Hu Qi's voice gradually faded into the valley, yet the two figures in gray robes remained utterly still, as if they had not heard a word. Seeing no response to his words, Hu Qi did not speak again, simply maintaining his bowing posture and waiting in quiet stillness. Behind Hu Qi, Xiao Yan and the others exchanged glances, even the usually unruly Hu Jia, who had always been inclined to speak her mind, chose to remain silent. This mysterious place she had never visited before. While Hu Qi's status at the outer academy of Cana was unmatched, it was now evident that he was being exceptionally respectful in the presence of these gray-robed figures—clearly demonstrating the formidable presence of the guardians of the "Library." Though not particularly dull, Hu Jia knew well what to avoid and what to respect. Amidst the quiet, the fingers in Xiao Yan's sleeve and robe suddenly lightly brushed against the dark, ancient ring, causing the furrows of his lowered brows to deepen. He realized that since the two mysterious gray-robed figures had appeared earlier, the subtle connection that had previously existed between him and Yao Lao had completely vanished—a phenomenon he had never encountered before in his interactions with Yao Lao. This connection is mutual, yet Xiao Yan never actively severed it—clearly, it was Master Yao who chose to cut off all ties. In the past, Master Yao had never done so. Now, however… Xiao Yan blinked, his gaze drifting toward the two gray-robed figures stationed at the pavilion's entrance. A quiet breath of relief escaped him. To be able to make Master Yao hesitate and sever all connections—these two were truly formidable. Indeed, no wonder they are the elite of Ganavan Academy—hidden talents, truly. A soft sound slowly echoed through the quiet valley, clearly reaching the ears of Xiao Yan and the others. "Could I ask your name?" a gray-robed man said, his gaze fixed on Xiao Yan. Though his voice was hoarse, it carried a deep sense of time-worn maturity. Hearing the gray-robed man first set aside Hu Qi and directly address Xiao Yan, the others in the valley were momentarily startled, then turned their curious glances toward Xiao Yan. Given Hu Qi's respectful demeanor toward the two gray-robed figures earlier, it was evident that these two held exceptional status within the Gan Nan Academy. The fact that Xiao Yan had earned even a slight interest from them was truly commendable, and Hu Ji and the others secretly envied him. Xiao Yan himself was momentarily taken aback by the gray-robed man's question, then quickly bowed respectfully, saying, "My name is Xiao Yan. It's a pleasure to meet both of you." "Fire leans toward green, fire like a lotus, like a volcano. If my judgment isn't mistaken, the unique flame you command should be the Qinglian Earth-Heart Flame, ranked nineteenth on the List of Unique Flames." The elderly voice lingered in Xiang Yin's ears, suddenly tightening the calmness within him. As he looked at the two gray-robed figures, a touch of astonishment flickered in his eyes. Since he had tamed the Qinglian Earth-Heart Flame, this mysterious gray-robed figure was the first to have immediately discerned the true nature of his flame without Xiang Yin having displayed it—this man was truly formidable. Clearing his throat slightly, Xiang Yin nodded gently. He glanced at Xun'er and the others beside him, only to find they seemed entirely unimpressed by the gray-robed figure's earlier words, which left him momentarily puzzled. Then it struck him—this must also be one of the two gray-robed figures' techniques. "To achieve mastery over a unique flame at such an age is truly exceptional," the gray-robed figure on the left murmured, his voice carrying a subtle sense of admiration. Then, shifting his gaze to Hu Qi, he said in a hoarse tone, "This year's top five contenders have significantly improved compared to last year's." Huo Qian exhaled softly, easing his breath, and smiled, saying, "Then, please, let the two elders unlock the spatial seal." "Spatial seal?" The unfamiliar term made Xiao Yan and the others pause. "Xiao Yan, look at Huo Qian, the Vice Director," whispered Xun'er, her voice barely audible. At the moment, Xiao Yan raised his head, initially still slightly puzzled. But as time passed, that confusion gradually faded, replaced by a growing sense of seriousness. He fixed his gaze on the half-space half a meter in front of Huo Qian. After a while, Xiao Yan noticed that if he looked closely, there were faint creases embedded within the space—so subtle that they were nearly invisible. As his eyes traced these delicate folds, he suddenly realized that the creases formed