New Student Enrollment

Liu Yi stood beside Xiao Li, the aura on his body, which had previously seemed obscure and unfathomable to Xiao Li, becoming slightly clearer.

"The Dou Technique you used when I saw you fight last time, it should have been Huang-tier, right?"

"Teacher Liu is correct, it was indeed a Huang-tier Dou Technique," Xiao Li replied.

Liu Yi nodded, pondering for a moment, "I could offer you some advice, if you are..."

Xiao Li was taken aback. It seemed Teacher Liu intended to guide him, so he hurriedly bowed, "Please speak, Teacher Liu. On the path of cultivation, one should always forge ahead with courage."

Liu Yi nodded in satisfaction, "The Inner Academy selection tournament is held shortly after new students enroll. By passing the selection and placing in the top ranks, you can enter the Library Pavilion to obtain a Dou Technique—at the very least, it will be Xuan-tier."

Xiao Li realized, but he wondered if it was too hasty to participate in the Inner Academy selection right after enrollment. Xiao Yan had only done so because he had taken a long leave of absence; strictly speaking, he hadn't been a typical new student.

"Many thanks for the reminder, Teacher Liu. How do I go about participating?"

Liu Yi smiled and shook his head, "Don't be in such a rush. You must ask Teacher Su about this matter."

Having said this, Liu Yi glanced around to ensure no one was paying attention before continuing.

"Your talent is exceptional, and a teacher's grade evaluation depends on their students' achievements. While the Inner Academy selection is the most important assessment method, there are other smaller competitions that affect the rating. If you participate in the selection tournament as soon as you enroll, then your teacher..."

Liu Yi stopped there, leaving the sentence unfinished, and gave Xiao Li a meaningful look, "The gains from a year in the Inner Academy versus the Outer Academy are vastly different."

Xiao Li remained silent, turned, and walked away, his mind already made up.

Su Fei's teacher grade evaluation?

Was it more important than the Xiao Clan, which would face a great catastrophe in the coming years?

The answer was obvious. Xiao Li could not waste a year of his life for someone he had only just met.

The reason he ignored Liu Yi's implications was simply that he felt this man was not worth befriending. Telling him these things in private was nothing more than a petty attempt to undermine a colleague. If Xiao Li stayed in the Outer Academy for two years, Su Fei would likely be promoted to a Tian-tier teacher directly.

Xiao Li had initially thought Liu Yi was a decent person, but now it seemed that the human heart was truly unfathomable.

"Knock, knock!"

The door was tapped. Su Fei opened it to find Xiao Li—the very person she viewed as her ticket to a promotion—standing there. The smile on her face was almost impossible to contain.

"What is it, Xiao Li? Have you encountered problems with your cultivation?"

Xiao Li shook his head gently, "It is like this, Teacher Su. I want to know how I can enter the Inner Academy."

"The Inner Academy?"

Su Fei frowned, Xiao Li's question catching her off guard.

"You just need to participate in the Inner Academy selection tournament. Why do you ask?"

Looking at Su Fei before him, Xiao Li felt no ripples in his heart.

The bond of mentorship between teacher and student?

That was the relationship between Yao Lao and Xiao Yan.

As for Xiao Li and Su Fei, the two were not on the same scale. If Xiao Li didn't have Su Fei, he would simply encounter a Zhang Fei or a Wang Fei at Canaan Academy.

If Su Fei failed to secure Xiao Li, she might remain a Huang-tier teacher for years to come. That he could help her at all was her good fortune; Xiao Li had no obligation to do more.

"When is the selection tournament? I want to enter the Inner Academy as soon as possible."

The smile on Su Fei's face stiffened. She pursed her lips, choosing not to hide the truth. The boy would find out eventually upon arriving at Canaan Academy, and concealment would only ruin her rapport with him.

"It is held shortly after enrollment. The school chooses this time specifically to motivate the new students."

Once these words were out, Su Fei sighed inwardly. She knew this monstrous genius would never be content to spend a mediocre year in the Outer Academy when he could strive in the more competitive Inner Academy.

Watching Xiao Li express his intent to sign up, Su Fei sighed helplessly. Even though she had been prepared for this, she truly did not want to face it.

"I will register you. You should prepare yourself."

With a dry voice, she uttered these words and returned to her room, heart aching. The difference in treatment between a Di-tier teacher and a Xuan-tier one was immense. Even with the hope of reaching Di-tier, the prospect of merely settling for a stable Xuan-tier rating left Su Fei feeling stifled.

"Forget it, forget it. He would have found out once he reached the school anyway, and I... sob, but it still hurts so much, QAQ."

...Several days later

Within a hundred-mile radius of Canaan Academy, forced flight was strictly prohibited; otherwise, it would invite attacks. Naturally, the flying magical beasts exclusive to Canaan Academy were the exception.

At the intersection of two majestic mountains, a small town appeared, flickering in and out of sight.

On a dirt road leading directly to the town, there were many travelers, clearly arriving from the Black-Corner Region.

Although these people possessed a hint of ferocity within them, there was not a shred of killing intent leaking from their faces. Yet, this concealment of their inner murderous nature did not appear natural; rather, it looked as if it were being forcibly suppressed. Consequently, the expressions on these passersby were quite strange.

Xiao Li clicked his tongue in wonder. The pills used by the Law Enforcement Team to sense killing intent were truly extraordinary.

After showing some tokens to the Law Enforcement Team, Xiao Li and his group were cleared to enter.

Switching to the griffins of Peace Town, Xiao Li and the others officially entered the territory of Canaan Academy.

At the entrance of Peace Town, Xiao Li also saw the infamous Death Spirit Tree of the Black-Corner Region.

The sinister aura permeating from that eerie Death Spirit Tree made the bones of the group standing at the town gate feel cold. In the Black-Corner Region, the reputation of this Death Spirit Tree had reached a point that struck fear into the hearts of all.

The corpses of two Dou Wangs and one Dou Huang powerhouse were hung upon this Death Spirit Tree in a nearly cruel manner.

The other new students kept their heads down, afraid to look, fearing that the evil aura emanating from above would affect their minds. Such an evil object was not something an ordinary person could look at directly.

As for Xiao Li... he was currently lamenting that the Siphon Technique could not be used on human corpses; otherwise, if he had stolen these three bodies, wouldn't he have soared straight to the rank of Dou Wang?

Fortunately, it was not possible. Otherwise, under the pressure of his family and the long-standing repression in his heart, Xiao Li truly feared he might turn into a murderous demon. Some things were better off with restrictions.

Looking into the distance, the outline of a city, its vastness enough to leave one tongue-tied, slowly emerged from the thin mist.

"So this is Canaan City..."

Even from high in the sky, he still could not take in the entire city at a single glance, which showed just how immense its area truly was.

At Canaan Academy, a massive plaza had been specially designated today as the entry point for welcoming new students. At this moment, a group of senior students who had been cultivating for one or two years stood on the plaza, smiling at one another.

This was a tradition at Canaan Academy; whether entering the Inner Academy or enrolling in the Outer Academy, a sound beating from the seniors was unavoidable.

It was precisely because of this tradition that these newcomers who had just joined Canaan Academy would set aside the arrogance of being geniuses from small places, realize they were merely ordinary people among the masses, and cultivate with their feet on the ground.