When Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders, who were still in a meeting, heard that Jia Nan Academy's recruitment team would be staying at the Xiao Clan residence—and that recruitment itself would be conducted there—they were all overjoyed and hurriedly made the arrangements...
Not to mention Wutan City; even in the eyes of the Jia Ma Empire, Jia Nan Academy was a colossal entity. With such transcendent status, why would it ever think highly of local powers?
Yet Xiao Yan had invited Instructor Ruo Lin to the Xiao Clan this time, which would undoubtedly greatly raise the Xiao Clan's influence in Wutan City. Even if it merely suggested the possibility of an unusual connection with Jia Nan Academy, the Xiao Clan would reap considerable benefits...
It was not that Instructor Ruo Lin failed to understand these matters. It was simply that Xiao Yan and Xun'er truly differed from ordinary people. Besides, Jia Nan Academy did have friendly ties with certain factions. Though the Xiao Clan was far too small in scale, with Xiao Yan alone, Jia Nan Academy would surely not object to establishing amicable relations with the Xiao Clan.
That evening, after Jia Nan Academy's party moved into the Xiao Clan residence and announced that the next day's recruitment location would also be moved there, the entire Wutan City was thrown into an uproar by the news...
Some said that the Xiao Clan had long-standing ties with Jia Nan Academy.
Others said there were members of the Xiao Clan within Jia Nan Academy's party.
There were even more outrageous rumors, but the Xiao Clan had no intention of clarifying them, and Jia Nan 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, both flew into a rage and smashed quite a few things...
Xiao Yan stopped cultivating as well and, as promised, spent several days playing with Xun'er. Though it was Xiao Yan's first time traveling far from home, the people from Jia Nan Academy had arranged everything along the way. Moreover, after Xiao Zhan gave Xiao Yan a low-grade Storage Ring, there was practically nothing left for him to prepare.
Five days later
Ruo Lin led the students as they waited for the flying convoy to arrive. To avoid disturbing Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Zhan had dispersed the clan members who wanted to come watch. Still, he allowed the younger generation to come take a look, hoping it would inspire them to cultivate diligently.
"Wuwu, Instructor Ruo Lin, you promised that you would definitely come take Yu'er away someday, right?"
A tall young woman wrapped her arms around Instructor Ruo Lin's slender waist and spoke in a spoiled tone. Her actions drew several extra glances from the surrounding students, though it was unclear which of the two they envied.
Instructor Ruo Lin affectionately stroked her head and readily agreed. During the few days she had stayed with the Xiao Clan, she had seen little of Xun'er and Xiao Yan, but she had gotten along remarkably well with this girl named Xiao Yu. She had even promised to return in the future to recruit her into the academy.
On the other side, Xiao Yan was also saying farewell to his companions. After much effort, he finally consoled the tearful Xiao Mei, then encouraged them to cultivate diligently and come to Jia Nan Academy in the future as well. Though Xiao Yan felt that, at their current cultivation speed, he would probably have already graduated by the time they qualified...
Xun'er, who was closest to Xiao Yan, showed no excessive emotion. She merely silently smoothed his clothes. Xiao Yan was not surprised; after all, this was usually how Xun'er behaved in front of others.
Just as the entire camp buzzed with noise, an enormous shadow suddenly blanketed everyone. The new students looked up, and each of them seemed as though their necks had frozen. Their mouths fell open unconsciously, yet they could not utter a word.
What had terrified them was a gigantic Magical Beast. To these youths who had never left Wutan City, its size truly exceeded all imagination. Its mountain-like body radiated such pressure that it nearly made them faint.
Seeing even Xiao Yan wear a slightly astonished expression, Instructor Ruo Lin secretly felt rather pleased. No matter how gifted a prodigy you are, little fellow, you're still far too inexperienced!
As Instructor Ruo Lin took out a piece of jade and sent a signal, instructing the people atop the Magical Beast to guide it down into the designated clearing, she explained to everyone:
"This is one of our academy's raised Magical Beasts, a Fifth-Rank Magical Beast called the Windrock Spirit Turtle. It is specifically used for long-distance travel and poses no danger. Students, prepare to depart!"
A Fifth-Rank Magical Beast! By human standards, that was equivalent to a Dou Wang! Xiao Yan was startled as well. The strongest person he had ever seen was only a Da Dou Shi, and there was still an entire rank separating a Da Dou Shi from a Dou Wang!
