Strong Ranking Tournament, Helper

Lu Xia followed the group through the inspection and entered Canaan City.

The streets within the city were broad, lined with countless shops and bustling with people.

From time to time, he saw Jia Nan Academy Outer Academy students in groups of three or five strolling along the streets.

"As expected of Jia Nan Academy..."

Walking down the street, Lu Xia secretly marveled to himself.

Canaan City, where Jia Nan Academy was located, was already so grand in scale. One could only imagine the depth of Jia Nan Academy's foundations.

He did not linger in the streets. Instead, he entered an inconspicuous teahouse, ordered a pot of tea, and sat down.

It was daytime now, with too many people around. It was not convenient to act.

If he wanted to investigate Jia Nan Academy, he would have to wait until nightfall.

The night deepened.

The clamor of Canaan City gradually subsided.

Lu Xia silently darted out, blending into the vast darkness.

His figure moved like a ghost, swiftly weaving between eaves and rooftops.

Before long, he arrived outside the walls of Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy.

The walls were very high, with warning formations laid upon them.

But in Lu Xia's eyes, such formations were no different from decoration.

His body flickered, and he lightly crossed the wall, landing inside the Outer Academy.

After landing, Lu Xia spread out his spiritual power and cautiously surveyed the surroundings.

The Outer Academy was vast, with dormitories, training grounds, alchemy rooms... all kinds of buildings arranged in an orderly fashion.

There were quite a few patrolling students and instructors, but most were only Da Dou Shi or Dou Ling.

"The Outer Academy's strength is only this much."

Lu Xia thought to himself as his figure silently swept toward the depths of the Outer Academy.

As he moved stealthily onward, he encountered several Dou Wang-level elders, all of whom he easily avoided.

After circling the Outer Academy once, Lu Xia's brows gradually furrowed.

"Something's wrong..."

"Is this all the Outer Academy has?"

He had searched more than half the Outer Academy and found that the strongest among them were only at the peak of Dou Emperor. There was not even a single Dou Zong.

The Technique Pavilion, Pill Repository, Treasure Pavilion... the collections in these places could only be considered ordinary.

They might be treasure troves to ordinary students, but in Lu Xia's eyes, they were not worth mentioning.

"The truly good things should all be in the Inner Academy..."

The Outer Academy was merely a place for new students to build their foundations. Jia Nan Academy's true heritage was all in the Inner Academy.

The Fallen Heart Flame was in the Inner Academy as well.

But... where was the Inner Academy?

Lu Xia frowned deeply.

He had investigated the entire Outer Academy but found no passage leading to the Inner Academy.

There was not the slightest clue regarding the Inner Academy's exact location.

A thought suddenly arose in Lu Xia's mind.

He remembered that the original novel had mentioned that Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy was built deep within the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Only Inner Academy students and elders knew its exact location.

Outer Academy students could enter the Inner Academy only by passing the selection tournament.

"This is troublesome..."

Lu Xia rubbed his brow.

Without knowing the Inner Academy's exact location, he could not possibly turn the entire Magical Beast Mountain Range upside down, could he?

Moreover, there were surely even more formidable restrictions and guardians within the Inner Academy.

Grand Elder Su Qian, along with Qian and Bai Elders.

None of them were easy to deal with.

If he forced his way in, his chances of success would not be high.

"Looks like I'll have to think of another way."

Lu Xia thought to himself.

His figure flashed, and he left without a sound.

"What way is there to enter the Inner Academy..."

After leaving Jia Nan Academy, Lu Xia began considering his options.

Suddenly, he recalled the information he had overheard at the teahouse during the day.

"The Strong Ranking Tournament!"

Lu Xia's eyes lit up as he carefully recalled the details of the others' discussion.

Two months later, Jia Nan Academy would hold its once-every-five-years Strong Ranking Tournament.

At that time, the Inner Academy's top students would gather to compete for positions on the Strong Ranking.

During the Strong Ranking Tournament, the Inner Academy would temporarily open its passage. Outer Academy students and visitors from all sides in Canaan City could enter the Inner Academy to watch after registering.

"Two months from now..."

Lu Xia stroked his chin, a gleam flashing through his eyes.

Wasn't this the tournament where Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, Yan Hao, and their generation rose to fame in the original novel?

When the Inner Academy passage opened, it would be the perfect chance to sneak in!

"Interesting..."

Since there was a chance to enter the Inner Academy openly, there was no need for him to risk forcing his way in.

What was the harm in waiting two months?

Besides, Medusa's weakened period should be nearly over in two months.

However... Lu Xia's brows knit slightly.

Medusa and he alone would probably not be enough.

The Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy was unfathomably powerful.

Grand Elder Su Qian was a Dou Zong, while Qian and Bai Elders were even more inscrutable.

The Fallen Heart Flame was sealed beneath the ground, and taking it away would be far from easy.

"I still need to find another helper..."

Lu Xia's mind raced.

Who should he find?

Suddenly, inspiration struck Lu Xia.

The Sky Serpent Mansion!

Wasn't the Sky Serpent Mansion's ancestor a Dou Zong expert?

To them, Qinglin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were precisely the successor they had dreamed of!

If he delivered the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils they had sought for years right to their doorstep, it should not be difficult to have their ancestor help him once.

If Qinglin went to cultivate at the Sky Serpent Mansion, she could receive the inheritance most suited to her and grow rapidly, while he could also make use of the Sky Serpent Mansion's power.

It was killing two birds with one stone!

As for whether Qinglin would change her heart after going to the Sky Serpent Mansion...

Given the feelings between them now, he was confident that once Qinglin had grown stronger at the Sky Serpent Mansion, her heart would always remain on his side.

"Then it's settled."

Lu Xia made up his mind.

First, he would return to Peace Town, bring Qinglin with him, pass through the Black-Corner Region, and head for the Sky Serpent Mansion!

After two months, he would bring the Sky Serpent Mansion's Dou Zong ancestor back to Jia Nan Academy!

Having thought everything through, Lu Xia no longer lingered and returned along the same route.

Under the cover of night, Lu Xia's figure swiftly departed Canaan City.

In less than half an hour, he had returned to Peace Town.

At the inn, Qinglin had not yet gone to sleep.

She sat by the bed with her knees hugged to her chest, waiting eagerly for Lu Xia's return.

Hearing a faint sound outside the door, her eyes brightened. She jumped off the bed and ran over.

"Brother Xia! Is that you? Are you back?"

Seeing the delight on her face, Lu Xia could not help smiling.

"Why are you still awake?"

"I was waiting for you."

Qinglin answered as though it were only natural, then anxiously asked, "Brother Xia, did everything go smoothly?"

"It went fairly smoothly."

Lu Xia nodded and walked over to sit at the table.

"We're leaving first thing tomorrow morning."

"Ah? We're leaving again?"

Qinglin blinked. "Where are we going?"

Lu Xia looked at her, the corners of his lips lifting slightly with a hint of mystery.

"To a place best suited for you."

Qinglin looked utterly confused, not knowing what Lu Xia meant.

But she did not ask further. She simply nodded firmly.

"Okay! Wherever Brother Xia goes, I'll go too!"

Seeing her unconditional trust warmed Lu Xia's heart.

"Don't worry. Once we get there, you'll become stronger."

Early the next morning.

Before dawn had fully broken, Lu Xia took Qinglin and left Peace Town.

The two entered the Black-Corner Region once more.

This time, their destination was the Sky Serpent Mansion, located north of the Black-Corner Region!

Lu Xia walked ahead while Qinglin followed closely behind him.