In the spacious and bright room, bookshelves intersected and stretched throughout, filled with various elegant, ancient volumes, exuding a strong atmosphere of scholarly grace. At the center of the room, three figures stood quietly. Behind a table before them, an elderly man with white hair and beard slowly turned the pages of his documents. The entire room was enveloped in a serene silence. The three standing figures were two men and one woman—precisely the ones who had been severely injured by Xiao Yan. At present, the two men, Bai Shan and Wu Hao, lowered their eyes, their faces still slightly pale, though their complexion had noticeably improved compared to earlier. Beside them, Hu Jia stared intently at the elderly man reading, her expression growing increasingly pouty with time, as if slightly distressed. The quiet atmosphere persisted for nearly ten minutes before Associate Vice-Dean Hu Guan finally lifted his gaze from his book, speaking softly, "Don't expect me to fight your battles for you—this is entirely your own doing. If you have the strength, go straight and fight Xiao Yan yourself. As for who will prevail, that's entirely up to you—I won't interfere. The Gan Nan Academy doesn't prohibit such sparring or competitions; as long as you wish, you can do it anytime." "Hmph. I never expected you to do anything at all. That day, I lost unexpectedly—I simply didn't see it coming. I hadn't even drawn upon my reserves. If I had, the outcome might have been different." Hu Jia snorted, "I'm just angry that he doesn't understand how to treat women with care. After all, I'm a woman myself. Couldn't he have been a little gentler? I'm no match for those two sturdy, robust fellows." Huo Qian couldn't help but laugh at Huo Jia's murmuring, and with a sigh, said, "Back then, who cared about your delicate sentiments? With all three of you attacking him single-handedly, if Xiao Yan had still held back, it would have been hard to justify. Of course, his final move completely surprised me—this young man truly has grit." "You three don't need to take this personally and turn against him. Young people should look ahead—worrying over such a matter isn't worth it. Xiao Yan's future potential is truly impressive. Remember, it's always better to have more friends than enemies, especially one who can leave you feeling genuinely uneasy." Ho Qian gazed earnestly at the three of them. "Hmph. Women are the most resentful—especially that kick. I'll make sure to remember it. He better not get the chance to catch me off guard." Huo Jia rolled her eyes. Hearing Hu Jia say this, Hu Qian couldn't help but smile. Given his understanding of her, he knew that at such moments, she genuinely didn't harbor resentment—though it was clear that Xiao Yan's kick had indeed left her with lingering grievances. While she wouldn't see him as an enemy, she would certainly not treat him with warmth or favor in the future. "I won't regard him as an enemy," Wu Hao said calmly, "but I will certainly see him as a competitor I must surpass." Hu Qian nodded slightly. Wu Hao truly was a battle-driven man—precisely such a person could advance so far on the path of strength, which was why even the headmaster held him in such high regard. "Heh, it's just a match and a chance to exchange skills," Bai Shan smiled, his face radiant with warmth, "injuries are entirely normal. How could we possibly hold a grudge?" Yet it was precisely the smile on Bai Shan's face that caused Hu Kuang's brow to subtly furrow. As Vice Dean of Jia Nan Academy, having lived this long, his sharp discernment would surely have detected whether Bai Shan's words were genuine or merely performative. Gazing deeply at Bai Shan's smile, Hu Kuang remained silent. He knew that, having once enjoyed such widespread acclaim, his current standing now shattered by Xiao Yan's sudden rise, he must surely feel deeply resentful. Still, he hoped Bai Shan wouldn't do something foolish—otherwise, Hu Kuang doubted that the young man who had once dared to challenge an entire sect single-handedly in the Jia Ma Empire would be anything but a steady flame. Folded the book in his hands, Hu Qi smiled and turned his gaze toward the three from Bai Shan, saying, "You'll likely have to work together as you enter the Inner Courtyard. So, don't let your relations grow strained. Every year, incoming freshmen who fail to stay united often face rather unfavorable outcomes. In the Inner Courtyard, strength matters most—those with the strongest capabilities secure the best training opportunities. There, no matter how strong your background is, including mine, it will matter little." As he spoke the last sentence, Hu Qi fixed his eyes firmly on Hu Jia, clearly conveying his intent. Though Hu