Starting as a supporting character in Doupo

As everyone awaited the response from the two gray-robed figures, the left-hand figure, standing like statues, swept his gaze across the crowd before fixing it on Xiao Fan. Under the old man's gaze, Xiao Fan felt as if all his secrets had been seen through, and a sudden pressure rose within him. Just as Xiao Fan gritted his teeth and persevered, the old man turned his gaze to Xiao Yan beside him, his hoarse voice echoing through the valley, seemingly tinged with surprise.

"May I ask your names, young friends?"

Hearing the gray-robed man bypass Hu Qian and ask Xiao Fan first, Hu Qian and the others in the group showed confusion, while Hu Jia and Wu Hao even had a hint of envy in their eyes. After all, being able to speak with such a powerful figure naturally meant that they were extraordinary. Only Xun'er's eyes remained calm.

"This humble one, Xiao Fan, pays his respects to the two seniors."

"This humble one, Xiao Yan, pays his respects to the two seniors."

Xiao Fan and his companion bowed respectfully to them, for no amount of respect was excessive in front of such powerful figures.

"Young friend, your physique is quite unique!" The gray-robed man looked at Xiao Fan with surprise in his voice. "Your body contains strong fire elements, and your recovery ability is astonishing. If I couldn't sense your identity, I would suspect you are a transformed demon beast." He then turned to look at Xiao Yan. "The fire is bluish-green, like a lotus, like a volcano. If I'm not mistaken, young friend, you should possess the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Strange Flame Ranking!"

Hearing what the gray-robed man said to him, Xiao Fan felt a surge of curiosity. It seemed that they had only noticed the special nature of his physique, but even they couldn't see the Chaos Fire that lay deeper within him.

Compared to Xiao Fan's composure, Xiao Yan felt a much greater shock. After all, since he possessed the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, no one had ever been able to see through the secrets of the strange flame within him at a glance before he even used it. His evaluation of these two seniors rose to a new level.

The gray-robed man nodded at Xiao Fan and the other man, then turned his gaze to Hu Qian, his tone carrying a hint of satisfaction.

"This year's students are better than those of previous years."

Hearing the old man's reply, Hu Qian breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "In that case, I'll trouble you two to unlock the spatial lock."

In the attic, two gray-robed men extended their withered hands from their sleeves, forming several mysterious hand seals with their fingers, and then pointed a finger at the folded space in front of Xiao Fan and the others.

An exquisite rune emanated from in front of the two elders, slowly merging into the space in front of everyone. Then, under everyone's gaze, a gate resembling a portal slowly took shape on the folded space.

Seeing the spatial portal take shape, Hu Qian smiled and waved to the students behind him, saying, "Let's go!" Seeing that Hu Qian had successfully passed through the portal, everyone followed behind him and stepped inside.

Upon entering the space, an even more ancient aura emanated more clearly from the attic.

"Thank you for your trouble, elders." Hu Qian bowed slightly to the elders, then led the group toward the entrance of the library.

"Just a mission," the gray-robed man said nonchalantly, his voice echoing in the ears of the crowd as they passed by.

"All the combat techniques in the library are left to chance. They are all wrapped in a layer of energy. As long as you can probe into it and grab them, you can take them out. But if you can't access the combat techniques inside, it's impossible to break through even if you want to. Every year, some disciples who come here return empty-handed, so don't worry about it."

"Also, I want to remind you that no matter how many orbs of light you catch, you can only take one with you in the end. Don't be greedy."

Everyone nodded slightly upon hearing this, and then followed Hu Qian down the bluestone steps of the library. When they reached the main entrance, Hu Qian stood still, turned around and said to everyone, "Alright, even I am not qualified to go in here. Remember what the two elders said earlier, and go in."

The group nodded and then walked towards the door of the pavilion. As they approached, the door was opened by two men in gray robes, revealing a dark passage. The five of them exchanged glances, nodded, and stepped into the darkness.

"Hopefully they'll gain something from this!"

Hu Qian stayed outside, watching the people enter the pavilion, and said with a smile. Then he waited quietly not far from the pavilion.

The five entered the passageway in the pavilion and walked through the dark passageway for a while before their eyes widened to reveal a spacious hall. In front of the hall was a huge energy shield, and apart from that, it was pitch black.

"This is where the fighting techniques are stored?" Hu Jia tilted her head, looking around at the surroundings, and asked curiously, "I didn't find any fighting techniques."

Just as everyone was wondering, a burst of purple energy shot out from the massive energy shield in front of them, hurtling towards their location. Xiao Fan circulated his Dou Qi, extended his right hand, and firmly grasped it, then discovered that it contained a scroll. He stretched out his right hand and felt a faint energy shield, like a thin film, before the resistance disappeared. He then reached in and took out the scroll.

"High-grade Xuan-level, Xuan Lei Technique. These energy clusters are combat techniques."

As Xiao Fan finished speaking, more energy clusters burst forth from the energy shield in front of him. Xiao Fan glanced at Xiao Yan and Xun'er, then said to everyone, "Don't just stand there, hurry up!"

