Library Pavilion

After today's practical class, Huo Yuhao suddenly appeared at the door of Profound Class One and called out the other four students.

"Old Huo, did the vice dean really allow us to go to the Library Pavilion?" Upon hearing the good news from Huo Yuhao, Yan Hao immediately pounced on him, hooking his arms around Huo Yuhao's neck, grinning so wide you could see his back teeth.

"Get off me right now, your hair is brushing against my mouth." Huo Yuhao shoved Yan Hao's dark arm away. "Consider this a reward for us; we can enter the first two floors of the Library Pavilion at any time."

"Huo Yuhao, thank you!" Lin Xiuya and Han Yue bowed and expressed their gratitude, their usually calm faces showing visible joy and excitement.

"Why are you all so excited?" Xiao Yi Xian blinked, looking puzzled.

"Is that even a question?" Yan Hao shouted, "I've heard from the Inner Academy students that our Canaan Academy Library Pavilion has Earth Grade Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills!"

"The first two floors don't have them." Huo Yuhao coldly poured cold water on the idea.

"Huh? Then... then too..."

"Haha!" Seeing Yan Hao's expression, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Stop dawdling, the vice dean is waiting in the Library Pavilion. This time it's a special reward, there's something you want."

The Jia Nan Academy Library Pavilion appears to be an unassuming three-story building. However, its interior is surprisingly spacious and bright, filled with cleverly Mechanism Arts and interwoven bookshelves.

At this moment, in the very center of the first floor, Huo Yuhao and his four companions stood quietly. Behind the desk in front of them, Vice Dean Hu Gan slowly flipping through the documents in his hands, occasionally adjusting the glasses on his nose.

"You're here!" Hu Gan the book in his hand, slowly stood up, and put on a stern face. "Come with me."

Led by Hu Gan, the group climbed the stairs to the third floor and stopped in front of a very large grandfather clock.

"Arrive."

"There's nothing here?" Yan Hao craned his neck, looking around.

"There's a trap," Huo Yuhao whispered a reminder.

Hu Gan nodded, reached out and pressed his hand on a hidden compartment, infusing it with emerald green Dou Qi.

Buzz-!

A low, grinding sound rang out, and the grandfather clock, like a door, slowly opened to both sides. What was revealed behind it was not a wall, but a twisted, pitch-black opening. A faint golden light flickered within the opening, and a sense of spatial disorientation affected the minds of the group.

"So this is the entrance to Small World!" Huo Yuhao exclaimed in surprise. He hadn't expected that the Outer Academy of the Jia Nan Academy would have such a place. It seemed that his assessment of the strength of the Jia Nan Academy was somewhat inaccurate.

"This is a small space left behind by the dean," Hu Gan explained simply, and took the lead in stepping into the dark cave.

Passing through the entrance to the space, a breathtaking view suddenly appeared before me! A hazy golden mist permeated the entire space, and the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi was exceptionally rich.

They stood on a protruding cliff, and directly in front of them, a huge floating island floated silently. On the island stood a magnificent building, exuding an aura of vicissitudes.

"Hu Gan from the Outer Academy has brought five students who have made outstanding contributions to the academy. Please, elders, open the door!" Hu Gan cupped his hands and bowed to the broken staircase on the floating island.

"Outstanding contributions?"

A deep voice rang out, carrying a powerful aura. Everyone present, except Huo Yuhao, turned pale for a moment.

Two figures appeared without warning at the building's entrance! One wore a black robe, the other a white robe, both with long, flowing hair and strange eye masks covering their faces.

Spatial power! Huo Yuhao's eyes narrowed. Two High-Rank Dou Zong! So this is the true strength of the Jia Nan Academy? "Since you've brought them, there's no need to ask any more questions," the black-robed elder said calmly.

"Huh! Heavenly Flames?" The white-robed elder suddenly appeared in front of Huo Yuhao.

"Greetings, Senior!" Huo Yuhao bowed respectfully.

"Boy, your Heavenly Flames —it's not on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, so it must be newly appeared?"

"Yes, this fire is called the Nine Li Ice Flame." Huo Yuhao had barely finished speaking when the Ice Flame Phoenix, seemingly sensing the provocation, flew out from Huo Yuhao's body, landed on his shoulder, and stared at the white-robed elder with an unfriendly gaze.

"Ice attribute, yet you can still wield Heavenly Flames! You've got some good fortune, kid!" The white-robed elder chuckled, his figure flashing back to the black-robed elder's side.

"Then, let's not delay!" The two elders stood in the void, extended their palms, and faced each other.

"Open the Spatial Lock!"

A huge mirror appeared before Huo Yuhao and his companions. Reflected in the mirror, the broken staircase was restored to its original state.

"You five, enter the Spatial Gate."

Hu Gan explained from the side, "This Spatial Gate is an ancient treasure. It has the ability to detect the aptitude of others and can teleport students with different aptitudes to different areas."

"So, the better the quality of the area, the better the stuff inside?" Yan Hao asked.

"Actually, they're pretty much the same." Hu Gan smiled slightly, took off his glasses, and wiped them.

"What?"

"The dean did initially have this plan," Hu Gan sighed. "But after a while, he realized it was too troublesome, and then it just became a chaotic mess. So, apart from the Jiazi District, the rest of the area was pretty much the same."

"Besides, each person is only allowed to take out one item, so it doesn't really matter where you go."

"Then what's the point of creating this rating system?" Huo Yuhao couldn't help but complain.

"This is related to the teaching philosophy of the Inner Academy." Hu Gan waved his sleeves. "Alright, Huo boy, you go first!"

Huo Yuhao stood in front of the mirror, took a deep breath, and felt a pounding in his chest. He was somewhat nervous about his talent rating. Following Hu Gan's instructions, he extended his right hand and placed it on the mirror.

"His talent is unparalleled, his future is limitless. Heading to the Jiazi District!"

Whew! Huo Yuhao let out a long sigh of relief and turned to his companions, saying, "See you later!"

Huo Yuhao took a step forward, and his figure disappeared from the spot.

"Not bad talent! We should see you again in six months!" said the black-robed elder.

"Then I'll be second!" Xiao Yi Xian skipped and hopped to the mirror to begin the test.

"Exceptional talent, destined for greatness. Head to Jiachen District!"

Next up were Lin Xiuya, Yan Hao, and Han Yue.

"Exceptionally talented----"

"Exceptionally talented----"

"Exceptional talent----"

After all five had entered the Library Pavilion, Bai Lao Qian Lao to Hu Gan's side and asked, "What were their outstanding contributions?"

"Let me tell you—" Hu Gan interested and, half-bragging, recounted Huo Yuhao's and his companions' deeds to the two elders.

When the spatial power enveloping his body dissipated, Huo Yuhao opened his eyes. All around him was darkness and silence.

Instinctively, Huo Yuhao used his Spirit Probe ability, spreading his mental power to cover the entire space.

Almost simultaneously, the voices of the two elders rang out. "Each of you has one hour. The energy cluster contains treasures from the Library Pavilion; opening it requires sufficient strength. The more precious the treasure, the harder it is to open. Act according to your abilities!"

"I don't really need anything—besides, the vice dean instructed that I can only take one item." Huo Yuhao thought for a moment and decided to open a few to take a look first.

The mental energy transformed into an invisible palm, casually drawing in several energy orbs enveloped in soft light from the vicinity.

"Hmm, Earth Tier Cultivation Method ----" Huo Yuhao perked up, his eyes quickly scanning the scroll in his hand.

"This is just a simplified version; the rest requires unlocking the seal—"