Stepping out of the tower gate, the warm sunlight poured down, making Xiao Yan, who had been inside the tower for a full five days, feel an urge to lie on the ground and not move. Covering his face with his hand, he gazed at the azure sky through the gaps between his fingers and took a deep breath of fresh air. While cultivating in the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower did allow for rapid progress, the gloominess was truly too oppressive. Although the Inner Academy had considered this, making the light inside the tower softer yet still dark, it was still a tower, and no matter how bright it was, it felt like a cage, only outside could one feel the vastness and openness of the sky.
“No wonder the Inner Academy does everything to stop students from staying in the tower for too long. Staying too long really can cause mental problems…” murmured Xiao Yan. He then began to walk, heading towards where the Pan Gate was located.
“Four days without coming out, I wonder how Xuner and the others are doing, hopefully, there shouldn’t be any problems…” As he thought this, Xiao Yan’s pace quickened involuntarily. Having walked this path several times, he didn’t get lost, and after half an hour, the accommodation area for new students came into view. Glancing around, and not noticing anything unusual, Xiao Yan finally relaxed, slowing his pace.
As he leisurely approached the accommodation area, Xiao Yan suddenly stopped, frowning as he saw four students standing by the entrance, all wearing the same badge, which was a light blue color, engraved with a black object.
“What kind of faction do these guys belong to? Another troublemaker?” Xiao Yan’s expression darkened. These guys were really going too far, causing trouble again and again, did they think the new students had no temper? Spinning his hand, the Heavy Xuan Ruler appeared, and Xiao Yan, gripping the ruler, marched towards the four students, his anger plain to see. The students, however, upon seeing Xiao Yan, rushed towards him excitedly.
Slightly narrowing his eyes, Xiao Yan was about to step forward when the four students’ excited shouts filled him with confusion.
“Leader, you’re back!” With the Heavy Xuan Ruler touching the ground, Xiao Yan paused, looking at the four now beside him in surprise. “You… are members of the Pan Gate?”
“Hehe, yeah.” One of the students, with an ordinary appearance but a bright smile, nodded. “Xuner Senior said that as a faction, we should have our own badge, to strengthen the members’ sense of belonging.”
Relieved, Xiao Yan felt a bit embarrassed. He had almost attacked them due to not recognizing their faces. Looking at their badges more closely, he realized the black object was the Heavy Xuan Ruler, and the light blue background matched his Qing Lian Earth Heart Fire.
“This girl is quite meticulous…” Laughing, Xiao Yan patted the four students, “Xuner should be inside, right?”
“Yes, Xuner Senior is in. We now have our own guard team, with four people taking turns to stand watch daily, and ten members on standby within to handle emergencies. The other members are allowed to explore the Inner Academy freely.”
The talkative student led Xiao Yan to the innermost pavilion, explaining the changes in the Pan Gate over the past few days. Xiao Yan listened, admiring Xuner’s abilities.
As they entered the accommodation area, the other three guards stayed behind, while the talkative student continued to lead Xiao Yan to the pavilion. “Hehe, go in yourself, I need to get back to my post. Xuner Senior said that if we stand watch for three days without any incidents, we get a day’s worth of ‘Fire Energy’. Everyone wants to do this job, hahaha.”
Xiao Yan, impressed, asked the student’s name before he left. “I’m Tieshu, if you need anything, just call. Even if we can’t fight, we have numbers!”
Xiao Yan chuckled, “Alright, off you go.” He watched the retreating figure, amazed at the cohesiveness of the Pan Gate. Turning, he pushed open the door of the pavilion and stepped inside.
Inside, Xiao Yan looked around, his gaze eventually settling on a beautiful figure carefully watering flowers on the second-floor window. The soft sunlight highlighted her slender, graceful form, like a delicate green lotus swaying in the breeze, elegant and captivating.
Mesmerized by the scene, Xiao Yan remained silent, not wanting to break the beauty. But as she set down the water pot, the girl finally noticed him, her face lighting up with joy and a hint of blush.
“Xiao Yan brother?!” Hearing her clear voice, Xiao Yan smiled and walked up, ruffling Xuner’s hair. “You’ve done well, turning the Pan Gate into this in just four days. I underestimated you.”
“Jia Xa also helped,” Xuner replied, relieved and naturally looping her arm around Xiao Yan’s. “We’ve got things under control, or else Wu Hao would have made a mess of things.”
Xiao Yan laughed, “Speaking of which, where are Jia Xa and Wu Hao?”
“Jia Xa went to the Inner Academy’s Skill Pavilion to look for high-level skills, and Wu Hao… he’s been at the arena for two days, but don’t worry, our people are there and will inform us if anything happens.”
Xiao Yan nodded, pulling Xuner closer, “You’ve worked hard, Xuner…”
“Xiao Yan brother, why so formal? When we were young…” Xuner smiled, but Xiao Yan interrupted her.
“Your kindness in those early days has been repaid a hundredfold…” Xiao Yan sighed, thinking of her selfless efforts. “Three years ago, you were already a Great Fighter, and three years later…”
Xuner rested her head on Xiao Yan’s chest, smiling with a hint of stubbornness. “I have someone for you to meet.”
Curious, Xiao Yan followed her to her room. She clapped her hands, and a shadow in the room gradually formed into an old man, familiar to Xiao Yan.
“Xiao Yan, good to see you again…” the old man said, smiling.
“You… Elder Ling?” Xiao Yan stared in disbelief. The old man was the mysterious Battle Emperor who had helped him during his confrontation with the Yun Lai Clan.
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