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, the group reacted and hurriedly moved towards the bursting energy clusters, while Xiao Fan also rushed into them. After several attempts, they only found some Yellow-Rank combat techniques or rare medicinal herbs.

Frowning, Xiao Fan carefully observed these energy clusters. After a moment, his eyes lit up, and he said to everyone, "Sense the energy in those interconnected clusters."

The crowd wasn't stupid; the more precious the fighting techniques within an energy cluster, the stronger the aura it contained would be. So they all began to pay attention to those energy clusters that were even more powerful.

Just then, a ball of blue light shot out from it, containing energy even stronger than the Xuan Lei Technique that Xiao Fan had just grabbed. Xiao Fan's eyes lit up.

"Earth-rank combat skill!"

Chapter 116 Obtaining Combat Techniques

The moment Xiao Fan discovered the Earth-rank combat skill, he had already pushed his speed to the limit. After all, the space was only so big, and it would be embarrassing to forcibly take it if someone else beat him to it.

Hu Jia, who was standing nearby, also noticed the ball of light, but just as she showed a happy expression, she saw Xiao Fan's figure instantly approach the ball of light. Her expression froze instantly, hoping that Xiao Fan would be repelled by the ball of light.

Xiao Yan and the others searched for the fighting techniques they needed while keeping an eye on the situation, curious to see what kind of fighting technique Xiao Fan had obtained.

The ball of light that Xiao Fan was holding was now emitting violent fluctuations, trying to break free from his control. Without hesitation, Xiao Fan reached his right hand into the ball of light. Soon, a sense of repulsion arose, then quickly disappeared, and a pale blue cultivation technique appeared in Xiao Fan's hand.

Seeing that Xiao Fan had successfully obtained a Rank 1 Battle Technique, Hu Jia showed a frustrated expression and began searching for the Battle Technique she needed.

"Mid-level Earth Rank, Shadow Prison".

A dark attribute fighting technique? His eyes flashed; this technique seemed worth keeping. Since there was still time, Xiao Fan decided to continue searching. If he couldn't find anything better, he could keep this one. It just so happened that this technique could be used by Mo Shang's identity.

Holding the scroll of fighting techniques in his hand, Xiao Fan's gaze swept over the surrounding flying energy orbs again. He grabbed several orbs with relatively large energy fluctuations, the highest of which he obtained was only a high-grade Xuan-level technique, and none of them were very suitable for him, so he didn't choose any and let the fighting techniques fly away.

Hu Jia and the others did not stay in place any longer. They followed the flying fighting skills in the hall and ran around looking for their prey.

Not long after, the aura of another Earth-rank Dou Technique appeared. This time it was very close to Xiao Yan. With a flash, Xiao Yan grabbed the pale red energy ball from Jiujiang.

"Low-level Earth Rank, Ninefold Phoenix Fire Technique."

Xiao Yan grasped the pale red ball of light in his hand. Through the energy within it, faint characters appeared, causing Xiao Yan to swallow hard. Even a random Earth-rank Dou Technique could stir up bloodshed on the continent. For Canaan Academy's Dou Technique Pavilion to produce two Earth-rank Dou Techniques in such a short time truly lived up to its reputation as a renowned academy on the Dou Qi Continent.

Xiao Yan looked at the ball of light in his hand, gripped it tightly with his left hand, and made an eagle claw shape with his right hand, probing into the inside of the ball of light. He quickly felt a resistance, and his expression changed. Xiao Yan accelerated the circulation of his fighting spirit. After a moment of stalemate, he finally succeeded in breaking through the thin membrane that was blocking him.

Xiao Yan looked at the fighting technique in his hand with excitement and gently stroked it.

"Hehe, congratulations, Brother Xiao Yan!" Xun'er, who was standing to the side, saw that Xiao Yan had obtained a Di-rank fighting skill and came over to Xiao Yan with a smile.

Xiao Yan smiled and tossed the fighting technique in his hand to Xun'er. He said with a smile, "This scroll of technique is useless to me, but since Xun'er likes it, I'll give it to you. I haven't given you anything in all these years!"

After taking the fighting technique, Xiao Xun'er glanced at it and said to Xiao Yan, "But I think your technique is still at the Xuan level, Brother Xiao Yan. This Earth level technique is perfect for you to use!"

Xiao Yan shook his head. "Due to some reasons, I cannot change my cultivation method, so I have no use for it except to give it to you. If you don't like it, you can only throw it away."

"Xun'er, just accept it." At this moment, Xiao Fan also came to the side of the two and said to Xiao Xun'er, "After all these years, he finally remembered to give you something. Just accept it. As for his cultivation technique, there is a reason for it."

On the other side, Hu Jia and the other person saw Xiao Yan and the others tossing around Earth-rank fighting techniques and couldn't help but wonder if it was just their imagination. Were Earth-rank fighting techniques really that unimpressive? She even wanted to run over and say, "If you don't want them, just give them to me."

Hearing Xiao Fan's words, Xiao Xun'er nodded and smiled. "Okay, then Xun'er will accept it."

