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--- Chapter 330 ---
Elder Qian and Elder Bai fell into an awkward silence upon hearing Han Yuan's question, feeling somewhat embarrassed under his expectant gaze.
As the Guardian Elders, they understood Han Yuan's importance to the Jia Nan Academy's future. Han Yuan's bizarre achievement of perfecting the Old Headmaster's incomplete dou technique ahead of time alone made his significance even more apparent.
So, they knew that they couldn't dampen Han Yuan's expectations of the academy, so they understood that the 'reward' they gave him should not be too cheap.
In short, they felt helpless. Moreover, Hu Gan's smug expression only made them more annoyed. 'Damn it, this brat must have visited Hu Gan first!' they cursed inwardly.
After some deliberation, Elder Qian and Elder Bai exchanged nods and said in unison, "Brat, follow us."
They slowly opened a swirling gray portal to an unknown location, and Hu Gan's eyes widened in realization. With a gentle push, he urged Han Yuan forward, "Go."
"Why?" Han Yuan asked, confused.
Hu Gan smiled mysteriously. "Trust me and go. You're lucky that Elder Qian and Elder Bai have allowed you this opportunity."
Han Yuan frowned slightly but decided to trust Hu Gan. He stepped into the portal, and Elder Qian and Elder Bai followed him, closing it behind them.
Hu Gan watched as the three of them disappeared into thin air and sighed, "You are about to witness something that everyone on this continent wishes to achieve, Han Yuan."
"But I suppose you deserve it. Even the Old Headmaster wasn't so monstrous at your age."
---
Meanwhile, on the other side of the portal, Han Yuan found himself in a vast golden desert, the sun shining brightly above him. He squinted and began surveying the area, activating his Eyes of Truth, a standard procedure for him.
"A Secret Realm?" Han Yuan mumbled in awe.
"That's right! It is a Secret Realm," Elder Qian said, appearing on Han Yuan's left.
"However, this isn't an ordinary Secret Realm," Elder Bai added, materializing on Han Yuan's right.
"The Old Headmaster created this Secret Realm by fusing several small-scale and fragmented secret realms when he was attempting to break through to the Dou Saint Realm."
"You could say this was his experimental space," Elder Qian chipped in.
"Even then, the value of this place is immense," Elder Bai continued.
Elder Qian chuckled and said, "After all, Old Headmaster made this place with many of his profound insights. But that isn't the real reason we brought you here."
"Deep in the center of this vast desert lies a massive lightning storm left over from the Old Headmaster's rampaging lightning Dou Qi, as well as fragments of previously scattered secret realms and uncontrollable spatial power."
"Strictly speaking, we shouldn't be bringing you to a dangerous place like this," Elder Bai cautioned.
"Yet, you have exceeded our expectations and made it difficult for us to choose what kind of reward we should offer you." He sighed helplessly.
'Oh, sorry for making it difficult then,' Han Yuan thought to himself.
Elder Qian gave Han Yuan a serious look and continued, "We usually stay in this Secret Realm to meditate—not just to guard it, but also to await the birth of something significant."
"Something to be born?" Han Yuan tilted his head in curiosity.
"Yes," Elder Qian nodded. "It is something that the Old Headmaster left behind for the academy."
"What is it?" Han Yuan's interest piqued. If two Dou Ancestor Experts were guarding something, it had to be extraordinary.
Elder Qian and Elder Bai exchanged glances before turning their attention back to Han Yuan and saying in unison, "We don't know!"
"...What?" Han Yuan was left speechless.
Seeing his shocked expression, Elder Bai laughed, "Hahaha! Alright, we were merely teasing you. There's no way the Old Headmaster left something unstable without giving us a warning."
"Even the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower came with instructions."
"Anyway, let's not keep you in suspense. Lying in the center of the desert is actually an ancient beast's egg!" Elder Bai exclaimed, causing Han Yuan's eyes to widen.
"An ancient beast's egg..." Han Yuan pondered. "What kind of ancient beast?"
