Staring at the young girl in green robes diving into Xiao Yan's arms, the entire plaza fell into a profound silence, as if countless subtle sounds of hearts breaking were being heard. The mentor, Ruo Lin, and others like Xiao Yu, had never expected the usually composed and reserved girl to take such a bold step in front of everyone. They all looked utterly stunned, exchanging a moment of silence before finally offering a wry smile. While gazing at Xiao Yun plunging into Xiao Yan's arms, and then glancing at Xiao Yan himself—his face warm and serene, like aged wine slowly matured beneath the earth—Xiao Yu suddenly felt an unfamiliar, slightly uncomfortable sensation. On the opposite side of the stand, Bai Shan's always gentle smile finally darkened. "How has Xiao Yun become so bold? Is it all for that man?" At that moment, the red-robed girl also straightened her brows in indignation. Had it not been for the elder beside her who swiftly pulled her close, she would have surely stormed forward and forcibly separated the two who were stuck fast together. With her arms tightly encircling the slender waist, Xiao Yan gently inhaled the fragrant hair of the girl. Since she had dared to make such a bold declaration of their relationship in front of so many people, he, as a man, had no choice but to step forward—despite the intense glares pouring in from the surrounding onlookers, which made him feel as though he were standing in a furnace. "Ah..." After nearly a minute of their embrace, the mentor, Ruolin, finally could no longer bear the relentless intensity of those glares and lightly cleared her throat. Hearing the cough, Xun'er, who had been nestled against Xiao Yan's chest like a delicate, shy girl, finally fully regained her composure from the initial wave of happiness and excitement upon meeting her beloved. A warm, rosy blush instantly spread across her graceful, lotus-like face. She quickly stepped out of Xiao Yan's embrace and, like a shy clover, retreated behind Xiao Yu. Seeing Xun'er's rare, endearing shyness, Xiao Yan smiled gently and turned to his mentor, Iflin, with a slightly embarrassed smile: "Heh, sorry, Master Iflin." "Do you still remember me as your mentor?" Iflin glanced at Xiao Yan with a slightly composed expression, speaking softly. Noticing her tone and demeanor, Xiao Yan chuckled, knowing that he had indeed annoyed this gentle, composed woman. However, since he felt genuinely at fault, he chose not to argue, merely enduring her criticism and mild anger with a steady, humble demeanor. "Hmph, don't think just because you've stayed silent you'll be fine. After skipping classes for a whole year, you're certainly no stranger to being overlooked. Do you know how many times I've had to go over my words with the administration just to get things settled about your matter?" Iflin, the mentor, said with growing frustration. "Mentor, it's true that Xiao Yan—the boy—has been rather overbearing. However, he's now back, and even defeated Xue Bing in the competition. As long as Xun'er and he keep winning in the selection rounds without being defeated, you'll be promoted to a Xuanyuan-level mentor. If you still feel aggrieved, you can wait until the selection rounds are over before taking action. After all, he's already come back to the academy—do you really think he'll run away now?" Though Xiao Yu quietly muttered under her breath, "He deserves it," she still spoke up in defense of Xiao Yan. Upon hearing Xiao Yu's words, Iflin's slightly stern expression softened. She glanced at Xiao Yan and said, "Very well. I'll wait until the selection rounds are finished, then I'll settle everything with you later." "Finally, after all these years, Master Ruolin has temporarily set aside her criticism. With that, Xiao Yan felt a great relief, and looked up at Xiao Yu with a grateful gaze. Yet the latter merely gave him a sharp look and sighed. "Hey, Auntie Xiao Yu, it's been two years since we last saw each other—how lovely you've become! Have you been pursued by anyone yet?" Ignoring Xiao Yu's expression, Xiao Yan smiled warmly. "You're not going to believe this—what about me?" Hearing the tone that was almost identical to her childhood, Xiao Yu felt a strange sensation rise within her, and at the same time, her long, graceful legs subtly lifted, as if instinctively ready to kick. "Enough with all this flirting! The selection competition is almost over. Let's go back with me now. There will be even more intense battles over the next two days. Getting into the Inner Courtyard isn't something that comes easily at all." Master Liu waved her hand, paying no attention to Xiao Yu, who now blushed deeply at her words, and turned to lead the way toward the outside of the square. Thereafter, Xiao Yu gave a sharp glare at