Privilege

She had always felt that Brother Chenfeng was deliberately distancing himself from Xun'er. If she went instead, even if Brother Chenfeng did not tell her stories, he would still take her along.

"Then let's go."

After a brief daze, Xiao Yu sighed, reached out to take Xiao Xun'er's hand, and turned back.

Xiao Clan Hall.

Xiao Zhan was discussing clan affairs with the Xiao Clan's three elders. When he saw Nalan Chenfeng enter, the smile on his face immediately deepened.

"Just in time, worthy nephew. I was just about to send someone to invite you."

Xiao Zhan set down his teacup, stood, and took a gilded letter from his sleeve, smiling as he handed it over.

"Jia Nan Academy's recruitment team arrived in Wu Tan City yesterday. Over the next two days, they will be conducting talent assessments in the square north of the city.

"This is the recruitment letter sent by the team. Anyone under eighteen who has broken through to Eight-Duan Dou Qi is qualified to enter Jia Nan Academy."

"With your talent, worthy nephew, there naturally won't be any problem. Once you reach Jia Nan Academy, you will certainly be valued as well."

Nalan Chenfeng accepted it and immediately opened it for a quick read.

"Jia Nan Academy recruitment rules are as follows: applicants must be under eighteen years old and above Eight-Duan Dou Qi. Talent assessments are graded from S downward according to age..."

After pondering for a moment, Nalan Chenfeng solemnly cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan elders.

"Thank you, Uncle Xiao. Then I will not remain in the Xiao Clan any longer. After this, I will head to Jia Nan Academy."

Recently, the Imperial Capital had been in turmoil. Because of his appearance, both the royal family and the Misty Cloud Sect had personally extended olive branches to his grandfather.

Yun Yun, the sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, had even personally visited the Nalan Clan, while the royal family had brought up old matters again and once more set its sights on a marriage alliance.

All of this had been mentioned in the letters his grandfather had personally written to him. Fortunately, he had come to Wu Tan City to avoid the storm. Aside from the Xiao Clan and the Nalan Clan, not many people knew he was in Wu Tan City.

And now, the time had finally come for him to leave the Jia Ma Empire.

If he wanted to obtain Earth Tier or higher cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, Jia Nan Academy was currently his only choice.

Moreover, Jia Nan Academy's Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower greatly enhanced the strength of those with fire attributes. Cultivating there would yield twice the result with half the effort for him.

Therefore, no matter what, he would not miss this chance to go to Jia Nan Academy.

"Good. Take care on the road."

North of Wu Tan City, an expansive bluestone square.

"No way... There are this many people..."

When Nalan Chenfeng arrived at the square designated for Jia Nan Academy's recruitment, he stared at the sea of people stretching nearly beyond sight and was instantly dumbfounded.

On the enormous square, waves of clamor soared into the sky as batch after batch of young people desperately squeezed toward the interior.

Had the Wu Tan City troops not been maintaining order around the edges of the square, these excited crowds would likely have rushed in without restraint long ago.

It was true that Jia Nan Academy's recruitment team was stationed in Wu Tan City, but the area under its jurisdiction clearly included more than Wu Tan City alone. It also covered the surrounding regions.

As the center of many nearby small towns, Wu Tan City was not large, but its location was excellent. That was also why Jia Nan Academy had stationed a recruitment team here.

"Looks like I can only ask Uncle Xu, who came with me, for help."

Blankly staring at the sea of people, Nalan Chenfeng smiled faintly after a while, then turned and headed toward the Xiao Clan's guest courtyard.

If he were an ordinary person, it would probably be difficult to cut in line today for testing and registration. But he could make use of certain privileges.

He had no authority to mobilize the troops of Wu Tan City's City Lord's Manor, but getting someone to have them open a special passage for him was not a problem at all.

The Nalan Clan still possessed tremendous influence within the Jia Ma Empire's military.

In truth, most of those going for the assessment were merely making up the numbers, or simply coming to join the excitement and watch.

Jia Nan Academy's basic requirement of reaching Eight-Duan Dou Qi before the age of eighteen was not something just anyone could meet.

In all of Wu Tan City, there were not actually many people like that.

Before long.

Nalan Chenfeng returned, accompanied by a rugged-faced middle-aged man.

When he had traveled from the Imperial Capital to the Nalan Clan, Nalan Jie had, as always, assigned Nalan Chenfeng a Da Dou Shi bodyguard to prevent any danger.

Such treatment was clearly not something ordinary families in the Jia Ma Empire could enjoy.

A Da Dou Shi was already among the foremost experts in Wu Tan City. Only the so-called three great families of Wu Tan City possessed such a figure.

"Uncle Xu, I'll have to trouble you."

Hearing this, the middle-aged man immediately cupped his hands. "It is only a small matter. Young Master is too polite."

"Please follow me..."

With that, the middle-aged man immediately led the way. A few minutes later, they stopped on the western side of the square.

This was already at the rear of the square. Fully armed troops encircled the area in two or three layers, their coldly gleaming weapons reflecting blinding light beneath the sun.

The middle-aged man swept his gaze across the stringent defenses, then stepped forward and took out a blue token from his storage ring.

"This is an imperial military token. Young Master Chenfeng is the grandson of the Lionheart Marshal. Let him enter through here for the assessment."

The middle-aged man handed over the token and briefly spoke to an officer.

The officer froze for a moment, then swept an astonished gaze over Nalan Chenfeng. Without the slightest hesitation, he waved his hand and shouted, "Open the way at once!"

At the officer's shout, the tightly packed wall of armored soldiers immediately rang with the neat clatter of colliding armor. A narrow path, just wide enough for one person to pass, slowly appeared.

"Young Master, please..."

The middle-aged man bowed and raised a hand, showing Nalan Chenfeng exceptional respect.

Although there was a clear gap in strength between the two of them, the talent Young Master Chenfeng had displayed was enough to earn his wholehearted admiration.

Within the Nalan Clan, not just anyone was qualified to follow this young master and bear the responsibility of protecting him.

Nalan Chenfeng returned the gesture with cupped hands, then walked directly inward along the passage.

Upon reaching the center of the square, an open green tent came into Nalan Chenfeng's view.

From here, he could already see the sea of people outside. Through several passageways, an occasional young man or woman approached the square with expectant expressions.

Within the cool shade of the tent, more than a dozen men and women had gathered in several small groups, chatting among themselves.

Judging by their relaxed demeanor and nearly identical uniforms, they were likely all Jia Nan Academy students assisting the instructors with recruitment work.

Outside the shade, more than a dozen young men and women sat on the ground beneath the blazing sun.

Though sweat streamed down their faces because of the heat, their expressions were filled with nervous restraint. From the looks of it, these people appeared to be newly admitted students who had just passed the preliminary tests.

"Little one, this is not a place you should be."