The towering buildings came into Lin Feng's view, but what attracted him most was a figure that suddenly appeared before him.
"Elder Lin Feng, I am Su Qian!"
The warm greeting startled Lin Feng slightly. To be greeted by a Grand Elder upon entering the inner courtyard—when did his status become so high?
Hu Qian, standing beside him, greeted him with a smile, then nudged Lin Feng's shoulder.
"Elder Lin Feng, I specifically passed your message to the Grand Elder, which is why he specially arranged to meet you."
Hu Qian's intentions were revealed in just a few words.
"Elder Lin Feng, don't forget my pills after receiving this preferential treatment!"
"Lin Feng will certainly remember the Vice Dean's kindness."
Lin Feng said firmly, clasping his hands slightly. Leaving aside the previous transaction, Hu Qian's decision and the promise from the academy were already enough to make Lin Feng extremely grateful.
Recommending him to the Grand Elder was a great convenience, even though his talent would eventually attract the Grand Elder's attention. But a recommendation from an acquaintance, someone close to him, would naturally be more appreciated. Otherwise,
regarding confidential matters, such as the Strange Flame, it was uncertain how long it would take to be informed, even though Lin Feng had never considered taking the mature Fallen Heart Flame.
After all, its Dou Zong strength alone was beyond Lin Feng's reach, not to mention he didn't have an elder to help him absorb it. Moreover, if he actually took the Strange Flame, not only would he be disliked by everyone, which would be contrary to his principles, but whether he could even leave the academy was another matter entirely.
After thanking Hu Qian, Lin Feng turned and cupped his hands to the old man standing with his hands behind his back.
"I am Lin Feng, paying my respects to the Grand Elder!"
"Hahaha." The old man before him was dressed formally, but his demeanor was not so serious. "I've heard of Elder Lin Feng's reputation even from the inner courtyard."
"The future of the academy still rests on a prodigy like Elder Lin Feng!"
Lin Feng, while not flattered by the old man's praise, felt a touch of joy. It wasn't anything else; within the inner courtyard, with the old man as a backer, coupled with his own strength to fight anyone below the Dou Huang level, he could move forward without hindrance.
"Elder, Elder Lin Feng, in that case, I'll return to the outer courtyard first."
Seeing the two chatting so pleasantly, Hu Qian said goodbye and prepared to leave.
"Vice Dean, wait a moment. I heard some time ago that a student from the outer courtyard disappeared without a trace. Is there some unusual activity in the Black Corner Region?"
As Elder Su Qian finished speaking, Hu Qian paused, his expression grave.
"That's true. According to our intelligence, this is likely the remnants of a sect wiped out by the academy a few years ago, trying to stir up trouble again and seek revenge. However, their hiding place is currently unknown."
"Such a bold individual indeed! If you have any information, the vice-dean must inform you. We will then arrange for the inner courtyard elders and elite students to go and eliminate them."
Hearing Elder Su Qian's words, Hu Qian was overjoyed. "Hahaha, if I have any news, I will definitely inform the elder!"
After a flurry of planning, Vice-dean Hu Qian left satisfied.
After Hu Qian's figure disappeared, Elder Su Qian turned slightly to Lin Feng and asked,
"Elder Lin Feng, would you like me to lead the way, or would you like to explore the inner courtyard on your own?"
After a moment's thought, Lin Feng told Su Qian that he wanted to wander around. Su Qian readily agreed, and after a brief greeting, a spatial fluctuation occurred, and his figure vanished from the spot.
After standing still for a moment to ponder, Lin Feng also flashed towards the group of buildings from which cheers occasionally emanated.
Walking through this vast inner courtyard, Lin Feng wasn't wearing the robes signifying his elder status, so aside from the occasional commotion caused by his extraordinary appearance, the atmosphere was generally calm.
However, Lin Feng couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. "Truly worthy of the renowned Canaan Academy, especially the students in the inner courtyard."
Looking at the students who occasionally brushed past him, although their faces were slightly older than Lin Feng's, these groups of Grand Battle Masters still surprised him.
Especially noteworthy was a woman with bright silver hair who slowly appeared, surrounded by many female students. In Lin Feng's perception, her Battle Spirit aura was extremely stable, without the slightest hint of weakness.
This reminded Lin Feng of a treasure found here. With that thought, Lin Feng lost all interest in wandering around and vanished in a few flashes.
"Sect Master, was there something strange you were looking over there?"
A voice rang out from the silver-haired woman after Lin Feng disappeared.
"No, I just thought that junior brother was a bit strange."
The woman's cool voice didn't feel distant.
"Hehehe, I think the Sect Master must have been lustful because of that junior brother's good looks!"
A female student with pigtails giggled, unusually bold.
"Well, you little brat, daring to flirt with the Sect Master, I'll punish you properly!"
Before the cool woman could speak, a red-haired woman with long, wavy hair, her eyes filled with deep affection for the silver-haired woman, spoke first, pretending to grab her fiercely.
Unexpectedly, the girl with twin ponytails seemed to have experience; she had already jumped away, playfully stuck out her tongue, and then hopped and skipped ahead. The girl with the big waves quickly followed.
The other women seemed unfazed, except for the sect leader, who, despite his usual calm demeanor, finally rubbed his forehead in exasperation.
Lin Feng, however, missed the opportunity to witness the interactions among the female students, as he was already heading towards a strange black tower he had heard about.
"Thump, thump, thump,"
came the sound of hurried footsteps, followed by a sunken area in the ground, and then the enormous black tower, its tip barely visible.
This was the scene that greeted Lin Feng when he stopped. It was precisely at the moment the tower was opening that the numerous students outside were desperately pushing and shoving, seemingly trying to rush inside and secure a good spot.
However, some positions were vacant, with only a dozen or so people occupying a single spot. When Lin Feng's powerful soul perception silently probed, he immediately understood why.
The leading figures all exuded the aura of high-level Dou Ling (Battle Spirits). Only one group, led by a female Dou Shi (Great Battle Master), had a low-level Dou Ling guarding her, suggesting their identities were not simple.
However, Lin Feng didn't care about these students, except for those with powerful backing. He stood at a distance, realizing he had neither a crystal card nor fire energy.
Just as Lin Feng was about to leave, a group of beautiful figures appeared behind him, but this didn't concern him, and he continued walking.
"Junior brother, is there something you can't say?"
A clear, cold voice came from among the figures, causing Lin Feng to stop and turn slightly to look at this sight. Not only Lin Feng, but everyone around turned to look at them after the woman spoke.
This woman, with her waist-length silver hair and a rare silver outfit, was not only beautiful but also the leader of the newly established Moon Spirit faction within the inner courtyard.
"What's this pretty boy's identity that caught the Moon Spirit leader's attention?"
"I don't know. He is indeed a bit better looking than me, but can looks put food on the table?"
Upon hearing this, the person next to him glanced at Lin Feng's handsome face and that inexplicable aura. Comparing him to the person who had spoken out, they exchanged a knowing glance but remained silent, understanding each other perfectly, as this person was known among the students as the "Honey Badger." At this crucial juncture, with the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower about to open, there was no need to waste cultivation time on momentary boasting.
Although everyone was curious about Lin Feng's identity, they didn't move, showing that their curiosity couldn't compare to a good spot for cultivation. Just as Lin Feng was about to answer...
A
resounding ancient bell chime rang out, and everyone looked up to see the tightly closed black gate slowly opening.
"Open the tower!"