Arrival at Canaan Academy

When Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders, still in the middle of a discussion, heard that Canaan Academy's recruitment team would be staying at the Xiao Clan—and that the recruitment itself would be conducted there—their faces lit up with joy as they hurriedly made arrangements...

Not to mention Wutan City—even in the eyes of the Jia Ma Empire, Canaan Academy was a colossal force. With such an exalted status, why would it ever think highly of a local power?

But this time, Xiao Yan had managed to invite Instructor Ruo Lin to the Xiao Clan. This would undoubtedly greatly raise the Xiao Clan's influence in Wutan City. Even if it only showed the slightest possibility of an unusual connection with Canaan Academy, the Xiao Clan would reap considerable benefits...

It was not that Instructor Ruo Lin did not understand these matters. It was simply that Xiao Yan and Xun'er truly were unlike ordinary people. Besides, Canaan Academy was not without friendly ties to other forces. Though the Xiao Clan was far from large enough, with Xiao Yan alone, Canaan Academy surely would not oppose establishing friendly relations with the Xiao Clan.

That evening, after Canaan Academy's group moved into the Xiao Clan and announced that the next day's recruitment location would also be relocated there, the entire Wutan City was thrown into an uproar by the news...

Some said that the Xiao Clan had long-standing ties with Canaan Academy.

Others said that someone from the Xiao Clan was part of Canaan Academy's team.

There were even more outrageous rumors, but the Xiao Clan would not clarify them, and Canaan Academy cared even less.

It was only said that the heads of Wutan City's other two major powers, the Oba Clan and the Jia Lie Clan, who stood on equal footing with the Xiao Clan, were furious enough to smash quite a few things...

Xiao Yan no longer trained. Instead, as promised, he spent several days playing with Xun'er. Though it was Xiao Yan's first time traveling far from home, Canaan Academy's people had arranged everything along the way. Moreover, after Xiao Zhan gave Xiao Yan a low-grade storage ring, there was hardly anything left for him to prepare.

Five days later

Ruo Lin led the students as they waited for the flying convoy to arrive. In order not to disturb Canaan Academy, Xiao Zhan had dispersed the clan members who wanted to come watch. Still, he allowed the younger generation to come and see, hoping it would motivate them to train diligently.

"Wuwu, Instructor Ruo Lin, you promised you'd definitely come take Yu'er away someday, right?"

A tall young girl wrapped her arms around Instructor Ruo Lin's slender waist and spoke coquettishly. The gesture made the surrounding students glance at the two of them several times, though it was unclear which one they envied.

Instructor Ruo Lin lovingly stroked her head and readily agreed. During the days Instructor Ruo Lin stayed at the Xiao Clan, she rarely saw Xun'er and Xiao Yan, but she got along quite well with this girl named Xiao Yu. She had even promised to come recruit her into the academy in the future.

On the other side, Xiao Yan was also bidding farewell to his little companions. After much effort, he finally soothed the tearful Xiao Mei, then encouraged them to train hard and come to Canaan Academy in the future as well. Though Xiao Yan felt that, at their cultivation speed, he would probably have already graduated by the time they qualified to come...

Xun'er, who was closest to Xiao Yan, showed no unnecessary emotion. She merely silently helped smooth out his clothes. Xiao Yan was not surprised; after all, Xun'er was usually like this in front of others.

Just as the entire camp was bustling with noise, a huge shadow suddenly enveloped everyone. The new students looked up, and each of them seemed to have their necks frozen stiff. Their mouths opened unconsciously, yet not a word came out.

What frightened them was a massive magical beast. To these youths who had never left Wutan City, its size truly exceeded their imagination. Its mountain-like body was so oppressive that it nearly made them faint.

Seeing even Xiao Yan's somewhat astonished expression, Instructor Ruo Lin secretly felt a little pleased. No matter how gifted and monstrous you are, little fellow, you still have far too little experience!

Instructor Ruo Lin took out a piece of jade and sent a signal, instructing the people atop the magical beast to guide it down onto the designated open ground. At the same time, she explained to everyone:

"This is a magical beast raised by our academy, a fifth-tier Windrock Spirit Turtle. It is specially used for long-distance travel and poses no danger. Students, prepare to depart!"

A fifth-tier magical beast! By human standards, that was equivalent to a Dou King! Xiao Yan was startled as well. The strongest person he had ever seen was only a Great Dou Master, and there was still an entire rank between a Great Dou Master and a Dou King!

Once the magical beast had landed steadily, a flight of stairs descended from its back. Instructor Ruo Lin gave everyone no time to digest their shock and had the senior students lead them up.

As Xiao Yan stepped onto the stairs, he turned back and saw every member of the Xiao Clan staring at him. Within those gazes were reluctance, comfort, envy, and anticipation...

Xiao Yan smiled faintly and said nothing more. Turning around, he strode toward a new world.

