In the spacious study, Hu Guan watched the study walls slowly closing in, then turned to the five standing within the room, smiling warmly at them. "Well, your rewards have now been secured. Take the next two days to rest. After that, you'll need to enter the inner courtyard—by then, I'm sure you'll have plenty to complain about." Seeing Hu Guan's cheerful expression, the five exchanged glances and nodded slightly. "One more thing—just a reminder: if you want to avoid being bullied by the older students when you first enter the inner courtyard, your fists will have to be stronger than theirs. Of course, the students who make it into the inner courtyard are typically outstanding performers from the outer courtyard, with strong cultivation potential. Combined with the unique cultivation methods offered in the inner courtyard, it's going to be quite challenging for you newcomers to catch up with their progress." Hu Guan's eyes swept over the five of them, saying, "So I'd advise you all to minimize your gaps and work closely together—otherwise, the consequences might not be pleasant." "Do you think they'll actually knock us out, leaving us helpless?" Hu Jia rolled her eyes, while the others remained uncertain. After all, who among them hadn't earned a spot in the top five of the selection competition? "That's not likely—after all, we're in an academy, not on the battlefield. But there's something to be said about the feeling of being trampled underfoot by sheer strength, isn't there? Each of you has always carried that pride, hasn't he?" Hu Guan smiled and shook his head. "Alright, then. Go back now. Come back in two days, and we'll have you all introduced to the inner courtyard." Seeing Hu Jia frown and about to speak again, Hu Guan straightened up and waved to Xiao Yan and the others. "Thank you, Vice-Dean, for the reminder. We'll make sure to pay attention." Xiao Yan nodded slightly, bowed to Hu Qi, and then stepped out together with Xun'er. Following them, Hu Ji and the other three slowly exited. "These young ones never know the value of hardship until they hit a wall—once they enter the inner courtyard, they'll realize just how tough life there is. There, talent is never in short supply," Hu Qi said, sitting on the chair, her fingers gently tapping on the table, expressing her weariness. Although Xiao Yan wasn't overly concerned about Hu Qiyan's words, a subtle intuition within him stirred a quiet sense of urgency to strengthen his own abilities. If he were alone, he wouldn't have felt the need to press forward—however, now Xun'er was also joining him into the inner academy, and as a man, he naturally had to protect her and ensure she suffered no slight. Hu Qiyan's words did hold merit: every one of the top fifty students selected annually by the Gan Nan Academy was a prodigy gathered from across the continent. Without a solid foundation, even Xiao Yan couldn't confidently claim to thrive in the inner academy, where the circumstances were still unknown. Therefore, Xiao Yan now needed to rapidly enhance his strength. Given the limited time available, significant progress in his combat energy level wasn't feasible. Thus, he would rely solely on the two combat techniques he had already acquired. "Three Thousand Thunder Strikes." "The Lion and Tiger's Golden Chorus." One at Earth Rank Junior and one at Xuán Rank Senior, one specializing in footwork evasion and the other in sonic attacks. With a single flick and a single strike, if Xiao Yan could master both techniques, his strength would surge significantly in a short period. However, within just two days, mastering both—despite having Yao Lao's assistance—would clearly be an impossible task. Thus, after careful consideration, Xiao Yan first focused on "Shi Hu Su Jin Yin," the Xuán Rank Senior technique. Compared to "Three Thousand Thunder Strikes," this technique is notably easier to cultivate, and due to its relative rarity, it would offer a surprising advantage during future battles. Of course, the cultivation described here is much simpler when compared to the "Three Thousand Thunder Roars." After all, no matter how one puts it, "Shi Hu Suì Jīn Yín" belongs to the advanced level of the Xuán Stage. For ordinary students, possessing just one such technique is enough to set them apart from their peers—making its cultivation inherently challenging. For someone like Xiao Yan, who is encountering sonic-based combat techniques for the first time, the difficulty is even greater. On a rocky outcrop beneath the cascading waterfall, a young man in black robes stood with his face flushed, mouth open in a low, guttural roar. His roar was peculiar—somewhere between a tiger’s howl and a lion’s cry—resonating continuously through the small mountain stream, intertwining with the thunderous impact of the waterfall and sending ripples spreading outward across the lake’s surface. “Roar… cough, cough…” After another surge of flushed color, he finally couldn’t hold back and began to cough violently, swallowing hard to moisten his scorching throat. With a wry smile, he muttered, “This damned sonic technique must be incredibly difficult to master. I’ve been roaring for nearly an entire morning, and