"Star Values can be exchanged at the Azure Dragon Academy for martial techniques, pills, and spiritual herbs. You can purchase whatever you need.

The Azure Dragon Academy also houses the Nine Nether Fire Sea, which can temper a person's body and soul.

Now that you are at the Azure Dragon Academy, you must use all available resources to increase your strength," Zi Yun reminded him.

Feeling Zi Yun's genuine concern, warmth rose in Tang Yan's heart. "Alright."

"I will sleep upstairs, and you will sleep downstairs. From now on, without my permission..." Zi Yun bit her red lips and warned, "Do not dare step foot on the second floor, or I will break your legs!"

Tang Yan nodded sensibly. When the Third Miss threatened to hit someone, she would absolutely follow through.

"Alright, cultivate diligently on your own. Do not end up dead last in the rankings and make me lose face," Zi Yun reminded him once more. With a flick of her long skirt, she walked upstairs.

Watching Zi Yun's graceful, retreating figure, Tang Yan could not help but swallow hard.

After adjusting his breathing in the Four-Star Dormitory for a short while, Tang Yan decided to visit the Nine Nether Fire Sea.

"Hey, silly girl, where is the Nine Nether Fire Sea?" Tang Yan called toward the second floor.

But after shouting twice, Zi Yun did not respond. Tang Yan frowned, hesitated for a moment, and then walked upstairs.

Looking at the tightly shut door, Tang Yan guessed that the room's soundproofing was simply too good for Zi Yun to hear him. He raised a hand to knock.

Creak- A crisp sound rang out, and Tang Yan's eyes instantly went wide.

He had only meant to knock. How could the door be so frail that it opened with a mere touch?

What shocked Tang Yan even more was that Zi Yun was currently-changing clothes.

Her proud figure, a slender waist that could be held in one hand, and the curved swell of her hips formed a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

At that moment, Zi Yun was holding a short top, just about to put it on. When the door suddenly swung open, she stared at the doorway in equal shock.

As the reality of the situation registered, a trace of shyness and panic flickered in Zi Yun's eyes, immediately swallowed by overwhelming humiliation and fury!

In that exact same moment, Tang Yan recalled Zi Yun's strict warning: he was not allowed on the second floor.

Just great. Not only had he come upstairs, but he had also seen something he absolutely should not have!

Suddenly, all the hairs on Tang Yan's body stood on end. A fierce aura instantly locked onto him.

"Sorry, sorry! I was just heading out, who knew I took the wrong path? I didn't see anything!" Tang Yan spat out a rapid-fire explanation, instantly circulating his Phantom Step to charge out the door.

"Tang Yan, you are dead!" Zi Yun's eyes spat fire. Her figure blurred as she lunged forward to grab him.

"Zi Yun, your clothes..." Tang Yan had kept his guard up against her the entire time. Seeing her move, he immediately "reminded" her.

Zi Yun finally snapped out of her blind rage. Letting out a sharp gasp, she instantly retreated back into her room. By the time she hastily dressed and rushed out again, not even Tang Yan's shadow remained.

Standing outside her door, Zi Yun gritted her teeth and squeezed out a few words: "Tang Yan, you can hide today, but I refuse to believe you can hide for a lifetime!"

Tang Yan sprinted madly for a while. Upon realizing that Zi Yun had not pursued him, he patted his chest in relief. Reaching back, he found his robes drenched in cold sweat.

Heavens above, thank the stars he had not been caught by that female demon. Tang Yan had no doubt that if she got her hands on him, Zi Yun would peel off at least one layer of his skin.

Elsewhere in the Azure Dragon Academy, within a tranquil bamboo grove, two elders sat playing chess.

"Old Huo, that new student, Jing Wuhen-how did your evaluation go?" A hale and hearty elder asked with a smile.

"Top-tier talent. At such a young age, his alchemy has already reached the Third Rank. His future prospects are limitless." The elder seated opposite possessed a ruddy complexion, snow-white hair, and the transcendent bearing of an immortal.

These two were precisely Elder Zhen and Elder Huo.

"With a student of such caliber, you should be overjoyed. Why the long face?" Elder Zhen asked in confusion.

