The voice of Gan Qian slowly dissipated in the valley, yet the two gray-robed figures remained utterly still, as if they had not heard a thing. Seeing that his words went unanswered, Gan Qian did not speak again, maintaining his clasped hands, quietly waiting.
Behind Gan Qian, Xiao Yan and the others exchanged glances. Even the wild and unruly Xun Er remained silent, knowing to keep her mouth shut. This mysterious place was one she had never been to before. But given Gan Qian’s status in the Outer Court of the South Academy, where few could match him, it was clear from his polite demeanor towards these gray-robed figures that the guardians of the “Library Pavilion” were truly terrifying. Although Xun Er was reckless, she was no fool and knew what she could and could not provoke.
In the silence, Xiao Yan’s fingers inside his sleeve suddenly brushed against the pitch-black, antique ring. His lowered brows involuntarily furrowed. He realized that since the appearance of these two mysterious gray-robed figures, the faint, ethereal connection he had with the Pharmacist Elder had completely vanished. This was the first time such a situation had occurred since his contact with the Pharmacist Elder.
This connection was between both parties, and Xiao Yan had not actively severed it. It was clear, then, that the Pharmacist Elder had done so. The Elder had never done this before, and now… Xiao Yan blinked, his gaze turning toward the two gray-robed figures by the pavilion, silently exhaling in his heart.
To have the Pharmacist Elder cautious enough to sever all connections, these two must be truly formidable. No wonder the Southern Academy is said to hide dragons and tigers…
The silence in the valley lasted for nearly ten minutes before the robes of the two gray-robed figures seated at the entrance of the pavilion finally trembled slightly. Then, beneath their gray robes, a pair of eyes like an ancient monk, as calm as a well, lifted, and a faint, hoarse voice whispered, “Different flame?”
The soft voice slowly reverberated in the silent valley, clearly reaching the ears of Xiao Yan and the others.
“May I ask the name of this young friend?” One of the gray-robed figures, his gaze fixed on Xiao Yan, spoke in a hoarse voice that carried the weight of accumulated years.
Hearing that the gray-robed figure had set aside Gan Qian and directed his question at Xiao Yan, everyone in the group was stunned. They turned their surprised gazes toward Xiao Yan. Given Gan Qian’s respectful attitude towards the two gray-robed figures, it was clear that these two held extraordinary status within the Jia Nan Academy. That Xiao Yan could pique their interest was a treatment that made even Gan Jia envious.
Xiao Yan was also taken aback by the gray-robed figure’s words. He quickly clasped his hands respectfully and said, “I am Xiao Yan, honored to meet you, elders.”
“The fire is slightly green, shaped like a lotus, like a volcano. If my guess is correct, the different flame you control should be the 19th-ranked Green Lotus Earth Core Flame on the Different Flame List.”
The aged voice lingered in Xiao Yan’s ear, making his heart tighten. His gaze, now filled with astonishment, returned to the two gray-robed figures. Since he had subdued the Green Lotus Earth Core Flame, this mysterious gray-robed figure was the first to see through his flame without him displaying it. This person was truly fearsome.
Xiao Yan’s throat moved, and he nodded slightly. He glanced at Xun Er and the others, noticing they seemed not to have heard the gray-robed figure’s words. Puzzled, he soon realized that this was likely due to the abilities of the two mysterious gray-robed figures.
“To be able to control a different flame at such a young age, you truly have a unique gift…” The left gray-robed figure sighed softly, his voice tinged with admiration. Then, he turned his gaze to Gan Qian, speaking in a hoarse tone, “The top five students of this year are much better than last year.”
Gan Qian breathed a slight sigh of relief and smiled, “If so, then please, elders, unlock the space lock.”
“Space lock?” The unfamiliar term confused Xiao Yan and the others.
“Brother Xiao Yan, look at Vice-Principal Gan Qian’s front.” Xun Er’s soft voice suddenly reached Xiao Yan’s ears. Glancing up, Xiao Yan’s face initially showed some confusion, but after a moment, it turned serious.
His eyes fixated on the half-meter space in front of Gan Qian. After a while, Xiao Yan noticed that if he looked closely, he could see extremely faint wrinkles in the space, hidden and hard to detect.
