"You just said treasure hunting?" Jiang Yun caught the key point from Zi Yan's words.
Hearing Jiang Yun mention treasure hunting, Zi Yan's expression immediately changed, a smile returned to her face, and she pulled Jiang Yun, rushing out.
"Yes, treasure hunting! I just sensed a lot of good stuff waiting for us to dig up!"
The immense strength left Jiang Yun powerless to resist, even the joy of his recent advancement was shattered.
The next moment, Zi Yan was seen carrying a small figure, bursting out of the door, and disappearing in a few steps.
Leaving behind some bewildered classmates!
"Did something just run past?"
"Was there?"
"I think so!"
"They seemed to come out of that dorm. Has anyone moved into that dorm?"
"It's not enrollment season right now, where would new students come from?"
Everyone looked at each other, their faces full of confusion.
Outside the Outer Court, two shadowy figures appeared outside a tall, spacious pavilion.
On a giant Fire Cloud Tree, two small heads slowly poked out from the treetops. The lush, flame-like leaves served as a cover for them.
"Zi Yan, is this really okay?" Jiang Yun looked at the brightly lit 'Herbs' sign on the pavilion, instantly realizing what Zi Yan meant by treasure hunting.
"Slurp—" Wiping her mouth, Zi Yan placed her hands on Jiang Yun's shoulders, leaning on his back, her small head resting on his, and said righteously, "What's not okay about it? Elder Su Qian said he'd make sure I eat my fill. I feel bad for him being old and running back and forth between the Inner Court and Outer Court. Eating first, then reporting, there's no difference!"
Jiang Yun was speechless for a moment, and at the same time, he secretly felt sorry for the Great Elder. Of all things to say, he had to promise to feed Zi Yan until she was full. Is an Ancient Void Dragon cub that easy to fill up?
Besides a few imperial clans, which power on the Dou Qi Continent dares to boast that it can afford to raise an Ancient Void Dragon?
"Less talk, follow me, and you'll eat well and live comfortably from now on!" Zi Yan patted Jiang Yun's shoulder, speaking with an air of maturity.
Looking at the spirited Zi Yan, if Jiang Yun wasn't surnamed Lu, he would have at least come up with a line like, 'If the lord does not forsake me…' Cough, wrong show.
"Then how do we get in?" Jiang Yun looked at the patrolling team in the distance and asked seriously.
As the Outer Court's herb repository, although not as important as the Inner Court's, it was still heavily guarded.
Not only was a Dou Wang Elder stationed there, but several instructors also patrolled 24 hours a day. This area was generally forbidden to students.
Just like now, there were five Dou Grandmaster level instructors below, surveying with sharp eyes.
"Hmph! Watch me!" In response to Jiang Yun's question, Zi Yan lifted her head, speaking with an air of arrogance.
With that, Zi Yan led Jiang Yun around the instructors to a blind spot. The next moment, Zi Yan's arm seemed to enter water as it passed through the wall in front of them.
"Hurry!" Opening the'space gate' seemed to have exhausted Zi Yan greatly. At this moment, her forehead was covered in sweat, and she anxiously pulled Jiang Yun, immediately disappearing into it.
After the two disappeared, the area returned to normal.
After a period of dark vision, the surroundings brightened again, and Jiang Yun saw that they were now in a corner of a room.
The surroundings were quiet, with only the lingering scent of herbs indicating the importance of the place.
"So much delicious stuff!" A low, sweet cry came. Zi Yan's eyes lit up, and an unseemly drool flowed from the corner of her mouth. If not for the remaining shred of reason telling her that they were entering through an improper channel, she would have pounced already.
Jiang Yun, however, was calm. The white jade walls and floor tiles didn't stir any ripples in him. Only the herbs in the display cases, with their peculiar shapes and subtly different aromatic scents wafting out, made him glance sideways.
He didn't recognize the herbs of the Dou Qi Continent, but judging by the medicinal properties emanating from them, the herbs here were all of high grade, suitable for refining high-level pills. No wonder Zi Yan couldn't resist them.
"Xiao Yunzi, look." Just as Jiang Yun was scanning the many herbs, Zi Yan suddenly leaned into his ear, her small finger pointing to a counter in front, her burning gaze practically wanting to devour the item whole.
On the counter, there was an exquisite jade plate, no different from the others, but the item on it seemed extraordinary.
Even Jiang Yun, who didn't understand medicine, subconsciously ignored the surrounding herbs and was instantly drawn to it.
