The Book Collection Pavilion, Ninefold Phoenix Flame Art

"Come in."

At those words, Hu Gan straightened in his seat and set down the documents in his hand. His expression grew considerably more solemn, preserving his dignity as the Outer Academy's vice president.

A moment later, four young men and women with distinctly different dispositions entered through the door. Two men and two women—a perfectly balanced group.

Leading them was a young woman in a snow fox fur dress. Her pretty face was quite lovely, with an oval shape, a cherry-like mouth, willow brows as graceful as a painting, and large, luminous eyes. Together with her full bosom, these features made her a very pleasing sight.

She was Liu Fei, who had spoken outside just moments ago.

Beside Liu Fei stood a sweet-faced, petite girl. Her figure was unremarkable, and she wore an academy uniform that looked utterly flat across the chest.

Bringing up the rear were twin brothers with rugged dispositions. Their bare arms exposed firm, powerful muscles, making them look especially strong. These were the other four students who, along with Lin Chen, had placed in the top five of this year's Inner Academy Selection Tournament.

"Everyone here?"

Hu Gan swept his gaze over the four before him and spoke in a deep voice.

"Reporting to the vice president! Outer Academy students Lin Chen, Liu Fei, Han Zhi, Han Tie, and Han Shan are all present!"

Lin Chen immediately snapped to attention in a textbook military stance and saluted Hu Gan.

"I wasn't asking you!"

Hu Gan glanced at him and ignored his showing off. Instead, he addressed Liu Fei and the others. "You are the most outstanding students of this year's cohort, and you will be entering the Inner Academy together. There are a few things I need to remind you of."

"Don't assume the Inner Academy will be as easy as the Outer Academy, where you simply meditate, cultivate, and listen to instructors' lectures. If new students don't huddle together for warmth, their fate won't be pretty. Strength reigns supreme in the Inner Academy. Whoever has the hardest fists gets the best cultivation conditions!"

"Even I can't change that. None of your backgrounds will be of any use in the Inner Academy."

With that, Hu Gan cast an almost imperceptible glance at Lin Chen, its meaning plain without words.

Lin Chen gave a light cough. "Understood."

"Of course, there are exceptions. You, for instance, Liu Fei. Your cousin Liu Qing is a genius ranked third on the Inner Academy's Strong Ranking. Even after you enter the Inner Academy, no one will dare provoke you. But relying on others is never a lasting solution. Only making yourself strong counts as true ability."

The beautiful young woman in the snow fox fur dress merely smiled calmly at his words. She bowed to Hu Gan and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Vice President. I will keep it firmly in mind."

"Ah."

Hu Gan shook his head slightly and slowly rose. Age had honed his shrewdness, and his discerning eye had long since reached perfection. Naturally, he could tell that Liu Fei's words did not come from her heart, but he said nothing more.

He then approached the wall behind him and casually tapped it a few times with his palm. A low rumble sounded, and a pitch-black passage appeared before them.

"Follow me."

Beckoning to the group, Hu Gan was the first to step into the passage.

Lin Chen followed closely behind, and the brothers Han Tie and Han Shan hurried after him.

Liu Fei and Han Zhi brought up the rear. From the darkness behind them, they could faintly hear Han Zhi praising Liu Fei from time to time and fishing for stories about Liu Qing. Her intent to flatter was quite obvious.

After they had walked through the passage for roughly an hour, a glimmer of light suddenly appeared at its end.

What appeared before Lin Chen and the others was a hollow in a mountain valley. Steep cliffs enclosed it on three sides, while the side directly facing them opened onto an enormous clearing.

An almost unimaginably massive pavilion stood in the clearing. Above it, three large characters, their strokes dancing like dragons and soaring phoenixes, proclaimed the place's name.

The Book Collection Pavilion!

"Don't wander around. Stay here and wait for me."

Knowing Lin Chen's temperament all too well, Hu Gan caught his hand and stopped him as he looked about, giving him a quiet warning.

"Understood."

Lin Chen nodded knowingly, though he still could not help looking at the Book Collection Pavilion's plaque, wondering whether he could make a few rubbings. That should be President Mang Tianchi's calligraphy. By now, the man was probably already making his breakthrough to Half-Saint in the Ancient Void Dragon Clan's Void Lightning Pool.

A Dou Zun's calligraphy was not worth much, but a Saint's writing would surely attract plenty of collectors. Saints were supreme beings standing at the very pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent!

Even a single drop of a Saint's bone marrow could transform an ordinary child from the bones outward and reshape their aptitude!

Looks like the rumors are true. Lin Chen really is Vice President Hu Gan's illegitimate son. I've heard even his cultivation method is exactly the same as the vice president's, and even Vice President Hu Gan's granddaughter can't stand him.

At the sight, Liu Fei's eyes lit up. She silently planned to find her cousin after entering the Inner Academy and persuade Lin Chen to join the Mountain-Splitting Gang her cousin had established.

