65: Chapter 65 Support from the Hall of Offerings, Return to the Academy

"Xiao Xuan, have you subdued Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo?"

Qian Daoliu's voice suddenly came from behind Ji Xuan.

Ji Xuan turned around, bowed calmly, and saluted: "Yes, Master."

Qian Daoliu walked slowly to the window, stood with his hands behind his back, his long robes shimmering with a faint silver glow under the moonlight.

He looked at Ji Xuan, his gaze filled with approval, as well as a trace of imperceptible complexity.

"Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo are Bibi Dong's right-hand men. That you managed to successfully subdue them both truly exceeds my expectations."

Qian Daoliu patted Ji Xuan on the shoulder and said with gratification:

"It seems that after two years of training outside, you have grown a lot."

"Disciple was merely acting according to the situation, each taking what they need." Ji Xuan's expression was calm.

Qian Daoliu looked toward the Supreme Pontiff Palace, was silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke:

"Xiao Xuan, if you wish to contend for the position of Supreme Pontiff, I and the entire Elder Hall will fully support you. But we will not actively intervene, and we certainly will not take direct action against Bibi Dong."

"Disciple understands."

Being able to obtain the tacit approval and support of the Elder Hall was already enough.

"It is good that you understand."

In his heart, he actually hoped more for Ji Xuan to inherit the position of Supreme Pontiff, and for Xiaoxue to take charge of the Douluo Hall in the future, with the two of them working together to govern the Spirit Hall.

Not like it is now, where the Supreme Pontiff Palace and the Elder Hall are at daggers drawn.

Qian Daoliu changed the subject and looked at Ji Xuan again:

"Xiao Xuan, the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament will begin in two years. This is an excellent opportunity for you to establish prestige throughout the entire Spirit Hall."

"Disciple is aware." Ji Xuan nodded in response.

"However, the team members have already been confirmed. You will need to secure a spot yourself."

"Rest assured, Master, are you not clear about my strength?" Ji Xuan smiled faintly.

Qian Daoliu nodded slightly; he naturally knew Ji Xuan's strength and was not worried at all.

"Alright, it is getting late." Qian Daoliu waved his hand. "Go and rest first. Tomorrow, you will go to the academy. Remember, this is the first step on your path to the position of Supreme Pontiff, but the final result will still depend on your own strength."

Ji Xuan's eyes were firm as he bowed: "Disciple will certainly not fail Master's expectations."

Qian Daoliu's figure quietly vanished into the night, as if he had never appeared.

...

The next morning.

Ji Xuan put on his long-unused academy uniform, pinned on the academy badge, and headed to Spirit Hall Academy alone.

In the morning light, the academy looked magnificent, its gate built of white marble gleaming brilliantly under the rising sun.

Walking into the academy, students wearing uniform attire could be seen everywhere.

They wore the Spirit Hall Academy badge on their chests, each one looking spirited and full of vitality.

Quite a few female students noticed Ji Xuan, their gazes involuntarily drawn to him, and they began to whisper among themselves.

"Look over there! How come I've never seen him before?"

"He's wearing our academy uniform, so he must be a student of the academy, that's for sure."

"Could he be a newcomer? If I had seen him before, I definitely wouldn't have forgotten!"

"Look at the direction he's heading; it seems to be the team training ground? Could he be a new member of the team?"

Several female students exchanged glances, their eyes following Ji Xuan's receding figure.

Ji Xuan paid them no mind and walked straight toward the training ground deep within the academy.

Soon, he saw an extremely spacious open-air training ground, fully equipped with all kinds of training apparatus.

On the field, several figures were training diligently.

It was the Spirit Hall Team from the original work, along with several substitutes.

An old man wearing an instructor's uniform stood on the sidelines, focusing on guiding their training.

His name was Instructor Zhou Long, an eighty-second-level Spirit Douluo; he was an instructor at the academy and also the guiding teacher for the Spirit Hall Team.

When Ji Xuan's figure appeared at the training ground, Instructor Zhou Long noticed him first.

