Hu Gan

Ge Long led Xiao Qing through several tree-lined paths. Along the way, they saw quite a few students dressed in Jia Nan Academy uniforms.

When they noticed Instructor Ge Long leading an excessively young-looking child deeper inside, they could not help casting curious glances their way.

At last, the two stopped before an ancient-looking pavilion.

After calming his excited emotions, Ge Long straightened his robes and took a deep breath before stepping forward to knock softly on the door.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Come in!" A gentle yet authoritative voice sounded from inside the room.

Ge Long pushed open the door and entered with Xiao Qing.

The room was simply furnished. An old man in gray robes sat behind a desk, his hair and beard entirely white, his kindly face wearing a smile as he looked at the two who had entered.

"Ge Long, instructor of Xuan Rank Class Two, greets the Vice Principal!"

The moment he saw the old man, Ge Long excitedly bowed in salute.

At the side, Xiao Qing curiously examined Hu Gan. If he had not read the original novel, he could never have connected this kindly old man before him with a peak Dou Emperor powerhouse.

"No need for such formalities." Hu Gan smiled faintly, then turned his gaze to the young Xiao Qing beside him. He paid no mind to the boy's scrutiny. Sensing the cultivation of Dou Qi within him, a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes as he said warmly:

"Little fellow, you are Xiao Qing, correct? Not bad, not bad. Eight-Stage Dou Qi at such a young age—you truly are quite the little monster!"

Hearing Hu Gan's praise, Xiao Qing snapped out of his inspection and copied Ge Long's manner, bowing as he said, "This junior is Xiao Qing. Greetings, Vice Principal. You flatter me."

Hu Gan chuckled and waved his hand. "No need to be modest. Reaching Eight-Stage Dou Qi at the age of four is well deserving of such praise!"

Xiao Qing scratched his head somewhat awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

Should he simply nod and admit it?

That would make him seem insufficiently composed.

But if he shook his head and continued being modest, it would seem rather hypocritical.

Hu Gan was an old hand who had seen it all. Seeing Xiao Qing's expression, he immediately understood what was on the boy's mind. Finding it amusing, he shook his head and sighed. "You really do not seem like a four-year-old child!"

Little did he know, that was precisely the correct answer.

Hearing this, Xiao Qing did not think Hu Gan could have discovered anything. After all, he had been reborn into this world from the womb, and his soul and body were perfectly fused. On top of that, his cheat concealed everything. Even if Hun Tiandi himself came, he would not detect the slightest problem.

Besides, on the Dou Qi Continent, those blessed with extraordinary talent were usually somewhat more mature than their peers.

Thus, Xiao Qing's current behavior instead seemed perfectly normal in Hu Gan's eyes.

Hu Gan studied the young Xiao Qing before him and inwardly sighed. This temperament truly matched that talent.

He thought of his own granddaughter, who was several years older than Xiao Qing and was still hovering around Three-Stage Dou Qi, yet strutted about with her nose in the air.

He had not thought much of it before. After all, his granddaughter did possess the right to be proud.

But now that he had seen a monster like Xiao Qing, Hu Gan could not help comparing them and found it almost unbearable to look at.

With an inward sigh, Hu Gan secretly made up his mind. Once he returned, he absolutely had to push his granddaughter to cultivate diligently. He did not expect her to catch up to Xiao Qing; as long as she could improve a little faster, that would be enough.

Xiao Qing, however, had no idea that because of him, someone's days ahead were about to become a living hell.

After offering Xiao Qing some encouragement, Hu Gan looked toward Ge Long and said, "You deserve great credit for recruiting Student Xiao Qing. Go to the Alchemy Department and collect a Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pill."

Within the Jia Ma Empire, the formula for the Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pill was possessed only by the Alchemist Association. But for Jia Nan Academy, with its deep foundations, it was merely one of the many pill formulas in its collection.

Ge Long hurriedly bowed and said gratefully, "Ge Long thanks the Vice Principal!"

A high-grade Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pill had a chance of raising a Da Dou Shi's cultivation by roughly three stars. Taking one could save him several years of bitter cultivation.

Hu Gan waved his hand. "This is what you deserve. Jia Nan Academy has never been stingy with rewards for those who render meritorious service."

After giving the two a few more words of encouragement, Hu Gan dismissed them to handle their own affairs.

After all, the new students had only just enrolled. As the instructor of Xuan Rank Class Two, Ge Long still had matters to attend to.

Xiao Qing also needed to collect daily necessities such as bedding.

Before he left, Hu Gan told Xiao Qing to come see him after breaking through to the Dou Zhe realm. Xiao Qing vaguely guessed the reason and nodded in agreement.

Watching the two depart, Hu Gan smiled toward the empty space beside him and asked, "What do you think?"

As soon as he spoke, ripples spread through that patch of space. In the next instant, an old man in black robes appeared out of thin air.

"Not bad. He is a little monster. It seems Jia Nan Academy will have worthy successors after all!"

A smile creased the black-robed old man's wrinkled face, and there was a trace of gratification in his voice.

Hearing the black-robed old man's words, Hu Gan was somewhat surprised. The old man was a Dou Zong powerhouse, yet Xiao Qing had earned such praise from him.

Hu Gan said with a hint of sourness, "Old fellow, is that really necessary? I admit Xiao Qing is indeed a monster, but he cannot possibly bear the future of Jia Nan Academy on his shoulders, can he?"

Su Qian shook his head helplessly. "What cultivation did you have when you were four? Did you even have Three-Stage Dou Qi?"

Hu Gan gave an awkward laugh. On second thought, he understood just how monstrous Xiao Qing was and could not help feeling shocked.

When that old fellow Su Qian had told him to summon Xiao Qing, he had thought Su Qian was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Only after considering it carefully now did he understand the crucial point.

Jia Nan Academy was not lacking in geniuses, but not a single one had reached such cultivation at Xiao Qing's age!

That included both himself and Su Qian before him.

The reason the two of them had reached their current heights was largely due to their own talent, yet they still could not compare to Xiao Qing!

What did that mean?

Perhaps the bottlenecks of Dou Emperor and Dou Zong would not be obstacles for Xiao Qing in the future at all!

As for Dou Zun?

Hu Gan had not considered it. After all, even the two in the library pavilion had been stuck at the peak of Dou Zong for years without breaking through.

Only the elusive Principal, who appeared and vanished like a divine dragon, had reached that realm.

Seeing that Hu Gan had grasped the key point, Su Qian secretly shook his head.

Having traveled through the Central Plains, he knew that Xiao Qing's talent would be considered top-tier even there.

If any faction learned of this, they would likely scramble to claim him.

For Jia Nan Academy to recruit Xiao Qing while he was still young was truly a stroke of incredible fortune!

Hu Gan quickly recovered from his shock and asked Su Qian, "Then how should we arrange things for Xiao Qing?"

Su Qian stroked his long beard and pondered for a moment before saying, "Let nature take its course. For a monster like Xiao Qing, excessive interference from us would only be detrimental."

"However, cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, and cultivation resources cannot be lacking. If talent like his were delayed over such trivial matters, it would instead be our failing!"

Hu Gan nodded thoughtfully.