Battle Through the Heavens: Harmony of Flame and Shadow

Blinding sunlight poured down from the sky, causing Jiang Yun and the others to instinctively squint their eyes. After a while, they slowly opened them, looking at the scene before them with astonished expressions.

In front of Jiang Yun and the others was a clear valley depression, the steep mountain walls extending all the way up, finally ending out of sight. Amidst three cliff faces, there was an extremely wide open area. On this open ground stood a massive, imposing, and ancient-looking pavilion that left people speechless.

Their gazes swept over the massive ancient pavilion and finally landed on an extremely old plaque outside the pavilion. The plaque had three characters, corroded by time and somewhat blurred, but still faintly visible.

Library Pavilion!

This was the true core of Canaan Academy. The library pavilion in the outer courtyard only recorded some basic knowledge and low-level combat skills, while this library pavilion was one of the foundational pillars allowing Canaan Academy to stand tall in the Black-Corner Region.

About half a meter in front of Hu Qian, if one looked closely, one could see faint wrinkles in the space.

These wrinkles were hidden in the space and extremely difficult to detect. Following the faint wrinkles with their gaze, they found that the wrinkles in this area almost formed a wall-like barrier, protecting the entire library pavilion behind it!

No wonder the library pavilion in the outer courtyard of Canaan Academy was so mysterious.

Hu Qian led five people slowly toward the library pavilion. When they were about twenty meters away, he suddenly stopped, clasping his fists toward the pavilion as he said, "The top five in this year's internal selection competition have been determined, according to the rules, I have brought them here. I respectfully request Elder Qian and Elder Bai to open the door!"

Hu Qian's words, carried by Dou Qi, echoed in the small valley for a long time.

Suddenly, Jiang Yun and Zi Yan's eyes moved, fixing their gaze on the doorway of the library pavilion.

The next moment, two grey-robed figures sitting cross-legged appeared there abruptly.

The two figures seemed as if they had always been there, making the few people who saw this eerie scene feel a chill down their spine.

These two were the foundations of Canaan Academy, Elders Qian and Bai, peak Dou Zong powerhouses.

"Xiao Yun, these two old men are really strong!" For once, Zi Yan did not smile mischievously but leaned close to Jiang Yun's ear and whispered solemnly.

Jiang Yun did not answer Zi Yan, but looked toward the doorway. There, the two elders were also looking at Zi Yan and Jiang Yun, curiosity and intrigue in their eyes.

Feeling confused as to why Jiang Yun did not answer her, Zi Yan followed his gaze, immediately noticing the stare of Elders Qian and Bai. She stuck out her tongue awkwardly and hid behind Jiang Yun.

At this moment, Elders Qian and Bai withdrew their gaze, looking impassively at Hu Qian as one of them said, "They've arrived."

Hearing this, Hu Qian let out a sigh of relief and smiled, "These are the top five in this year's internal courtyard selection competition. Please, Elders, unlock the spatial seal."

"These students are quite good!" Elder Qian or Elder Bai nodded in approval, their tone hinting with slight joy.

Before Hu Qian could recover from his shock, he saw Elders Qian and Bai slowly extending their withered hands from their sleeves. Their fingers formed intricate seals, and as the seals formed, Jiang Yun and the others could distinctly feel two immense, formless surges of energy emanating from their palms, like waves.

Jiang Yun knew this was the power of space!

The formless waves gradually spread out until they came in contact with the spatial wrinkles. As soon as they touched, the space in front of Jiang Yun and the others rippled like a watery mirror. Moments later, the ripples stopped, and an invisible hand slowly tore open a door-shaped area.

"Let's go." Seeing the spatial door, Hu Qian waved and stepped in first, followed closely by Jiang Yun and the others.

As Jiang Yun stepped through the invisible door, he found his vision much clearer than before, the pavilion ahead also more distinct. Clearly, they had truly entered the inside of the spatial seal.

After everyone stepped inside, Hu Qian first respectfully bowed to Elders Qian and Bai, saying, "Thank you, Elders."

"Mm!" The two guardians didn't move at all, only emitting a raspy response.

Apart from initially being surprised by Jiang Yun and Zi Yan, it seemed nothing could draw their attention. Like two unchanging statues, they silently guarded the academy's final line.

Seeing that Elders Qian and Bai had no intention to engage further, Hu Qian turned to Jiang Yun and the group, "Now you may enter the library pavilion at your discretion. However, everything inside is layered with an energy barrier. If your hand can pass through the energy barrier unhindered, you may take the item inside."

"Of course, no matter how much you can pick up, you may only take out one item from the library pavilion. Do not be greedy, or you will end up with nothing."

"If you cannot penetrate the energy barrier, give up. With your current strength, you cannot break through it. Over the years, many have entered the library pavilion, but many have left empty-handed. So, whether you get something or not, leave it to fate."

Hearing these words, Jiang Yun's eyes flickered slightly.

Unable to break through? Not necessarily!

After quickly explaining the rules of the library pavilion, Hu Qian gestured towards the pavilion, indicating for them to proceed on their own.

Nodding in response, Jiang Yun and the others slowly moved toward the library pavilion.

In the quiet valley, only the faint sound of shuffling footsteps could be heard. Jiang Yun led the group, passing over the grassy area in front of the pavilion, eventually reaching the weathered stone steps.

Climbing the steps, they stood before the large doors of the library pavilion, gazing at the plaque inscribed above it.

Jiang Yun looked at the plaque, slightly dilapidated but carrying a compelling aura that filled their hearts with a sense of desolation.