"That may be true, but the boy has already reached the Third Rank. I am afraid I cannot teach him much more," Elder Huo sighed softly as he placed a chess piece on the board.

Elder Zhen paused, then scolded him with a laugh, "You old fool, speak plainly. Stop beating around the bush like a maiden.

Even if that boy is at the Third Rank, with your mastery, guiding him a step further would be as easy as flipping your hand. Is there a problem with the kid himself?"

Hearing this, Elder Huo could only smile bitterly. "I spoke with him today. Although he treated me with respect, he was entirely dismissive of taking me as his master.

His cup is already too full; I fear he lacks the humility to learn.

This old man is merely a mortal. Why should I bother with a thankless task?"

"The youth are impetuous by nature and require tempering. If there are no other suitable candidates, you can always test him again," Elder Zhen suggested.

"We shall see. Oh, right, you also contacted Lang Qingyun, didn't you? How did that fare?" Elder Huo smoothly shifted the subject.

"A similar situation to yours, though slightly better. After all, he is only a Second Rank Spiritual Array Master, so he still possesses some drive to learn.

If no better candidate appears, I will have to settle for him." Elder Zhen offered a wry smile. "In the past, I would never have lowered my standards, but the Tingxiang Academy War is rapidly approaching.

Although you and I have stayed out of worldly disputes for years, if the Azure Dragon Academy were stripped of its status among the Three Academies, it is a sight neither of us wishes to see!"

Hearing Elder Zhen's words, Elder Huo released a long sigh. He glanced at the chessboard and suddenly said, "Come. Let us use this time to test the depths of that boy, Tang Yan."

With that, he stood up and walked away.

"Old Huo, Old Huo! Have you abandoned all shame? You realize you are losing and want to run? Get back here!" Elder Zhen called out frantically.

"I simply lack the time to finish! At most, we can call this match a draw! Finding a disciple takes priority; we cannot let this affect the Tingxiang Academy War!" Elder Huo's voice drifted back from the distance.

"You shameless old rogue! Wait for me, I am coming too..." Elder Zhen swept his sleeve, stowing the chessboard away before giving chase.

...

Tang Yan wandered through the courtyard, searching for the Nine Nether Fire Sea. After walking for some time, he gained an even deeper appreciation for the sheer scale of the Azure Dragon Academy.

It was truly a holy land that countless geniuses fought tooth and nail to enter. Whether it was the foundational structures or the cultivation grounds, the Azure Dragon Academy had polished everything to sheer perfection.

Following a few inquiries, Tang Yan finally pinpointed the location of the Nine Nether Fire Sea.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, he stopped before a massive dome-shaped structure. Taking in the vast expanse that covered an immense area, Tang Yan strode toward the entrance.

According to the rules, each entry into the Nine Nether Fire Sea cost ten Star Values.

This price was not steep for Tang Yan. Just as he prepared to enter, his gaze suddenly flashed like lightning, locking onto a distant pavilion.

Staring curiously at the towering structure, Tang Yan's brows knitted together.

For a fleeting second, he felt an intense gaze from a supreme expert lock onto him, making his skin crawl with discomfort.

But the sensation vanished as quickly as it came. Guessing that the other party harbored no ill intent, Tang Yan swiped his Star Token and stepped into the Nine Nether Fire Sea.

The moment Tang Yan vanished inside, two elders stepped out from the distant pavilion.

"Old Zhen, that kid just now... did he actually notice us?" A rare trace of shock shattered the perpetual calm on Elder Huo's face.

"If that boy truly sensed us, then his Mental Power is nothing short of terrifying." Elder Zhen's expression mirrored his astonishment.

"It should be impossible. How could a youth under twenty possess such formidable soul Perception?" Elder Huo muttered to himself. "If his Mental Power is genuinely that astonishing, then taking him as my disciple is definitely on the table!"

"To become an Array-Martial Artist, tremendous Mental Power is an absolute prerequisite. Who decided he has to study alchemy under you?" Elder Zhen argued indignantly.

"Why are we bickering over this? We don't even know if the boy has any interest in alchemy or Array-Martial Arts yet.

Besides, his character still needs to be tested. Let us just hope he does not disappoint. We will see when he comes out." A glimmer of anticipation flashed through Elder Huo's eyes.