Following the barely visible wrinkles, he discovered that the spatial wrinkles formed a wall-like barrier, protecting the entire Library Pavilion!
“This is a space lock, a powerful formation that only a Dou Zun can set up. This space lock was left by a senior of the Academy several hundred years ago. Without the elders’ special method to open it, even a Battle Sect would be unable to break through.”
Sensing Xiao Yan and the others’ confusion, Gan Qian explained with a smile. Xiao Yan and the others nodded in understanding, inwardly feeling a bit frightened. A formation that even a Battle Sect could not break was truly terrifying.
At the pavilion, the two gray-robed figures slowly extended their withered hands from their sleeves and began to form hand seals. As they did, Xiao Yan and the others could feel powerful, invisible fluctuations emanating from their palms, spreading like waves and eventually touching the spatial wrinkles.
Upon contact, the space in front of Xiao Yan and the others rippled like water, forming concentric circles. After a moment, the ripples stopped, and a door-like shape was slowly torn open by an invisible hand.
“Let’s go,” Gan Qian waved, leading the way into the spatial door. After a brief hesitation, Xiao Yan cautiously followed, stepping through the invisible doorway.
As he stepped out of the invisible door, Xiao Yan found the light in his vision significantly brighter, and his view of the pavilion clearer. Evidently, they had truly entered the space lock.
“Hehe, thank you, elders,” Gan Qian smiled at the two gray-robed figures seated on the ground outside the pavilion.
“Just a duty,” the two mysterious figures, entirely wrapped in gray robes, replied in a hoarse, detached tone.
“Now, you can enter the Library Pavilion on your own. Remember, whatever you wish to obtain, do not force it. Everything inside is protected by energy layers. If your hand can pass through the energy layer unimpeded, you can take the item. However, no matter how many items you can lift, you may only take one. Do not be greedy, or you will leave empty-handed.”
“And if you cannot penetrate the energy layer, give up. Your strength is not enough to break them. Every year, people enter the Library Pavilion, but many leave with nothing. Therefore, everything depends on fate. If you cannot obtain something, do not force it.”
Pointing to the Library Pavilion, Gan Qian turned to Xiao Yan and the others. Nodding, they exchanged glances and slowly walked toward the Library Pavilion.
In the quiet valley, only the faint sound of footsteps could be heard. Xiao Yan and Xun Er walked at the back, passing through the grass in front of the pavilion and stepping onto the weathered, uneven bluestone stairs. The steps were covered in moss, making them slippery, but fortunately, this did not hinder them. After a short walk, they arrived in front of the Library Pavilion, looking up at the ancient plaque. A sense of desolation emanated from the plaque, lingering in their hearts, unwilling to dissipate.
A hoarse cough suddenly broke the trance, startling Xiao Yan and the others. They all quickly averted their gaze from the plaque.
“What a strange plaque, it has a magic that draws the mind. Why does this Library Pavilion exude such a mysterious aura?” Xiao Yan murmured to himself, awestruck.
“Go in, the door will only be open for one hour. Whether you get what you need or not, you must come out after an hour.”
On their left, a gray-robed figure’s sleeve fluttered slightly in the breeze. The tightly closed door creaked and slowly opened, revealing a dark passage inside.
As the door opened, an ancient, desolate aura washed over them, making Xiao Yan and the others guard their minds, not daring to think of anything else. Leading the way, Gan Jia took a deep breath and stepped into the Library Pavilion, followed closely by Bai Shan and Wu Hao after a moment’s hesitation.
“Let’s go, Brother Xiao Yan,” Xun Er pulled Xiao Yan’s hand, smiling as she watched Gan Jia and the others disappear into the dark passage.
“Okay, be careful,” Xiao Yan nodded, glancing at the two mysterious gray-robed figures on either side before pulling Xun Er into the Library Pavilion. Their footsteps faded away into the distance.
After all five entered the Library Pavilion, the open door slowly creaked shut, closing tightly.
Watching the door close again, Gan Qian let out a sigh of relief, smiling, “I hope these young ones find something they like. Entering the Jia Nan Academy’s Library Pavilion is a rare opportunity; it must not be wasted.”
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