The First Elder soon led Xiao Fan and the others to the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower.
Under the usual rules, the students who had placed in the top ten would gather before the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, and the First Elder would then lead them down to the bottom.
Because of this year's unexpected developments, however, the First Elder had summoned them to his own quarters beforehand to give them a chance to choose.
When the group reached the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, a dense crowd was packed around it.
Whenever the top ten entered the bottom of the tower, everyone else would gather around the Black Tower. It could be considered a tradition.
After all, a Dou Wang expert might well emerge from among them.
A broad plaza stretched before the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower.
This space belonged exclusively to some of the Inner Academy's powerful factions.
The Pan Gate now occupied a section of it.
Xiao Yan gazed at the territory occupied by the Pan Gate from afar, then glanced back at the crowd standing in the distance, his heart brimming with emotion.
Half a year ago, he had been someone who was only qualified to stand on the outskirts.
As the First Elder arrived with the group, everyone immediately made way.
At the tower entrance, the First Elder declared with soaring authority, "Aside from the students who placed in the competition's top ten, no one may enter the tower today. Anyone who disobeys will be barred from cultivating inside for six months."
The First Elder looked over the crowd, then flashed into the Black Tower.
Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan waved to Hu Jia and the others from the Pan Gate, then followed the First Elder into the Black Tower.
The moment they