Xiao Yan: Class One for Newbies? Even a Dog Wouldn't Go!

Rapid footsteps echoed through the spacious corridor, shattering the tranquility of the outer courtyard administrative building.

With a loud "bang," the door was pushed open.

Du Weilun, the director of the outer courtyard, didn't even bother to knock, striding into the dean's office in a frantic rush.

His breathing was ragged; clearly, he had rushed over at top speed the moment he received Yan Shaozhe's communication.

"Dean, what is so urgent? The freshman registration is currently swamped..."

Du Weilun's words trailed off halfway as his gaze swept across the office, his voice coming to an abrupt halt.

He saw Xiao Yan and Xiao Xiao standing before the desk.

As the head of the outer courtyard, Du Weilun could tell at a glance that these siblings possessed an extraordinary aura. The youth in the moon-white robe, in particular, exuded a sense of pristine clarity; one look at his features told him this was no ordinary person.

But no matter how outstanding they were, it shouldn't have been enough to warrant Dean Yan calling him over with such an urgent tone.

Yan Shaozhe didn't respond, instead pushing the half-filled registration form on his desk forward, his distinct knuckles tapping twice against the paper.

"See for yourself."

Du Weilun walked forward, filled with doubt, and lowered his head to look at the paper.

At first, his expression was calm, but as his eyes swept over the lines reading "eleven years old," "twin martial souls," and "level thirty-five," his pupils contracted sharply, and his breathing hitched.

He grabbed the registration form with both hands, bringing it directly before his eyes.

The paper rustled in his grip.

When he saw the entry at the bottom—"Xiao Yan, eleven years old, level forty-six"—Du Weilun's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Level forty-six! Many of the sixth-year core disciples about to graduate from the outer courtyard were still stuck at that very threshold.

For an eleven-year-old freshman to leap over the progress of most of the outer courtyard was nothing short of a massive windfall dropped by the heavens onto Shrek Academy.

Yan Shaozhe took in Du Weilun's loss of composure, clearly satisfied with the reaction.

"Very well, go and handle their enrollment," Yan Shaozhe said, his voice low but filled with authority.

"Make an exception for them. If they encounter any difficulties, resolve what you can; if you can't, come to me. Do you understand?"

Du Weilun shuddered, nodding repeatedly. "Understood! Don't worry, Dean, I will make sure they are properly settled!"

With Yan Shaozhe's personal directive, everything that followed fell into place naturally.

Du Weilun turned around, his attitude toward Xiao Yan and Xiao Xiao instantly becoming incredibly cordial.

He warmly ushered the siblings out of the dean's office.

Once outside, the senior student responsible for registration followed them.

Du Weilun stopped and looked at her, his face full of approving smiles.

"You performed very well today. You were flexible and decisive, ensuring the academy didn't miss out on top-tier talent. What is your name?"

The senior student was flattered and quickly reported her name.

"Good. Go back and continue with the admissions work. When your graduation assessment comes around, I will personally make a note of your excellence in your file."

Du Weilun gave the most practical promise possible.

For an outer courtyard student, a single evaluation from the director directly influenced their future prospects and placement after graduation.

The senior student blushed with excitement, bowing repeatedly to thank him before turning to leave with a light step, no longer even feeling the oppressive heat of the day.

They followed Du Weilun to his office in the middle of the second floor.

The layout here was much more pragmatic than the dean's office, with files and various assessment forms piled everywhere.

Du Weilun pulled out two chairs, invited Xiao Yan and Xiao Xiao to sit, and then personally poured two cups of warm water for them.

"Freshman enrollment usually requires an assessment and the payment of tuition fees," Du Weilun said softly as he sat on the single sofa opposite them.

"But with your soul power levels, any assessment would be a mere formality. Your tuition and miscellaneous fees are waived; the academy will cover everything."

Xiao Yan picked up the paper cup and took a sip of warm water, his movements fluid and natural, showing no sign of arrogance despite the preferential treatment.

The more Du Weilun looked at the youth, the more he felt he was no simple person. He pulled open a drawer under the coffee table, took out a form densely packed with names, and spread it across the table.

"According to the rules, freshmen are randomly assigned to classes. However, your situation is special. The freshman classes are currently being formed, so you may choose which class to join." Du Weilun pointed to the list on the table, suggesting with a beaming smile, "This is the list of head teachers responsible for freshman instruction this year. Would you like me to introduce the characteristics of each teacher? Our outer courtyard teachers have diverse styles; some focus on theory, while others emphasize actual combat..."

"No need to trouble yourself, Director Du." Xiao Yan set down his cup, his gaze falling on the list.

His rapid reading speed allowed him to scan the first few classes in an instant.

When his eyes landed on the name "Zhou Yi" next to "Freshman Class One," his gaze lingered for only half a second before passing over it indifferently.

Zhou Yi, the head teacher known in the original story for her severity and extreme physical punishments, might be seen by many as a strict teacher capable of unlocking a student's potential.

But in Xiao Yan's eyes, that teaching logic was utterly foolish.

The Art of the Fuxi Emperor he cultivated emphasized the simultaneous refinement of essence, energy, and spirit, conforming to the Great Dao and seeking a perfect state of mind and the endless circulation of energy.

As for Zhou Yi's methods—frequently forcing students to run until they vomited while wearing iron vests and threatening them with expulsion—they were not only inferior, but also a disturbance to his path of seeking the Dao.