"Student." Instructor Zhou Long's tone was calm yet carried authority. "This is where the academy team trains. If you have no business here, please leave."

He felt that the youth before him looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall where he had seen him for the moment.

Just then, Hu Liena, who was sparring with Xie Yue, turned her head.

When her gaze landed on Ji Xuan, her breathing involuntarily hitched.

Although Ji Xuan had changed quite a bit, how could Hu Liena not recognize the figure that had once made her heart flutter for the first time?

Four years had passed; Ji Xuan's figure had become more upright, and his face had shed its former childishness.

In her memory, she was still half a head taller than Ji Xuan, but now Ji Xuan was already much taller than her.

Hu Liena forced herself to look away, but her heartbeat uncontrollably quickened.

Four years; she had thought that she had long since extinguished those feelings.

Yet, when Ji Xuan appeared before her again, she realized that the fluttering of her heart had never disappeared.

Xie Yue's eyes scanned back and forth between Ji Xuan and his sister with a complex expression.

He could clearly sense his sister's emotional changes and couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

The other team members on the training ground also turned around to look, and whispers gradually began to arise.

"He seems to be... Ji Xuan?"

They were all students from Class One, so they could naturally recognize Ji Xuan.

"I remember he suspended his studies four years ago, right? I didn't expect him to actually return to the academy!"

"Hey, do you think he's back this time to prepare for the tournament?"

"Ah... wouldn't that mean I'll be kicked out of the official team?" The person speaking was a young man.

His name was Shi Yan, his Spirit was Rock Armor Bear, a forty-first-level defense system Spirit Ancestor, and he was a relatively weaker member among the official team.

Because Yan had been killed by Light Feather Douluo, he had the opportunity to become an official team member.

Shi Yan clearly remembered how monstrous Ji Xuan was; back then, he had defeated the thirty-ninth-level Yan with only the cultivation of a twenty-third-level Spirit Grandmaster.

Now that four years had passed, no one knew to what extent Ji Xuan had grown.

If Ji Xuan wanted to participate in the tournament, he would definitely be squeezed out and reduced to a substitute.

Although he was unwilling, he had self-awareness.

Instructor Zhou Long heard the team members' discussions and suddenly realized:

"You are Ji Xuan? Four years no see, you've grown up; I almost didn't recognize you."

Ji Xuan bowed slightly to Instructor Zhou Long:

"Instructor, I am applying to join the team to participate in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament two years from now."

Upon hearing this, Instructor Zhou Long immediately showed a look of joy and said: "With you joining, that would of course be for the best!"

He clearly remembered the astonishing strength Ji Xuan had displayed back then.

However, this conversation caused the atmosphere on the training ground to instantly freeze.

Hu Liena involuntarily clenched her hands.

Four years ago, Ji Xuan had rejected her feelings in front of everyone, and later even suspended his studies and left the academy.

Four years later, Ji Xuan had actually reappeared before her in this way.

Thinking of having to spend every day together in the same team from now on, Hu Liena's heart was instantly in a mess.

At this moment, Xie Yue stepped forward: "Ji Xuan, I am the team captain. If you want to join the team, you must first pass my test."

He did not have any prejudice against Ji Xuan; it was just that when he thought of the grievances his sister had suffered back then, he found it difficult to let go.

Ji Xuan's gaze swept calmly over everyone and finally landed on Xie Yue: "Please."

"Everyone, retreat to the edge of the field."

Seeing this, Instructor Zhou Long immediately signaled the other students. He also wanted to see Ji Xuan's current strength.

After everyone retreated, Ji Xuan and Xie Yue stood facing each other in an open space in the center of the training ground.

Xie Yue looked at Ji Xuan opposite him with a solemn expression and said in a deep voice:

"Xie Yue, Spirit Moon Blade, forty-eighth-level attack system Spirit Ancestor, please advise!"

Before his voice had even faded, his Moon Blade Spirit was already in his grasp, and four spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple—rose from beneath his feet.