Jia didn't fully agree, she nodded politely on the surface. Not long after Hu Qi finished speaking, two figures slowly approached the door, glancing around the spacious room before finally settling on Hu Qi, who stood behind the desk. The two stepped forward, bowed slightly, and paid their respects. "Ah, you two finally arrived." Gazing warmly at the two, Hou Qian's eyes lingered a bit longer on Xiao Yan's face. For nearly ten days since Xiao Yan arrived at Jia Ma Academy, this was the first time Hou Qian had engaged in such close, direct eye contact with the student now at the peak of the academy's reputation. Calm, refined—this initial glance stirred two words in Hou Qian's mind, which he murmured softly. Yet he smiled faintly, for these qualities stood in stark contrast to the wild, passionate energy Xiao Yan displayed during battle. After carefully studying the deep, black pools of Xiao Yan's eyes for a while, Hou Qian's seasoned gaze finally caught the simmering flame of restlessness and agitation beneath the calm surface—like a mountain seemingly at peace, yet harboring a dormant volcano that could erupt at any moment, unleashing terrifying waves of power and fury. "The internal qi flow within him may appear gentle and smooth, yet it subtly carries a sense of restlessness—much like volcanic activity. It seems likely related to the unique fire he commands." Glancing over Xiao Yan's body, Hu Qi immediately sensed the nature of the qi within him. Such a refined ability was indeed worthy of the Vice Dean of the Outer Division at Gan Nan Academy. "Since all of you have arrived, I shall not waste further time. You should already know the purpose of your visit." Rising from his chair, Hu Qi smiled. "As the top five finalists of this season's selection competition, you are all eligible to enter the Library and try your luck." He then walked to the wall behind him, lightly tapping it a few times. A deep, resonant rumble echoed, and soon a dark passage appeared before Xiao Yan and his companions. "Follow me." Waving his hand at the five, Hu Qi stepped forward first into the dark passage, followed immediately by Hu Jia, who, full of curiosity, hesitated not at all to follow. Then came Wu Hao and Bai Shan. Only after all of them had entered did Xiao Yan gently take Xun'er's hand and carefully step into the dark passage—his cautious nature, honed through years of training and experience. Once inside, Xiao Yan noticed that the walls were embedded with large, luminous night pearls, casting a soft glow that made the passage slightly hazy. Yet this gentle light was more than sufficient for the group. The atmosphere within the passage was quiet, with only the soft rustling of footsteps echoing softly. Xiao Yan glanced at Hu Qi, leading the way ahead, and tightened his grip on Xun'er's hand. As a newcomer, he still knew little about the Gan'an Academy, and had only a vague understanding of the strong副院长's personality. Seeming to sense Xiao Yan's nervousness, Xun'er gently tapped his hand and smiled, shaking her head at him. Nodding slightly, Xiao Yan took a deep breath, gradually regaining his composure and stepping with a more determined pace. After walking through the corridor for nearly half an hour, a beam of light finally appeared at the far end. Upon seeing the light, the group members quickened their steps, and soon reached the end, stepping forward together. The bright light poured down from the sky, causing Xiao Yan and the others to instinctively close their eyes. After a while, they slowly opened them, gazing at the scene before them, and were slightly surprised. Before them, there lay a deep valley basin, with steep mountain walls rising steadily upward until they reached the horizon. Surrounded by three towering cliffs, a spacious open area emerged. Standing proudly within this expanse was a massive, imposing, ancient pavilion—so grand and substantial that it seemed almost overwhelming. HuDian led the five members slowly toward the Library, but as they neared within twenty meters, he suddenly halted, bowing respectfully toward the direction of the Library and declaring, "The top five finalists of this year's Inner Courtyard Selection have been determined. By custom, I bring them here. Please, elders, open the doors!" Now, these two gray-robed figures appear as though they have always been seated there—such an eerie scene leaves Xiao Yan with a sense of chill and astonishment. Yet, amidst his astonishment, his interest in the Library grows stronger. Given that the Cangnan Academy treats this matter with such solemnity, the contents stored within must surely be no ordinary items. Indeed, the Cangnan Academy lives up to its reputation—its depth and strength are truly impressive.