End-of-Term Test

In a deep forest in the Black-Corner Region.

"Grandson! Don't run!"

The one shouting was Xiao Yan, dressed in the uniform of Canaan Academy's Enforcement Squad. The person he was chasing was the target of this operation.

The man was somewhat clever, or he would not have escaped Xiao Yan's sneak attack.

But that only meant wasting a little more time!

Hearing the guy behind him twist his name into an insult, Sun Shi, who had always been easy to provoke, merely kept his head down and sprinted madly. Though his cultivation was several stars higher than that short fellow behind him, that was Canaan Academy Enforcement Squad's "Little Flame Fist"!

He had acted frequently over the past few months and made a name for himself around Peace Town. Sun Shi did not think he was a match for him!

But Sun Shi was not the only one in a bad mood. Xiao Yan was somewhat frustrated as well!

The missions over the past month had become increasingly unsatisfying! Though he had killed every target, there had been far fewer chances to fight. That went against his original purpose for joining the Enforcement Squad's missions.

Just like now, under normal circumstances, Xiao Yan only needed to trail behind Sun Shi and wait until his Dou Qi was exhausted. Then Sun Shi would be entirely at his mercy.

But what difference was that from ordinary running? Xiao Yan had come to temper himself, not to kill people!

Having made up his mind, Xiao Yan tapped off the ground, his speed increasing severalfold as the distance between them rapidly closed.

Feeling the wind howl as Xiao Yan swiftly approached, Sun Shi despairingly realized that Xiao Yan had been hiding his strength all along. Once he understood that he could not escape, the thought of fighting to the death naturally arose in his mind!

"Bastard!"

The gauze-like garment wrapped around Sun Shi dimmed further. At the same time, strands of greenish light appeared around the hand he had hidden before his chest. Clearly, he had used a Dou Technique!

Sun Shi abruptly turned around, curled his glowing right hand into a claw, and swiped at Xiao Yan's face as he charged toward him, hoping to catch him off guard.

But...

"I saw that coming!"

Xiao Yan had long been prepared. He tilted his head slightly to evade the strike, then fiercely chopped the joint of Sun Shi's right hand with the edge of his palm!

"Ah!"

Sun Shi's scream had only just begun, but Xiao Yan's attack was far from over. That strike had dispersed Sun Shi's Dou Technique, leaving him without even his last shred of threat. Then...

"Metalstone Break!"

That punch struck Sun Shi squarely in the dantian below his abdomen. It shattered his Dou Qi Veil and cut off his howl completely, sending Sun Shi flying. He rolled across the ground more than ten times before finally stopping.

Xiao Yan did not pursue him for another attack. That Mystic Tier Dou Technique had landed perfectly, and such a blow was not something a six-star Dou Master could withstand.

Metalstone Break High Mystic Tier Dou Technique. A close-combat technique and body-tempering Dou Technique. Those unwilling to painstakingly temper their bodies should not cultivate it! At mastery, metal, stone, iron, and jade could all be shattered with a single punch!

This was the Dou Technique Hu Gan had given Xiao Yan. Although Xiao Yan had only grasped part of it, its power already satisfied him greatly.

After Sun Shi had completely stopped breathing, Xiao Yan searched the corpse as usual. Naturally, there was nothing valuable. He mainly took items that could prove Sun Shi's identity so he could turn in the mission.

On his way back to Peace Town, Xiao Yan could not stop sighing. The Enforcement Squad missions were becoming less and less effective for training. He was considering whether to look farther away from Canaan Academy.

However, going too far would delay his cultivation, and Xiao Yan had not forgotten what happened with the Blood Sect's young master last time.

Though the other side had not seen his face, it was better to be safe than sorry...

"Sigh, if ordinary sparring were more useful, I wouldn't need to go through all this trouble. I could just look for Brother Lin."

Xiao Yan was now a three-star Dou Master, only two stars below Lin Xiuya. Their recent sparring matches had been evenly matched, but they were still merely ordinary contests and could not reveal their true strength.

Just as Lin Xiuya had said that he possessed a more powerful Dou Technique unsuitable for use in ordinary sparring, Xiao Yan could not treat Lin Xiuya the way he treated Enforcement Squad targets.

That was why he needed real combat.

After turning in the mission and returning to the academy, Xiao Yan did not hurry to cultivate on this rest day. Instead, he headed for Xun'er's residence.

