Two Years of Leave Within Reach

"Who else? Or should all of you come at me together?"

Xiao Yan clapped his hands as though he had merely brushed away some dust, then raised his head and looked at the people emerging from the cluster of tents to back Luo Suo up. His tone was calm.

"What the hell? He just advanced to Dou Zhe?"

The long spear in Xiao Li's hand fell to the ground with a clang, and his shocked curse echoed through the silent camp.

"Didn't Third Brother advance to Dou Zhe half a year ago?"

Hearing that, Xiao Ding finally remembered. The information they had asked about seemed to have long since become outdated.

Ruo Lin and her group of close friends covered their mouths in shock as well.

Luo Suo was a five-star Dou Zhe, yet Xiao Yan had knocked him unconscious just like that?

What kind of monster was this?

"Junior, you must be joking. With talent like yours, those unwritten rules don't apply to you. We only came out to watch the excitement. We aren't that familiar with Luo Suo."

Seeing that even a five-star Dou Zhe had been instantly defeated in a single move, these students, the strongest of whom were only four-star Dou Zhes, naturally did not dare seek more trouble. They immediately offered awkward smiles and explained themselves.

"Who said I'm your junior? If Jia Nan Academy's students are all of this caliber and character, I'd rather continue studying under my teacher."

Xiao Yan glanced at him and spoke indifferently.

"Jia Nan Academy's standards for admitting students really are disappointing."

Xun Er chimed in from the side.

She was not someone who liked causing trouble, but if Xiao Yan encountered trouble, she did not mind becoming a spoiled young lady of the Ancient Clan.

For instance, she could complain to her father and have him personally speak with Jia Nan Academy's headmaster, Mang Tianchi.

"Lin'er, I was only gone for a moment. How did things become such a mess?"

A cool voice suddenly rang out, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

Xiao Yan looked toward the source of the voice.

A mature, tall woman in a fiery red dress was walking over. Her features were somewhat androgynous, with thick brows, large eyes, and flame-red lips. She possessed a heroic air that made people take notice.

"Mentor Xi Wei."

When the Jia Nan Academy students saw the woman in red, they hurriedly greeted her with respectful bows.

After Mentor Xi Wei appeared, Xiao Yan noticed that the young students inside the tents, male and female alike, had heated gazes as they looked at her. There was even an inexplicable tenderness in their eyes.

Noticing this, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. He understood it quite well. Mentor Xi Wei was mature, heroic, and beautiful—someone who could charm both men and women. To those fond of mature women, she was simply the perfect ideal type.

"Mentor Xi Wei, Luo Suo kept making things difficult for the talented young junior who passed the test. It was truly outrageous. I couldn't stand it, so I knocked him unconscious!"

Seeing the familiar figure, Ruo Lin quickly went forward and affectionately linked arms with Mentor Xi Wei. Then, with her delicate brows raised, she pointed at the unconscious Luo Suo on the ground and spoke indignantly.

"You knocked him unconscious?"

Mentor Xi Wei's face was full of disbelief.

When had this little girl learned to lie?

"Uh..."

Ruo Lin was left speechless.

"Sister Ruo Lin, I know you mean well, but Xiao Yan isn't someone who dares to act but not take responsibility!"

Xiao Yan had not expected Ruo Lin, who might become his sister-in-law, to protect him so fiercely. His opinion of her rose a few points. Naturally, he could not let her take the blame for him. He cupped his hands toward Mentor Xi Wei and said loudly,

"Mentor Xi Wei, I was the one who knocked those two unconscious. They wanted to bully a child, but they lost instead and humiliated themselves. Some students of Jia Nan Academy claim they want to wear down the pampered arrogance of new students.

But from what I can see, they're the arrogant ones. I haven't even enrolled yet, and I was already forced to stand as punishment. If I enroll, will I have to serve them tea and run errands as their servant?

Mentor Xi Wei, I'm ten years old and already a four-star Dou Zhe. What right do they have to tell me what to do?"

As Xiao Yan's words fell, everyone's gazes toward him became increasingly astonished.

A ten-year-old four-star Dou Zhe?

Was he even human?

When they were ten, did they even have five stages of Dou Qi?