It was a palm-sized fruit, half red and half white. Even from this distance, Jiang Yun could feel the intense heat and cold emanating from it.
Two completely opposite, mutually reinforcing and restraining attributes were perfectly integrated into one fruit. One had to admit, nature was truly incredibly wondrous.
"This is...?"
"Ice Fire Dragon Whisker Fruit!?"
Looking at the somewhat 'familiar' fruit, Jiang Yun murmured, this was one of the few herbs from the original work that he knew of. He hadn't expected it to appear here.
Was it a coincidence?
"Ah—, Xiao Yunzi, you know it? You said you didn't understand herbs!"
Zi Yan, with her keen hearing, could clearly hear Jiang Yun's whisper even from ten meters away, let alone with only three fingers' distance between them.
Feeling 'deceived,' Zi Yan 'angrily' elbowed Jiang Yun in the stomach.
"Ugh!" Caught off guard, Jiang Yun was momentarily breathless. Fortunately, Zi Yan still knew her limits, and he recovered in a few breaths.
"Coincidence, it just happens to be one I recognize," Jiang Yun said, covering his stomach, forcing an explanation.
"Hmph—"
Zi Yan merely bared her teeth and glared at Jiang Yun, then said, "You stay here, don't move. I'll be right back!"
With that, without waiting for Jiang Yun's reply, space rippled, and Zi Yan instantly vanished.
"Sigh—" Jiang Yun helplessly watched Zi Yan's disappearing back. He wondered if he should seriously learn how to use spatial power from Zi Yan.
He had such a talent, but unfortunately, he had the treasure without the method. If Jiang Yun researched it himself, he didn't know how many detours he would have to take. With the darling of space, the Ancient Void Dragon, by his side, this 'resource' was too good to waste.
One must know that the spatial power on the Dou Qi Continent was exceptionally active. A Dou Zong could already crudely use spatial power, and if he learned it in advance, it would be an invaluable method before reaching Dou Zong.
By then, he could also break through the Dou Zong barrier more smoothly!
However, would it be the same whether he came or not? Looking down at his feet, Jiang Yun sighed helplessly, considering it as accompanying Zi Yan.
At the same time, inside the cabinet holding the Ice Fire Dragon Whisker Fruit, an extremely slender small hand appeared as if out of thin air, smoothly taking the Dragon Whisker Ice Fire Fruit from the jade plate.
The restrictions placed on the cabinet by the academy were like nothing to that small hand.
"Let's go!"
While Jiang Yun was in a daze, a small hand pulled him from behind. The next moment, just as they had arrived, they left again through the wall behind them.
Before leaving, Jiang Yun's expression shifted. He looked back and saw a white-haired old man looking at them expressionlessly. When he saw Jiang Yun actually look back at him.
His expression froze, then he looked at him with a half-smile!
At this moment, Jiang Yun suddenly felt a bit awkward. It turned out that Zi Yan's seemingly flawless actions were completed right under the man's nose; he simply didn't bother to pursue it.
Or rather, someone had given instructions!
Seeing the old man who didn't stop them, Jiang Yun instantly understood everything. Why the Ice Fire Dragon Whisker Fruit appeared here; it was clearly someone giving Zi Yan special treatment!
Thinking of this, Jiang Yun couldn't help but feel a little emotional. The Great Elder was a kind person!
After the two completely disappeared, the Elder who remained in place said, "Those two little ones are good. The Great Elder's judgment is as good as ever!"
"But what race is that little one? To be able to use spatial power at the fourth rank, such a bloodline must have an extraordinary origin!"
"I just didn't want this place to be ruined by Zi Yan, that's all. As for Zi Yan's race, this old man couldn't tell either." Su Qian's figure slowly appeared, speaking indifferently with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Hehe!" Elder Yang let out a light chuckle. Although he didn't know Zi Yan's race, being able to see the Great Elder's tsundere side was worth it.
Hearing the laughter from behind, Su Qian's face stiffened. He turned and looked at the other party, saying meaningfully, "I hope Elder Yang can still laugh a few years from now."
Su Qian's words left Elder Yang bewildered, but Su Qian had already left, unable to provide an answer.
Back in the dorm.
Zi Yan eagerly pulled out the Ice Fire Dragon Whisker Fruit, opened her 'bloody maw,' and bit down with her neat, white little teeth. In an instant, a tiny gap appeared in the Ice Fire Dragon Whisker Fruit.
Drops of red and blue liquid flowed from the gap. As her teeth continued to chew, the red and blue juice overflowed from the corner of Zi Yan's mouth.
