Jia Nan Academy Recruitment

Back home, Lin Ming saw Ya Fei sitting beside Yin Lin, holding a roasted beef leg and feeding it to him. He said nothing, quietly watching the harmonious scene. After a while, Yin Lin was the first to notice Lin Ming's presence and looked toward the door, exposing him.

"Brother Lin Ming, you're back!" Ya Fei called out with a gentle smile. Lin Ming smiled and entered the room. Walking over to her side, he crouched down and gently stroked her silky hair. "Girl, are you getting along well with Yin Lin?"

"Mm-hmm, Yin Lin is really obedient!" Ya Fei nodded like a pecking chick, her magnetic voice ringing by Lin Ming's ear.

"Haha, that's good. Once I leave for Jia Nan Academy, you'll still have someone to keep you company, so you won't be so lonely. Yin Lin can protect you too, and I'll be able to worry less." Hearing that Ya Fei and Yin Lin got along well, Lin Ming spoke with satisfaction. When Ya Fei went to other auction houses for experience in the future, Yin Lin's protection would help her avoid some minor trouble.

"Brother Lin Ming, don't worry. Ya Fei will take good care of Yin Lin. When you come back, I'll give you a huge surprise," Ya Fei vowed solemnly.

"Alright! Then I'll wait for you to give me that huge surprise." Lin Ming smiled at Ya Fei.

The day ended once more amid playtime with Ya Fei. That night, after returning to his room, Lin Ming took out a Dou Technique from his Storage Ring. It was the Profound Tier High-grade Fist Skill he had selected from the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion—Mountain Rushing Flood Fist.

Lin Ming had deliberately chosen the Fist Skill Mountain Rushing Flood Fist from among several Profound Tier High-grade Dou Techniques. Its being a fist technique was only one reason; more importantly, Mountain Rushing Flood Fist was the most powerful Profound Tier Dou Technique in the family, second only to Earth Tier Dou Techniques. If there had been a palm technique or finger technique more powerful than Mountain Rushing Flood Fist, Lin Ming would most likely have chosen the stronger one.

Mountain Rushing Flood Fist was a rare two-handed fist technique that could be used separately with either the left or right hand. Used with the left hand, it was called Mountain Rushing Fist; used with the right, it was called Flood Fist. Either hand alone could unleash the power of a Profound Tier High-grade Dou Technique, while Mountain Rushing Flood Fist could also be used with both hands at once, producing the might of a combined attack that was not far inferior to an Earth Tier Dou Technique.

More than ten days later, Jia Nan Academy's recruitment team finally arrived at the Jia Ma Empire.

Today, because Jia Nan Academy's recruitment team had arrived in the Imperial City, the already bustling city was even more crowded than usual. Although most direct descendants of Great Families would not attend Jia Nan Academy, the smaller families without such powerful strength were desperate to send their disciples there. After all, entering Jia Nan Academy gave them a chance to obtain higher-grade Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques.

Looking at the sea of people, Lin Ming had no intention of joining the commotion now. Jia Nan Academy's recruitment would last three days anyway, so he could just go on the final day. That would spare him from being surrounded and gawked at like a monkey after his identity was exposed. There were still two days left, so he should spend them properly with Ya Fei. Hopefully, the girl would not cry when it was time for him to leave.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Early that morning, Ya Fei came to see Lin Ming. Seeing her reddened eyes, Lin Ming stroked her cheek and said, "Girl, grow up well and wait for me to return."

Holding Ya Fei's hand as he walked outside, Lin Ming saw three elderly men waiting at the door. He hurriedly stepped forward and greeted them, "Clan Leader, Grandpa Liu, Master Toso, why are you all here?"

"Haha, it's nothing. We just came to see you off," Mittel Tengshan said with a smile.

How could the clan leader of a family possibly have nothing to do? Lin Ming could only keep this kind gesture in his heart and repay them slowly once he had the ability to do so.

"Here, this is for you. Even after you go to Jia Nan Academy, don't neglect your alchemy." Master Toso tossed him a ring, his facial expression somewhat gloomy. It was likely because Lin Ming had barely visited the Medicine Refinement Hall during this period.

Lin Ming caught the ring and sent his Spiritual Strength inside. It contained not only medicinal pills, but also many pill formulas. Seeing them, Lin Ming knew the family had paid a heavy price. However, he had no intention of refusing, and he knew he would not be able to refuse anyway. He might as well accept them openly and repay them several times over in the future.

There was no time to inspect the pills and pill formulas closely, so Lin Ming withdrew his Spiritual Strength. Looking at the three elderly men before him, he gave them a deep bow before saying solemnly, "Rest assured. When Xiao Ming returns, whether it's my cultivation or alchemy, I'll make you satisfied."

At this moment, Ya Fei came to Lin Ming's side. He turned and pinched her pretty little cheeks. "Brother Lin Ming is leaving now. While I'm gone, Ya Fei, you have to be strong and take good care of yourself. With Yin Lin by your side, I can worry much less. If anything really happens, go find Grandpa Liu or the Clan Leader. They will help you."

Hearing Lin Ming's words, Ya Fei struggled to hold back the tears at the corners of her eyes, wanting to leave him with an image of strength.

"Clan Leader, Grandpa Liu, Master Toso, Xiao Ming is setting off." After bidding farewell to the three elderly men and bowing deeply once again, Lin Ming set out on the road to Jia Nan Academy.

