Lin Xiuyan, Liu Qing, Lin Yan, Bai Cheng, Han Yue

A fresh breeze often swept through the mountains, quickly dispersing the mist. Ruo Lin stood where she was, drenched from head to toe, staring blankly ahead.

Her Water Mandala was ultimately only an Intermediate Profound Rank Dou Technique, far inferior to an Advanced Profound Rank one.

What she could not understand was how Xiao Yan had time to master such a powerful Dou Technique while cultivating Dou Qi and refining pills.

"Thanks for letting me win." Xiao Yan flicked a wisp of golden flame toward Ruo Lin.

Ruo Lin quickly came back to her senses. The golden flame had already whirled rapidly around her delicate body once. Its scorching heat dried her soaked dress without damaging it in the slightest.

What exquisite flame control! Ruo Lin had been shocked so many times that she was gradually becoming numb to it. She restrained her emotions and looked at the handsome youth with a smile. "You really are quite capable, little fellow."

Xiao Yan smiled. "It was just luck. Sparring was never about deciding victory or defeat, but about helping each other identify shortcomings and understand our weaknesses."

Empty pleasantries came easily to him. If this had been a life-and-death battle, even if Ruo Lin had used Dou Qi Armor, he could have killed this Da Dou Shi in a single move.

Ruo Lin was touched. If Xiao Yan had not spoken kindly today, the trouble caused by the students would have been difficult to resolve. If the two of them had truly fought, she, a new instructor, would have been utterly humiliated.

"I want to register for direct entry into the Inner Academy. When can I take the selection?" The two walked beneath a large tree and sat down, and Xiao Yan continued asking.

Ruo Lin thought for a moment. "The Jia Ma Empire is very far from the Black-Corner Region, where Jia Nan Academy is located. Even with Jia Nan Academy's arrangements for this, it will still take more than three months for you to reach the academy. Three months after that, there will be a new round of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament."

Xiao Yan nodded slightly. He knew how vast the distance between the two places was. By that calculation, it would be half a year from now. That was good news.

With another half year to grow, perhaps he could defeat the Black-and-White Baleful Squad in the Fire-Energy Hunting Competition.

Having one's Fire Energy taken would not have an absolutely negative effect on Inner Academy cultivation. But if he defeated the Black-and-White Baleful Squad and seized a batch of Fire Energy, it would make cultivation in the Inner Academy much more convenient.

Ruo Lin smiled at Xiao Yan and told him everything she knew. "Originally, I only thought you would pass the selection. But now, it seems that in half a year, you may be able to contend for the top five."

"Aren't they the same?" Xiao Yan wore a surprised expression.

Ruo Lin shook her head slightly. "They are very different. If you can place in the top five of the selection tournament, you will qualify to enter the Scripture Pavilion. That place is a forbidden ground of Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy, guarded with extreme severity. The things inside will absolutely not disappoint you."

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, clearly interested.

He knew about the Scripture Pavilion, but he had previously been uncertain how much he could improve his strength, so he had not thought much about it.

Now that he had an opportunity, he could naturally consider it.

Through various resources, especially after taking a Purpleheart Barrier-Breaking Pill that Ya Fei had collected, he had advanced from a Two-Star Great Dou Master to a Three-Star Great Dou Master.

The Purpleheart Barrier-Breaking Pill was a peak fourth-grade pill. It could raise a Great Dou Master's strength by one star without producing much resistance. If a Great Dou Master obtained two Purpleheart Barrier-Breaking Pills, his strength could rise by two stars.

Xiao Yan had registered late today precisely because he had been refining the pill's medicinal power.

Now that he had reached the level of a Three-Star Great Dou Master, the Advanced Profound Rank cultivation method he practiced was still decent. But it would be even better if he could replace it with an Earth Tier cultivation method.

As it happened, Xiao Yan knew that the Scripture Pavilion contained an Earth Tier fire-attributed cultivation method, the Ninefold Phoenixfire Art, which suited him very well.

