Canaan, Han Yue

Time slipped quietly by.

Early that morning, Nalan Chenfeng finished cultivating. Feeling the Dou Qi within him grow a little more solid than it had been yesterday, a smile appeared on his handsome face.

He had broken through to Six-Star Dou Zhe five days ago. By today, not only had his newly advanced realm completely stabilized, but he had improved further.

"After breaking through to Dou Zhe, my cultivation speed has become much faster. And this is only a High Mystic Rank cultivation method. If it were Earth Tier, that speed could be shortened even further."

Nalan Chenfeng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his eyes flickering.

On the Dou Qi Continent, cultivation talent was certainly important, but cultivation methods, pill resources, secret realm opportunities, and other factors were equally crucial. Otherwise, rapidly improving one's strength was extremely difficult.

And counting it all up, less than five months had passed since he broke through to Dou Zhe.

"No matter what, I have to secure a place in the top five of Jia Nan Academy's freshman rankings as soon as possible. The sooner, the better. If I obtain an Earth Tier cultivation method early and enter the Canaan Inner Academy, I can raise my strength faster."

"Once the harmful effects of fire poison are excluded, the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower in the Inner Academy is a blessed cultivation ground for those with fire attributes."

"Advancing to Dou Wang before the age of fifteen isn't impossible..."

With those thoughts in mind, Nalan Chenfeng's gaze became increasingly resolute.

"Students, Jia Nan Academy has arrived. Please pack your belongings and prepare to disembark!"

Just as Nalan Chenfeng's thoughts churned, Mentor Ruohai's booming voice came from the deck, carrying a trace of relieved lightness.

Clearly, two straight months of travel had not been easy for this mentor either.

"We're here..."

Nalan Chenfeng did not dwell on it further. He rose to his feet and pushed open the door.

He had no luggage to pack. Among the batch of students recruited from Wu Tan City, he was one of the few who possessed storage space such as a Storage Ring. He had plenty of ordinary daily necessities and lacked nothing.

Moreover, his Storage Ring was a Mid-grade Storage Ring, something generally used by Da Dou Shi.

"Canaan City..."

"We're here, look..."

"..."

The deck was already packed with people.

All the freshmen crowded along the railings, craning their necks to look outside, their faces filled with awe.

Nalan Chenfeng walked to a railing and looked past the crowd toward the distance.

Far away, a towering city sprawled amid the mountains. Layer upon layer of buildings stretched from the foot of the mountains all the way to cloud-shrouded peaks. Its scale did not pale in the slightest beside Jia Ma Sacred City.

Above the city, more than a hundred giant flying ships similar to the one beneath their feet drifted slowly through the sky. The academy emblem bearing the words Jia Nan on their hulls gleamed golden in the sunlight.

Even farther away, several towers piercing the clouds could vaguely be seen. Their spires glowed with a faint halo, the fluctuations of energy barriers.

"Canaan City, Jia Nan Academy..."

Nalan Chenfeng's heart trembled faintly, and a glimmer flashed through his pitch-black eyes.

"Descend!"

With a stern shout, the fleet of flying ships slowly descended onto an open plaza in Canaan City.

The plaza was enormous. Many people had gathered on the bluestone-paved ground: mentors dressed in uniform academy robes, as well as senior students maintaining order.

"All freshmen, gather in the center of the plaza. You will be assigned to classes according to your test results!"

Mentor Ruohai's voice rang out again as he directed the freshmen aboard the ship to disembark.

Nalan Chenfeng followed the crowd off the ship. Standing in the center of the plaza, he raised his eyes and surveyed the surroundings.

"Nalan Chenfeng!"

Mentor Ruohai held a roster in his hand and beckoned to him.

Nalan Chenfeng walked over and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your test result was Three-Star Dou Zhe at the age of ten, with a potential rating above S-class."

An irrepressible smile covered Mentor Ruohai's face. "Based on your circumstances, you can enter a Xuan Tier class directly."

He was only a Da Dou Shi himself, merely a Huang Rank mentor. He was not qualified to teach Nalan Chenfeng.

Although bringing him into his own class could allow him to quickly advance into a Xuan Tier mentor, he could not bring himself to do something so selfish.

A Three-Star Dou Zhe not yet eleven years old possessed talent far too monstrous. He did not dare mislead such a gifted student.

"A Xuan Tier class?"

Nalan Chenfeng repeated the words. He did not have a particularly clear understanding of this class assignment system.

Mentor Ruohai had left him with a good impression. If he were to cultivate at the Jia Nan Outer Academy, this mentor would definitely have been his first choice.

But from Ruohai's attitude, it seemed he intended to send Nalan Chenfeng into a Xuan Tier class rather than teach him himself.

"With your talent, I am not qualified to teach you. The mentors of the Xuan Tier classes are more outstanding and better suited to your development."

Seeing Nalan Chenfeng's calm expression, Ruohai smiled and nodded, offering a brief explanation.

To possess such composure at this age—he truly was someone raised by one of the great clans of the Jia Ma Empire.

"Mentor, cultivation depends on oneself. This kind of class assignment should not make much difference."

Nalan Chenfeng looked up at Ruohai and replied.

Before Da Dou Shi, there was not much difference in Dou Qi cultivation experience. At most, there were disparities in certain details, and those were things one had to explore for oneself.

If changing to a Xuan Tier mentor could increase one's cultivation speed and strength, then there would be no need for Huang Rank class mentors to exist.

"That is true, but there are still differences in treatment and guidance. Our Jia Nan Academy is divided into the Inner Academy and Outer Academy. All Outer Academy freshmen begin at Huang Rank and are assigned to classes based on strength and potential."

