Choosing

Facing their astonishment, Hu Gan was unfazed. He continued leading them forward before finally stopping several dozen meters from the Library Pavilion.

"The top five of this year's Inner Academy Selection Tournament have been decided. According to the rules, I have brought them here."

Hu Gan bowed toward the Library Pavilion and spoke solemnly. His voice, carrying Dou Qi, echoed through the valley.

Just as Hu Gan's voice fell, two gray-robed figures seated in meditation suddenly appeared before the entrance.

"Qian Mu, Bai Lie... Peak Dou Zong..."

Nalan Chenfeng's heart tightened. He was no stranger to these two men's identities.

As the guardians of Jia Nan Academy, even some academy elders did not know their names, but he knew them well.

And Peak Dou Zong experts... they were probably the strongest beings he had seen in his entire life.

Of course, Yao Chen within Xiao Yan's Bone Flame Ring could barely count as one as well. However, they had never truly met, and Yao Chen was currently in poor condition. His strength had yet to recover to its peak, and he could not even be considered a Dou Zong.

Seeing the two suddenly appear, Lin Xiuya and the others remained silent, scarcely daring to breathe.

For a time, the entire valley was utterly silent.

Several minutes later, the robes of Qian Bai Er Lao trembled slightly. Beneath their gray robes, two pairs of eyes as placid as those of ancient monks slowly lifted. They swept calmly over Hu Gan before finally settling on Nalan Chenfeng.

"At such a young age, he already possesses the strength of a Four-Star Dou Ling. This year's top five are much better than last year's."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuya and the others' expressions changed as they stared blankly at Nalan Chenfeng.

They had only assumed Nalan Chenfeng had recently advanced to the Dou Ling class. They had not expected him to be a Four-Star Dou Ling.

Within the Dou Ling class, strength varied greatly. The further one progressed, the slower cultivation became, and the harder breakthroughs were. Across the continent, countless people remained stuck at One-Star Dou Ling for their entire lives.

Otherwise, the Dou Wang experts above the Dou Ling class would not seem so extraordinary, becoming the dividing line between ordinary cultivators and true experts.

Hearing such praise, Hu Gan also inwardly relaxed. Smiling, he said, "In that case, I will have to trouble you two elders to unlock the Spatial Lock."

"Mm."

The two gray-robed figures nodded slightly, then formed seals with their hands at the same time.

"Spatial Lock..."

Nalan Chenfeng fixed his gaze on the space ahead. A moment later, he saw extremely faint ripples gradually emerge there.

The ripples were hidden within space itself. Without close observation, it would have been difficult to notice anything unusual.

Following those barely visible ripples with his gaze, he discovered that the spatial distortions formed the shape of an entire wall, shielding the Library Pavilion behind it!

"The Spatial Lock is an immensely powerful barrier that only Dou Zun experts can set up. Without the special method used by these two elders to open it, even a Dou Zong expert would be unable to force their way into the Library Pavilion."

Seeing the shock on Nalan Chenfeng and the others' faces, Hu Gan explained with a smile.

Although Jia Nan Academy's reputation had declined somewhat after its headmaster left many years ago and never returned, its foundations remained. It was no weaker than certain forces on the Central Plains Continent.

If these two elders were willing to act, sweeping through the entire Black-Corner Region would likely be no difficult task.

Sss!

Invisible spatial fluctuations spread from Qian Bai Er Lao's palms and finally connected with the folds in space.

A moment later, ripples spread across the spatial wall of light. A glowing door slowly opened within it, revealing a pitch-black passage.

In an instant, Nalan Chenfeng and the others felt as though their vision had become much clearer. The entire Library Pavilion before them was now plainly visible.

"Thank you for your trouble, Elders."

Hu Gan bowed to Qian Bai Er Lao.

"It is merely our duty."

Qian Bai Er Lao replied indifferently. Then they turned their gazes toward Nalan Chenfeng's group of five, and their hoarse voices slowly sounded.

