to hear information about Jia Nan Academy, he returned alone to his private quarters on the Magical Beast's back and silently began cultivating.

In the Black-Corner Region, a massive roc flew through the skies, following a designated route, bypassing every other city, and heading directly for Canaan City.

Not long after, Xiao Yun's group arrived in Canaan City. Passing through its bustling streets, they finally returned to Jia Nan Academy.

The moment he returned to Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yun headed straight for the Teaching Department and found his mentor, Xu Ning.

"Mentor, I'm back."

Inside the mentor's office, Xu Ning immediately began berating Xiao Yun.

"You brat, you nearly worried me to death! There's only one day left before the Inner Academy Selection Tournament, and you only just decided to return. If you missed it, Old Xu here would probably have to roll back down to being a Yellow Tier mentor." Seeing Xiao Yun return, Xu Ning let out a long breath. Over the past few days, he had been waiting desperately for Xiao Yun's return. After all, Xiao Yun was the only student he had who could make a showing in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.

"A year ago, you went to the Law Enforcement Team to temper yourself, so you missed the previous Inner Academy Selection Tournament. You have to participate in this one!"

"I'm sorry, Mentor. I ran into some trouble on the road and was delayed for a while. Fortunately, I still made it back in time. Please register me."

Scratching his head somewhat awkwardly, Xiao Yun recalled how he had broken through to the Seven-Star Da Dou Shi realm while cultivating on the return journey. The natural energy stirred by his breakthrough had shocked everyone else. To avoid affecting Xiao Yun's breakthrough, the flying Magical Beast had slowed to its lowest possible speed, which was why he had nearly missed the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.

If he had missed the Inner Academy Selection Tournament because of a breakthrough, he would have regretted it to death. Xiao Yun could not wait another year. He wanted to enter the Inner Academy as soon as possible to cultivate.

After all, the Inner Academy possessed far more resources than the Outer Academy.

The Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower alone was something the Outer Academy could never hope to rival. Beyond that, there was another treasure in the Inner Academy that no one had yet discovered.

It was the Earth Core Tempering Milk!

According to his memories, the Earth Core Tempering Milk would only be discovered by Lin Xiuya and the others after Xiao Yan entered the Inner Academy. But Xiao Yan would not join the Inner Academy for another eleven years. Xiao Yun would enjoy this opportunity that was meant for Xiao Yan first, then compensate Xiao Huohuo with something else later.

The Snow Demon Sky Ape guarding the Earth Core Tempering Milk was somewhat troublesome, but only somewhat.

Once he entered the Inner Academy and found the Earth Core Tempering Milk, he would advance to Dou Wang as quickly as possible. Then Xiao Yun would dare return to the Jia Ma Empire in search of opportunities instead of sneaking back as he had this time.

By then, he would first find Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin and awaken their extraordinary talents. That way, he could gain two more helpers in the shortest possible time.

There was also the Green Lotus Core Flame in the Tagor Desert. Once he entered the Inner Academy, he would begin gathering the materials for the Blood Lotus Pill and the Ice Spirit Cold Spring. As for Naling, he could ask his teacher for some. Fire Elder surely had some spare Naling.

Once he had prepared those three things, he would absorb the Green Lotus Core Flame. It was just a little unfair to Xiao Huohuo, since he was taking another one of his opportunities.

After pondering for a long time, Xiao Yun was finally pulled from his pleasant fantasies of the future by Xu Ning's cough.

"I say, brat, where did you learn this skill of spacing out anytime, anywhere? In the time it took me to register you, you were practically drooling."

Xu Ning spoke irritably. "Here, this is your admission card. Remember to bring it with you for the Inner Academy Selection Tournament tomorrow."

He tossed Xiao Yun a card, then waved his hand to indicate that Xiao Yun could leave.

"Oh, Mentor, among this year's new students is someone from my clan named Xiao Ding. His talent is also quite good. He has already reached Eight-Stage Dou Qi at only twelve years old. I hope Mentor can accept him." Before leaving, Xiao Yun remembered Xiao Ding, who had arrived with him. He quickly told Xu Ning about Xiao Ding's situation, then took a jade bottle from his Storage Ring and set it on the table. "This is a small token of this student's appreciation. I hope Mentor will accept it."

"You brat, you sure know how to handle things. You've even learned to bribe your mentor? Take your lousy pills back. If Xiao Ding is truly as you say, I'd fight to take him even without your gift." Xu Ning pointed at Xiao Yun and laughed as he scolded him.

After leaving the Teaching Department building, Xiao Yun did not return to his quarters. Instead, he went to the Alchemy Department building and found Fire Elder.

"Teacher, your disciple Xiao Yun requests an audience."

Outside Fire Elder's personal pill-refining room, Xiao Yun bowed respectfully.

"Brat, come in."

Hearing Fire Elder's voice, Xiao Yun pushed open the door and entered.

"I told you to return to Jia Nan Academy early. How did you only manage to get back today?" Fire Elder sat cross-legged in the center of the pill-refining room, frowning.

Xiao Yun could only repeat what he had just told Xu Ning.

"Mm? I didn't expect you to break through on your return journey and even stir the natural energy. It seems you gained quite a lot this time."

After learning why Xiao Yun had been delayed, Fire Elder's furrowed brows relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"In every Inner Academy Selection Tournament, the top five receive one chance to enter our Jia Nan Academy's Library Pavilion. The Library Pavilion holds countless treasures. There are even several high-level Earth Tier cultivation methods inside. With your strength, entering the top five should not be difficult. Just make sure you seize the opportunity in the Library Pavilion and strive to obtain a higher-quality treasure." Fire Elder stroked his grizzled beard and smiled.

Xiao Yun also knew about the Library Pavilion. The good things inside were truly numerous.

Earth Tier cultivation methods, Earth Tier Dou Techniques, top-grade medicinal herbs, top-grade weapons and treasures—any one of them could spark great chaos throughout the Black-Corner Region.

However, not just anyone could enter the Library Pavilion. Only those who had made major contributions to Jia Nan Academy, or those who ranked in the top five of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament, could enter and choose a treasure they desired.

"Then how about giving me a Dragon Strength Pill, Teacher? I could use it while selecting a treasure in the Library Pavilion."

Hearing his teacher describe the Library Pavilion, Xiao Yun's heart stirred, and he made the suggestion jokingly.

"Hmph, brat, why would I keep pills like Dragon Strength Pills around? And even if I had them, I wouldn't give one to you."

"You think you're the only one with crooked thoughts? More than a decade ago, countless people had the same idea as you, but in the end, they were all thrown out by the two masters guarding the Library Pavilion."

"To obtain a treasure in the Library Pavilion, you can only rely on your own strength. If you refined a pill like the Dragon Strength Pill yourself and used it to obtain a treasure, I believe the two masters would not make things difficult for you.

"But if it is power that does not belong to you, hmph, hmph—then not only will you lose face, you won't get so much as a hair from any treasure!"

Fire Elder knocked Xiao Yun hard on the head and sternly warned him not to entertain crooked ideas.

"I was only joking. I wasn't really planning to do that." Rubbing the large bump on his head, Xiao Yun looked aggrieved.

He truly had not intended any crooked scheme. Fire Elder had already provided all his cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, while top-grade medicinal herbs and weapons were of no use to him yet. At most, he only wanted to see whether he could obtain some treasure that would increase his cultivation.

"Alright, go back and prepare properly for tomorrow's Inner Academy Selection Tournament. Just don't get careless and fall out of the top five."

"Don't worry, Teacher. I'll take first place in this competition!"

Xiao Yun was brimming with confidence, not worried about the Inner Academy Selection Tournament in the slightest.