Once he entered the Inner Academy, its effects combined with the Burning Heaven Qi Refining Tower would make it even stronger than practicing an ordinary Earth Tier cultivation method.

Seeing the smile on his face, Ruo Lin explained in detail, "I am afraid more than half the people participating in the selection tournament have their eyes on the Scripture Pavilion. Among them, there are five people you need to pay special attention to."

"Who are these five seeded contenders?" Xiao Yan asked.

Ruo Lin said, "The first is Lin Xiuyan. He is much older than you, and his strength has already reached the level of an Eight-Star Great Dou Master. The second is Liu Qing, whose Dou Techniques are extremely domineering. The third is Lin Yan, who has a desperate, all-or-nothing air about him and is very troublesome. The fourth is Bai Cheng, who possesses the strength of a Five-Star Great Dou Master. The fifth is Han Yue, the only girl among the five."

"Do not underestimate Han Yue because she is a girl. Not only is she very strong, she also has many admirers. If you defeat her, life in the Inner Academy will probably not be easy for you. Of the five, Bai Cheng is the weakest. If you encounter him, you may have a chance to enter the Scripture Pavilion."

They're all familiar faces...

These people were indeed talented, but they had not defeated the Black-and-White Baleful Squad. They had entered the Inner Academy penniless. Although they established their own factions, they had not pioneered the practice of recruiting only new students. Considering the Ranking Tournament held once every five years, it truly was about time for this group to enter the Inner Academy.

The Origin Heart Flame body tempering awarded by the Ranking Tournament could pave the way to advancing to Dou Wang. That was one major reason why people from the Central Plains, such as Liu Qing, had also come to Jia Nan Academy.

Thinking of the Ranking Tournament, Xiao Yan also recalled Jia Nan Academy's greatest benefit.

Reaching Dou Wang was a dividing line. Within the Jia Ma Empire, there was no lack of reclusive experts, but among the Dou Wang figures who had revealed themselves, there were only a handful.

In the Black-Corner Region, a Dou Wang was also a pivotal figure in a major faction, yet those Dou Wangs were almost all quite old.

Being able to help highly talented young people break through early and smoothly to become Dou Wang experts was undoubtedly tremendously enticing.

Rolling his neck, Xiao Yan said, "This will not only depend on strength, but also on a bit of luck."

As they talked nearby for some time, Ruo Lin caught a particular fragrance that constantly wafted from Xiao Yan's body, giving her an odd feeling.

Xiao Yan frequently refined pills and concocted poisons. The scent from years of being steeped in medicinal herbs had taken on another quality.

Looking at that jade-like face beneath the moonlight, Ruo Lin suddenly smiled. "Han Yue is naturally one of the Outer Academy's beauties, but you are no less so. Among the girls participating in the Inner Academy selection this time, perhaps some will fall for you at first sight and do their utmost to defeat you. If they cannot win the qualifications to enter the Scripture Pavilion, they might simply forget about entering the Inner Academy and instead snatch themselves a handsome prodigy."

Xiao Yan was tall and rather flirtatious by nature, wholly unconcerned about their age difference. He smiled. "I do not care what people I have never met think. Instructor Ruo Lin, do you also want to keep me in the Outer Academy and teach me?"

Ruo Lin's heart warmed at the question, and her lovely cheeks flushed like flowers. "You are far more capable than I am. What could I possibly teach you?"

"A student need not be inferior to his teacher, nor must a teacher be more virtuous than his student." A thought stirred in Xiao Yan's mind. He reached out and pulled Ruo Lin, whose exquisite curves seemed like a work of art carefully sculpted, into his arms. "Perhaps not in cultivation, but there are still many things a teacher can teach me."

Ruo Lin had always worked hard to become an instructor at Jia Nan Academy. Now, suddenly embraced by Xiao Yan, with that special fragrance washing over her, her mind wavered. Already gentle as water, she immediately became even softer, as though boneless.

Amid an indescribable comfort, a Da Dou Shi seemed like a delicate beauty too weak to truss a chicken. She said softly, "Do not get so handsy."