Thousand-Ridge Earth Dragon Armor

"Congratulations!"

Xiao Yu was the first to come forward, an irrepressible smile on her face.

Instructor Ruo Lin also walked over, her eyes full of approval.

"The academy has already recorded your results. They'll be converted into points and issued to you later."

Qin Yu nodded. Just as he was about to say something, he caught sight of someone approaching from the corner of his eye.

His hair was graying, his complexion ruddy, and his steps steady.

The vice principal, Hu Gan.

"Qin Yu."

Hu Gan came up to him and gave him a thorough look, then nodded in satisfaction.

"You advanced to a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner in just half a year. Not bad, not bad. Come with me."

"To the Scripture Repository?"

"Where else?"

Hu Gan turned and headed out of the competition grounds, and Qin Yu hurried after him.

"I watched all of your matches just now."

Once they had left the competition grounds, Hu Gan slowed his pace and walked side by side with Qin Yu.

"To be honest, I've lived for so many years and seen plenty of geniuses, but someone like you... this is the first time I've ever encountered one."

"If you live a few more decades, maybe you'll see the next one."

That is, if you're willing to see the next one.

"Hey, you brat! You even dare to make fun of this old man now, huh?!"

Hu Gan waved a hand and laughed as he scolded him.

The two walked in silence for a while before Hu Gan spoke again.

"The goal I set for you before—entering the top fifty of the Points Tournament rankings within two years—now seems a little too easy."

Judging by Qin Yu's cultivation speed, Hu Gan figured he would accomplish it within the year, let alone two years.

"If I can reach it this year, will there be any extra reward?"

After thinking it over, Qin Yu asked tentatively.

Hu Gan halted, leaned his neck back slightly, and looked Qin Yu up and down before giving a bitter smile.

"You little rascal, I should've known you'd say that."

He patted Qin Yu on the shoulder, his expression turning serious.

"Since you brought it up yourself, I won't beat around the bush."

"If you can enter the top fifty of the Points Tournament rankings within the remaining eight months..."

Qin Yu waited with utmost seriousness for Hu Gan to continue.

"I'll make an exception and take you deeper into the Scripture Repository."

Qin Yu's mind shook. Deeper into the Scripture Repository?

Could it be that special space which, in the story, only the top five of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament could enter?

"Well? Interested?"

Hu Gan looked at him with a beaming smile, like a wicked old man luring in a child.

Qin Yu took a deep breath and nodded.

"I am."

"Good!"

Hu Gan patted his shoulder in satisfaction, then turned and continued onward.

Qin Yu followed behind him, his mind already racing.

Eight months to break into the top fifty.

With his current strength as a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner, there was still quite a gap between him and the threshold for the top fifty: a High-Rank Battle Master.

But the gap was not insurmountable.

As long as he broke through to Battle Master, then combined Mountain Qilin Leap and Qilin Fist, he was fully confident he could challenge opponents above his level.

Besides, eight months was enough time for him to accomplish many things.

The results of the New Student Examination spread throughout the entire Outer Academy in less than half a day. For the first time, Qin Yu's name was on so many people's lips.

Meanwhile, in a room within the dormitory district, Bai Cheng leaned back in his chair, listening to a classmate recount what he had seen at the examination that day.

"Brother Cheng, that Qin Yu really is already a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner."

The speaker was Zhao Yuan, also an older student of the Outer Academy. He had happened to watch the New Student Examination that day.

Bai Cheng said nothing. He only kept grabbing at his hair, his expression somewhat unpleasant.

A Nine-Star Dou Practitioner.

Four months ago, that guy had only been a Five-Star Dou Practitioner.

But now...

At this rate, wouldn't he break through to Battle Master in another half year, perhaps even become a threat to me?

Bai Cheng's fist clenched unconsciously.

During this period, he had been dealing with challenges on the points rankings.

After all, in less than a month, the rewards for this year's points ranking would be distributed. Naturally, everyone was desperately scrambling upward.

Competition for the top fifty was even fiercer. Someone came to challenge him almost every day, forcing Bai Cheng to devote most of his energy to improving his strength and dealing with challengers.

But now, Qin Yu—the "small problem" he had temporarily set aside—had quietly grown into a towering tree.

"Brother Cheng, while he hasn't broken through to Battle Master yet, why don't we find a chance to..."

Zhao Yuan spoke tentatively and made a downward pressing gesture.

Bai Cheng rose to his feet and paced around the room twice, his brows tightly furrowed.

"You're right, but it would be best to get him onto the arena. Making a move within the academy carries risks after all."

Zhao Yuan's eyes shifted, and he suddenly leaned closer.

"Brother Cheng, I heard... that Qin Yu is very close to Xiao Yu from his class."

Bai Cheng stopped and turned to look at Zhao Yuan.

"Xiao Yu? The... junior sister with the long legs you mentioned before?"

"Yes, her. I've been watching them for quite some time. I can be certain that if Xiao Yu runs into trouble, Qin Yu definitely won't ignore it."

Zhao Yuan chuckled, and Bai Cheng instantly understood what he meant.

"Didn't he rely on that movement technique of his before, making him impossible for us to catch? Let's see how he manages to run this time."

Bai Cheng was silent for a moment before a cold smile slowly formed at the corner of his mouth.

"Not a bad idea. You go, then."

"Huh? Me?"

Zhao Yuan pointed at himself, looking utterly incredulous.

"Nonsense. Do you think I don't know what you're like? You've wanted to go for a long time, haven't you?"

"Hehe, Brother Cheng, you really do understand me."

Zhao Yuan nodded knowingly and turned to leave the room.

Elsewhere, Qin Yu followed Hu Gan to the Scripture Repository.

His goal this time was clear: find a defensive battle skill.

Qilin Fist was for offense, Mountain Qilin Leap was for movement. If he added a defensive battle skill as well, then combined it with the characteristics of Earth-Attribute Battle Qi, his overall combat strength would rise to another level.

After some selection, Qin Yu finally chose a Mystic Tier High-Rank battle skill called Thousand-Ridge Earth Dragon Armor.

The principle behind this battle skill was to use Earth-Attribute Battle Qi as a guide, connect with the earth, and condense armor over the body's surface.

The so-called "thousand ridges" referred to layer upon layer, like a thousand mountain ranges stacked together.

Each mountain ridge was equivalent to an independent layer of defense. When an enemy attack landed on it, its force would be divided and weakened layer by layer, until less than one-tenth remained.

The words "Earth Dragon," meanwhile, gave this battle skill another trait—flexibility.

Ordinary Earth Attribute defensive battle skills often traded flexibility for hardness and weight. Once formed, they greatly reduced the user's mobility.

But Thousand-Ridge Earth Dragon Armor was different. The armor could subtly deform and shift with the user's movements, allowing any area to be reinforced at any time.

"This is the one."

After registering the scroll, Qin Yu studied the method of activating the battle skill as he walked.

Just as he gained some insight, he saw a classmate running toward him, panting heavily.