Instructor Ruolin's Test (Please Keep Reading)

Jia Nan Academy's recruitment drive caused a huge stir in Wutan City and the surrounding regions.

The testing site was set up in a plaza near a major city. It was packed with people, and countless young Dou Zhe carrying dreams in their hearts stood in long lines, waiting for the moment that would decide their fates.

Xiao Yan mingled among the crowd, watching the rank glows continuously light up on the testing crystal ahead. Most ranged between the seventh and ninth stages of Dou Qi.

The occasional Dou Zhe would draw envious cries from the crowd.

He took a deep breath and suppressed the trace of nervousness in his heart.

Following Han Feng's instructions, he had to keep his strength suppressed at One-Star Dou Practitioner.

"Next, Xiao Yan!"

Hearing his name, Xiao Yan stepped forward steadily and placed his palm against the cold crystal sphere.

He carefully controlled his Dou Qi output, revealing only the faint fluctuations of a One-Star Dou Practitioner.

The glow emitted by the crystal sphere confirmed his rank.

"Xiao Yan, One-Star Dou Practitioner. Qualified!"

The academy student responsible for recording the results announced loudly, his tone calm.

A One-Star Dou Practitioner was not particularly outstanding in this recruitment drive, merely average.

Xiao Yan let out a breath of relief and retreated to the area for those who had passed.

He could feel several gazes resting on him, some curious, others scrutinizing.

One of those gazes came from a mature woman dressed in a light-blue gown.

She had a gentle temperament and soft features, but deep in her eyes was the sharpness belonging to an expert.

She was the person in charge of this recruitment, an Outer Academy instructor—Ruolin, a Five-star Dou Grandmaster.

Ruolin's gaze lingered on Xiao Yan for a moment. This young man gave her a strange feeling.

He clearly only emitted the fluctuations of a One-Star Dou Practitioner, yet his stance and gaze faintly carried a steadiness that did not match his rank, along with a barely perceptible hint of ferocity.

She frowned slightly but did not dwell on it, taking it merely as the stubbornness unique to young people.

The initial selection soon ended, with just over twenty people qualifying.

Instructor Ruolin walked before the crowd, her gentle voice reaching every ear clearly.

"Congratulations on passing the preliminary test and earning the qualifications to enter Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy.

"However, according to academy rules, new students are generally not permitted to leave the academy freely during their first year to gain experience. They must focus on strengthening their foundations."

Upon hearing this, disappointment appeared on many of the youths' faces.

Many of them longed to venture out in search of opportunities and rapidly improve their strength.

Ruolin changed the subject. "Of course, rules are not absolute. If anyone is confident that they are strong enough, you may accept my practical combat test before enrollment.

"If you can last the time it takes an incense stick to burn under my hands, you will receive a privilege. So long as you follow academy rules in the future, you will have the qualifications to apply to leave the academy for experience."

The crowd immediately stirred at this news.

They were supposed to last alone against a Five-star Dou Grandmaster for the time it took an incense stick to burn?

For newcomers whose highest ranks were only Two-Star or Three-Star Dou Shi, it was practically an impossible task.

Yet Instructor Ruolin's test made Xiao Yan's heart leap!

The right to venture out for experience! That was exactly what he urgently needed!

If he remained in the academy and cultivated step by step, when would he ever catch up to Nalan Yanran?

He needed resources, battles, and a way to search for Heavenly Flames!

Teacher! he called out urgently in his heart.

The opportunity has arrived! Han Feng's cold voice carried a trace of excitement.

That little girl is a Five-star Dou Grandmaster. With your true strength as a Three-Star Dou Shi, along with the Dou Techniques I taught you, lasting the time it takes an incense stick to burn will not be difficult!

However, remember not to expose all your strength. You need to make it look "difficult." It would be best if you suffered a minor injury, so she believes you endured through sheer willpower.

This disciple understands! Determination flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes. He immediately stepped forward and declared loudly, "Instructor Ruolin, this student, Xiao Yan, is willing to accept the test!"

Everyone's gazes instantly focused on Xiao Yan.

A One-Star Dou Practitioner dared to challenge a Five-star Dou Grandmaster? Wasn't that simply asking for humiliation?

Ruolin was somewhat surprised as well. She sized Xiao Yan up once more, then saw the unquestionable determination in his eyes and nodded.

"Your courage is commendable. Very well, I shall give you this opportunity."

The center of the plaza was cleared, and everyone else withdrew to the perimeter.

Instructor Ruolin stood casually, her aura calm.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath and assumed a fighting stance.

"Begin," Instructor Ruolin said softly, making no move to attack first.

Xiao Yan gave a low shout, stomped on the ground, and shot forward. His fist tore through the air as it flew straight toward Instructor Ruolin's face.

He deliberately kept his speed and strength at the level appropriate for a One-Star Dou Practitioner.

Instructor Ruolin shifted slightly to the side and casually slapped out with her slender hand. A pliant force surged forth, easily dissolving the force of Xiao Yan's punch.