my throat is nearly raw—yet I still sound lifeless, as if I’m barely breathing. Can this really be used as an attack?” Upon closer listening, his voice now sounded noticeably more hoarse than it had been the previous two days. Clearly, he had endured considerable hardship in refining this so-called “Lion-Tiger Golden Chant.” "Within a single day, merely managing to imitate a tiger's roar or a lion's cry is already quite commendable. With consistent practice, you'll eventually master the control of your voice's intensity and avoid straining your throat." The warm, smiling voice of the Elder Medicine resonated in Xiao Yan's mind. "I'd truly like to mimic these sounds all day and all night, but didn't the teacher mention that practicing this sonic technique requires strict time limits each day? It seems to be three hours—once you exceed that, your throat bears significant strain, and if you're not careful, you might end up becoming mute." Xiao Yan gently rubbed his throat, which had begun to ache, and sighed in resignation. "For ordinary people, that's certainly true. But with me here, do you still have any concerns?" The Elder Medicine beamed with confidence. "Does the teacher have a solution?" Xiao Yan paused, then quickly asked. "Did you gather all the herbs I asked you to prepare last night?" "Everything's ready... The herb store in the city of Canaan is far richer than that of the Gamma Empire. All the herbs you need have been prepared by Xun'er." Xiao Yan nodded. "Now, bring out the herbs and begin preparing something on your own. I'll transmit the recipe directly into your mind." As soon as the old physician's words settled, Xiao Yan felt his head suddenly swell, and then a wave of information surged into his consciousness. "Ice Spirit Throat Liquid—a supportive remedy that alleviates various burning pains and protects the throat from sudden, intense thermal energy damage. Ingredients: Ice Spirit Leaves, Three-Flower Herbs, and Water-type Magic Nuclei..." "This is a small invention I've developed over the years, specifically designed to protect your throat. Once you consume it, you'll no longer be limited by the time constraints of the sound-based combat technique. As long as your spirit endurance holds, you can roar as long as you wish—your throat will remain clear and vocal." The old physician smiled. Hearing this, Xiao Yan's eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically nodded. Ordinary practitioners could only train for three hours a day in sound-based techniques, but with this so-called Ice Spirit Throat Tonic, Xiao Yan could train continuously for several days without interruption. As the saying goes, diligence makes up for lack—Xiao Yan simply didn't believe that, after pushing himself hard over the past two days, he'd fail to grasp the essence of "Lion and Tiger's Golden Chorus." After all, he didn't consider himself lacking at all! The Ice Spirit Throat Tonic itself wasn't even comparable to a medicine—though the preparation required meticulous attention, it flowed effortlessly for Xiao Yan, whose soul perception was exceptionally strong. After retrieving the herbs he had already prepared, he began the process of refining them. Nearly half an hour later, the herbs that had once been piled before him were now transformed into a pale blue liquid, sealed in two small jade bottles. "Hmm, quite good—his fire control has improved significantly. It's clear that his outstanding soul perception truly pays off." Looking at the small jade bottle in Xiao Yan's hands, the herbal master nodded slightly, somewhat amazed. Though the ice spirit throat elixir wasn't particularly difficult to prepare, for a first-time practitioner to achieve a success rate of nearly seventy percent was indeed an outstanding achievement. "Take one mouthful every hour, and then you can freely practice the 'Lion and Tiger Gold Fragment Song'—if your luck is good, you might even begin to gain initial control over it," the herbal master smiled. "As for the 'Three Thousand Thunder Roars'? For now, you should set that aside. First, time is limited, and second, mastering a mid-tier combat technique isn't as simple as it might seem. We'll have to wait until you enter the inner academy, then I'll find the right opportunity to set up your training schedule for it." "Understood." Xiao Yan nodded, first securing a small jade vial, then pouring a mouthful of the other one. As the ice-protecting throat elixir touched his mouth, it immediately transformed into a refreshing, cool surge that flowed throughout his throat. He could clearly feel the cool liquid enveloping his throat, and at the same time, the lingering burning pain that had previously persisted swiftly dissipated. "Huh, truly excellent," he remarked, impressed by the swift effect. With a broad smile, he took a long, moist breath. Moments later, the unusual roar once again erupted from his mouth, eventually spreading out as an invisible ripple, radiating outward from Xiao Yan in all directions and creating ripples across the lake surface. Below the rushing waterfall, the strange roar grew sharper and more imposing, standing out even against the thunderous roar of the waterfall's impact.