Chapter 227: I Want It All! (Five Thousand)

Xiao Yan knew wanting a Heavenly-Rank Dou Technique was utterly unrealistic; such techniques could only be obtained in places like Zhong Zhou.

But Xiao Yan had come to the Library Pavilion with a specific goal—he wanted to find a sonic Dou Technique.

After consuming the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill, Xiao Yan had been lucky enough to inherit a faint trace of dragon aura; when he used sonic Dou Techniques, they carried a hint of Dragon Might, shaking the soul.

The Mysterious Ring held no sonic Dou Techniques suitable for his cultivation, so Xiao Yan had come to the Library Pavilion to see if fortune favored him.

"Surely there's nothing else? Only this Lion-Tiger Shatter Gold Roar? But that's only Arcane-Rank High-Level." Xiao Yan hadn't failed to find a sonic Dou Technique—he just found this one too low-tier.

He was already a Two-Star Dou Spirit; future enemies would mostly be Dou Kings or higher. Arcane-Rank High-Level seemed truly beneath him.

"Brother Xiao Yan, time is running short," Xun Er said gently.

Suddenly, a crimson glow shot out with a hiss from the energy wall.

As soon as the crimson glow appeared, the temperature of the vast room rose slightly; Bai Shan and the others immediately turned their gazes toward it. Seeing the momentum of the crimson glow, they all froze, then reflexively shot forward.

But before they could move, Xiao Yan—who had spotted the crimson glow first—transformed into a black shadow and appeared instantly, snatching the glow with his palm, enduring its scorching heat, and pulling it into his grasp before retreating violently. Xun Er, equally swift, leapt up and blocked Bai Shan and the other three.

"Hehe." Xiao Yan grinned at Bai Shan and the others, walking over to Xun Er's side with the crimson glow in hand, glancing inside the light—and froze, slowly swallowing.

"Not bad. Definitely a good find."

Inside Xiao Yan's hand, the crimson glow contained a pale red Scroll, radiating intense Infernal Heat. Peering through the light, he carefully scanned the pale red Scroll, faintly making out characters upon it.

"Ninefold Phoenix Flame Scripture, Earth-Rank Low-Level Cultivation Method."

Just those simple characters made Xiao Yan swallow hard—Earth-Rank Low-Level Cultivation Method!

The Burning Decree had devoured so many Strange Fires just to reach Earth-Rank Low-Level—and now he held in his hand a Fire-attribute Earth-Rank Low-Level Cultivation Method.

Such a method, even in the Black Horn Region—the black-market hub of the continent—would ignite a frenzy; countless Factions would fight to the death for it. Yet now, this priceless Earth-Rank Cultivation Method had simply fallen into Xiao Yan's hands—truly dramatic.

He tossed the Scroll, which felt absurdly light, yet his palm felt heavy. Things he'd never dreamed of obtaining in his life were now being casually spat out by this mysterious Library Pavilion—the Jia Nan Academy's collection left Xiao Yan stunned.

Xiao Yan silently sighed in regret—he could never switch Cultivation Methods now. If he could obtain the Falling Heart Flame, combined with Bone Spirit Cold Fire, he was certain he could evolve the Burning Decree to Heavenly Rank!

"Xun Er, your Cultivation Method isn't Earth-Rank yet, take this," Xiao Yan shattered the light barrier with a palm strike and handed the method to Xun Er.

"This guy's really generous—that's an Earth-Rank Cultivation Method!" Though Bai Shan and the others had mostly refocused on searching for targets, they'd seen Xiao Yan toss the method to Xun Er. Hearing his next words, they all paused, faces twisting in disbelief—Earth-Rank Cultivation Method? That was priceless! Was this guy really that reckless?

Seeing Xun Er stunned, Xiao Yan shrugged. "I can't switch Cultivation Methods. Your method's still Arcane-Rank, right?"

Xun Er smiled sweetly, lips pressed together. "Alright, I do need a transitional method right now—this fits perfectly."

"Xun Er, go ahead and leave. Time's almost up—I'll look a bit longer. If I can't find anything better, I'll take the Lion-Tiger Shatter Gold Roar." Xiao Yan patted Xun Er's shoulder and gave her a subtle glance.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xun Er's eyes flickered with a strange light. She smiled beautifully, nodded, and left the Library Pavilion with the Scroll.

