Battle Through the Heavens: Top Talent

Chapter 13 The Return Journey

On the mountain behind the Xiao family, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yun, both with bruises around their eyes, sat side by side on a large rock, gazing at the distant Monster Mountain Range.

"I heard you've been going to the back mountain a lot lately. You're not going to be sneaking around watching the girls from your tribe soaking in the hot springs, are you?" After beating up Xiao Huohuo, Xiao Yun was in a great mood and teased him while looking at the misty mountains.

"Who said that! Cousin, don't slander me! How can you say things without evidence? Be careful, or I'll sue you for defamation! I went to the back mountain to cultivate my fighting spirit, and I never thought of peeping at girls taking a bath."

Upon hearing Xiao Yun's words, Xiao Yan was shocked. This was a very serious matter. If his father found out, Xiao Zhan would probably hang him up and whip him.

"That's good. Let me tell you, if I find out you've done something that disgraces the Xiao family, it won't just be a few punches, it'll be like this." Xiao Yun flicked his finger, and fiery red battle qi shot out. Then, with a bang, a small stone on the ground was shattered into pieces.

Seeing the egg-sized rock shatter into pieces, Xiao Yan felt a chill run down his spine. He wiped imaginary cold sweat from his forehead and quickly assured his cousin, "Don't worry, cousin. You know who I am. I would never do anything to dishonor the family!"

"Haha, that's for the best."

Patting Xiao Yan on the shoulder, Xiao Yun stood up. "In the entire Xiao family, besides me, you have the best talent. Now you have reached the seventh level of Dou Qi. By this time next year, I believe you will be able to meet the minimum requirements for entering Canaan Academy. Do you want to go to the academy to cultivate then?"

"Hmm, let's forget about it. I prefer a more challenging life. I want to go out and explore the world with my older brothers after my coming-of-age ceremony."

Xiao Yan shook his head and rejected Xiao Yun's suggestion. In his previous life, he had had enough of the rules of school. Now that he had transmigrated to another world, how could he possibly want to go to school again? Moreover, compared to the peaceful life in the academy, he preferred the magnificent world around the globe.

"Going out to explore? You certainly have an adventurous spirit. But as long as you are willing to work hard in your cultivation, I believe you can become a strong person anywhere." He was not surprised by Xiao Yan's choice not to go to Canaan Academy. If Xiao Yan wanted to go to Canaan Academy, he would have gone there long ago in the original story. Moreover, the reason he went to Canaan Academy later was only because of the Fallen Heart Flame in the inner courtyard.

"Hey, this is a gift for you. There are pills and fighting techniques I prepared for you in the storage ring. As for cultivation methods, I'll prepare them for you when you break through to the Dou Zhe level."

Jumping off the rock, Xiao Yun tossed Xiao Yan a storage ring, saying, "Cultivate well. On the path of cultivation, your talent is no less than mine; I just started a little earlier than you."

Of the entire Xiao family, probably only Xiao Yan will be able to keep up with him in the future. Giving him a little help now in exchange for a powerful helper in the future is an investment that is never a loss.

Giving Xiao Yan pills and fighting techniques was also a way to help him cultivate faster. After all, Xiao Yan, as the chosen one of the Dou Qi Continent, was destined to break through to the Dou Di realm in the future. And if, by some chance, he were to encounter an accident and die prematurely, Xiao Yan could still help Xiao Yun protect the people he cherished.

With his hands behind his back, Xiao Yun encouraged Xiao Yan for a while and then leisurely walked down the mountain.

"He just left a little earlier than me? Isn't his talent no worse than yours?" Shaking his head with a wry smile, Xiao Yan watched Xiao Yun's departing figure and, thinking of the gap between the two, assumed that Xiao Yan was just trying to comfort himself.

……

A few days later, Xiao Yun, accompanied by Xiao Ding and escorted by Xiao Zhan and the elders, arrived at the recruitment square.

"Ding'er, when you're away from home, listen to your cousin. If anything happens, remember to tell him." Xiao Zhan, his eyes red, pulled Xiao Ding aside to whisper to him. He was truly worried that his eldest son, who was not yet an adult, was going to study and cultivate in a foreign land.

