At Last, Jia Nan

"Is this Jia Nan City...?"

Xia Mo looked at the majestic, enormous city in the distance, feeling deeply moved. They had finally reached their destination. It had been... so boring.

"All of you students from Wutan City, follow me." Instructor Ruo Lin stood before the group and spoke gently.

Naturally, no one objected. They hurriedly followed behind Instructor Ruo Lin.

As they entered Jia Nan City, the first thing that met their eyes was a broad street paved with bluestone. The surging crowds on the street left everyone secretly astonished. Even the Imperial Capital of the Jia Ma Empire could not compare to this level of bustle. As expected of the birthplace of the continent's oldest academy. Its immense reputation alone was enough to draw countless people here.

Following Instructor Ruo Lin as they strolled down the spacious street, Xia Mo sensed the ordinary atmosphere of the city. It truly was different from the Black Corner Region...

Young men and women in uniform occasionally passed by on the street, golden star emblems representing their strength displayed on their chests. They should all have been students of Jia Nan Academy.

After walking for roughly half an hour, an enormous academy came into view.

Rows upon rows of tall, orderly teaching buildings filled their sight. Towering magic stone monuments stood in the square, lush green trees lined both sides of the roads, and on a massive plaque above the entrance, the four words Jia Nan Academy were carved in bold, sweeping strokes.

The steps before the gate and the vast square extending beyond it were all paved with refined steel rock. The academy gate itself was made entirely of high-quality jade, especially the four gilded words Jia Nan Academy on the plaque. They gleamed with golden light and were clearly worth a fortune.

Xia Mo sighed inwardly. They really are rich. Aren't they afraid someone might dig it all out one day?

Instructor Ruo Lin strode directly into the academy. After curiously glancing at the glittering plaque, everyone followed her inside.

After Instructor Ruo Lin registered them at the Academic Affairs Office, the academy began assigning classes and accommodations for Xia Mo and the others.

Arranging their class was simple. Generally speaking, whichever instructor recruited a student would be responsible for them. Instructor Ruo Lin oversaw two classes, Yellow-tier Class Two and Yellow-tier Class Four. Xia Mo and the others were assigned to Yellow-tier Class Two.

"Xiao Mo, Xiao Yi Xian, Xun'er, the three of you all possess Super S-class Talent. You may freely choose any instructor in the Outer Academy. And I am only an instructor for a Yellow-tier class, so I cannot offer you much help," Instructor Ruo Lin said.

"Instructor Ruo Lin, it's fine. We'll just join your class," Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian said.

Xia Mo did not particularly care which class he was assigned to. With his current strength, he did not need an instructor to teach him. Still, occasionally attending class with Xiao Yi Xian would not be too bad.

"Instructor Ruo Lin, with our talent, it would be the same no matter which Outer Academy class we joined. So we'll join your class," Xia Mo said as well.

"Oh, right. Because of your talent, after I reported it to the academy, they permitted you to choose one Profound-tier cultivation method or Dou Skill from either the Cultivation Method Pavilion or the Dou Skill Pavilion. You must seize this opportunity. I'll take you there shortly," Instructor Ruo Lin said solemnly. She assumed that, coming from a small place like Wutan City, they must need such things badly.

"Understood, Instructor Ruo Lin." *3

Instructor Ruo Lin gave the academy credentials to Xia Mo and the other two before leading them toward the Cultivation Method Pavilion.

Xia Mo had already discussed it with Xiao Yi Xian. They would first find a cultivation method for her. After her constitution awakened, her attribute had become poison. Though she was already a Seven-Star Dou Master, she had yet to switch to a cultivation method suited to her.

At the Cultivation Method Pavilion, Instructor Ruo Lin and Xiao Xun'er waited outside. Xia Mo and Xiao Yi Xian showed their academy credentials to the elder guarding the pavilion, and the elder allowed them through.

"Elder, we need a poison-attribute cultivation method. Please point us in the right direction." Xia Mo took Xiao Yi Xian's hand and bowed to the old man.

"You're quite polite, little one. Go to the fourth floor—seventh row of shelves, third level, scroll number six." The pavilion elder glanced at Xia Mo, stroked his beard, and replied with a smile.

"Thank you, Elder." Xia Mo bowed once more, then led Xiao Yi Xian straight up to the fourth floor...

"Hundred Poisons Art, a Profound-tier mid-grade cultivation method..."

Afterward, they went to the Dou Skill Pavilion. Xia Mo used his own opportunity to choose a Profound-tier mid-grade Dou Skill, Poison Palm, for Xiao Yi Xian. After all, he already possessed several Dou Skills. Xiao Xun'er casually picked one as well, though no one knew what it was before she carelessly tossed it into her Storage Ring.