Seeing Xun Er depart and Xiao Yan standing at the entrance with a knowing smile, Wu Hao and Hu Jia exchanged glances and instinctively swallowed. They stopped searching and quietly slipped out of the Library Pavilion.

In their hearts, they silently prayed for Bai Shan—he still didn't realize who was hunting whom.

When everyone had left and only Xiao Yan and Bai Shan remained, the Library Pavilion's energy walls glowed faintly, and a suction force appeared at the entrance, ready to drag them away.

"Damn it! Is there really no other Earth-Rank Dou Technique?!" Bai Shan was furious—he'd seen several energy spheres with immense power, but Xiao Yan had taken them all.

With a hum, a silvery-white energy sphere suddenly flew out from the wall. Bai Shan recognized it—it was the Earth-Rank Dou Technique sphere he'd almost grabbed at the start!

"That's mine!" Bai Shan roared, unleashing all his Dou Qi, becoming a white blur as he lunged for the sphere. The sphere, as if waiting for him, remained perfectly still.

"Got it!" Bai Shan seized the sphere—but the next instant, his Spiritual Soul pierced with agony. The sphere, as if reacting, shot away with a hiss, vanishing back into the energy wall.

Bai Shan's face turned pale, utterly dejected. "How could this happen? What's going on?!"

"Senior Brother Bai Shan, I thought you were pretending to be stupid—but turns out you're genuinely foolish," Xiao Yan crossed his arms, grinning at Bai Shan's bewildered expression.

Bai Shan whirled to face Xiao Yan, suddenly understanding. "It's you! You're behind this!!"

Xiao Yan burst into laughter, doubling over. "Didn't you hear what the Vice Dean said? Many students get nothing, return empty-handed. You thought it was because they were greedy?"

When Xiao Yan entered, he'd already realized—those students hadn't failed because of greed, but because they'd been blocked.

"Hehehe, if you can take even one reward from this Library Pavilion, I'll reverse my name—Yan Xiao!" Xiao Yan unfurled EagleWings as Mao Wu emerged from the Void and perched on his shoulder.

A powerful Black Flame engulfed the EagleWings, turning them into Black Flame Wings. Xiao Yan stood calmly in midair, looking down at Bai Shan.

Though he couldn't kill or severely injure students within the academy, he could ensure Bai Shan got nothing.

Bai Shan now regretted it bitterly—he'd enjoyed too much glory in the Outer Court. Xiao Yan had only been here four months, mostly hiding in the Dou Technique Hall training Xiao Ning and the others, like a ghost.

Bai Shan still hadn't realized Xiao Yan was someone he couldn't afford to offend.

No matter how desperately Bai Shan tried to grab the spheres, just as his fingers neared them, the Void twisted, and a cluster of Black Flame shot out, knocking the spheres away.

Xiao Yan played with him like a cat with a mouse. Since someone didn't understand their place, as the #1 winner of the Inner Court Selection Exam, he'd teach him a lesson.

"Aaaah! Damn it!!" The suction grew stronger, finally dragging away Bai Shan—empty-handed—leaving only his furious screams echoing.

Xiao Yan himself was about to be forcibly pulled away—but a knowing smile curled on his lips.

"No matter how many you grab, only one reward can leave the Library Pavilion. Don't be greedy, or you'll end up with nothing but an empty basket… I'd like to see whether this Library Pavilion's rules are stronger—or the power of Swallowing Flame."

Boom! Boom! Boom!! Xiao Yan's Dou Qi surged wildly through his body!

Meow!! The Swallowing Flame's sub-flame let out a meow and spat out torrents of Swallowing Flame!

Xiao Yan hadn't come for a reward—he'd come to go shopping!

Swallowing Flame could devour anything—even the primordial purple crystal core of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, and even sever the roots of the Lotus Earth Core Fire.

If so, then the Library Pavilion's rule—limiting rewards to one sphere—could surely be devoured too.

Xiao Yan focused his mind, directing Mao Wu to envelop the dozens of spheres marked with his Soul Force imprint. With a series of hisses, Mao Wu inhaled sharply—and the spheres, like sucking tapioca pearls from milk tea, vanished into its internal Void Space.

