Plans and the Killing of a Third-Tier Magic Beast

The vast procession of flying magic beasts flew beyond the Jia Ma Empire and arrived at a deserted mountain.

A large group of flying magic beasts was already waiting there.

Ruo Lin stepped out of her room and took out a crystal ball. She channeled Dou Qi into it, making it shine brightly to identify herself.

Only then did the group of flying magic beasts circling overhead lower their guard.

Soon, a burly figure rode a smaller flying magic beast over to Ruo Lin.

"Instructor Ruo Lin, how did recruitment go this time?"

"Very smoothly. Instructor Lin Gao, have all the recruitment teams arrived?"

"We'll have to wait a little longer. Three teams haven't arrived yet."

Lin Gao didn't linger. After confirming the situation with Instructor Ruo Lin, he rode his flying magic beast away.

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion. The instructors handled it all, so the students didn't need to get involved.

Before long, all the teams that had gone to the Jia Ma Empire to recruit students gathered there, and the vast procession set off for the Black-Corner Region.

Watching the group set off again, Xiao Yao wasted no time and immersed himself in cultivation.

After breaking through to Da Dou Shi, he still cultivated very quickly. He could break through one star in roughly a month.

The Panel clearly recorded every bit of his progress, allowing Xiao Yao to see his improvement.

However, even within the same realm, the difficulty of advancing through each star differed dramatically.

The difficulty soared in the later stages in particular.

Xiao Yao's projection was only a relatively optimistic estimate.

After they had flown for a long time, Xiao Yao, who was cultivating, suddenly felt a sensation of weightlessness beneath him.

His eyes snapped open, and he saw the scenery around him rapidly drawing closer.

Are we landing to rest? Xiao Yao wondered.

Although those riding the flying magic beasts could sit in comfort, the beasts themselves were exhausted from flying all the while.

While Xiao Yao and the others enjoyed a peaceful time, the flying magic beasts pressed forward under a heavy burden.

After flying for a while, they needed to land and let the flying magic beasts recover properly before continuing the journey.

The Jia Ma Empire was a long way from Jia Nan Academy. Even by flying magic beast, the journey took a month or two, and that naturally included rest stops along the way.

The flying magic beasts landed one after another in a clearing beside a hillside.

The recruitment teams took a different route on every trip to keep outsiders from learning the details.

After all, anything could happen when they were away from home.

If someone truly had the gall to attack the academy's recruitment teams, that would be trouble.

Even if the academy could retaliate afterward, the losses suffered by the recruitment teams would be all too real.

Therefore, they could never be too careful.

Soon, with help from the older students, the instructors directed the students in setting up a temporary camp.

Instructor Ruo Lin beckoned Xiao Yao over.

"Xiao Yao, come patrol the nearby area with me. We'll drive away or kill any magic beasts we find."

Xiao Yao clapped his hands and followed Instructor Ruo Lin into the wooded mountains, leaving the envious students behind.

Once they entered the woods, Instructor Ruo Lin questioned Xiao Yao as they patrolled.

"Xiao Yao, can I tell the students about you now? They've all been coming to me to ask."

Ruo Lin sounded somewhat helpless.

"No problem. Instructor Ruo Lin, you kept it secret for me while we were in the Jia Ma Empire. I'm immensely grateful," Xiao Yao said with a smile.

Only then did Instructor Ruo Lin breathe a sigh of relief. She continued, "Xiao Yao, your talent is exceptional. My thought was that, if you can make it back in time for this year's Inner Academy Selection Tournament, I'd recommend you take part."

"Recruitment started a little early this year, so we should make it back in time."

"With your current strength, you can absolutely compete for a place in the top five of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament."

"The academy provides extra rewards for the top five. For a student, it's a tremendous opportunity."

Instructor Ruo Lin laid out her plan, doing everything she could to arrange Xiao Yao's path ahead.

Although Instructor Ruo Lin spoke calmly, the earnest hopes in her words still warmed Xiao Yao's heart.

Ruo Lin truly deserved the title of instructor, doing her utmost to look after her students. Xiao Yao thought for a moment, then asked, "Instructor Ruo Lin, I rather like reading. The Inner Academy should have enough books too, right?"

Instructor Ruo Lin immediately nodded and said as though it went without saying, "Of course. Although the Inner Academy trains its students differently from the Outer Academy, it also has a large collection of precious books."

"All right. Once we reach the academy, I'll do as you suggest, Instructor."

Hearing Xiao Yao's sincere words, Ruo Lin's beautiful eyes flickered, and a delighted smile appeared on her face.

Ruo Lin was very happy to have Xiao Yao's trust.

After all, Xiao Yao was only a new student. He knew nothing about Jia Nan Academy, yet he was willing to follow her arrangements and take part in an Inner Academy Selection Tournament he knew nothing about.

That trust delighted Ruo Lin. The trust of such a gifted student was especially rare.

After all, geniuses were often proud and conceited, and they didn't readily trust others.

As they talked, Xiao Yao suddenly looked ahead.

"Instructor! Something's there."

Ruo Lin's expression tightened. She had fought Xiao Yao once, so she naturally knew how keen his senses were.

Ruo Lin immediately took her weapon from her Storage Ring and prepared for battle.

The two continued forward, and before long they saw a giant bear with earth-yellow fur lying fast asleep in a clearing in the woods.

The presence it gave off had already reached the level of a third-tier magic beast.

Xiao Yao and Instructor Ruo Lin exchanged a glance and nodded in tacit agreement, having decided to attack.

Xiao Yao pointed to himself, indicating that he would go first and lead the attack.

Ruo Lin didn't hesitate long before nodding her agreement.

After their previous fight, Ruo Lin had full confidence in Xiao Yao's strength.

Xiao Yao took out his fiery-red spear and suppressed his presence, slowly approaching the giant bear while keeping a close watch on it.

When Xiao Yao sensed a fluctuation in the giant bear's presence, he hesitated no longer and suddenly burst into motion.

He poured a tremendous amount of Dou Qi into the fiery-red spear in his hand. In an instant, the gold trim on the spear became dazzlingly bright.

The giant bear had just opened its eyes when the intense light flashed before them, making it instinctively squeeze them shut.

Taking advantage of the opportunity created in that instant, Xiao Yao thrust his spear at the giant bear's vital spot.

The thrust carried the full force of Xiao Yao's strength, heavy and powerful. A dazzling golden light shimmered on the spear tip, clearly marking it as a Dou Technique of considerable power.

Wind-Breaking Spear!

The spear pierced beneath the giant bear's ribs.

Its tough hide and flesh slowed the spear for only an instant before it drove through and pierced its internal organs.

The Yang Attribute Dou Technique contained within the spear erupted, carrying the destructive property of Sun Power that burned everything to nothing. The giant bear let out a scream and violently vomited a large mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of its internal organs.

Having landed his sneak attack, Xiao Yao immediately withdrew his spear and retreated to put some distance between them, lest the giant bear counterattack.

Ruo Lin had been about to use her long whip when she saw Xiao Yao land a blow and severely wound the giant bear. She couldn't help feeling somewhat shocked.

At the same time, she grew even more vigilant, ready to help at any moment.

The giant bear roared again and again, but it could do nothing. The power contained in that thrust was far too terrifying.

Even with a magic beast's powerful vitality, it was burned away completely by that thrust.

In the end, the giant bear could no longer hold on. It staggered, then crashed to the ground.