Xiao Yao felt the depletion of the Dou Qi in his body. He still had some left; in fact, he had been holding back.
It wasn't just because his Blazing Sun Explosive Flame was of a higher level and possessed greater power.
It was also because the attribute of his Dou Qi countered the water attribute. In a real fight, Xiao Yao could have defeated her even across the gap in their levels.
Xiao Yao did not press his advantage.
Facing the wary gazes of Jia Nan Academy's teachers and students, Xiao Yao put away the refined steel spear in his hand. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he spoke.
"I've seen the standard of Jia Nan Academy. There are a few things I'd like to discuss with you in private, Instructor Ruo Lin. Would that be possible?"
Ruo Lin hadn't spoken yet when the students behind her erupted into an uproar.
One by one, they looked anxiously at Instructor Ruo Lin.
Some of the female students close to her were so worried that they spoke up. "Instructor Ruo Lin, don't listen to him."
"That's right, that's right! Instructor Ruo Lin, you mustn't put yourself in danger."
"Exactly! This is Wutan City. Even if he's a Da Dou Shi, he wouldn't dare cause trouble."
Ruo Lin's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at the mysterious figure before her.
By now, he had withdrawn his imposing presence.
Aside from seeming somewhat mysterious, he didn't appear hostile.
Instructor Ruo Lin wouldn't trust him so easily, of course, but she had her own considerations.
If she could stall him, help from Wutan City would soon arrive.
But if she stalled him here, the students would inevitably be hurt.
If she could meet him alone, even if he suddenly attacked, the innocent students wouldn't be caught up in it.
Although her Dou Qi was exhausted, she had some burst-type pills on hand. If she swallowed one, she could continue fighting.
To keep the students out of harm's way, Instructor Ruo Lin stepped forward and spoke in a grave tone.
"All right."
Seeing that Ruo Lin had agreed so readily, Xiao Yao breathed a sigh of relief.
He had thought he'd have to resort to the classic line: Instructor, you wouldn't want anything to happen to your students, would you?
After Ruo Lin made her decision, the students still tried to dissuade her, but she asserted her authority as an instructor.
Although Ruo Lin was usually quite gentle with her students, she also possessed the authority of an instructor. At this moment, her words brooked no doubt!
The students watched Instructor Ruo Lin's departing back and couldn't help grinding their teeth.
Some male students clutched their hearts as they watched Instructor Ruo Lin, feeling as though their hearts were being wrung. Clearly, they harbored special feelings for her.
The two came to a corner. Ruo Lin stood three steps away from Xiao Yao, looking wary.
Xiao Yao, however, smiled and raised the brim of his cloak's hood, revealing his entire face.
Instructor Ruo Lin was momentarily stunned when she saw Xiao Yao's youthful face.
"Instructor Ruo Lin, I'm here to join you."
The sudden turn of events left even Ruo Lin standing there in a daze.
This fellow had come to test the academy's standard, only to join it in the end?
"My name is Xiao Yao. I'm from the Xiao Clan, and I'm sixteen this year. As for my cultivation level, Instructor, you should already know it: One-Star Great Dou Master. I want to become a new student at Jia Nan Academy this year."
Hearing Xiao Yao's words, Ruo Lin, who was already somewhat dazed, couldn't help widening her beautiful eyes.
A sixteen-year-old Da Dou Shi!?
Moreover, he hadn't forcibly raised his cultivation using external means.
Those who forcibly broke through with external help mostly suffered from flaws such as unstable Dou Qi.
Yet Xiao Yao, standing before her, had defeated her, a Five-Star Da Dou Shi, with the strength of a One-Star Great Dou Master.
Ruo Lin stood dazed for a moment, then took a few deep breaths and came back to her senses.
"Xiao... Xiao Yao, is everything you said true?"
Xiao Yao nodded and said with a smile, "Please forgive me, Instructor Ruo Lin, for taking the admissions assessment in this manner."
Ruo Lin took a deep breath. With his strength, he had no need to toy with her.
This information could easily be verified. She only had to check with the Xiao Clan to find out.
Thus, Ruo Lin already believed him somewhat.
A wry smile appeared on Ruo Lin's face. The handsome youth before her looked humble and courteous, making it impossible to reconcile him with the formidable figure from earlier.
Ruo Lin already had an inkling that this seemingly humble and courteous youth was definitely a troublemaker.
After all, he had dared to challenge an instructor before even joining the academy—and had defeated her.
"Instructor Ruo Lin, does this mean I've passed the admissions assessment?"
Ruo Lin nodded with a wry smile, but she still said,
"I'm already certain of your strength, but as for your age, I'd like to sense your bone age. May I?"
After a moment's thought, Ruo Lin spoke.
A person's appearance could be altered or disguised, but bone age was generally difficult to fake.
Xiao Yao had no objection and held out his hand.
Instructor Ruo Lin's jade hand, soft as though boneless, touched the center of Xiao Yao's palm. A wisp of Dou Qi probed into it, sensing the vitality in his bones.
As an academy instructor responsible for recruiting students, Ruo Lin knew that verifying their ages was an essential step, and she had mastered the relevant secret technique.
A moment later, a look of shock appeared on Ruo Lin's face.
Her secret technique confirmed that Xiao Yao's bones were brimming with vitality. He was seventeen or eighteen at most.
In other words, the youth before her really was only sixteen?!
Amid her shock, Instructor Ruo Lin couldn't help swallowing. She had probably found a treasure this time.
With a student like this, why should she worry about not raising her instructor rank?
"There's no problem with your bone age. Add your strength to that, and of course you've passed the admissions assessment."
As Instructor Ruo Lin spoke, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
This was the first time she had seen a student pass the admissions assessment in this manner.
In the past, even after passing the admissions assessment, new students had to endure all sorts of difficulties from the older students.
Xiao Yao, on the other hand, had thoroughly frightened a great many of those older students.
"By the way, Instructor Ruo Lin, I have a request."
"Go ahead. Don't worry, the academy gives preferential treatment to highly talented students. As long as it isn't too unreasonable, it's fine."
"I understand. It's just that I won't appear with the recruitment group until the admissions assessment is over."
"While we're in Wutan City, please keep my secret for me, Instructor Ruo Lin. Don't announce it to everyone."
"When it's time to leave Wutan City, I'll leave with the recruitment group."
After hearing Xiao Yao's words, Instructor Ruo Lin thought it over, then nodded in agreement.
She didn't ask Xiao Yao for his reasons, either. It was simply a matter of the tallest tree in the forest being the first to be battered by the wind.
As far as she knew, the Xiao Clan ranked among the prominent powers in Wutan City, but across the entire Jia Ma Empire, it was hardly worth mentioning.
Xiao Yao's talent was definitely enough to cause a tremendous sensation in the Jia Ma Empire.
When it came to such a genius, the various factions had the option of investing early and befriending him.
But naturally, there were also those who didn't want a genius to grow into a powerful expert and take a share of their interests.
In Instructor Ruo Lin's view, Xiao Yao had made a wise choice by hiding his strength and talent.
As for after he went to the academy, there would be no need to hide them.
The more talented a student was, the more care the academy would take in nurturing them.
Even if the Outer Academy couldn't accommodate such a genius, it could send him to the Inner Academy. That was where geniuses truly grew.