"Ptooey ptooey—, it tastes so bad!"
As time passed, Zi Yan's initial excitement turned into pain. Her small face was scrunched up, and she even rolled her eyes cutely.
With difficulty, she swallowed the fruit pulp in her mouth. Zi Yan looked at the remaining fruit in her hand with a conflicted expression, but ultimately, the temptation to grow up triumphed over her dislike of the taste. Zi Yan chomped down two more big bites, quickly chewing. The only thing that remained unchanged was her unpleasant expression.
"Once I break through to Dou Zhe, I can control flames. When that happens, I'll help you make the herbs into pills that suit your taste, so they won't be so awful."
Watching the painful yet happy Zi Yan, Jiang Yun said faintly.
"Hmm?" Her raised hand paused slightly. Zi Yan's eyes immediately lit up as she looked at Jiang Yun, letting out a cheer and pouncing on Jiang Yun.
"Xiao Yunzi, I love you to death!"
"Bang—" A violent collision sounded. Jiang Yun was fiercely knocked to the ground by Zi Yan. Understandably, six-year-old Jiang Yun was a size smaller than Zi Yan, and Zi Yan was a full four ranks higher than Jiang Yun.
Thus, this tragedy occurred!
"Zi Yan."
"Ah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Seeing Jiang Yun lying beneath her, Zi Yan immediately panicked. This was her future meal ticket; nothing could happen to him!
"I'm fine!" Helping Zi Yan stand up, Jiang Yun replied helplessly, casually stroking her ponytail.
Seeing that Jiang Yun was alright, Zi Yan immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Then she mumbled, "Xiao Yunzi is so weak!"
As soon as her words fell, Jiang Yun saw Zi Yan's face begin to flush, and the palm of her hand became as hot as a furnace.
"Hmm? This is..., she's going to advance?" Jiang Yun looked at Zi Yan, immediately realizing, and said with a happy expression.
"It seems..., yes!" At this moment, Zi Yan's head felt dizzy, as if she could fall into a deep sleep at any moment, but she still forced herself to remain conscious, looking at Jiang Yun and saying, "Xiao Yunzi, when I'm not here, if anyone bullies you, if you can't beat them, run. When I come out, I'll help you get revenge!"
Jiang Yun's expression froze. Looking at her, still concerned about him even in her dazed state, his face softened significantly, and he murmured, "Silly girl!"
As if hearing Jiang Yun's words, a faint smile appeared on Zi Yan's lips. A rich purple light surged from her body, and solid energy crystals began to appear on her skin. A purple cocoon, about a zhang wide, slowly enveloped her entire body.
As the light cocoon completely closed, a faint, almost inaudible whisper emerged, "Xiao Yunzi, after I come out... I want candy!"
Jiang Yun was amused and frustrated. He reached out and stroked the large purple cocoon, smiling as he said, "Okay, when you come out, I'll definitely prepare enough candy for you to eat your fill!"
As his words fell, the purple light cocoon trembled slightly, as if responding to Jiang Yun.
Looking at Zi Yan, who was still craving sweets even in her sleep, Jiang Yun chuckled, gently gazing at the flickering light cocoon.
It seems I need to work hard too. Who knows how long Zi Yan's breakthrough will take this time? If she comes out and I haven't broken through to Dou Zhe yet, wouldn't that be breaking my promise?
Jiang Yun was not a person who broke promises, so Dou Zhe would come soon!
"Since the Great Elder is here, please show yourself!"
As Jiang Yun's words fell, a figure flashed within the room, and Su Qian's form slowly solidified.
"It seems your soul power is quite terrifying. I underestimated you earlier."
After Su Qian appeared, he didn't look at Zi Yan. Instead, he looked at Jiang Yun with a hint of shock in his eyes.
"Uh—" Looking at the shocked Su Qian, Jiang Yun scratched his head awkwardly for a moment, "Junior merely guessed. The Ice Fire Dragon Whisker Fruit suddenly appeared there, presumably specially prepared by the Great Elder. So, when Zi Yan advanced, I guessed the Great Elder was nearby."
"I didn't expect Junior to be right!"
Looking at the explaining Jiang Yun, Su Qian laughed wryly. He hadn't expected to be 'deceived' by a young child one day.
"To have such foresight is quite remarkable!" Su Qian was not a petty person. He praised Jiang Yun with appreciation in his eyes. The two little ones he brought back were not simple individuals.
After praising Jiang Yun, Su Qian looked at the pulsating light cocoon, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.