As Xiao Yan and Xuner approached Vice Principal Hu Gan’s study, they saw that the open space in front of the door was already filled with many people. These individuals were scattered into groups of various sizes, engaged in hushed conversations. Among these groups, those surrounding Baisan, Wu Hao, and Hu Jia were the largest. The appearance of Xiao Yan and Xuner caused a slight lull in the lively chatter. Apart from a few, most of the onlookers gazed at the two with a mixture of awe and respect. In the recent selection matches, Xiao Yan’s impressive feat of defeating three opponents singlehandedly had silenced all dissenting voices. Therefore, despite having been in the academy for less than a month, his reputation had quietly surpassed that of Baisan, Wu Hao, and others.
Xiao Yan and Xuner walked straight through the crowd and came to the front of the open space. They exchanged glances with Baisan, Wu Hao, and Hu Jia. Besides Baisan, both Wu Hao and Hu Jia nodded at them, their attitudes noticeably friendlier than before. Clearly, the words Hu Gan had spoken a couple of days ago had not fallen on deaf ears. Entering the Inner Academy, where strong practitioners gathered, required a certain level of unity. If they did not unite, they would certainly face hardships. Although both were proud, they were not foolish; they preferred to avoid unnecessary difficulties if possible.
Outside the open space, a crowd of other students had gathered. In the hearts of all the Outer Academy students, entering the Inner Academy was a great honor that many aspired to. Countless students had been working towards this goal since they first entered the academy. Therefore, whenever students who had passed the selection matches entered the Inner Academy, many came to see them off and watch.
About ten minutes after Xiao Yan and Xuner arrived, the tightly closed study finally opened. Vice Principal Hu Gan and several elders emerged, and their appearance gradually quieted the murmurs. After a moment, the entire area fell completely silent.
Hu Gan’s gaze slowly swept over the fifty students in the open space. Seeing that no one was absent, he nodded in satisfaction. Stepping forward, he said in a clear voice, “Students, today is the day you enter the Inner Academy. I congratulate you; your long efforts have finally paid off. I believe that upon entering the Inner Academy, you may find the training methods there unfamiliar. But I am certain of one thing: there, you will be able to fully tap into your potential! Don’t think I’m exaggerating. After spending just one year in the Inner Academy, you will experience a complete transformation… Some of you might know students who have come out of the Inner Academy, as they do occasionally take breaks and return. So, you should be aware of the tremendous difference between those who come out and those who go in.”
Hearing Hu Gan’s words, a few students in the crowd nodded slightly, indicating that they had indeed interacted with students from the Inner Academy. The rest, however, looked eager and excited. What Hu Gan described was precisely what they sought. Their goal in entering the Inner Academy was to pursue greater strength. They believed that, no matter how peculiar or harsh the training methods in the Inner Academy, they would persevere. Being chosen from the Gana Academy proved their talent and hard work. Those standing here were not the kind who thought power could be obtained without effort.
“The Inner Academy is the core of the Gana Academy, and due to its confidentiality, most Outer Academy students, including instructors, do not know its exact location. Therefore, we will escort you to a specific place.” Hu Gan smiled and looked up at the blue sky. Ten black shadows were flying towards them. As they approached, the shadows grew larger, revealing ten giant griffins.
The ten griffins soared overhead, casting large shadows over the academy. They finally stopped in the air above Xiao Yan and the others. As their wings flapped, a strong gust of wind stirred, causing some students below to lose their balance.
“Griffins? Does this mean the Inner Academy is far away?” Xiao Yan’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at the griffins above him.
Hu Gan waved at the griffins in the sky. The shadows descended, and under the strong wind, the ten griffins landed near the open space. Everyone looked and saw that each griffin was being controlled by two riders.
“Alright, time’s up. Students, please get on, five per group,” Hu Gan said, pointing to the griffins with a smile.
At Hu Gan’s command, the students turned and rushed to the open space. They scrambled onto the griffins, but when they tried to stand on the slippery feathers, some lost their balance and tumbled down, landing on the stone floor with a series of thuds.
“Haha, don’t try to stand on the griffins’ backs. There are seats installed on them. Only Great Fighters can stand on their backs,” Hu Gan laughed. He then turned to Xiao Yan and the others and said, “The top five, you five are in the same group. Get on.”
“Eh?” Xiao Yan and the others were taken aback. They hadn’t expected Hu Gan to put them in the same group. After a brief hesitation, Baisan frowned, but the others nodded indifferently.
“Let’s go,” Xiao Yan said to Xuner. He flashed and appeared on the back of a griffin, standing firmly on the slippery feathers like an iron tower, motionless. His stable stance drew admiration from the students who had fallen earlier. They knew firsthand how difficult it was to stand on the griffins’ feathers.
After Xiao Yan, Xuner and the others also jumped onto the griffins, standing straight without any support. Their display of strength was worthy of the top five in the selection matches.
Seeing their performance, Hu Gan and the elders surveyed the open space. When everyone was on the griffins, they exchanged nods. Hu Gan and the three elders leaped into the air, their shoulders shaking as four pairs of resplendent Dou Qi wings unfurled from their backs. They hovered in mid-air, surrounded by envious gazes from the students below.
Forming Dou Qi wings and flying freely was the dream of many cultivators.
“We will personally escort you on this journey,” Hu Gan said, looking down from above. With a wave of his hand, the griffins gave a sharp whistle, and their huge bodies rose into the air, leaving smaller shadows on the ground.
As the griffins took flight, a voice called out from below, “Xiao Yan, Xuner, good luck! Do well in the Inner Academy, and you’ll get a vacation!” Xiao Yan and Xuner looked down and saw Instructor Rulin. Beside her, Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Mei were also watching, waving at Xiao Yan with smiles.
As the griffins’ wings beat rapidly, the figures below became smaller and smaller, almost like ants. From this high altitude, they could see the entire Gana Academy.
In the blue sky, ten giant griffins soared towards the endless mountains behind the academy. Outside the griffins, Hu Gan and the three elders formed a protective formation, their bodies surrounded by a powerful aura of Dou Qi, unaffected by the fierce winds.
“Apparently, the Inner Academy is not within the Gana Academy. Is it in the boundless mountains?” Xiao Yan muttered, gazing at the vanishing Gana Academy. “I heard that the Inner Academy’s location is very secret. Even students from the Inner Academy can’t find it without a griffin guide.”
Xuner spoke, a soft golden light emanating from her body, deflecting the strong wind.
“Do you know anything special about the Inner Academy?” Xiao Yan asked, turning to Hu Jia, Wu Hao, and Baisan, breaking the awkward silence. Since Vice Principal Hu Gan had placed them on the same griffin, it meant they were a team. It was necessary to ease the tension between them.
“Grandfather never mentioned the Inner Academy, so I’m not too sure. But every time I see students coming from the Inner Academy, they are much stronger than before,” Hu Jia replied, casting a glance at Xiao Yan. She understood his intentions and, recalling Hu Gan’s repeated reminders, she spoke.
“I don’t know either. I don’t pay much attention to such things,” Wu Hao shook his head. As a battle maniac, he spent most of his time hunting down intruders from the Black-Corner Region, leaving little time for the Inner Academy.
“Once we get there, we’ll find out,” Baisan said coolly. Though he knew something, he was unwilling to share it with Xiao Yan. He hoped Xiao Yan would suffer more.
Xiao Yan gave Baisan, who was crossing his arms, a long look but did not ask further. His wariness of the man grew even stronger.
Turning his gaze away from Baisan, Xiao Yan watched the lush forest rush past below. He sighed deeply. Is the Heart Flame really there in the Inner Academy?
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