Xun'er did not live in a shared dormitory like Xiao Yan. She had a residence all to herself.

Especially since Xun'er was not even a student of Canaan Academy, such special treatment only deepened Xiao Yan's curiosity about her.

When Xiao Yan arrived, he heard Hu Jia's laughter and chatter coming from inside the house, and he sighed softly.

Fortunately, Xun'er had said that Hu Jia did not come to see her so often anymore. Otherwise, it would really have been a headache.

Xiao Yan pushed the door open and entered. The two girls who had been chatting and laughing turned to look at him at the same time, but their reactions were completely different.

"Brother Xiao Yan! You're here! (^▽^)"

"Well, well! Who do we have here? Isn't this our 'Little Flame Fist'? d(-_^)"

Xiao Yan's face darkened. Making a name for himself in the Black-Corner Region should have been something worth celebrating, but his nickname happened to contain the word "little," so Hu Jia always used it to mock him.

So what if I'm a little short? I'm not even twelve yet. I'll still grow!

Ignoring her, Xiao Yan naturally greeted Xun'er and sat down. He then began sarcastically urging Hu Jia to leave quickly. Naturally, Hu Jia had no intention of indulging him, and the atmosphere soon became lively.

Before they realized it, a year had passed, and the three of them had become very good friends. Oh, Wu Hao should be included too, except Wu Protector kept him under strict control, so he was not very familiar with Xun'er.

"Xiao Yan, I know how you'll be taking this year's End-of-Term Test. Well? Beg me, and I'll tell you."

Xiao Yan casually picked up a biscuit and asked in confusion, "End-of-Term Test? What's that?"

"No way. Are you really a student of Canaan Academy?"

Hu Jia gulped down some water before finally managing to swallow the pastry in her mouth. Seeing that Xiao Yan was genuinely baffled, she began explaining.

"It's Canaan Academy's customary annual test. Everyone's standards are different. It might involve cultivating Dou Techniques or cultivation methods, fighting, or entering the Black-Corner Region to gather materials... The main thing is that passing the test earns academy rewards. Generally speaking, the harder the test, the better the final reward."

Xiao Yan, who had not been particularly interested, immediately brightened at the mention of rewards. After thinking for a moment, he connected the dots.

"Hehe, Dean Hu sent you to tell me, didn't he? Is this where my Mystic Tier Dou Technique comes in?"

Seeing that she had failed to fool Xiao Yan, Hu Jia said irritably, "Hmph! I can't tell you the specific test, but you belong to both the Outer Academy and the Alchemy Department, so you'll have both!"

Rather than being discouraged upon hearing that there would be two tests, Xiao Yan became happy. Since greater difficulty meant better rewards, he was practically guaranteed to receive top-tier rewards...

Xiao Yan did not think he would fail the tests!

Hu Jia promptly poured cold water on his excitement. "Canaan Academy's rewards aren't so easy to earn. Be careful not to fail the tests, or you won't get any reward at all!"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan restrained some of his delight and took the matter more seriously, but fear was naturally out of the question...

The three of them messed around until the sky darkened before parting. Still, Hu Jia had enough sense to make an excuse and leave Xiao Yan and Xun'er alone for a while...

"Brother Xiao Yan, you weren't hurt during this mission, were you?"

Xiao Yan answered carelessly, "How could I be? I'm very strong now. Forget getting hurt, even the recent missions haven't been challenging at all!"

Xun'er hesitated for a while before finally taking out a scroll. "Um... if you truly need another Dou Technique, Xun'er has..."

How could Xiao Yan not know what Xun'er intended? He could only smile bitterly and press down her hand.

"You silly girl, how could I ask you, my little rich girl, for everything I lack? Wouldn't that make me a kept man?"

Xun'er's face instantly flushed crimson. Embarrassed and angry, she grabbed the scroll and struck Xiao Yan with it. "Brother Xiao Yan is talking nonsense again! Forget it if you don't want it!"

Xiao Yan hurriedly smiled and begged for forgiveness, finally managing to smooth things over. He already felt embarrassed enough about taking Xun'er's cultivation method. How could he rely on her for everything?

Wouldn't that make me some pretty boy?

Watching Xiao Yan's departing figure beneath the sunset with gentle eyes, Xun'er silently put the scroll away. Yet when she turned and returned to the room, her face was filled with a wistfulness far beyond her years...