After the Magical Beast landed steadily, a flight of stairs descended from its back. Instructor Ruo Lin gave everyone no time to process their shock and had the senior students lead them upward.
As Xiao Yan stepped onto the stairs, he turned back and saw that every member of the Xiao Clan was looking at him. Their gazes held reluctance, comfort, envy, and expectation...
Xiao Yan smiled faintly and said no more. Turning around, he strode toward a new world.
Once they reached the Spirit Turtle's back, everyone discovered that there were actually built houses atop the enormous Magical Beast. They all marveled at how the Dou Qi Continent truly contained every kind of wonder.
Instructor Ruo Lin then arranged for everyone to stay inside. Once they had settled in, air currents gradually gathered beneath the Magical Beast's body, lifting it into the sky. After ascending, it sped off in one direction at extreme speed.
Xiao Yan had learned from Jiang Ping that the Jia Ma Empire was extremely far from Jia Nan Academy. Even using a Fifth-Rank Magical Beast for travel, it would take nearly a month to arrive. Thus, after briefly enjoying the novelty of flying atop 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 daily lessons. Though most of what she taught concerned cultivation at the Dou Qi and Dou Zhe stages, even Xiao Yan, who had received family instruction, gained quite a lot. There was even less need to mention the accompanying new students who had never received systematic teaching.
That month passed quickly. Xiao Yan spent every day cultivating and attending lectures, finding the days especially fulfilling. His anticipation for Jia Nan Academy grew even stronger.
After the Windrock Spirit Turtle dropped everyone at Jia Nan Academy's entrance, it flew away without delay. Instructor Ruo Lin tossed a form to each person, casually said she was going to hand over her work, and left with the senior students. A whole group of people was left standing at the gate in utter confusion.
Fortunately, a senior student wearing an academy uniform soon approached them:
"You're new students who just arrived, right? Take the forms in your hands, find your dormitories, and complete your physical examinations and registration by tomorrow. There are new students everywhere right now. If there's anything you don't understand, just grab someone in uniform and ask."
After giving those instructions, he too quickly vanished into the crowd. Still, with some guidance at last, everyone finally had a direction and began bustling around the campus together.
However, Xiao Yan soon separated from the main group, because his dormitory was not in the same direction as theirs. After seeing Xiao Yan off, those people all felt much more relaxed. After all, during that month, they had learned about Xiao Yan's "great achievements." Walking beside such a "great god" truly put them under tremendous pressure.
Xiao Yan felt a little wistful. He had left his hometown, 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 issue. It was just that everyone he passed along the way gave him strange looks. Among a crowd of people at least fifteen or sixteen years old, Xiao Yan's appearance was far too conspicuous.
Knock, knock, knock.
Xiao Yan knocked on the dormitory door because he could hear people talking inside.
"A new arrival! A new arrival!"
The person who opened the door was a huge fat man. If Xiao Yan had not stepped back, he would have nearly crashed into him.
"Huh? Kid, who are you?"
It was not an entirely unexpected reaction. Xiao Yan raised the registration form in his hand.
"New student. Dormitory Yellow 105. This is the place, right?"
"Holy shit!? You really are a new student! Yes, this is it. Come in, come in."
The fat man hurriedly welcomed Xiao Yan into the room. Once inside, Xiao Yan saw the other two people as well. One was bare-chested, his muscular physique obvious, while his sharply defined face carried a bold, forthright air. The other was tall and slender, dressed in green robes that accentuated his extraordinary bearing. His handsome appearance was particularly eye-catching; even Xiao Yan had to admit that this man's looks were enough to rival his own.
Yet 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 things. He truly had little experience interacting with strangers and did not know what to say.
The atmosphere turned awkwardly quiet. The three behind Xiao Yan exchanged glances and communicated with their eyes. In the end, the fat man Qian Mo, who had been stared at by the other two, stepped forward to strike up a conversation with Xiao Yan.
"Xiao Yan, you should be from the Central Domain, right? Why did you come to Jia Nan Academy?"
He quickly added,
"Oh, the three of us are from fairly nearby. We're all from the Western Region, close to the 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 this Western Region you mentioned."
"The Jia Ma Empire...?"
Qian Mo and the other two looked at each other, seeing only confusion in one another's eyes. In the end, Lin Xiuya was the first to react.
"Xiao Yan, could it be that you're not from the Central Plains? And your family didn't send you to Jia Nan Academy?"
Xiao Yan answered honestly:
"I truly don't know where the Central Plains are, but I was admitted after passing the test."
Before you continue