Recruitment Begins

Xiao Yu said, "Sure, but tomorrow. It's already getting late."

Xun Er said nothing, merely nodding. "All right!"

Xiao Yu then led Xun Er back to their room. After washing up, he took her to the cliff at the Xiao Clan's rear mountain.

Night fell, and scattered starlight glittered in the sky.

Xiao Yu held Xun Er's hand as they lay down on the soft grass, quietly watching the stars overhead. Neither of them spoke.

After a long while, Xiao Yu said, "Xun Er, I actually know that your background is very mysterious."

Xun Er abruptly looked at Xiao Yu, a trace of panic in her eyes. Xiao Yu merely smiled. "No need to be nervous. I also know that you're from the Ancient Clan!"

Xun Er could no longer remain composed. Just as she was about to speak, Xiao Yu continued, "I'm not blaming you. I just want to ask you for a favor!"

Xun Er stared into Xiao Yu's sincere eyes for a long moment before saying, "Just say it, Brother Xiao Yu. I'll agree to anything!"

"I know Xun Er has secrets, and I have secrets of my own. I'll take part in Jia Nan Academy's recruitment, but I'll be leaving for a year. During that year, I hope you can ask the Ancient Clan to help look after Father," Xiao Yu said.

"Leave? You're not going to Jia Nan Academy?" Xun Er asked in shock.

Xiao Yu chuckled. "No, I'm only leaving for a year. After a year, I'll head to Jia Nan Academy. Then I'll come find you!"

The disappointment in Xun Er's eyes was impossible to hide. Xiao Yu suddenly leaned over and lightly touched his lips to her little mouth. Xun Er's face instantly flushed crimson like a burning cloud. "Brother Xiao Yu, y-you... what are you doing?"

"Leaving my mark. You're mine—you can't run away!" Xiao Yu said, gazing at Xun Er affectionately.

The next day.

Xiao Yu arrived at Xiao Yu's courtyard. When she opened the door and saw him, she complained, "You little bastard, you were really hard to find!"

"What do you need me for?" Xiao Yu smiled, unconcerned, and strode inside.

"Didn't Xun Er tell you?" Xiao Yu asked, somewhat puzzled.

"She mentioned something about your instructor wanting to see me?" Xiao Yu said.

Xiao Yu nodded. "That's right. She wants to ask whether you'd like to study at Jia Nan Academy!"

Xiao Yu gave Xiao Yu a surprised look. "Since when were you able to say something like that?"

Xiao Yu rolled her eyes at him and led him to Instructor Ruo Lin's room.

"Instructor, Xiao Yu is here!" Xiao Yu said, knocking on the door.

A rustling sound came from inside. Then the door opened, and Xiao Yu saw the woman before him.

Dressed in green, she stood prettily in the room. Her full, graceful figure was indeed alluring, but Xiao Yu quickly looked away and smiled faintly. "You must be Instructor Ruo Lin?"

Ruo Lin smiled softly as well. "That's right. You're the Xiao Clan's little genius?"

"I don't deserve that. My name is Xiao Yu," Xiao Yu said with a slight nod.

"Come in!" Ruo Lin said, stepping aside.

The three sat down in the room, and Ruo Lin directly asked, "Do you plan to study at Jia Nan Academy?"

"I do," Xiao Yu said.

A smile appeared on Ruo Lin's face, but Xiao Yu's next words instantly froze it solid.

"However, I hope to request a year of leave!" Xiao Yu said.

Ruo Lin's long lashes trembled lightly. "Are you planning not to attend Jia Nan Academy?" The study period was only three years, yet Xiao Yu wanted to take leave for one-third of it. She absolutely could not agree to that!

"Of course I'm going, but I have important matters to attend to during that year," Xiao Yu said.

Xiao Yu, standing to the side, said anxiously, "You little bastard, what could possibly be so important?"