Once they reached the spirit turtle's back, everyone discovered that there were actually houses built atop the enormous magical beast. They all marveled at how the Dou Qi Continent truly contained every wonder imaginable.

Instructor Ruo Lin then arranged for everyone to move into them. After they had settled down, currents of air gradually gathered beneath the magical beast's body, lifting it into the sky. Once it rose high enough, it sped off in one direction.

Xiao Yan had learned from Jiang Ping that the Jia Ma Empire and Canaan Academy were extremely far apart. Even with a fifth-tier magical beast as transport, the journey would take nearly a month. Thus, after briefly enjoying the novelty of flying on a magical beast, Xiao Yan quickly immersed himself in cultivation.

Still, that month was not spent idly. Starting from the second day, Instructor Ruo Lin gathered everyone for lessons each day. Most of what she taught concerned cultivation during the Dou Qi and Dou Practitioner stages, but even Xiao Yan, who had received family instruction, gained quite a lot. Not to mention the new students traveling with them who had never received systematic education.

The month passed quickly. Xiao Yan spent every day cultivating and attending lectures, feeling especially fulfilled. His anticipation for Canaan Academy grew even stronger.

After the Windrock Spirit Turtle dropped everyone off at Canaan Academy's entrance, it flew away without pause. Instructor Ruo Lin tossed each person a form, casually said that she was going to handle the handover, and then left with the senior students. She left the entire group standing at the gate in utter confusion.

Fortunately, a senior student wearing a school uniform soon walked over.

"You're newly arrived students, right? Take the forms in your hands, find your dormitories, and complete your physical examination and registration before tomorrow. There are new students everywhere now. If there's anything you don't understand, just grab someone wearing a school uniform and ask."

After giving those instructions, he quickly vanished into the crowd as well. But with some guidance at last, everyone finally had a direction and began busily moving around campus together.

However, Xiao Yan soon left the main group, because his dormitory was not in the same direction as the others'. After seeing Xiao Yan off, those people all relaxed considerably. Over the past month, they had learned about Xiao Yan's "great feats," and walking beside such a "great god" had truly put them under immense pressure.

Xiao Yan, on the other hand, felt somewhat forlorn. He had left his homeland behind, yet by now, there was not even a single person he could truly call an acquaintance.

Still, he was not the sentimental sort. He soon found his dormitory without trouble. Yet the people he passed along the way all gave him strange looks. After all, Xiao Yan's appearance stood out sharply among a crowd of people at least fifteen or sixteen years old.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Xiao Yan knocked on the dormitory door because he had heard people talking inside.

"A newcomer! A newcomer!"

The one who opened the door was a huge fat man. If Xiao Yan had not stepped back, he would have nearly collided with him.

"Huh? Kid, you are?"

It was not an entirely unexpected reaction. Xiao Yan raised the registration form in his hand.

"New student. Dormitory Yellow 105—is this the place?"

"Holy shit!? You really are a new student! This is the place. Come in, come in."

The fat man hurriedly ushered Xiao Yan inside. Once Xiao Yan entered, he saw the other two people as well. One was bare-chested, his sturdy build clearly visible, and his sharply defined face carried an air of boldness. The other was tall and slender, dressed in a blue robe that highlighted his extraordinary bearing. His handsome appearance was especially eye-catching; even Xiao Yan had to admit that this man's looks were enough to rival his own.

But when the two saw Xiao Yan, they both froze at the same time. The words they had prepared seemed to catch in their throats. Xiao Yan had grown somewhat used to such expressions, so he took the initiative to greet them first.

"Xiao Yan. Pleased to meet you all."

"Lin Xiuya." "Yan Hao." "Qian Mo."

After briefly exchanging names, Xiao Yan walked toward the only empty bed and silently began arranging his belongings. He truly had little experience dealing with strangers and did not know what to say.

The atmosphere turned awkward. The three behind Xiao Yan looked at one another, exchanging glances. In the end, the fat man Qian Mo, whom the other two had been staring at, walked over and struck up a conversation with Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan, you should be from the Central Domain, right? Why did you come to Canaan Academy?"

He hurriedly added,

"Oh, the three of us are from nearby. We're all from the Western Region, close to Burning Flame Valley. Have you ever been to the Western Region?"

Hearing one unfamiliar term after another from Qian Mo, Xiao Yan replied in confusion,

"Uh... I'm from the Jia Ma Empire. Brother Qian, I've never been to the Western Region you mentioned."

"The Jia Ma Empire...?"

Qian Mo and the other two looked at each other, seeing nothing but confusion in one another's eyes. In the end, Lin Xiuya was the first to react.

"Xiao Yan, could it be that you aren't from the Central Plains? And your family didn't send you to Canaan Academy?"

Xiao Yan answered honestly,

"I truly don't know where the Central Plains are, but I was admitted after passing the test."