Enrollment

Two months later.

A figure in an emerald-green dress moved gracefully through the Xiao Clan grounds. Though she exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay, it did nothing to stop the shy glances secretly cast her way by youths her age. But once they noticed where the girl was headed, they all withdrew their gazes and could only sigh to themselves.

"Xiao Yan!"

The girl's voice outside the door had none of its former coolness. Even that simple call was as melodious as a nightingale's song, prompting someone to wash his face a little faster.

"Boom!"

When Xiao Yan opened the door and saw Xun'er, Xun Er felt as though a blazing fire had rushed out at her. The scorching sensation vanished in an instant, but she could still sense a fiery aura around Xiao Yan that had not been there before.

"It seems Xiao Yan's cultivation has been progressing well lately. In barely a month or two, you've already developed such an aura. Have you fully mastered the Flame Manipulation Formula?"

"I wouldn't dare say I've mastered it. I've only grasped five or six parts out of ten. It's all thanks to the cultivation technique scroll you gave me, Xun'er. Its guidance on cultivation is incredibly detailed. I really wonder what kind of powerful force stands behind you."

Xiao Yan had spent roughly a month cultivating the technique. During the remaining time, he had added combat skills training to his routine. He had more or less mastered the combat skill that took little time to learn, but the more he cultivated the technique, the more alarmed Xiao Yan became.

Leaving aside the scorching aura that naturally emerged with cultivation—something Xiao Yan had never seen on any other fighter—the contents of the technique alone were like having someone personally teach him how to cultivate. Every difficulty and question he encountered had a corresponding solution in the scroll. It was practically like taking an exam with the answers in hand!

Cultivating a technique was not as simple as receiving a manual and burying one's head in practice. Which parts required careful attention, which were the key points, where unconventional circulation methods were needed, where one had to make slight adjustments according to one's own body... Without guidance from an elder, one could only feel one's way across the river.

Xiao Yan had heard his father say that Xiao Zhan had spent untold effort cultivating the Xiao Clan's strongest mid-Xuan-tier technique, the Raging Lion Fury Force, and had personally added countless annotations to it. Yet for Xiao Yan, it had all come as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

Xun'er merely smiled and replied,

"Today is Canaan Academy's enrollment day. If Xun'er hadn't come to find you, Xiao Yan, I'm afraid you would have forgotten all about it!"

Since Xun'er did not wish to discuss it further, Xiao Yan did not press the subject. Instead, he replied,

"Even if your Xiao Yan were foolish, I wouldn't forget something like this. Enrollment lasts five days in total. On the first day, everyone just goes to watch the excitement. We can wait until this rush dies down."

Who would have thought that Xun'er would seize Xiao Yan's hand and shake it coquettishly?

"Let's go today, Xiao Yan. We'll get it over with today, then you can come play with Xun'er. You haven't come to see Xun'er in two whole months!"

Her voice suddenly softened.

"And Xiao Yan will be leaving soon. We won't be able to see each other for a long time then, so spend more time with me now, okay?"

Hearing that, Xiao Yan's heart immediately softened. Recently, he had been focused solely on cultivation and had indeed forgotten that he would be parting from Xun'er. He raised a hand and stroked her hair, saying nothing more about training.

Xun Er lowered her head and enjoyed Xiao Yan's head-patting service, but her eyes, hidden from his view, were full of mischief.

"I told you I didn't want to come today. Just look at this..."

When they reached Canaan Academy's enrollment queue, Xiao Yan still regretted it somewhat. Even though he had prepared himself for the scene, the reality was far more exaggerated than he had imagined.

Canaan Academy had merely fenced off a small area, but the crowds packed three layers deep inside and out had forcibly turned the place into a bustling market. The academy had set up a testing station outside the entrance for preliminary screening. Only those who qualified were allowed inside, while what lay beyond remained unseen.

"Hehe, what's so bad about it? Waiting in line with Xiao Yan is fun too. (〜^∇^)〜"

What could Xiao Yan do when she put it that way? He could only indulge her!

Only after joining the queue did Xiao Yan begin to understand why there were so many people.

Canaan Academy accepted students based solely on talent, regardless of background. The minimum requirement was eight stages of Dou Qi by the age of eighteen. Anyone who met the standard could enter the academy to study, and even tuition could be paid later, after entering the academy.

Because there were no restrictions on status, everyone in Wutan City—whether qualified or not—came to try their luck. After all, perhaps the academy staff might make a mistake and overlook something, allowing them to board Canaan Academy's great ship.

Xiao Yan could understand that sort of opportunistic mentality, but as he looked at the "big brother" in front of him, he could not help but feel black lines form across his forehead.

Though the line was long, it moved quickly. That alone showed how many people were merely trying to make up the numbers and had no chance of getting through the gates...

"I'm really only eighteen. I just look a little old."

"..."

"Really! If you don't believe me, I can bring Ergouzi from my village to testify for me."

"..."

In the end, only after the Canaan Academy examiner displayed the treasured sword at his waist did the man curse as he shoved his way through the crowd and left.

Xiao Yan could barely stand to watch. He squeezed Xun'er's little hand, signaling her not to laugh in secret, before stepping forward.

