Before Leaving

With a sharp crack, the halberd tip and whip end collided, sparks flying everywhere. Xiao Tian followed the momentum with an upward flick and knocked the long whip aside. Ruo Lin's wrist trembled, and the whip followed like a shadow, pressing after him relentlessly. Xiao Tian's steps shifted in a staggered rhythm, his halberd dancing like the wind as he fought to block her. In an instant, the two exchanged over a dozen moves.

Just then, Ruo Lin seized an opening in Xiao Tian's defense. Her long whip curled back like a nimble snake. Xiao Tian's heart jolted, and he hurriedly retreated, drawing his halberd back to guard. The whip instantly coiled around the shaft, trying to snatch Xiao Tian's Halberd away. Xiao Tian controlled the energy and let it disperse; the whip lost its target and dropped downward. Immediately after, Xiao Tian flashed forward, clenched his fist, and condensed a lion-head-shaped mass of thunder, smashing it fiercely toward Ruo Lin Instructor.

"Thunder Lion!"

Seeing Xiao Tian's halberd suddenly vanish and the Dou Technique hurtling toward her, surprise crossed her pretty face. She extended a delicate hand and rotated it slightly, gathering a small water-like vortex in her palm to block it. In the end, their palm and fist collided.

As the two streams of energy crashed together, both Xiao Tian and Ruo Lin were forced back several steps. Ruo Lin Instructor smiled as she looked at Xiao Tian. "Little genius, it seems I underestimated you."

"What will surprise you is still to come, Instructor." Xiao Tian shook out his slightly numb hand, then lightly tapped the ground with his foot and shot forward.

"Thunder Burst."

As a thunderous shout rang out in Xiao Tian's heart, he continuously gathered Heaven and Earth Energy and Dou Qi into his hand, gradually condensing it into a Lightning Ball the size of a soccer ball.

Looking at the Lightning Ball in Xiao Tian's hand, Ruo Lin put away her smile, her expression slowly turning solemn. With a sweep of her fair hand, the blue long whip immediately wrapped around her slender jade-like arm. Her palm gripped the whip's handle, and pale-blue Dou Qi surged out from the whip, forming a huge water snake three to four meters long, which immediately charged toward Xiao Tian.

"That is Ruo Lin Instructor's special move, Mystic Rank Intermediate Grade: Water Mandala. Looks like Ruo Lin Instructor wants to end the fight directly and teach Xiao Tian a lesson," Xue Ni said, shaking her head as she looked at the huge water snake.

"But Xiao Tian's Lightning Ball also looks terrifying. The result isn't certain yet. If any one of us got hit by either Dou Technique, there probably wouldn't even be dregs left," Xiao Yu sighed helplessly from the side.

"Boom!"

The giant snake and Lightning Ball collided, releasing a burst of dazzling white light. A thunderous roar instantly erupted across the square, deafening to the ears. As the energy gradually dissipated, at the center of the explosion, a round deep-green giant shield slowly faded, revealing Xiao Tian inside, breathing in great gulps.

Suffering from the disadvantage of being unable to release Dou Qi from his body to attack before reaching Da Dou Shi, Xiao Tian could only remain at the center of the explosion and use Lightning Shield at the instant of impact to protect himself.

Xiao Tian knew that Ruo Lin Instructor, who was always as gentle as water, had not used much of her strength in the fight.

"Ruo Lin Instructor, twenty rounds have already passed. My leave..." Xiao Tian said after briefly adjusting his breathing.

"Since you met my requirement, I will naturally approve your leave." Ruo Lin Instructor rolled her eyes at Xiao Tian and said helplessly.

"Thank you, Ruo Lin Instructor."

Hearing this, Xiao Tian smiled. Seeing that the bout was over, Xiao Xun'er hurried over to support him. Her small hands felt over Xiao Tian's body, checking to see whether he was injured. "Xiao Tian Gege, how are you? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. Perfectly fine. Not hurt at all. Don't worry." Xiao Tian affectionately stroked Xiao Xun'er's head, then held Xun Er's hand.

