In a stretch of space hidden from everyone's sight, a middle-aged man clad in a dark-patterned black robe watched the scene and sighed softly. "Sigh, this girl..."
The scene shifted. Amid mist-shrouded mountains, a streak of light sped past, arriving outside Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy in the blink of an eye.
"Little Flame, welcome to Jia Nan Academy. This is the Outer Academy." Xiao Yao raised a hand and pointed below with a soft smile.
Following his gaze, Xiao Yan saw the square packed with people. Students in uniform academy robes sweated profusely—some sparred in martial skills, their fists and feet colliding amid bursts of Dou Qi ripples; others practiced cultivation techniques, energy swirling around them and stirring gusts of wind.
"X-Xiao Yao, why did we stop?" Before Xiao Yan could properly take it in, Zi Yan beside him could not help bouncing on her toes, her amber eyes filled with impatience. "Hurry to the Inner Academy! I'm still waiting for your Transformation Pill!"
As she spoke, she reached out and tugged at Xiao Yao's sleeve, clearly unable to restrain herself any longer.
Xiao Yao helplessly and amusedly rubbed Zi Yan's head, then turned to Xiao Yan. "Instructor Ruo Lin is here in the Outer Academy. I'll take you over to greet her."
"Mm, I should thank her. After all, I took two years off." Xiao Yan rubbed his head, speaking somewhat sheepishly.
Just then, Hu Gan appeared before Xiao Yao and the others in an instant.
"Xiao Yao, you're finally back! Don't waste any more time—come with me to the Inner Academy, now! If we're any later, it really will be too late!" Hu Gan's face was full of urgency, and there was even a sheen of sweat at his temples, as though disaster would strike if