Finally, the three followed Instructor Ruo Lin to the residential area. "Because of your talent, a small building has been specially assigned to you. One person already lives here—the little demoness I mentioned before. You can divide the rooms among yourselves later," Instructor Ruo Lin told them.

"Oh, and you can tidy up your luggage first... ah, it seems you don't have any luggage. You can go out and buy some daily necessities, then return to settle in. Get a good rest today; the opening ceremony is tomorrow. If you have any problems in the future, you may come to me as well. I'll do my best to help you," Instructor Ruo Lin continued. "I'll be going now. Come find me if you need anything."

"Understood, Instructor Ruo Lin." *3

Not long after, a figure dressed in red stepped in from outside, her face full of smiles. But when she saw the three of them, she was greatly surprised.

Walking up to Xia Mo, she asked, "Kid, whose family are you from? And who are you two? What are you doing here?"

The lovely figure approached, carrying a fragrant breeze with her. A faint scent drifted past Xia Mo's nose. Her scarlet robe was bright as fire, her long slender legs straight and smooth, her slim waist seemingly small enough to grasp in one hand. Her figure was curvaceous and alluring, exuding both sexiness and fiery charm. Her large black-and-white eyes blinked lightly, carrying a touch of unusual stubbornness and liveliness.

"I'm Xia Mo. They're Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Xun'er. We live here. Who are you?" Xia Mo asked in return.

"What? You live here too? I'm Hu Jia. I live here as well," Hu Jia said in surprise.

"Hello, I'm Xia Mo—Xiao Yi Xian—Xiao Xun'er. Instructor Ruo Lin already told us that someone else lived here. So it's you. Have you chosen your room yet?" the three replied.

"I chose one on the second floor," Hu Jia said somewhat embarrassedly. She had not known anyone else would be coming.

"Then Xiao Mo and I will take the first floor. Xun'er can stay on the second floor," Xiao Yi Xian said before anyone else could.

"Sure, let's do that," Xia Mo said as well. After all, he was closer to Xiao Yi Xian.

"Then let's go buy some daily necessities first. Once we come back and finish tidying our rooms, we can get to know each other properly," Xiao Xun'er suggested.

"Sounds good. Do you need to come with us?" Xia Mo asked Hu Jia.

"No, I just got back from buying things. You three go ahead," Hu Jia replied.

Xia Mo and the other two quickly found a general store in Jia Nan City. With two beautiful girls beside him, asking for directions was effortless.

After looking around, they found that aside from bedding, there was nothing else they needed to buy. Xia Mo's Storage Ring already contained pots, bowls, ladles, basins, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar—everything they could possibly need.

So Xiao Yi Xian decided to buy some vegetables. They could have a meal together that evening and properly get to know Hu Jia. The three of them could not be aloof; they needed to fit in with Hu Jia instead of excluding her.

Xia Mo had no objections. He hoped Xiao Yi Xian could make more good friends.

The three returned to the dormitory and saw Hu Jia sitting on a chair, lost in thought.

"We're back. Let's have dinner together later. Can you cook, Hu Jia?" Xia Mo asked casually.

"I... I can't," Hu Jia said softly.

"Then make sure you eat more later. Xiao Yi Xian's cooking is delicious," Xiao Xun'er said. It seemed she really liked Xiao Yi Xian's cooking and had already been won over.

"It's not as good as Xun'er says. They're just home-cooked dishes made by following recipes. If you like them, eat more later," Xiao Yi Xian said with a smile.

"Mm."

After a while, it was time to eat. The four brought the dishes to the table and found seats for themselves.

"Thank you, Xiao Yi Xian, for the wonderful dinner." *3

"Thank you all. My name is Hu Jia. I'm from Jia Nan City, an Eight-Star Dou Master. If you run into any trouble, come find me. I'll help you deal with it," Hu Jia said openly. After one meal, she had loosened up considerably.

"Xiao Yi Xian, from Wutan City, Seven-Star Dou Master. I don't have any troubles for now," Xiao Yi Xian said with a smile.

"Xiao Xun'er, from Wutan City, Seven-Star Dou Master. I don't have any troubles either." Xiao Xun'er smiled as well.

"Haha." That was Xia Mo.

Hearing everyone's words, Hu Jia nearly crawled under the table. They were all about the same as her—no, there was also that little brat. But she couldn't possibly compare herself to a child, could she? What she did not know was that the child was the most terrifying one of all.

Xia Mo watched Xiao Yi Xian laugh and chat with the others, playfully jostling and teasing one another. The moonlight danced softly, the stars sang aloud; though the world held countless heartbreaks, there could still be songs and laughter...

PS: Thank you to all the generous readers for your support.

Thanks to Winner Is King 990 for one monthly ticket.