Xiao Yan, who was clearly enjoying the situation, and hurried after her, pulling Xun close. Standing at the very end of the group, carrying a massive black ruler, Xiao Yan suddenly paused midway as he was about to step out of the square. Frowning slightly, he turned and fixed his gaze on the other side of the square, where a young man dressed in white stood with a stern expression, casting a hostile gaze his way. "Who is this person? Seems quite strong..." After briefly pondering, Xiao Yan shook his head slightly and then turned, quickly joining the group of Master Liu and others heading out of the square, under the watchful eyes of many onlookers. … As they stepped out of the bustling square, Master Rulin gently guided the young girls, whose eyes sparkled with admiration, away from Xiao Yan. Then, she led Xiao Yan, Xun'er, and Xiao Yu through several shaded pathways, finally arriving at a charming and serene pavilion. "What advantages does one gain by entering the inner courtyard?" Xiao Yan leaned back against the chair, his ten fingers crossed in front of him, looking up with a question. His eyes fixed intently on the young face smiling at him. After a while, Master Rulin suddenly exhaled, "It seems your two-year leave of absence has indeed been the best choice for you. Right now, how could anyone still see you as merely a young man of eighteen? Just by looking at you, no one would think you're still that fresh and inexperienced from when you first arrived in Wutan City." Xiao Yan smiled silently. In the past two years, he had experienced so much—through numerous rises and falls—that the steady demeanor he had cultivated since childhood had grown even more solid. Now, he truly had shed all the youthful naivety. "The Canaan Academy is divided into two campuses—the outer campus, which is our current location. Fresh students recruited from various parts of the mainland study here until they reach a certain level of proficiency. At that point, they participate in the annual inner-campus selection competition. Those who rank among the top fifty in this competition earn the right to enter the inner campus. Unlike the outer campus, which, frankly speaking, serves merely as a testing ground for new students, the true heart and core of Canaan Academy lies within the inner campus!" The mentor gently organized her thoughts before speaking slowly and clearly. "Outside the Gan'an Academy, classes are divided into two levels: Yin and Huang. The class I oversee is the Huang-level, while the one you previously fought—Xue Bing—is the Yin-level. From this distinction alone, one can see that the overall strength of Yin-level classes is generally superior to that of Huang-level classes. Of course, there are exceptions—such as Xun'er, and you, for instance." "Looking at your current strength, I'd say you're around the level of a Grand Duelist, wouldn't you?" the mentor, Ruo Lin, suddenly asked, fixing her gaze on Xiao Yan. Upon hearing Ruo Lin's question, Xiao Yu turned to Xiao Yan with a look of astonishment. After all, she herself had only just reached the level of a Five-Star Duelist. How could this person have advanced to Grand Duelist status just two years after leaving? That pace seemed rather swift. "Hmm." Amidst Xiao Yu's astonishment, Xiao Yan gently nodded. "Indeed a rare talent—someone who can truly compare with Xun'er." "Muttered a bit, Master Ruolin said, "Regarding the Inner Courtyard, according to the rules, I can't reveal too much. However, since it's what truly makes the Canaan Academy special—something the Outer Courtyard can hardly compare to—it will only be beneficial for you if you're able to enter. 'Alright, I'll do my best,'" Xiao Yan said, spreading his hands. On the way here, he had already heard Master Yao mention the Inner Courtyard, and now that he had the chance to enter, he naturally wouldn't object. "With your level of strength, I believe as long as you don't encounter a few key figures—like Bai Shan or that young fairy girl—you should have no trouble making it into the top fifty." Seeing Xiao Yan nod, Master Ruolin sighed in relief and added. "Bai Shan? The young fairy girl? I actually heard Master mention the latter name two years ago..." Xiao Yan murmured the names to himself, then smiled. "White Mountain has been one of the most prominent figures outside the main campus of Canaan Academy over the past two years. He's handsome, possesses strong abilities, and has undoubtedly captured the hearts of many female students. Moreover, he appears to be one of Xu'er's suitors—though I may not mention it to you, he'll surely come seeking you eventually." Instructor Rui smiled softly,掩着嘴, her tone delicate. Xiao Yan shook his head, expression resigned. "As for that young fox-girl—she's the granddaughter of the Vice Dean, with a distinguished background. Combined with her exceptional, almost unrivaled cultivation talent and the direct guidance from the Vice Dean, I believe her strength will surpass White Mountain's. Her independent personality and striking appearance have also earned her a considerable number of admirers within the academy. However, she seems to have little interest in men—well, actually, she shows a strong preference for women. Given Xu'er's refined temperament and talents, she naturally holds her in the highest regard. Therefore, your arrival is likely to provoke some resentment toward you." "Clearing her throat, the Master Ruo Lin blushed slightly and said. