Zi Yan advanced!

"Did you just say treasure hunting?" Jiang Yun picked out the key point in what Zi Yan had just said.

At the mention of treasure hunting, Zi Yan's expression instantly changed. A smile climbed back onto her face, and she grabbed Jiang Yun and charged outside.

"That's right, treasure hunting! I just sensed loads of good stuff waiting for us to dig it up!"

Her tremendous strength left Jiang Yun powerless to resist, and even the joy of his recent advancement was shattered.

A moment later, Zi Yan burst through the door carrying a tiny figure, then vanished in a few strides.

She left a few bewildered students behind!

"Did something just run past?"

"Did it?"

"I think so!?"

"They seemed to come out of that dorm room. Has someone moved in there?"

"It's not enrollment season. Where would a new student come from?"

Everyone looked at one another, utterly at a loss.

Outside a tall, spacious pavilion in the Outer Academy, two furtive figures appeared.

Two little heads slowly peeked out from the crown of a huge Fire Cloud Tree, its lush, flame-like leaves concealing them.

"Zi Yan, isn't this a bad idea?" Jiang Yun looked at the two glaringly obvious characters for "medicinal materials" on the pavilion. How could he not know where Zi Yan intended to hunt for treasure?

"Slurp-" Wiping away her drool, Zi Yan pressed both hands onto Jiang Yun's shoulders and draped herself over his back, resting her little head on his. With complete conviction, she said, "What's bad about it? Old man Su Qian said he'd make sure I had enough to eat. I feel bad making someone his age run back and forth between the Inner Academy and Outer Academy. Eating first and reporting afterward makes no difference!"

Jiang Yun was speechless. At the same time, he inwardly felt sorry for the Great Elder. Of all the things you could have said, why promise to keep Zi Yan fed? Is an Ancient Void Dragon hatchling that easy to fill up?

Apart from a few Emperor Clans, what faction on the continent would dare thump its chest and guarantee it could afford to raise an Ancient Void Dragon?

"Enough nonsense. Stick with me, and you'll be feasting on the finest food and drink!" Zi Yan patted Jiang Yun's shoulder and spoke with the air of a seasoned elder.

Looking at Zi Yan's soaring bravado, Jiang Yun was fortunate his surname wasn't Lü. Otherwise, he would at least have had to say, "If you would not disdain me..." Ahem, wrong show.

"Then how do we get in?" Jiang Yun asked seriously, watching the patrol in the distance.

As the Outer Academy's Medicinal Materials Treasury, it was less important than its Inner Academy counterpart, but it was still heavily guarded.

Not only was a Dou Wang elder stationed there, several instructors patrolled under him around the clock. Ordinary students were forbidden from entering such an area.

Right now, for instance, five Da Dou Shi instructors were patrolling below, their gazes burning like torches.

"Heh heh! Just watch me!" In response to Jiang Yun's question, Zi Yan raised her chin and declared with swagger.

As she spoke, Zi Yan led Jiang Yun around the instructors to a blind spot. A moment later, he saw her arm pass into the wall before them as though entering water.

"Quick, go!" Opening the Spatial Gate seemed to take a great deal out of Zi Yan. Her forehead was covered in sweat as she hurriedly pulled Jiang Yun inside.

Once the two vanished, everything there returned to normal.

After a stretch of pitch-black darkness, light returned to Jiang Yun's vision, and he found them standing in the corner of a room.

Their surroundings were silent. Only the medicinal fragrance drifting through the air revealed this place's importance.

"So much delicious food!" came a soft, delighted cry. Beside him, Zi Yan's eyes shone, and drool betrayed her by trickling from the corner of her mouth. Had her remaining reason not reminded her that they had entered through improper means, she would already have pounced.

Jiang Yun remained calm. The white jade walls and floor tiles stirred no reaction in him. Only the oddly shaped medicinal ingredients in the cabinets, each faintly releasing its own distinct fragrance, drew his attention.

He did not recognize the medicinal ingredients of the Dou Qi Continent, but judging by the medicinal potency they gave off, none were low-grade. They were ingredients for refining high-grade pills. No wonder Zi Yan could barely restrain herself.

"Xiao Yun, look." Just as Jiang Yun surveyed the many ingredients, Zi Yan suddenly leaned close to his ear and pointed a tiny finger toward a cabinet ahead. Her burning gaze made it seem she wanted to swallow its contents alive.

Inside the cabinet sat an exquisite jade plate, no different from the others, yet the object on it was anything but ordinary.