Zhou Quan was miserable. Absolutely miserable!

Had he known that accompanying his instructor on an enrollment trip meant doing this kind of work, he swore he would never have left the academy!

In Zhou Quan's original vision, he would travel through various cities, enjoying the admiring looks people gave a favored son of Canaan Academy. Then he would meet a beautiful and gifted girl, they would fall in love at first sight, return to Canaan Academy together, and after graduation become a carefree immortal couple roaming the continent...

Not stand here arguing with a bald man whose face was full of wrinkles over whether he was eighteen!

Still, this was not the first time Zhou Quan had encountered such a situation. He did not know whether to call himself lucky or unlucky: he was almost used to it!

He looked toward the next people in line. The trademark smile on his face did not change, but inwardly, he was rolling his eyes.

Two more little brats here for the excitement. Still, they were not too bad. At least these two children were exceptionally dressed and good-looking, a true golden boy and jade girl. They were far more pleasant to look at than that damned fellow from before.

"How do we take the test?"

The boy's question interrupted Zhou Quan's thoughts. He had actually been preparing answers such as, "We don't have candy here," and, "This isn't some circus act."

"Huh? The test... You really want to take it? Just place your hand on this."

After hearing Zhou Quan, the boy took hold of the jade stone Zhou Quan handed over and asked curiously,

"What is this?"

Zhou Quan quickly realized that this child really had come for the test, so he launched into the standard speech drilled into him during training.

"This is a simple testing magic stone specially made by Canaan Academy. As long as someone qualified touches it, the magic stone will light up, indicating that you are qualified to become a Canaan Academy student. But you're still young, little one. It's normal if you don't pass. There will be other opportunities in the future... (⊙o⊙) What?"

The magic stone in the boy's hand lit up. After examining it briefly, he tossed it back to Zhou Quan.

"Then I'm going in."

As he spoke, he grabbed the girl beside him and entered through the gap Zhou Quan had unconsciously made. Zhou Quan remained standing there in a daze until the next person tried to sneak in amid the confusion, jolting him awake so he could quickly seize him.

As Zhou Quan listened to the regretful sighs of the person he had driven away, he could not help but shudder.

"That kid from before was only around ten, wasn't he?!"

The magic stone in Zhou Quan's hand tested for two requirements. First, one had to be under eighteen. Second, one's cultivation had to be at least eight stages of Dou Qi. Only when both conditions were met would the magic stone light up. Then that glowing stone just now meant...

Zhou Quan understood. He had probably recruited a true genius for Canaan Academy!

After entering the enrollment grounds, Xiao Yan found the interior surprisingly spacious. Only a tent had been erected in the center of the enclosed clearing.

Two or three people wearing Canaan Academy uniforms stood outside the tent. Farther away, fewer than ten people sat cross-legged on the open ground. Judging by their messy, varied clothing, they were likely those who had passed the test earlier.

Xiao Yan was speechless. Outside, the crowd had been so packed that it seemed as if everyone in Wutan City had come, yet only a handful had qualified for the preliminary test. He truly did not know what those people outside hoped to gain by crowding around under the blazing sun.

Xiao Yan led Xun'er toward the tent. The Canaan Academy students quickly noticed the newcomers, but as Xiao Yan and Xun'er approached, the expressions of the three people grew increasingly strange. The leading man spoke up to ask,

"You two, did you enter after passing the test at the entrance?"

Xiao Yan calmly cupped his fists in greeting.

"My name is Xiao Yan, and this is my younger cousin. I did indeed pass the magic stone test outside before entering. Is there something wrong?"

"Oh, nothing is wrong. I just didn't expect Junior Brother Xiao Yan's talent to be so outstanding. It seems Instructor Ruo Lin may recruit an A-rank student this year. I'm Jiang Ping. You can call me Senior Brother Jiang if you don't mind."

This student named Jiang Ping was clearly more composed. His surprise and admiration flashed past only briefly; he had not lost himself in shock like the examiner outside.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang. Then what are we supposed to do now?" Xiao Yan glanced at the freshmen sitting nearby. Although he was asking a question, he already had a few guesses.

"This..."

That question put Jiang Ping in a difficult position. Making these newcomers suffer a little before officially joining Canaan Academy was an enrollment tradition, though it was not entirely about bullying new students.

After all, Canaan Academy's admission threshold was not low. Anyone who entered could be considered a genius, and geniuses had pride. Canaan Academy gathered a whole group of geniuses together; if their tempers were not tempered and they were not made to understand that they were not special, teaching would be impossible.

Thus, the scene before Xiao Yan was merely part of the customary process of "polishing" the new students. But Jiang Ping did not really want to explain all that to Xiao Yan.

Jiang Ping himself had little interest in bullying newcomers. Moreover, despite having exchanged only a few words, he could tell that the seemingly childish boy before him was not someone easy to deal with. On top of that, Xiao Yan was almost certainly a genius with potential far beyond his own. There was no need to make an enemy over such a trivial matter.

With that thought, Jiang Ping's tone became even friendlier.

"Junior Brother Xiao Yan, this is..."

"Whatever they do, just do the same. Why are you asking so much pointless nonsense?"