Jianan Academy

Early morning.

Wutan City.

The city was exceptionally lively at this moment, for today was the day of the Jianan Academy enrollment. Even the Jia Ma Imperial Family placed great importance on this, having dispatched troops to maintain order.

Inside the Xiao Clan, one of the three great families of Wutan City, within the small courtyard of Xiao Ling, Xun'er looked at the white-robed youth stepping into the courtyard and giggled.

"Brother Xiao Ling, how is it? Who is going to the Jianan Academy enrollment this time?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ling, who had just plopped down onto a chair, picked up the teacup before him, took a sip, and replied with a smile.

"I intend to send only Yu'er and Xiao Wu; the others still lack the necessary polish."

However, no sooner had his voice fallen than a frantic figure rushed into the courtyard, shouting from a distance.

"Brother Xiao Ling, I forgot to tell you yesterday, today is the day for the Jianan Academy enrollment..."

Xiao Yu strode in with those long legs of hers, but the moment she stepped into the courtyard and spotted the little girl in the purple dress sitting beside her Brother Xiao Ling, she immediately swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.

She wasn't particularly clever, but she wasn't a fool either; it was obvious that the other party had already spoken to her Brother Xiao Ling...

Watching the embarrassed look on Xiao Yu's pretty face, Xiao Ling beckoned to her and smiled.

"Yu'er, come over and sit."

"Oh..."

Xiao Yu sat on his lap with a blushing face. The sudden elasticity of the moment made Xiao Ling freeze for a second. Then, looking at the pretty face so close to his own, he pointed to a small stool nearby and said.

"I told you to sit there..."

"Ah... oh..."

Xiao Yu's face turned completely red, the blush spreading down to her snow-white neck, and she moved over reluctantly on those long legs.

Seeing that this girl wasn't going to make a fuss, Xiao Ling breathed a sigh of relief. He had indeed held her like that often when they were children, but now that they were older, how could he still do that?

Thinking this, Xiao Ling changed the subject: "Yu'er, is there anything else? If not, go notify Xiao Wu and the others to gather here. I'll take you all to look around Wutan City."

Hearing this, Xiao Yu suppressed the shyness in her heart and said softly.

"I already arranged for Xiao Wu and the others to come over when I arrived; I imagine they should be here soon."

"By the way, Brother Xiao Ling, who from our Xiao Clan is applying this time? Will you be going?"

Xiao Ling had long since prepared an answer for this little girl's question and replied with a smile.

"My arrangement this time is for only you and Xiao Wu to go; the others aren't at that level yet. As for me, I still have some matters to attend to, so I won't be going this time."

"If Brother Xiao Ling isn't going, then I won't go either," Xiao Yu said stubbornly.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Xiao Ling's face darkened. Just as he was about to reprimand her, he saw Xiao Yu's aggrieved expression and his tone softened significantly: "You and Xiao Wu can no longer improve in a small place like Wutan City. This Jianan Academy enrollment is undoubtedly your opportunity; only by going there can you improve rapidly."

He paused for a moment, then continued.

"If you really want to help me, you need to at least reach the level of a Dou Huang..."

"Hmph... bad Brother Xiao Ling, I didn't say I wasn't going," Xiao Yu muttered.

Xiao Ling was quite satisfied with this. Although this girl was usually careless, she was truly attentive when it came to him.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ling smiled and handed over a dozen jade bottles, saying.

"Here, take these. There are four Foundation Establishment Powders and ten bottles of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. Although you don't need them anymore, you can use them to trade for other resources you might need."

The main reason was that he didn't have many gold coins left, and he needed to prepare for breaking through to a third-tier Alchemist.

After all, third-tier medicinal herbs were very expensive, and in Wutan City, only the Miteer Auction House kept them in stock.

"Thank you, Brother Xiao Ling."

Hearing this, Xiao Yu smiled as she took them and stored them in her storage ring.

At this moment, Xun'er also leaned in, smiled faintly, and said.

"Cousin Xiao Yu, don't worry, I will take good care of Brother Xiao Ling."

Xiao Yu: "..."

Xiao Ling: "Alright, both of you, say less."

He looked at these two girls, feeling quite helpless. In truth, he had treated Xun'er and Xiao Yu equally from the very beginning.

He hadn't given Xun'er any special treatment because of the original story. As for the master copy of the Ziwu Body Tempering Technique from before, that was simply because her father had given him so much.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ling stood up and walked outside, his voice drifting back.

"Let's go, let's go see the Jianan Academy enrollment together."

Hearing this, the two girls exchanged a glance and hurriedly chased after him, each grabbing one of his arms. Xiao Ling gave a helpless smile at this and said to Xiao Wu and the others who had just arrived.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Brother Xiao Ling."

Hearing this, Xiao Wu, Xiao Yan, and the others responded one after another, following behind Xiao Ling with worshipful eyes as they walked out of the Xiao Clan gates.

Looking at the lively atmosphere on the streets, Xiao Ling's mood lifted significantly. He now had a further understanding of this transcendent power, the Jianan Academy.

On the streets, people of all kinds were seen heading in one direction, many accompanied by their children.

Among them were quite a few young beggars, as Jianan Academy did not care about one's background; as long as one reached the eighth stage of Dou Power before the age of eighteen, they were eligible.

Most of the people here did not meet the requirements, so they were merely going to join in the excitement or try their luck, knowing that failing to be selected wouldn't have any negative consequences.

The younger generation of the Xiao Clan was stunned by the scene before them, and they began to whisper among themselves.

Xiao Ling did not pay much attention to this, simply leading the group as they walked toward the central plaza.

A group of over twenty people naturally attracted quite a bit of attention, and some people who were clearly from out of town began to discuss them.

"Who is that guy? Which family is he from? That's quite an entourage!"

"Yeah, look at him with a girl on each arm and a bunch of lackeys following behind. Isn't he just showing off a bit too much?"

The locals of Wutan City, hearing the outsiders' comments, moved a little further away from them, and one man even kindly offered a warning.

"You lot must be from out of town. These are all disciples of the Xiao Clan. The one leading them is named Xiao Ling, the head of the Xiao Clan's younger generation.

As for the two beside him, the older one is named Xiao Yu, who is said to be his childhood sweetheart. I'm not sure about the younger one, but I advise you not to provoke them."

"Thank you, brother. We were just curious."

The few outsiders quickly cupped their hands in thanks.

They weren't stupid; they had no conflict of interest with that youth, so why would they do something as foolish as making an enemy for no reason?

Xiao Ling, who was walking toward them, paid no mind to the discussions. He had already come to terms with it; these people were not the brainless idiots found in the mindless power-fantasy novels he knew from his past life.

Therefore, he no longer felt the excitement he once had about plundering their lifespan.

Just as he was preparing to lead the Xiao Clan juniors toward the other passage, he suddenly spotted an acquaintance in the crowd.

"Wu Ming?"