Xiao Yan had come to Shrek to utilize its resources and environment to stabilize his own destiny and influence the continent's situation, not to find some menopausal old woman to make his life difficult.

Even if he had Yan Shaozhe's backing, allowing him to ignore Zhou Yi's rules or even swat her away with a single palm, getting entangled in such petty, unreasonable trouble was a waste of time.

For a rational person, avoiding meaningless trouble was the most efficient way to break a deadlock.

His gaze continued to move downward, eventually stopping at the "New Student Class Nine" column.

The name written behind it was: Mu Jin.

In the original trajectory, Mu Jin was Zhou Yi's arch-rival. She possessed an equally strong temper, but she was far more reasonable when it came to teaching.

Most importantly, Mu Jin had an extreme thirst for talented students. As long as he could help her outshine Zhou Yi, she would undoubtedly tilt the best resources and the greatest degree of freedom in his direction.

Freedom was exactly what Xiao Yan needed most right now.

His slender, fair fingers tapped lightly against the list on the desktop.

Xiao Yan raised his eyes to look at Du Weilun, his voice clear and steady: "We will go to Class Nine, Teacher Mu Jin's class."

Du Weilun paused, glancing at the list.

Class Nine was not the most prominent among the new student classes, and Mu Jin's qualifications were merely average.

He had expected Xiao Yan to choose a class led by a senior, high-ranking teacher, but he was smart enough not to ask questions.

For a monster-level genius like this, following their wishes was the safest way to handle things.

"Very well, then it's settled for Class Nine." Du Weilun agreed readily, then turned to look at Xiao Xiao, who was holding a water cup and blowing on it. "What about you, Xiao Xiao? Which class do you want to join?"

Xiao Xiao set down her cup, her large, emerald-green eyes darting around before she answered as a matter of course: "Wherever Brother goes, I go. I'll just follow Brother."

She didn't care at all about the class or the teacher.

As long as she could see her brother's handsome face every day and play the zither and flute with him, it made no difference where she attended class.

Once the class was decided, the subsequent process was surprisingly fast.

Du Weilun personally handled all the registration procedures.

Before long, he handed them two keys with bronze tags, several sets of brand-new white new-student uniforms, and two badges representing their status as new students.

"The paperwork is finished. I'll take you to the dormitory to get settled." Du Weilun stood up and took the lead to guide them.

The three left the office building and walked along the tree-lined path at the edge of Shrek Square toward the dormitory area.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting patches of dancing light onto the ground.

Shrek Academy was astonishingly large. The dormitory area was located behind the teaching buildings, consisting of a vast expanse of well-arranged structures.

Along the way, Du Weilun dutifully played the role of a guide, introducing them to the academy's layout.

"New student dormitories are normally two to a room." Du Weilun pointed to the tall, square-shaped building ahead, deliberately slowing his pace.

"However, Dean Yan has instructed that your situation requires special treatment. At your level of cultivation, you need a quiet environment for meditation; having others around would be counterproductive. So, I have taken the liberty of arranging individual rooms for both of you."

Xiao Yan walked on the fallen leaves with a steady gait.

Hearing Du Weilun's words, he turned his head and nodded with perfect courtesy: "Director Du has gone to great lengths. Thank you."

He needed a quiet space to practice the Art of the Fuxi Emperor and contemplate the Fuxi Bagua; a single room indeed saved him the trouble of negotiating with the academy later.

An old hand like Du Weilun truly did things without a single flaw.

Xiao Xiao, walking beside him, was not pleased to hear this.

She stopped in her tracks, clutching the newly issued white uniform in her hands, her mouth pouting high as she muttered a complaint:

"Why are they single rooms... I can't live with Brother anymore. That's so boring."

Du Weilun, walking in front, stumbled violently, nearly tripping over his own feet.

He turned his head, looking at the pair of siblings with a very strange expression.

Two eleven-year-old children—though they were young, hearing a younger sister complain about not being able to share a room with her brother in broad daylight felt somehow off.

The look Du Weilun cast at Xiao Yan suddenly took on an indescribable nuance.

Xiao Yan sensed Du Weilun's bizarre gaze.

He sighed helplessly in his heart.

It was one thing for this girl to be clingy at home, but she was still this unrestrained even when they were out.

Without hesitation, he raised his right hand and covered Xiao Xiao's mouth, which was still busy complaining.

"Mmph... Mmph-mmph?"

Suddenly having her mouth covered, Xiao Xiao was startled, her hands instinctively grabbing Xiao Yan's wrist.

She tilted her head back, her delicate, soft face slightly distorted, her emerald-green eyes blinking innocently. Her long eyelashes fluttered like a frightened little beast, revealing an indescribable cuteness amidst her grievance.

Xiao Yan met Du Weilun's gaze with a calm expression, his tone devoid of any fluctuation: "She has been pampered at home and is afraid of the dark at night. Please excuse her, Director Du."

Du Weilun coughed twice, very tactfully withdrawing his gaze and turning back to lead the way, pretending he had heard and seen nothing.

Xiao Yan let go and glanced down at Xiao Xiao.

No words were needed; that single look was enough to make her behave.

She stuck out her tongue, not daring to bring up the living arrangements again, and could only follow obediently by her brother's side toward the white dormitory building.