15: Canaan College Library

As soon as Elder Wang finished speaking, Yan Feng, like a brown bear, rushed onto the arena, embracing Jiang Donghua. His scruffy big face looked as if he was about to kiss him.

"Get lost!"

Jiang Donghua pushed him away with a palm to Yan Feng's chin, his face full of disdain.

"Hahahaha!"

Yan Feng was not offended; instead, he laughed even more wildly, then turned and roared at the other students below the stage.

"Did you hear that?"

"From now on, you are my students! If anyone dares to provoke Jiang Donghua!"

His fist, as big as a casserole, slammed "bang" against an arena pillar, instantly denting the fine iron pillar.

"I'll make him understand what it means to respect one's teacher!"

The students below were silent, some timid ones already shrinking their necks.

Jiang Donghua sighed, rubbing his forehead. This wasn't respecting one's teacher; it was clearly a bandit leader recruiting subordinates.

After roaring, Yan Feng suddenly changed his expression, rubbing his hands, and sidled up to Elder Wang.

"Um... Elder..."

He winked.

"You see, I've become the Yellow Rank Class mentor, so that Xuan-rank Combat Skill you promised me..."

Elder Wang didn't even lift his eyelids, pointing his peach wood staff to the west.

"Go pick it yourself from the Scripture Pavilion."

"Alright!"

Yan Feng was so happy his eyes disappeared in his smile. He turned to pull Jiang Donghua along.

"Come on, come on, let's go get your reward from your master!"

Jiang Donghua shook off his hand.

"Who wants to go with you..."

Before he could finish, Yan Feng had already tucked him under his arm like a chick, striding towards the Scripture Pavilion, humming a tune.

"Put me down!"

"No!"

Everyone below looked at each other.

Liu Yuting whispered softly.

"Big Brother Jiang... is so pitiful..."

Liu Mingyu stifled a laugh.

"You'll get used to it."

Yan Feng carried Jiang Donghua a long distance, turning several corridors, and only put him down after confirming no one was around.

"Stinky Kid, don't make such a sour face."

Yan Feng rubbed his hands, then suddenly said seriously.

"Besides you, there are four other guys who need to come with me to collect the reward."

He turned back towards the plaza and yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Lin Xiuyuan! Zhao Wuchen! Ouyang Xue! Shi Lie! All of you, get over here!"

His voice, imbued with Dou Qi, made the corridor tiles rattle.

Before long, four figures arrived successively.

"What are you dawdling for?"

Yan Feng waved his large hand.

"The top five get a reward; that's the rule of Jia Nan Academy."

The four looked at each other, but ultimately followed.

Their respective families had already instructed them that Jia Nan Academy had profound foundations, and even a small benefit leaked from it would be more than enough for small families.

Jiang Donghua rubbed his aching ribs, asking in a low voice.

"What kind of reward is it, exactly?"

Yan Feng suddenly smiled mysteriously.

"You'll know when we get there."

He deliberately slowed his pace, waiting for the others to create some distance, then leaned into Jiang Donghua's ear.

"A Xuan-rank Combat Skill, you can choose any one."

"Xuan-rank Combat Skill?!"

Jiang Donghua's pupils constricted, and his breathing hitched.

Even in Black Iron City's largest auction house, a most ordinary low-tier Xuan-rank Combat Skill was enough to make several major families fight tooth and nail.

That was a treasure that could make a Great Dou Master envious, and even a Dou Ling Expert would be tempted!

Although Yan Feng's voice was low, everyone present was sharp-eared and keen-eyed.

"No wonder..."

Lin Xiuyuan murmured softly, finally understanding why his father had repeatedly urged him before his departure to make sure he entered the top five in the New Students competition.

Ouyang Xue's fingertips trembled slightly.

Her mother had clutched her hand tightly before she passed away.

"Xue'er... the revival of the Ouyang family... depends on you..."

"What are you all staring blankly for?"

Yan Feng suddenly roared, interrupting everyone's thoughts.