After all, forging a connection with a Peak Dou Emperor—one who was also the vice president of Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy—would be no small benefit to their Liu family in Tianhuang City of the Central Plains.

"The top five of this year's Inner Academy Selection Tournament have been decided. In accordance with the rules, I have brought them to the Book Collection Pavilion. I ask the two elders to open the doors!"

Paying no mind to the thoughts of those behind him, Hu Gan bowed respectfully toward the pavilion. His resonant voice spread with his Dou Qi, echoing through the valley for a long time.

A moment later, while Liu Fei and the others were still staring blankly—

Lin Chen suddenly looked toward the space above the pavilion. Two gray-robed figures abruptly appeared in the air, standing upon empty space. Their aged, stooped bodies contained terrifying power, yet they kept it so tightly restrained that not a trace leaked out.

"Walking on air... Dou Zong experts..."

Liu Fei and the others cried out in surprise. The two gray-robed elders waved their sleeves and slowly descended onto the pavilion, displaying all the bearing of formidable Dou Zong experts.

One of the gray-robed men focused his gaze slightly and looked at Lin Chen in surprise. A thoughtful gleam flashed through his eyes, and astonishment filled his heart.

Such powerful spiritual strength at his age. Is he a fifth-tier or sixth-tier alchemist?

"Old Mu, time to open the doors."

The other gray-robed man, Bai Lie, gave a light cough beside him.

Only then did Qian Mu return to his senses and explain the Book Collection Pavilion's rules to the five students.

They could take only one item within the allotted hour, but whatever it was, they could keep it. If they lacked the strength to break the energy barrier protecting a treasure and were still empty-handed when time ran out, they would be transported out of the Book Collection Pavilion all the same.

After speaking, Qian Mu and Bai Lie exchanged a glance and formed seals with both hands. Two powerful, invisible fluctuations poured from their hands, piling atop one another like rolling waves. Finally, they reached the space around the Book Collection Pavilion, stirring ring after ring of invisible spatial ripples.

After the ripples passed, an invisible hand tore open a doorway, revealing a passage into the Book Collection Pavilion.

"Remember what I told you earlier."

Before Lin Chen left, Hu Gan caught hold of him and gave him a quiet reminder.

"Don't worry, President. I remember."

Lin Chen patted his chest and gave his assurance with a solemn expression.

Then he turned and stepped into the spatial doorway.

Inside the Scripture Pavilion was an exceptionally spacious room. A dozen or so energy barriers lined its walls, endlessly taking in and releasing faint light that illuminated the entire chamber.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The moment Lin Chen and the others entered, a multitude of sounds split the air. Countless globes of light in different colors shot out as the energy barriers released them in a sweeping torrent. They darted ceaselessly through the room, stirring a whining wind.

"Big brother, there are treasures inside!"

The muscular young man named Han Tie caught a purple globe of light and crushed its outer energy barrier. Inside, he discovered a white jade fruit shimmering with wisps of purple light. Its surface was as pure as jade, and it gave off a medicinal fragrance that refreshed the heart.

"It's a heavenly spirit fruit! It can help a Da Dou Shi break through to Dou Ling. Let's see if there's anything else good!"

Han Shan was delighted as well. Looking at the globes flying all around them, he made up his mind and darted toward a large, earthen-yellow globe.

"Big Sister Fei, should we start grabbing them too?"

Han Zhi looked cautiously at Liu Fei and asked in a low voice.

Liu Fei glanced at her, thinking that this little follower she had recently taken under her wing was as timid as a mouse and utterly without a mind of her own. Did she really need permission for such a good opportunity?

Meanwhile, Lin Chen had already begun moving. Scarlet flames wreathed his entire body, and when he stamped his foot, an explosive crack rang out. Scarlet fire surged skyward, blooming like fireworks and allowing him to tread briefly upon the air.

He stepped out again and again, changing direction nine times in midair and leaving a scarlet, flaming footprint with each turn.

It was Flame Burst Step, the Xuan-tier Advanced Dou Technique President Hu Gan had personally taught him!

With a sweep of his hand, Lin Chen caught several globes of light and crushed them with a crack, revealing medicinal ingredients of various colors and Dou Technique scrolls.

"Ice spirit flame grass? Not it."

"A Dou Ling Pill recipe? Not it."

"Xuan-tier Advanced Dou Technique, Lion-Tiger Shattering Gold Chant? Not that either."

After several successive grabs, Lin Chen's expression shifted slightly. His figure suddenly flashed as he shot toward one of the energy barriers!

Just as he arrived, the barrier glimmered and released another fiery-red streak of light, causing the temperature throughout the room to rise sharply!

Bang!

Lin Chen seized it and casually crushed its protective barrier. A pale-red scroll appeared in his palm, and it was from this scroll that the scorching heat radiated.

As the light faded, several large characters could faintly be seen gleaming on the scroll.

"Ninefold Phoenix Flame Art, intermediate Earth Tier."