The valley remained silent long after Hu Qian's voice faded away. The two grey-robed elders seated cross-legged at the entrance of the building didn't so much as twitch—like twin statues carved from ancient stone, still and unyielding.
Seeing his greeting go unanswered, Hu Qian didn't press the matter. He simply kept his hands clasped in a respectful salute, standing there quietly with the calm patience of someone who'd done this before.
Behind him, Xiao Yun and the others exchanged uncertain glances. Taking their cue from Hu Qian, they all bowed in unison, hands clasped respectfully before them. After all, Hu Qian was no ordinary figure—his status in the outer academy of Jia Nan Academy was second to none. Yet even he was showing such deference, which spoke volumes about the terrifying identity of these two elders guarding the hidden archive.
The oppressive silence stretched on for nearly ten minutes. Then, at long last, the two grey-robed elders stirred ever so slightly where they sat.
Under their robes, the elders slowly lifted their heads. Their eyes, dull and ancient like forgotten wells untouched by time, swept over the gathered group. They passed over Hu Qian and the others… only to pause suddenly on Xiao Yun.
A robe fluttered faintly as one of the elders let out a surprised grunt. A deep, raspy voice rang out like wind scraping through dry leaves.
"A child so young… and yet already a Dou Grandmaster?"
The elder's voice echoed clearly through the stillness of the valley, landing heavily in the ears of everyone present.
"Not just that," added the other elder, his piercing gaze fixed on Xiao Yun. "There's a trace of beast flame on him as well. A high-grade alchemist, perhaps? Old man, am I right?"
The elder's hoarse tone made the others blink in surprise. He had completely skipped over Hu Qian and gone straight to questioning Xiao Yun. The shift in attention made it all too clear that these ancient guardians were intrigued—perhaps even impressed.
Seeing this, the others couldn't help casting envious glances at Xiao Yun. After witnessing Hu Qian's earlier deference, they knew these elders were far from ordinary. And now, Xiao Yun had managed to catch their interest. That kind of attention… who wouldn't be jealous?
Caught off guard at first, Xiao Yun quickly recovered and stepped forward, bowing deeply.
"Junior Xiao Yun greets the two honored elders. What you said is correct. I'm not yet ten years old, but I've reached the level of a Seven-Star Dou Grandmaster, and I'm also a Tier 3 Alchemist."
Whoosh!
An oppressive wave of energy burst out from the two elders, sweeping outward like a storm. Xiao Yun and the others flinched instinctively, the raw power enough to cause injury. Thankfully, Hu Qian reacted in time, releasing his own aura to shield the group.
The elder who had spoken earlier let out a low mutter, clearly caught off guard by Xiao Yun's answer.
"A talent like this at such an age… Looks like a true dragon has emerged in our Northwest Continent. In a few decades, he might even rival the dean…"
Their voices faded into murmurs, passing between the two of them like the rustle of old scrolls. They were too quiet for Xiao Yun or the others to catch, but Hu Qian—at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm—managed to catch a few meaningful phrases.
Then came the next question.
"Young one, do you have a master?"
Xiao Yun straightened his back and respectfully answered,
"Yes, honored elders. I study under Elder Huo Lie, Head of the Alchemy Division in the outer academy."
"Huo Lie, eh?" one of the elders murmured. "That rascal… he really did find himself a good disciple. What a pity…"
Their twin sighs carried a faint note of regret. Whether they were lamenting that they hadn't discovered Xiao Yun sooner or that he had already pledged himself to someone else, it was hard to tell.
"Fate is fate," said one elder with a shake of the head. "Still, with Xiao Yun around, Hu Qian, I daresay this year's top five students will be far more impressive than in previous years."
Hu Qian let out a soft breath of relief and smiled.
"In that case, may I trouble you both to unlock the spatial seal?"
From their sleeves, the elders slowly extended a pair of dried, claw-like hands. Then, with precise, ritualistic gestures, they began forming intricate seals in the air. Xiao Yun and the others could feel waves of powerful spatial energy rippling outward from the movements—like waves lapping across reality itself.
The invisible spatial seal began to unravel. Before long, the space in front of them shimmered like disturbed water. After a few moments of rippling distortion, a space portal slowly tore open, revealing a swirling gateway formed by invisible power.
"Follow me," Hu Qian warned without looking back. "And don't touch the portal. The energy inside would tear you apart instantly—not even I could save you."
With that grim reminder, he stepped through the portal first. Xiao Yun and the others hesitated for only a second before carefully following after him.
The moment Xiao Yun stepped through the threshold, the world around him seemed to brighten. Even the previously indistinct silhouette of the archive building was now vivid and clear. They had officially crossed the spatial lock.
"Thank you, elders," Hu Qian said politely as he turned back and bowed.
"Just doing our duty. No need for thanks," replied one of the elders. He lowered his head once more, returning to his original posture like a sculpture re-entering dormancy.
"Alright," Hu Qian turned back to the group. "You may go inside on your own now."
He pointed toward the archive.
"Keep this in mind: do not force anything. In the archive, everything depends on your luck and strength. Every item inside is shielded by a layer of energy. If you can easily reach through the barrier, the item is yours. If not—don't force it. You'll just get hurt. Every year, many enter the archive, but plenty come out empty-handed. And even if you find multiple items, you're only allowed to take one. If you get greedy… you might end up with nothing at all."
Xiao Yun and the others nodded solemnly, clearly taking the warning to heart. Without another word, they walked slowly toward the archive.
After a short climb up the stone steps, they reached the grand entrance. Above them, an ancient plaque loomed, exuding a desolate aura that crawled into their chests like cold fog, lingering in their hearts.
"Ahem, time to go in," said one of the elders softly from the side. With a slight wave of his sleeve, the massive doors let out a long creak and began to open, revealing a pitch-black corridor within.
Xiao Yun took the lead, steeling his nerves and stepping forward with resolve. The others quickly followed, their footsteps echoing in the dark as the doors slowly closed behind them with a heavy, final-sounding clang.
Watching the doors shut again, Hu Qian exhaled softly.
"Let's hope Little Yun doesn't get too ambitious in there," he muttered. "Better to walk away with something useful than leave with nothing at all…"