After arriving at the outskirts of the recruitment grounds, Lin Ming found a group of guards. Once he showed them his Mite'er Family identity token, they escorted him inside. Lin Ming had no objection to such privileges. Otherwise, if he had to squeeze through that impenetrable crowd himself, he could not guarantee that something unpleasant would not happen.

Seeing Lin Ming escorted into the recruitment grounds by a group of guards, a man walked over. Looking at Lin Ming's youthful appearance, clearly no older than sixteen, he assumed Lin Ming was some useless spoiled young master relying on his family background to show off. His tone was therefore rather unfriendly. "Kid, I don't care how powerful your background is here. If you fail the test, crawl back to wherever you came from. Jia Nan Academy doesn't welcome useless second-generation young masters like you."

Looking at the man before him, who appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six and was a six-star Dou Zhe, Lin Ming wanted to ask where he got the nerve to call him a useless second-generation young master. It seemed this man was jealous of Lin Ming's good family background. Lin Ming had not encountered such a person since advancing to the Dou Zhe realm. After some thought, he decided there was no need to waste his breath on someone so insignificant. The facts would slap this man in the face soon enough.

"I know the rules of the test. Bring out the testing crystal. I prefer to let facts speak for themselves," Lin Ming said calmly.

"Fine, kid. Then we'll let facts speak for themselves." Hearing Lin Ming's indifferent tone, the man's displeasure became even more obvious. He thought that even if this kid passed the test later, he would humiliate him and make him understand that he could no longer throw his weight around with his background at Jia Nan Academy. The academy tacitly allowed this sort of thing, after all. It was meant to give these freshmen, who had been geniuses within their own families, a warning so they would be easier to manage later.

With that thought, the man took out a testing crystal and showed it off to Lin Ming. "Kid, this is the crystal Jia Nan Academy uses for testing. Only those with Dou Qi at the eighth stage or above can light it up by placing their hand on it. Know your place. If you haven't reached that level, get lost now. Otherwise, don't blame me when you embarrass yourself."

Looking at the man's punchable expression, Lin Ming held back. He snatched the testing crystal, lit it up, and held it before the man's eyes. Then he said lightly, "Like this?"

Seeing Lin Ming light up the testing crystal, several people nearby gathered around. Lin Ming looked no older than sixteen, while Jia Nan Academy's recruitment requirement was merely to reach the eighth stage of Dou Qi before eighteen. Lin Ming had reached it two years early. By the time he turned eighteen, he could already become a Dou Zhe, so these people came over first to befriend him.

Only then did the man react. Lin Ming had simply been too fast. From snatching the crystal to lighting it up and holding the illuminated crystal in front of him, only a single breath had passed. By the time he recovered, people were already about to surround them. He hurriedly said, "Since you've lit the crystal, junior, you've passed the assessment. Go stand over there with those people."

He wanted to send Lin Ming off to stand as punishment before the onlookers gathered, venting the resentment he felt over the kid snatching the crystal just now. Even now, he believed Lin Ming had merely reached the eighth stage of Dou Qi, enough to light the crystal. As for how he had snatched it, he must have cultivated a Profound Tier Movement Fighting Skill. That made him even more jealous. He was already a six-star Dou Zhe and was still using a Yellow Tier High-grade Dou Technique, so why should this kid possess a Profound Tier Dou Technique while still at the Dou Qi stage? He had to make Lin Ming stand as punishment, since the academy allowed it.

Lin Ming glanced in the direction he pointed. A few people were indeed standing there, but Lin Ming had no intention of joining them. This had been an optional matter to begin with, which was why he had revealed a little of his skill just now. He had intended to intimidate the man, but he had not expected him to be such an idiot that he could not see the gap between them.

If someone could snatch the crystal from your hand before you even reacted and then place it right before your eyes, didn't that obviously mean their cultivation was higher than yours? Lin Ming was speechless. But standing there was out of the question. He released his aura, directly knocking the man back, then walked forward.

"You kid, you dared to make the first move? Then let this senior teach you what it means to respect your elders, so you won't be bullied later at the academy for not knowing the rules." With that, he charged at Lin Ming.

Looking at the man rushing toward him, Lin Ming truly felt that the man's head was filled with cement. He could not even sense Lin Ming's Dou Master aura, yet he still dared to charge over seeking a lesson. Lin Ming grabbed the man's fist and, while he was still shocked, flung him to the side. The man staggered back several steps before steadying himself, and that had only been a casual throw from Lin Ming.

"What's going on over there? Why are you making such a racket?" A reproachful yet gentle voice drifted over. Then Lin Ming saw a woman around thirty years old, her glossy hair tied behind her. Her mature yet delicate face, along with the red cheongsam that perfectly accentuated her fiery figure, made her the ultimate killer of young men, Lin Ming sighed inwardly.

As the woman approached, everyone nearby respectfully called out, "Instructor Zhang Man." As for the man who had just caused trouble for Lin Ming, he hurried over to complain. He described Lin Ming as arrogant, disrespectful of his elders, and acting like a spoiled young master, while portraying himself as a warmhearted senior who had been reluctant to hurt his junior.

Instructor Zhang Man glanced at Lin Ming, then at the people around them. Her voice turned stern. "You can actually start fighting over a simple test? You're quite capable, aren't you? Get inside, all of you. If you can't give me a satisfactory explanation, every last one of you will stand as punishment." After saying that, she walked into the tent.