"This is Zi Yan, the number one in the Inner Court strength ranking," Xu Ran introduced.
"Zi Yan? You are Zi Yan?" Hu Jia walked right up to Zi Yan and stared at her excitedly. The oppressive force emanating from Zi Yan was very strong—this was indeed the demeanor befitting the number one in the Inner Court strength ranking.
Zi Yan was elusive and mysterious in Canaan Academy, rarely seen by anyone. Even within the Inner Court, many had not laid eyes on the real Zi Yan.
"However, what about last time when you said that little girl was Zi Yan? You actually dared to deceive us. It seems you really have that sort of fetish; serves you right to be bad." The other girls also came to their senses and glared at Xu Ran with indignation.
What about that little girl who looked to be twelve or thirteen?
Xu Ran actually...
It wasn't that they couldn't accept it, but Xu Ran actually kept it from them and went with that little girl...
"Cough cough. That little girl is also her. Her situation is somewhat special. Isn't that right, Zi Yan?" Xu Ran was at a loss for words. Zi Yan's ability to switch bodies at will was indeed quite special.
"I don't know, who knows if you've been bullying other little girls behind their backs?" Zi Yan chuckled, watching Xu Ran's "Harem" catch fire with a desire to enjoy the show. Why would she bother explaining on Xu Ran's behalf?
"Hehe, greetings to all elder sisters, I am Zi Yan. Please take care of me when I enter the Inner Court," Zi Yan said with a tilt of her head and a sweet smile, making overtures to Xun Er and the others.
"Wow. I didn't expect you to be so friendly, Zi Yan. Rumors out there make you out to be very scary," Hu Jia immediately moved closer, looking at Zi Yan with admiration.
The other girls also began to show goodwill.
The number one in the Inner Court strength ranking.
If not for Xu Ran's help, they would have no chance at all to interact with one of Canaan Academy's Heaven's Proud Daughters.
It was through Xu Ran that they had gained their current strength, while Zi Yan had reached the top of the Inner Court on her own, making them all reluctant to underestimate her.
"Alright, alright. You all go tidy up in your rooms. We're heading to the Inner Court now," Xu Ran interrupted the girls. Seeing their behavior, it was almost like a rapid change of face. People who were complete strangers just moments ago suddenly became friendly in a matter of minutes, it was hard to tell if it was genuine or pretended.
After the girls were ready, Xu Ran led them straight to the Inner Court.
It was then that they truly experienced the terror of Xu Ran's strength.
Xu Ran led them through the sky, at a place ten thousand meters from the ground.
This shocking scene assaulted everyone's senses.
Even Xun Er and the others were somewhat surprised.
Even for a Douhuang with Dou Qi Hua Yi, it was difficult to fly this high.
"So high. This is my first time seeing the world from this angle. From up here, Canaan Academy looks so small," Xiao Mei and the others exclaimed excitedly. Viewing the world from this perspective suddenly gave them a sense of their own insignificance.
Having just experienced a surge in strength, they were now deeply aware of their own weakness.
Compared to this vast universe, they were too weak.
"Brother Xu Ran, will you still be able to take me flying in the sky in the future?" Xiao Mei clung to him, hugging Xu Ran and acting coquettishly. Although Xu Ran was very strong, he rarely took them out for such enjoyment.
"Of course, I can. If you want to stay a bit longer, we can play around here more. In the vast universe, everyone is insignificant. Even the strong ones are weak in the eyes of those who are stronger. Unless one reaches the end of the universe, otherwise, it's a dead end." Xu Ran couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the reactions of the women.
His strength was already formidable, but it was still far from sufficient.
Should someone surpassingly powerful visit their Continent, he would have no strength to contend with them.
Maybe those powerful ones wouldn't be so idle. But Xu Ran couldn't entrust his and his family's safety to the conscience of the strong. It was an indisputable truth that only with great strength could one protect oneself and their loved ones.
"Yes. If one continuously pursues strength, there is never an end," Xun Er nodded in agreement. Even the mighty Gu Clan faced many worries, and even their fathers, the Continent's supreme strong ones, wanted to break through to Dou Di. But what about above Dou Di? Surely there isn't an absence of realms above Dou Di?
"Humph. Who cares about all that? Why think so much? You've said it yourself, Xu Ran, you have to make sure I cultivate to Douzong, no, that's wrong, Dou Zun. Anyway, I'm sticking with you now," Zi Yan stuck out her little tongue.
Once she broke through to Douzong, with the formidable strength of her Taixu Ancient Dragon, she could overlook common Douzong. At Canaan Academy, she could be invincible.
Now, even having just broken through to Douhuang, she could almost sweep through all the fighters at the Douhuang level.
After lingering for a long time, everyone slowly arrived at the Inner Court.
"Is this where the Inner Court is located?"
Xu Ran led the women as they slowly descended, and after walking forward for a dozen steps, he halted, waved his hand, and a stream of Dou Qi shot forward. Suddenly, as the energy passed through a certain empty space, it brought about ripples like those on water, which rapidly fluctuated until a grand pale silver gate, seven to eight zhang high, appeared out of thin air!
As they stepped through the silver gate, everyone felt a momentary daze, and then their feet touched solid ground.
"Eh. Zi Yan, you girl went out to play again? I was wondering who it was." An Elder unexpectedly came over, clearly very familiar with Zi Yan.
"And these would be?"
"You must be Elder Xu Ran. Glad to meet you. I am Su Zheng, also an Elder from the Inner Court," said the Elder with an excited, flushed face upon seeing Xu Ran, his eyes looking as though he wanted to gobble Xu Ran up.
If it wasn't for Elder Su Qian's orders, those Elders would have gone to "exchange pointers" with Xu Ran long ago.
The Elder's flattering smile left the women staring dumbfounded.
The respected Elder of the Inner Court was showing such a pleasing attitude toward Xu Ran. It seemed it wasn't just them; even the Elders from the Inner Court had no resistance to Xu Ran's Elixirs.
"Right. Elder Su Qian left instructions. Hu Jia and the others needn't participate in the Fire Energy hunting contest. Each can directly receive one hundred thousand Fire Energy. Actually, I was about to come to welcome you lot to the Inner Court, but I hadn't expected Zi Yan to have already led you here," Elder Su said with a beaming smile, handing several crystals embedded with Fire Energy over to Xu Ran.
One hundred thousand Fire Energy, if the students of Canaan Academy's Inner Court knew that Xun Er and the others had just stepped into the Inner Court and immediately received so much Fire Energy, they would undoubtedly be green with envy.
One hundred thousand Fire Energy, with that, one could cultivate at the highest levels for many days.
This was naturally a reward for Xu Ran. Should Xu Ran help Canaan Academy create a new Cultivation paradise, Fire Energy would no longer be as crucial. However, this amount wouldn't be enough to buy off Xu Ran, who would certainly claim the Fallen Heart Flame for himself.