Return and Break Through

A month later.

The sea of clouds surged like waves as three flying ships drawn by magical beasts glided steadily through the sky. Their wing-like sails slowly flapped at the sides, trailing long streaks through the clouds.

Inside a room aboard one of the ships, Nalan Chenfeng sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes shut and his breathing long and steady.

Whoosh!

With a sound like flowing water, the free energy of heaven and earth continuously poured into Nalan Chenfeng's body.

Nalan Chenfeng's hand seals shifted as he fully circulated the Flame Yang Art, refining the energy that entered his body into strands of golden Dou Qi. They flowed through his meridians before finally gathering within the diamond-shaped Dou Qi sea urchin in his dantian.

Several spikes atop the sea urchin gleamed brightly.

At that moment, the first two spikes nearest to the sea urchin's main body had completely melted away. The glow of the third spike was dimming at a visible rate, and its base had shrunk by more than half compared with a month ago.

"Ha..."

After an unknown amount of time, Nalan Chenfeng ceased cultivating and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. He opened his eyes, and a faint golden glint flashed through his dark pupils.

"Three-Star Dou Ling is not far off..."

Nalan Chenfeng raised his hand and looked at the solid strand of golden Dou Qi in his palm. Feeling the scorching fluctuations within it, the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

From the time he left Wu Tan City until now, over the past month, he had not wasted a single moment apart from necessary rest. He had remained in cultivation the entire time.

"In another ten days or so, I'll definitely complete the breakthrough."

Nalan Chenfeng smiled faintly, rose from the bed, and stretched his limbs.

Several soft crackles came from his bones. A tingling sensation spread through his limbs and body, making the smile on Nalan Chenfeng's face grow wider.

"Come in and sit..."

Nalan Chenfeng rose and opened the door, his smile undiminished as he looked at the tall figure silently waiting outside.

Over the past month, Xiao Yu had come to his door almost every day during daylight hours to check on him. It was not as though he had failed to notice, but he simply had not paid her any mind.

With strength, women naturally would not be scarce.

At Jia Nan Outer Academy, quite a few girls liked him. Xiao Yu was only one of them.

"All right..."

Xiao Yu froze for a moment before walking over.

Today, Xiao Yu wore a fitted red outfit that accentuated her tall, slender figure. Her two long, straight legs appeared and vanished beneath her skirt.

As she walked toward Nalan Chenfeng, there was a hint of restraint in her gaze, but even more anticipation.

"You're really absurdly tall."

Nalan Chenfeng looked at Xiao Yu, who stood a whole head taller than him, and smiled noncommittally.

Xiao Yu's cultivation talent was quite ordinary. The only favorable traits she had inherited seemed to have all gone into her legs, making her an exceptionally eye-catching presence in any crowd.

Although he had grown considerably taller over the past few years, his build increasingly approaching that of an adult man, he was still far shorter than Xiao Yu.

"I..."

Xiao Yu's pretty face flushed. She wanted to say something, yet could not bring herself to speak.

She knew full well how attractive her legs were to men. She had always taken pride in her figure, but the man before her did not seem to like it that much.

"All right, sit down. Since I rarely have time today, I'll tell you some more stories."

"Once we reach Jia Nan Academy, we'll all be busy cultivating and have even less time. Besides, in a little over two months, we'll be heading to the Inner Academy."

Nalan Chenfeng smiled and briefly told Xiao Yu about his circumstances at the academy.

He and Xiao Yu had known each other since childhood. They could not exactly be called childhood sweethearts, but their relationship was much better than that of ordinary acquaintances.

Moreover, as his strength had increased, Xiao Yu had now become another part of his preparations concerning the Xiao Clan.

The Xiao Clan's Tou She Ancient God Jade was not actually in the hands of Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Clan's patriarch. Instead, it was secretly held by the Xiao Clan's First Elder.

And the Xiao Clan's First Elder was Xiao Yu's biological grandfather.

When necessary, he could use Xiao Yu to make the Xiao Clan's First Elder produce the Tou She Ancient God Jade, then secretly hide it away.

The Tou She Ancient God Jade had once been divided into eight pieces among the ancient eight clans. The Xiao Clan's fragment was the easiest to obtain.

Moreover, the ancient jades had no mutual resonance. Thus, obtaining sufficient time for cultivation on the Dou Qi Continent would not be difficult.

"The Inner Academy..."

At those words, Xiao Yu's pretty face immediately dimmed considerably, though she quickly recovered.

As long as she remained at Jia Nan Academy, there would always be opportunities. In the future, she could enter the Inner Academy as well.

Time flowed like water, quietly passing by.

A month later, the fleet of flying ships passed through layer upon layer of clouds and crossed endless mountain ranges. The outline of Canaan City appeared in view once more.

Nalan Chenfeng stood on the deck and looked at the majestic city nestled among the mountains in the distance. A sharp light flickered in his dark eyes.

During the latter month of travel, he had successfully broken through to Three-Star Dou Ling, and his Dou Qi had improved once again.

Before the Inner Academy Selection Tournament, he was confident he could attempt a breakthrough to Four-Star Dou Ling.

"Students, we've arrived."

Following Ruolin's call, the flying ships slowly descended onto the plaza outside Canaan City. The new students eagerly climbed down the rope ladders, curiously studying this academy renowned across the continent.

Their gazes were not much different from Nalan Chenfeng's when he had first arrived.

Nalan Chenfeng did not linger and headed straight for his courtyard in the Xuan Character Building.

"Nalan Chenfeng."

Just as Nalan Chenfeng was about to step through the courtyard gate, a cool voice called out from behind him.

Nalan Chenfeng paused and turned around.

A silver-haired woman hurried over. Her skin was as fair as snow, her features exquisite and captivating, while her silver-white palace gown emphasized her slender waist.

"Han Yue."

Nalan Chenfeng nodded slightly in greeting.

Han Yue approached, her cool crystal eyes lingering briefly on Nalan Chenfeng's face. There was a faint smile on her pretty face.

"It has been over a year since we last met. Your strength has become even more impossible to see through."

"You didn't come looking for me just to say that, did you?"

Nalan Chenfeng's gaze swept over Han Yue as he asked with a smile.

It had to be said, Hong Chen of the Hong Family, the Han Family's rival in Tian Bei City, truly had discerning taste.

The elder sister was such an icy beauty; the younger sister surely would not be lacking either. The temptation of such a pair of sisters was indeed difficult to refuse.

At his words, a blush rose on Han Yue's icy, beautiful face. After remaining silent for a moment, she spoke softly.

"This Inner Academy Selection Tournament will have fiercer competition for the top five than in previous years. There are many formidable people. Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing have both broken through to Five-Star Da Dou Shi, and each has mastered a powerful Dou technique. I came to give you a warning."

"But I can no longer sense through your strength at all. It seems I worried for nothing."

More than a year ago, Nalan Chenfeng had already advanced to Da Dou Shi. However, cultivation at the Da Dou Shi level was much slower than before.

Among Jia Nan Academy's students, anyone who could break through from Da Dou Shi to Dou Ling within two years could be considered outstanding.

Yet Nalan Chenfeng's current strength was certainly no weaker than those two. She had not sensed that intangible pressure from either Lin Xiuya or Liu Qing.

"You're this worried about me?"