Leaving

Seven days later, Canaan Academy's recruitment came to an end. Countless people left in disappointment. Some were still young and would have another chance to apply, while the few lucky ones who passed the test bade farewell to their families and set off for the academy.

Xiao Yan and the others left Wutan City. After passing through a forest, they arrived at an open clearing.

Ruo Lin released a signal. A piercing explosion echoed through the sky, and before long, two black dots appeared.

Very quickly, the black dots grew larger and clearer before everyone's eyes. They were two second-tier Griffin Beasts.

As a Dou Qi academy with deep foundations, Canaan Academy had its own trained flying mounts. To make it easier to recruit students across the continent and allow students to reach the academy quickly, instructors and senior students would often bring two Griffin Beasts when they set out.

However, considering their strength, they had brought only second-tier Griffin Beasts. Some high-level Griffin Beasts that had grown powerful with age could only be used by experts such as the academy elders.

The new students, seeing those majestic Griffin Beasts up close for the first time, were both frightened and curious.

The two senior students atop the Griffin Beasts looked down at the crowd below, equally astonished. "Instructor, you actually recruited so many new students this time! It won't be long before your rank is promoted."

Outer Academy instructors had two ranks. Ruo Lin was currently only a Yellow Tier instructor; after advancing, she could become a Profound Tier instructor, and her treatment would improve greatly.

The new students did not know why, but the senior students were extremely embarrassed. Canaan Academy's unwritten rule of tempering new students had not been carried out this time.

In the past, some proud and arrogant geniuses could not endure the grievance and directly gave up on enrolling, so the number of students naturally became much smaller. Canaan Academy would not recruit people with such poor temperament.

Ruo Lin smiled gently. "These are Griffin Beasts raised by Canaan Academy. They can greatly shorten the journey to the academy. Griffin Beast feathers carry a strange dampness, so students without seats must hold tightly onto the crafted seats. After a while, you can switch places with one another."

With more students than expected, crowding together on the Griffin Beasts was unavoidable. Yet this somewhat unpleasant matter made everyone's hearts race as they looked toward Xiao Yan and the distinctively charming young women beside him.

Under normal circumstances, they would naturally not dare harbor any improper thoughts. But now that they would have to squeeze together, and there were occasional jolts in the air, bumping into one another would be impossible to avoid.

Xiao Yan looked at Little Fairy Doctor beside him. "Call Little Blue over."

"Who is Little Blue?" Xiao Yu asked curiously.

Little Fairy Doctor took a bamboo whistle from her robes and blew a long, lingering note. Soon, a blue point of light appeared at the horizon.

Xiao Yan had originally thought that bringing Little Fairy Doctor to study at Canaan Academy might mean missing this opportunity. Yet in the days before enrollment, Little Fairy Doctor had discovered a wounded Blue Eagle that had fallen while gathering herbs.

After healing the Blue Eagle's wounds, the Blue Eagle became Little Fairy Doctor's mount.

Looking at the giant eagle covered in blue feathers, Xiao Yu immediately understood. She said in great surprise, "You have a flying Magic Beast mount too?"

Everyone looked at Xiao Yan with deep envy. Those capable of taming Magic Beasts were without exception people blessed with extraordinary luck.

The senior students understood this even more clearly. The academy had paid an enormous price to raise Griffin Beasts that could be controlled, so they were even more envious than the new students.

Xiao Yan nodded and invited, "Instructor Ruo Lin, come over here too."

Though it was merely a polite gesture, Ruo Lin felt something strange in her heart as she walked over beneath everyone's watchful eyes.

As the Blue Eagle and Griffin Beasts spread their wings and took flight, Xiao Yan and the others embarked on the road to Canaan Academy.

Although the Blue Eagle was only a first-tier Magic Beast, its wild nature meant its speed was no slower than that of the second-tier Griffin Beasts.

Standing on the eagle's back, Xiao Yan gazed toward the direction of Tagore Desert, where his two older brothers had gone. Their words at parting surfaced in his mind.

"The genius young master of the Xiao Family ought to have a maid worthy of his status attending him. I can't capture the Medusa Queen of the serpentfolk, but getting two snake women won't be much of a problem."

"Having snake women attend you? Are you in such a hurry to make me a second uncle?"

The memory ended with his eldest brother's laughter. Xiao Yan's deep eyes were filled with resolve.

Medusa Queen... When he returned from Canaan Academy to obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame, he would definitely encounter her.