"That, we don't know," Elder Qian replied.
"According to the Old Headmaster, he discovered this ancient beast's egg in an ancient ruin, a secret realm. The only clues he could gather from that place were two words and an image: 'Auspiciousness' and 'Wind,' along with an image of a beautiful-looking deer or horse."
'Huh, that sounds odd,' Han Yuan thought, imagining a Qilin, an Auspicious Divine Beast, fitting that description. He had a hunch that he was right, but he couldn't be sure until he saw the egg.
"Well, it would be easier if we showed it to you directly," Elder Qian said as he and Elder Bai began leading Han Yuan toward the center of the golden desert.
They soon faced a massive lightning storm, a testament to the terror of a Half-Saint Expert. The lingering power of such an expert could create such a catastrophic zone.
Just imagine what would happen if such a powerful expert rioted without holding back.
"Welcome to the Sea of Thousand Winds and Lightnings," said Elder Qian while patting Han Yuan's shoulder. "To enter this place, you would need to deploy a Spatial Barrier constantly. Otherwise, the extreme power of wind and lightning will shred you to pieces."
"Why don't I try first?" Han Yuan said while walking forward to test the water.
Elder Bai raised his eyebrow and commented, "If you're that confident, you can try, but you should stop after ten miles because the destructive force on the area after is not something even the Dou Ancestors could take lightly."
"Hmm, understood." Han Yuan nodded as he walked into the chaotic lightning storm, feeling its rage.
Unfazed by the danger, Han Yuan entered the storm while deploying his Infinity. The sound of clashing energy buzzed in his ears, but he ignored it and continued forward.
"Oh, is this the so-called Infinity he developed?" Elder Qian's eyes lit up in amazement. "Such a niche method of using the Dou Qi cloak."
"Indeed," Elder Bai nodded in agreement. "Once Dou Fighters reached the Dou Grandmaster realm, they rarely used the Dou Qi cloak and used the Dou Qi armor more."
He added, "Frankly, Dou Qi armor is better than the Dou Qi cloak, which not only provides superior protection and durability, but also due to its solidity... It wasn't bendable."
"Dou Qi cloak has the consistency of that of fabric, but that also depends on how much Dou Qi one infuses into it; it can become solid and even liquid based on one's control."
Elder Qian rubbed his chin and watched Han Yuan walking forward with interest, "Rotation, compression, expansion, layering, and then constantly repaired by utilizing the surrounding elements."
"His Infinity has a potential of reaching Heaven-rank Dou Technique."
"Do you really think so?" Elder Bai glanced at his fellow Guardian Elder calmly.
Elder Qian chuckled, "Why not? You know this brat's talent, and this 'Infinity' has potential to develop even more."
On the other hand, Han Yuan focused on constantly upgrading his Infinity by feeling the current of wind and lightning in the air, slowly refining them into his translucent barrier.
"I see..."
"So, that's how it is." Han Yuan smiled faintly.
"Wind is not just merely an element; it is a movement or, should I say, motion of air."
"But air is not just air; it can be a person or even a will."
"The Law of Wind, what an interesting concept."
After saying that, Han Yuan suddenly closed his eyes and then sat down to meditate amidst the storm.
"Hey!" Elder Qian and Elder Bai were speechless.
Didn't they already say how dangerous the Sea of Thousand Winds and Lightnings was?
Why is this brat meditating there?!
Unfortunately, Han Yuan was too far from them. He also shut down his senses so that he could focus more on comprehending a profound law of the universe.
After five hours or so, Han Yuan finally opened his eyes, but his eyes now flickered with electricity and an azure hue.
The translucent azure-colored wind barrier around him also transformed, gaining a static electricity-like quality.
"Mm, let's call this Infinity 2.0!" Han Yuan was satisfied.
"Brat, get back right here now!"
Two angry roars echoed in the stormy desert.
"Uh..." Han Yuan glanced back awkwardly.
He forgot he wasn't alone in this place.