"Yes. In two years, I need to go to the Misty Cloud Sect and seek justice for Father. Besides, Nalan Yanran is going to challenge me!" Though Xiao Yu said this, there was not the slightest hint of tension on his face.

"Stop making things up. With your talent, dealing with Nalan Yanran two years from now would be more than easy, wouldn't it?" Xiao Yu said.

Xiao Yu shrugged. "Not necessarily. After all, she has the Misty Cloud Sect behind her, as well as a Dou Emperor teacher!"

Ruo Lin could see Xiao Yu's determination, but she was still somewhat helpless. She could only say, "The Jia Nan Academy recruitment team won't arrive for another month. I'll try to negotiate for you during this time. You should go back and think it over carefully too, all right?"

Looking into Ruo Lin's soft, watery eyes, Xiao Yu finally nodded.

Though there was no way he would back down, he still had to give her some face.

After Xiao Yu left, Ruo Lin said with a wry smile, "Your cousin is truly too stubborn. That temper of his could drive someone mad!"

Xiao Yu spread her hands helplessly. "Tell me about it!"

After returning, Xiao Yu began cultivating with greater urgency. He remembered that in the original story, Ruo Lin had fought Xiao Yan before allowing him to leave. If a fight broke out, Xiao Yan would have Yao Lao's help, while he could only rely on himself!

Xiao Yu's current strength had already broken through to Six-star Dou Zhe.

Elsewhere, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao were also deciding how to proceed with their cultivation.

"Kid, the Jia Nan Academy recruitment team will be arriving soon. I've decided that we'll head to Jia Nan Academy next," Yao Lao said.

Xiao Yan was somewhat confused. "Why? Could Jia Nan Academy possibly teach better than you, Teacher?"

Yao Lao shook his head. "No. I once controlled a type of Heavenly Flame called the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. But after I faked my death, perhaps I did it too successfully—the Heavenly Flame became ownerless and was lost. Your Flame Mantra needs to devour Heavenly Flames to advance. Before my death, I received news that Jia Nan Academy seemed to have a Heavenly Flame!"

At the mention of Heavenly Flames, Xiao Yan's eyes immediately lit up. "Jia Nan Academy has a Heavenly Flame too?"

Yao Lao nodded. "That's right. It seems to be the fourteenth-ranked Fallen Heart Flame. This time, when we go to Jia Nan Academy, not only can we obtain cultivation resources, but more importantly, we need to devour the Fallen Heart Flame to evolve the Flame Mantra!"

"Alright, then we'll go to Jia Nan Academy!" Xiao Yan said excitedly.

Xiao Yu probably had not expected that the disappearance of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame would cause Yao Lao and Xiao Yan to change their itinerary and choose to head straight for Jia Nan Academy!

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

Early that morning, Xiao Yu brought Xiao Mei, Xiao Ning, Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Yan to the plaza where the recruitment team was stationed!

Looking at the plaza packed with people, everyone took a deep breath.

Xiao Yu waved her hand. "I'll take you in through the back entrance. Follow me!"

With that, she led them toward the other side of the plaza. Sure enough, there was a small path there, though several soldiers who looked like officers stood guard over it.

Xiao Yu walked up and handed the leading soldier a jade-green badge. After the soldier glanced at it, he allowed them to pass.

The soldiers in iron armor lined up, opening a narrow path. A fierce killing intent rushed straight at them, but Xiao Yu ignored this show of intimidation and walked through without changing expression.

Xun Er and Xiao Yan, who followed behind him, were alright as well. Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning, however, had been frightened pale.

As soon as they entered, they saw Xue Ni, dressed in a fitted red outfit, waving at them. Over the past month, they had all become familiar with one another, so the group headed toward the large green tent.

Xue Ni leaned close to Xiao Yu's ear and reminded her, "That guy Luo Bu is here too!"

At those words, Xiao Yu's delicate brows immediately furrowed slightly. Just as she was speaking, a fawning voice drifted over from nearby. "Yu'er, long time no see!"