After that, it was Xiao Yan's turn to step forward. With Yao Lao's help and Ruo Lin Instructor holding back, Xiao Yan's leave was also approved.

"You two really give me a headache. Once we return to the academy, I'll have plenty to keep me busy. All right, today's recruitment ends here. For the next seven days, we will continue recruiting in the city," Ruo Lin said softly, shaking her head.

Afterward, Xiao Yu invited Ruo Lin Instructor and the other female students to stay temporarily at the Xiao Family, while the male students received no such invitation and could only pack up dejectedly and return to the reception area.

When Xiao Zhan and the three Grand Elders learned that Jia Nan Academy's instructor and students were going to stay temporarily at the Xiao Family, they hurriedly ordered the servants to prepare a banquet, then quickly rushed to the main gate to welcome Ruo Lin Instructor and the others.

Through Xiao Yu's introductions, both sides became briefly acquainted and understood the purpose of the other party's visit. They quickly arranged empty rooms, had Xiao Yu lead them around to look at the rooms, and then, as hosts, the Xiao Family brought out the highest standard of hospitality. During the banquet, the conversation between the two sides was fairly warm.

After arranging for servants to send the people from Jia Nan Academy back to their rooms to rest, Xiao Zhan called over Xiao Tian and Xiao Yan. "I heard you two requested a year of leave to go out and train?"

"Yes, Father," Xiao Tian and Xiao Yan said.

"You have both grown up and have your own principles and decisions. Young eagles will one day spread their wings and soar. A true man's ambitions lie in the four directions, so I won't stop you too much. When you are away from home, remember to keep an extra eye out. If you have the chance, you can visit Stone Desert City on the border. Your eldest and second brothers established a Mercenary Group there called Mo Tie. It can be considered a decent force in the local area."

"Father, you should take care of your health too. When we come back next time, Xiao Yanzi and I might just shock you with our strength!"

"Hahaha, good. Then I'll be waiting." Xiao Zhan patted Xiao Tian and Xiao Yan on the shoulders and smiled with relief.

That night, father and sons sat in front of the steps and talked for a long time. Looking at his sons, who had gradually grown up and become promising, Xiao Zhan kept smiling, washing away the sorrow of parting.

When the sky gradually brightened, Xiao Tian and Xiao Yan, having taken leave of Xiao Zhan, walked along the small path back to the courtyard. "Brother Tian, where are you planning to go train during your leave?"

"I plan to go take a look at Green Mountain Town. I heard there are quite a lot of mercenaries there, so I'll broaden my horizons and train a bit while I'm at it. What about you?"

"I plan to go to the Monster Mountain Range. I'll see if there are any opportunities there. After all, there isn't much time left before the agreement I made before. If I just proceed step by step, it may be very hard for me to defeat her."

"Then let's work hard together. We'll meet at the peak."

Both of them carried their own secrets and walked different paths, but their goal was the same: to stand at the peak of this world.

After parting from Xiao Yan.

Xiao Tian came to Xun Er's small courtyard and knocked on Xun Er's door. Xun Er stepped out. "Is Xiao Tian Gege preparing to leave?"

"Mm. I leave tomorrow."

Seeing Xun Er's reluctant expression, Xiao Tian reached out and hugged her. "Don't worry, Xun Er. One year from now, I will go to Jia Nan Academy to find you."

"Xun Er understands. Xun Er will always wait for Xiao Tian Gege."

Xiao Tian kissed Xun Er's forehead. "Come on. I'll take you out for a walk."

After that, Xiao Tian brought Xiao Xun'er all around Utan City. With Xiao Tian's earlier promise and his later companionship, the sorrow of parting on Xun Er's face faded a great deal.

Early the next morning.

After Xiao Tian finished packing, he looked at the room he had lived in for more than ten years, and a surge of loneliness and reluctance could not help but rise in him. He shook his head, cast off that melancholy, closed the door, and strode away.

Laughing up at the sky, I went out the door; how could one like me be a man of the weeds?

After leaving the Xiao Family, Xiao Tian wore a cloak and arrived at the Mittel Auction House.