Not long after Xiao Yan's group departed, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, having finished packing, rode out of Wutan City.

With all three sons leaving one after another, Xiao Zhan felt the loneliness of a father. Yet he also knew clearly that the fledglings of the past had all gained the right to spread their wings and soar. His sons, Xiao Zhan's sons, would surely look down upon the heavens with pride!

At the Mittel Auction House, Ya Fei leaned languidly against the window. Her exquisite red dress displayed her perfect curves without reservation. Her peach-blossom eyes gazed into the sky as her red lips parted in a soft murmur:

"A twelve-year-old Three-Star Great Dou Master, a Third-Grade Alchemist... After studying at Canaan Academy, renowned across the Dou Qi Continent, just what new, astonishing heights will he reach?"

At the summit of the Yunlan Sect's back mountain, clouds and mist curled about like a fairyland.

Upon a black rock at the edge of a cliff, Nalan Yanran, dressed in a moon-white gown, formed cultivation seals with both hands and cultivated with her eyes closed.

As each breath she drew and released formed a perfect cycle, the surrounding energy of heaven and earth suddenly churned. One by one, she refined the surging energy rushing toward her, and Nalan Yanran opened her eyes in satisfaction.

Taking out a crystal from her robes, Nalan Yanran tested her strength. Like the Demonstone Stele, this crystal could detect faint levels of Battle Qi.

As Nalan Yanran poured Battle Qi into it, the crystal immediately lit up.

At that moment, a streak of green light tore through the distant sky and landed atop the mountain. The green light dispersed, revealing Yun Yun, the Yunlan Sect's leader.

A plain dress wrapped around her full, graceful figure. A bright silver phoenix hair ornament rested upon her head, while her ink-black hair fell straight to her waist and hips. Her beautiful, moving face was calm and serene, yet carried a dignity and nobility that even the plain dress could not conceal.

Seeing the steady glow of the crystal, Yun Yun's tranquil face revealed a pleased smile. "Yanran, you've broken through to the eighth stage. You have worked quite hard lately."

Hearing the familiar voice, Nalan Yanran rose excitedly.

Though she was still young, the outlines of beauty had already appeared upon her lovely face. Once grown, her appearance would not fall below Yun Yun's. Two emerald jade pendants hung from her delicate earlobes, producing clear jade chimes as they gently swayed, lending her an air of pampered nobility.

"Teacher, since I've cultivated so diligently, when will you take me to break off the engagement?" Nalan Yanran hurried forward and pleaded.

Yun Yun smiled slightly, her voice as pleasant as pearls falling onto a jade plate. "Why must you insist on breaking off the engagement? Perhaps you should first learn about your fiancé. He may well be a suitable match for you."

Nalan Yanran snorted. "What is there to learn about a young master from some minor Lineage?"

"It seems you still don't know." Yun Yun shook her head helplessly. "That young master of the Xiao Family became a Dou Practitioner at the age of ten. He is now already a Three-Star Great Dou Master, and it is said that he is also a Third-Grade Alchemist."

"What?!" Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. She had only just broken through to the Eighth-Stage Battle Qi, while that Xiao Yan was already a Three-Star Great Dou Master? And even a Third-Grade Alchemist?

As the young lady of the Nalan Family and the direct disciple of the Yunlan Sect's leader, Nalan Yanran knew very well just how difficult it was to achieve either of those accomplishments—especially at the same age as her.

Yun Yun smiled. "That is why you should get to know him better. Once I pass the position of Yunlan Sect leader to you, the two of you, husband and wife joining hands, will surely lead the Yunlan Sect to unprecedented heights."

As she spoke, Yun Yun let out a soft sigh. "Unfortunately, I had only recently emerged from seclusion then and did not investigate carefully enough. If I had brought him into the Yunlan Sect as well, the two of you, as senior and junior disciples, could have spent more time together and exchanged cultivation insights. That would have been even better. It might even have allowed you to break through faster."

Hearing even her teacher praise Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran reacted like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on. "So what if he is some genius? Even if he has the talent to become a Dou Emperor, so what? I will decide my own marriage! If you like him that much, Teacher, then you marry him yourself. I definitely won't object."

Yun Yun froze for a moment. Watching Nalan Yanran storm down the mountain, her pretty face reddened and her chest rose and fell without pause.

Having cultivated alone for many years, she had never considered such matters—much less competing with her disciple for her fiancé.