The three elders also pulled Xiao Yun aside, saying that he was now the hope of the Xiao family and that he should be careful when venturing out into the world.

The four talked for a long time until the instructors from the Canaan recruitment team came to urge them on. Only then did they reluctantly let go of Xiao Yun and the other person, watching them board the flying magical beast and soar into the sky.

On the ground, Xiao Zhan and the three elders looked up at the departing demonic beast, reluctant to leave for a long time...

In the sky, Xiao Yun greeted the instructor in charge and asked Xiao Ding to go with the freshmen to hear information about Canaan Academy. Then, he returned alone to his single dormitory on the back of the magical beast and began to cultivate in silence.

……

In the Black Corner Region, a giant roc soared through the sky, following a specific route, bypassing all other cities, and heading straight for Canaan.

Soon after, Xiao Yun and his group arrived in Canaan City, passed through the bustling streets, and finally returned to Canaan Academy.

Upon returning to Canaan Academy, Xiao Yun went straight to the Department of Teaching and found his mentor, Xu Ning.

"Mentor, I'm back."

In the supervisor's office, Xu Ning was berating Xiao Yun.

"You brat, you really worried me to death! There's only one day left until the Inner Academy Selection Competition, and you only just decided to come back. If you hadn't made it, I guess I would have had to go back to being a Yellow-Rank Instructor." Xu Ning looked at Xiao Yun who had returned and breathed a sigh of relief. These past few days, he had been eagerly awaiting Xiao Yun's return, since Xiao Yun was the only one he could rely on in the Inner Academy Selection Competition.

"You had to train with the enforcement team a year ago, so you missed the last Inner Court selection competition. You absolutely must participate this year!"

"I'm sorry, Professor, I encountered some trouble on the way and was delayed for a while, but luckily I made it in time. Please help me register."

Slightly embarrassed, Xiao Yun scratched his head. On the way back, he practiced and broke through to the Seven-Star Great Dou Master realm. The energy generated during the breakthrough shocked everyone else. In order not to affect Xiao Yun's breakthrough, the speed of the flying magical beast was reduced to the minimum, which almost caused him to miss the inner court selection competition.

If he missed the inner court selection competition because of his breakthrough, he would probably regret it to death. Xiao Yun couldn't wait even one more round; he was thinking of entering the inner court to cultivate this morning.

Because the resources in the inner courtyard are much richer than those in the outer courtyard.

The Heavenly Flame Refining Tower alone is something the outer courtyard can't even dream of matching. Besides that, there's another treasure in the inner courtyard that hasn't been discovered by anyone else.

That's Earth Core Tempering Milk!

According to his memory, the Earth Core Tempering Milk would only be discovered by Lin Xiuya and others after Xiao Yan joined the Inner Academy. And now there are still eleven years before Xiao Yan joins the Inner Academy. He will enjoy this opportunity that belongs to Xiao Yan in the future for now, and then compensate Xiao Huohuo with something else later.

The Snow Demon Sky Ape guarding the terrain tempering milk is a bit troublesome, but that's all it is.

Once he enters the inner courtyard and finds the Earth Core Tempering Milk, he can advance to the Dou Wang level as quickly as possible. This way, Xiao Yun will dare to return to the Jia Ma Empire to seek some opportunities, instead of sneaking back like this time.

He should first find Little Fairy Doctor and Qinglin, and activate their super talents so that he can have two more helpers in the shortest time.

There's also the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame in the Tagor Desert. After he enters the inner courtyard, he will begin collecting materials for the Blood Lotus Pill and the Ice Spirit Cold Spring. He can also ask his teacher for some Na Ling, and he believes that Elder Huo will have some extra Na Ling.

Once he had prepared these three items, he took the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame. He felt a little bad for Xiao Huohuo, having taken away another opportunity from him.

After pondering for a long time, it was Xu Ning's soft cough that finally woke Xiao Yun from his beautiful fantasies about the future.

"Hey kid, where did you learn this skill of spacing out anytime, anywhere? I've been signing you up for a class and you're practically drooling."