"Go!"

Xiao Yan held the Lion-Tiger Shatter Gold Roar Scroll, retracted Mao Wu into the Mysterious Ring, and with a flap of his EagleWings, flew out of the Library Pavilion.

As Xiao Yan was about to exit, his powerful Soul Force Perception sensed a spatial force piercing his body, reaching into the Mysterious Ring, trying to snatch the spheres away.

Whoosh! A surge of Black Flame erupted, swallowing the spatial rule-force whole. Feeling Swallowing Flame's power in action, Xiao Yan smirked and shot out of the Library Pavilion as a black shadow.

Empty basket? Someone with power just takes the whole well!

Puff! Xiao Yan landed steadily on the ground after flying out of the Library Pavilion.

"Y-you triggered the Library Pavilion's rule force—and still walked out with a Scroll?!" The two old guardians of the Library Pavilion stared at Xiao Yan, unharmed and holding a Scroll, as if they'd seen a ghost.

This Library Pavilion was established by the Dean of Jia Nan Academy; everything inside is his personal collection, and the Library Pavilion is far more than an ordinary book repository—it contains spatial rules set by a Dou Zun expert.

Since the spatial rules were triggered, it means Xiao Yan violated the regulations by taking more than two items. Even the two of them cannot break the Dean's rules, which is why they serve as Guardians of the Library Pavilion—to earn more high-level Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques.

Xiao Yan smiled faintly and waved the scroll in his hand. "Wasn't it one item per person? Of course I can leave."

The two Guardians exchanged glances, knowing Xiao Yan was lying; both saw surprise and confusion in each other's eyes.

Finally, both shook their heads. Since Xiao Yan had exited, he must have complied with the rules—they could not interfere.

"Brother Xiao Yan." Xun Er rushed over, worriedly staring at Xiao Yan. She had spent so many years with him; one glance from him told her everything—she knew he intended to do something reckless.

Xiao Yan chuckled and patted Xun Er's silky hair. "It's fine."

"Huh? Where's Senior Brother Bai Shan?" Xiao Yan asked, feigning ignorance.

Hu Jia snapped back, "You tell me. That guy acted like a hurt little girl—tears welling up, stormed off in a rage."

Wu Hao shook his head. He'd figured it out: this guy was the type who never let a grudge go—and always repaid it tenfold. Cross him, and you'd regret it.

Xiao Yan's eyes darted around, and he said with a hint of guilt, "Since everyone got their rewards and left, let's head back."

Hu Qian looked at Xiao Yan strangely. "Alright, you've received your rewards. Now rest for two days. After that, you'll enter the Inner Court—and then you'll have plenty of time to complain."

Looking at Hu Qian's smiling face, Xiao Yan and the others exchanged glances and nodded slightly.

Watching Xiao Yan leave, the two Guardians sighed. The left one, Qian Mu, said, "I'd bet my life this kid took more than one item."

Bai Lie stroked his beard and chuckled, "If he has the ability, then it's his ability. The Dean originally said the top five could enter the Library Pavilion—he never specified how many items they could take."

"It was only after many became greedy and left empty-handed that the rule was added: one item only."

"Regardless, this kid's future growth is incalculable. The Inner Court is going to be turned upside down."

What the two Guardians didn't realize was that it would be turned upside down—but in a different way.

As Xiao Yan and the others vanished, the Library Pavilion—hidden somewhere unknown—returned to its former silence, remaining closed until the next Inner Court Selection Exam ended.

After returning to the Xiao Clan's pavilion, Xiao Yan rubbed his hands and summoned Mao Wu.

"Good boy, spit it out," Xiao Yan grinned at Mao Wu.

(ー`ー)

Meow! Mao Wu frowned, turned his head. That's mine.

"Don't worry, you won't miss out this time—I promise to refine an Elixir for you."

Hearing this, Mao Wu spat out all the "stolen goods"—over twenty glowing orbs!

If the Vice Dean saw this, he'd probably want to kick Xiao Yan out of Jia Nan Academy—it was like letting a rat loose in a rice warehouse!