Even Jiang Yun, who knew nothing about medicinal ingredients, instinctively ignored everything around it and was captivated at first glance.

It was a palm-sized fruit, half red and half white. Even from this distance, Jiang Yun could feel the scorching heat and icy chill seeping from it.

Two utterly opposing attributes, which both nurtured and counteracted each other, were perfectly fused within a single fruit. Nature truly was wondrous.

"Is this...?"

"An Ice Fire Dragon Beard Fruit!?"

Looking at the somewhat "familiar" fruit, Jiang Yun murmured under his breath. It was one of the few medicinal ingredients he knew from the original story. He had never expected to find it here.

Was it a coincidence?

"Ah—Xiao Yun, you recognize it? And you said you didn't know medicinal ingredients!"

With her keen hearing, Zi Yan could have clearly heard Jiang Yun's murmur from ten meters away, let alone when only three fingers' width separated them.

Feeling that she had been "deceived," Zi Yan "angrily" elbowed Jiang Yun in the stomach.

"Oof!" Caught off guard, Jiang Yun lost his breath. Fortunately, Zi Yan knew how to hold back, and he recovered after a few breaths.

"It's a coincidence. It just happens to be one I recognize," Jiang Yun insisted, clutching his stomach.

"Hmph-"

Zi Yan merely bared her teeth and glared at Jiang Yun, then said, "Stay right here. I'll be back in a moment!"

Without waiting for Jiang Yun's reply, she made space ripple and promptly disappeared.

"Ah—" Jiang Yun helplessly watched her departing figure vanish and wondered whether he should properly learn how to wield Spatial Force from her.

He possessed such a talent, but sadly, he had a treasure hoard without the key to unlock it. If he researched it on his own, who knew how many detours he would take? With an Ancient Void Dragon, a darling of space, beside him, it would be a waste not to use such a "resource."

Spatial Force was exceptionally active on the Dou Qi Continent. Upon reaching Dou Zong, one could begin using it at a rudimentary level. If he learned it ahead of time, it would be an invaluable tool until he reached Dou Zong.

It would also help him break through the barrier to Dou Zong more smoothly!

Still, does it make any difference whether I came along? Glancing down at his feet, Jiang Yun sighed helplessly. He would just consider it keeping Zi Yan company.

Meanwhile, inside the cabinet holding the Ice Fire Dragon Beard Fruit, an exceedingly slender little hand appeared as if out of thin air and smoothly swiped the fruit from its jade plate.

The restrictions the academy had placed on the cabinet might as well not have existed to that little hand.

"Let's go!"

While Jiang Yun was lost in thought, a small hand caught him from behind. The next moment, just as they had entered, they left through the wall behind them.

Before leaving, Jiang Yun's expression shifted, and he looked back. An elderly man with snow-white hair and beard was watching them expressionlessly, only to see Jiang Yun turn toward him.

The elder froze briefly, then gave him a look that was almost a smile!

At that moment, Jiang Yun felt rather embarrassed. Zi Yan's supposedly seamless operation had been carried out right under someone else's nose. He simply hadn't chosen to pursue it.

Or rather, someone had given him instructions!

Seeing that the old man did not stop them, Jiang Yun immediately understood everything. Why had the Ice Fire Dragon Beard Fruit appeared here? Someone was clearly giving Zi Yan special treatment!

At that thought, Jiang Yun could not help feeling moved. The Great Elder was a decent man!

After the two had completely vanished, the elder standing there spoke. "Those two little ones are good. The Great Elder's eye is as sharp as ever!"

"But just what race is that little one? Being able to wield Spatial Force at the fourth rank... with a bloodline like that, her origins must be extraordinary!"

"I merely didn't want Zi Yan wreaking havoc here. As for her race, even I haven't been able to identify it." Su Qian slowly appeared, his hands clasped behind his back as he spoke indifferently.

"Heh heh!" Elder Yang chuckled. Though he had not learned Zi Yan's race, getting to see the Great Elder's stubbornly coy side made it more than worthwhile.

Hearing the laughter behind him, Su Qian's expression stiffened. He glanced back at the other man and said meaningfully, "I hope you'll still be able to laugh a few years from now, Elder Yang."

Su Qian's words left Elder Yang utterly puzzled, but Su Qian had already left and could offer him no explanation.

Back in the dorm room.

Zi Yan eagerly took out the Ice Fire Dragon Beard Fruit, opened her "gaping maw," and bit down hard with her neat little white teeth. In an instant, a tiny notch appeared in the fruit.

