The spacious and well-lit room was filled with the scent of old paper and knowledge. Bookshelves crisscrossed the space in a meticulous arrangement, packed with all kinds of ancient, weathered tomes that lent the place an air of scholarly elegance.
At the very center of the room stood four individuals, quietly waiting. Behind a long wooden desk sat an elderly man with a head of silvery hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He was calmly flipping through the pages of a book, exuding a serene and unbothered presence. The entire room was steeped in silence, as if even the air dared not disturb his concentration.
The four people standing there were the top five finishers in the recent selection tournament—minus one: Xiao Yun. Judging by their expressions, they had already been waiting for quite a while. And yet, not a hint of impatience showed on their faces. For one, the old man reading before them was none other than Hu Qian, the Vice Dean of Jia Nan Academy. And for another... the person they were waiting on was Xiao Yun.
While Jia Nan Academy was known for its nurturing academic environment—at least when compared to the brutal outer world of the Black-Corner Region—there was still one unshakable truth: strength was everything. So long as you didn't endanger your fellow students' lives, might made right. And in this case, Xiao Yun's fists were bigger than all four of theirs combined. That gave him the right to be late—and for them to wait.
Fortunately, Xiao Yun hadn't been intentionally dragging his feet. The moment he received the Vice Dean's summons, he came running.
Another ten minutes of strained silence passed before the sound of knocking finally broke the stillness.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Vice Dean, Xiao Yun has arrived," came a voice from outside.
"You may let him in." Hu Qian gently closed the book and finally looked up. His gaze swept over the four students. "Before you all head into the Inner Academy, it's best you start learning how to work together. Every year, new students enter the Inner Academy thinking they can go it alone. And every year, those students regret it. Strength rules there. The stronger your fists, the more resources you get. And let me make one thing very clear—inside the Inner Academy, your background means nothing."
That last sentence was clearly directed at Xiao Yun, who had just stepped into the room. Hu Qian's eyes locked onto him with a quiet intensity that spoke volumes.
Xiao Yun quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your teachings are well received, Vice Dean. I will remember them."
"Ah, Xiao Yun, you're finally here," Hu Qian replied with a chuckle. His tone suddenly shifted to a warm friendliness, as if he hadn't just been issuing a veiled warning. His gaze lingered on Xiao Yun's face for a moment before nodding approvingly. "Very good. Your Dou Qi has become denser since the tournament. Looks like the experience helped solidify your foundation."
Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Hu Qian's seasoned gaze saw past Xiao Yun's calm exterior. Beneath it, he sensed a volatile energy—fiery, unstable, and dangerous. It was like looking at a dormant volcano, quiet on the surface but ready to erupt with terrifying force at any time.
"Now that everyone's here, I won't waste any more time. You already know why you've been called." Hu Qian stood up and smiled. "As the top five finishers of this year's selection, you're entitled to a trip to the Tome Pavilion. According to Academy rules, each of you may pick one treasure from within—provided your luck doesn't fail you."
As he spoke, he casually walked over to a wall behind him and tapped a seemingly random section a few times. With a low rumble, a hidden door slowly revealed itself.
"Follow me."
With that, Hu Qian entered the pitch-black passage beyond. Xiao Yun noticed the other four made no move to follow first, as if intentionally yielding the position of honor to him. He smirked inwardly and took the lead, striding confidently after the Vice Dean. The others followed one by one after he disappeared into the shadows.
The tunnel was eerily dark and silent, save for the soft echo of footsteps brushing against the stone floor.
Fwoosh!
A ball of bright flame flared to life in Xiao Yun's hand, casting flickering light down the corridor. Instantly, all eyes turned toward him.
"Put that fire out," Hu Qian's irritated voice echoed from ahead. "You're all at the level of a Dou Grandmaster now. Surely you're not afraid of the dark?"
"Ah... right," Xiao Yun replied with a sheepish chuckle, quickly extinguishing the flame. He threw a glance at the others, who were barely concealing their amusement.
After nearly half an hour of trekking through the tunnel, a faint light finally appeared ahead. Instinctively, everyone quickened their pace. Moments later, they stepped out into the open.
A wave of blinding sunlight washed over them, forcing the group to squint and shield their eyes. When they finally adjusted and opened their eyes, the sight that greeted them was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
They stood at the mouth of a deep mountain valley. At the center of the valley was a massive, clearly artificial depression—obviously the result of some terrifying power.
Probably the work of that Half-Saint headmaster, Xiao Yun thought. Aside from Mang Tianchi himself, he couldn't imagine anyone else in the Academy possessing such overwhelming might.
Sheer cliff faces rose up on three sides, stretching so high that they disappeared into the sky. Nestled within these walls was a vast plateau, and standing tall at its center was a gigantic, ancient-looking tower.
It was the Tome Pavilion.
Xiao Yun's gaze swept across the massive structure, finally coming to rest on the weathered plaque hanging above the entrance. The characters carved into the wood—Tome Pavilion—were half-eroded by time, yet the weight and solemnity of the characters still radiated a timeless dignity.
Even from this distance, the group could feel the heavy atmosphere emanating from the building. It was easy to see why the Tome Pavilion was considered one of the Academy's greatest mysteries. That ancient plaque alone was enough to prove its status.
Hu Qian led them forward, but just as they were within twenty meters of the entrance, he stopped abruptly. Clasping his hands respectfully toward the tower, he said loudly, "The top five finishers of this year's Inner Academy selection have arrived. In accordance with Academy rules, I bring them here to seek their fate. Seniors, I respectfully request that the gates be opened."
His voice, bolstered with Dou Qi, echoed through the valley like a sonorous bell, reverberating again and again before fading.
Suddenly, Xiao Yun's attention sharpened. He had been studying the Tome Pavilion when something caught his eye. At the gates, two gray-robed figures now sat cross-legged in silence—figures that hadn't been there when he first looked.
They hadn't walked there. They hadn't descended from the cliffs. They had simply... appeared.
"Those must be the Twin Elders—Qian and Bai," Xiao Yun thought, his heart skipping a beat. "Peak Dou Ancestor cultivators… no wonder my soul perception didn't pick up on them at all."
He had heard of their strength before, of course. But hearing and seeing were two very different things. To think that such titanic figures were hidden away here, guarding a doorway...
In the northwest region of the Dou Qi continent, powerhouses of this level weren't just rare—they were forces to be reckoned with.
Xiao Yun couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement and caution.
Looks like this trip to the Tome Pavilion won't be simple at all.