"Junior brother, what kind of fighting technique do you need?" Seeing that Xun'er had accepted the fighting technique, Xiao Fan nodded to Xiao Yan, "I can help you find one."

“Xun’er can also help Brother Xiao Yan search.”

"I need a sonic fighting technique." Xiao Yan smiled at the two of them and, without any ceremony, stated his needs. After all, he had swallowed the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill in the Black Corner Region and needed a sonic fighting technique to aid his cultivation.

"Sound wave combat techniques?" Xun'er frowned. "Most sound wave combat techniques are low-level, so it's difficult to find good ones."

Xiao Yan nodded. This was exactly what troubled him; there were simply too few suitable sonic fighting techniques. He looked up again at the dense array of fighting techniques flying around the room and felt a sense of dread.

No wonder the medicine was hidden by a spatial lock here. If the desperate criminals of the Black Corner Region knew about so many cultivation techniques, they would probably go crazy.

After Xiao Yan gave the Earth-rank fighting technique to Xun'er, the group returned to helping Xiao Yan find a cultivation method. During this time, Hu Jia and Wu Hao both found what they needed.

Hu Jia retrieved a purple pill of unknown function from a cluster of highly concentrated energy and happily put it away. Wu Hao, on the other hand, obtained a scroll of combat techniques, but its specific level was not revealed after he acquired it. Therefore, apart from him, no one else knew what the combat techniques were for.

With only ten minutes left before the hour was up to enter the library, Xiao Yan still hadn't found the sonic fighting technique he needed, even with the help of Xiao Fan and Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Fan descended from the height, waved the item in his hand at Xiao Yan, and said with a wry smile, "A defensive suit of armor, quite excellent. If we can't find anything else in the end, we'll choose this one."

This is a soft armor that Xiao Fan found in a ball of light. Even compared to the Sea Heart Soft Armor that Yun Yun gave him, it is still a bit better. So, in order to prevent Xiao Yan from going out empty-handed, Xiao Fan brought it with him.

"Alright!" Xiao Yan smiled helplessly. As time passed, he couldn't help but feel disappointed. It seemed that he really couldn't find any more sonic fighting techniques.

Just then, the huge energy shield in front of the room began to emit a suction force, and the many energy clusters flying in the room also flew towards the energy shield, because the time was almost up.

Unable to obtain the fighting technique he desired, Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly.

Just then, Xiao Fan suddenly sensed a ball of energy emanating from the energy shield, with faint ripples within it. Without having time to speak to Xiao Yan, he activated his speed to the maximum, and in the blink of an eye, Xiao Fan appeared next to the ball of energy. With his right hand circulating his battle qi, Xiao Fan fiercely grabbed at it.

"Senior brother?" Xiao Yan asked, puzzled, upon seeing Xiao Fan's actions.

Looking at the fighting technique in his hand, Xiao Fan laughed at Xiao Yan, "Haha, you're unlucky, kid. This should be a sonic fighting technique."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's face lit up with joy.

"Wait here, I'll get it for you." Xiao Fan confidently stretched out his right hand, reaching for the scroll within the ball of light, and then... he was directly blasted away by the energy.

Damn it?

Xiao Fan didn't react for a second. Was this what they called being destined to be apart? Seeing the ball of light about to fly into the energy shield, Xiao Fan hurriedly called out to Xiao Yan. Heaven knows, he was shaken away, and his body was still slightly numb.

"Junior brother!"

Without Xiao Fan's prompting, the instant Xiao Fan was thrown back, Xiao Yan rushed to the side of the energy ball, grabbed it firmly, and then turned to look at Xiao Fan: "Senior brother, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Xiao Yan shook his head. "I'm just a little numb from being thrown back. Try to retrieve it quickly."

Xiao Yan nodded, then gripped the energy ball tightly with his right hand and reached into it with his left. He quickly encountered resistance as well. Frowning, Xiao Yan increased the speed of his Dou Qi circulation, but was still repelled. Unlike Xiao Fan, he was able to keep the energy ball in his hand.

"Brother Xiao Yan, let me give it a try."

After the strange event, Xiao Xun'er arrived at Xiao Yan's side and tried to probe into the ball of light. She easily obtained the fighting technique inside and took it out successfully.

Xiao Fan had already walked up to the two of them, looked at the fighting technique in Xun'er's hand, and curled his lip. "So this is just not meant for us?"

Xun'er smiled and handed the fighting technique in her hand to Xiao Yan. The scroll was marked with small, delicate characters.

"Lion and Tiger Shattering Gold Chant, High-level Profound Rank".

Taking the scroll from Xun'er's hand, Xiao Yan smiled and said to the two of them, "Thank you, Senior Brother, and thank you, Xun'er."

Xiao Fan waved his hand and then said to everyone, "Now that we've found everything we need, let's go." Everyone then headed back through the passage they had come from. Looking back at the pitch-black room, who would have thought that it contained so many cultivation techniques, fighting skills, and various materials and pills?

Chapter 117 Cultivation

As everyone left, the room fell into darkness once more, only to reopen for the next inner court selection competition, welcoming new students back into it.