Drops of red-and-blue liquid dripped from the notch. As her teeth kept working, red-and-blue juice spilled from the corners of Zi Yan's mouth.

"Ptooey, ptooey-this tastes awful!"

As time passed, Zi Yan's initial excitement turned to misery. Her little face scrunched up, and she even rolled her eyes adorably.

With difficulty, Zi Yan swallowed the pulp in her mouth and gave the remaining fruit a conflicted look. In the end, the temptation of growing up triumphed over its taste. She crunched down twice more, taking two big bites and chewing rapidly. The only thing that remained unchanged was her miserable little face.

"Once I break through to Dou Zhe, I'll be able to control flames. Then I'll help turn the medicinal ingredients into pills that suit your taste, so they won't be this nasty."

Watching Zi Yan suffer and enjoy herself at the same time, Jiang Yun spoke softly.

"Hmm?" Her raised hand paused, and she looked at Jiang Yun with shining eyes. With a delighted cry, she sprang toward him.

"Xiao Yun, I love you to death!"

Bang- A violent impact rang out as Zi Yan knocked Jiang Yun flat onto the floor. It was understandable: six-year-old Jiang Yun was a size smaller than Zi Yan, and she was a full four cultivation realms above him.

And so, this tragedy occurred!

"Zi Yan..."

"Ah! Sorry, sorry!" Seeing Jiang Yun lying beneath her, Zi Yan immediately panicked. He was her future meal ticket. Nothing could happen to him!

"I'm fine!" Helping Zi Yan up as he stood, Jiang Yun answered helplessly and casually stroked her ponytail.

Seeing that Jiang Yun was not seriously hurt, Zi Yan breathed a sigh of relief, then muttered, "Xiao Yun is so weak!"

As her words fell, Jiang Yun saw Zi Yan's face begin to flush. The hand in his palm also grew as hot as a furnace.

"Hmm? Is this... an advancement?" Looking at Zi Yan, Jiang Yun immediately understood and spoke with delight.

"It seems... so!" Zi Yan's head was growing woozy, as though she might fall asleep at any moment. Still, she clung to her last shred of wakefulness and looked at Jiang Yun. "Xiao Yun, while I'm away, if anyone bullies you, run if you can't beat them. Once I come out, I'll get revenge for you!"

Jiang Yun froze. Seeing her still worry about him in her dazed state, his expression grew exceptionally gentle, and he murmured, "Silly girl!"

As though she had heard him, a smile appeared at the corners of Zi Yan's mouth. Rich purple light surged from within her, and solid energy crystals began forming over her skin. A purple cocoon of light, over ten feet wide, slowly enveloped her entire body.

Just as the cocoon closed completely, a barely audible whisper drifted out. "Xiao Yun, once I come out... I want candy!"

Jiang Yun did not know whether to laugh or cry. Reaching out to stroke the great purple cocoon, he smiled and said, "All right. When you come out, I'll have candy ready, and you can eat your fill!"

As his words fell, the purple cocoon trembled faintly, as though responding to Jiang Yun.

Seeing that Zi Yan had not forgotten her cravings even in sleep, Jiang Yun chuckled and gazed gently at the cocoon as its light brightened and dimmed.

Looks like I need to work hard, too. Who knows how long Zi Yan's breakthrough will take? If I still haven't reached Dou Zhe when she comes out, wouldn't that mean breaking my promise?

Jiang Yun was not someone who broke promises, so Dou Zhe would come soon!

"Great Elder, since you're here, please show yourself!"

As Jiang Yun's words fell, a figure flickered inside the room, and Su Qian slowly took solid form.

"It seems your soul power is truly formidable. I underestimated you before."

After appearing, Su Qian did not look at Zi Yan. Instead, he watched Jiang Yun with a trace of astonishment in his eyes.

"Uh—" Looking at the shocked Su Qian, Jiang Yun scratched his head awkwardly. "I was only guessing. That Ice Fire Dragon Beard Fruit suddenly appeared there, so I assumed the Great Elder had prepared it especially for her. Since Zi Yan was advancing, I guessed the Great Elder would be nearby."

"I didn't expect my guess to be right!"

Listening to Jiang Yun's explanation, Su Qian broke into an amused smile. He had never expected that one day he would be "deceived" by a little child.

"Having that kind of insight is remarkable in itself!" Su Qian was not a petty man. He praised Jiang Yun appreciatively, his eyes filled with satisfaction. Neither of the two little ones he had brought back was ordinary.

After praising Jiang Yun, Su Qian looked at the pulsing cocoon, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.