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's face immediately grew strange. He glanced over at Xun'er, who also looked utterly helpless, and couldn't help but chuckle while saying, 'A full-on gender sweep?' Xun'er mimicked Xiao Yan's gesture, spreading her hands out in a gesture of helplessness, indicating she simply couldn't do anything either. Over the past two years, she had been remarkably low-key, even foregoing her previous internal academy selection competition in hopes of waiting for Xiao Yan. 'Ah... indeed, there are so many competitors everywhere,' she sighed. Raising her head, Xiao Yan smiled warmly at Master Ruo Lin, saying, 'However, in order for Master Ruo Lin to advance, I'll make sure to aim for the top fifty.' 'That's excellent,' Master Ruo Lin replied. 'You may rest here today. This is my residence—Xun'er and Yu'er usually live here too. Starting tomorrow, all the strong contenders in the selection will begin to appear. By then, you'll have a clear sense of the strength of your opponents.' Standing up, Master Ruo Lin waved her hand and instructed. Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. ... In the quiet room filled with bookshelves, seven or eight elders sat at chairs around a round table. Among them, the elder who had previously been conversing with the red-robed young woman was also seated within. From their ordinary demeanor, it was evident that they held both high status and strong power—after all, ordinary elders were unlikely to have the privilege of sitting in this meeting room, where major decisions for the entire institute were made. At that moment, the elder known as the Vice Dean, gently placed a document on the table and cast a calm, sweeping gaze around the room, smiling softly, "Hm, Xiao Yan truly is no ordinary person. With a single strike, he not only held his own against Yunlan Sect of the Jiamar Empire but also directly defeated a Supreme King-level warrior. Then, he managed to escape successfully from the grasp of a Supreme Conqueror-level master. Such achievements—while impressive—would surely pose a significant challenge even for the outstanding talents among the inner institute." "Ah?" "As the words poured out from the elder's mouth, even the faces of the other elders, once dry and weathered, flickered with astonishment. 'This is the information about Xiao Yan—please take a look yourselves,' said the Deputy Director, tapping his finger, and the materials automatically shot toward the elders below. With a gentle tap on the table, he waited a while, then smiled as he heard the elders' collective gasps. 'He has tremendous potential, though his relationship with Yunlan Sect has deteriorated significantly—basically, it's beyond repair.' 'Indeed, his potential is strong. With proper cultivation, he could very well become another peak-tier powerhouse,' said an elder in gray robes. 'As for Yunlan Sect, we needn't worry too much—after all, even a Daoist Grand Master hasn't the courage to challenge our Gan Nan Academy.'" "Yunlan Sect indeed doesn't seem to have much... but behind it..." The Vice Dean furrowed his brows, paused mid-sentence, then suddenly fell silent. His face subtly shifted, yet he ultimately chose not to reveal some of the most closely guarded secrets. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Let us quietly observe Xiao Xiang first. If he truly shows potential, we might just give it a try." "Agreed," the other elders nodded without hesitation. Upon seeing the Vice Dean grow silent, they exchanged glances, their bodies subtly trembling before vanishing mysteriously from their seats. ... Deep in the night, soft moonlight spilled from the sky. The elegant pavilion stood out, especially serene under the gentle glow. In the stillness of the night, a figure in white suddenly flashed into motion, lightly tapping a branch with the tip of his foot, then gliding gracefully onto a heap of scattered stones beyond the pavilion. With a calm gaze fixed upon a specific room within the pavilion, a faint, shimmering aura of silver qi subtly seeped out from his body.