"My granddaughter has been spoiled by me since childhood. Please don't take offense."
At this moment, Hu Qian no longer carried the dignified air of the academy's vice principal. Instead, he looked like an elderly man apologizing for a junior's misbehavior—an image that left many people utterly stunned.
Xiao Se could already tell that Hu Qian had something he wanted to ask. After a brief pause, he replied tactfully,
"Vice Principal, thank you for your care these past days. If there's anything you need, as long as it's within my ability, I'll do my best to help."
Hu Qian froze for a moment, then his favor toward Xiao Se deepened further.
Smiling, he said, "There is indeed something I'd like to trouble you with. This little girl is currently only a two-star Dou Shi. After seeing you, Elder Little Fairy Doctor, and Miss Zhuqing, she felt stimulated and wanted to enter the Inner Academy as soon as possible. That's why she overestimated herself and joined the selection tournament."
"I know you're at least a fourth-grade alchemist. So I swallowed my pride and hoped you could help me refine a three-pattern Qingling Pill for her."
"Eh?"
Xiao Se was momentarily stunned. While sighing inwardly about how lucky Hu Jia was to have such a grandfather, he calmly took out a jade bottle from his storage ring and handed it over.
"It's no big deal. I just happen to have one on me."
Hu Qian accepted the pill and passed it to Hu Jia.
"Thank you. I understand the rules of alchemists. These are three sets of materials, along with an Xuan-tier technique as payment."
As he spoke, Hu Qian took out three sets of medicinal ingredients from his ring.
Xiao Se did not refuse. If he did, the back-and-forth politeness might never end.
After settling his granddaughter's matter, Hu Qian finally turned to official business.
Before long, under his guidance, Xiao Se, Little Fairy Doctor, Zhu Zhuqing, and the other students who had qualified for the Inner Academy boarded gryphon beasts and departed.
—
High in the blue sky, sunlight was brilliant and clouds stretched endlessly.
Ten massive gryphons flapped their wings, flying toward the academy's seemingly endless back mountains.
Outside the formation flew Hu Qian, Little Fairy Doctor, and three outer-academy elders, forming a pentagonal guard around the students.
Because each gryphon carried five people, Xiao Se's mount—besides Zhu Zhuqing—also held Han Yue and two other female students.
Little Fairy Doctor did not ride with them. The gryphons were prepared specifically for students, and since there was one extra person, she chose to fly alongside Hu Qian instead.
"Xiao Se, is the Inner Academy really hidden deep in the mountains?" Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously as she gazed at Jia Nan Academy shrinking in the distance.
"Probably," Xiao Se replied.
Standing at the gryphon's neck, he positioned himself slightly in front of the girls. A faint green Dou Qi flowed from his body, blocking the fierce winds entirely.
"They say the Inner Academy is extremely mysterious. Even some Inner Academy students would lose their way without a gryphon to guide them."
Naturally, he couldn't say that he already knew the Inner Academy's location—it would raise suspicion.
"Do you seniors know anything about it?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, turning toward Han Yue and the others.
In her mind, they had been enrolled much longer and should know more.
"I'm not too sure either," Han Yue shook her head, her voice calm and cool.
"The Inner Academy is very secretive. Even Vice Principal Hu Qian's granddaughter doesn't know much."
Like Xiao Se, even if she knew something, she wouldn't dare speak openly. Being overheard could easily bring unnecessary trouble.
"We'll find out once we get there," Xiao Se chuckled without turning around.
At that moment, the attraction between different Heavenly Flames within his body was growing stronger and stronger.
He could feel it clearly—
The Fallen Heart Flame was not far away.
—
After passing through vast stretches of endless forest, the gryphon formation finally descended into a strange mountain ravine under Hu Qian's guidance.
"Xiao Se… don't tell me this is the Inner Academy?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, surveying the surroundings.
Xiao Se gently patted her head and smiled.
"Didn't Vice Principal Hu Qian mention a special competition earlier? This is probably where it begins."
As they spoke, Hu Qian raised his hand.
A strange energy shot out, rippling through the air like water. Moments later, within the ripples, a massive silver gate, seven or eight zhang tall, slowly emerged.
As the gate opened, an entirely different world appeared beyond it—
A vast expanse of white mist, seemingly without end.
"Follow me," Hu Qian said, stepping through first.
Dozens of students followed behind him, their faces filled with curiosity.
"A spatial lock?" Xiao Se murmured softly.
Watching people vanish as if stepping into another world, he quickly led Zhu Zhuqing, Han Yue, and the others through the silver gate.
Once everyone entered, the gate vanished instantly, and the ravine returned to normal.
—
After passing through, their minds swayed briefly before their feet landed on solid ground.
They now stood at the edge of a boundless forest.
At the entrance stood two elderly men, and behind them were over twenty young people wearing badges engraved with a pagoda emblem on their chests.
"Old Hu, you're still as punctual as ever," one elder laughed.
"Looks like you found some good seedlings this year?"
"Indeed," Hu Qian replied with a grin.
"I doubt such outstanding talents will appear again anytime soon."
He then pointed toward Little Fairy Doctor behind him.
"This is the Elder Little Fairy Doctor I mentioned in my letter."
The two elders carefully examined her.
After a moment, they inhaled sharply.
"So this is the Calamity Poison Body… truly extraordinary. And she's already a seven-star Dou Huang. I'm afraid that aside from the Great Elder, no one in the Inner Academy can defeat her with certainty."
"You flatter me," Little Fairy Doctor said with a gentle smile.
Hu Qian chuckled.
"Later, Xiao Se and the others will participate in the 'Fire Energy Hunting Competition' against Inner Academy seniors. Elder Little Fairy Doctor, you can come with me to meet the Great Elder."
She nodded lightly in agreement.
"Xiao Se, come here," Hu Qian called.
When Xiao Se stepped forward, Hu Qian introduced,
"These two are Elder Su and Elder Qing from the Inner Academy. If you ever need anything, you may seek them out."
He then added with a laugh,
"This young fellow is the champion of this year's selection. His strength is exceptional—and he's also a high-level alchemist. Even the highest-grade three-pattern Qingling Pill is something he can refine casually."
"A high-level alchemist?"
The eyes of Elders Su and Qing lit up.
They examined Xiao Se closely, only to discover they couldn't see through him at all.
After a brief silence, they smiled warmly.
"Truly extraordinary. If you ever need assistance in the Inner Academy, feel free to come to either of us."
The Inner Academy gates had opened—
And a far more dangerous, glorious world now lay before them.
(End of Chapter)
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