The challenge between instructor and student came to an end, cementing Xiao Yao's prestige among the new students.
On the Dou Qi Continent, the saying that the strong were revered applied just as much in the academy. In the Inner Academy, it was borne out even more fully.
The strong could climb the Inner Academy's Strong Ranking, obtain more resources, and cultivate faster. It was an environment where the strong grew stronger.
And now, Instructor Ruo Lin had first spread word that Xiao Yao had killed a Third-Rank Magical Beast on his own. Then, with everyone watching, he had taken three moves from Instructor Liu Qing, a Da Dou Shi.
His strength was beyond question. He stood above all the new students, and had even reached a level that the vast majority of veteran students would struggle to attain.
With strength like that, the students looked at Xiao Yao with a measure of awe.
The female students' eyes sparkled as they looked at Xiao Yao, and they couldn't help showing their admiration on their faces.
A trace of shock still lingered in Instructor Lin Gao's eyes. In all his years as a teacher, he had never seen a student with such talent.
There might have been students as talented as Xiao Yao in the more ancient records, but they were too far removed and seemed somewhat unreal.
But Xiao Yao was a living, breathing example, making even Instructor Lin Gao wonder, Could Xiao Yao cultivate differently from me?
Lin Gao couldn't help walking over, his words full of admiration.
"Good lad, in all my years as an instructor, I've never seen talent like yours."
Xiao Yao smiled. He had sensed that this instructor had wanted to step in and help him earlier, though he hadn't needed help.
Still, Xiao Yao appreciated the thought, so he was quite courteous to Instructor Lin Gao.
"You flatter me, Instructor. My attribute is just a little special, that's all."
Curiosity appeared on Lin Gao's face, but seeing that Xiao Yao didn't elaborate, he had the tact not to press him.
The two had barely exchanged a couple of words when Ruo Lin walked over with a smile.
"Xiao Yao, you really stole the spotlight this time."
"Instructor Ruo Lin, who do you think caused that?"
Xiao Yao spoke somewhat helplessly.
Instructor Ruo Lin covered her mouth and chuckled.
"Consider it a way of building up your reputation. At the very least, your name will soon spread among the new students."
"All right, then. Thank you, Instructor Ruo Lin."
Hearing Xiao Yao's somewhat reluctant thanks, Ruo Lin couldn't help giving him a bright, exaggerated roll of her eyes.
Afterward, the other instructors who had been watching also gathered around and greeted Xiao Yao, making themselves familiar to him.
Xiao Yao's talent was plain to see. If he could grow into it, he would surely become a mighty expert.
If he stayed at the academy, becoming an elder would be no trouble, so naturally they wanted to get acquainted with him now.
After dealing with the instructors, Xiao Yao intended to return to his lodging.
Along the way, students occasionally gathered their courage and came up to talk to Xiao Yao. He didn't act overly arrogant or aloof, treating them with warmth and courtesy that felt like a spring breeze.
Xiao Yao returned to his tent and found that Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian, and even Xiao Yu were already waiting there.
When she saw Xiao Yao, a faint smile appeared on Xun'er's stunning face.
"Brother Xiao Yao, you've made a name for yourself among the new students this time, and we've benefited a great deal as well."
Xiao Yu nodded repeatedly and said with a delighted smile:
"That's right, that's right. Cousin Xiao Yao, you really stole the spotlight this time."
"One new student kept pestering me before, but after seeing your performance today, he now hides far away whenever he sees me."
Xiao Yi Xian gave a gentle smile and said softly, "Young Master Xiao Yao has become very popular with the girls after this battle."
"Many girls with good looks and bearing knew we were close to you, Young Master, and came to ask us about you."
Xiao Yao laughed and said, "That's good. This way, you can quickly settle into life at the academy."
What Xiao Yao had gained from this battle wasn't limited to direct benefits, such as the three scrolls and the instructors' attention. There were many indirect benefits as well.
For instance, when male students wanted to pursue someone close to Xiao Yao, they would have to weigh whether they could afford to offend him.
And to learn more about Xiao Yao, the female students would approach Xun'er and the others, even trying to curry favor with them.
In this way, Xun'er and the others naturally became part of the larger group of new students.
As the center of it all, Xiao Yao naturally received the most attention.
For that reason, Xiao Yao planned to lie low for a while and focus on cultivating in preparation for the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.
This was also a good chance to look over the three scrolls Instructor Liu Qing had given him.
One was an intermediate Profound Tier Cultivation Method, and the other two were low Profound Tier Dou Techniques.
Xiao Yao gave them a cursory look and discovered that neither of the two low Profound Tier Dou Techniques seemed to be the ones Instructor Liu Qing had used during the challenge.
Xiao Yao couldn't help marveling. He hadn't expected Instructor Liu Qing to be so wealthy.
Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills on the Dou Qi Continent couldn't be copied so easily.
As the person recording them wrote, they had to imbue the text with their own insights and experience, ultimately forming a Soul Imprint that others could use to cultivate directly.
This also meant that Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills bearing Soul Imprints were bound to be valuable.
And all three scrolls in Xiao Yao's hands bore Soul Imprints.
Xiao Yao directly touched the Soul Imprint with his soul power.
Whether at the Xiao Clan's Dou Qi Pavilion or working as an appraiser at the Mittel Auction House, he had never had the luxury of directly touching a Soul Imprint to study a Cultivation Method or Combat Skill.
When it came to Soul Imprints, he had only looked before, never touched.
That was because every time a Soul Imprint was used, it had one fewer use left.
Once a Soul Imprint vanished, anyone who wanted to cultivate the method could only rely on the dry written descriptions. The difficulty of cultivating the two ways was as different as heaven and earth.
All sorts of cultivation experiences and insights concerning this intermediate Profound Tier Fire Attribute Cultivation Method flowed through Xiao Yao's mind.
The Fire Attribute Cultivation Method was fairly compatible with his Yang Attribute, so there was more he could comprehend from it.
Perhaps the Yang Attribute and fire attribute had certain things in common, such as their searing heat.
But those common traits weren't enough for Xiao Yao to cultivate a Fire Attribute Cultivation Method directly using his Yang Attribute.
As his comprehension deepened, the Cultivation Method deduction progress on Xiao Yao's Panel slowly began to rise again after a long pause.
Immersed in cultivation, he felt time fly. Before he knew it, the flying magical beast convoy had taken off and landed many times. There had been some mishaps along the way, but they had ultimately come through without harm.
When the recruitment party reached the edge of the Black-Corner Region, academy elders came to meet and escort them.
As the great convoy crossed the mountains, a town built between two towering peaks came into view—Peace Town.
Peace Town lay within the academy's sphere of influence, which meant they had finally reached the outskirts of the academy!