"A ten-year-old four-star Dou Zhe..." Mentor Xi Wei nodded upon hearing this, then waved a hand and said blandly, "Drag those two disgraceful fools away and treat them. Once we return to the academy, they will be punished."

"I'm sorry. They aren't students under my supervision. I'm merely leading this recruitment team, while they came along to help out. Most Jia Nan Academy students are good children like Ruo Lin and the others."

"With your potential, even dismissing them for your sake would fully comply with the academy's rules."

These students had not cultivated Dou Qi for long, so they might not understand what a ten-year-old four-star Dou Zhe represented.

But Mentor Xi Wei, as a top instructor of Jia Nan Academy, knew very well what Xiao Yan's terrifying talent and potential meant.

He possessed talent that could very well allow him to step into the Dou Zong realm!

After all, the Great Elder of the Inner Academy was Jia Nan Academy's only publicly known Dou Zong expert!

For a student with such potential, Jia Nan Academy had to make every effort to win him over!

Moreover, Luo Suo had been the one to offend Xiao Yan first.

He had even damaged Jia Nan Academy's reputation in the process, so the matter naturally had to be dealt with seriously.

This was still within the academy.

If they had been outside the academy, even if Xiao Yan had killed Luo Suo, no one could have objected.

When facing someone capable of killing him at any moment, instead of obediently keeping quiet and hiding to one side, he had jumped out to provoke that person himself. It could only be said that he thought his life was too long.

There was no use for a teacher to explain such principles.

Only by experiencing it personally could he truly understand.

Xiao Yan's impression of Mentor Xi Wei improved after hearing her words. He showed a slightly apologetic smile and said,

"Mentor Xi Wei is fair and discerning. It seems what happened earlier truly was a misunderstanding. Still, I am young, and I already have a teacher guiding me. I only came here for the test to accompany my eldest and second brothers. Could joining Jia Nan Academy be postponed by two years?"

"May I ask who your teacher is?"

Xi Wei frowned slightly upon hearing that, then smiled.

"Um, can we discuss it privately?"

Xiao Yan hesitated before asking.

"Of course."

Xi Wei walked over and waved her hand, forming a soundproof Dou Qi barrier around herself and Xiao Yan.

"My teacher is Yun Yun, the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect."

Xiao Yan smiled as he spoke.

"Oh?" Xi Wei was somewhat surprised, but she quickly reacted. "Then why didn't you cultivate at the Misty Cloud Sect?"

Xiao Yan took out the jade piece Yun Yun had left him and said, "Wasn't I specifically waiting for Jia Nan Academy's recruitment? Once things here are settled, I should be setting off."

Xi Wei sensed it slightly and detected an exceptionally powerful Dou Qi fluctuation from the jade piece.

She immediately believed Xiao Yan's explanation.

After pondering for a moment, Xi Wei smiled and said,

"All right, but I can't be sure whether I'll still be leading the recruitment team two years from now. I need to keep this achievement in my own hands. How about this? Enroll this year, and I'll request a long leave of absence for you. For these next two years, you can cultivate under your teacher first.

At this time next year, I should come again. When that happens, I'll personally assess you. With your talent, I don't think passing the assessment will be difficult. Before this time the year after next, however, you must return to the academy to participate in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament. I'm counting on you, little genius, to bring me honor!"

Xiao Yan smiled, then took out a jade jar and handed it to Mentor Xi Wei.

"Sounds good. Then I'll trouble you, Mentor Xi Wei. I can't let you work for nothing. This is Beauty Balm that has reached the level of a first-rank medicinal pill. Applied to the face, it can effectively maintain the skin in its best condition. I developed it myself, and the results are quite good.

"If you don't mind, Mentor, you can stay at my Xiao Family for a few days and test whether the effects satisfy you. If you are satisfied, I have plenty more."

Xi Wei's eyes widened considerably. "You're also an alchemist?"

"I suppose I'm a First-Rank Alchemist. I haven't been learning for very long."

Xiao Yan smiled and nodded.

"You're quite extraordinary, little fellow. In that case, I won't refuse."

Accepting the jade jar and storing it in her Storage Ring, Mentor Xi Wei nodded at Xiao Yan with clear appreciation.

This child was truly impressive!