"Ahh~"
Xiao Ze stretched lazily. At last, they had arrived at a small town on the outskirts of the Black Corner Region.
Several recruitment teams had already gathered here.
Large numbers of students recruited by Jia Nan Academy from various countries were staying in the town.
"This town is under the control of Jia Nan Academy and is used to receive the recruitment teams."
Instructor Ruo Lin came before the group and explained.
"The Black Corner Region is a dark land filled with chaos and slaughter. One careless step, and you may encounter disaster or misfortune."
"Once all the recruitment teams have returned, the academy's experts will escort us together to Jia Nan Academy."
"There's still some time now. You may look around this town."
"Recruitment teams from all over have gathered here. There may be something that interests you, so feel free to take a look."
"Remember! Fighting is forbidden in this town!"
Instructor Ruo Lin looked solemn. After saying those final words, she waved her hand and dismissed the students.
Xiao Ze, Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian, and the others did not leave. Instead, they remained at Instructor Ruo Lin's side.
"Instructor Ruo Lin, roughly how long will it take to cross the Black Corner Region and reach Jia Nan Academy?"
Xiao Ze asked.
"What? Are you already impatient to see the sights of Jia Nan Academy?"
Ruolin said with a smile.
After thinking for a moment, she pondered aloud.
"Normally speaking, our group is relatively late. The recruitment teams should all arrive within two days."
"Even with the academy's experts escorting us, crossing the Black Corner Region will not be easy."
"Natural disasters are manageable. If we run into hundreds or thousands of bandits, that would be the real trouble."
"Conservatively speaking, it will take around ten days."
Xiao Ze nodded. It was inconvenient for him to cultivate while traveling.
He was mainly afraid that making too much commotion would attract unnecessary trouble.
Once he reached Jia Nan Academy, he could cultivate without restraint.
As he recalled, Jia Nan Academy seemed to have a vast back mountain range that could practically be called endless.
The Inner Academy, known as the core of Jia Nan Academy, was also hidden within those endless mountains.
Time passed in a flash.
Before dawn that day, after all the teams had been counted, a pair of wings emerged behind an old man. With a slight flap, he rose into the air.
"The recruitment teams are all present. You have half an hour to pack your belongings. We depart immediately in half an hour. No waiting for latecomers!"
His voice, carried by Dou Qi, rang throughout the entire town.
Xiao Ze suddenly opened his eyes and flipped up from the bed.
For the past two days, he had slept fully clothed. When traveling outside, it was better to be cautious and not act as though he were at home.
On the other two beds, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Xun'er opened their eyes one after another.
"We're finally crossing the Black Corner Region. I can't wait to get inside Jia Nan Academy and begin cultivating."
The two women smiled and followed Xiao Ze outside.
Once they stepped out of the room, the area outside was already bustling. Countless people were packing their belongings.
Xiao Ze and the other two all possessed storage rings and traveled light, so they had nothing to pack. They simply waited beside Instructor Ruo Lin.
Amid the bustle, time passed in the blink of an eye.
Half an hour later, the old man's voice echoed once more.
"The half hour is up. Depart!"
The vast procession set out, advancing toward that chaotic and blood-soaked dark land.
Jia Nan Academy's annual recruitment ceremony easily drew the covetous eyes of all sides.
After all, with such an enormous convoy, there would always be some audacious people who wanted to take a bite out of it.
This was especially true of the infamous bandits of the Black Corner Region, who had the "honor" of living with their lives on the line.
Every year, countless desperadoes rushed to the Black Corner Region to become bandits.
The new replaced the old generation after generation, and no one ever learned a lesson from it.
On the fifth day of travel, a powerful energy fluctuation erupted from the rear of the convoy. An academy expert had made a move!
At the very least, a Dou Wang!
Not long afterward, an old man controlled dozens of heads in midair and hung them from flagpoles throughout the convoy, killing the chicken to warn the monkeys!
The flagpoles throughout the entire convoy were already covered in heads.
Those heads belonged to the bandits who had tried to charge the convoy over the past few days, thinking that taking even one person away would be worth it!
As they traveled deeper into the Black Corner Region, the number of heads on the flagpoles steadily increased, and their deterrent effect grew much stronger.
Before making a move, many bandits would weigh whether they might become another head hanging from a flagpole as a warning!
The freshmen in the convoy, who had originally been brimming with excitement,
turned pale one after another as they looked at the vicious, bloodied heads above them.
Yet the instructors said nothing. Jia Nan Academy was not here to cultivate flowers, but true powerhouses!
If they could not even endure bloodshed and killing, then they should leave the path of cultivation as soon as possible!
Xiao Ze leaned against a flagpole, breathing in the air tinged with a faint scent of blood. His expression was calm, and he was even devising a brand-new ability in his mind.
Ever since obtaining the Calamity Poison Body, he had consciously tried to fuse its poisonous power with the Water Attribute Dou Qi within his body.
He had already achieved some initial results, but he needed to develop it further for the two energies to fully display the might they were meant to possess!
In particular, the fusion of the Perfect Calamity Poison Body and Water Attribute Dou Qi might create an entirely new special attribute.
Poisonous water, or a poison-water attribute?
Xiao Ze cast aside the thought of naming it. It had not been fully completed yet, so he could consider the name later.
Besides, this unique attribute was likely the only one of its kind on the Dou Qi Continent. There was no real use in naming it as long as he understood it himself.
Over the following days, the harassment noticeably decreased.
After all, the heads hanging from the flagpoles had once been living people.
This was the price of daring to provoke Jia Nan Academy!
Xiao Ze stood up. Two majestic mountains appeared before him.
A small town stood between the mountains.
Xiao Ze looked at the town gradually becoming clearer in his field of vision, as well as the plaque bearing its name.
Peace Town!
"This is Peace Town, and that is the Dead Spirit Tree!"
Xiao Ze looked toward the peculiar tree. This tree had witnessed the history of conflict between Jia Nan Academy and the forces of the Black Corner Region.
To seek even a measure of peace in this Black Corner Region of chaos and slaughter required efforts far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
The corpse of a Dou Emperor and the corpses of two Dou Wangs hanging from the Dead Spirit Tree were irrefutable proof!
"Whew, we've finally reached the outskirts of Jia Nan Academy. Next, we only need to cross a Primeval Forest to officially arrive at Jia Nan City!"
Instructor Ruo Lin said to Xiao Ze.
Xiao Ze nodded, his eyes filled with anticipation.
No further mishaps occurred. They passed safely through the Primeval Forest.
An incomparably magnificent city appeared before the many freshmen.
Jia Nan City!
Jia Nan Academy was located at the center of the city!
Upon entering Jia Nan City, Xiao Ze could clearly sense that Instructor Ruo Lin had relaxed considerably.
"Instructor Ruo Lin, you can finally take it easy now, right?"
Xiao Ze said with a smile.
Ruolin rolled her eyes and replied irritably.
"The busy part starts now. I have to arrange all the matters concerning the freshmen entering the academy..."
Ruolin pulled a long face and suddenly grabbed Xiao Ze's hand. "Don't go disappearing on me again!"
"I'll try..."
"No trying... At the very least, wait until I've settled the freshmen's arrangements..."
Ruolin widened her eyes and glared at Xiao Ze indignantly. Her usual gentle, watery demeanor had vanished entirely!
"Alright, alright."
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