When they passed through the barrier and entered the Saint Realm, Zhu Yanyi took a deep breath. "It feels so much better to be in our own place."
"Indeed," Cui Chang’an nodded in agreement. "The atmosphere in the Shangmo Realm was too oppressive. It really isn’t suitable for us elves to train there."
"If it weren’t for the competition, we wouldn’t have gone there either," Cui Changjiu added, nodding.
Yi Yunfei smiled lightly. "Perhaps the Shangmo Realm will change in time."
During the seven days Zhu Yanyi was away, Guan Feng seemed to have figured things out. Because she had reached an understanding, she went into seclusion to break through her cultivation stage the day before they arrived. If successful, Guan Feng would enter the Dongxu stage.
Now, it depended on Guan Feng’s luck. If he truly saw through the truth, he would succeed. If he still hesitated, breaking through would be very difficult.
Back at the Saint Academy, Xi Muzheng was waiting for them. He already knew they had won the championship. Seeing them return safely, a look of relief appeared on his face. Watching them grow up, he could only support their studies while they were still in the academy.
"Everyone exceeded the task requirements, so there are rewards for all of you," Xi Muzheng said directly, without any empty talk. "Zhu Yanyi, you now have unlimited reading rights in the Library. This is your reward."
"Dean, you are so considerate!" For Zhu Yanyi, this was her favorite reward.
Xi Muzheng smiled and then turned to Ouyang Tianyun. "As for you, I’ve opened unlimited access to the culinary section. You cannot read other types of books."
"I am a culinary cultivator! Why hide those books from me?" Ouyang Tianyun glared at Xi Muzheng with dissatisfaction.
Then, Ouyang Tianyun laughed. "But at least you were reasonable today and gave me those permissions."
Ignoring Ouyang Tianyun’s complaints, Xi Muzheng addressed the others. "The other participants receive ten reading opportunities in the Library."
"Thank you, Dean," everyone said happily. The Library’s collection was vast; finishing it was impossible. Reading there required opportunities, and now they finally had ten each. They planned to make good use of them.
From that day on, everyone rushed to the Library. Zhu Yanyi was even more dedicated, as if she had made her home there. For ten days and nights, she did not come out.
During these ten days and nights, Zhu Yanyi not only read but also memorized every book. She had planned to read more, but a communication token rang with a message from Xi Muzheng, asking her to come out for an important matter. Reluctantly, she left.
The elder guarding the door looked helpless. It was the first time she had encountered a student who loved reading so much. Although students at the Saint Academy generally liked reading, none matched Zhu Yanyi’s intensity.
Zhu Yanyi was the last to arrive at the Dean’s practice chamber; the other sixteen were already there.
"Fifteen, I said liking books is good, but did you really need to read for ten days straight? The Dean gave you unlimited access, so you don’t need to worry about time," Ouyang Tianyun said helplessly.
"I was really worried I wouldn’t have time to read later, so I wanted to take advantage of these few days while I had time," Zhu Yanyi said directly.
Xi Muzheng listened and said, "Zhu Yanyi is right to be anxious. News from the Black Demon Secret Realm confirms that the number of evil demons is increasing.
However, because a great expert passed by recently, the evil demons haven’t come out. But they estimate that when they do emerge, their numbers will be even greater. I have contacted the deans of Shangmo, Shenhuang, Yuanwu, and Jingmei academies. They will send students here. In three months, we will depart together. Except for Yang Ruochen, Shi Chengchen, Xu Shen, Niu Wulang, Chen Geng, Cui Changjiu, and Cui Chang’an, all other students will go to the Black Demon Secret Realm."
"Dean, we can go too," Yang Ruochen spoke up first.
Xi Muzheng glanced at them. "If you go, it will be in the next batch. This batch is not for you. How many years have you been here? I haven’t even found new students yet. You can’t let such a large academy become an empty school with only teachers and elders, and no students."
Yang Ruochen sighed. "Then please find new students sooner, Dean."
Niu Wulang nodded beside him. "Yes, Dean, you are too slow. Just find good students earlier."
Xi Muzheng was speechless. "No matter how you object, it won’t change anything. Unless you have Zhu Yanyi’s cultivation level, there will be no exceptions for going to the Black Demon Secret Realm."
Zhu Yanyi looked at Yang Ruochen and the others, smiling. "Actually, you don’t need to worry. If we succeed this time, the Black Demon Secret Realm will become a good training ground for every academy, and you can still go.
If we fail, the evil demons will attack, and you will still have to fight them. So, no matter what, you don’t need to worry about having no evil demons to kill."
Zhu Yanyi’s words were very blunt. Xi Muzheng looked speechless. "Zhu Yanyi, can’t you say something nicer?"
Zhu Yanyi raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Dean, can’t I tell the truth? Besides, I was already nice. Should I say, 'Don’t worry, you’ll definitely have a chance to die'?"
"Fifteen," Jian Feiyan tapped Zhu Yanyi’s head. "You can’t say that. It’s too mean."
Zhu Yanyi stuck out her tongue, and everyone laughed.
Actually, no one minded. Such talk was just friendly teasing among them.
Although Yang Ruochen and the others wanted to go, they couldn’t due to their cultivation levels. So, they decided to let others help manage their herb fields, especially since the Cui siblings were there, they didn’t need to worry.
However, this management would only start after three months. During these three months, everyone was very busy.
Zhu Yanyi was also busy. Besides daily alchemy, she went to the Library to read.
At this moment, Zhu Yanyi maximized her photographic memory. She could finish a book in ten minutes and record all its content.
She read like this for ten days, then rested for one day to organize her notes and engrave some content into her Ruyi Space for future use, before continuing to read.