almost like a solid wall, enclosing the entire library within its protective embrace! "This is a spatial seal—a powerful, unparalleled technique only capable of being laid out by Douzun-level masters. This particular seal was left behind by an elder from the academy several centuries ago. Even if a Douzong-level master attempts to enter, they will be unable to pass unless the two elders inside use a special method to unlock it." Seeing the bewilderment on Xiao Yan and the others' faces, Huqian smiled and explained. Xiao Yan and the others nodded in understanding, yet their hearts were filled with a sense of awe—such a seal that even Douzong-level masters could not penetrate was truly astonishing. The intangible tremors gradually spread until they finally made contact with the spatial folds. As the two met, the space before Xiao Yan and the others instantly transformed into a mirror-like surface made of water, rippling continuously. After a moment, the ripples ceased, and a door-shaped opening was slowly torn open by an invisible hand. "Let's go," said Hu Qi, waving his hand and stepping forward first. Xiao Yan and the others hesitated briefly before carefully stepping into the formless doorway. As Xiao Yan stepped out of the invisible arch, he noticed that the light ahead had become noticeably brighter, and his vision of the pavilion had sharpened—clearly, they had now truly entered the heart of the spatial seal. "Thank you both," Hu Qi said warmly to the two gray-robed elders seated on the ground. "It's just a task." Two mysterious figures, completely enveloped in gray robes and motionless in their posture, spoke in a soft, hoarse voice. "Now enter the Archive Hall on your own. Remember, no matter what you seek, do not insist—everything within has been infused with an energy layer. If your hands can pass through this energy layer without obstruction, then you will be able to take what you wish. Of course, regardless of how much you may carry, only one item may be brought out of the Hall. Do not be greedy—otherwise, you'll end up with nothing at all, like water poured into a bamboo basket with no catch." "...And if you are unable to penetrate this energy layer, then simply give up. With your current strength, you will not be able to breach it. Year after year, people enter the Hall, yet many leave empty-handed. Thus, everything must unfold by chance—what you cannot obtain, do not insist upon." Pointing toward the Archive Hall, Hu Kai turned to Xiao Yan and the others. Hearing this, Xiao Yan and the others nodded in unison, exchanged glances, and then slowly raised their legs, walking toward the Library. Within the quiet valley, the only sound was the soft rustling of their footsteps. Xiao Yan and Xun'er walked at the rear, passing through the grass before the pavilions, and finally stepping onto the weathered stone staircase, worn down by time into uneven patches. The stone steps were covered with moss, and the soles of their feet felt slightly slick, yet this posed no hindrance to Xiao Yan and his companions. After walking a while, they reached the entrance of the Library. As they looked up at the ancient plaque, a sense of desolation spread from it, enveloping and lingering in their hearts. Xiao Yan lowered his head, murmuring in amazement to himself. "Go in. The door will remain open for only one hour. After that, regardless of whether you've obtained what you need or not, you must come out." To the left of the five, a gray-robed figure had his sleeve gently swayed by the breeze, and then the once-closed door creaked open slowly, revealing a dark passage within. As the door unfolded, an ancient, solemn atmosphere washed over them, prompting Xiao Yan and the others to focus intently, holding back any other thoughts. Leading the group, Huo Jia took a deep breath and stepped first into the archive hall, followed by Bai Shan and Wu Hao, who hesitated slightly before joining. "Let's go, Xiao Yan brother," Xun'er said, holding Xiao Yan's hand and smiling as she watched Huo Jia and the other two fade into the dark passage. "Yes, be careful." Xiao Yan nodded, his eyes sweeping over the two mysterious figures in gray robes standing beside him, then pulled Xun'er along and entered the library. Finally, he disappeared silently, with only the faint sound of footsteps. After all five had entered the library, the grand doors slowly closed with a creaking sound, eventually sealing shut. Looking at the now firmly closed doors, Hu Guan exhaled in relief and smiled, "I hope these young ones find what they like. To enter the library of Cana College is no ordinary opportunity—it's quite rare, and they mustn't miss it."