"Your strength is acceptable, but your speed is a little slow," she commented.

Xiao Yan used the force to retreat, then charged forward again. This time, both palms danced, producing layer after layer of palm shadows. It was the Suction Palm he had painstakingly cultivated for so long.

At once, a faint suction force tried to disrupt Ruolin's movements.

"Oh? A low-tier Xuan-class Dou Technique? Interesting." A trace of surprise flashed through Instructor Ruolin's eyes.

She merely swayed slightly and steadied herself. Then, with a light tap of her jade-like finger, a stream of water-blue Dou Qi shot out, forcing Xiao Yan to retreat repeatedly in a rather "miserable" state.

Over the following moments, Xiao Yan endured "with difficulty" according to Han Feng's instructions.

At times, he used the Suction Palm to interfere with her. At others, he dodged through his "unyielding" will. Occasionally, Instructor Ruolin's seemingly casual attacks grazed him, tearing his clothes and leaving shallow wounds. He looked thoroughly battered, but in truth, he had avoided every vital spot.

He deliberately made his Dou Qi seem unable to keep up, his face "pale," and his breathing "labored," perfectly playing the role of a One-Star Dou Practitioner fighting with everything he had.

The academy students watching from the perimeter could not help but be moved, all of them infected by Xiao Yan's "unyielding" spirit.

"This guy has incredible perseverance!"

"It isn't easy for a One-Star Dou Practitioner to last this long."

Seeing Xiao Yan's performance, Instructor Ruolin nodded inwardly as well.

This boy truly had a resolute temperament, and his use of Dou Techniques was fairly proficient. Though his talent appeared ordinary, with this perseverance, he might be able to go further on the path of cultivation.

The time it took an incense stick to burn was about to end.

Just as the incense was about to burn out, Instructor Ruolin slightly intensified her assault to test Xiao Yan's limits. A somewhat sharp water arrow shot toward his shoulder.

That strike would have been enough to render a genuine One-Star Dou Practitioner incapable of fighting.

A sharp glint flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes. He knew the crucial moment had come.

He could not dodge too easily, nor could he take the blow head-on and expose his strength.

Under Han Feng's covert guidance, he staggered beneath his feet and tilted his body slightly, allowing the water arrow to graze past his arm and leave behind a bloody mark.

At the same time, he gave a muffled groan and used the momentum to fly backward, landing just outside the ring.

Time was up!

Xiao Yan knelt on one knee, clutching his bleeding arm and "gasping for breath." He raised his head toward Instructor Ruolin, his gaze still "stubborn."

Instructor Ruolin looked at the burned incense ash in the burner, then at Xiao Yan, who had endured until the end despite his injuries. A faint approving smile appeared on her gentle face.

"Time is up. Xiao Yan, you have passed the test."

As she announced it, she flicked her finger, sending a healing pill toward Xiao Yan.

"Not bad. Your perseverance is commendable. This is what you deserve."

Xiao Yan caught the pill, ecstatic inside, but forced an expression of gratitude and exhaustion onto his face. "Thank you, Instructor Ruolin!"

He had succeeded! Not only had he gained the right to venture out for experience, but he had also left a favorable impression of being "unyielding and resolute" in Instructor Ruolin's heart.

However, he did not notice that the slight discordant energy fluctuation caused by his deliberate control over his injuries and Dou Qi at the instant he fell had made Instructor Ruolin's brows twitch slightly.

That did not feel like the appearance of someone whose Dou Qi had been exhausted. It was more like he was suppressing something.

However, that faint suspicion was quickly obscured by Xiao Yan's "excellent" performance and the weak fluctuations matching his rank.

Ruolin merely assumed that her senses had been mistaken, or perhaps his Cultivation Method was somewhat unusual.

Amid the crowd's envious and admiring gazes, Xiao Yan swallowed the pill and walked to one side to regulate his breathing.

Feeling the faint sting from his arm, his heart was nevertheless filled with anticipation for the future.

Teacher, we succeeded! he said excitedly in his heart.

Hmph, this is merely the first step, Han Feng said coldly. Hurry and recover. Once you enter the academy, find a way to gather information on Heavenly Flames! Your Flame Mantra needs fuel!

Yes! Xiao Yan suppressed his excitement and began planning what he would do after entering the academy.

In a private room by the window of a distant teahouse, Gu Long withdrew his gaze from the plaza.

He had arrived in this town long ago with Xun Er and Ling Ying, but they had not shown themselves.

"Exaggerated acting and an unstable foundation. He is merely drinking poison to quench his thirst," Gu Long commented indifferently on Xiao Yan's performance.

"Brother Gu Long, aren't we going to the academy?" Xun Er asked curiously.

"No hurry." Gu Long took a sip of clear tea. "We will stay nearby for now. Jia Nan Academy will become lively soon enough."

Their carriage carried them toward a quiet courtyard within the town.

The chapter belonging to Jia Nan Academy was about to begin, yet the course of the story had already strayed from its original path.