"Keep up!"

Passing through several courtyards, everyone's vision suddenly cleared.

A nine-story, octagonal tall tower stood in the center of a white jade plaza, its glazed tiles reflecting a colorful halo in the sunlight.

Every brick and stone of the tower was carved with profound runes, vaguely forming some kind of giant array. Even more astonishing, the entire tower floated three feet off the ground, with clouds and mist swirling at its base.

"This is the Scripture Pavilion?"

Jiang Donghua's heart was greatly shaken.

Such a feat, he feared, could not be matched by ten thousand Black Iron Cities combined.

On the stone steps in front of the tower, three grey-robed men were playing chess.

They had no Dou Qi fluctuations on them, just like ordinary old men.

But Yan Feng suddenly shrank his neck, even his footsteps becoming lighter.

"Shh~"

Yan Feng whispered.

"These three Pavilion Guardians are all Dou King powerhouses!"

Before he finished speaking, the grey-robed man in the middle suddenly looked up.

"Little Yan," the old man said with a smile.

"Even you, Stinky Kid, are so lucky this year."

Yan Feng immediately broke out in a cold sweat, his back bent like a shrimp.

"Elder Duan, Elder Duan, you jest..."

Jiang Donghua's pupils constricted. To make Yan Feng, a Seven-Star Great Dou Master, so timid.

Just as he was thinking, the plaza suddenly became noisy.

Hundreds of people were seen arriving from various paths, each team led by a mentor with five students.

Elder Duan, the Pavilion Guardian, suddenly tapped the chessboard.

"Time's up."

The clouds and mist at the bottom of the Scripture Pavilion slowly dispersed, revealing two giant doors engraved with dragon and phoenix patterns.

Elder Duan slowly rose, his gaunt figure at this moment seeming to support the entire world.

He coughed softly, his voice not loud, yet everyone present heard it clearly, as if it sounded directly in their ears.

"Listen carefully, all of you."

He said slowly, his cloudy gaze sweeping over the hundreds of students below the stage.

"The things in the Scripture Pavilion, you can choose Xuan-rank cultivation methods, Xuan-rank Combat Skills, rare medicinal ingredients, finished pills, or even Pill Formulas."

He paused, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upwards, revealing a meaningful smile.

"However, students can only go up to the third floor at most, and mentors can go to the fourth floor."

Another Pavilion Guardian took over, his voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing.

"One hour time limit."

"Whatever you choose, take it out. If you can't take it out, it will stay inside forever."

He squinted.

Elder Duan looked at everyone's disheveled appearance with a smile, and said unhurriedly.

"Does anyone want to try secretly copying the classics?"

"If you are discovered, you will die!"

The audience was silent, even their breathing became cautious.

"Very good."

Elder Duan nodded with satisfaction, and waved his withered hand gently.

"Enter."

"Rumble—"

The mentors of each class immediately led their students to line up and advance, fearing to waste time.

Yan Feng grabbed Jiang Donghua, lowering his voice.

"Stinky Kid, once you're inside, rush straight to the Xuan-rank Combat Skill section! Don't waste time on the lower floors!"

Jiang Donghua nodded, his gaze sweeping over the students of other classes around him, who were also eager to try.

"Go!"

Following the crowd, Jiang Donghua stepped into the Scripture Pavilion.

Upon entering, the sight before him instantly stunned him.

The space inside the pavilion was far larger than it appeared from the outside, as if it were a small world of its own.

Countless light clusters floated in the air, each containing a scroll, a bottle of pills, or some rare medicinal ingredient.

The first floor was the most expansive, with dense light clusters, but most emitted a Yellow Rank aura.

"Ignore these!"

Yan Feng urged from behind.

"Go straight up the stairs!"

Jiang Donghua no longer hesitated, his figure flashed, Roaming Cloud Steps fully unleashed, and he rushed towards the staircase.

Seeing this, other students also sped up, and for a time, the pavilion was filled with fleeting figures, the competition fierce.