"Ah, it's so hot!"
Listening to Xiao Shan's constant muttering beside him, Xiao Ming felt somewhat helpless.
"If it's hot, then go into the tent."
"I want to, but I can't beat those upperclassmen." Xiao Shan said with a miserable expression.
It wasn't as though no one had resisted just now and tried to enter the green tent, but they had quickly been thrown back out by those upperclassmen. They were still sulking over it now. With his strength, wouldn't he just be walking into a beating?
"Ah, forget it. Come with me. I'll take you inside."
"What? You're going to make a move?"
Xiao Shan knew Xiao Ming had broken through to the Dou Zhe realm long ago, so he had no doubts about his strength. His tone was filled with excitement.
At that moment, Xiao Ming's small figure seemed incredibly towering in Xiao Shan's eyes.
"Yes."
Xiao Shan's endless muttering, coupled with the scorching weather, made Xiao Ming decide to show off a little.
Unfortunately, he never got the chance to show off.
Because...
"Come in, all of you." Just as Xiao Ming stood up, a deep male voice came from within the large green tent.
Heh heh heh, time was up.
Upon hearing those words, the new students were overjoyed. They pushed themselves up, swiftly got to their feet, dusted off their bottoms, and headed toward the tent.
Xiao Ming immediately gave up on the idea of showing off and pulled Xiao Shan toward the tent.
After that voice rang out, the students outside the tent also entered.
"Hahaha, it seems my luck is good this time. I've recruited a monster!" As soon as Xiao Ming entered the tent, he saw a burly, broad-backed man with a face full of beard staring at him as though he were a treasure. The students beside him all addressed him as Instructor Ge Hu.
"Instructor." Since the man was staring at him, Xiao Ming could not pretend not to notice. He nodded and greeted him politely.
"Mm, wait a moment. I'll record your Talent Levels." Ge Hu nodded in satisfaction at Xiao Ming's politeness. Anyone who could enter at this age was surely talented, and he did not look like a spoiled Problem Child either. Not bad, not bad.
It had to be said that although Jia Nan Academy's method of crushing the newcomers' arrogance was somewhat inhumane, it did have some effect.
At the very least, the new students who had been drenched in sweat beneath the blazing sun were clearly much more restrained than when they had first arrived. Those who had entered alongside Xiao Ming all huddled in shady corners, their eyes constantly scanning the inside of the tent.
Once everyone had arrived, Ge Hu flipped his hand. The Na Ring on his finger flashed, and a green Sheepskin Scroll and an ink brush appeared in his broad palm.
Raising his eyes slightly, Instructor Ge Hu said with a smile, "Students, congratulations on passing the preliminary test. You can now be considered to have entered Jia Nan Academy's gates. However, because the academy needs to determine each student's Potential Value, I need to know your exact current strength."
"Eight Duan Dou Zhi Qi is considered F-rank Potential Value. That is Jia Nan Academy's standard."
"Nine Duan Dou Zhi Qi is considered E-rank Potential Value."
"One Star Dou Zhe is D-rank, Two Star Dou Zhe is C-rank, and so on. The highest rank is Five Star Dou Zhe. Of course, the age limit here is under eighteen."
"Jia Nan Academy has not recruited an S-rank Potential Value student in many years. I do not expect any of you to be S-rank, but I'll be satisfied if there's even an A-rank."
As he spoke, Ge Hu glanced at Xiao Ming expectantly. Xiao Ming had passed the preliminary test at such a young age, so Ge Hu held great hopes for him. Sometimes, age was a major advantage.
"Alright, come forward one by one and state your age and rank. Start from the left."
"Mashi, seventeen years old, Dou Zhi Qi Nine Segment..."
"E-rank. Next."
"Zhao Shuang, eighteen years old, Eight Duan Dou Zhi Qi..."
"F-rank. Next."
"Wang Hai, eighteen years old, One Star Dou Zhe..."
"Not bad. D-rank. Next."
"..."
Most of those who reported their strength were below the Dou Zhe realm. Naturally, there were also some new students who had originally possessed Nine Duan Dou Zhi Qi but had failed in their attempt to break through to Dou Zhe, falling back to Eight Duan Dou Zhi Qi.
