Recruitment Begins

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

Xun'er said nothing, merely nodding. "All right!"

Xiao Yu then took Xun'er back to their room. After washing up, he led her to the cliff at the Xiao Family's Back Mountain.

Night fell, and specks of starlight glittered in the sky.

Xiao Yu pulled Xun'er down onto the soft grass. They lay there quietly, gazing at the stars overhead, neither of them speaking.

After a long while, Xiao Yu said, "Xun'er, I actually know that your background is mysterious!"

Xun'er suddenly looked at Xiao Yu, a trace of panic in her eyes. Xiao Yu merely smiled. "No need to be nervous. I also know you come from the Gu Clan!"

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

Staring into Xiao Yu's earnest eyes, Xun'er finally said after a long pause, "Go ahead, Brother Xiao Yu. I'll agree to anything you ask!"

"I know Xun'er has her 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 Gu 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 that, I'll head to Jia Nan Academy and come find you!"

The disappointment in Xun'er's eyes was impossible to hide. Xiao Yu suddenly leaned over and lightly kissed her little lips. Xun'er's face instantly flushed crimson like sunset clouds. "Brother Xiao Yu, y-you... what are you doing?"

"Marking you. You're mine, and 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 Xiao Yu opened the door and saw him, she complained, "You little bastard, you're really hard to find!"

"What do you need me for?" Xiao Yu smiled indifferently and stepped inside.

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

"She did mention that your instructor wanted 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 looked at Xiao Yu in surprise. "Since when could you say something like that?"

Xiao Yu shot Xiao Yu a glare and led him to Instructor Ruolin's room.

"Teacher, Xiao Yu is here!" Xiao Yu knocked on the door.

There was a rustle 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 Ruolin?"

Ruolin smiled softly as well. "That's right. You're the Xiao Family's little genius?"

"I wouldn't dare accept that. My name is Xiao Yu!" Xiao Yu said with a slight nod.

"Come in!" Ruolin said, stepping aside.

The three sat down in the room, and Ruolin immediately asked, "Are you planning to study at Jia Nan Academy?"

"Yes," Xiao Yu said.

A smile appeared on Ruolin's face, but Xiao Yu's next words immediately froze it there.

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

Ruolin's long eyelashes trembled slightly. "Are you not planning to go to Jia Nan Academy?" Of the three years of study, 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 one side, said anxiously, "You little bastard, what important business could you possibly have?"

"I do. In two years, I have to go to the Misty Cloud Sect and demand an explanation for Father. Besides, Nalan Yanran still plans to challenge me!" Although Xiao Yu said this, there was not the slightest hint of nervousness on his face.

"Stop making excuses. With your talent, dealing with Nalan Yanran two years from now should be more than easy, right?" 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!"

Ruolin could see Xiao Yu's determination, but she was still somewhat helpless. She could only say, "There's still one month before Jia Nan Academy's recruitment team arrives. I'll try to negotiate for you during this time. You should go back and think it over carefully too, all right?"

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

Though backing down was impossible, he still had to give her some face.

After Xiao Yu left, Ruolin smiled bitterly. "Your cousin is really too stubborn. That temper of his can drive people mad!"

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

After returning, Xiao Yu began cultivating more intensely. He recalled that in the original story, Ruolin had fought Xiao Yan before letting him leave. If it came to a fight, Xiao Yan had Yao Lao to help him, while he could only rely on himself!

Xiao Yu's strength had now broken through to the Six-Star Dou Practitioner level.

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

"Kid, Jia Nan Academy's 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 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 I died, I received news that Jia Nan Academy seemed to possess 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 Fallen Heart Flame, ranked fourteenth. This time, when we go to Jia Nan Academy, we can not only obtain cultivation resources, but more importantly, devour the Fallen Heart Flame to evolve the Flame Mantra!"

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

Xiao Yu likely never expected that the disappearance of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame would cause Yao Lao and Xiao Yan to change their plans and choose to head directly to Jia Nan Academy!

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

Early in the morning, Xiao Yu led Xiao Mei, Xiao Ning, Xun'er, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Yan toward the plaza where the recruitment team was stationed!

Looking at the packed plaza, 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 everyone toward the other side of the plaza. Sure enough, there was a narrow path there, though several soldiers who looked like officers were guarding it.

Xiao Yu stepped forward and handed the lead soldier a jade-green token. After glancing at it, the soldier allowed them through.

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

Xun'er and Xiao Yan, who followed behind him, were fine as well. Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning, however, had gone somewhat pale with fright.

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 everyone headed toward the large green tent.

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

At this, Xiao Yu's delicate brows immediately furrowed. Just as they were speaking, a fawning voice sounded beside them. "Yu'er, long time no see!"