"You can enter Xuan Tier directly because your strength and talent have already surpassed the Huang Rank standard."

"In a Huang Rank class, they would not be able to keep up with your pace, and the mentors do not wish to hold you back."

"Xuan Tier Class Three is the best class among the Xuan Tier classes. The students who enter it are all geniuses who broke through to Dou Zhe before turning eighteen. I am also familiar with its mentor, so you may choose Class Three."

As he spoke, Mentor Ruohai paused before adding, "Of course, with your age and strength, even in Xuan Tier Class Three, you would be one of a kind."

"Then thank you, Mentor."

Nalan Chenfeng did not refuse. He cupped his hands in thanks and accepted the academy badge Ruohai handed him.

The academy badge was a palm-sized blue token. The Jia Nan Academy emblem was engraved on the front, while his name was carved on the back.

"Follow this road straight ahead. Once you pass those pavilions, you will reach your residence. Your lodging is on the north side of the Xuan Character Building, a private courtyard."

Mentor Ruohai pointed to a main road north of the plaza, then reminded him, "Classes officially begin tomorrow morning. Do not be late."

Nalan Chenfeng acknowledged him and turned toward his residence.

Jia Nan Academy was much larger than he had imagined, but he was a stranger here. His status as the eldest young master of the Nalan Clan was utterly useless.

From this point onward, the only person he could rely on was himself.

Nalan Chenfeng walked for nearly a quarter of an hour from the plaza to his residence, passing training grounds, the Scripture Repository, the Alchemy Hall, and more along the way...

Every building was grand and imposing, far beyond anything any faction in the Jia Ma Empire could compare to.

"I wonder what the Canaan Inner Academy is like..."

A trace of amazement appeared in Nalan Chenfeng's dark eyes, and he looked forward even more eagerly to the academy life ahead.

"He can enter the academy at such a young age? No way..."

"Yeah, he looks like he's only around ten..."

"..."

Students came and went along the road. Seeing Nalan Chenfeng, quite a few cast curious looks his way.

Jia Nan Academy never lacked geniuses, but a boy of around ten appearing here was still rather astonishing.

Ignoring the gazes of the passersby, Nalan Chenfeng went straight to his courtyard and pushed open the gate.

Before him lay a modest courtyard paved with bluestone. Several stalks of emerald bamboo grew in one corner, rustling softly when the wind passed through. There was a stone table and stone stools in the courtyard, with a white porcelain teapot resting atop the table.

The treatment for Xuan Tier class students was better, as could be seen from their accommodations alone.

"I'll be staying here for the next few years..."

The next day, early morning.

The bells of Jia Nan Academy rang out from afar, deep and resonant as they echoed through the mountains.

Nalan Chenfeng stepped out of his courtyard and headed north along the bluestone avenue. After passing two pavilions, his view suddenly opened up.

A three-story building stood in the morning light. A plaque hung above its entrance, bearing the three forceful characters: Xuan Character Building.

Quite a few people had already gathered before the building, talking quietly in small groups. As Nalan Chenfeng stepped onto the stairs, several gazes swept over him, filled with scrutiny and curiosity.

"Someone this young can attend Jia Nan Academy?"

"He looks barely over ten... Did he come to the wrong place?"

"This is Xuan Tier Class Three. He can't be illiterate, can he?"

"I heard our academy received a ten-year-old Dou Zhe yesterday. That should be him."

"..."

Nalan Chenfeng turned a deaf ear to them, crossed the threshold, and entered the classroom.

The classroom was spacious enough to hold dozens of people. The desks and chairs were arranged in a semicircle facing the podium.

More than twenty students were already seated inside. Most were around fifteen or sixteen years old. Their clothing varied, some luxurious and others plain, but judging from their posture and bearing, none came from ordinary backgrounds.

Nalan Chenfeng found a seat by the window, placed his academy badge on the desk, and swept his gaze around.

Soft discussions continued in the classroom, circling around Nalan Chenfeng, when heavy footsteps approached from afar.

A middle-aged man in a green robe stepped onto the podium. He appeared to be around forty, with a square face and sharp eyes. As his gaze passed over everyone in the room, the pressure of Dou Ling-level Dou Qi spread from his body.

"I am Lu Cheng, mentor of Xuan Tier Class Three. From now on, I will be teaching you."

His voice was not loud, but combined with the powerful aura that could make even Da Dou Shi deeply fearful, it instantly suppressed every stray sound in the classroom.

"I do not care which empire or clan you come from, nor what background you possess. Once you arrive here, you are my students, and I will treat all of you equally."

Lu Cheng paused, sweeping his gaze across the room once more. Then he took out a roster from his Storage Ring, opened it, and began reading.

"Chen Mo, One-Star Dou Zhe, sixteen years old."

"Zhu Xuan, Three-Star Dou Zhe, eighteen years old."

"..."

"Levin, One-Star Dou Zhe, eighteen years old."

"Losier, Two-Star Dou Zhe, seventeen years old."

"Han Yue, Three-Star Dou Zhe, thirteen years old."

When he read that name, Shen Mo's voice paused slightly.

A Three-Star Dou Zhe at thirteen was outstanding even among geniuses. With such talent, she had the potential to become a Dou Wang or even a Dou Emperor powerhouse.

For a moment, many gazes turned in the same direction.

"Han Yue..."

Hearing that familiar name from deep within his memories, Nalan Chenfeng looked over as well.

In the third row by the window, a silver-haired girl sat upright.

Her skin was fair, her brows picturesque, and although her cheeks looked somewhat thin, her features were exquisitely delicate. At a glance, she was clearly a beauty in the making.

Combined with her silver hair, she carried the air of an icy beauty, appearing somewhat aloof.