Xu Ning said irritably, "Hey, this is your admission ticket. Remember to bring it to the inner court selection tomorrow."

He tossed Xiao Yun a card, waved his hand, and signaled that Xiao Yun could leave.

"By the way, mentor, among this year's freshmen, there is a member of my clan named Xiao Ding. He is quite talented and has already reached the eighth level of Dou Qi at the age of twelve. I hope you can take him in."

Before leaving, Xiao Yun remembered Xiao Ding, who had come with him, and quickly told Xu Ning about Xiao Ding's situation. He also took out a jade bottle from his storage ring and placed it on the table, saying, "This is a small token of my appreciation. I hope you will accept it, Master."

"You little rascal, you're quite the smooth operator, aren't you? You've even learned to bribe your mentor! Take your worthless pills back. If Xiao Ding is really as you say, even if you don't give them to me, I'll still snatch them up." Xu Ning pointed at Xiao Yun and said with a laugh.

……

After leaving the teaching building, Xiao Yun did not return to his dormitory, but went to the Alchemy Department building and found Elder Huo.

"Master, your disciple Xiao Yun requests an audience."

Outside Elder Huo's private alchemy room, Xiao Yun bowed respectfully.

"Hey kid, come in."

Upon hearing Elder Huo's voice, Xiao Yun pushed open the door and entered.

"I told you to go back to Canaan Academy earlier, why are you only coming back today?" Elder Huo frowned, sitting cross-legged in the center of the alchemy room.

Xiao Yun had no choice but to repeat what he had just said to Xu Ning.

"Hmm? I didn't expect you to break through on the way back and even draw upon the energy of heaven and earth. It seems you've gained quite a bit this time."

Upon learning the reason for Xiao Yun's delay, Elder Huo's furrowed brows relaxed, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"In each inner court selection competition, the top five will have the opportunity to enter our Canaan Academy's library. The library is full of treasures, including several high-level Earth-rank cultivation techniques. With your strength, I believe it won't be difficult for you to enter the top five. Just make sure you seize the opportunity in the library and strive to obtain even higher-quality treasures." Elder Huo stroked his white beard and said with a smile.

Xiao Yun knew that the library contained many good things.

Earth-rank cultivation techniques, Earth-rank combat skills, top-grade medicinal herbs, top-grade weapons and treasures—any one of these could cause chaos throughout the entire Black Corner Region.

However, not just anyone can enter the library. Only those who have made significant contributions to Canaan Academy or are among the top five in the inner academy selection competition can enter and choose their favorite treasures.

"How about you give me a Dragon Power Pill, teacher? I can use it when I'm selecting treasures from the library."

Upon hearing his teacher mention the library, Xiao Yun's heart stirred, and he jokingly replied...

"Hmph, brat, why would I keep a pill like the Dragon Power Pill? Besides, even if I had it, I wouldn't give it to you."

"You think you're the only one with wicked thoughts? More than a decade ago, countless others had the same idea as you, but they were all eventually thrown out by the two adults guarding the library."

"To obtain treasures in the library, you can only rely on your own strength. If you refine pills like the Dragon Power Pill yourself and take them to obtain treasures, I believe the two lords will not make things difficult for you."

But if it's not one's own power, hmph, then not only will one lose face, but one won't even get a hair of the treasure!

Elder Huo sternly warned Xiao Yun, giving him a hard tap on the head, not to think of using any crooked ideas.

"I was just joking, I didn't really mean it." Xiao Yun said, rubbing the big bump on his head, looking aggrieved.

He genuinely had no ulterior motives. His cultivation techniques and fighting skills had all been taken by Elder Huo, and he couldn't use the top-tier medicinal herbs and weapons right now. At most, he just wanted to see if he could obtain some treasures that could increase his cultivation level.

"Alright, go back and prepare well for tomorrow's inner court selection competition. Just make sure you don't fall out of the top five due to carelessness."

"Don't worry, teacher, I'll get first place in this competition!"

Xiao Yun was full of confidence and not worried at all about the inner court selection competition.

(End of this chapter)