"Now enter the Library Pavilion. Remember, no matter what you wish to obtain, do not stubbornly force the matter."

"Everything inside has been covered by an energy layer. If your hand can pass through that energy layer without obstruction, then you may take the item within."

"Of course, no matter how many things you can pick up, you may only bring one item out of the Library Pavilion. Do not be greedy, or you will end up drawing water with a bamboo basket."

"If you cannot pass through an energy layer, then give up. With your current strength, you cannot break them."

"People enter the Library Pavilion every year, yet quite a few still leave empty-handed. Let everything follow fate. Do not force it."

Qian Bai Er Lao spoke in turn, giving one warning after another before simultaneously waving their hands.

"The door will remain open for only one hour. Once the time is up, anyone who has not emerged will be transported out automatically..."

As their words fell, Qian Bai Er Lao slowly closed their eyes and resumed sitting cross-legged like ancient monks.

Hearing this, Nalan Chenfeng took a deep breath and stepped inside. Han Yue, Lin Xiuya, and the others followed close behind.

Several minutes later, they passed through the corridor and arrived in an extremely spacious chamber. Energy barriers covered the surrounding walls.

At that moment, those energy barriers slowly pulsed with lights of various colors, illuminating the entire space as brightly as day.

"There doesn't seem to be anywhere else. Are those energy barriers meant for us to choose from?"

Han Yue looked around and murmured softly.

"Time is limited. We cannot waste it."

Lin Xiuya also glanced around, a trace of solemnity appearing on his handsome face.

"Mm."

Liu Qing also responded.

Just as they were preparing to make their move, a faint sound of rushing wind suddenly rang out.

Although the sound was extremely subtle, to Da Dou Shi cultivators, it was undoubtedly as loud as muffled thunder.

Their gazes immediately followed the sound and finally settled on an energy barrier near the right side.

The next instant.

A cluster of golden light suddenly shot out from within that energy barrier. It transformed into a streak of light and hurtled toward the five of them.

"Watch out!"

Seeing the golden light fly at them, Lin Xiuya and the others, unaware of what it was, hurriedly dodged aside.

Nalan Chenfeng, however, felt no fear. He directly reached out and grabbed the incoming ball of light.

Sss!

Amid a flash of light, a golden scroll wrapped in an energy layer appeared in Nalan Chenfeng's hand under everyone's watchful eyes.

"Golden Origin Art, a High Mystic Rank cultivation technique."

Nalan Chenfeng read the words on the scroll through its energy layer.

"A cultivation technique..."

Hearing Nalan Chenfeng's words, Lin Xiuya and the others understood.

Those balls of light that flew out were the opportunities within the Library Pavilion, and judging by Nalan Chenfeng's actions just now, passing through the energy layers did not seem particularly difficult.

Sss! Sss!

One rushing sound after another rang out. Streams of light began darting through the space from the surrounding walls, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"Everyone, make good use of the time. I hope we can all find something we like..."

Nalan Chenfeng spoke, signaling Han Yue with his eyes before chasing after a streak of light.

The Library Pavilion of Jia Nan Academy contained cultivation techniques above the Earth Tier. Most of those techniques had been left behind by Mang Tianchi, Jia Nan Academy's headmaster, who came from the ancient Lei Clan.

Even setting aside his background, his strength was not something an ordinary Dou Zun could compare to. By now, he had likely already entered the Half-Saint class.

Therefore, the items left behind by such an expert with immense backing would naturally be far from ordinary for anyone below the Dou Zong class.

Within this Library Pavilion, there might even be Mid Earth Tier or High Earth Tier cultivation techniques.

This time, Nalan Chenfeng had not entered the Library Pavilion to obtain some ordinary Low Earth Tier cultivation technique.

The higher the rank of a cultivation technique, the faster one could cultivate. If he wanted his path after reaching Dou Wang to be smoother, every choice along the way would be crucial.