Astonished, Jiang Yun thought, "Only the Academy Head, Mang Tianchi, could have such strength, to write such powerful words lasting through the years!"

"Enter! The door will stay open for only an hour. Whether you find what you need or not, you must leave after that!" One of the grey-robed elders, not sure whether it was Elder Qian or Elder Bai, waved their sleeve, causing an invisible wave to slowly open the pavilion's door.

Seeing the slightly surprised expressions of the four people, Jiang Yun grabbed Zi Yan's hand and stepped inside first.

"A spatial seal? Such a minor trick!" Having bathed in space-time storms since childhood, this is nothing!

Watching Jiang Yun enter, Lin Feng and the other two quickly came to their senses. With only an hour, they used their movement skills to rush into the pavilion, quickly surpassing Jiang Yun and Zi Yan.

Perplexed by the three's urgency, Zi Yan looked at Jiang Yun, who seemed more relaxed and unhurried.

"No rush, Vice Principal Hu Qian mentioned the treasures inside are sealed. This is the academy's treasure house! Most of the academy's valuable items are here, so it's not hard to guess how strong these seals are."

"And dealing with seals, for you Zi Yan, what difference does it make?"

Jiang Yun explained, partly because they indeed didn't lack combat techniques or cultivation methods.

There was no need to elaborate on Jiang Yun, descendant of the Evil Spirit Tribe with Sacred Supreme-level ancestors. Despite his young age upon arriving in the Dou Qi Continent, he was never short of such resources.

Zi Yan, with her Royal Void Dragon bloodline, had enough inherited techniques to last a lifetime. She might appear as a rogue cultivator, but there was depth to her background.

Listening to Jiang Yun's explanation, Zi Yan's eyes sparkled with excitement. Puffing her small chest, she proudly said, "Leave it to me, Xiao Yun. Tell me what you like, and I'll get it for you."

Jiang Yun chuckled and nodded, amused by Zi Yan's enthusiasm.

Within three minutes, they reached a large room shrouded in a pale yellow glow.

It was a spacious chamber, its walls lined with nearly a dozen energy barriers. These barriers shrunk and expanded softly, lighting up the entire room.

Lin Feng and the other two people were already there, scanning their surroundings in confusion. Su Quan, the only female, said upon seeing Jiang Yun, "We've searched everywhere but can't find the treasures the Vice Principal mentioned!"

"Maybe we need to step inside these barriers?" Liu Zhichun speculated, pointing to the large energy barriers around them.

Raising an eyebrow, Jiang Yun smiled subtly, "Look, something has come!"

"Huh?"

The three looked at Jiang Yun in confusion, only for Zi Yan to be excitedly looking at the high space.

Next moment, a faint whoosh echoed, shaking everyone. They focused on the high space.

"Something is coming!"

Though faint, the sound did not escape the senses of the highly skilled individuals present.

Soon, a pale green light orb shot out from an energy barrier. Lin Feng and the others beamed, but before they could react, a purple figure jumped up, swiftly grabbing the orb.

Zi Yan's small hand passed through the orb effortlessly, as if the seal didn't exist. The next second, she withdrew a scroll.

"Xuan-tier Intermediate Combat Technique, Green Wood Thorn!"

"Useless thing!" Zi Yan grumbled and, unsatisfied, tossed the once-prized Xuan-tier technique back into the barrier.

Su Quan and the others hesitated to speak. Xuan-tier Intermediate Combat Techniques were valuable to them, and they would consider their trip to the library pavilion successful if they obtained one.

However, not being close to Zi Yan or Jiang Yun, they couldn't voice their wants.

Triggered by the first orb, more and more light orbs began to fly out from the barriers.

Originally impassioned by Zi Yan's first find, Lin Feng and the others now eagerly chased after the flying orbs.

Jiang Yun didn't blindly grab at the orbs. Instead, he spread his soul perception to its fullest, trying to find the orb with the densest aura.

After a while, Jiang Yun sensed a fiery aura from an orb behind him. He turned and jumped at it, feeling a slight resistance as he grasped the scroll inside.

"Flaming Sun Nine Layers Technique, Earth-tier Low-Level Cultivation Method!" Jiang Yun held onto the Earth-tier method instead of discarding it as a backup reward.

Memorizing the strength of an Earth-tier method, he began excluding any orb below that level. The next second, Jiang Yun sprang into action, catching three orbs of significant aura.

"Main ingredient for a Sixth-Grade Pill, Evergreen Life Elixir; Earth-tier Combat Technique, and a Sixth-Level Magic Core."

Jiang Yun evaluated the contents and decided to keep the Evergreen Life Elixir, useful for either refining pills or giving Zi Yan to consume.

"Xiao Yun, look what I found!" Zi Yan's excited voice came, showing him a gem-like fruit.

"Sky Jade Fruit, a good item!" Jiang Yun recognized it, knowing it could boost a person's Dou Qi by a star when consumed directly or be refined into a valuable Sixth-Grade pill for Dou Wang experts.

Such an item would fetch an astronomical price in the outside world, yet Zi Yan had found it here.

"Hey, Xiao Yun, help me refine it into a pill. I'm close to the peak of Stage Five. This will help me mature!" Zi Yan's eyes sparkled at the fruit's potential, holding Jiang Yun's hand expectantly.

Eager, her mind was solely on growing up and shedding her current childish appearance.

It's impossible, right? After all that, I'd stay like this? Wouldn't the full power of the transformation herb's stored power be unleashed? Won't I reach maturity?

No way, no way...

Whose magical beast is still immature at Stage Six!

(The chapter ends here)