Xiao Yan crushed each glowing orb one by one. None contained a Scroll—each held extremely precious Medicinal Materials and two high-level Pill Formulas.

High-level Pill Formulas were as valuable to Xiao Yan as Earth-Rank Dou Techniques.

"Sixth-Rank Mid-Level Pill: Golden Soul Pill. Temporarily enhances Spiritual Soul. After ingestion, it coats the soul in a Golden Soul layer, strengthening Soul Force for a period."

"Seven-Pin High-Level Pill: Xuan Huo Hong Dan. A Fire-attribute Dou Zong who consumes it gains one star level."

Looking at the two Pill Formulas before him, Xiao Yan smiled in satisfaction. He was only one step away from Sixth-Rank—he just needed more Spirit Refining experience.

Xiao Yan's goals for entering the Inner Court: obtain the Falling Heart Flame to evolve the Burning Decree, raise his Alchemy to above Sixth-Rank, master all Dou Techniques to at least Minor Completion, and elevate his Cultivation Realm beyond Dou Wang.

Oh, right—he'd almost forgotten: help Medusa Queen condense a physical body.

Xiao Yan stored all the Pill Formulas and Medicinal Materials in his Storage Ring, then played with the Lion-Tiger Shatter Gold Chant in his hand.

Xiao Yan had read the description of the Lion-Tiger Shatter Gold Chant: concentrate Dou Qi in the abdomen and throat, use a special Dou Qi circulation to embed sound waves into the Dou Qi, generating vibrational waves to attack enemies—its unique sonic waves grant penetration and area-of-effect damage.

But it was only Arcane-Rank High-Level. For Xiao Yan, whose current techniques were nearly all Earth-Rank, it looked pitiful.

"Sigh. I'll have to visit the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop. I still have over twenty thousand Soul Points. If it's not enough, I might have to sell some Pills to Hun Lao Gui."

If it were only the Dragon Qi from the Yin-Yang Xuan Long Pill, the Lion-Tiger Shatter Gold Chant would suffice.

But Xiao Yan realized a problem: the special ability of the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame could strengthen that bit of Dragon Qi.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame enhances all beast powers. With its special ability, the Lion-Tiger Shatter Gold Chant wouldn't be enough.

Since he had two days before entering the Inner Court, Xiao Yan rested one day. The next morning, after giving instructions, he flew out of Canaan City to Peace Town.

Xiao Yan donned a Soul Robe and walked into the alley that had led him down his path of no return.

Xiao Yan now knew this alley held a Space Seal—and that this Space Seal was more advanced than the Soul Sovereign's Space Lock.

Two years later, he returned, gazing up at the crumbling, dilapidated signboard. This time, he didn't hesitate—he pushed open the door and entered the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop.

Xiao Yan stepped into the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop. Nothing had changed. It seemed no matter how many years, how many millennia passed, this shop never changed—as if nothing on the Dou Qi Continent could alter it.

Hun Lao Gui sat in his chair exactly as he had two years ago, as if he hadn't moved since Xiao Yan left.

As Xiao Yan entered, the corpse-like Hun Lao Gui suddenly opened his eyes. His yellowish-white sclera flashed a flicker of Soul Light, sweeping over Xiao Yan's body.

"Jie jie jie. In two years, you've advanced from Soul Envoy to Tian Ji Protector—such speed is rare even in our clan. And..." Hun Lao Gui's eyes narrowed slightly, as if seeing something, and said gravely, "You have the Dou Di Bloodline of the Xiao Clan. Though faint, you now possess it."

Xiao Yan, having received the Yin-Yang Twin Flames, already knew the history between the Soul Sovereign and the Xiao Clan.

But Xiao Yan wasn't afraid—he merely smiled faintly, stepped closer to Hun Lao Gui, and placed the Soul Token on the table. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm here to buy something."

Hun Lao Gui gave a grotesque grin and spoke slowly. "Jie jie jie. Same thing. Unless you become a Dou Di, you're just a mortal."

Xiao Yan waved his hand, uninterested in discussing this. The Soul Sovereign feared the Gu Clan above all—they wouldn't even glance at Xiao Yan.

"I'm here to trade. Do you have any Earth-Rank or higher sound-based Dou Techniques?"

(End of Chapter)