After dealing with Gao Xiang, Instructor Ruo Lin turned to Lin Ze.
"I neither support nor oppose that unwritten rule."
"Since you're capable of resisting it, you must understand the benefits of strength."
"If you don't want to be constrained by even more rules in the future, work hard to improve yourself, little one."
Ruo Lin said with a smile.
Lin Ze nodded in understanding and replied calmly, "You're right, Instructor Ruo Lin."
Instructor Ruo Lin certainly lived up to her title. She seemed to have a knack for teaching students according to their abilities.
Ruo Lin gave Lin Ze a long look, satisfaction showing in her eyes. He had strength and talent, and knew when to advance and when to retreat.
Any instructor would be quite fond of a student like him.
A smile tugged at Ruo Lin's red lips as she addressed everyone.
"All right, students. Passing the initial test at the edge of the square is only the first step. Next, the academy needs to learn more about your strength and assess your potential, so we can teach you more effectively."
"Before the age of twenty, those at Eighth Stage of Dou Qi are graded F, while those at Dou Disciple Rank 9 are graded E. The ratings increase with each minor increase in strength."
"Of course, you don't need to worry about having a low potential rating. Anyone who passes the initial test can become a student of Jia Nan Academy."
"Though I hope your potential ratings are as high as possible, I'll be quite satisfied if you can reach C or B."
Instructor Ruo Lin took out the sheepskin paper and ink she used for registration, sat down at the table, and beckoned to the students.
The new students nearby obediently formed a line.
At least those ahead of Lin Ze had been taught a lesson by the older students, and had become much more well-behaved.
Lin Ze led Xiao Yi Xian to the end of the line.
Since they had arrived last, it was only right that they queued at the back.
Watching Lin Ze's retreating figure, Instructor Ruo Lin's smile grew a little warmer.
This little fellow was quite a comfort.
"Mo Du, Dou Disciple Rank 9, eighteen years old."
"Grade E."
"Ge Qing, Eighth Stage of Dou Qi, nineteen years old."
"Grade F."
The students ahead reported their strength and age one by one.
Instructor Ruo Lin lowered her head to write down their information and assign their potential ratings.
Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian reached the end of the line. When he saw who was there, Lin Ze raised an eyebrow.
It was the girl with the long, shapely legs he'd seen earlier.
The girl was surprised to see Lin Ze take the initiative to join the end of the line.
After all, she had assumed that a new student like Lin Ze, who had defeated an older student, would naturally be treated differently from those of them who had been left standing outside in the sun.
But perhaps he wasn't the arrogant type, since he'd willingly joined the queue at the back?
At the thought, the girl smiled and said to Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian, "Hello. We'll be classmates from now on, so let's get acquainted. I'm Xiao Yu, from the Xiao Clan in Wutan City."
A smile appeared on Lin Ze's face. So it really was Xiao Yu.
Now he could finally pin down the timeline.
It was about a year before Xiao Yan's talent recovered.
Lin Ze had no intention of seeking out Xiao Yan. He'd let things take their natural course.
With the Bronze Mirror, Lin Ze's future potential extended far beyond the Dou Qi Continent. He had no need to cling to Xiao Yan.
"Hello, I'm Lin Ze, from Qingshan Town, on the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range."
Seeing Lin Ze respond kindly, Xiao Yi Xian quickly introduced herself as well.
"Hello, Xiao Yu. I'm Xiao Yi Xian, and I'm from Qingshan Town too."
Xiao Yi Xian smiled brightly.
Xiao Yu looked surprised.
She had assumed the two of them were from a nearby city.
She hadn't expected them to come from a remote little town on the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
"You're amazing. Coming from Qingshan Town and reaching this level—you must have incredible talent," Xiao Yu said sincerely.
Coming from a remote town meant an unstable environment and a lack of quality cultivation resources.
Even so, the two of them had passed Jia Nan Academy's entrance test.
Clearly, they both had considerable talent.
Now that the three of them shared the connection of being new students, they quickly grew familiar with one another and chatted in low voices.
As they talked, the line inched forward.
Listening to the people ahead, Xiao Yu remarked with a sigh, "Jia Nan Academy's standards really are high. I'd been in seclusion for a while and only just managed to break through on the very last day."
"I barely passed the academy's initial test, and this is still only the lowest potential rating."
As she spoke, Xiao Yu glanced at Lin Ze, feeling somewhat disheartened.
She had only just met Jia Nan Academy's entrance requirements, while Lin Ze could beat an older student as a newcomer and had even mastered a Xuan Tier Dou Technique.
She had no idea what kind of opportunity Lin Ze had encountered to accomplish all that.
She was, after all, the granddaughter of the Great Elder of the Xiao Clan, one of Wutan City's three major clans. Yet next to Lin Ze, she paled in comparison.
Though she felt thoroughly discouraged, Xiao Yu didn't let it show. Instead, she smiled and continued chatting quietly with Xiao Yi Xian.
She was curious about Lin Ze, but as a girl, she felt too embarrassed to approach him and question him directly.
So Xiao Yu chose to talk quietly with Xiao Yi Xian, Lin Ze's companion, and build a rapport with her.
Soon it was Xiao Yu's turn. She received an unremarkable F, the lowest grade.
But Xiao Yi Xian's result, like Xiao Yu's, made Ruo Lin raise an eyebrow.
She had thought that someone who came with Lin Ze might turn out to be another exceptionally talented student.
Among the students recruited on the final day, the most talented was an eighteen-year-old One Star Dou Practitioner, whose potential rating was D.
Even that had been enough to satisfy Ruo Lin.
Being able to reach One Star Dou Practitioner at eighteen showed enough potential to make her happy.
After all, the area where she was responsible for recruitment was only a remote corner of the Jia Ma Empire. Its sole major city owed its importance to the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
It couldn't compare with the other major cities in the Jia Ma Empire, much less the empire's Imperial Capital.
Still, Lin Ze's earlier performance had left Ruo Lin with high expectations for him.
Even with a Xuan Tier Dou Technique at his disposal, he'd needed considerable strength of his own to crush Gao Xiang so easily.
Ruo Lin slightly lifted her red lips, her long eyelashes fluttering as curiosity and anticipation shone in her eyes.
"Little fellow, it's your turn."
"Lin Ze, Three Star Dou Practitioner, seventeen years old."
Ruo Lin's red lips parted slightly. Her gentle, watery eyes shimmered, then gradually filled with a deep smile.
Everyone in the tent cast astonished glances his way.
Their gazes held envy and jealousy, too.
There seemed to be even more warmth in Instructor Ruo Lin's voice.
"Little fellow... Lin Ze, you have excellent talent. Once you arrive at the academy, stay humble and focused, and make the most of it."
The woman seemed able to make a person's legs go weak with that gentle, watery voice alone.
"Thank you for your guidance, Instructor Ruo Lin."
"I haven't taught you anything yet. Today's the last day of recruitment. You can go back and pack if you like, then meet here tomorrow."
Ruo Lin rolled her eyes slightly, stretched, and smiled.
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