"Xiao Shan, sixteen years old, Dou Zhi Qi Nine Segment."
"E-rank. Next."
When it was Xiao Ming's turn, he had no intention of hiding himself. The better he performed, the more resources he would receive, so why hide?
Besides, his current strength was not much at all. There was simply no need to conceal it.
"Xiao Ming, six years old, Three-Star Dou Zhe..."
"Whoa!" As soon as Xiao Ming finished speaking, cries of surprise erupted around him.
Ge Hu was ecstatic upon hearing this. He nearly snapped the brush in his hand. Raising his head, he stared heatedly at the child before him. His guess had been right—he had truly found a treasure.
"Cough, cough. Based on your current strength, you should be B-rank. But you're only six years old, so I'll grant you S-rank treatment. No objections?"
Xiao Ming had not expected such a good thing. Naturally, he had no objections. Who would refuse better terms?
After the registration was completed, Ge Hu told everyone to return home and bid farewell to their families, then gather here again in three days. Three days later, Jia Nan Academy's Flying Caravan would arrive at Wu Tan City, and they would be able to fly directly to the academy.
Over those three days, the results of Jia Nan Academy's recruitment test spread throughout the city, and Xiao Ming's reputation soared once more.
Xiao Ming did not pay much attention to any of that. During those three days, he cultivated as usual.
Three days later.
Everyone who had passed the test gathered once more, preparing to depart for Jia Nan Academy.
By then, Ge Hu saw that nearly all the new students had assembled.
With his hands behind his back, he stepped forward twice and faced the newcomers, speaking sternly. "First, congratulations once again on standing out and becoming students of Jia Nan Academy. However, there are hundreds, even thousands of students in the academy with talents equal to yours. You have no right to be proud yet. Do you understand?"
"Understood!"
The upperclassmen's display of dominance from last time was still fresh in their memories, so the new students naturally did not dare to object.
"Mm, very good. Follow me."
Ge Hu led everyone to the plaza. After they waited for a while, several tiny black dots appeared in the sky.
The black dots grew larger and larger, gradually revealing the outlines of birds.
The massive airflow stirred up clouds of dust, forcing everyone to cover their faces with their hands.
A group of flying Magical Beasts finally landed before them, their enormous bird faces staring directly at the crowd.
This sight immediately filled all the newcomers with fear, and some had even begun backing away.
Xiao Ming remained very calm. Knowing there would be no danger, he curiously examined these flying Magical Beasts.
Though these birds appeared enormous, their Auras should have been around Three-Tier. They were likely mounts specially raised by Jia Nan Academy.
As expected of Jia Nan Academy. Their foundation is indeed profound. They even use Three-Tier Magical Beasts for recruitment. If I had a flying mount like this, it would probably make many things much more convenient.
However, raising flying Magical Beasts was not something ordinary people could afford. Xiao Ming did not have that kind of ability now, and by the time he had the time and energy for it, he might not have any personal need for one.
The upperclassmen beside them looked at the newcomers' reactions, their faces showing varying degrees of disdain.
They secretly thought, what a bunch of bumpkins who had never seen the world.
Yet they had forgotten that they had been little different from these newcomers back then.
"There's no need to be afraid. These Magical Beasts are mounts raised by the academy. We will ride them back to the academy." As Ge Hu explained, he turned to observe everyone's reactions.
Seeing that Xiao Ming was younger than the others yet bolder, he became even more satisfied.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ge Hu circulated his Dou Qi and leaped into the air, landing atop the leading giant bird before disappearing from sight.
Some of the giant birds already had figures on their backs. Ge Hu was not the only instructor sent to recruit students in the Jia Ma Empire. This Flying Caravan was responsible for transporting people from several cities, and Ge Hu had gone to coordinate with them.
Before long, Ge Hu appeared again and jumped onto another flying Magical Beast. He said, "Come aboard. We're leaving."
The upperclassmen went first, leaping onto the giant birds one after another.
Only then did the remaining newcomers climb aboard, each of them trembling nervously.
Once everyone had boarded, the flying Magical Beasts spread their wings and soared into the sky.
Before you continue