Battle Through the Heavens: Xiao Yan, I am your second master

Vice Dean's Office

In the selection competition, Xiao Li deservedly won first place, sweeping away the so-called geniuses of the outer academy with his own strength. Next, the "geniuses" of the outer academy will compete for the remaining four spots.

"You brat, are you deliberately trying to annoy me? Is it really necessary to be so violent? Look at you, a mere Dou Ling, bullying several Dou Shi and Da Dou Shi, and you're using Earth-rank Dou Techniques right off the bat!"

I know you're an alchemist, you're rich, and you have a powerful master, how could you do this to me... (slurred speech) Ugh... I'm so angry!

Hu Qian spat at Xiao Li, but dared not verbally insult him directly.

"It's because I wasn't in a good mental state, and I didn't control the force well." Xiao Li scratched his cheek awkwardly, then glanced at Hu Qian's newly bandaged right hand.

If Hu Qian hadn't intervened in time, some trainees might have been injured or killed.

"You brat! You're driving me crazy! Get your ass to the inner courtyard and stop causing trouble there. The outer courtyard can't handle a master like you!" Hu Qian said angrily.

"Alright, you lot, come with me. You are the top five in this year's selection competition, and according to the rules, you are qualified to enter the library to try your luck."

Hu Qian stood up, went to the wall behind him, and casually clapped his hands a few times. A deep rumbling sound rang out, and then a dark passage appeared in front of Xiao Li and the other four.

"There's something amazing inside!" Xiao Li exclaimed.

Hu Gan: "Come with me."

Upon entering the passage, one sees large luminous pearls embedded in the walls, their soft glow casting a hazy light over the passage. The atmosphere within is quiet, with only the soft rustling of footsteps.

After walking through the passage for about half an hour, a glimmer of light finally appeared at the end of the passage. Upon seeing the light, the group of people in the passage quickened their pace. A moment later, they finally reached the end of the passage and stepped out.

A blinding glare shone down from the sky, making it difficult for the other four to open their eyes. After a while, they slowly opened them and were surprised by the scene that appeared before them.

Before Xiao Li and the others lay a valley, with steep cliffs rising all the way to the horizon. Between the three cliffs, there was a wide open space, and on that open space stood a massive, imposing, and ancient-looking pavilion.

His gaze slowly swept over the massive, ancient pavilion, finally settling on an extremely old plaque outside the pavilion, on which three characters, somewhat blurred by the erosion of time, were faintly visible.

Library!

Hu Qian led Xiao Li and the other four slowly toward the library. Just as they were about twenty meters away, they suddenly stopped, cupped their fists in a gesture of respect towards the library, and said:

"The top five winners of this year's Inner Court Selection Competition have been determined. As per the rules, I have brought them here. Please, Elders, open the door!"

Two gray-robed figures suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the previously deserted library. Xiao Li was certain he hadn't blinked; the two gray-robed figures had appeared far too quickly.

"These two are probably the backbone of Canaan Academy, the former Grand Elders, Qianmu and Bailie, right? They must have reached the high-level Dou Zong level a long time ago; they would be considered experts even in the Central Continent."

Just as Xiao Li was pondering, he suddenly felt two gazes coming his way. Xiao Li looked up and met the gazes of the two elders.

The two elders exclaimed "Eh?" and one of them asked, "May I ask this young friend's name?"

The old man's somewhat hoarse voice carried a hint of the vicissitudes accumulated over the years.

"Junior Xiao Li greets the two elders!" Xiao Li clasped his hands and bowed.

"Hmm~ Bone age of sixteen, but cultivation level has reached three-star Dou Ling level, and even shows a trend of progressing to four-star. In terms of soul, it is even stronger than most fifth-grade alchemists!"

You are truly gifted beyond measure. Even in the Central Plains, where geniuses abound, there are very few who can compare to you.

Qianmu said with a smile, "Huqian, you've taken in a good student this time. I think the dean will be very happy. As for the other kids, two are Great Dou Shi and two are at the peak of Dou Shi, so they're just average."

Hu Qian cupped his hands and said, "Please, elders, unlock the spatial lock."

"Spatial lock?"

Hu Qian explained with a smile, "This is a spatial lock, a barrier that only a Dou Zun powerhouse can set up. This spatial lock was left by the Dean. If the two elders inside don't open it with special methods, even a Dou Zong powerhouse can't get in."

(The original text refers to a senior from Canaan Academy, but I directly named him Mang Tianchi, since he is currently the only Dou Zun at Canaan Academy, and it is reasonable for the dean to name him this.)

At the pavilion, the two elders slowly extended their withered hands from their sleeves, and then slowly formed hand seals one finger at a time. As they formed the hand seals, Xiao Li could clearly feel two extremely powerful and invisible waves emanating from their palms like waves.

The invisible fluctuations gradually spread, finally coming into contact with the spatial folds. Upon contact, the space in front of Xiao Li and the others became like a mirror made of water, constantly rippling. After a moment, the ripples stopped, and a door-shaped structure was slowly torn open by an invisible hand.

"Is this the kind of spatial manipulation only Dou Zong or even Dou Zun experts can unleash? I wonder when I'll be able to reach that level?"

"Let's go in," Hu Qian said, waving to the group.

Xiao Li was the first to enter the library, and the other four exchanged glances and followed suit.

"Now you may enter the library on your own. Remember, whatever you want, do not force it, because everything inside is covered by an energy layer. If your hand can pass through the energy layer without any hindrance, then you can take the things inside. Of course, no matter how much you can take, you can only take one thing out of the library. Do not be greedy, otherwise you will end up with nothing."

If you cannot penetrate the energy layers, then give up. With your strength, you cannot break through them. Every year, many people enter the library, but quite a few leave empty-handed. Therefore, everything is up to fate; do not force what you cannot have.

The voice of the elder came through.

"The door will only be open for one hour. After one hour, regardless of whether you have gotten what you need, you must come out."

After learning the rules of the library, the five of them entered the library at the same time. Everyone was eager to see what treasures this mysterious library held.

There has always been a legend in the academy that a certain ordinary senior student soared to great heights after entering the library. After cultivating in the inner courtyard for several years, he graduated as a Dou Wang (Battle King) and later became a powerful figure in his own right.